Harlem-based National Dance Institute (NDI), a non-profit organization that has transformed the lives of millions of public school children through the arts. The event will held its 47th Annual Gala on Monday, April 17, 2023 at The Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York City. The event will honor Academy Award-Winning actress, dancer & singer Ariana DeBose as…
Summer is a great time for outdoor activities as you needn’t worry about freezing temperatures. Besides feeling inspired to jump out of bed and hit the gym, you can get a fair dose of relaxation during weekend trips and beach vacations. However, research suggests that high temperatures can elevate anxiety levels. You heard right- you…
Anyone who lives in or near the Queensboro Bridge knows the area is a cacophonous symphony of car horns, subway train screeching and the constant whirr of traffic.
It’s not a particularly soothing or even a desired destination, but it’s a thoroughfare—an in-between space for many New Yorkers coming and going.
But NYC officials are hoping the $1.6 million renovation of a small park at the foot of the bridge (at East 59 Street, between First and Second Avenues) will bring a place of respite for New Yorkers passing through the area.
Honey Locust Park, which was named after the line of honey locust trees once lining the block, has been a park since 1938 but has in recent years been a staging area for crews working on the bridge and tunnel.
Starting in January 2022, the city began reconstructing the space with new benches, plaza space, pavements, landscaping, and water service to all provide a green space to “soften the imposing nature of the bridge and surrounding traffic,” according to a press release.
The reconstruction still allows DOT access to perform maintenance and repairs to the bridge and retain stormwater within the property.
Note: A honey locust tree is mostly found along the eastern coast and its wood is heavy and durable, making it ideal material for railroad ties, fence posts, and agricultural implements, according to the parks department. Its fruit usually provides food for deer, rabbits, and squirrels.
Photograph: NYC Parks / Malcolm Pinckney
“Honey Locust Park provides much-needed green space and tranquility at the foot of the Queensboro Bridge,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez in a statement. “The Adams Administration is reimagining the use of public space by making our roads more inviting for pedestrians and cyclists while ensuring access to maintain our infrastructure. DOT is thrilled to have partnered with Commissioner Donoghue and NYC Parks to make this project a reality.”
Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine said the park gives a “drab municipal equipment staging area a second life as a beautiful community gathering spot” and that it “perfectly embodies the paradox of New York City—this serene respite abuts and coexists with a major traffic artery.”
He said the value of the park to the community “cannot be overstated.”
Even if it’s at the foot of one of the city’s most-used bridges, any added public greenspace here in NYC is a win.
Union Settlement (www.unionsettlement.org), East Harlem’s oldest and largest social service provider, will celebrate nearly 130 years of service in East Harlem. They will do this at its annual spring benefit fundraiser at Gotham Hall on April 19, 2023. The “Heart and Soul” Gala will bring together hundreds of New York City’s business, civic and community…
On Tuesday, April 18th, 9 AM to 1 PM , the public is invited to join the first Happy Munkey, Choose Happy Symposium event, at the Columbia Forum in partnership with Community Board 9. For the first time, Community Board 9 is partnering up with a legacy group to host an event at an Ivy League institution…
Nothing says springtime like when the cherry blossoms speckle the city with beautiful shades of pink and white. And according to the Observer, New York City is one of the world’s top destinations for viewing cherry blossoms when they’re in season!
This year, cherry blossoms were first spotted flowering around Queens by early March. Typically, NYC experiences a bloom period halfway through April, so the flowers were quite early indeed. Since we’re now currently in mid-April, tons of areas across the city are in full bloom, including Central Park!
Shutterstock / Kristjan Veski
Besides Central Park, the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens is another notorious location to see these beautiful blooms in the city. Whether you stroll along Cherry Esplanade or visit the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden, the vibrant views will surely mesmerize. And though the Sakura Matsuri Cherry Blossom Festival will not be returning this year, the garden will host a new event series titled “Weekends in Bloom.”
To no surprise, most of the other locations on the Observer‘s list were in Japan (the country most commonly associated with the spectacular trees) including: Maruyama Park in Kyoto, Ueno Park in Tokyo, Matsumae Park in Hokkaido, Nara Park in Nara, Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival in Aomori and Himeji Castle in Hyogo.
Washington D.C. was another U.S. destination to make it on the list, in addition to Amsterdam and Vancouver.
Insider tip: for some of the best views in NYC, be sure to head to Ladurée’s outdoor garden in SoHo right now because the cherry blossoms are finally in full bloom. It’ll only be a week or two until they begin to fall so head over asap!
If the time is approaching for your next trip to Europe, then it’s never a bad idea to start the journey in Geneva, Switzerland. Of course, Switzerland has many beautiful spots like Zurich and Bern, but Geneva is arguably the finest area to begin your vacation or even gap year. Geneva is a beautiful lakeside…
As New York City blossoms into spring and thaws out from the winter, it’s coming alive with new restaurants, must-see shows on Broadway and Off, immersive exhibits and so much more.
NYC is busier than ever so it’s hard to know what’s worth your time. That’s why we have completely overhauled our 100 Best Things to Do list with the newest, best things to do in NYC so that you can easily mark your calendars and make your plans.
Our editors are constantly going out to discover the best of the best. Their expertise is what we base our 100 Best Things to Do list on and we’re over the moon about new offerings, such as:
The Museum of Modern Art landmark Georgia O’Keeffe exhibit
Sweeney Todd and Fat Ham on Broadway
Japanfes returning this weekend for the season
The new House of Cannabis museum
The massive pickleball installation in Central Park
An immersive NASA-approved space show at Hall des Lumières
Plus, a whole host of new restaurants have cropped up. And that’s just the tip of this iceberg that is our best-of list.
We’ve gone on long enough. Go ahead and make your way over to the list and start planning!
