For decades, Madison Square Garden was home to the legendary Westminster Dog Show, which displays the most elite specimens from different dog breeds each year and sets the rigorous standard for purebreds all across the country. 

Because of the COVID pandemic, though, the event was moved to Tarrytown in 2021 and 2022, and then to Queen’s Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens this years and last. After several years hopping around different venues, the famous dog show just announced that it’s finally returning to its rightful home in Madison Square Garden next year.

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The Westminster Dog Show its making its grand return to MSG on February 8, 10 and 11 of 2025, bringing back the classic group judging phase of the event and the best in show ceremony while debuting smaller events across other venues, including the 12th annual masters agility championship at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on February 8. 

As for the next year’s judges, the organization announced that America’s Dog will be selected by Mrs. Paula Nykiel, a veteran breeder and handler who has been judging dog shows since 1990. 

Other confirmed judges include Mr. Harold Tatro for the Hound Group; Mrs. Angela Pickett for the Toy Group; Mrs. Vicki Seiler-Cushman of Xenia for the Non-Sporting Group; and Ms. Janina K. Laurin of Ashford, CT for the Herding Group. 

The Westminster Dog Show involves seven group competitions across several categories including obedience, agility, dock diving and more. 

To learn more information about scheduling and stay up-to-date with announcements in the lead up to the 2025 show, visit the Westminster Dog Show’s website or follow them on social media. 

* This article was originally published here

If there’s anywhere in New York that knows how to deli, it’s Russ & Daughters. And if there’s anywhere in New York that knows ice cream, it’s Morgenstern’s Finest. So fittingly, the two local icons have come together to do what both do best to create the most New York sweet treat in recent memory. 

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Beginning on Tuesday, June 18, and stretching until the end of summer, Russ & Daughters and Morgenstern’s are collaborating on a collection of NYC delicatessen-inspired ice creams, based on some of the classic Jewish comfort foods that you’d find down at the century-old Lower East Side appetizing shop: you know, stuff like bagels and halva and babka (chocolate always!).

Among the new collab treats are a Sesame Bagel Ice Cream Sandwich, made with sesame cookie and cream cheese
ice cream; a five-layer Halva Ice Cream Bar inspired by Russ & Daughters classic seven-layer halvah, made with vegan chocolate and halva ice cream, chocolate fudge and dipped in dark chocolate (fun fact: it’s also gluten-free!); and a Chocolate Babka Ice Cream Pop, made with the appetizing store’s iconic chocolate-laced loaf and coated in toasted babka crumbles and dark chocolate dip. 

Each frozen treat is $8 a pop (no pun intended) and will be available for purchase at Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream (88 West Houston St) as well as at all Russ & Daughters locations. (Along with the LES original at 179 E Houston St, the deli brand also has outposts at Hudson Yards (502 West 34th Street) in Manhattan and at the Brooklyn Navy Yard (41 Flushing Avenue Building 77) in Brooklyn. 

It’s the second bagel-related ice cream collaboration of the summer so far: earlier this month, the Museum of Ice Cream partnered with Ess-A-Bagel for an “Ice-A-Bagel” treat that features a mini pink bagel stuffed with sweet Philadelphia cream gelato and topped with everything-bagel seasoning. 

* This article was originally published here

The New York food world is in mourning this week after the unexpected loss of James Kent, the acclaimed NYC-born chef behind such high-profile restaurants as Crown Shy, the two-Michelin-starred Saga (one of our most anticipated restaurants of 2024) and Overstory. He died at age 45 this past Saturday, June 15, his restaurant and hospitality group announced in a statement. 

“We are heartbroken to share that James Kent passed away unexpectedly earlier today,” wrote Saga Hospitality Group in an Instagram post announcing the chef’s passing. “The Saga Hospitality Group family is focused on supporting each other and most importantly Kelly, Gavin and Avery as we grieve James’ loss,” the post said, adding that the group’s restaurants would be closed in tribute the following day. “Celebrate Father’s Day with your loved ones,” the message ended. 

Born and raised in New York City, Kent kicked off his cooking career as a summer apprentice at Bouley when he was fifteen years old. After training at Le Cordon Bleu in London and Paris, he spent time in big-name kitchens like Babbo, Jean-Georges, and Gordon Ramsay. He then oversaw the kitchen of The Nomad and Eleven Madison Park, leading the latter to three Michelin stars and a place on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants List. 

Kent was building one of the most exciting restaurant empires in the city. And local chefs have come out in mass to pay tribute to the late chef. Daniel Boulud praised Kent’s “evolution, talent, ambition, determination and accomplishments” and wrote that his “artistic creativity, energy and generosity was an inspiration to his team and to us all.”

Marcus Samuelsson posted on Instagram that the two toques had “just had dinner a few weeks ago,” where they had talked about their shared love for the arts and food. “We would talk for hours about my love for Basquiat and his love for graffiti (he was [an] artist himself).”

* This article was originally published here

Kith Treats is whipping up something big over in Dumbo: now inside Empire Stores adjacent to Time Out Market New York, the brand is introducing not only its fourth NYC location but also its largest ice cream bar yet.

RECOMMENDED: The 12 best ice cream shops in NYC include modern parlors and old frozen favorites

At 55 Water Street, the cereal-infused ice cream parlor from luxury lifestyle and fashion brand Kith has opened inside of the second standalone Kith Kids storefront. (Visitors can either enter the Kith store from within the Empire Stores or from the street.) Inside, you’ll find a 508-square-foot space decorated with marble countertops, banquette seating and Kith Treats’ signature parlor-style cereal dispensers.

The goodies inside those dispensers are used to jazz up the brand’s menu of Signature Specials (including partnerships with Action Bronson, Virgil Abloh, LeBron James and other notable folks), Build Your Own creations (visitors can choose from a bevy of ice cream, milk, cereal and mix-ins choices, plus dairy-free alternatives) and Waffle Program options. The latter includes three waffle cone variations (each dipped in various chocolates and toppings), as well as a whole made-to-order branded Belgian-style waffle that features debossed Kith logos and comes topped with rotating ice cream specials.

And, as is Kith Treats tradition, there will also be a location-specific ice cream special available exclusively at the new Dumbo outpost: Named M², the offering is served in two kid-sized Kith Treats cups and features two swirls: one with vanilla and chocolate ice cream infused with Cocoa Puffs, Oreos, and mini M&M’s, topped with a chocolate drizzle; and the other featuring vanilla ice cream infused with strawberries, Frosted Flakes and mini marshmallows, topped with a strawberry drizzle.

Both the Kith Kids retail store and Kith Treat bar will be open daily from 11am to 8pm. Check out the treat bar and those exclusives below: 

* This article was originally published here

As the heat dome that meteorologists have been warning us about slowly envelopes the New York area, forecasters are letting everyone know that a 90-degree heat wave will be part of the weather-related updates.  

It’s already super hot out there but temperatures are expected to hit 90 degrees in the Tri-state area by tomorrow and “exceed that benchmark at least through Thursday,” reports ABC7.

Unfortunately, it will be sweltering hot but also humid, making the day feel that much warmer.

Of course, the best way to deal with the heat is to stay indoors. That being said, there are a number of fun ways to stay cool during this week’s heat wave as well: feel the wind in your hair at Coney Island or grab a cool beer in Union Square, for example. Unfortunately, NYC’s outdoor public pools don’t open until June 27, but you could still cool down at one of the indoor pools.

Lest you start worrying about the state of the city during the sweltering days ahead, you should know that Mayor Eric Adams said earlier today that his administration is ready to tackle the week.

“A heat wave can be more than just uncomfortable,” Adams said this morning during a press conference. “It can be deadly and life-threatening if you are not prepared. But New York City has a plan to beat the heat, and we want all New Yorkers to have a plan, too.”

His advice? Wear a hat, find shade whenever possible, take breaks if spending time outdoors and, of course, get acquainted with the city’s various cooling centers, which will open tomorrow and welcome folks in at least through Friday. Find more information about them all right here.

We are well aware that we spend the winter months complaining about the cold and the summertime to avoid the heat but, this time around, we’re not exaggerating: it’s going to get very hot and dangerous out there—so be careful!

* This article was originally published here