The editors at OpenTable and PEOPLE just crowned Verōnika the most beautiful restaurant in New York, but if you haven’t experienced its beauty for yourself yet you’re going to have to get on that ASAP because sadly the restaurant has closed its doors for good.

Tucked away in a 19th century building within Fotografiska New York, NYC’s Swedish photography museum, Verōnika was a stunning restaurant inspired by Eastern Europe at the turn of the twentieth century.

It was made up of two parts: the Restaurant in the main room, and Bar Veronika, an intimate space which offered craft cocktails, an extensive selection of old and new world wines, and a variety of small plates.

Sadly, however, Fotografiska New York recently announced it’s set to close its doors this September after a nearly five year run, and with that closure comes the closure of Verōnika and the museum’s Chapel Bar.

The good news is Fotografiska New York isn’t closing for good–they’re looking to relocate to a larger space. However we’re not sure when they’ll reopen.

Announced in an Instagram post, Verōnika closed its doors on Saturday, June 15th.

The post writes:

It is with mixed emotions that we announce the closing of Verōnika on June 15th. While this marks the end of a beautiful chapter at our Gramercy Park location, we are grateful for the wonderful moments we’ve shared.
We invite you to join us for memorable experiences from now until June 15th. Come savor the flavors, enjoy the ambiance, and create cherished memories with us.

The post adds that Verōnika will, however, remain open for private events until September 29th, so if you have a special occasion in mind that needs celebrating Verōnika may be the perfect place.

The post NYC’s Verōnika, Named The Most Beautiful Restaurant In NY, Has Closed appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here

The U.S. is made up of countless cultures passed on through many generations – but those with Italian heritage are one of the rare groups that have the opportunity to obtain dual citizenship with the country their ancestors emigrated from, even if they weren’t born there themselves.

Italy has a unique citizenship law that follows the principle of “jure sanguinis,” which translates from Latin to “right of blood.” Basically, if your Italian ancestors maintained their Italian citizenship even after they immigrated to another country, including the U.S., they could have actually passed it on to you through their bloodline.

Of course, you will need the proper documentation to prove this, so it can evolve into quite a lengthy process. But if you have the patience to stick it out, it could completely change your travel life. And with the new ETIAS requirements coming into play next year, it’s a great time to get started.

Here are some simple questions answered, but we also highly recommend checking out Dualusitalian.com, which is a community website that includes tons of information from those who have already gone through the process – and breaks down many of the different scenarios that can prove or disprove eligibility.

And if you don’t have Italian ancestry, remember there’s a New Visa That Makes It Easier Than Ever To Move To Italy…

If your lineage meets the requirements below, you’re one step closer to being an Italian citizen! 

So, who qualifies for Italian citizenship by descent?

Though there are some nuances to each familial situation, here are the biggest requirements:

• Of course, you must have a family member/ancestor from your direct bloodline (parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, etc.) who has had/has Italian citizenship 
• That family member must not have naturalized when they immigrated to a new country (at least before they had their next of kin), and therefore maintained their own Italian citizenship (which could then be passed on to future family members). For example, if your grandfather naturalized after he had your father, you could still claim jure sanguinis because he still technically had the Italian citizenship when he had the next of your bloodline. Therefore, your father had it and passed it on to you.
  • Important Note: Before August 16, 1992, gaining citizenship in any other country would automatically revoke Italian citizenship, so if your family member became a U.S. Citizen before then, you are likely ineligible. But, you could try to go farther back in your line and see if you can trace the citizenship by blood through another ancestor.
• For proving ancestry through a maternal line, that relative must have had her children after January 1, 1948 (when the Italian constitution went into effect). Before that time, women could not legally pass on citizenship through their line. Still, there have been court cases fought in Italy that have combatted this. 

The Dual U.S.-Italian Citizenship website has created a flowchart that makes it a little easier to understand, of course noting that each rule has some discrepancies:

Can I get Italian citizenship if my great grandparents were from Italy?

If they meet the requirements above, yes! If you are going through your great-grandmother, it may be more complicated depending on when her child (your grandparent) was born. See the last bullet above.

How many generations back can you claim Italian citizenship?

There is no generational limit to how far back you can go to prove Italian citizenship. From your grandparent to your great grandparent to your great great grandparent! The challenge then lies in proving they were indeed citizens, as the longer you go back the harder it could be to obtain their birth certificate. But you can go back as many generations as you need!

How much Italian ancestry do you need for citizenship?

At least one family member directly in your bloodline, so paternal or maternal (this can’t go through cousins or extended family, it has to go through parent, grandparent, great grandparent, etc.).

How do I apply for Italian citizenship through ancestry?

If you live in the U.S., you would apply through the Italian consulate or embassy in your city or state. The Consulate General of Italy in New York has jurisdiction over New York State, Connecticut and New Jersey (the counties of Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren). 

The specific instructions on their website, along with a downloadable checklist of documents and rules. Some things to note for New York:

• Applications are done only by mail, and cost 300 Euros
• To submit one, you must first book a virtual appointment online
• The checklist of materials, which includes birth certificate, marriage certificate, death certificates, can be downloaded on their site

If your ancestors meet the qualifications, you must gather all of the appropriate paperwork (detailing their proof of citizenship and your proof of relation to them). Most also need to be translated into Italian, and be accompanied by an Apostille proving their legality.

If the process seems too arduous to do all by yourself (especially if you end up needing to find decades or centuries-old Italian birth certificates), you can hire a third-party company to help. Though this option can be costly, they will do the extra labor of finding the needed paperwork. Some popular ones are IDC (Italian Dual Citizenship), ITAMCAP (Italian American Citizenship Assistance Program), and ICA (Italian Citizenship Assistance). Many also offer free consultations or questionnaires to find out if you are even eligible to begin with.

The Italian government is also extremely strict about the applications, and if there are even minor errors it can result in the application being rejected. These companies can also help alleviate any of those mistakes, since they are well-versed in the process.

How long does it take?

The process take take anywhere from three months to three years, according to Italiandualcitizenship.net. It all depends on your specific case and what the demand currently is at your local consulate. It seems that in recent times (according to online forums) appointments at the consulate can take as long as two years, so better to book it first and get your paperwork together in the meantime.

The post Here’s How You Can Actually Get Italian Citizenship If You Have Italian Ancestry appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here

On Friday, June 28th, Mayor Eric Adams further detailed the city’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget with major investments in libraries, cultural institutions, childhood education, parks and beyond. But between all of those investments, Mayor Eric Adams announced the expansion of NYC’s Fair Fares program that provides discounted rates to public transportation for eligible New Yorkers. Under this new expansion, more than one million New Yorkers will qualify to receive half-priced subway and bus fares.

What is NYC’s Fair Fares program?

The Fair Fares program grants eligible New Yorkers with subway and permitted bus rides for half the price. The program was introduced in 2019 to aid low income New Yorkers in covering the cost of transportation.

Who is eligible for Fair Fares NYC?

You must be between the ages of 18-64 and meet certain income guidelines to receive a Fair Fares MetroCard. Guidelines are as follows:

Already, 335,966 New Yorkers are enrolled in the program.

How is NYC’s Fair Fares program expanding?

Under the new Fiscal Year 2025 Budget, $20.7 million will go towards Fair Fares NYC. Moreover, the program will increase the eligibility rate from 120% to 145% of the Federal Poverty Level. This means around one million New Yorkers will qualify for discounted fares.

How can you apply for Fair Fares NYC?

Eligible New Yorkers can apply for Fair Fares NYC online or via the mobile app.

Learn more about Fair Fares NYC here.

The post Are You One Of The Million NYers Who Qualify For Discounted Subway Rides? appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here