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The weekend after National Hot Chocolate Day (January 31st, 2025), Magnolia Bakery is reviving an NYC hot chocolate legend for a limited time at their Upper West Side location (200 Columbus Ave, New York). New Yorkers can grab a cup of the desperately missed City Bakery hot chocolate from Saturday, February 8th through Sunday, February 9th.

Magnolia Bakery will serve both small ($5) and large ($7.50) hot chocolates, in addition to a special hot chocolate banana pudding in all sizes: small ($5.75), medium ($7.95), large ($9.45).

The hot chocolate will be available from 12pm to 3pm, or until supplies last—and we expect it’s definitely going to be a hit.

Maury Rubin, the mastermind behind City Bakery, now runs Color of Chocolate, bringing hot chocolate to your home, office or retail business. Rubin opened City Bakery back in 1990, serving over a million people before the bakery closed operations in 2019.

200 Columbus Ave, New York

Saturday, February 8th – Sunday, February 9th (12pm – 3pm or until supplies last)

The post Magnolia Bakery & City Bakery Founder Team Up For A Two-Day Hot Chocolate Pop-Up appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here

Valentine’s Day is only a few weeks away, and bookings for restaurants are quickly filling up. But, of course, not everyone celebrates their love in the same way. Some relationships are new and budding, while others lean more practical over being super romantic. So if you are looking something for a little different, here’s a guide for where to eat and what to do this Valentine’s Day based on your relationship status.

RECOMMENDED: The best things to do for Valentine’s Day in NYC

If it’s your first Valentine’s Day together, reserve Rolo’s

It’s a new relationship, and the pressure to make the first V Day memorable is on. For a nice mix of romance without laying it on too thick, go to Rolo’s. It may be a neighborhood spot, but Rolo’s wood-fired, two-sheet lasagna and martinis with spears of peppers on top are sure enough to make it memorable. 

If you are still defining the relationship, head to Jadis 

First of all, pause. I dare you to open your messaging app and send that fateful text, “What are we?” Because let’s face it—it’s 2025 and life is too short to be living in limbo. But, if don’t mind keeping it chill or if you are only on date three anyway, then Jadis is a good place to be. This low-lit subterranean wine bar has cheese and charcuterie, plus plenty of wine and cushiony couches pushed against brick walls for casual canoodles. 

If you are a sucker for romance, reserve The Ellington

The cards, the flowers, the oversized bears—Valentine’s Day is a day on the calendar that actually matters to you. A night out that is guaranteed to bring the heart-eyed emoji to life is a night at The Ellington. The evening starts with a three-course prix fixe dinner for two, priced at $180, plus two cocktails for the taking. Alongside scallops and short rib ravioli, the restaurant will feature tunes from Harlem-born jazz pianist, Danny Mixon. If whispering sweet nothings over molten lava chocolate cake is in the stars, you can find it at The Ellington. 

If you are ready to take the next step, reserve Winona’s 

All of your friends already know about them. You have tentative plans to go upstate this summer. You finally removed “from Hinge” from their name in your phone. Let’s face it—you’re hooked and aren’t afraid to show it. Make it official at Winona’s. The neighborhood restaurant is just as thoughtful as you are with seasonally-driven dishes and a natural wine list, 300 bottles deep. Plus its exposed wooden beams with live greenery hanging above the dining room gives us all the good vibes. Post an IG story of Winona’s blood orange mackerel crudo and crab tagliatelle this V Day, and don’t forget to tag your boo. 

If you are planning on popping the question, reserve Linden’s

The ring is bought and currently sitting in your underwear drawer. Now, you just have to pick the perfect place to propose. Linden’s is a good spot to do it. Not only are they offering a five-course $85 prix-fixe dinner this Valentine’s Day, but you can make it even more special by reserving their Cabin Experience. Priced at $180 per person, this private and cozy cabin comes with a bottle of red, white or sparkling wine, sure to be popped when they say yes. 

If your love language is your shared introversion, order from Fornino’s

If catching up after a long day on the couch is the best way you know how to say “I love you, “Greenpoint’s Fornino’s has a deal just for you. Priced at $110, the Pizza Love Kit package includes everything you could ever need for a night in: a snacking plate with imported cheese and fruit, a large salad, two heart-shaped pizzas, tiramisu, chocolates, strawberries and your choice of a bottle, be it red, white, or sparkling. But if the call to go out there this VDay hits you after all, you can also head to the Greenpoint or Dumbo location in Time Out Market New York.  

If Galentine’s Day > Valentine’s Day, head to Bar Bonobo

Thanks to the patron saint Leslie Knope, we have Galentine’s Day. Celebrated on February 13, Galentine’s Day is all about ladies celebrating ladies, and Bar Bonobo is throwing a soirée for you and your favorite pals. Held on the day before V Day, the Galentine’s Day party will include tarot readings, a DJ and specialty cocktails to cheers with your favorite posse.   

If you are dating me, myself and I, head to BABA on Withers

For the rest of us, V Day is just another day. But instead of moping inside, BABA on Withers is inviting all the singles to come out this holiday—be it ladies, men or they/thems. Vibe out at this natural wine bar in Williamsburg over tunes spun by DJ HunnyBunny, backyard wine flip cup and flash tattoos. And if you still want to look for your future someone, sign up for a matchmaking experience hosted by two local matchmakers. Admission is $10 and includes a complimentary jello shot. 

* This article was originally published here

If you’ve traveled through the 42nd Street-Times Square or 59th Street-Lexington Avenue subway stations recently, you may have noticed the MTA’s latest efforts to decrease fare evasion: ‘turnstile fins.’ Similar to bird-control spikes, if you will, jagged new barriers have been installed on the turnstiles to deter fare jumpers. And as ridiculous as it may look, it actually is working—at least according to Governor Kathy Hochul’s latest announcement.

According to the Governor of New York, subway fare evasion is down 26% within the last six months. Now this isn’t solely from the new spiked turnstiles, but a combination of efforts, including strategic deployment and stronger enforcement.

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“We’re turning the tide against fare evasion to help protect transit riders and taxpayers and continue strengthening our transit system,” Governor Hochul said. “Our work is far from over – and we’ll continue to crack down on fare evasion this year through strong enforcement and new measures coming to subway turnstiles and fare gates throughout the system.”

These future efforts to “crack down on fare evasion” include a reconfiguration of all subway turnstiles to prevent “backcocking” by the end of this year. Moreover, new fare gates will be constructed at 20 high-traffic stations, in addition to increased summonses coming from the NYPD if evaders are caught.

The MTA has also observed a decrease in fare evasion on NYC buses, down by 9.1% within the same six month period (June 2024 – December 2024).

All of these efforts derive from fare evasion reaching crisis levels in 2022, following the MTA’s Blue-Ribbon Panel report. That year, the MTA lost approximately $690 million from unpaid tolls and fares.

“Fare evasion undermines the very system that moves New York City and provides essential transportation for our communities. Our team has made real progress, driving down fare evasion for the first time in years. We will continue to explore all measures and means to ensure fare compliance and sustain a system that is equitable for all,” said NYC Transit President Demetrius Crichlow.

As of now, 10% of subway riders evade fares, down from the previous 14% prior to June 2024. The MTA and local leaders hope to see a continued decrease following the upcoming efforts and coordination with the NYPD.

The post New Subway ‘Turnstile Fins’ Help Plummet Fare Evasion By 26% appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American spends $3,635 annually on entertainment–a 25% increase from $2,909 in 2020. If you ask us, we probably spend that same amount on pizza and bagels alone, but the entertainment aspect does make sense, what with all of NYC’s nightclubs, museums, movies, concerts, and more.

So when the team over at Action Network conducted a study to determine America’s most entertaining city, we certainly expected NYC to come out on top–it was, after all, just named the “Best City That Never Sleeps.” And, well, imagine our surprise when it didn’t…

Action Network analyzed the 100 most populated cities in the U.S. across 11 key factors. Categories included:

• Casinos
• Museums
• Arcades
• Theaters
• Instagram Hashtags
• Bingo, Card Rooms, and Racinos

Each city then received an entertainment score–with a maximum score of 10–to identify those that keep people hooked with a mix of different activities, resulting in a well-rounded city of entertainment. And, according to their data, Las Vegas takes the top spot with a perfect entertainment score of 10. Vegas is packed with 179 casinos, 84 theaters, 23 museums, 13 arcades, and has a big digital presence–there are 46,940 #LasVegasFun hashtags on Instagram.

They do say, though, that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, so we’re sure the city definitely has some skeletons in its closet that just aren’t being talked about…

As for New York City, we ranked second with an entertainment score of 9.66. The study writes:

New York City scores big on entertainment with a 9.66 rating, thanks to its 198 museums and Broadway scene with 22 theaters. With 50 arcades and three casinos, the city’s entertainment factor doesn’t stop there. It also has a strong social media presence with 1,822 hashtags, like #NewYorkCityFun.

Rounding out the top ten of America’s Most Entertaining City ranking is as follows:

1. Las Vegas, Nevada

2. New York City, New York

3. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

4. Chicago, Illinois

5. Cincinnati, Ohio

6. Washington, D.C.

7. Seattle, Washington

8. Minneapolis, Minnesota

9. Kansas City, Missouri

10. Los Angeles, California

The post America’s Most Entertaining City Has Been Revealed, & We Certainly Don’t Agree With The Results appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here