Music legend Stevie Wonder is receiving an honorary doctorate of humane letters at Fordham University’s 178th Commencement on May 20 on the Rose Hill campus. Wonder will offer the Class of 2023 some words of gratitude.

“It is an honor and a thrill to welcome Stevie Wonder to Fordham,” said Fordham President Tania Tetlow. “His music has charmed us, consoled us, elevated us, and entertained us for more than six decades. He is a shining example of an artist’s ability to stir the soul.”

A child prodigy, Wonder—born Stevland Morris—was signed by Motown Records at age 11, and in 1963, as 12-year-old Little Stevie Wonder, he became the youngest recording artist to achieve a No. 1 single, with “Fingertips, Part 2.” He’s regarded as a musical genius and a pioneer—a master of many instruments and groundbreaking in his use of synthesizers. His songs have topped the charts for decades, bridging the genres of pop, R&B, funk, soul, gospel, and jazz.

To date, Wonder has amassed 49 Top 40 singles, 32 No. 1 singles, and worldwide sales of over 100 million units. He has earned 25 Grammy Awards, the prestigious Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, a Golden Globe, and an Academy Award. His iconic 1976 album, Songs in the Key of Life, is archived in the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress for its cultural, historic, and aesthetic significance.

“Music, at its essence, is what gives us memories,” he once said. “And the longer a song has existed in our lives, the more memories we have of it.” 

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New York’s newest botanic garden is slated to open 1,131 feet in the air this season.

“Sky Bloom,” a new immersive floral experience taking over Edge‘s skydeck opens on Wednesday, May 24, and runs through September 4. Located on the 100th floor of 30 Hudson Yards, Edge is the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere, known for its outdoor viewing area with a glass floor, angled glass walls and transparent staircase up to the 101st floor. 

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The skyline views are impressive from this height, and Edge is getting more decorative with changing arrangements throughout the summer created by Ivie Joy Flowers. Visitors will step into a cloud of flowers of all shapes, sizes and colors including garden roses, ranunculus, poppies, and wisteria, all while taking in unparalleled views. 

“Upon entering Edge, guests will find themselves encapsulated in the ultimate sensorial experience—over 100,000 blooms thoughtfully curated to reflect floral art in fluid motion with the city beyond,” said Ivie Joy, Founder, CEO and Creative Director of Ivie Joy Floral Arts + Events. “Whimsical elements featuring hydrangea, eucalyptus, lavender, poppies, and wisteria frame the expansive New York City skyline. Ivie Joy Floral Arts was born in the heart of New York City and this installation was designed to reflect the love we feel for the place we call home.”

We recommend going at sunset so you can enjoy the experience by daylight, see the sky change over the Hudson and see the city light up. 

Edge is also home to City Climb, the highest external building climb in the world. Located atop the sky deck, City Climb allows guests to scale the outside of a 1,200+ foot tall building, then lean out from the outdoor platform at the top of the skyscraper. Those far less daring can just stop and smell the flowers, snap some pics, and take the speedy elevator down.

Tickets to Edge start at $33 for adults with New York City residency and $35 for visitors. 

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When it comes to Edge they don’t do things small–from their sky-high yoga and world’s highest open-air building climbing experience to being the home of NYC’s highest skating rink, there’s plenty of opportunities to get your adrenaline going and experience some over-the-top displays.

And their next experience is bound to make you stop and smell the roses!

Edge will soon welcome Sky Bloom, an exciting immersive floral experience that’s bringing a stunning, garden oasis to the sky deck–a whopping 1,131 feet in the air!

“A visit to Edge is in itself a thrilling immersive experience as you find yourself surrounded by the entire New York City skyline from all vantage points,” said Jason Horkin, Vice President, Hudson Yards Experiences. “We look forward to taking those visuals to the next level this summer with Sky Bloom, offering New Yorkers and visitors a new breathtaking way to frame the city sights.”

The experience will deck out the sky deck in endless floral arrangements of all shapes, sizes, and colors.

From garden roses and poppies to ranunculus and wisteria, guests will feel as if they’re floating on a cloud of flowers. And, beyond that, Edge also treats guests to unparalleled 360-degree views of NYC’s iconic skyline.

“Upon entering Edge, guests will find themselves encapsulated in the ultimate sensorial experience—over 100,000 blooms thoughtfully curated to reflect floral art in fluid motion with the city beyond,” said Ivie Joy, Founder, CEO and Creative Director of Ivie Joy Floral Arts + Events.

“Whimsical elements featuring hydrangea, eucalyptus, lavender, poppies, and wisteria frame the expansive New York City skyline. Ivie Joy Floral Arts was born in the heart of New York City and this installation was designed to reflect the love we feel for the place we call home,” Ivie Joy added.

Sky Bloom, which is created by Ivie Joy Flowers, will take over Edge from May 24 through September 4. The floral arrangements will change throughout the summer months.

Tickets are required for this experience, which you can learn more about here.

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The family of 11-year-old Alfa Ousmane Barrie is pleading for help and his safe return after the child went in Harlem.

Barrie was last seen Friday, May 12 wearing a blue Democracy Prep uniform collard shirt, grey uniform pants and grey Yeezy shoes.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts is being asked to call 646-875-0341 or call the 32nd Precinct at 917-803-4169.

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Federal prosecutors asked a judge Monday to dismiss the remaining corruption charges against Andrew Gillum, the Democratic nominee for Florida governor in 2018, after a jury deadlocked on all but one count following a trial earlier this month.

Prosecutors had said they intended to retry Gillum after the trial concluded on May 4, but reversed course in a one-paragraph motion that also seeks dismissal of the case against his co-defendant, Sharon Lettman-Hicks.

Jurors acquitted Gillum of lying to the FBI but could not reach a verdict on more than a dozen fraud and conspiracy charges contending Gillum and Lettman-Hicks diverted tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions for his personal use.

Gillum’s defense team, led by Miami attorney David O. Markus, said in an email that he can now “resume his life and public service.”

“Andrew Gillum had the courage to stand up and say ‘I am innocent.’ And that is finally being recognized. We want to thank the hard working jury who did their job and explained to the government why it should drop the case,” the statement said.

U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor, who presided over the trial, did not immediately rule Monday on the motion but generally judges give deference to prosecutorial discretion. There was no comment from the U.S. attorney’s office beyond the court filing.

Gillum, 43, is a former Tallahassee mayor who sought to become the first Black governor in Florida history when he ran in 2018. He lost to Republican Ron DeSantis by less than 34,000 votes, which triggered an automatic recount.

Prosecutors had claimed Gillum committed fraud because he was struggling financially after quitting his $120,000-a-year job with the progressive People for the American Way group when he decided to run for governor. Lettman-Hicks, a longtime political adviser to Gillum and former executive with the group, was accused of conspiring with Gillum to divert the contributions to his personal accounts. Jurors also deadlocked on those counts.

The jury found Gillum not guilty of charges that he lied about his interactions with undercover FBI agents posing as developers who paid for a 2016 trip he and his brother took to New York, which included a ticket to the hit Broadway show “Hamilton.” Gillum contended his brother provided the ticket.

Gillum’s attorneys had argued that the indictment was politically motivated, but Winsor refused last year to dismiss the case, ruling that Gillum and Lettman-Hicks had to be tried together because their actions were so closely intertwined.

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