By the end of this week, the world will know the full extent of the damage caused by Hurricane Beryl, one of the earliest storms to have ever formed in the region, as it makes it way from Trinidad and Tobago at the southeast end of the Caribbean island chain to as far north as Jamaica and possibly Belize in the northwest. 

The formation of the category four storm in the past week has triggered panic across the region, as most nations are not used to dealing with a fully developed storm this early in a season that normally begins on June 1 and concludes at the end of November each year. Rewriting many records, Beryl, officials say, has moved from a depression to a full-fledged hurricane in less than 50 hours, a development that experts say is highly unusual but points to the realities of climate change that regional governments had been complaining about so persistently around the globe.

Forecasters say that the impact will be felt from Tobago, Trinidad’s sister isle to the north, right through the Eastern Caribbean island chain up to Jamaica by the end of the week. Prime Minister Andrew Holness, like leaders of other nations in Beryl’s path, took to national airwaves at the weekend to warn Jamaicans to be prepared for the very worst as “all the models have suggested that if it is not a direct impact, it will be in the vicinity of Jamaica. We expect that this will bring adverse weather conditions, and we expect that by Wednesday morning we will be experiencing such conditions.”

Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves in St. Vincent also warned locals to take Beryl seriously, noting that “this is a major hurricane. This is not a joke. We see what major hurricanes have done nearby to Grenada with Hurricane Ivan, and what has happened to Dominica in 2017 with Hurricane Maria, though Category Five in those cases. But the point I want to make, I want to repeat, this hurricane is intensifying,” he said.

But Grenada, just north of Trinidad and down dip from St. Vincent, is the one preparing for a battering, as models have shown that it might well pass over the island of just over 100,000 people as Ivan did back in September 2004, when the storm left much of the country like a South American gold mining camp, with tarpaulins of various colors dotting the island and replacing blown off roofs. Mainland Grenada has, however, been spared the worst of the storm this time as the eye has picked out the two smaller islands, Petite Martinique and Carriacou. PM Dickon Mitchell urged citizens to remain indoors at least until midnight when attempts to assess the situation will be made.

Ironically, Grenada should have been hosting this week’s regional leaders summit, but the 15-nation bloc announced a postponement as priorities shifted to Beryl. The formation of the storm with 150 miles per hour winds during Monday, will give the region further evidence in arguing that the climate is changing and that the countries which pollute the least are bearing the brunt of storms, as Bloc Secretary General Carla Barnett and others have pointed out.“Climate change has a very tangible human, economic, and financial impact on Caricom. We recall the record-breaking 2017 hurricane season when Hurricanes Irma and Maria, within a period of two weeks, charted paths of destruction across the region. Damage estimated at more than 200% of GDP occurred in one of our member states—Dominica. In Barbuda, the housing stock was almost totally destroyed. Critical infrastructure, including water and electricity, homes, health facilities and schools, were decimated in the wake of these storms,” she told a recent international forum in Antigua.

“Even as we meet at this conference, the region is entering an Atlantic hurricane season that is expected to be extremely active with a forecast of 11 hurricanes, five of them slated to be major storms of Category 3 intensity or higher. The Caribbean Climate Outlook Forum (CARICOF), coordinated out of the Caribbean Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH), predicted near record heat for the Caribbean region from April to September 2024. Several of our member states have already been experiencing periods of prolonged drought, and this has been compounded by forest and bush fires across our region,” she said.

The post Caribbean leaders warn again about a changing climate appeared first on New York Amsterdam News.

* This article was originally published here

Finally, some good transportation news coming out of NYC: The Port Authority is graciously halving price single-ride fares for the AirTrain this summer, in an effort to reduce vehicle traffic to John F. Kennedy International Airport during heavy construction this summer. Now, it’s not exactly the free AirTrain rides we were all hoping for, but we’ll take what we can get! 

RECOMMENDED: You can now travel from Manhattan to JFK airport for a mere $13

From today, July 1, through Labor Day, September 2, the transit agency will offer a $4.25 fare (decreased from the usual $8.50) to riders that enter or exit the AirTrain at Howard Beach or Jamaica, the two off-airport stations that require payment via OMNY or MetroCard. The Port Authority is promoting the new campaign by assuring riders that it will take just 20 minutes to get to Jamaica Grand Central Madison, Penn Station, or Atlantic Terminal via the Long Island Railroad. The agency is also encouraging drivers to use the drop-off/pick-up lot at the Lefferts Blvd station, where they can hop on a free 8-minute AirTrain ride to the airport terminals. 

The fare discount is to encourage airport-goers to utilize NYC public transit on their way to JFK, which will reportedly see a record 18 million passengers this summer, 700,000 more than last year. Along with the record volumes of air travelers, traffic will be further slowed down around the airport due to the continued construction activities for the $19 billion redevelopment of JFK, which will include the forthcoming international terminal.

“With transformational construction underway at JFK, we’re taking steps to mitigate travel delays and affirm what’s always been true – there’s no better option than taking the train to the plane,” Governor Hochul said. “As we kick off a busy summer, we’re making it more affordable for travelers to utilize the AirTrain, offering New Yorkers and visitors from around the world the best-in-class travel experience they deserve.”

* This article was originally published here

On a balmy June evening in Bushwick, I laced up my skates and joined a sea of bodies gliding across the maple wood floor at Brooklyn’s newest skating rink, Xanadu Roller Arts.

The sprawling 16,000-square-foot space, designed to double as a concert venue and nightclub for up to 1,200 people, would officially open its doors the next day. But tonight, at this pre-opening party, seasoned pros and wobbly newcomers alike were already falling into orbit around Xanadu’s disco ball—all of us glistening from sweat and sequins as we christened what is now the city’s first new wooden rink in over a decade.

This same dance would repeat night after night in the coming days, like a ritual. Yet the journey to get here was anything but routine.

Xanadu was founded by Varun Kataria, a local business owner who’s already made his mark on the neighborhood with the Turk’s Inn and the Sultan Room just down the block. While he’s no stranger to Bushwick nightlife, Kataria didn’t even know how to skate when the idea of opening a roller rink occurred to him in late 2022.

“I came in as an outsider,” he admits to me somewhat sheepishly as we walked the space days earlier. Kataria has since secured his own set of eights, and now speaks about skating with the same feverish devotion as the regulars. But at first, all he had to show for his passion was a quick sketch of the rink’s layout on a legal pad that he still has in his possession today.

As luck would have it, his neighbor—who ran a steel fabrication shop in the space we now know as Xanadu—decided to retire. Someone else was interested in leasing the space, so Kataria had to act fast. “Once I heard that, it put this panic inside me,” he says. “I knew it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to find a space like this half a block from my other business.”

Within weeks, Kataria signed the lease and Xanadu’s journey to touchdown commenced at warp speed. Construction began in March 2023, and it wasn’t long before whispers about the space began to trickle throughout the local NYC skate community.

For many of us, word of a new rink in Brooklyn sparked a mix of suspicion and cautious optimism. We’d gotten used to making the most of the city’s bleak skating landscape, one marked by a series of closures over the last two decades—from Staten Island’s RollerJam earlier this year, to the Bronx’s Skate Key, Brooklyn’s Empire Rollerdrome, and the iconic Roxy in Chelsea in the late 2000s. Since then, we’ve seen enough temporary pop-up spots roll in cash out, and roll away to last a lifetime.

“I’m tired of seeing rinks come here and profit off of a community they say they care about and then just leave us,” Arrí, a 26-year-old skater, shares with me at the rink. Having a more permanent rink, she says, “changes everything.”

After years of relying on makeshift solutions and long commutes to rinks—like Branch Brook in New Jersey, and United Skates on Long Island—the prospect of a dedicated, year-round skating space in the heart of the city is something all skaters want to believe in. “It feels like a space that could really be here for us and here to stay,” says Janette, a 37-year-old skater living in Harlem.

“It feels like a space that could really be here for us and here to stay.”

Many skaters, like Genesis from the Bronx, are already feeling “grateful” to no longer have to rely on carpooling for a night out on wheels. Karen, a member of the local skate crew The Liberty Girls, is looking forward to hopefully saving some money after spending “thousands” on transportation between skating events and her home, also in the Bronx.

For Ariel, another member of The Liberty Girls, Xanadu represents more than just convenience. “This is a place where you can be whoever you want to be without any judgment,” the 27-year-old explains. “That’s so important because it allows me to just skate and not think about outside factors.”

This sense of freedom is crucial in a community as diverse as NYC’s skaters. We’re a kaleidoscope of ages, races, genders, sexualities, and economic backgrounds, all united by our love of rolling. But the history of roller skating in America hasn’t always been so inclusive.

Black skaters have always been at the heart of the sport’s evolution—from civil rights protests at the rink, to birthing entire musical movements at the DJ booth—yet they’ve faced persistent discrimination throughout the years. Rinks often used thinly veiled tactics, like themed “soul” nights, to segregate Black patrons. As Elijah, a 30-year-old skater living in Brooklyn, points out, “Some rinks are still doing that today. So it’s completely valid for Black skaters to question—will we feel safe and welcomed here?”

It’s a history and concern that Xanadu’s founder takes seriously. “We have a lot of division right now in our lives,” Kataria acknowledges. “This is not a space for that. This is a space for unity.” He’s committed to creating an environment where everyone feels welcome. “We’ve had Black folks in their 70s who skated at Empire for 40 years and young queer kids coming in from House of Yes,” he says. “They wouldn’t usually hang out in rooms together. But here, everybody makes sense with each other.”

“…here, everybody makes sense with each other.”

Opportunities for connection can be found in just about every aspect of Xanadu’s design. From the moment you step through the doors, you’re greeted by a giant black-and-white photo of a group of young Black skaters taken over 40 years ago at Empire, a model for the energy in the room today. A rinkside bar, serving drinks with names like Skaterade and Purple Rain, opens up to direct sightlines of all the action on the wood. And in the bathroom, a surprise DJ spins a soundtrack for patrons to dance to as they wash their hands, a cheeky setup Kataria calls, “Club Flush.”

Kataria is proud of his funky design but values Xanadu’s “social architecture” the most. “It’s about the memories, the connections, and what we do for society,” he says. “If we’re blessed to have a long life here, think about the generational impact we’ll have on the people that can grow up in this space.”

His vision hits close to home for people like Karen, who skated for the first time as a child. “I would not have been a roller skater if it wasn’t for my first couple of times skating at Skate Key in the Bronx as a kid, and that was because they provided free field trip opportunities,” she explains.

Experiences like these have inspired many members of the skate community to pay it forward, with some of us organizing our own fundraisers and volunteering for causes close to us. Now, there’s hope that Xanadu will build on these grassroots efforts. 

“I would love it if Xanadu did events and fundraising for causes like breast cancer, for domestic abuse victims, or children in foster homes,” Genesis offers as an example, suggesting that local skaters could also volunteer at these events.

“We’re not going to let this rink go away from us.”

Kataria already seems to be on the same wavelength when it comes to giving back to the community. When I arrived for my tour of the rink, he was in the middle of a phone call with the mayor’s office to discuss skating sessions for students at local schools. And his plans don’t stop there. His team is working on ways to make Xanadu more accessible with a membership plan to reduce costs, along with securing paid gigs for talented skaters to perform at private events. “It’s all about creating forward motion and opportunities,” Kataria says.

One such opportunity already materialized for Melody, who, along with the rest of the Liberty Girls, hosted Xanadu’s grand opening Pride night event. It’s exactly the kind of platform the Bronx native hopes to see more of in the future, with Xanadu “creating more jobs, highlighting amazing people in our community, and giving them the flowers that they deserve.”

As skaters from all corners of the city converge on this new rink, it’s becoming clear that Xanadu isn’t just here to fill a void—it’s creating a whole new world of possibilities for NYC skaters. “We can leave a legacy,” Ariel muses. “We’re not going to let this rink go away from us. Xanadu is here to stay.”

* This article was originally published here

After numerous IKEAs across the NYC area shuttered one after the other, there’s finally some hopeful news for the furniture and meatball-loving shoppers! Rumor has it a new Ikea is likely to takeover 570 Fifth Avenue after Ingka Investments, owner of the majority of Ikea locations worldwide, has invested in the Class A retail and office tower from Extell Development Company—the largest development on Fifth Avenue in six decades.

“Investing in Fifth Avenue goes beyond just growing our footprint; it’s about changing the way we engage with consumers and playing a part in creating strong, sustainable economies and business communities,” shared Peter van der Poel, Managing Director of Ingka Investments.

According to CSA, the new Ikea would span 80,000-square-feet. That’s 35,000-square-feet smaller than the old Queens Ikea outpost, for reference. It will cover two cellar levels with a corner entry for customers on Fifth Avenue.

“This next phase of our investment and expansion in the U.S. signals our commitment to bring Ikea closer to people in city centers,” said Javier Quiñones, CEO and chief sustainability officer, Ikea U.S. “While we are in the very early stages of planning for the Ikea location, we can promise to deliver an experience that is full of inspiration and designed to meet the home furnishing dreams of the many New Yorkers.”

But before you get too excited, note that 570 Fifth Avenue isn’t planning tenant delivery until 2028, so we’ve got some time before we’ll be able to shop.

The post A Ginormous 80,000-Square-Foot IKEA Is Expected To Open On Fifth Avenue appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here

New York City celebrates Pride all month long during June, but the grand finale comes during the last weekend of the month with the NYC Pride March and the Dyke March. This past weekend’s festivities drew 2.5 million people to the streets of Manhattan for the Pride March, per ABC.

NYC Pride 2024’s theme was “Reflect. Empower. Unite.” Events celebrated the LGBTQ+ community and marked the 55th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, as well as the 40th anniversary of Heritage of Pride. Here are some of the most fabulous photos from the weekend.

* This article was originally published here

The west side of Manhattan is finally getting a front-row seat to the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks this year—the first time in over a decade!

Of course, while New Yorkers head to the best spots to watch the July 4th fireworks, others will be avoiding traffic since many of Manhattan’s streets will shut down for the day.

RECOMMENDED: The best July 4th events in NYC

But Macy’s isn’t the only one putting on a spectacular fireworks show—Coney Island is also throwing a big fireworks bash at 9:45pm at Steeplechase Park (as well as Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest)!

To help you get around the city on the big day, here are the July 4th street closures for 2024:

Manhattan streets

• Joe DiMaggio Highway / West Side Highway / West Street / 12th Avenue / 11th Avenue between Spring Street and West 46th Street
• Clarkson Street between West Street and Greenwich Street
• Christopher Street between West Street and Greenwich Street
• Charles Street between West Street and Washington Street
• West 11th Street between West Street and Greenwich Street
• West 12th Street between West Street and Greenwich Street
• West 13th Street between West Street/11th Avenue and Washington Street
• West 15th Street between West Street/11th Avenue and 10th Avenue
• West 17th Street between West Street/11th Avenue and 10th Avenue
• West 20th Street between West Street/11th Avenue and 10th Avenue
• West 22nd Street between West Street/12th Avenue and 10th Avenue
• West 24th Street between West Street/12th Avenue and 11th Avenue
• West 26th Street between West Street/12th Avenue and 11th Avenue
• West 29th Street between West Street/12th Avenue and 10th Avenue
• West 34th Street between West Street/12th Avenue and 11th Avenue
• West 40th Street between West Street/12th Avenue and 10th Avenue
• West 41st Street between West Street/12th Avenue and 11th Avenue
• West 44th Street between West Street/12th Avenue and 11th Avenue
• 11th Avenue between West 22nd Street and West 46th Street

Brooklyn streets

Coney Island Fireworks

• The area bounded by the Boardwalk on the South; Surf Avenue on the North; West 10th Street on the East; West 21st Street on the West (all-inclusive).
• Stillwell Avenue between Mermaid Avenue and Boardwalk

Nathan’s Famous July 4th Hotdog Eating Contest

• Stillwell Avenue between Surf Avenue and Bowery Street
• Bowery Street between Stillwell Avenue and West 15th Street
• Surf Avenue between West 15th Street and West 12th Street
• West 15th Street between Surf Avenue and Bowery Street

* This article was originally published here