Saturday, June 10th, 12:00PM–2:00PM, The Billion Oyster Project at The Baylander, West Harlem Piers on the Hudson at 125th Street. Come see the Billion Oyster Project on the Baylander’s Jungle Deck. Learn about the project’s latest effort to restore our harbor! Oysters are the green way to filter New York waterways and used to be one of the most abundant species with the local ecosystem. The Billion Oyster Project has been successfully re-introducing the bivalves back in the greater New York Harbor and has a goal of one billion oysters in the waters by the time 2035 rolls around. More details at the city parks site: LINK
Best friends are special: what we do with them should be special too. That’s why we put together a short list of things you can enjoy with your BFF this summer, from a nostalgic trip to TheFRIENDS Experienceto a string Taylor Swift concert by candlelight and everything in between.
1. TheFRIENDS Experience
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The FRIENDS Experiencehas been in the city for a few years now, celebrating its 2-year anniversary in NYC last March. The nostalgic adventure has even graced NYC with a permanent flagship, opening a real life Central Perk where you can enjoy real coffee (and perhaps sing “Smelly Cat” at the top of your lungs with your BFF).
On top of delicious coffee, the experience takes you on a journey through FRIENDS memorabilia like actual costumes and props including Rachel’s iconic wigs. In this world where ‘unagi’ reigns, you’ll also get to explore realistic set recreations, snapping photos at the legendary fountain and posing in front of the locked apartment door. Bring your lobster!
2. The Queen’s Ball: A Bridgerton Experience
“The Queen’s Ball: A Bridgerton Experience”
Dear readers, your presence is requested at the most exclusive event of the season! Put on your Regency best and sway the night away, marked by music inspired by the actual Bridgerton soundtrack and stare in awe at the various acrobatic performances throughout the soirée.
Stunning Regency era decor, delicious crafted cocktails, glamorous photo-ops… Don’t miss the opportunity to unleash your inner Queen Charlotte and Lady Danbury as you step into this most pristine event with your best friend. And if you won’t be counted among the attendees, we only have one thing to say: “sorrows, sorrows, prayers …” Secure your invitation here!
3. Jazz Age Lawn Party
The Annual Jazz Age Lawn Party
What was once a small gathering on Governor’s Island has now become one of the most anticipated events of the summer. On June 10 – 11 and August 12 – 13, it’s returning for the season, featuring live jazz on two stages, exciting performances and of course — a sprawling dance floor for you and your bestie to Charleston the night away.
There are also so many roaring 20s-inspired activities, like retro photo-ops, vintage clothing vendors, pop-up barber shops, a 1920s car exhibition, delicious food and refreshing drinks. So much more awaits at this new edition, sosnatch your ticket for JALP right here before it’s too late!
4. Authentic Flamenco show
Authentic Flamenco
After an acclaimed run in NYC last year, Authentic Flamenco is once again gracing the stage of a venue in the Big Apple. Created by Amador Rojas, award-winning dancer and choreographer, and brought to life by the Royal Opera of Madrid & Fever, the authentic performance brings Spanish culture right here, to NYC.
Bring your BFF and take in the passionate moves of none other than Yolanda Osuna, an established Flamenco dancer who has toured cities around the globe. Experience breathtaking vocals, instruments and dances at Authentic Flamenco by getting your tickets here. Olé!
5. Small Is Beautiful
Small Is Beautiful
Small Is Beautiful is a collection of miniature art created by locally and nationally known artists. Using politics, humor and poetry to bring forth new messages, these artists are the crème de la crème of this new art phenomenon, presenting over 120 exclusive pieces and 80 photographs altogether. You’ll even get to see the behind-the-scenes of their art process in addition to a thorough audio guide.
Who hasn’t seen or heard of the miniature art craze circulating on social media? You’ll get to experience the frenzy off the screen and onto the streets of NYC at this unique exhibit in the city. Bring your bestie!
6. The Museum of Failure
Museum of Failure
Do you and your BFF like to make fun of your shortcomings? At The Museum of Failure, witness “acollection of strange and useless inventions that paved the way for real progress.” Featuring a large collection of failed products around the world, The Museum of Failure honors the fact that everyone makes mistakes, and that’s just fine. Embracing failure is where it’s at, so if you’re looking for an existential event in the city — or just something to make you laugh — this one’s for you. The experience is leaving Brooklyn soon, so don’t miss out!
7. Candlelight: A Tribute to Taylor Swift
Swifties, stand up! Candlelight recreates your artist’s iconic discography in classic form, surrounded by the glow of a hundred candles. At the heart ofThe Church of the Heavenly Rest and St Ann & the Holy Trinity Church, Tay Tay’s songs will take on a completely different form. The lovely Highline String Quartet will recreate “Lavender Haze,” “Love Story,” “Cardigan,” “Blank Space” and “Wildest Dreams” among others, offering a gentle and intimate experiencefor you and your best friend.
Intense Canadian wildfires are blanketing the northeastern U.S. in a dystopian haze, turning the air acrid, the sky yellowish gray and prompting warnings for vulnerable populations to stay inside.
The effects of hundreds of wildfires burning across the western provinces to Quebec could be felt as far away as New York City and New England, blotting out skylines and irritating throats.
U.S. authorities issued air quality alerts. Hazy conditions and smoke from the wildfires were reported across the Great Lakes region from Cleveland to Buffalo.
A smoky haze that hung over New York City much of the day Tuesday thickened in the late afternoon, obscuring views of New Jersey across the Hudson River and making the setting sun look like a reddish orb. In the Philadelphia area, dusk brought more of a lavender haze.
Sal and Lilly Murphy, of Brooklyn, likened the burning scent to a campfire. They said they could even smell the smoke indoors, in a Manhattan restaurant, then walked outside and saw a sky that looked like it was about to storm — but was rainless. Lilly wore a mask for protection.
“It’s a little scary,” Sal Murphy said.
Smoke from the fires has wafted through northeast U.S. states for weeks now, but it’s only recently been noticeable in most places.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Tuesday’s hazy skies “were hard to miss,” and New York City Mayor Eric Adams encouraged residents to limit outdoor activities ”to the absolute necessities.”
Here’s a closer look at what’s happening and some suggested precautions for dealing with the haze:
WHAT’S HAPPENING?
Smoke from Canada’s wildfires has been moving into the United States since last month. The most recent fires near Quebec have been burning for at least several days.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said hazy skies, reduced visibility and the odor of burning wood are likely, and that the smoke will linger for a few days in northern states.
“It’s not unusual for us to get fire smoke in our area. It’s very typical in terms of northwest Canada,” said Darren Austin, a meteorologist and senior air quality specialist with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. But, usually, the smoke has been aloft and hasn’t affected people’s health, he said.
The Quebec-area fires are big and relatively close, about 500 to 600 miles (roughly 800 to 970 kilometers) away from Rhode Island. And they followed wildfires in Nova Scotia, which resulted in a short-lived air quality alert on May 30, Austin said.
Jay Engle, a National Weather Service meteorologist based in Upton, Long Island, said the wind trajectory that allowed smoke and hazy conditions to be seen in the New York City area could continue for the next few days. Of course, he said, the main driver of conditions is the fires themselves. If they diminish, the haze would too.
WHAT’S THE BIGGEST CONCERN?
Air quality alerts are triggered by a number of factors, including the detection of fine-particle pollution — known as “PM 2.5” — which can irritate the lungs.
“We have defenses in our upper airway to trap larger particles and prevent them from getting down into the lungs. These are sort of the right size to get past those defenses,” said Dr. David Hill, a pulmonologist in Waterbury, Connecticut, and a member of the American Lung Association’s National Board of Directors. “When those particles get down into the respiratory space, they cause the body to have an inflammatory reaction to them.”
Trent Ford, the state climatologist in Illinois, said the atmospheric conditions in the upper Midwest creating dry, warm weather made it possible for small particulates to travel hundreds of miles from the Canadian wildfires and linger for days.
“It’s a good example of how complex the climate system is but also how connected it is,” Ford said.
WHO SHOULD BE CAREFUL?
Exposure to elevated fine particle pollution levels can affect the lungs and heart.
The air quality alerts caution “sensitive groups,” a big category that includes children, older adults, and people with lung diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Kids, who often are encouraged to go out and play, “are more susceptible to smoke for a number of reasons,” said Laura Kate Bender, the lung association’s National Assistant Vice President, healthy air. “Their lungs are still developing, they breathe in more air per unit of body weight.”
WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR NOW?
It’s a good time to put off that yard work and outdoor exercise. If you go out, consider wearing an N95 mask to reduce your exposure to pollutants.
Stay inside, keeping your doors, windows and fireplaces shut. It’s recommended that you run the air conditioning on a recirculation setting.
“If you have filters on your home HVAC system, you should make sure they’re up to date and high quality,” Hill said. “Some people, particularly those with underlying lung disease, or heart disease, should consider investing in in air purifiers for their homes.”
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Associated Press reporters Katie Foody in Chicago and David B. Caruso and Deepti Hajela in New York contributed to this story.
Harlem Bespoke: CRUX empowers members of the LGBTQ community to participate in rock climbing and outdoor recreation in New York. CRUX will host meetup nights at The Cliffs at Harlem on the second Tuesday of every month.
Tuesday, June 13th, 7:00PM-9:00PM, CRUX LGBTQ Meetup Night at The Cliffs climbing facility in Harlem located at 256 West 125th Street across from the Apollo Theater between Frederick Douglass and Adam Clayton Powell. This is a great way to try out the sport and meet the community before signing up for a monthly membership. At 15,000 square feet, The Cliffs is Manhattan’s largest rock climbing gym featuring hundreds of climbs (refreshed weekly), and state-of-the-art climbing training equipment. $15 climbing pass with rentals. Learn more on the official Cliffs Harlem site: LINK
By Bretton Johnson Today’s business landscape is highly competitive, and companies routinely explore new strategies to attract customers and convert leads into repeat customers. Customer relations management (CRM) solutions provide the tools companies need to design effective sales and marketing efforts, create campaigns that generate new business, and track customer interactions with company personnel. Understanding…
The Apollo announced Tuesday the appointment of Michelle Ebanks as the venue’s next President and CEO.
Ebanks has extensive leadership experience in media, entertainment, and live events. She previously served as CEO of Essence Communications, overseeing the nation’s leading media and communications company dedicated to African American women, including Essence magazine, the preeminent lifestyle magazine for African American women; Essence.com, the award-winning, daily online destination for African American women; and the internationally renowned Essence Festival of Culture, one of the largest annual live music events in the world.
Ebanks joins The Apollo at a pivotal time for the organization. In addition to its new Victoria Theaters that will open later this year, The Apollo will shortly commence the first full-scale renovation of its landmarked Historic Theater and complete its $80M Apollo Rising 2.0 capital campaign. Ebanks succeeds Jonelle Procope, who over the last two decades transformed The Apollo into an internationally recognized cultural and civic nonprofit institution.
“Michelle brings to The Apollo a deep understanding in creating exciting cultural experiences for a diverse range of communities, including overseeing some of the most popular live events in the nation. At a time when performing arts organizations are looking at how best to provide opportunities for audiences who are both hungry for in-person experiences and ways to participate with programming digitally, Michelle’s depth of knowledge will lead The Apollo to its next level of engagement with artists, audiences, and partners throughout New York, nationally and internationally,” said Apollo Board Chair Charles E. Phillips. “Michelle joins The Apollo at a time of strength, forged by Jonelle and her team over the last two decades into one of the nation’s greatest cultural institutions.”
“I’m thrilled to be joining the iconic Apollo at such an important time in its trajectory. The Apollo continues to have such a profound impact on Black culture—and American culture—locally, nationally and internationally,” said Ebanks. “It is such an exciting time as it expands its physical footprint, doubles down on supporting artists at every stage in their careers, collaborates with partners across Harlem and the world, and offers a platform for the voices of African American artists across the diaspora.”
“For nearly nine decades, The Apollo has been a welcoming home for artists of color, a tireless advocate for Black culture and creativity, and a galvanizing force for the performing arts in New York and across the U.S. It has been an honor to lead this organization through two decades of outstanding performances, transformative educational programs, and civic advocacy,” said Procope. “I am excited to see the innovative and forward-thinking ideas that Michelle will bring to The Apollo, and I am confident it will thrive under her leadership.”
Ebanks was President of Essence Communications Inc., where she was responsible for advancing Time Inc.’s businesses within the nation’s fastest growing population segments: African Americans and Hispanics. As President of Essence Communications Inc., Ebanks led the number one media and communications company dedicated to African American women. Comprised of media and entertainment properties with total brand reach of 12 million including Essence magazine; ESSENCE.com; and the internationally renowned Essence Festival of Culture, one of the largest annual live events in the world attracting more than 540,000 attendees to New Orleans, Louisiana. Ebanks began her career at Time Inc. as the general manager and financial director for Money magazine. Subsequently, she was a vice president in Time Inc.’s corporate division, where she led the acquisition of ESSENCE. Prior to joining Time Inc., she served as corporate business manager for Condé Nast’s 13 titles.
Experience 
