Best Concert Venues in Manhattan

Radio City Music Hall

 

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Location: 1260 6th Ave, New York, NY 10020

This classic venue is famous for a reason. Part of the Madison Square Garden entertainment family, this concert hall hosts some of the biggest shows in NYC. Their annual show, The Radio City Rockettes, brings in tourists worldwide, and the theater hosts everything from music to comedy. Usually considered a music venue, this place celebrates all things artistic and is one of the best places to go in Midtown. Concerts usually sell out fast, so it’s wise to pay attention to their calendar of events.

Webster Hall

 

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Location: 125 E 11th St, New York, NY 10003

Originally opened in 1886, Webster Hall is one of the coolest places in Union Square and easily one of the best concert venues in the city. Hosting a huge amount of concerts annually, this venue also turns into a nightclub, hosting special themed raves meant to make your inner child smile while your outer adult dances the night away. These raves even have costume contests and karaoke every once in a while. This music venue is special because it lets the audience feel more involved and has even built its own community of entertainment lovers. This place has kept the party going for over 100 years.

Bowery Ballroom

 

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Location: 6 Delancey St, New York, NY 10002

This music venue is a bit smaller, which means it’s a bit more of an intimate setting. Part of the Mercury East family, which also runs Mercury Ballroom, Irving Plaza, and the Gramercy Theater, Bowery Ballroom is in the heart of the Bowery, and hosts many indie bands while selling extremely affordable tickets for their shows. This venue is perfect for catching talent that has gone undiscovered by the top 40 charts. The bands are so close, it’s like you’re part of the performance. It’s a fun experience that won’t make your wallet hurt.

Best Concert Venues in Brooklyn

Kings Theater

Location: 1027 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11226

Originally opened as a movie theater in 1929, this landmarked venue has made a stunning comeback. Closing in 1977 and reopening in 2015, this venue has pivoted from film to music, dance, and comedy. This venue offers all kinds of performances, from world tours from major artists to their annual showing of the Nutcracker. They even host family-friendly shows regularly, piquing the interest of young artistic minds, and ensuring that this theater will never again have to shut its doors. This Flatbush gem is beautiful and will be around for a long time.

The Bell House

Location: 149 7th St, Brooklyn, NY 11215

This medium-sized venue is the place to go on a Friday night in Park Slope. This establishment is a music venue, comedy club, and nightclub all wrapped up into one fun package near the water. Their nightclubs are themed raves, with mixes of music from popular artists. Their comedy nights are some of the best in the city, and frequently feature big names like Roy Wood Jr. and Mary Beth Barone. Tickets for concert events are usually under $30, while their club nights are usually free, so the fun is also very affordable.

Lena Horne Bandshell

Location: 141 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Named for dancer and Brooklyn native Lena Horne, this outdoor concert venue is the place for summer events. Located in Prospect Park, this bandshell has been a venue for some of the best bands, comedies, and theater since 1941. Known primarily as a music venue, this is easily one of the most popular places to catch the New York Summer Concert Series, a festival of free outdoor concerts organized by the city. Because this venue is outdoors, they also have concessions, meaning you can snack while you rock out under a full moon.

Best Concert Venues in Queens

Forest Hills Stadium

 

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Location: 1 Tennis Pl, Forest Hills, NY 11375

This outdoor concert venue has been part of Queen since 1923 and is the largest outdoor music stadium in the city. Capable of holding over 13,000, this venue was originally designed to host the US Open, but the space was too good to pass up a setting for some major music events. Everyone from The Rolling Stones to Ed Sheeran has played at this venue, and recent renovations have added new suite options modeled after speakeasies. This venue is huge, fun, and an experience you don’t want to miss.

Melrose Ballroom

 

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Location: 3608 33rd St, Queens, NY 11106

A smaller, more intimate space, Melrose Ballroom has hosted some of the best musicians in the entire world. When we say this venue is more intimate, we should say each level of this place is more intimate, as the various levels can be combined or separated to hold multiple events simultaneously. Greats like Rihanna and Steven Tyler have performed here, and it’s easy to see why with the level of service provided. This venue has a rooftop deck, a separate bar, and even VIP seating in the mezzanine. This place is a party in the heart of Astoria.

Knockdown Center

 

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Location: 52-19 Flushing Ave, Queens, NY 11378

Located in the neighborhood of Maspeth, this place doesn’t consider itself a concert or music venue but an artistic experience instead. Located in a former factory, this space is huge, hosting concerts indoors and outdoors depending on the event and the weather. Events here are wild, with a ton of dancing, things to drink, and good times to be had. There are no sad faces in this venue, unless a band or performance is trying to convey some sense of sadness in their work. This place is a rare find in a great borough.

Best Concert Venues in The Bronx

Lehman Center for the Performing Arts

 

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Location: 250 Bedford Park Blvd W, The Bronx, NY 10468

Focusing mostly on dance and theater, this venue is a great place to spend a more classy evening. Partnering with major events like the Westchester Nutcracker, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and CUNY events, this place puts on many shows celebrating diversity and all things performance art, both past and present. This is one of the most culturally rich experiences in the city, and the events done here are some of the most moving performances you’ll ever see. Even better, it’s affordable.

Crotona Park Amphitheater

Location: 559 Claremont Pkwy, The Bronx, NY 10457

This theater/bandshell is one of the most popular places in The Bronx during the Summer Concert Series. The music and dance that happen here come from some of the best artists working today. Located in beautiful Crotona Park, this venue is huge and hosts regular events in the warmer months, making it a popular destination for music lovers who need to let loose. The park is easy to get to, but the theater fills up quickly, so it’s important to arrive early to any concert you and your friends are hoping to attend.

Best Concert Venue in Staten Island

St. George Theater

Location: 35 Hyatt St, Staten Island, NY 10301

This Staten Island concert venue is absolutely gorgeous, and has been around since 1929.  Dedicated to fighting pediatric cancer, this venue hosts a variety of concerts, theater, and educational performances every year, and even hosts camps and after school programs for children interested in pursuing the arts. This venue has a long history of excellence, and its architecture rivals even the grandest Broadway theater. It’s astounding that in this venue, countless performances have been produced, entertaining all of NYC and beyond. Shows here sell out fast, so be sure to keep up with their calendar. 

Concert venues in New York are special places where dreams come true. That might seem like hyperbole, but ask any fan of Ed Sheeran how they felt seeing him live. People go crazy for the bands and comedians they love. The right concert venues make seeing them an extra special experience. Everything from the lighting, acoustics, to the neighborhood can make an event a truly unique experience. The venues listed above know this, which is why they are here. They know what it takes to make a concert, comedy show, or theatrical production stand out from the crowd. Seeing a show at one of these concert venues is an experience you’ll never forget. 

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NYC Social Clubs Guide

The Union Club

The Union Club is New York city’s first private social club, founded in 1836. Its first roster of members originally boasted 250 “gentlemen of social distinction,” including ex-mayor Philip Hone. Modeled after popular private clubs in London at the time, the Union Club grew quickly to include 400 members of New York’s high society. The club’s first locations were in modern-day Tribeca and Soho and featured dining rooms for socialization and rooms for cards, cribbage, euchre, backgammon, and other popular games. 

The union club is now located at the intersection of 69th Street and Park Avenue and is open to all genders. All patrons of the club must abide by a dress code – men must wear jackets and ties (in almost all parts of the club) and women must wear suits, dresses, or tailored pantsuits. For the squash courts, white clothing and collared shirts are required. If a guest is not properly dressed, they’ll have to enter from the 69th Street service entrance. Much like many private social clubs, the usage of handheld electronic devices is strictly prohibited in all common areas. Guests who wish to place calls must use the telephone booths located throughout the building. Membership to the Union Club is said to be $5,000 a year and is by invitation only. 

The Metropolitan Club

Founded in February of 1891 by a group of gentlemen previously engaged at the Knickerbocker Club, the Metropolitan Club was formed over a dinner arranged between powerful and influential men. With men carrying surnames such as Vanderbilt, Sturgis, and Roosevelt, these powerful men signed articles of affiliation over dinner, bringing the club to fruition and appointing J.P. Morgan as the first president. The founding members were so wealthy that the financing for the club took only a month, after each of the founding members contributed $5,000 each. 

Notable members in the Metropolitan Club’s history include Richard Nixon, Bill Clinton, and Ronald Reagan. Membership remains $5,000, and rules at the club remain restrictive in terms of dress code and technology use. Much like the Union Club, gentlemen are required to wear jackets and ties at all times, and women must wear dresses, skirts, dressy pantsuits, or business pantsuits. No phones or laptops are allowed inside the club whatsoever, allowing members to socialize and network without the pressure of social media or outside communication. 

The Metropolitan Club has three main floors in addition to a sixth floor penthouse, and hosts a variety of events for non-profit organizations and charities in its beautiful headquarters. The first floor features a great hall and main bar, with the second floor expanding to include a library, billiard room, and card room. The third floor features a large ballroom with a capacity of 400 guests. The Metropolitan Club website boasts that they can seat up to 340 guests and hold receptions for up to 1100 people. The club’s glamorous headquarters can also serve as the backdrop for weddings – be it a beautiful ceremony in the courtyard or a bustling reception in the ballroom.

The Yale Club 

Started in 1897, The Yale Club is an exclusive social club for Yale students and alumni. In the days before LinkedIn, the club was created to give space to Yale graduates to socialize and network. The club has changed locations over the years but now sits in the heart of Midtown Manhattan near Grand Central Station in a building with 22 floors at 50 Vanderbilt Avenue. To this day it remains the only Yale Club with a physical location. It is now one of the largest clubhouses in the world, and the largest collegiate affiliated private social club. Anyone who has graduated from Yale is welcome to join the club, and anyone who doesn’t hold the prestigious ivy league degree is kindly asked to refrain from membership. Members, however, are able to add spouses to their membership for just $310.00 per year. 

The clubhouse, much like other clubs, offers overnight accommodations, fitness facilities, a dining room, library, and bar. The fitness facilities come with additional costs – either $18.00 per visit or $154 per quarter. While the Yale Club in New York City has only one location, members can also benefit from access to reciprocal clubs in over 15 countries and 20 U.S. states. The club does hold events such as weddings and galas, but usage is restricted to member and member-sponsored events. 

The Cosmopolitan Club

Though many private social clubs of the 20th and 21st century were open to exclusively men, not all private social clubs were “boys clubs.” The Cosmopolitan club (nicknamed “The Cos”) began in 1907 by a mother named Ethel Hoyt, after she realized her socialite daughter had nowhere to go during her few free hours a day. Two years later, a group of socialite women came together to create space to gather and socialize. In response to its male counterpart clubs such as The Union Club or The Metropolitan Club,  The Cosmopolitan Club was created to make space for distinguished women in their respective fields. Notable previous members include Eleanor Roosevelt, Helen Hayes, and Abby Aldrich Rockefeller. The club website defines it as a place to gather “outside the routine” of home and office and “nourish the intellect” of members. The Cosmopolitan club self-identifies as a place for women to “exercise their artistic impulses; cultivate friends; and freely exchange ideas.”

Unlike many other social clubs in New York City, casual dress is permitted at The Cosmopolitan Club from 7-11 A.M. For other hours of the day, men must be in coats or jackets and women must wear tailored pants, suits, and dresses. While cell phone use is not prohibited, it is restricted to “silent mode” when in the clubhouse. In addition to social events, “The Cos” also holds classes and lectures, making it a true hub of studied individuals in a variety of fields. The scope of classes offered is very wide, ranging from pilates and barre to lectures from political pundits and media superstars. Membership is exclusive and the fees for membership are not public. For those who are interested in joining, it is best to have a contact within the club or have a membership to a U.S. based reciprocal club.

Soho House

SoHo House is a private social club that has a variety of locations all around the world.  Renowned for its connections to artists and creatives, the club has created its own network of professionals and socialites. SoHo House’s first Manhattan location is in the Meatpacking District, features a rooftop (with a pool), a dining room, spa, a vinyl room, drawing room, and a screening room for new films. Whereas some social clubs restrict phones and laptops entirely, laptops are permitted until 6 P.M. daily in the drawing room and vinyl room, except when there is an event taking place. Phone calls are permitted by the elevators, stairwells, and in the vinyl room until 6 P.M. as well, making this suitable for workspace as well as socialization. 

SoHo house offers a variety of different membership options, including an “under 27” discount for young people. Members can choose between belonging to SoHo House, Studios, or “SoHo Friends,” all coming with a variety of different benefits and levels of access. Given that SoHo house has a network of clubhouses all over the world, individuals can also choose between belonging solely to their local house, or paying an additional fee for access and usage of all of the SoHo House spaces. For the New York City clubhouse, annual membership (with no discounts) runs just over $2,500. To gain access to all SoHo houses, annual membership rises to $4,355. Anyone can apply to be a member – the application takes only fifteen minutes to fill out and includes proof of personal identification and a short personal statement. 

Are Private Social Clubs a Relic of the Past?

Though the social clubs of the late 1890’s may seem antiquated, the social networks formed at these clubs have been a primary driving force of the finance, art, and political industries. Today, many of these private clubs are open to both men and women and create space away from ringing phones and buzzing laptops, where socialites and professionals can network and relax away from home. Though membership can be steep in price (or sometimes entirely unavailable due to educational restrictions or social status), membership to these clubs can allow individuals to reap great benefits. Whether hosting a private event, enjoying a business luncheon, or staying a weekend in the city, visiting any of these private social clubs is sure to evoke envy from outsiders. Each club has its own unique attributes and idiosyncrasies, allowing members to choose a club that suits their personal interests and desires. Whether or not you are an Ivy League graduate, there is sure to be a social club to suit your needs.

The post A Guide to NYC’s Best Private Social Clubs appeared first on CitySignal.

The Apollo Theatre

“The Soul of American Culture”, the Legendary Apollo theatre has been serving as a cultural center in Harlem, and greater Black New York for over 100 years. Founded in 1913 by George Keister, the Apollo has had a large role in the emergence of various musical styles and artists, such as jazz, bebop and blues, with such names as Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, and Luther Vandross gracing its stage. Famous for dance, music and theatre, the theatre is perhaps best known as a comedy venue, with its legendary stand-up Showtime At The Apollo still airing episodes on Fox, hosted by Steve Harvey. The Apollo Theatre also features an Ameteur night for artists and performances of all kinds, and is responsible for the launching of the careers of Lauryn Hill, H.E.R and Ella Fitzgerald.

Breaking and Entering

An up-and-coming theatre collective, Breaking and Entering is a Brooklyn-Based community-oriented production company focusing on work by emerging and pre-emerging artists. Their major programming includes outdoor Rooftop Readings, a series of new plays rehearsed and read by a rotating group of highly talented artists held atop different buildings throughout Brooklyn. Other initiatives include their PEA fest, or Pre-emerging Artists festival, a three-night event featuring three plays by three pre-emerging playwrights at The Chain theatre.

Brooklyn Academy of Music

Centered in Brooklyn, BAM has been a home for theatrical innovation for over 150 years. With programming in dance, theatre, music, opera and film, the Brooklyn Academy of Music features a robust calendar of events that features something to do every single day. Ongoing events include Next Wave, their emerging works incubator, BAMkids, their youth initiative and BAMcafé, which is a home to their cabaret-style works. BAM is also a cultural center for lecturers, guest artists and other organizations, hosting BAM Talk lectures about a bevy of creative interests as well as any number of networking events such as a Young Producer’s Night and artistic panels. 

The Gallery Players

The Gallery Players are “Brooklyn’s Premiere Off-Off-Broadway Theatre” according to their own home page, and they have good reason to claim that title. With the mission to provide opportunities for theatre artists and audiences by providing professional-quality theatre to Brookly audiences at an affordable cost, this Park Slope theatre received the Off-Off Broadway Review’s award for Lifetime Achievement in 2000. Notable productions include the 2008 production of the LGBTQ military musical Yank! or the 2019 production of Duncan Sheik’s hit musical, Spring Awakening for which they were awarded the New York Innovative Theatre Award for outstanding musical.

Hip to Hip Theatre Company 

Hit to Hip is a non-profit focused on serving New York City’s outer boroughs. Since 2007 this company based in the largest borough of NYC has been pumping out annual productions of their “Free Shakespeare in the Park”, “Kids and the Classics,” as well as other free, family-friendly professional productions, almost always in public spaces. Now officially servicing all 5 boroughs of the city, Hip to Hip’s robust performance schedule also serves as a guide of sorts to the best public parks and performance spaces in the city. A completely free alternative to The Public Theatre’s famous “Shakespeare in The Park”, Hip To Hip is a great choice for anyone who can’t make it down to the Delacorte Theatre and still craves high-grade, accessible, community-based classical theatre.

Octopus Theatricals

Eschewing aesthetic, geopolitical and institutional boundaries to create inclusive work that reflects their “roles as global citizens”, Octopus Theatricals LLC produces work like no other. Not necessarily a theater company but a “creative producing and consulting” company, Octopus has its “tentacles” in any number of excellent productions, companies, and groups. A recent, famous production they have a role in is Anaïs Mitchell’s Hadestown, which is still running on broadway. But their off and off-off broadway productions are absolutely worth checking out. Theatre For One for instance, designed by LOT-EK, featured a mobile trailer in which a single actor performs an intimate show for a single audience member, or Arizona State University collaboration Utopian Hotline, an installation with a 30-foot projection screen, headphones and vinyl records.

People’s Theatre Project

Rooted in Washington Heights and Inwood, The People’s Theatre Project is an ensemble-based, multilingual theatre company led by women of color and immigrants. With an ensemble core of immigrant artists of color, this 13-year-old organization brings a refreshing and recognizable voice to theatre for and by people of color. Some of their initiatives include the PTP company, their “multigenerational touring company” and PTP academy, which is described as a “rigorous, multi-year arts and social justice program in Upper Manhattan”. In 2022 the People’s Theatre project was awarded a $15 million investment from NYC, selected by Eric Adams, to own and operate a “first-of-its-kind” Immigrant Research and Performing arts center. Slated to open in 2027, the IRPAC will offer weekly cultural programming to seniors, serve as a performing arts space and home to companies and individual artists, and feature art by immigrant visual artists. 

24 Hour Plays

The 24 Hour Plays is a creative community committed to producing plays, musicals, and other theatre all written, rehearsed, and performed in 24 hours. With several programs, including 24 Hour Plays on Broadway, 24 Hour Musicals, Plays around The World and Viral Monologues, this decade-old institution is a staple of decentralized theatre in and out of New York City. Each Summer, the “main event” of sorts is staged in an Off-Broadway theatre and features up-and-coming playwrights, directors, and actors, as well as some established industry giants. Recently, their Broadway-based programming “On Broadway” was held at Town Hall on West 43rd Street, just blocks away from the Times Square, The Orion and The Birdland Jazz Club. The company also recently partnered with Broadway Licensing to expand the program to other community organizations who want to use the 24 Hour model.

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How “The Bronx” Got Its Name

Probably the question asked most is why is it referred to as “The Bronx” instead of just “Bronx”? This then leads to the question of how the Bronx got its name in the first place. The answer to both is simple enough!

In 1639, a Swedish-born man named Jonas Bronck came to a Dutch settlement in New Amsterdam. There, he found Native Americans who sold him 680 acres of land.

The land was east of the Harlem River, below the line of present-day 150th Street. The area was known to the Natives as “Ranaqua”, or “the End Place,” as it was at the south end of an old trailway. The river that lay to the east of this land was known to the Natives as “Aquahung” – or the “River of High Places.” Once the land was sold to Bronck, it was referred to as “Bronck’s Land,” and the river was then called “Bronck’s River.” Bronck wanted the land for growing tobacco and brought others to work with him who also built farms on the land.

In April 1642, a peace treaty was negotiated and signed at Bronck’s homestead between Dutch authorities and the Weckquaesgeek sachems Ranaqua and Tackamuck

But in 1643, just 4 years after the land purchase, Bronck inexplicably died. It’s quite strange that there are no details on his death, as it must have been fairly sudden. Bronck would have only been 43 years old at the time of his death, and no records indicate he was ill.

His wife, Teuntie Joriaens, recorded a detailed inventory of the farm and his possessions in May of 1643, just after Bronck’s death. By June of 1643, Joriaens had remarried to a man named Arent van Curler, and moved away. Interestingly, Bronck had one of the most extensive libraries ever recorded at that time. The volumes within it indicate he was a highly educated man, revealing he was fluent in at least 4 languages.

After Bronck’s passing, eventually, the only aspect of the area that was named after him was the river, which over time had the “ck” of his name replaced for the easier to spell“x”. The borough went over 200 years with no official name until New York City received the land from Westchester County. Since the land was in the middle of the river, it received the name “The Bronx” instead of just “Bronx.”

How “Manhattan” Got Its Name

The story of how Manhattan got its name is fairly simple. It comes from the Native American Munsee Lenape language, where the term manaháhtaan roughly means “the place where we gather wood for bows,” as the area had a grove of hickory trees that were ideal for making bows. It was first recorded in writing as “Manna-hata”, in the 1609 logbook of Robert Juet, an officer on Henry Hudson’s yacht Halve Maen (Half Moon). It appears on a map in 1610 as Manna-hata. Originally, Manhattan was inhabited by the Munsee Lenape and Wappinger tribes.

How “Brooklyn” Got Its Name

Brooklyn’s etymology is also really simple as it is named after an ancient Dutch village in Holland called Breukelen. It is made up of two words: broeck, meaning marshland, and lede, meaning small stream in peat areas, specifically. On the American continent, Breukelen was established in 1646 and first seen in print in 1663. Interestingly, Brooklyn was its own official, independent, incorporated city – before it was an official village and town – until 1898, when it was finally consolidated with the rest of the boroughs to form New York City.

How “Queens” Got Its Name

One of the original 12 counties designated in 1683, Queens County is believed to be named for English Queen Catherine of Braganza, who reigned during this time, from 1638-1705. On one of Queens’ borders is Brooklyn, which lies in Kings County, which we know was named after King Charles II, husband of Queen Catherine. Richmond County (Staten Island), which also borders here, is named after King Charles II’s illegitimate son, the 1st Duke of Richmond. Thus it’s fairly clear that this is why Queens was so named, even though there was no official declaration to this effect.

How “Staten Island” Got Its Name

Last but certainly not least, the fifth and final borough in NYC is Staten Island. This section of NYC is so named for the Staten-Generaal (States General) of the Dutch Republic. In 1898, Staten Island became one of the five boroughs and was know as Richmond before being renamed Staten Island in 1975. Staten Island was originally spelled Staten Eylandt, and was referred to as this by Henry Hudson, an English explorer who disappeared in June of 1611. Henry Hudson was the explorer who had the vessel Halve Maen, referred to in the section above on Manhattan. Additionally, the Hudson River was named after him after he sailed up the river and laid the foundation for Dutch colonization there.

As the story goes, Hudson was on his final major voyage, again looking for the rumored Northwest Passage to Asia. He was the first European to see Hudson Strait and Hudson Bay. In 1611, Hudson was ready to press onward to the west after spending the winter on the shore of James Bay. Unfortunately for him, his crew objected in mutiny, putting him, his son, and seven other crew members who supported him and cast them adrift. They were never seen or heard from again.

These are the stories of how the five NYC boroughs got their names. We hope you’ve enjoyed them!

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Read on to learn how to watch the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks, whether in public or at home, and how to prep to be the coolest host for 2023 fireworks.

When are the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks?

The fireworks show will take place around 9:25 pm on July 4th, 2022.

Where are the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks set off?

The fireworks will be released from barges on the East River between 34th and 23rd streets in Manhattan and Gantry Plaza State Park in Queens and Transmitter Park in Brooklyn.

Where can you watch the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks?

Macy’s has designated viewing spots that are FREE to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Official Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks viewing points in Manhattan:

• East 42nd Street and FDR Drive. (Enter security checkpoint at 1st Ave and East 42nd street)
• East 34th Street and FDR Drive. (Enter security checkpoint at 1st Ave and East 34th street). This location is the only one that is notated as being ADA accessible.
• East 23rd Street and FDR Drive. (Enter security checkpoint at 1st Ave and East 23rd street)

Official Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks viewing points in Brooklyn:

• Newtown Barge Park
• Transmitter Park
• Marsha P. Johnson
• Does it cost to watch the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks?

Official Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks viewing points in Queens:

• Gantry Plaza State Park

Keep in mind, the access points, viewing locations and transportation are subject to change, but that will most likely not happen.

Are there places to avoid watching the

Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks from?

Macy’s shares that views may be obstructed if you’re viewing from Bushwick Inlet Park, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn Heights Promenade, Brooklyn Grand Ferry Park, Domino Park, Queens Hunter’s Point South Park & Roosevelt Island.

But those places may be the insider scoop for firework viewing. Sure, they may be obstructed, but you won’t have to worry about going through a security checkpoint or fighting the crowds to get a subway after the fact.

Is there a cost or ticket needed to watch the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks?

No! The fireworks are free to the public and you do not need a ticket. Some locations will be closed once they get crowded and additional spectators may be directed to other viewing points. Get there early and camp out, just like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade!

What to bring to the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks

Bring snacks, refillable water bottles and phone chargers.

Macy’s advises to not bring chairs, blankets, tents, umbrellas, large bags, large backpacks, drones or hover cameras, weapons of any kind, illegal substances, alcoholic beverages, glass containers of any kind, large or hard-sided coolers, picnic baskets, skateboards, scooters, or personal motorized vehicles, totems made of wood, metal and/or PVC material, including flag poles and heavy sticks.

How can you watch the performers for the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks?

There is no access for the general public for the performances that accompany the fireworks, but you can tune in to NBC or stream on Peacock from 8-10 pm ET to catch the full show.

Macy’s 2022 July 4th Fireworks Performers

Macy’s pulls out all the stops for these chart-topping performers!

• “TODAY” hosts Craig Melvin and Dylan Dreyer will host the live tv coverage.
• 5 Seconds of Summer.
• Brett Eldredge.
• Carly Pearce.
• Pitbull with Filmore
• The cast of Freestyle Love Supreme including Lin-Manuel Miranda, James Monroe Iglehart, Kaila Mullady, Dizzy Senze, and Anthony Veneziale.
• Broadway’s “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” cast members Jacqueline B. Arnold, Jessica Lee Goldyn, Tasia Jungbauer, and Jeigh Madjus
• Celebrity chef and barbecue expert Chef David Rose.
• Craig Ferguson, Padma Lakshmi, Paulina Porizkova, Wolfgang Puck, and many everyday heroes will participate in the segment of “The American Spirit”.
• The fireworks will be accompanied by “My Country Tis of Thee” and “America the Beautiful,” sung by Joaquina Kalukango, the Tony Award-winning star of the Broadway musical “Paradise Square”.

How can I watch the fireworks at home?

Tune in to NBC or Peacock for the official coverage, or take it to the roof of your building! Keep in mind that you aren’t going to be the only person doing this, so you’re going to have to plan ahead. Many rooftops will limit visitors, glass bottles and alcohol consumption.

How to host a dope Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Party…next year.

Hosting a great party is all about location, location, location…. and food and drinks, of course! But just like parties, real estate is also about location and finding an amazing place to watch the 4th of July Fireworks also falls into that same vein.

If you’re about to move to a new rental soon, but want to plan for an amazing party next year, you’ll want to start thinking about optimal viewing NOW. This means taking into account the location of the apartment and whether or not it has outdoor space, either public or private. Private space for parties will pay for itself with free booze gifts from partygoers, plus large amounts of street cred, but the communal outdoor space will come without the premium price-tag.

Below, we’ve compiled a list of apartments with either communal or private outdoor space in neighborhoods in Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan with anything from great to partially obstructed views of 4th of July Fireworks. Of course, this is provided Macy’s doesn’t pull a fast one on us and move their fireworks location from the previous locations of the East River and Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Regardless, reveling the 4th of July in NYC is like no other experience!

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Immerse Yourself…

As life continues to happen all around us, and technology evolves to new heights – the newest entertainment trend is the “immersive experience,” gaining popularity here in Gotham. I’m not sure how natives feel, but I can’t help saying how amazing it is to play even a small part in this iconic City that embraces new and different ideas. Because of NYC’s seemingly inherent ability to continuously stay on the cutting edge, this modern, progressive society represents the trendsetters of our time. One popular current trend is immersive experiences. You’ve probably experienced at least one before, even if it wasn’t marketed that way. Interactive is another descriptive term used, but although quite similar, it’s not safe to use the two synonymously. Recently, thanks to new technology, “IRL” just got a healthy dose of surrealism! What do I mean by that? Let’s go on an adventure of NYC’s finest immersive experiences, and find out what the hype is all about.

Wonderland Dreams by Alexa Meade

• Neighborhood: Midtown Manhattan
• Tickets: $39 for ages 18+, $29 for ages 3-12, $33 for Student (13+), Seniors and Military, options for family and group bundles as well.
• Dates: Running until Labor Day weekend 2023
• Indoor

While New York City may be a wonderland, you can visit Alice’s here! This whimsical exhibit gives visitors the opportunity to admire Alex Meade’s 3D-painted artwork and pick up a brush themselves to contribute to the fun. This exhibit is fun for the entire family. Book tickets for dates and times available here.

Chasing Andy Warhol 

• Location: East Village
• Tickets: $70-$75
• Dates: Starts back up June 30th, 2022
• Outdoor

“Chasing Andy Warhol” is characterized as a theatrical immersive experience, and it sounds very cool – if you’re a fan but haven’t caught it yet, you better hurry because there are only a few spots left before it ends, the calendar on the website shows no dates after June 12th. It’s described as a “distinct blend of immersive theatre, dance, film, art, and puppetry from the award-winning Bated Breath Theatre Company.” This is an immersive walking tour theatrical production through the East Village giving a rare insight into one of the most prominent, influential artists of the 20th century.

Tickets are $70, but for an extra $5 bucks you get a VIP ticket that gets you one drink included with admission. Sessions are scheduled every 45 minutes on Thursdays and Fridays from 5 pm – 8:45 pm and Sundays from 1 pm – 7 pm, and the event itself is said to be 60- minutes in duration. This is an outdoor, walking event

Life of a Neuron  

• Neighborhood: Chelsea
• Tickets: $25+ for ages 15+, $17+ for ages 4-15
• Dates: Currently running
• Indoor

The “Life of a Neuron” is an immersive exhibit that explores the story of life on a cellular level, taking visitors inside the human brain to understand its role in shaping the human experience. If biology or science interests you at all, the experience sounds fascinating. It’s being produced by Artechouse and the Society for Neuroscience.

The Artechouse is open 7 days a week from 10 am – 10 pm, the last session starts at 9 pm. The XR Bar is on-site and is open 3 pm – 10 pm Monday, Thursday, and Friday and Saturday and Sunday from 12 pm to 10 pm (closed Tuesdays). Tickets for adults start at just $25, children aged 4 – 15 start at $17, and under age 4 are free. Residents of New York and New Jersey get $5 off admission M-F with proof of residency. Sessions last about an hour, and the Artechouse is located in the historic boiler room at Chelsea Market at 439 W. 15th Street, an indoor event.

Arts District Experience: Limitless AI 

• Neighborhood: Greenpoint
• Tickets: $49.50+
• Dates: Opens July 21st, 2022
• Indoor

Brooklyn’s Arts District Experience at 25 Franklin Street in Greenpoint, a reclaimed warehouse on the East River, is preparing to host three immersive experiences under one roof! The one we’re talking about here is called Limitless AI, a captivating idea that gives visitors a 360° experience through the “eyes” of an innovative AI. Through rotating, enveloping installations, visitors will explore “the mysteries of existence, the cosmos, and humanity,” promising “a journey of amazement and wonder that examines the soul and consciousness” – all in a shared vision with an AI. Sounds pretty amazing to me. While the event opens on July 21st, you can book your ticket now.

All ages are welcome and tickets are $49.50 and days will be Thursdays through Saturdays from 7 pm-10:30 pm and Sundays from 5:30 pm-10 pm. It is a 70-minute presentation, an indoor event. There are two other experiences that are opening here at the same time, one simulates a hair-raising airplane Flight that will cost $39.50, and another that takes visitors through a terrifying Seance room, also $39.50, for ages 15 and older, age 13-15 with accompanying adult only. Check it out!

The Summit – One Vanderbilt 

• Neighborhood: Grand Central
• Tickets:$39+ for ages 13+, $33+ for ages 6-12
• Dates: Currently running
• Indoor (but in the sky!)

An immersive art experience everyone is talking about is The Summit at One Vanderbilt, one of NYC’s tallest skyscrapers. Through different artistic visions and the breathtaking heights of the riveting One Vanderbilt setting, visitors are encouraged to accept and interact with a new reality that challenges the senses and creates new perceptions. Three things are advised: one, wear or bring sunglasses for daytime visits due to reflective material. Two, wear regular, comfortable shoes because stilettos, steel-toed boots, cleats, etc. are not allowed, due to possible damage to flooring. And three, don’t wear a dress or a skirt due to mirrored floors and reflections.

Tickets are $39 for adults (age 13+, general admission), and youths ages 6-12 are $33 while 5 and under are free. However, for the full experience including the Ascent glass elevator is recommended, tickets for adults (ages 13+)  to “Ultimate Summit” start at $73, and youth ages 6-12 start at $67. In the evening, the experience changes to take the senses to exciting new heights – ticket prices also, start at $83. This is an indoor event.

The Museum of Ice Cream

• Neighborhood: SoHo
• Tickets: $36+
• Dates: Currently running
• Indoor

Located at 558 Broadway, the Museum of Ice Cream is awfully compelling. Here at this interactive museum visitors can slide down a 3-story slide and land in a pile of sprinkles, or a hall of ice cream scoops. Of course, there’s ice cream tasting and great gifts and merchandise, plus a wholly immersive world to play in with an ice cream focus!

Tickets for daytime events are $36 and $44, while nighttime events are $49. There are many photo opportunities as well, at this indoor event.

Arcadia Earth 

• Neighborhood: NoHo
• Tickets: $27+
• Dates: Currently running
• Indoor

In NoHo, at 718 Broadway you’ll find Arcadia Earth, a totally immersive, indoor experience involving AR, or augmented reality. Explore underwater worlds, fantasy lands, and inspirational art installations with cutting-edge AR and VR technology. This experience sounds incredibly intense, users can use Microsoft Hololens to interact with hundreds of holograms throughout the visit. General admission tickets start at just $27, and you can pick your day and time here. The best part about this event is for every ticket sold, a tree is planted and a donation is made to Oceanic Global, to help the environment. What a terrific value!

Greenwich Village Haunted House Tour 

• Neighborhood: Greenwich Village
• Tickets: $34-$39 for 21+
• Dates: Currently running
• Outdoor

This immersive experience is one of the best values for the money IMO, and only has dates available through June 20th so get your ticket today for the Greenwich Village Haunted House Tour. You’ll visit 8 locations on the tour, which both begins and ends with Washington Square Park at the Arch. Greenwich Village is well known for centuries of hauntings, and the places you’ll visit will be historically significant, such as Mark Twain’s House of Death and the Emma Lazarus House.

You must be 21 or over for this event and tickets are being sold at one price for a small group of 2-5 people – the cost is just $34 for a one-hour tour, or $39 for the extended tour (2 hours). Tours start at 8 pm nightly. You can book the time and date on the link above. This is an outdoor, adults-only experience.

Museum of Illusions 

• Neighborhood: West Village
• Tickets: $24 for ages 13+, $20 for ages 2-13
• Dates: Currently running
• Indoor

The Museum of Illusions located at 77 Eighth Avenue in the West Village offers wonderful immersive experiences through multiple innovative illusions, all at a great price of just $24 for adults age 13 and older or $20 age 2-13 children and are good for 6 months after purchase. This is one of the best values for a quality experience with immersive content. All ages are welcome and museum hours are Monday-Thursday 10am-11pm, and Friday-Sunday 10am-midnight. Experience photo illusions, optical illusions and holograms. Visit the Bottomless Pit, the Reverse Room and the Tilted Room – and so much more! This is truly just the tip of the iceberg. An indoor experience to remember, for sure.

Candytopia 

• Neighborhood: Midtown Manhattan
• Tickets: $36 for ages 13+, $29 for ages 4-12
• Dates: Currently running
• Indoor

If you love candy, or just want a mind-blowing adventure for the kids, Candytopia is a fantastic choice. Located at 111 W. 32nd Street, Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory comes to mind when exploring this confectionary wonder. Visitors can dive into a ball pit where the balls are marshmallows! Taste-testing for the kids is a must, and you can even take pictures with candy-striped backgrounds and a life-sized emoji. This place is a candy lover’s dream!

The hours are Tuesday through Saturday 10 am-9:30 pm and Sunday 11 am-9:30 pm. The last showtime 8:30 pm nightly, this is an indoor event.

What I really found impressive is how many stimulating and engaging options there are, here in NYC – from interactive and pop-up museums to permanent immersive installations or spaces, the choices are seemingly endless. All of these immersive experiences sound phenomenal, and from my research, I saw many that are coming soon, as well. Innovation in artistic exhibitions and expression moves at a pace few can match. New York City is revolutionizing these advances and experiences through example, setting trends for the rest of the country. It’s exciting to be “immersed” in the reawakening of the nation!

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The Formation of the Five Points Neighborhood

In the early days of colonial New York, city residents enjoyed picnicking by a five-acre body of water in Lower Manhattan known as Collect Pond. As the 18th century wore on and the city expanded, Collect Pond unfortunately became a dumping ground for the waste from nearby tanneries and slaughterhouses, and the pond’s waters were soon polluted enough to become a public health hazard. Rather than attempting any sort of restoration project, the city’s solution was to fill in the pond with earth in 1811 and build over it.

The resulting land was marshy and rife with mosquitos. The buildings erected there tended to sag unpredictably, while the streets ran with mud. Well-to-do New Yorkers avoided the area like the plagues that were purported to flourish in its swampy air, and the neighborhood quickly became known for its extreme poverty. The area was dubbed the Five Points in reference to a unique five-way intersection that occurred at the junction of Cross Street, Anthony Street, and Orange Street, which were later renamed Park Street, Worth Street, and Baxter Street. Today, only the intersection between Worth Street and Baxter Street remains.

Infamy and Criminal Activity of the Five Points

The most prominent depiction of the Five Points in mainstream media comes from Martin Scorsese’s 2002 film The Gangs of New York, which portrayed the neighborhood as a hive of violence and debauchery. Indeed, this is how much of New York—and, as sensationalist journalism became increasingly popular across the nation, the entire country—viewed the Five Points throughout the 19th century.

One major factor that contributed to the area’s crime rates was overcrowding: many residents of the Five Points were forced by their economic circumstances to live in cramped tenement housing. One such tenement, the Old Brewery, was set alongside “Murderer’s Alley” and was rumored to have averaged one murder each night for fifty years. Prostitution was also extremely common across the neighborhood’s tenements. 

Gang activity, propelled by groups such as the Dead Rabbits, the Bowery Boys, and the Roach Guards, was rampant across the Five Points. The groups often clashed over territorial disputes and their distinct political agendas—the Bowery Boys, for example, were largely Protestants and staunch anti-immigrant nativists, while the Dead Rabbits were made up primarily of Irish Catholic immigrants. In 1857, the two gangs infamously kicked off a massive riot that lasted two days, involved over 1,000 gang members, resulted in at least eight deaths, and was only squashed when the state militia was called in. 

A Historic Melting Pot

While it’s perhaps fair to say that the Five Points fairly earned much of its notoriety, it’s important to note that the neighborhood’s reputation was also heavily influenced by the biases of the wealthy New Yorkers living uptown. The majority of the neighborhood’s residents were newly-emancipated African-Americans and impoverished Irish immigrants, populations that were both frequently discriminated against and banned from seeking high-paying jobs. At this point in history, it was very unusual for these groups to live together in such an integrated manner; in effect, the Five Points came to serve as one of the country’s first true “melting pots.” The city’s elite blamed much of the area’s crime and depravity on the intermingling of races and held up the Five Points as a warning of the dangers of interracial relationships.

The exchange of ideas and customs between African-Americans and the Irish immigrants in the Five Points has had broad cultural impacts that can be felt today. It is believed that the art of tap dancing originated in the Five Points as African-American dancers such as William Henry Lane (also known as Master Juba) began incorporating elements of Irish jigs into traditional African step dances.

However, that’s not to say that relationships between the Five Points’ African American and Irish communities were always civil. A violent week-long anti-abolition protest that erupted in 1834 destroyed dozens of African-American homes and churches in the Five Points and across the city, and the infamous New York City draft riots of 1863 further inflamed racial tensions when the Irish turned their frustrations with the Civil War draft on their African-American neighbors and began a four-day spree of lynching and looting that resulted in at least 119 deaths.

The Dissolution of the Five Points

Sanitation and public health became increasingly important concerns to New Yorkers in the late 19th century as muckraking publications such as Jacob Riis’ How the Other Half Lives—which was published in 1890 and included photographs from within the Five Points’ tenements—exposed the city’s upper crust to the horrific living conditions faced by residents of the city’s slums. Agitation soon began for a massive renewal of the neighborhood.

The planning for modern-day Columbus Park (then known as Mulberry Bend Park) was already underway by this time, and several Five Points tenements were demolished to make way for the park’s opening in 1897. The destruction of the neighborhood’s buildings and tenements only continued over the following years as most were found to be severely lacking in the ventilation and sanitation requirements imposed by 1901’s Tenement Housing Act. After a few decades, the Five Points neighborhood functionally ceased to exist and was subsumed by the rapidly-growing Chinatown—while Chinese immigration to America was curbed by the deeply discriminatory Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882, other Chinese immigrants fleeing anti-Asian violence in the western United States relocated to New York in large numbers during this period).

The Legacy of the Five Points Neighborhood

For untold years, one of the only testaments to the existence of the Five Points neighborhood was a single holdover tenement building at 65 Mott Street (which is believed to be the first building in New York specifically constructed as tenement housing). In 2019, however, a New York City historian named Lloyd Trufelman set out to change that. A docent at the Municipal Art Society, Trufelman has long led walking tours of the former site of the Five Points. With the support of the MAS, the Historic Districts Council, and Columbia University’s History and Social Sciences Professor Kenneth T. Jackson, Trufelman successfully applied to have the intersection of Worth Street and Baxter Street “Five Points.” Due to Covid-related delays, the sign was not installed until October 2021.

In the Community Board 1 resolution approving Trufelman’s application, the Board notes that the sign’s installation “recognize(s) the lives of tens of thousands of 19th century Irish, Italian, Chinese and Jewish immigrants as well as the free African-Americans who lived together in this notorious slum where they faced considerable poverty and adversity while helping to make NYC the melting pot that it is today.” The Five Points deserves to be remembered in all of its complexity—not just as a “slum” and hotbed of criminal activity, but as a thriving site of cultural exchange and a place for immigrants, African-Americans, and other individuals pushed to the edges of society to create a community for themselves. 

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New York’s National Puerto Rican Day Parade Details

Join us on this beautiful day of fierce Puerto Rican pride and experience this rich culture for yourself. If you want to join the parade with a float or performance or are a vendor or sponsor wanting to participate in the Festival or the Parade, get your applications in by May 27th through the appropriate category on their website here.

This year’s event will be dedicated to the municipality of Cidra, known as the Pueblo de la Eterna Primavera, or the Town of Eternal Spring, home to approximately 40K Cidreños, as well as the Greater Philadelphia area, where approximately 250,000 Puerto Ricans reside. This year the NPRD Parade will be televised on WABC – TV channel 7 starting at 12noon EDT.

The Parade will start in Manhattan on June 12th at 11 am on Fifth Avenue and will run from 43rd Street to 79th Street. It will also be streamed live on multiple apps listed on their website at the link above.

The 152nd Street Cultural Festival

The entire celebration will kick off with the 152nd Street Cultural Festival, on May 28th, 2022, in the Bronx, on 152nd Street between Jackson and Tinton Avenues. The family event will showcase artisans, cultural activities, food, music, and a variety of entertainment for adults and children. This is a wonderful opportunity to get outdoors and enjoy the different and diverse cultural experiences NYC has to offer!

Scholarship Program and More 

The NPRDP is an iconic institution more than six decades strong, with a mission of creating awareness and appreciation for Puerto Rican culture and history, as well as recognizing their contributions to the global society. This wonderful organization does just that, by producing and hosting multiple events created to celebrate and advance art, culture, and education in the Puerto Rican community everywhere. These annual events include the Education Leadership Awards, Rising Stars Challenge, 152nd Street Cultural Festival, Annual Parade Mass at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, and the Gala Fundraiser Banquet. In the midst of all of this, they have produced a scholarship program that started in 2013. The annual program awards 100 exceptional high school and college students of Puerto Rican descent money towards their college education. In 2018, they gave out $200K. 

This organization depends heavily on its tax-deductible donations and speaking of which, this year, the annual gala fundraiser will take place at Central Park Zoo on Saturday, June 11th, 2022. The event proceeds will benefit the NPRDP scholarship fund, and you can purchase tickets here. The NPRDP is also coordinating with one of the first independent digital marketplaces called Mowsse, specializing in crypto-collectibles and NFTs, as its first philanthropic investment. So come out to one or all of these special events, and help show support to our much beloved Puerto Rican community!

The National Puerto Rican Day Parade History

The National Puerto Rican Day Parade typically attracts many noteworthy Puerto Ricans,  politicians, and celebrities, and runs along Fifth Avenue between 44th Street and 88th Street, but the heart of the parade is at 116th Street between Lexington Avenue and Second Avenue.

The first NPRD Parade took place on April 13th, 1958, in Manhattan, replacing the Hispanic Day Parade. In 1995 the event was incorporated into National status and now hosts over 7 major events throughout the city. There is usually a street fair the day before the parade that is not sponsored by the NPRDP, and multiple other events over the weekend, as well. Though some other major cities also have parades, the NYC parade is the largest in the country and has been featured in pop culture quite often. 

The celebration is in honor of the 3.5 million inhabitants of Puerto Rico and over 5 million Puerto Rican people who reside in the United States!

About Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is both an island and a U.S. Territory. The indigenous people were the Taino Indians, a culture founded by the Arawak Indians. The Taino called their island home Boriquén, and this is why many native-born Puerto Ricans today refer to themselves as ‘Boricuas.’ In 1493, Christopher Columbus landed on Boriquén and promptly renamed it after John the Baptist, San Juan Bautista, and claimed it for Spain. It was renamed shortly afterward Puerto Rico or ‘rich port,’ but the capital was named San Juan. Between the Spanish invasion and then the African slaves who were brought there for labor purposes, the Puerto Ricans today are typically a mix of the Indian-Spanish-African ethnicities that settled there.

Puerto Rico is only about 1,000 miles off the coast of Florida and, located in the Caribbean Sea, it is considered one of the Caribbean Islands. The population is approximately 3.2 million people today who are considered U.S. citizens and can travel back and forth between there and here freely without a passport. Puerto Rico has fought many battles and skirmishes over its independence, even since Spain ceded the island to the United States after its defeat in the Spanish-American War back in 1899. As a matter of fact, to say they have fought many battles for their independence cannot be overstated.

There’s too much history to include within one article, but let’s skim just a few things related to their political unrest and fight for independence.

The Fight for Independence and Puerto Rico Today

There have been countless revolts, battles, movements, and incidents throughout history that relate to the people of Puerto Rico fighting for their independence. From the time Christopher Columbus and the Spaniards invaded the mostly peaceful island of indigenous Indian people and took over, forcing them into labor and exposing them to deadly diseases, they tried to revolt but were defeated. The Spaniards brought an influx of African slaves to the island, as well, and didn’t abolish slavery until 1873. Military groups from different countries wanted possession of the land for strategic purposes. And things weren’t really much better after the U.S. took over, not to mention the island’s inherent vulnerability to natural disasters like earthquakes, hurricanes, and tornadoes, of which they have experienced plenty. 

In 1914, the House voted unanimously for independence from the United States, but Congress found their request ‘unconstitutional.’ 

In 1943, the Puerto Rican House of Representatives again requested their independence from the United States and introduced a bill to do so. Once again, it was defeated.

In 1952, Congress approved a local constitution that allowed the citizens of Puerto Rico to vote locally for a governor. Though U.S. citizens can move freely between Puerto Rico and the rest of the United States, Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory, which means they’re disenfranchised at the national level and cannot vote in federal elections. Laws enacted at a federal level do apply to them. However, they do not have voting rights in Congress and have a Resident Commissioner in the House of Representatives.

Recently in the 2020 election, 52.5% of Puerto Ricans voted to make Puerto Rico a state. In the past, the original choices were a commonwealth, a statehood or independence, in which a commonwealth was chosen.

This month, lawmakers have drafted a historic bill to allow the residents to vote on the island’s territorial status. The bill is called the Puerto Rico Status Act and, if passed in both the House and Senate, would give residents the ability to choose between statehood, sovereignty in association with the United States, or independence. Any choice will allow citizens to maintain U.S. citizenship for one generation, but if the statehood option is chosen, it will begin passage to being the 51st state.

A vote will take place on November 5, 2023. If no option earns a majority vote, there would be a runoff election in March 2024.

A step towards statehood or full independence is an exciting prospect for many Puerto Ricans, it only makes sense to join the festivities this June!

The post A Guide To New York’s National Puerto Rican Day Parade appeared first on CitySignal.

NYC Graffiti

Eduardo Kobra: This Brazilian artist has several murals in NYC that are bright, colorful, and celebrate street art, advocating for it as a legitimate medium. His work often features prominent figures in the artistic community, like his mural on 366 Park Place featuring Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, or his mural at 147 Bedford Avenue featuring both Andy Warhol and Basquiat. The latter has the icons wearing boxing gloves, and features the hashtag “Fight For Street Art.” Kobra’s work expands outside of the city as well, but his murals on the walls of NYC buildings are iconic, even if you don’t know his name.

Keith Haring: A vocal AIDS activist who was tragically lost in the 1990’s, Keith Haring used his art to advocate for his, and every community’s, continued fight against HIV. His mural on 128th Street, Crack is Wack, is part of his larger commitment to improving communities and society. Holding governments accountable for their roles in human suffering, he was also a staunch advocate for ending apartied and practicing safe sex. As political of an artist as they come, his memory lives strong in his murals, as well as in the hearts of the communities he fought for.

Zephyr: Also known as Andrew Witten, Zephyr was one of the most influential graffiti artists of all time, and New York City is lucky to call him its own. His artistic work began as a teenager when he rebelled against the MTA by tagging subway cars. He wanted to make a statement that public transit belonged to the people, and that statement was heard by graffiti artists everywhere. Zephyr eventually became a household name, and soon brought his works to art galleries, where classic images from the 70’s and 80’s were sold at high prices. Today he has wall tags all around the world, including some in Japan, Spain, France, and of course, right here in the Big Apple. 

Lady Pink: In 1979, a young Sandra Fabara lost her boyfriend, and her grief was unimaginable. She chose to turn that grief into artistic expression, and now NYC is decorated by the stunning, eclectic works of Lady Pink. Her murals are poignant and bright, bringing a touch of flair to any street they reside in. Some of her most famous works include her 9/11 memorial in Sunnyside, Queens, her Lady Liberty mural which is also in Queens, and the numerous murals of the Wellington Court Art Project. Today, she and her husband still make joint works and influence young artists.

Phase 2: Michael Lawrence Marrow, also known as Lonny Wood and Phase 2, is credited for inventing the “bubble letter” style of graffiti. Starting his work in the 1970’s, his tags could be found all over the city, especially on the subway. His work was so influential that he became the art director for The International Get Hip Times, a small publication all about graffiti culture. His works can still be seen in neighborhoods like Washington Heights. Sadly, he passed in 2019, but his work lives on in galleries, as well as buildings and train stations around the city.

Architects in NYC

David Adjaye: Originally from London, and operating a second office from there as well, David Adjaye is a visionary who has contributed to the New York City skyline with pieces like 130 William, a highrise that’s wildly unique while also matching the surrounding neighborhood, and the Sugar Hill Mixed-Use Development, a commercial and residential building in Harlem. His work is always striking, yet subtle, making a statement with unique angles and coloring not seen in much of the city’s backdrops. He’s young too, so expect much more from him.

Annabelle Selldorf: Known for subtlety and elegance, Selldorf is a master of turning older buildings into new, energy-efficient marvels. She turned a former nightclub into the Hauser & Wirth Gallery to name one example. She is also known for her stunning structures that are, again, energy-efficient. Some of her finest work includes 347 Bowery and 10 Bond Street. She often uses recycled materials to build her structures too, going the extra mile for her environmentally sound practices. Her style matches the aesthetics of the neighborhood she’s in, and her attention to detail is almost unrivaled.

Leopold Eidlitz: Born in 1823 in Prague, Eidlitz came to New York in 1843 and began to shape much of the city in his image. Though many of his buildings have been destroyed, like the original Brooklyn Academy of Music on Montague street in Brooklyn, much of his works still stand today. He is responsible for a number of religious buildings like St. Peter’s Church in The Bronx and St. Geroge’s Episcipol Church in Stuyvesant Square. His most famous NYC contribution is the Tweed Courthouse at 52 Chambers Street. These major statements about the city have left a lasting impression that has inspired architects for generations.

RAAD Studios: Founded by James Ramsey and Dan Barasch, these innovative architects are changing the way New Yorkers live. One of their most exciting projects is The Low Line, an underground park that’s lit, and powered, by solar panels sticking out of an abandoned train terminal. Their other works, like 40 Riverside Drive and a unit within 440 Riverside Drive, also play with light and texture, creating unique spaces without disrupting the flow of the neighborhoods they reside in. RAAD is definitely a firm to look out for.

SHoP Architects: Responsible for the Barclays Center, SHoP is a major player in the NYC architecture game. They’ve added some major towers to the skyline like 335 Madison Avenue, The Brooklyn Tower, and American Copper. SHoP Architects like to dive headfirst into projects and create fully unique buildings. They are a jack of all trades, never sticking to one style or method. Their innovative practices have netted them multiple awards and honors. They are truly the peak of New York architecture, and we aren’t just saying that because of their tall towers.

Bjarke Ingels: With headquarters in Copenhagen and NYC, Ingles has made a name for himself, at a young age, in the NYC architecture world. Responsible for VIA 57 West, Ingel is getting New York to rethink how people live in the city. The pyramid-shaped building is full of happy residents, and still has plenty of natural lighting, great views, and pristine amenities. This is the style he’s aiming for in his new project, The XI in Chelsea. He’s also been involved in the climate architecture of the city. His project, The Big U, is part of the Lower Manhattan Coastal Resiliency Project and would create inlets so small, controlled floods would replace big, not at all controlled floods.

Famous Sculptors

Sherwin Banfield: Born in Trinidad, but raised in Queens, Banfield’s sculptures can be found all over the world. Many of his works are featured prominently in parks around NYC. His work, A Cypher in Queens, depicts three lost Queens Hip Hop artists, Jam Master Jay, Phife Dawg, and Prodigy in the Socrates Sculpture Park. They gather in a circle, each with sound coming from the sculptures, and one can be surrounded by amazing sound and design all at once. His other sculptures capture similar ideas and themes, though each one is unique, providing parks with a visual story.

Jim Rennert: This artist is all about capturing the human experience, especially the more mundane experiences we go through on a daily basis. That’s why Rennert’s work is so universally recognized as great. With more than five sculptures in New York City, his current piece is a temporary display outside of Grand Central Station. It showcases three, six-foot-tall sculptures all experiencing a different aspect of the workday. It’s subtle, yet powerful, as the struggle to just make it through the day is displayed right outside a massive transport hub. But Rennert is all about making big statements.

Kaws: Brian Donnelly is an artist and sculptor whose large, cartoonish sculptors and paintings have found their way to every corner of the globe. By appropriating characters like Spongebob and Mickey Mouse, Kaws provides a striking juxtaposition to the antics of most children’s cartoons. These sculptures can be seen in places like the Brooklyn Museum, which features his work Along the Way. The piece shows two, large wooden figures who seem to be supporting each other through a very difficult time.

Walter De Maria: Walter De Maria worked his entire professional life in NYC, and his work is still often featured in exhibitions to this day. While working in the city, he focused on basic shapes fitting in symmetrical patterns based on geometric sequences. You can step even an inch to your left and experience one of his pieces in a completely different way. His sculpture, Truth and Beauty, for example, feature seven sculptures each with four identical rods. Each of the seven sculptures is different, yet the same, and can show the audience the possibilities of working with a set space.

Marisol Escobar: Escobar was born in France and came to the United States in 1949. Inspired by the likes of Andy Warhol, who became a close friend of hers, she began creating three-dimensional portraits of people she’d see in photographs. Escobar invoked the voice of feminism in her work, portraying how the male gaze and society affected her, as well as women everywhere. Sadly, she fell into obscurity after the 1970’s, but her works began receiving recognition again in the late 1990’s. Now her works can be seen in the MoMA and the Met, forever appreciated by the city that inspired her creations.

Penelope Jencks: Though she’s worked in Massachusetts for most of her career, Jencks made a memorable contribution to New York City in the 1990’s. Her sculpture of Elenor Roosevelt in Riverside Park is the first government monument dedicated to a First Lady of the United States. Hillary Clinton even gave the keynote speech when the sculpture was unveiled. Jencks often erected statues of the women who made America what it is today. A celebration of women and the nation, her works are meant to honor the works that keep this nation thriving.

Famous Writers

Cecily von Zieger: Born and raised in Brooklyn, Zieger is a master of New York iconography, and not in the usual ways. For example, her book Cobble Hill, a story of four families living in Cobble Hill, makes the neighborhood itself an icon, rather than glorifying just one building. Though brownstones and the Cobble Hill Historic District are very well defined in this book. New York is, after all, more than its big flashy skyscrapers. It’s about families trying to live in peace, in their calm, historic neighborhoods, and Zieger knows that.

Maeve Brennan: Born in Ireland, but spending most of her life in the Big Apple, Brennan captured the essence of the city, and her people, in a series of essays that have been collected into a book, The Long-Winded Lady. She often wrote about the life of the poor in Manhattan, her favorite borough to write about. She also described the middle and upper classes in satirical fashions that were often met with harsh criticism. However, she managed to capture an essence of the city that most media failed to glamorize, the people who actually kept it running. It wasn’t glorious or glamorous, but it was honest.

Colson Whitehead: Whitehead is one of NYC’s most esteemed novelists, and is highly decorated. His newest book, Harlem Shuffle, is a New York Times Bestseller and discusses crime in the Big Apple. Other works of his are reflections on the city that shaped who he is today, as well as the ways the city shapes those around him. Though his works might be fictional, they always have a mountain of truth that is impossible to miss. Check out books like The Underground Railroad, The Nickel Boys, and The Colossus of New York. His entire body of work is brilliant and will leave you wanting more.

Gary Shteyngart: A satirist who was born in Russia, Shteyngart made a name for himself by doing what needs to be done in NYC: Sending his manuscripts to strangers. He received an MFA in Creative Writing from Hunter University after sending part of his first novel to a professor at the school. From there, the man continued to write and network, using his knowledge as a city dweller and goofball to win awards and sell books like The Russian Debutante’s Handbook and Super Sad True Love Story. He currently teaches at Columbia University, raising the next generation of great New York Artists.

Amy Sohn: This Brooklyn-based author is a game-changer in New York City, largely due to her role in the production of the Sex and the City companion guide: Sex and the City: Kiss and Tell. Her novels include Run, Catch, Kiss and Prospect Park West, both of which are heavily inspired by romance and adventure in the city of dreams. Sohn’s writing is evocative, romantic, and usually features the city, almost, as an additional character. She recently has branched out into nonfiction as well, so she can really do it all.

New York City is ideal for art because of its versatility. You can celebrate it, critique it, try to fix it, or just observe the fast pace it goes in. The options are endless in a city so large and iconic. It’s no wonder, then, why so many artists choose to come here. They want to experience the city and thrive off the ideas that simply going for a walk in Midtown can provide them. In return, New York celebrates its artists, even when those artists are saying the city needs to improve. It’s a mutual understanding and respect between artist and muse. This is why New York City is fine with being used as a canvas. Because art can invoke change.

The post Most Famous Artists in NYC appeared first on CitySignal.

When Do Schools Graduate?

Graduation dates typically fall between the end of April and early June. Some of the biggest graduation dates are:

• Columbia: May 18th
• NYU: May 18th
• CUNY: June 3rd
• FIT: May 19th
• Baruch: May 26th
• Fordham: May 21st
• Brooklyn College: May 31st

Major Event Spaces

Graduations in New York City have the very cool luxury of having ceremonies take place in iconic venues. Graduation ceremonies for NYU, Columbia, and CUNY students are held in places like Madison Square Garden, The Beacon Theater, and even Yankee Stadium. This is awesome for students and their families. I, myself, am jealous that I didn’t get to do this. However, these places become PACKED with people and make moving around on the street and subways very difficult. Venues like Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall and Carnegie Hall are already in high-traffic areas, so you can imagine trying to navigate through them when said traffic is increased tenfold.

Times Square

One big source of graduation traffic is graduation pictures. Locals will notice that students in their robes will be wandering around with families trying to find the best picture. These families usually end up in Times Square and many of them in groups. Now, locals are probably already trying to avoid Times Square. People born and raised in the city rarely get a hankering for Bubba Gump Shrimp, after all. That said, you might still have to run some errands there, so just keep a lookout to avoid large groups. This is especially true if you’re driving. For some reason, people visiting NYC love taking photos of themselves standing in the middle of the street.

College Campuses

NYC campuses are beautiful and usually have museums and exhibitions happening at different points throughout the year, especially for Columbia, Baruch, and Brooklyn College students. If you like to go on pleasant walks or take shortcuts through less foot-traffic areas, then it’s likely that you cut through a campus once in a while. However, doing this from late April to early June is a bad idea. These places will be packed to the rafters with students giving their parents tours and taking photos so they can hold onto memories of their youth. This one will probably be the easiest to avoid.

Greenwich Village

So what happens when a college campus is part of an entire neighborhood? Well, that neighborhood belongs to the youth now. Greenwich Village is a hotspot for NYU students and any student looking for a fun afternoon or evening under normal circumstances. When graduation weekends are happening, the neighborhood gets crazy. The bars and restaurants are full of people celebrating their degrees and setting out on their own. So these are definitely places to avoid. The same goes for bars and restaurants in the East Village. Probably also the Lower East Side. West Village is pretty popular with students too…You know what, it’s probably best to stay above 14th Street in May.

Highline

This category should really be called “Any place where you can get a good pic of the sunset,” but I’ve mostly seen these crowds walking the Highline trying to get some good pictures. This isn’t a bad thing, and it’s not as crowded as other places. That said, if you’re bringing a date here, students and their families will be out and about taking up space and slowing things down. So maybe make a reservation at a nice restaurant instead.

The Parks

When I say avoid the parks, Central Park doesn’t really apply. It’s also busy, but it’s so big that a few extra students and tourists won’t make a difference. No, I mean Bryant Park, Washington Square, Union Square, and the like.

These smaller parks are always teeming with life on a beautiful day, but students have formed formative memories here. They want to take pictures and get a few last “hurrahs” in before life whisks them away to be a dentist or something. If you want to visit a park, go for the larger ones like Central Park or Prospect Park in Brooklyn. Even with the high number of students there, you should be able to move around just fine.

IKEA

This is a weird one, but hear me out. Many of the folks who graduate from New York will still live in the city, but they will be finding new places to live and new furniture to put in there. Additionally, I have it on good authority that youth, much like the rest of us, enjoy those meatballs they serve on the top floor. IKEA is hard to navigate under the best of circumstances, so if you’re looking for a new couch or office chair, you might want to wait another week or two.

It should be said, we here at CitySignal.com fully support graduates from all around the city. We want you to have a good time with your family and friends and make the last few days of your high school or college experience amazing. That said, we also want locals to know that a bunch of new, young, and energetic people are going to be riding the subway A LOT during this time. A good rule of thumb for locals is: even if you run into a crowd of graduates taking photos or something, and it’s blocking your path, have a backup plan. I can’t tell you how often I’ve been late to things because trains take longer or the traffic is worse because of a graduation. So just make sure to plan ahead and go around the crowds of students. And for all those graduating this year, Congrats! We hope you go on to do some amazing things.

The post Places to Avoid in NYC During Graduation Weekend appeared first on CitySignal.