A first-of-its-kind event will pop up in Bushwick this fall.

The Gay Ass Wellness Festival will be held in Bushwick outside The Bush (333 Troutman Street) on Sunday, September 10, from 2 to 5pm. The afternoon will bring movement classes, queer-owned wellness vendors, networking, socializing and more programming designed to nourish the mind, body and soul. 

Designed to recognize community as a place of healing, the classes that will take place on Troutman Street throughout the day will include pilates by Fringe Pilates and Wick Pilates, boxing by inclusive Brooklyn gym Outbox, and dance fitness by DJ Rock, aka @TheTransFitnessBitch. All classes will have a live DJ, Adair. Tickets to the workouts are $30 and include a goody bag. Come dressed in activewear and ready to move.

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Beyond fitness, the outdoor market will be free to browse (no ticket required) and at 4pm, The Bush will also be open for drinks (including nonalcoholic options) to guests 21 and older until midnight.

The Gay Ass Wellness Festival is open to everyone, with the goal of creating a supportive and affirming space for members of the LGBTQ+ community. The festival is also prioritizing accessibility, with accommodations for folks with disabilities, and efforts to make the event as inclusive as possible.

Those who want a more active role in the event can sign up to volunteer and learn more by emailing fringepilatesbk@gmail.com.

* This article was originally published here

The New York City Independent Budget Office recently released a report on vacancies for rent stabilized apartments in NYC for the year of 2022, and the numbers might be shocking to some.

Rent stabilized apartments are an essential resource in NYC’s housing market to provide affordable rental accommodations. And to many, the idea of lower rents, caps on rent increases and guaranteed lease renewals sounds like a dream come true. And “[w]ith the city’s longstanding housing crisis—compounded by a record homeless shelter census—unoccupied rent stabilized apartments sitting vacant could represent a source of underutilized rental housing,” shared the study.

As of 2022, more than 40,000 rent stabilized apartments were vacant: 13,921 in Manhattan, 7,758 in the Bronx, 11,244 in Brooklyn, 8,931 in Queens and 421 on Staten Island.

Though this sounds like a high number of units, on average less than 5% of rent stabilized apartments are vacant.

According to the report, vacant rent stabilized apartments outside of Manhattan are priced higher than occupied rent stabilized units.

Additionally, most rent stabilized apartments are only vacant for less than a year. Such prized apartments are usually snatched up, even with the general turnover.

In fact, vacancy rates actually peaked in 2021 with nearly 60,000 vacant rent stabilized apartments in NYC. Yet, of those 60,000 apartments that were vacant in 2021, almost two-thirds were rented in the next year.

And after record breaking rents, it seems that NYC rent may have reached its peak.

Read more of the report here.

The post More Than 40,000 Rent Stabilized Apartments Are Vacant In NYC appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here

Prepare to scream in horror. Blood Manor is confirmed to return to New York City this fall, marking the haunted house’s 20th season in the city. 

To celebrate two decades of terrifying New Yorkers, Blood Manor will present yet another theater-quality production. The space in Soho at 359 Broadway will include three new rooms, and brand-new costumes by designers from Abracadabra, Manhattan’s iconic Halloween store. The multiroom immersive experience employs professional actors, set designers and makeup artists, and promises to leave visitors more afraid than ever in 2023. 

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Blood Manor’s most infamous attractions will return for repeat visitors looking to relive their self-induced terrors, and the space will be revamped, and amplified to intensify the fear factor. Visitors will journey through dark, sinister corridors filled with twisted characters and jumpscares at every turn. Special effects add a disturbing level of realism to the haunting experience designed to feel like a nightmare blurring the lines between reality and fiction. It’s intense and certainly not for the faint of heart (if you need the lights on to watch horror movies, that may not be the experience for you).

Each attraction within the house is based on original storylines, transporting visitors into eerie and macabre worlds. From cursed mansions to abandoned asylums, every theme invokes terror and adrenaline.

Need more scares? This October will have a Friday the 13th, so Blood Manor will host a night of fright party with details to come. 

Blood Manor will be open every weekend and some weekdays from Thursday, September 29 through Saturday, November 4. Timed-entry tickets can be purchased online at BloodManor.com or at the door. Special events will also include student nights, Lights Out nights, and RIP fast-entry tickets. 

* This article was originally published here