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Things to do This Weekend in NYC & Boros

Winter Solstice Saturday 12/21/24, Holiday Events & Markets in all Boros - see each Borough Below including Manhattan; Queens; Brooklyn; Bronx; and Staten Island

December 20, 2024 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / Gotham Buzz NYC.

NYC Weather Forecast as of 12.20.24. Sunrise 7.16 am & Sunset at 4.31 pm. There's a chance of snow or rain between Friday evening and Saturday morning at 8 am. Thereafter the rest of the weekend is dry. The temperature highs will be in the mid 30's on Friday and Saturday, descending to the high 20's on Sunday. The temperature lows will be in the low 30's on Friday, descending into the mid to high teens on Saturday and Sunday. The humidity is 60 - 90% on Friday, descending to 50% - 80% on Saturday and then 30% - 50% on Sunday. The winds will be 10 mph on Friday and Sunday, climbing to between 10 - 20 mph on Saturday. So wear something warm that shields you from the wind, including a hat and gloves, to best enjoy your time outside.

The photo above or at right, taken in a prior year, shows the Christmas tree all lit up at Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn. The tree was lit up this week and will remain so, in the evening, thru Christmas.

Saturday AM Edition at 10.15 am. Done, but added a couple of photos Saturday evening. It looks to be another seasonal, but generally good weather weekend. Enjoy.

Things To Do This Weekend in Manhattan

Click here for the Manhattan holiday markets this weekend nyc. And click here for the Manhattan holiday events nyc. These are also simultaneously a work in progress.

In the photo above or at right, taken earlier this month, you can see visitors to St. Patrick's Cathedral in NYC make offerings to honor / remember their loved ones. This year Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa all occur in the middle of the coming week.

Manhattan Holiday Markets this weekend are too numerous to recite here, so please use the link above to browse through all the holiday markets [about a dozen and a half of them], many of which stay open until Christmas or the end of the year. The following are limited time markets that just opened and will close this week / weekend.

Click the link above to view one and a half dozen different holiday markets operating in Manhattan this weekend.

Click into the holiday events link above for details on the following holiday events this weekend and coming week. And click into the holiday markets link for the holiday fairs. TO SEE ALL EVENTS or MARKETS, click into that page. Few of the many holiday markets are shown here, so if you're looking for a holiday market, I highly recommend you click into the markets page.

Sundays ONLY, December 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 2024 from 10 am - 5 pm - Vintage Subway Car / Nostalgia Subway Holiday Train Rides

Saturdays, December 7, 14 & 21, 2024 from 3 to 7 pm - La Marqueta Night Market in East Harlem.

Fridays, December 13 & 27, 2024 from 5.30 - 7 pm - Birdland Big Band Jazz - at the Birdland Jazz Club

Friday, Saturday & Sunday, December 13, 14, 15, 20, 21 & 22, 2024 beginning at 3 pm & 7 pm - Home for the Holidays theatrical performance - at Harlem School of the Arts

Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday, December 19, 20, 21 & 22, 2024 beginning at 7 pm on Thursday, Friday & Saturday, also at 2 pm Saturday, and at 12 noon and 5 pm on Sunday - Dances Patrelle Yorkville Nutcracker - at the Gerald Lynch Theatre at John Jay College

Monday, December 23, 2024 beginning at 7 pm - Handell's Messiah - at Carnegie Hall

Tuesday Night / Wednesday Morning, December 24 / 25, 2024 - St. Patrick's Cathedral Midnight Mass

Saturday, December 21 - Thursday, December 26, 2024 - Yiddish Festival at the 14th Street Y and Hebrew College

Sundays ONLY, December 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 2024 from 10 am - 5 pm - Vintage Subway Car / Nostalgia Subway Holiday Train Rides - along the F and Q subway lines in Manhattan. Uptown ridges begin on the even hours and downtown rides begin on the odd hours. Holiday events / things to do in Midtown Manhattan NYC. Ride in older subway cars for the normal subway line ticket price. Many folks dress up in vintage outfits for kicks. For details, times, route and subway station stops, see - https://www.nytransitmuseum.org/holidaynostalgiarides/

Thursday, November 14, 2024 - February 2025 - The 20th Annual Holiday Toy Train Show at Grand Central Terminal. Midtown. For details see Midtown events below or https://grandcentralterminal.com/event/new-york-transit-museums-holiday-train-show/

Gramercy Theater concerts - https://www.thegramercytheatre.com/shows

Click here for Manhattan Parades and large Ethnic / Cultural Festivals NYC.
CLICK here to view Manhattan street fairs and festivals NYC 2024. There are Mom's Day gift markets.
CLICK this link to view things to do this weekend in Manhattan NYC.
Click here to read recent OpEds and Editorials on Manhattan Buzz NYC.

MCAL _ MEMBER CALENDAR EVENTS - Use this link for new member sign up and posting - Manhattan Buzz New Member Sign Up. Click this link Manhattan Member Events Calendar to view free posts made by arts, cultural and community groups.

Things To Do This Weekend in Queens NYC

Click here for the Queens holiday markets this weekend nyc. And click here for the Queens holiday events nyc. These are also simultaneously a work in progress.

The photo above or at right was taken in Flushing this week. Near the end of January, the Chinese New Year celebrations begin. And Flushing is perhaps the most Chinese neighborhood in Queens, rivaling the Chinatown in Manhattan, and still eclipsing the Chinatown in Brooklyn. Although it's worth noting that the Chinatown in Brooklyn has grown significantly in stature over the past decade.

Thursday, Friday, Saturdays & Sundays, December 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21 & 22, 2024 - It's a Wonderful Life Radio Play - at Queens Theatre

Sundays, December 8, 15 & 22, 2024 from 2 to 5 pm - Photos with Santa Event - at the Tangram Mall

Tuesday, December 24, 2024 beginning at 7.30 pm - Christmas Carols - at Redeemer Church at 36-01 Bell Blvd in Bayside

Wednesday thru Sunday, December 25, 2024 thru March 23, 2025 from 5 to 9 pm - Lektrik Festival of Lights - at the Queens Botanical Garden

Thursday, December 26, 2024 - Animal Meet & Greet & Winter Wildlife - Seasonal Changes - at Alley Pond Environmental Center. For details see - https://www.alleypond.org or use the MCAL link below.

Thursday, November 7, 2024 to January 12, 2025 - open Thurs thru Sat from 10 am to 6 pm - Off the Wall Affordable Art Fair. Opening Reception 11.23.24 from 7 to 10 pm. Over 100 local Long Island City Artists [aka LICA] feature their works for sale at Culture Lab LIC at 5-25 46th Avenue in Long Island City, Queens. The fair continues thru January 12th, with an art talk event on January 11th from 2 to 3 pm. All art work priced under $999. For details see - https://www.culturelablic.org OR https://www.licartists.org/off-the-wall-2

Click here for Queens Parades and large Ethnic / Cultural Festivals NYC.
Click here to view Queens street fairs & festivals NYC 2024.
CLICK this link to view things to do this weekend in Queens NYC.
Click here to read recent OpEds and Editorials on Queens Buzz NYC.

MCAL _ MEMBER CALENDAR EVENTS - Use this link for new member sign up and posting - Queens Buzz New Member Sign Up. Click this link Queens Member Events Calendar to view free posts made by arts, cultural and community groups.

Sunday, December 15, 2024 concert beginning at 4 pm by the Queens College Choral Society performing Haydn's Nelson Mass in a Concert for Unity and Peace [$6 - $18]. Click the MCAL link above for details.
Saturdays, December 7 & 21, 2024 there will be a breakfast at Applebee's with Santa [$15 including photos w/ Santa]. Click the MCAL link above for details.
Aromatherapy with Annie Dec 7, Intro to Vet Techs Dec 14, Furry Friends Dec 15, Programs Animal Adventures: Animal Meet & Greet Dec 26 & Winter Wildlife - Seasonal Changes Dec 26 - All at Alley Pond Environmental Center. Click the MCAL link above for details.

Things To Do This Weekend in Brooklyn NYC

The holiday markets and events are too numerous to list on the front page, so use these links to peruse all of them.Click here for the Brooklyn holiday market this weekend nyc. And click here for Brooklyn holiday events nyc.

Click into the holiday events link above for details on the following holiday events this weekend and coming week. And click into the holiday markets link for the holiday fairs. TO SEE ALL EVENTS or MARKETS, click into that page. Only one of the numerous RECURRING holiday markets are shown here, so if you're interested in finding holiday markets I highly recommend you click into the markets page, as there are at least 10 of them.

Here's the latest market addition.

Fridays, November 29 & December 27, 2024 from 4 to 10 pm - DeKalb Night Market at DeKalb Market Hall - at 445 Albee Square

And here are the most recent events.

Friday, Saturday & Sunday, December 20, 21 & 22, 2024 beginning at 7.30 pm Friday, 3 pm on Saturday & Sunday & also at 12 noon Sunday - The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir

Saturday December 21, 2024 from 2 to 3.15 pm - Caroling with the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music - meeting at the Old Stone House

Sunday, December 22, 2024 beginning at 4 pm - Handel's Messiah with Grace Chorale of Brooklyn - at St Ann & the Holy Trinity Church

Tuesday, Dec. 24 at 9 pm - Arturo O'Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra Concert - at All Saints Episcopal Church

Daily beginning Wednesday, December 25, 2024 thru January 1, 2025 - beginning at 4 pm the 1st night & 6 pm all other nights except Friday 3.30 pm, Saturday 7.15 pm & Sunday 5 pm - Lighting of the Largest Menorah in Brooklyn - at Grand Army Plaza

Saturday & Sunday, December 7 & 8, 14 & 15 and 21 & 22, 2024 - Walk the Windows Along Atlantic Avenue

Friday, November 29, 2024 - January 2, 2025 - Dyker Heights Neighborhood Christmas Lights. - in Dyker Heights with the epicenter generally between 11th - 13th Avenues and 83rd - 86th Streets. Free holiday things to do in South & West Brooklyn NYC. There isn't any official website for this organic holiday lights competition among neighbors.

Friday November 22, 2024 through January 5, 2025 from 4.30 to 8.15 pm - Lightscape Show - at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden at 990 Washington Avenue in Prospect Heights. Holiday things to do in Brooklyn. For details see - https://www.bbg.org

Coney Island _ Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, November 23 to January 7, 2025 [also Holidays except Thanksgiving & Xmas and Weekdays from 12/25/ 24 - 1/1/2025] - 2nd Annual Frost Fest - at Luna Park on Coney Island. This event includes select rides, holiday lights and décor, seasonal food and a holiday market. For details and tickets see - https://lunaparknyc.com/

Two Plays - Polonsky & Billie Holiday Theater.

Click here for Brooklyn Parades and large Ethnic / Cultural Festivals NYC.
Click here to view Brooklyn street fairs NYC 2024.
CLICK this link to view things to do this weekend in Brooklyn NYC.
Click here to read recent OpEds and Editorials on Brooklyn BLVD.

MCAL _ MEMBER CALENDAR EVENTS. Use this link for new member sign up and posting - Brooklyn BLVD New Member Sign Up. Click this link Brooklyn Member Events Calendar to view free posts made by arts, cultural and community groups. This month includes x.

Things To Do This Weekend in the Bronx NYC

Click here for the Bronx holiday market this weekend nyc. And click here for the Bronx holiday events nyc. These are also simultaneously a work in progress.

In the photo above or at right, taken earlier this week, you can see NYC subway riders all bundled up, as they carry on with their lives, not letting a bit of cold weather slow them down.

Saturday, December 21, 2024 from 5.30 to 8.30 pm - Winter Solstice Pub Night - at Wave Hill at 4900 Independence Avenue in Riverdale

Saturdays, December 14 & 21, 2024 from 4 to 7 pm - Self Guided Candlelit Tours - at the Van Cortlandt House Museum

Sundays, December 8, 15, 22 & 29, 2024 from 12 noon to 6 pm - Bronx Holiday Market at Fordham Plaza.

Bedford Park / Belmont _ Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays, November 22, 2024 to January 5, 2025 from 3 to 9 pm - Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights - turn on at dusk at 4.30 pm, and you have between 3 and 4 pm to visit the animals in the buildings before they close at 4 pm. Holiday lights and events near the Belmont and Bedford Park neighborhoods in the Central Bronx. For details and $57 / $52 / $42 [kids] tickets, see - https://bronxzoo.com/holiday-lights

Saturday, November 16 - 30, 2024 [Ends January 20, 2025] from 10 am - 6 pm [closed holidays] - NYBG Holiday Train Show - at the New York Botanical Garden at 2900 Southern Blvd in the Belmont Neighborhood. Bronx holiday events & things to do nyc. Central Bronx. For details see below or - https://www.nybg.org

November & December 2024 on various days and at multiple times - Yankee Stadium Tours - at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. See the Yankees Museum, the ball park including both the dugout a press box or VIP suite for $41 / adult and $30 / child. For details and online tickets [only] see - https://www.mlb.com/yankees/ballpark/tours/public/classic-tours-tickets

The Bartow Pell Mansion Holiday Events & Market - Holiday Luncheon 11/26, Jazzy Holiday First Friday 12/6, Holiday Party 12/7, Holiday Gift Fair 12/8, Selfies w/ Santa 12/14, BAE Holiday Concert w/ Robbie Pat 12/15, A Christmas Carol 12/11 & 12/17 and Holiday Cookies & Crafts 12/21. The details to all of these are posted in our Member Calendar as well as on their website - https://www.bartowpellmansionmuseum.org/events-2/

Click here for Bronx Halloween parties, parades & events Bx NYC.

Click here for Bronx Parades and large Ethnic / Cultural Festivals NYC.
Click here to see Bronx street fairs & festivals NYC 2024.
CLICK this link to view things to do this weekend in the Bronx NYC.
Click here to read recent OpEds and Editorials on Bronx Buzz.

In the December MCAL - The Bartow Pell Mansion Holiday Events & Market - Holiday Luncheon 11/26, Jazzy Holiday First Friday 12/6, Holiday Party 12/7, Holiday Gift Fair 12/8, Selfies w/ Santa 12/14, BAE Holiday Concert w/ Robbie Pat 12/15, A Christmas Carol 12/11 & 12/17 and Holiday Cookies & Crafts 12/21. And Sunday, December 8, 2024 there's a Holiday Gift Fair at the Riverdale Y. On Sunday, December 22, 2024 there will be a breakfast at Applebee's with Santa [$15 including photos w/ Santa] near Fordham Plaza. Click the MCAL link above for details.

Things To Do This Weekend on Staten Island NYC

Click here for the Staten Island holiday markets this weekend nyc. And click here for the Staten Island holiday events nyc. These are also simultaneously a work in progress.

The photo above or at right, taken earlier this year, shows the entrance to the Staten Island Ferry, on the north shore in St. George.

Friday, December 20, 2024 beginning at 7 pm [doors open at 6 pm] - Universal Temple of the Arts & the 36th Staten Island Jazz Festival - at the St. George Theatre

Saturday, December 21, 2024 from 3 to 6 pm - Holiday Tree Lighting and Celebration - at William H. Pouch Scout Camp

December 21 & 22, 2024 beginning at 2 pm & 5 pm both days - the Nutcracker by the Staten Island Ballet Dancers - at the Williamson Theater at the College of Staten Island

Sundays, December 1, 8, 15 & 22, 2024 from 11 am to 2 pm - Holiday Sunday Brunch with Santa - at The Historic Old Bermuda Inn

Sunday, December 22, 2024 from 1 to 5.30 pm - The Miracle of Christmas - at Fellowship Baptist Church at 3036 Richmond Terrace in Mariners Harbor

New Springville / Heartland Village _ Daily, mid November - December 24, 2024 - Pictures with Santa & extended hours - at the Staten Island Mall

Thursday, December 26, 2024 from 6.30 to 10.30 pm - 3rd Annual Kwanzaa & Community Celebration - at the Central Family Life Center at 50 Wright Street in Stapleton

The photo at right shows one of the sea worthy steeds that ferry Staten Islanders to and fro the Big Apple daily.

Click here for Staten Island Parades and large Ethnic / Cultural Festivals NYC.
Click here to see Staten Island street fairs & festivals NYC 2024.
CLICK this link to view things to do this weekend on Staten Island NYC.
Click here to read recent OpEds and Editorials on Staten Buzz.

Have a nice first full weekend of December.

Things to do This Weekend in NYC & Boros

Holiday Events & Markets in all Boros - see each Borough Below including Manhattan; Queens; Brooklyn; Bronx; and Staten Island

December 14, 2024 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / Gotham Buzz NYC.

NYC Weather Forecast as of 12.13.24. Sunrise 7.11 am & Sunset at 4.29 pm. The temperature highs will be in the mid 30's on Friday and Saturday, rising to about 40 on Sunday. The temperature lows will climb from the mid 20's on Friday, to the high 20's on Saturday to the high 30's on Sunday. The humidity will rise from 40% to 50% on Friday, to 50% to 60% on Saturday to 60% to 70% on Sunday. The winds will die down on Friday from 10 mph to 5 mph where they will remain for the rest of the weekend. No precipitation is expected until Monday.

The photo at right shows a daughter and mother [relationship not confirmed] skating at Bryant Park in Midtown Manhattan. The rink is open daily through the winter months. See details on the Manhattan holiday events page [link below].

Saturday Afternoon 4th Edition at 2.15 pm. This is a pretty solid draft of the weekend. We'll be adding a few new events that are happening next week, during the weekdays, by Sunday noon. It looks to be another seasonal, good weather weekend. Enjoy.

Things To Do This Weekend in Manhattan

Click here for the Manhattan holiday markets this weekend nyc. And click here for the Manhattan holiday events nyc. These are also simultaneously a work in progress.

The photo at right was taken at the opening reception of the Winter Show at the National Art Club at 15 Gramercy Park South. The show began December 3, 2024 and continues until January 31, 2025 and admittance is free on weekends. For details see - https://www.nationalartsclub.org or visit the monthly events calendar by clicking the Manhattan weekend events link below.

Wednesday, Thursday & Friday, December 11, 12 & 13, 2024 from 10 am - 5 pm - NY Trunk Show: Native American Jewelry of the American Southwest

Saturday & Sunday, December 14 & 15, 2024 from 11 am to 5 pm - Renegade Craft Fair

Click into the holiday events link above for details on the following holiday events this weekend and coming week. And click into the holiday markets link for the holiday fairs. TO SEE ALL EVENTS or MARKETS, click into that page. Few of the many holiday markets are shown here, so I highly recommend you click into the markets page.

Sundays ONLY, December 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 2024 from 10 am - 5 pm - Vintage Subway Car / Nostalgia Subway Holiday Train Rides

Saturdays, December 7, 14 & 21, 2024 from 3 to 7 pm - La Marqueta Night Market in East Harlem.

Wednesday, Thursday & Friday, December 11, 12 & 13, 2024 from 7 to 10 pm - Handel's Messiah Holiday Concert - at Trinity Church

Fridays, December 13 & 27, 2024 from 5.30 - 7 pm - Birdland Big Band Jazz - at the Birdland Jazz Club

Friday, Saturday & Sunday, December 13, 14, 15, 20, 21 & 22, 2024 beginning at 3 pm & 7 pm - Home for the Holidays theatrical performance - at Harlem School of the Arts

Saturday, December 14, 2024 from 10 am to 5 pm - St. Nick on St. Nick's Extravaganza

Saturday, December 14, 2024 from 4 to 5.30 pm respectively - Holiday Concert - at St. John the Divine

Saturday, December 14, 2024 from 10 am - 8 pm - Santa Con Costume Party / Bar Hopping Event

Saturday, December 14, 2024 from 7.30 to 9.30 pm - An Evening of Holiday Classics, Gospel and Jazz Celebrating the Holidays - at the Salvation Army

Sunday, December 15, 2024 from 4 to 6.30 pm - The Riverside Church Candlelight Carol Service

Gramercy Theater concerts - https://www.thegramercytheatre.com/shows

Click here for Manhattan Parades and large Ethnic / Cultural Festivals NYC.
CLICK here to view Manhattan street fairs and festivals NYC 2024. There are Mom's Day gift markets.
CLICK this link to view things to do this weekend in Manhattan NYC.
Click here to read recent OpEds and Editorials on Manhattan Buzz NYC.

Things To Do This Weekend in Queens NYC

Click here for the Queens holiday markets this weekend nyc. And click here for the Queens holiday events nyc. These are also simultaneously a work in progress.

Saturday & Sunday, December 7, 8 & 14, 2024 from 12 noon to 2 pm - Ditmars Street & Broadway & Steinway Street Holiday Caroling, each street with each dates respectively

December 8 & 15, 2024 from 12 noon to 6 pm - Astoria Market Holiday Market - at Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden

Sundays & Wednesday, December 8, 11 & 15, 2024 from 1 to 3 pm, 7.30 to 9 pm & 2 to 5 pm - Bayside Historical Society Quilting, Concert & Crafting

Thursday, Friday, Saturdays & Sundays, December 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21 & 22, 2024 - It's a Wonderful Life Radio Play - at Queens Theatre

Friday, Saturday & Sunday, December 13, 14 & 15, 2024 from 5 to 9 pm, 11 am to 7 pm & 12 noon to 5 pm respectively - 15th Annual Holiday Craft Show - at LIC Brickhouse Ceramics

Saturday, December 14, 2024 from 11 am to 4 pm - Comics & Crafts Holiday Market - at Flushing Town Hall

Saturday, December 14, 2024 from 12 noon to 4 pm - 7th Annual Douglaston Winter Festival - at 235th Street and 41st Avenue in Douglaston.

Saturday, December 14, 2024 from 1 to 3 pm - Mariachi Performance on Steinway Street in Astoria

Sunday, December 14, 2024 beginning at 2 pm - Scrooge - at Black Spectrum Theatre in Jamaica.

Saturday, December 14, 2024 from 1 to 2.30 pm - Gift of the Magi Reading - at the Queens County Farm

Sunday, December 15, 2024 from 4 to 6.30 pm - The Nutcracker by the Joffrey Ballet - at The LaGuardia Performing Arts Center

Saturday, December 14, 2024 beginning at 9.30 am - Kwanzaa Celebration at the Langston Hughes Library & Cultural Center

Saturday, December 14, 2024 beginning at 6 pm - Closing Reception for Trickle Down - at Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning

Saturday, December 14, 2024 from 7 - 10 pm [UNCONFIRMED] - A Queens Holiday Caroling / Sing-Along tradition that begins at Cassidy's Ale House

Saturday, December 14, 2024 beginning at 6 / 7 / 8 pm - Burstin' Boots in Queens by Jalopy Theatre - at Flushing Town Hall

Saturday & Sunday, December 14 & 15, 2024 beginning at 7.30 pm - Reenactment of the Nativity Scene - at Redeemer Church

Saturday, December 14, 2024 from 10 am to 4 pm - 1st Annual Holiday Craft Market at the Queens County Farm

Saturday, December 14, 2024 from 12 noon to 5 pm - Queens Craft Brigade - at Katch Astoria

Sunday, December 15, 2024 beginning at 4 pm - Queens College Choral Society performing Haydn's Nelson Mass in a Concert for Unity and Peace - at the Kupferberg Center for the Arts

Sunday, December 15, 2024 beginning at 2 pm - Poppenhusen Holiday Concert - at Poppenhusen Institute

Thursday, December 19, 2024 beginning at 8 pm - Meet the Playwright of Pansy Craze - at Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning

Click here for Queens Parades and large Ethnic / Cultural Festivals NYC.
Click here to view Queens street fairs & festivals NYC 2024.
CLICK this link to view things to do this weekend in Queens NYC.
Click here to read recent OpEds and Editorials on Queens Buzz NYC.

Sunday, December 15, 2024 concert beginning at 4 pm by the Queens College Choral Society performing Haydn's Nelson Mass in a Concert for Unity and Peace [$6 - $18]. Click the MCAL link above for details.
Saturdays, December 7 & 21, 2024 there will be a breakfast at Applebee's with Santa [$15 including photos w/ Santa]. Click the MCAL link above for details.
Aromatherapy with Annie Dec 7, Intro to Vet Techs Dec 14, Furry Friends Dec 15, Programs Animal Adventures: Animal Meet & Greet Dec 26 & Winter Wildlife - Seasonal Changes Dec 26 - All at Alley Pond Environmental Center. Click the MCAL link above for details.

Things To Do This Weekend in Brooklyn NYC

Click into the holiday events link above for details on the following holiday events this weekend and coming week. And click into the holiday markets link for the holiday fairs. TO SEE ALL EVENTS or MARKETS, click into that page. Few of the many RECURRING holiday markets are shown here, so I highly recommend you click into the markets page, as there are at least 10 of them.

Friday, December 13, 2024 from 5 to 7 pm - Christmas Tree Lighting at Grand Army Plaza

Saturday, December 14, 2024 from 1 - 6 pm - Tents of Kedar Holiday Market

Saturday & Sunday, December 14 & 15, 2024 from 12 noon to 7 pm - 8th Annual Give Back Holiday Market - at the Textile Arts Center - in Gowanus - see photo at right

Saturday & Sunday, December 7 & 8, 14 & 15 and 21 & 22, 2024 - Walk the Windows Along Atlantic Avenue

Daily, Thursday - Sunday, December 12, 13, 14 & 15, 2024 at 7 pm and at 2 pm on Saturday & Sunday - Brooklyn Ballet Nutcracker

Saturday, December 14, 2024 from 11 am to 6 pm - PowerHouse Arts x Brooklyn Pop Up Holiday Market

Saturday, December 14, 2024 from 7.30 to 9 pm - A Very Merry Brooklyn - Brooklyn Chamber Orchestra Christmas Concert

Saturday, December 14, 2024 from 1 to 3 pm - Green - Wood Cemetery Trolley Tour

Sunday, December 15, 2024 beginning at 11 am and 4.30 pm - Bay Ridge Ballet Performs the Nutcracker - at Our Lady of Angels Parish

Saturday December 15, 2024 from 3 to 5 pm - Multi-cultural Holiday Extravaganza - at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music

Sunday, December 15, 2024 from 2 to 3.30 pm - the Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra Holiday Concert

Friday, November 29, 2024 - January 2, 2025 - Dyker Heights Neighborhood Christmas Lights. - in Dyker Heights with the epicenter generally between 11th - 13th Avenues and 83rd - 86th Streets. Free holiday things to do in South & West Brooklyn NYC. There isn't any official website for this organic holiday lights competition among neighbors.

Friday November 22, 2024 through January 5, 2025 from 4.30 to 8.15 pm - Lightscape Show - at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden at 990 Washington Avenue in Prospect Heights. Holiday things to do in Brooklyn. For details see - https://www.bbg.org

Coney Island _ Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, November 23 to January 7, 2025 [also Holidays except Thanksgiving & Xmas and Weekdays from 12/25/ 24 - 1/1/2025] - 2nd Annual Frost Fest - at Luna Park on Coney Island. This event includes select rides, holiday lights and décor, seasonal food and a holiday market. For details and tickets see - https://lunaparknyc.com/

Friday, November 29 to December 15, 2024 at various times - Flip Circus in Brooklyn. At the main field in McCarren Park on the south side of the park. For details and tickets ranging from $30 for kids to $60 / $65 for adults, see - https://www.flipcircus.com

Two Plays - Polonsky & Billie Holiday Theater.

Click here for Brooklyn Parades and large Ethnic / Cultural Festivals NYC.
Click here to view Brooklyn street fairs NYC 2024.
CLICK this link to view things to do this weekend in Brooklyn NYC.
Click here to read recent OpEds and Editorials on Brooklyn BLVD.

Things To Do This Weekend in the Bronx NYC

Click here for the Bronx holiday market this weekend nyc. And click here for the Bronx holiday events nyc. These are also simultaneously a work in progress.

12/7/24 & 12/8 & 12/15 & 12/17/24 _ Updates coming next week by 12/6/24 _ Saturday, December 2, 2023 from 7.30 to 8.30 pm Bronx Arts Ensemble Performs the Holiday

December 12 & 13, 2024 at 10.30 am both days and at 2 pm Thursday only - Nutcracker Ballet - by the Westchester Ballet Company at the Lehman Center for the Performing Arts

Friday, December 13, 2024 beginning at 3 pm - Winter Wonderland - in the Great Hall at Yankee Stadium

Sundays, December 8, 15, 22 & 29, 2024 from 12 noon to 6 pm - Bronx Holiday Market

Saturday, December 14, 2024 from 11 am to 2 pm - Wreath Making Workshop at the Van Cortlandt Golf Lake House

Saturday, December 14, 2024 beginning at 2.30 pm - Bronx Concert Singers 43rd Holiday Concert - at St. Helena's Church

Saturday, December 14, 2024 from 10 am to 1 pm - Veterans & Family Toy Giveaway - at the Bronx Zoo

Sundays, December 8, 15, 22 & 29, 2024 from 12 noon to 6 pm - Bronx Holiday Market

Bedford Park / Belmont _ Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays, November 22, 2024 to January 5, 2025 from 3 to 9 pm - Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights - turn on at dusk at 4.30 pm, and you have between 3 and 4 pm to visit the animals in the buildings before they close at 4 pm. Holiday lights and events near the Belmont and Bedford Park neighborhoods in the Central Bronx. For details and $57 / $52 / $42 [kids] tickets, see - https://bronxzoo.com/holiday-lights

Saturday, November 16 - 30, 2024 [Ends January 20, 2025] from 10 am - 6 pm [closed holidays] - NYBG Holiday Train Show - at the New York Botanical Garden at 2900 Southern Blvd in the Belmont Neighborhood. Bronx holiday events & things to do nyc. Central Bronx. For details see below or - https://www.nybg.org

November & December 2024 on various days and at multiple times - Yankee Stadium Tours - at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. See the Yankees Museum, the ball park including both the dugout a press box or VIP suite for $41 / adult and $30 / child. For details and online tickets [only] see - https://www.mlb.com/yankees/ballpark/tours/public/classic-tours-tickets

The Bartow Pell Mansion Holiday Events & Market - Holiday Luncheon 11/26, Jazzy Holiday First Friday 12/6, Holiday Party 12/7, Holiday Gift Fair 12/8, Selfies w/ Santa 12/14, BAE Holiday Concert w/ Robbie Pat 12/15, A Christmas Carol 12/11 & 12/17 and Holiday Cookies & Crafts 12/21. The details to all of these are posted in our Member Calendar as well as on their website - https://www.bartowpellmansionmuseum.org/events-2/

Click here for Bronx Halloween parties, parades & events Bx NYC.

Click here for Bronx Parades and large Ethnic / Cultural Festivals NYC.
Click here to see Bronx street fairs & festivals NYC 2024.
CLICK this link to view things to do this weekend in the Bronx NYC.
Click here to read recent OpEds and Editorials on Bronx Buzz.

In the December MCAL - The Bartow Pell Mansion Holiday Events & Market - Holiday Luncheon 11/26, Jazzy Holiday First Friday 12/6, Holiday Party 12/7, Holiday Gift Fair 12/8, Selfies w/ Santa 12/14, BAE Holiday Concert w/ Robbie Pat 12/15, A Christmas Carol 12/11 & 12/17 and Holiday Cookies & Crafts 12/21. And Sunday, December 8, 2024 there's a Holiday Gift Fair at the Riverdale Y. On Sunday, December 22, 2024 there will be a breakfast at Applebee's with Santa [$15 including photos w/ Santa] near Fordham Plaza. Click the MCAL link above for details.

Things To Do This Weekend on Staten Island NYC

Click here for the Staten Island holiday markets this weekend nyc. And click here for the Staten Island holiday events nyc. These are also simultaneously a work in progress.

Friday, Saturday & Sunday, December 13 - 15, 2024 beginning at 7 pm Friday, and at 2 pm and 6 pm on Saturday & Sunday - 21st Annual Christmas Show - at the St. George Theatre

Saturday, December 14, 2024 from 12 noon to 3 pm - Conference House Holiday Splendor Tour

Saturday & Sunday, December 14 & 15, 2024 beginning at 2 pm, 5 pm, & 2 pm respectively - Suessical Kids performed by the Spotlight Repertory Theatre - at Empire Outlets

Saturday, December 14, 2024 beginning at 10 am and 12 noon - Holiday Wreath Making Workshop - at the Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve

Saturday, December 14, 2024 from 12 noon to 3 pm - ‘Aura Photos' Day - at the Alice Austen House Museum

Sundays, December 1, 8, 15 & 22, 2024 from 11 am to 2 pm - Holiday Sunday Brunch with Santa - at The Historic Old Bermuda Inn

New Springville / Heartland Village _ Daily, mid November - December 24, 2024 - Pictures with Santa & extended hours - at the Staten Island Mall

Monday & Tuesday, December 16 & 17, 2024 from 6.30 to 10 pm and from 6 to 10 pm respectively - Christmas Concert and Christmas Tree Lighting - at Monsignor Farrell High School

Friday, December 20, 2024 beginning at 7 pm [doors open at 6 pm] - Universal Temple of the Arts & the 36th Staten Island Jazz Festival

The photo at right shows one of the sea worthy steeds that ferry Staten Islanders to and fro the Big Apple daily.

Click here for Staten Island Parades and large Ethnic / Cultural Festivals NYC.
Click here to see Staten Island street fairs & festivals NYC 2024.
CLICK this link to view things to do this weekend on Staten Island NYC.
Click here to read recent OpEds and Editorials on Staten Buzz.

Have a nice first full weekend of December.

Things to do This Weekend in NYC & Boros

Holiday Events & Markets in all Boros, Vintage Subway Car Rides & Toy Train Show in Manhattan; Affordable Art Fair in Queens; Dyker Heights Neighborhood Christmas Lights, Frost Fest @ Coney Isle, Lightscape Show @ BBG, Brooklyn Flea & Flip Circus in Brooklyn; NYBG Holiday Train Show, Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights & Yankee Stadium Tours in the Bronx; and Holiday Events & Markets on Staten Island

Updated December 8, 2024 vs 12.6.24 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / Gotham Buzz NYC.

NYC Weather Forecast as of 12.6.24. Sunrise 7.06 am & Sunset at 4.28 pm. The temperature lows will be in the low 30's on Friday, rising to about 40 on Saturday and then nearing 50 on Sunday. The temperature lows will rise from the low 30's to the mid 30's to the high 30's over the weekend. We will tend to experience windy weather on Friday when the winds will range from 10 mph to 20 mph, and then settling down a bit at between 10 - 15 mph for the rest of the weekend. The humidity will rise through the weekend starting at 35% - 45% on Friday, settling at 45% on Saturday and then rising again to between 45% - 60% on Sunday. There isn't any precipitation in the forecast until Monday through Wednesday next week.

The photo above or at right was taken in Midtown Manhattan on Thursday evening on the steps of St. Patrick's Cathedral looking south along 5th Avenue toward Rockefeller Center. The streets were packed and the holiday influx has begun. Oh, joy?

Sunday Afternoon Edition around 2.45 pm. This is fairly good draft of the weekend, with still a tiny bit more work to do in the Bronx, Brooklyn & Queens. We'll finish this up Sunday morning. It looks to be another seasonal, good weather weekend. Enjoy.

Things To Do This Weekend in NYC

Tuesday, December 10, 2024 from 1 to 8.30 pm - Art Demonstration & Rally to Save NYCHA Section 9 - at the Fulton Elliott-Chelsea Houses at 119 9th Avenue in Chelsea. The art effort runs from 1 - 4 pm, there's a development walk through from 4 - 6 pm, press conference at 6 pm, followed by the Illuminator from 6.30 - 8.30 pm. For details see - https://www.savesection9.org

Things To Do This Weekend in Manhattan

Click here for the Manhattan holiday markets this weekend nyc. And click here for the Manhattan holiday events nyc. These are also simultaneously a work in progress.

Manhattan Holiday Markets this weekend are too numerous to recite here, so please use the link above to browse through all the options, many of which stay open until Christmas or the end of the year.

Click into the holiday events link above for details on the following holiday events this weekend and coming week. And click into the holiday markets link for the holiday fairs. TO SEE ALL EVENTS or MARKETS, click into that page. Few of the many holiday markets are shown here, so I highly recommend you click into the markets page.

Saturday, December 7, 2024 from 4 to 5.30 pm - Ukrainian Folk Art & Alexandra Exte

Saturday, December 7, 2024 from 4.30 – 6 pm - Holiday on the Hudson Christmas Tree Lighting - in Riverside Park

Sunday, December 8, 2024 beginning at 5 pm - Carl Schurz Park Holiday Tree Lighting Event

Sunday, December 8, 2024 from 4.30 to 7 pm - Park Avenue Holiday Tree Lighting - at Brick Presbyterian

Sunday, December 8, 2024 between 12 noon and 6 pm - Open Street along Fifth Avenue

Sundays ONLY, December 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 2024 from 10 am - 5 pm - Vintage Subway Car / Nostalgia Subway Holiday Train Rides

Gramercy Theater concerts - https://www.thegramercytheatre.com/shows

Click here for Manhattan Parades and large Ethnic / Cultural Festivals NYC.
CLICK here to view Manhattan street fairs and festivals NYC 2024. There are Mom's Day gift markets.
CLICK this link to view things to do this weekend in Manhattan NYC.
Click here to read recent OpEds and Editorials on Manhattan Buzz NYC.

Things To Do This Weekend in Queens NYC

Click here for the Queens holiday markets this weekend nyc. And click here for the Queens holiday events nyc. These are also simultaneously a work in progress.

The photo above or at right was taken in Sunnyside less than three weeks ago. The City of Yes zoning changes, now allow property owners to erect buildings in a neighborhood with little or no input from the community. The changes could be startling.

Saturday December 7, 2024 beginning at 6 pm - Parish Tree Lighting at Our Lady of Grace Church

Friday, December 6, 2024 from 6 to 7 pm - Whitestone Holiday tree lighting

Saturday December 7, 2024 beginning at 6 pm - Parish Tree Lighting at Our Lady of Grace Church

Saturday, December 7, 2024 from 10 am to 4 pm - All Saints Episcopal Holly Bazaar

Saturday December 7, 2024 from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm - Sunnyside Artists Crafts Fair

Saturday, December 7, 2024 from 10 am to 3.30 pm - Christmas Fair

Saturday, December 7, 2024 from 4 to 5 pm followed by caroling, hot cocoa and treats - Jackson Heights Beautification Group Holiday Tree Lighting

Saturday, December 7, 2024 with the market beginning at 5.30 pm and the Concert beginning at 7 pm - Braata Productions Holiday Market & Concert

Saturday & Sunday, December 7, 8 & 14, 2024 from 12 noon to 2 pm - Ditmars Street & Broadway & Steinway Street Holiday Caroling, each street with each dates respectively

Saturday, December 7, 2024 from 6 to 8 pm - Woodside on the Move Holiday Tree Lighting

December 8 & 15, 2024 from 12 noon to 6 pm - Astoria Market Holiday Market - at Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden

Sunday, December 8, 2024 from 12 noon - 4 pm Queens St. Nicholas Day at Ridgewood Historical Society - at the Vande Ende-Onderdonk House

Sunday, December 8, 2024 beginning at 4 pm - Astoria Park Holiday Festival and Tree Lighting

Sundays, December 8, 15 & 22, 2024 from 2 to 5 pm - Photos with Sanata Event

Sunday, December 8, 2024 from 12 noon to 4 pm - Historic Holiday House Trolley Tour

Sunday, December 8, 2024 from 3.30 to 5.30 pm - Bayside Village Annual Holiday Party & Tree Lighting Event

Tuesday, December 10, 2024 from 3 to 6 pm - 82nd Street Winter Festival in Jackson Heights

Wednesday, December 11, 2024 beginning at 7.30 pm - Jackson Heights Orchestra Holiday Concert

Thursday, December 12, 2024 from 6 to 8 pm - Kwanzaa Celebration - at Rufus King Manor

Sundays & Wednesday, December 8, 11 & 15, 2024 from 1 to 3 pm, 7.30 to 9 pm & 2 to 5 pm - Bayside Historical Society Quilting, Concert & Crafting

Click here for Queens Parades and large Ethnic / Cultural Festivals NYC.
Click here to view Queens street fairs & festivals NYC 2024.
CLICK this link to view things to do this weekend in Queens NYC.
Click here to read recent OpEds and Editorials on Queens Buzz NYC.

In December, the Member Calendar MCAL events include a Sunday, December 15, 2024 concert beginning at 4 pm by the Queens College Choral Society performing Haydn's Nelson Mass in a Concert for Unity and Peace [$6 - $18]. Also on two Saturdays, December 7 & 21, 2024 there will be a breakfast at Applebee's with Santa [$15 including photos w/ Santa]. Aromatherapy with Annie Dec 7, Intro to Vet Techs Dec 14, Furry Friends Dec 15, Programs Animal Adventures: Animal Meet & Greet Dec 26 & Winter Wildlife - Seasonal Changes Dec 26 - All at Alley Pond Environmental Center. Click the MCAL link above for details.

Things To Do This Weekend in Brooklyn NYC

The holiday markets and events are too numerous to list on the front page, so use these links to peruse all of them. Click here for the Brooklyn holiday market this weekend nyc. And click here for Brooklyn holiday events nyc.

The photo above or at right was taken in Bay Ridge a few months back. The City of Yes zoning changes, now allow property owners to erect buildings in a neighborhood with little or no input from the community.

Click into the holiday events link above for details on the following holiday events this weekend and coming week. And click into the holiday markets link for the holiday fairs. TO SEE ALL EVENTS or MARKETS, click into that page. Few of the many holiday markets are shown here, so I highly recommend you click into the markets page.

Friday, December 6, 2024 from 6 to 8 pm - Tree Lighting with Sinterklaas at the Lott House

Friday, December 6, 2024 beginning at 4 pm - The Fort Hamilton Tree Lighting and Holiday Market.

Friday, December 6, 2024 from 3 to 6 pm - Holiday Tree Lighting Event - at Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help

Friday, Saturday & Sunday, December 6, 7 & 8, 2024 beginning at 7 pm on Friday & Saturday and at 2 pm on Saturday & Sunday - Narrows Community Theater Performance of 'The Best Christmas Pageant Ever'

Saturday, December 7, 2024 from 4 to 5 pm - Fort Greene Park Holiday Tree Lighting

Saturday, December 7, 2024 from 2 - 4+ pm - 22nd Annual Meet St. Nicholas on Horseback - at the Wyckoff Farmhouse Museu

Saturday & Sunday, December 7 & 8, 14 & 15 and 21 & 22, 2024 - Walk the Windows Along Atlantic Avenue

For this & Other Holiday Markets see the Holiday Markets Page _ Brooklyn Navy Yard _ Saturday & Sunday, December 7 & 8, 2024 from 12 noon to 5 pm - 7th Annual Brooklyn Navy Yard Wallabout Holiday Market

Sunday, December 8, 2024 from 12 noon to 4 pm _ St. Nicholas Day at Ridgewood Historical Society - at the Vande Ende-Onderdonk House

Saturday & Sunday, December 7 & 8, 2024 from 9 am to 3.30 pm and from 10 am to 1 pm respectively - Bay Ridge Ballet Nutcracker Bake Sale

Friday, December 13, 2024 from 5 to 7 pm - Christmas Tree Lighting at Grand Army Plaza

Friday, November 29, 2024 - January 2, 2025 - Dyker Heights Neighborhood Christmas Lights. - in Dyker Heights with the epicenter generally between 11th - 13th Avenues and 83rd - 86th Streets. Free holiday things to do in South & West Brooklyn NYC. There isn't any official website for this organic holiday lights competition among neighbors.

Friday November 22, 2024 through January 5, 2025 from 4.30 to 8.15 pm - Lightscape Show - at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden at 990 Washington Avenue in Prospect Heights. Holiday things to do in Brooklyn. For details see - https://www.bbg.org

Coney Island _ Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, November 23 to January 7, 2025 [also Holidays except Thanksgiving & Xmas and Weekdays from 12/25/ 24 - 1/1/2025] - 2nd Annual Frost Fest - at Luna Park on Coney Island. This event includes select rides, holiday lights and décor, seasonal food and a holiday market. For details and tickets see - https://lunaparknyc.com/

Friday, November 29 to December 15, 2024 at various times - Flip Circus in Brooklyn. At the main field in McCarren Park on the south side of the park. For details and tickets ranging from $30 for kids to $60 / $65 for adults, see - https://www.flipcircus.com

Two Plays - Polonsky & Billie Holiday Theater.

Click here for Brooklyn Parades and large Ethnic / Cultural Festivals NYC.
Click here to view Brooklyn street fairs NYC 2024.
CLICK this link to view things to do this weekend in Brooklyn NYC.
Click here to read recent OpEds and Editorials on Brooklyn BLVD.

Things To Do This Weekend in the Bronx NYC

Click here for the Bronx holiday market this weekend nyc. And click here for the Bronx holiday events nyc. These are also simultaneously a work in progress.

In the photo at right, taken this week, you see a night time subway car reasonably full of rail riders, like myself.

Saturday, December 7, 2024 from 4 pm - 6 pm - Arthur Avenue / Bronx Little Italy Christmas Tree Lighting

Saturday, December 7, 2024 from 1 to 3.30 pm - Winter Wonderland - at the Bronx Terminal Market

Sunday, December 8, 2024 from 3.30 to 5 pm - Christmas Tree Lighting Holiday Event in Morris Park.

Sunday, December 8, 2024 from 11 am to 4 pm - Winter Haven Opening Weekend Holiday Events & Holiday Market - at Wave Hill.

* Coop City _ Sunday, December 8, 2024 - Braata Productions Holiday Market & Concert in Coop City.

Sunday, December 8, 2024 from 9 am to 2 pm - Riverdale Y Temple Holiday Gift Fair

Thursday, December 12, 2024 at 6 pm - Bronx Holiday Tree Lighting Event by CB7 Norwood Bx & Friends of Mosholu Parkland

12/7/24 & 12/8 & 12/15 & 12/17/24 _ Updates coming next week by 12/6/24 _ Saturday, December 2, 2023 from 7.30 to 8.30 pm Bronx Arts Ensemble Performs the Holiday

12/12 & 12/13/24 Nutcracker at Lehman College.

Bedford Park / Belmont _ Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays, November 22, 2024 to January 5, 2025 from 3 to 9 pm - Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights - turn on at dusk at 4.30 pm, and you have between 3 and 4 pm to visit the animals in the buildings before they close at 4 pm. Holiday lights and events near the Belmont and Bedford Park neighborhoods in the Central Bronx. For details and $57 / $52 / $42 [kids] tickets, see - https://bronxzoo.com/holiday-lights

Saturday, November 16 - 30, 2024 [Ends January 20, 2025] from 10 am - 6 pm [closed holidays] - NYBG Holiday Train Show - at the New York Botanical Garden at 2900 Southern Blvd in the Belmont Neighborhood. Bronx holiday events & things to do nyc. Central Bronx. For details see below or - https://www.nybg.org

November & December 2024 on various days and at multiple times - Yankee Stadium Tours - at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. See the Yankees Museum, the ball park including both the dugout a press box or VIP suite for $41 / adult and $30 / child. For details and online tickets [only] see - https://www.mlb.com/yankees/ballpark/tours/public/classic-tours-tickets

The Bartow Pell Mansion Holiday Events & Market - Holiday Luncheon 11/26, Jazzy Holiday First Friday 12/6, Holiday Party 12/7, Holiday Gift Fair 12/8, Selfies w/ Santa 12/14, BAE Holiday Concert w/ Robbie Pat 12/15, A Christmas Carol 12/11 & 12/17 and Holiday Cookies & Crafts 12/21. The details to all of these are posted in our Member Calendar as well as on their website - https://www.bartowpellmansionmuseum.org/events-2/

Click here for Bronx Halloween parties, parades & events Bx NYC.

Click here for Bronx Parades and large Ethnic / Cultural Festivals NYC.
Click here to see Bronx street fairs & festivals NYC 2024.
CLICK this link to view things to do this weekend in the Bronx NYC.
Click here to read recent OpEds and Editorials on Bronx Buzz.

In the December MCAL - The Bartow Pell Mansion Holiday Events & Market - Holiday Luncheon 11/26, Jazzy Holiday First Friday 12/6, Holiday Party 12/7, Holiday Gift Fair 12/8, Selfies w/ Santa 12/14, BAE Holiday Concert w/ Robbie Pat 12/15, A Christmas Carol 12/11 & 12/17 and Holiday Cookies & Crafts 12/21. And Sunday, December 8, 2024 there's a Holiday Gift Fair at the Riverdale Y. On Sunday, December 22, 2024 there will be a breakfast at Applebee's with Santa [$15 including photos w/ Santa] near Fordham Plaza. Click the MCAL link above for details.

Things To Do This Weekend on Staten Island NYC

Click here for the Staten Island holiday markets this weekend nyc. And click here for the Staten Island holiday events nyc. These are also simultaneously a work in progress.

In the photo above or at right is one of the buildings of Historic Richmond Town, where the past comes alive. This weekend they are hosting a number of Christmas holiday related events.

Sundays, December 1, 8, 15 & 22, 2024 from 11 am to 2 pm - Holiday Sunday Brunch with Santa - at The Historic Old Bermuda Inn.

Friday & Saturday, December 6 & 7, 2024 - from 6 to 9 pm, and 9 am to 3 pm respectively - Christmas Tree & Wreath Sale and Vendor Craft Fair.

Historic Richmond Town _ Friday, Saturday & Sunday, December 6, 7 & 8, 2024 from 4 to 5 on Friday and from 12 noon to 5 pm Saturday & Sunday - Christmas in Historic Richmond Town.

Friday, December 6, 2024 beginning at 11.30 am - Holiday Golf Outing - National Lighthouse Museum Holiday Golf Outing

Saturday, December 7, 2024 from 9 am to 3 pm - Holiday Fair at Immanuel Union Church

Saturday, December 7, 2024 beginning at 1 pm - Holiday Performances of A Christmas Carol - by Sundog Theatre Company

Saturday, December 7, 2024 beginning at 2.30 pm, tree lighting at 5.15 pm and ending at 7 pm - Westerleigh Park Christmas Tree Lighting

Saturday, December 7, 2024 beginning at 6.30 pm - Holiday Tree Lighting at Empire Outlets Mall

Saturday, December 7, 2024 from 12 noon to 3 pm - Unwrapping Yule Log Traditions at the Conference House

Saturday & Sunday, December 7 & 8, 2024 from 11 am to 4 pm - Holiday Hop Holiday Market at Snug Harbor

Saturday, December 7, 2024 beginning at 7.30 pm - Holiday Concert in New Brighton

Sunday, December 8, 2024 from 11 am to 4 pm Holiday Market & at 4.30 pm the Grand Illumination at the Conference House

Sunday, December 8, 2024 from 10 am to 4 pm - JCC Holiday Gift Fair

Sunday, December 8, 2024 from 9.30 t0 4.30 pm - Christmas Fair / Market at Monsignor Farrell

Wednesday, December 11, 2024 from 5 to 7 pm - Christmas Tree Lighting & Celebration

Friday, Saturday & Sunday, December 13 - 15, 2024 beginning at 7 pm Friday, and at 2 pm and 6 pm on Saturday & Sunday - 21st Annual Christmas Show - at the St. George Theatre

The photo at right shows one of the sea worthy steeds that ferry Staten Islanders to and fro the Big Apple daily.

Click here for Staten Island Parades and large Ethnic / Cultural Festivals NYC.
Click here to see Staten Island street fairs & festivals NYC 2024.
CLICK this link to view things to do this weekend on Staten Island NYC.
Click here to read recent OpEds and Editorials on Staten Buzz.

Have a nice first full weekend of December.

City of Yes Passes by a Vote of 31 - 20

Stephen Ross, REBNY Members & the Adams Family Won & NYC Lost

December 6, 2024 / NYC Real Estate & Business / NYC Government & Politics / City of Yes Special Section / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz.

The City of Yes for Housing Opportunities bill passed yesterday afternoon / evening in the City Council Chambers at City Hall. The City of Yes or NYC Municipal Legislative Bill - L.U. 181 & Res 689 - App. N 240290 ZRY (City of Yes Zoning for Housing Opportunity) amendment of the Zoning Resolution of the City of New York, modifying multiple Sections to expand opportunities for housing within all zoning districts, Citywide. *

The photo snapshot at right shows the NYC Council voting on the City of Yes.

City of Yes [Wo]Men - Roll Call Vote Tally 31-20

Voting For the City of Yes Members. Carlina Rivera District 2, Eric Bottcher District 3, Keith Powers District 4, Julie Menin District 5, Gale Brewer M District 6, Shaun Abreu District 7, Diana Ayala District 8, Yusef Salaam M District 9, Carmen De La Rosa M District 10, Kevin Riley Bx District 12, Pierina Ana Sanchez District 14, Oswald Feliz District 15, Althea Stevens District 16, Rafael Salamanca Bx District 17, Amanda Farias District 18, Francisco Moya Q District 21, Tiffany Caban Q District 22, Shekar Krishnan Q District 25, Julie Won Q District 26, Nantasha Williams Q District 27, Speaker Adrienne Adams Q District 28, Selvena N. Brooks-Powers Q District 31, Lincoln Restler District 33, Jennifer Gutierrez District 34, Crystal Hudson District 35, Chi Osse District 36, Sandy Nurse District 37, Alexa Aviles District 38, Shahana Hanif District 39, Rita Joseph District 40, Justin Brannan Bk District 47.

Pay attention to the delineation of NYC Council members by the boroughs noted above by letters. Speaker Adrienne Adams delivered enough Queens council member votes (7) in favor of the legislation, which had they voted as their Community Boards did, would have killed the City of Yes bill.

Did Adrienne Adams and these NYC Council members betray the people of Queens they were elected to represent? Well, if so, keep in mind they are up for re-election in June 2025. So please educate yourself, fact check the statements made herein by using the power of the internet, and then after you've done enough research to know what's true, start spreading the news and get behind people who will represent you, the voters, not the big money that funded their campaigns.

Voting in the Negative. Joann Ariola District 32, Chris Banks District 42, Joseph C. Borelli District 51, David Carr District 50, Eric Dinowitz District 11, James Gennaro District 24, Kamillah Hanks District 49, Robert Holden District 30, Linda Lee District 23, Farah N. Louis District 45, Kristy Marmorato District 13, Christopher Marte District 1, Diane Mealy District 41, Mercedes Narcisse District 46, Vickie Paladino District 19, Lynn Schulman District 29, Sandra Ung District 20, Inna Vernikov District 48, Kalmar Yeger District 44, Susan Zhuang District 43.

We will keep this roll call of the vote on our site indefinitely in the City of Yes Special Report Section, because you, the voters, can use it as one benchmark vote, that helps you understand who is representing you, and how they are representing you. This becomes particularly important as there is the Democratic Primary in June 24, 2025 and the general election is November 4, 2025. Almost all of the elections are decided in the June primary because 56% of NYC is Democratic and only 26% is Republican. The remaining 18% are independent.

* Editor's Note. The summary of the bill leaves out the part about the NYC Council members forfeiting their power, and because they represent us, they are forfeiting our power and legal rights to weigh in on new developments in our neighborhoods. The summary also leaves out the part where by rushed passage of the 1,388 bill, the real estate developers and international investors can harvest a huge amount of tax abatements for 'affordable housing' that would be 'affordable' to individuals making up to $141,000 and a family of three making up to $183,00 per year or making rental payments of $4575 per month. And the summary leaves out the part about the negotiated deal, wherein how Eric Adams is going to miraculously fund the $4 billion, that magically appeared just by Eric Adams promising it, after Eric Adams tried to cut $100 million from the budgets of public schools in January 2024 and cut $22 million from the budget for public libraries as recently as November 2023. Adams promise of $4 billion is just that, and only that - a promise - as it is NOT IN THE BUDGET. And we all know the value of a politician's promise, especially when it's made by someone like Eric Adams, who has a documented history of lying, and is managing a tight budget that doesn't have $4 billion of funding lying around. He's going to have to take that funding from other places like public schools, public libraries and the NYPD.

Queens New Years Eve Parties NYC & NYE Parties & Events QNS NYC

Dec 16, 2024 at 12:15 am by mikewood

Queens New Years Eve Parties NYC & NYE Parties & Events QNS 2024 / 2025 - coming

Fun Restaurants to Celebrate New Years Eve / News Years in Astoria, LIC, Sunnyside, Woodside & Jackson Heights in Queens on New Years Eve NYC

Updating December 16, 2024 vs 12.29.23 / Queens New Years Eve Parties & Restaurants / Queens Buzz NYC.

Weather Forecast. NYE Sunrise in NYC - 7.20 am. NYE Sunset in NYC - 4.38 pm. The temperature highs will be in the mid 50's on Friday, dropping to the mid 40's for the rest of the three day holiday weekend including Monday. The temperature lows will be around 40 through Sunday, dropping into the low 30's on Monday. Humidity will be around 70% on Friday, descending into the 60's for the rest of the three day weekend. The winds will be about 8 to 10 mph on Friday & Saturday, dropping to about 5 to 7 mph on Sunday and Monday. No precipitation is in the forecast, although it will be cloudy all days except NYE Sunday. Have a safe and Happy New Year.

New Years Eve occurs on a Sunday this year. While New Years Eve is one big party, it's important to keep in mind, that like St. Patrick's Day, all the amateurs come out to play [it's not just the Irish who are out drinking on St. Patrick's Day]. So some measure of caution is advised and you have to be careful.

The following are a number of different New Years restaurants in Queens NYC where you might consider booking a reservation.

Click this link to view a brief guide of Queens New Years Eve parties and NYE parties & events in Queens NYC where you will find links to Queens restaurants we've reviewed. The restaurants we've reviewed include a mix of high, medium and budget priced restaurants that are spread throughout the borough and offer a large variety of ethnic cuisines. Enjoy.

Just Saying No to the City of Yes

See What's Driving the Urgency to Pass the 1386 Page 'City of Yes' Bill Now ...

... in Addition to being a Dishonestly-Sold, Anti-Democracy Bill, that Strips Communities of their Rights, Guarantees NO Affordable Housing, Likely will Inflate the Cost of NYC Real Estate, and Mostly Benefits the Elite, Super Rich Class of Real Estate Donors who Staffed the Group that Wrote the 1386 Page Bill & Funded the Campaigns of Mayor Adams and Numerous NYC Council Members, and Deprives NYC & NYS of Much Needed Future Tax Revenue for 10 to 40 Years

December 3, 2024 vs 11.29.24 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.

The photo above or at right shows NYC Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, who made an effort to rectify some of the deceitful promises of the City of Yes zoning changes, by negotiating some changes which are more likely to result in the creation of some truly affordable housing - but still very far short from justifying the incredible amount of government tax abatement giveaways that the City of Yes will enable, in light of the 421a NYS property tax law extension, wherein the taxpayers give the rich developers' properties 10 - 40 years tax free, in exchange for the real estate developers building apartments for tenants who earn up to between $141,000 and $183,000 per year.

Is this kind of public policy borderline or outright insane?

I STILL HAVE THE GRAPHICS TO DO, BUT THE VOTING BEGINS NOW, SO UP WE GO.

A democracy is only as good as the people who comprise it.

The incredibly thoughtful and well written documents upon which our democracy was founded, as well as our historical precedent, help.

But in the end, all of the earlier work that went into creating and maintaining our democracy, will be rendered meaningless, if the current and living heirs to our democracy, fail to pay attention to what their elected officials are doing to them - not for them.

And once aware - or even awake - those people must then take intelligent, courageous and decisive action to quickly correct abuses of power, by those who have been entrusted with it. Generally a population doesn't lose the protection of the rule of law, and fall back into servitude, in one swell swoop. They fall back into poverty and servitude, 1) one executive action, 2) one legislative action, and 3) one institutional action, at a time. And that is what we are witnessing on a local and national scale simultaneously.

Mayor Adams and his Cohorts Draft City of Yes without Community Participation

Campaign Funding in 2021. After winning the Democratic primary in June of 2021, Adams continued on fundraising efforts, even though he had essentially won the Mayoralty, meeting with wealthy real estate developers and millionaires and billionaires out on Long Island and at Martha's Vineyard. I reckon the further away from the public eye, the better

Year One - Drafting the City of Yes Proposal 2022. After raising the millions he didn't need to ride onto victory, and interacting with the well heeled developers, Adams set to work on their agenda.

During the first year of the Adams Administration, the Mayor met with members of the Real Estate Board of NY, representatives of large businesses, as well as representatives of a few non-profits and community groups that have been funded in part by these wealthy people. They called themselves the New New York.

The New New York began setting up its goals for the Adams Administration, which focused almost entirely on zoning legislation. Rank and file New Yorkers were NOT involved in helping the New New York draft the City of Yes legislation; and as far as I know, neither were any NYC Council members nor any board members of the 59 community boards that represent the people of NYC in conducting zoning and real estate related matters.

Mayor Adams' Deputy Mayor, Maria Torres-Springer, reportedly led the effort.

One could very reasonably ask whether the City of Yes zoning law changes are a quid pro quo between Mayor Adams and people like Stephen Ross and other REBNY members who supported Adams' bid for Mayor.

Mayor Adams & Garodnick of City Planning Plot Their Sales Approach

Year Two - Figuring Out How to Sell It to the Public 2023. According to a January 2024 presentation by Alicia Boyd of MTOPP, a Brooklyn based community organization, the New New York group came up with a 111 points or text amendments they wanted to make into NYC zoning laws. This became the City of Yes legislative proposal. There are those who believe it was named City of Yes to psychologically suggest to legislators that they vote yes in favor of the zoning changes. But that was only the beginning of the various manipulative sales techniques and deceits used to convince both the public and the NYC Council to approve it.

Mayor Adams and his cohorts at the Department of City Planning met with members of the community and boards - but only AFTER the bill had been drafted. So, folks knew they weren't being asked for their input to solving NYC's 'affordable housing crisis' but rather used as focus groups by Daniel Garodnick and Adams, to figure out how to sell this real estate developer and billionaire-crafted legislation, to the public.

Thirty Eight Community Boards Say No to City of Yes

Year Three - Seeking Passage of the Bill 2024. There are 59 Community Boards which are comprised of volunteers who represent the various neighborhoods located in the five boroughs. The community board members are chosen by the Borough Presidents in tandem with the local NYC Council members. These community board members are generally longstanding residents, closely connected to their communities, and somewhat knowledgeable through experience, about zoning regulations in NYC.

So, why did only one of these Community Boards recommend passage of the City of Yes without conditions, while 38 of them flat out said no [this is of 59 boards documented by Streets Blog]. And another 20 of them said they would consider passing it, but only if certain conditions were added to the bill. Be advised that when conditions attached to bills are not in the interest of the rich and powerful, they are rarely acted upon.

Doesn't it seem that if the Adams Administration had any respect for our democratic processes, they would have scrapped the bill at this point and started over? No and they didn't. They put a fresh coat of lipstick on the legislative pig, and kept marshalling it through the approval process, to where we are today. One vote away from it getting approved - or shot down.

Adams' Effort is Aided and Abetted by Real Estate Industry Millionaires & Billionaires Funding of Numerous NYC Council Members Campaigns & Many of Those Pols Won

But the real estate industry wasn't taking any chances, that NYC Council members would actually represent the people who voted for them, instead of the people who funded their campaigns. So, in the last municipal election in 2021, the real estate developers used their wealth to back NYC Council candidates they believed would work on their behalf and vote for the City of Yes. This is why the City of Yes is expected to be passed by the NYC Council - because many NYC Council members been signfiicantly funded by the people pushing the City of Yes.

The Dishonest Sales Promotion of the 'City of Yes' Legislation

There were a number of things the Adams Administration did, to try to deceive New Yorkers into thinking that the City of Yes would solve the 'affordable housing crisis'.

First, they promised this will solve the affordable housing crisis, by igniting an affordable housing boom of some 109,000 units, when in fact there are no guarantees that any affordable housing will be built at all because of the zoning legislation.

Speaker Adrienne Adams corrected part of that dishonesty by negotiating for more money [$5 billion] and more truly affordable housing units [some available to folks making 40% of the AMI, which is an income of $43,500]. This resulted in the lowering of the estimate of the 'affordable housing' units the City of Yes will produce by 29,000 units down to 80,000 units - see our prior report dated November 27, 2024 in our City of Yes Special Reports section.

In a NY Minute, the Mayor Miraculously Comes up with $4 Billion, After Trying to Cut Millions from Public Schools & Libraries

So, one of the questions I have to ask, is how did Mayor Adams go from cutting $100 million out of the public schools budget and $36 million out of the public libraries budget about a year ago; to coming up with $4 billion of the $5 billion [NYS chipped in $1 billion] to get the City of Yes through the NYC Council Committee on what seemed a moments notice, during the negotiations with the NYC Council Speaker. When NYC public schools and libraries need funding, Adams says money is hard to find, but when the Mayor's millionaire / billionaire real estate developer funders / friends need it, POOF the money magically appears.

Editor's Note. You can Help by Taking Action. Henceforth if any NYC or NYS government official or any candidate running for office in NYC or NYS uses the term 'affordable' with housing - DEMAND that they give you monthly rental prices and unit sizes - or this rampant deceit of the Electorate vis-a-vis fraudulent 'affordabe' housing, will go on endlessly. Hold the tricksters, like Mayor Adams, accountable.

Where's the Fine Print?

NYC City Planning Leaves Key Points Out of Presentations - Taking Power Away

In their presentations to Community Boards, the Department of City Planning left out a HUGE number of relevant details, including that they essentially want to put the Community Boards out of business, and somewhere between minimize and eliminate, any input into zoning for new developments from the City Council.

This, in essence, transfers all of the power over new developments or changing developments to, what today seems like an incredibly corrupt, Mayor and his Administration. All of these changes are anti-democracy, anti-people, anti-community-engagement by and for New Yorker residents and businesses, vis-a-vis what the billionaire developers and their international investors can do to the streets and neighborhoods, we - not they - live and work in.

The Adams Administration told folks that a poll showed most New Yorkers were in support of City of Yes. What they didn't and wouldn't [I asked and received no response] tell folks is who funded that poll, and that that poll was done using experimental methods.

The 1,386 page City of Yes Kitchen Sink Legislation isn't Ready for Passage

There are still too many issues with the huge legislative package for the NYC Council to pass it. Of course that doesn't mean they won't. The following are a few of them, provided to me by a community board consultant, George Janes, and a Brooklyn activist, Alicia Boyd.

Janes says that the bill doesn't provide any guidelines nor minimum requirements for how many units a huge buildings with few units should provide. Conversely, it allows for the creation of buildings which could be comprised entirely of studio apartments, essentially ensuring that the people who live there, have lower incomes and less space.

It does nothing to address housing unit losses via conversions.

There aren't any mandates for affordable housing units, as in many [most?] other jurisdictions, including Westchester. This is a way to not only fund affordable housing units, but also to ensure there's some level of integration between lower / middle income residents, with higher income residents in a building / neighborhood.

In his testimony before the NYC Council, Janes said, " ... COYHO changes basic zoning standards, reducing sizes of rear yards, side yards, legal windows, courts, and open space. City of Yes changes the fundamental building blocks of the City without conditioning those changes on the creation of affordable housing. It creates new CPC [City Planning Commission] authorizations, where the Council would cede their power to an unelected and unaccountable CPC, which would hold no public hearings on those authorizations ...".

Brooklyn community activist, Alicia Boyd of MTOPP, said in her presentation in January of 2024, that the Adams Administration wants want to remove Environmental Assessment Statements (EAS) and Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) as a requirement for the development of a large class of large buildings. Assuming I understand this correctly, [I'm reaching out to her] this means you could be living next to a toxic dump that has been dormant for decades [so no problem to date], but then a new building is planned on your block, which opens up the toxic site, and you don't get to know about it and react to it, before it becomes your problem.

Media Failures & Where's the Supporting Infrastructure?

The traditional media coverage of the City of Yes by TV and newspapers, has been somewhere between inadequate to ignorant to dishonest. It's worth pointing out that newspapers like the NY Daily News and NY Post are owned by billionaires who travel in the same social circles as the billionaire and millionaire real estate developers behind this plan, and with whom they share some of their media ownership. And it's possible that Mayor Adams is using the NYC local ad spending, provided for in Local Law 83, to pressure the smaller ethnic and community media outlets to tow the Administration's party line on this bill.

The City of Yes is a 1,386 page document. So what's been identified above, is the only a small sampling of the issues we're going to have to deal with to compensate for the real estate developers and investors' tax abatement and housing windfall. For example, without Community Boards reviewing developments, public lands can be taken away from a community without them even knowing, like they could have been in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, had it not come to the attention of local pols via the community board. And without community board input, the infrastructure to support real estate developments likely won't be addressed until after the fact, at best causing temporary hardship, while forcing government spending in support of private industry without community input.

The Dirty Little Secret Driving the Urgency of the City of Yes

This brings us to the last City of Yes [COY] issue for you to consider and that's funding. Why are we, the taxpayers, giving all of this money to the richest people among us, to build expensive luxury apartments? Some will argue that the new tax abatement schedule, 425a, only gives tax abatements for between 10 - 40 years of property tax free ownership, to those developers who are creating apartments that are affordable to people making 60% or 80% of the AMI [Area Median Income].

My response to that is two fold - 1) Dishonest & Exaggerated HPD Area Median Income Numbers. The numbers they use to calculate AMI or Area Median Income are so dishonest that they are laughable. It's generally believed that the Area Median Income for an individual in NYC is about $ 60,000 to $65,000. The HPD chart says that half of the people in NYC make over $108,000 - not $65,000 - and they use their higher number, not the real one, to calculate the tax abatement numbers. I can only hypothesize that the real estate industry exercises an incredible amount of influence over the conjuring up of those numbers.

2) NYS Extension of 421a Tax Breaks Means Huge Loss of Tax Revenue for COY 'Affordable' Luxury Apartments. In April the NYS legislature approved the extension of 421a Tax breaks for another five years to June 2031. The 421a allows for tax abatements of between 10 - 40 years for the creation of affordable apartments which may be defined by apartments that are 'affordable' for those earning up to 130% of the AMI, which for an individual [using the HPD chart] is $141,000 and for a three person family is $183,000. The assumption is that they then spend up to 30% of their income on rent - or $4,575 / month for the $183,000, and that's what they are calling an 'affordable' apartment. You tell me if you think that's what most New Yorkers would consider an affordable apartment.

So why are taxpayers going to pay all of this money for these rich developers to create apartments for rich tenants? This makes no sense, when you consider that this loss in funding is coming from public education, libraries, sanitation, healthcare, the NYPD, the NYFD, social services and the creation of real affordable housing - not the dishonest kind, as just described above.

Will somebody please get an estimate of how much this will cost taxpayers and what we will get. And don't tell me 80,000 units of affordable housing because 'affordable' the way NYC and NYS government officials use it, is absolutely meaningless. Tell me 30,000 studio apartments at $2,700 / month, 30,000 one bedroom apartments at $3,500 / month and 20,000 two bedroom apartments at $4,500 / month.

What's wrong with the 'mainstream' media that they're not reporting this? And what's wrong with our elected officials that they are doing this to us? And ultimately, you have to ask yourself, what's wrong with us in the electorate, that we let these sorts of abuses go unchecked. There's an election coming up in June 2025 - the Democratic primary. And if anyone out there is thinking of running for NYC Council or Mayor, pay attention to this issue and this vote, because this could easily be made into the defining issue of the year.

A Few Last Things To Consider

Pols are Transferring Your Money & Power to the Rich Who Fund Their Campaigns & Compromising Our Future

First former Governor Cuomo tried to get $20 billion in funding included in the NYS budget, and then Hochul tried to get $25 billion in the budget to fund 'affordable housing'. NYS and NYC government officials cannot seem to give away tax revenue fast enough to the billionaires, and real estate developers and investors fast enough. If you want to understand why rich people don't pay taxes at the same rate you do, this is just one - but a glaring one - example. And you're responsible in part, because you keep electing people who work for those who fund their campaigns instead of for those who voted for them.

The unrelenting greed of Wall Street and REITs will, over time, outbid everyone else for all the land in America. Left unchecked, they will make all Americans tenants, unless, we the people, get the government to step in and regulate REITs and similar entities.

Is Eric Adams to be trusted? After convincing NYCHA residents to give up their rights, Adams facilitated the transference of those rights to rich real estate developers. Adams seems to encourage those who have placed their trust in him, to sell now and pay later.

When Adams was Brooklyn Borough President, he encouraged the Brooklyners to relinquish ownership of the property upon which the Brooklyn Library once stood, in exchange for some fast cash.

Why have 5,000 NYCA Housing units become vacant since Adams took office, if we're really in an 'affordable' housing crisis?

And a little known / discussed fact is that Adams spent some time in real estate while on the NYPD and while a State Senator. According to a January 19, 2024 report in the Real Deal, "... The mayor worked as a broker in the 1990s when he was off-duty from the New York Police Department, according to a City Hall spokesperson. He also disclosed work as a real estate consultant when he was a state senator ...".

The 'Affordable Housing Crisis' Government Sponsored Lies?

The Hugely Inflated AMI ...

Make no mistake about it, the media in NYC and NYS isn't doing a very good job of covering one of the most important issues of our present time. They just repeat - without thinking - whatever the government or big business tells them - like they're reading it off of a teleprompter.

The real estate industry's influence within HPD seems visible in the AMI's published by HPD, which are so out of touch with the economic reality of most New Yorkers. I don't know how they get away with it. HPD states that the AMI income is $108,700, while all other estimates I find are far below that ranging from $40,000 which is wrong, but less wrong than the HPD figure, and the figure I find most often is in the $65,000 range. Google AI says that 80% of NYC salaries fall between $34,000 and $74,000, so how HPD comes up with $108,700 as the median income, that we use to provide tax forgiveness to the rich real estate developers and investors would seem terribly erroneous, if not corrupt.

... and the Hugely Deflated 1.4% Vacancy Rate

The real estate industry's influence over what I've come to believe are the brain dead teleprompter readers on TV is also very recognizable, as much of what I see presented on their media outlets appear to be pretty close to unedited publicity pieces. So caveat emptor - buyer beware - reader / viewer beware of who you're trusing to provide you with intelligent and reliable information.

One of the statistics the TV folks have been repeating like a parrot press, is the 1.4% vacancy rate in NYC. Thankfully, not all of the media is brain dead yet.

There were some 42,860 vacant rent stabilized apartments in 2022 per the Census Bureau. In 2023 the Census Bureau said that there are only about 26,310 vacant apartments, of which about 3,000 were categorized as uninhabitable. These numbers are not factored in when the Census Bureau published that NYC has a 1.4% vacancy rate. So note that we have a vacancy rate if you don't include all of the rent stabilized apartments being warehoused by the land owners in this city. Use this link to learn more about the vacancy rate lie.

https://www.thecity.nyc/2024/02/14/rent-stabilized-apartments-vacant/

... And Incompetently Managed & Completely Ineffective Tenant Protection Bureaucracies

Based on reliable anecdotal reports, neither the NYC nor NYS tenant protection units, HPD and the DHCR, actually do what they falsely claim / advertise they do. Instead of protecting tenants, they seem to be agents of the real estate industry and landlords. Why aren't NYC and NYS officials talking about actually enforcing the tenant protection laws, which I know for a fact anecdotally that they don't do.

To give you an idea of how ineffective the DHCR and HPD are consider this. New York has lost over ONE HALF MILLION rent stabilized apartments since 2000. Possibly more because the agencies entrusted to track this information in NYC and NYS, which are HPD and DHCR respectively, don't seem very competent at anything, except perhaps kowtowing to the landlords and real estate industry.

Alternative Approaches to Solving the 'Affordable Housing' Crisis without Providing Huge Free Passes on Taxes to Some of the Richest People in NYC, NYS, USA and the World

The City of Yes is expected, probably dishonestly, to generate the creation of 80,000 'affordable' housing units over the next 15 years that may not honestly be truly affordable to the average New Yorker at all. That translates into 5,333 per year. Here are a few remedies, off the top of my head, that will result in far more real rent stabilized / affordable housing availabilities than the stinky City of Yes. in the nearer term, and they'll cost very little

1. YEAR ONE. Use the 5,000 NYCA units that became vacant since Eric Adams took office to house people.

2. YEAR TWO. Legislate Huge & Escalating Rent Stabilized Apartment Vacancy Penalties. Why hasn't Adams and the NYC Council imposted a vacancy fee on all rent stabilized apartments in NYC that have been vacant for more than a year? Why doesn't Adams implement an escalating fee that rises for each additional vacant unit in any rent stabilized building, because these landlords are in the process of destroying existing rent stabilized apartments and likely in the process of attempting to harass the rent stabilized tenants out of their homes.

There are currently an estimated [but we don't really know because HPD and the DHCR don't really seem to know] 26,000 plus vacant rent stabilized apartments [it was as high as 42,000 in 2019 but it is believed that landlords are 'hiding' them] and some of those should shake loose, and in the meantime begin investigating those landlords' actions vis-a-vis their rent stabilized tenants, and you'll likely find a lot of harassment that hasn't been remedied by HPD or the DHCR. That should help stem the loss of rent stabilized units because the tenants will be more likely to stay.

3. YEAR TWO. Stop or Moderate the Rent Stabilized Rent Increases like Mayor de Blasio did. These unrelenting rent increases, particularly during the Bloomberg years, forced thousands out of their rent stabilized apartments. This will stem the losses of rent stabilized housing, as we saw after Mayor de Blasio came to office and moderated / stopped the price increases on rent stabilized units.

4. Use Real Economics - Not the Pseudo 'Silent Hand' Economics to Create Real Affordable Housing Supply. Why doesn't NYC and NYS stop giving tax breaks to rich developers to rent to people, and instead invest the money to create new truly affordable housing units, where the purchase price is pegged to the real - not HPD - Area Median Income. This would foster a city of owners, not a city of tenants. This proposal shares some characteristics with the Mitchell Lama housing units, a small amout of which Speaker Adrienne Adams negotiated into the City of Yes deal.

The Mayor and Governor keep wanting to throw billions of taxpayer funded abatements in the direction of the real estate industry that funds their campaigns, instead of doing their job which is to make those bloated ineffective bureaucracies HPD and the DHCR actually do their jobs. This could be kicked off by setting up a dashboard of all complaints filed with each agency and then record tenant / landlord satisfaction. Currently I'd wager it's 85% landlord satisfaction and below 15% tenant satisfaction [if not ZERO].

5. Implement the Low Hanging Fruit of the City of Yes Proposal. Why doesn't the NYC Council scrap the City of Yes, and implement the low hanging fruit outlined in that package in separately drafted bills - written by the NYC Council with community input. Examples of the low hanging fruit seem to be no parking for housing near public transit, allowing for adjacent dwellings in those neighborhoods that agree to them, and basement apartments outside of flood zones. And instead of transferring NYCHA development rights, use them to create affordable housing units, with sales prices pegged to the AMI.

Mayor Adams has Agreed to Cede Our Power & Funding to the Real Estate Industry - What Will the NYC Council do?

That the Mayor and legislators allow private industry to write - not comment - on legislation they drafted, shows who is in control of our government. And it's an indication of how close we all are - because they represent us - to relinquishing theirs and our role in the governance process. Those who give up their power - and because they represent us they are giving up our power - don't deserve to be re-elected. The Democratic primaries are only 6 months away.

Watch this vote, because it will tell you a lot about who is who, and what is what.

UPDATED NEW LINK _ Click this link to go to the NYC Council votes on the City of Yes tomorrow, Thursday, December 5, 2024.

LINK

The 'City of Yes' is an All Around Bad Deal

Novelist Rita Mae Brown said, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results." Based on that definition, I'd say NYC municipal government efforts to solving NYC's affordable housing crisis - including the City of Yes - are insane. Six months from now we get to again choose who will represent us. Pay attention to this vote and decide for yourself whether these people are solving our problems, or making not just housing, but all of them worse, by giving away so much future tax revenue, for so very, very little in return.

A child not beholden to the real estate industry for funding could negotiate a better deal.

2025 NYC Mayoral Candidates are On Board with REBNY, Stephen Ross & Company

If you're looking for a paladin in the upcoming 2025 NYC Mayoral primary, thus far none has materialized. All five of the announced candidates for NYC Mayor already appear to be beholden to the big money real estate, big money investors, that seem to have an outsized influence throughout a good portion of NYC government. As the graphic above or at right indicates, all are on board for the City of Yes.

But it's not too late for someone like Kathryn Garcia to set foot in the race. And she could be just what the doctor ordered to clean up all of the ineffective - if not corrupt - enforcement agencies in NYC that are part and parcel of NYC's housing problem.

Stay tuned.

** Things to do This Weekend in NYC & Boros

Thanksgiving End and Black Friday Begins (see holiday market links for each boro), Holiday Markets, Vintage Subway Car Rides Begin and Toy Train Show in Manhattan; Affordable Art Fair in Queens; Park Slope BID Tree Lighting, Dyker Heights Neighborhood Christmas Lights, Frost Fest @ Coney Isle, Lightscape Show @ BBG, Brooklyn Flea & Flip Circus in Brooklyn; NYBG Holiday Train Show, Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights & Yankee Stadium Tours in the Bronx; and Holiday Markets on Staten Island

Updated _ December 3, 2024 vs 11.29.24 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / Gotham Buzz NYC.

NYC Weather Forecast as of 11.29.24. But first - Sunrise 6.59 am & Sunset at 4.29 pm. The drought continues with no precipitation in the forecast. The temperature highs will be in the high 40's on Friday, and then about 40 for Saturday and Sunday. The temperature lows will be in the mid to low 30's all weekend. The winds will be 5 - 10 mph all weekend. It's going to be a very dry weekend with the humidity generally ranging from 20% - 30%.

The photo at right shows pedestrian traffic in Grand Central Terminal in November around the Thanksgiving holiday. This year Americans are expected to break Thanksgiving travel records again, with some 71 million traveling more the 50 miles from home by car, and an additional 18 million Americans flying over the holiday. Thanksgiving is the busiest travel holiday of the year.

Saturday Afternoon Edition around 2 pm. We're mostly done for this weekend, but then again, we're never really done as this is an ongoing continuous work in process ... kind of like life itself. It looks to be another busy and good, but back to seasonal, weather weekend. Enjoy.

Things To Do This Weekend in Manhattan

Click here for the Manhattan holiday markets this weekend nyc. And click here for the Manhattan holiday events nyc. These are also simultaneously a work in progress.

Click into the holiday events link above for details on the following holiday events this weekend and coming week. And click into the holiday markets link for the holiday fairs. These are many of the events.

Sundays ONLY, December 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 2024 from 10 am - 5 pm - Vintage Subway Car / Nostalgia Subway Holiday Train Rides

Monday, December 2, 2024 at 5.30 - 8 pm [time unconfirmed for 2024] - Tavern on the Green Tree Lighting Event.

Tuesday, December 3, 2024 beginning at 6 pm / Line starts forming at 4 pm - Bryant Park Holiday Tree Lighting Event.

Tuesday, December 3, 2024 begins at 3 pm - South Street Seaport Holiday Tree Lighting Event.

Tuesday, December 3, 2024 from 4.30 to 5.45pm - Madison Square Park Holiday Tree Lighting Event

Wednesday, December 4, 2024 from 7 - 9 pm - Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Event.

Thursday, December 4, 2024 from 3 pm to 7 pm - NYSE 101st Annual NYSE Tree Lighting Event

Thursday, December 5, 2024 from 5.30 - 6.30 pm - Dana Discovery Center Tree Lighting Event

Gramercy Theater concerts - https://www.thegramercytheatre.com/shows

Click here for Manhattan Parades and large Ethnic / Cultural Festivals NYC.
CLICK here to view Manhattan street fairs and festivals NYC 2024. There are Mom's Day gift markets.
CLICK this link to view things to do this weekend in Manhattan NYC.
Click here to read recent OpEds and Editorials on Manhattan Buzz NYC.

Things To Do This Weekend in Queens NYC

Click here for the Queens holiday markets this weekend nyc. And click here for the Queens holiday events nyc. These are also simultaneously a work in progress.

Saturday, November 30, 2024 - the Queens Craft Brigade - at Katch Astoria - see holiday markets.

Sunday, December 1, 2024 from 12 noon to 6 pm - Woodbine 5th Annual Holiday Market - see holiday markets.

Thursday, December 5, 2024 from 6 to 9 pm - the International Food Expo - will be held at the NY Hall of Science at 47-01 11th Street in Corona [in FMC Park]. Proceeds benefit the Queens Together Food Pantry. For details and $100 tickets see - https://expo2024.queenstogether.org

Sunday, December 1, 2024 from 5 to 7 pm - Annual tree lighting at Poppenhusen Institute

Sunday, December 1, 2024 from 11 am to 1 pm - Wreath Making Workshop - at the Ridgewood Historical Society & Onderdonk House

Sunday & Tuesday, December 1 & 3, 2024 from 12 noon to 2 pm & from 6 to 8 pm - Steinway Street Holiday Caroling

* Thursday, December 5, 2024 from 6 to 9 pm - the International Food Expo - will be held at the NY Hall of Science at 47-01 11th Street in Corona [in FMC Park]. Proceeds benefit the Queens Together Food Pantry. For details and $100 tickets see - https://expo2024.queenstogether.org

The photo above or at right shows some holiday decorations adorning a local home. The Christmas season wastes no time in following on the heels of the non-commercialized Thanksgiving holiday.

Click here for Queens Parades and large Ethnic / Cultural Festivals NYC.
Click here to view Queens street fairs & festivals NYC 2024.
CLICK this link to view things to do this weekend in Queens NYC.
Click here to read recent OpEds and Editorials on Queens Buzz NYC.

Things To Do This Weekend in Brooklyn NYC

The holiday markets and events are too numerous to list on the front page, so use these links to peruse all of them. Click here for the Brooklyn holiday market this weekend nyc. And click here for Brooklyn holiday events nyc.

Sunday, December 1, 2024 from 12 noon to 6 pm - Woodbine 5th Annual Holiday Market - see holiday markets.

Friday, December 6, 2024 beginning at 4 pm - The Fort Hamilton Tree Lighting and Holiday Market.

Brooklyn Flea in Dumbo [under the arch] is now open Saturdays & Sundays 8 am to 5 pm thru 12/22. Details coming shortly. For details see - https://brooklynflea.com

The photo above or at right shows the Brooklyn Botanical Garden in the Fall, just prior to getting all it up for the holidays.

Likely more holiday events coming later today or early Saturday morning. Use links above to view both holiday markets and events.

Friday, November 29, 2024 - January 2, 2025 - Dyker Heights Neighborhood Christmas Lights. - in Dyker Heights with the epicenter generally between 11th - 13th Avenues and 83rd - 86th Streets. Free holiday things to do in South & West Brooklyn NYC. There isn't any official website for this organic holiday lights competition among neighbors.

Saturday, November 30, 2024 beginning at 4.30 pm / lighting at 5.15 pm - Park Slope 5th Avenue BID Holiday Tree Lighting at the Old Stone House - located at 336 3rd Street in Central Brooklyn NYC. For details scroll down or see - INST https://www.instagram.com/oldstonehousebklyn/ OR https://theoldstonehouse.org

Friday November 22, 2024 through January 5, 2025 from 4.30 to 8.15 pm - Lightscape Show - at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden at 990 Washington Avenue in Prospect Heights. Holiday things to do in Brooklyn. For details see - https://www.bbg.org

Friday, December 6, 2024 beginning at 4 pm - The Fort Hamilton Tree Lighting and Holiday Market.

Coney Island _ Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, November 23 to January 7, 2025 [also Holidays except Thanksgiving & Xmas and Weekdays from 12/25/ 24 - 1/1/2025] - 2nd Annual Frost Fest - at Luna Park on Coney Island. This event includes select rides, holiday lights and décor, seasonal food and a holiday market. For details and tickets see - https://lunaparknyc.com/

Friday, November 29 to December 15, 2024 at various times - Flip Circus in Brooklyn. At the main field in McCarren Park on the south side of the park. For details and tickets ranging from $30 for kids to $60 / $65 for adults, see - https://www.flipcircus.com

Two Plays - Polonsky & Billie Holiday Theater.

Click here for Brooklyn Parades and large Ethnic / Cultural Festivals NYC.
Click here to view Brooklyn street fairs NYC 2024.
CLICK this link to view things to do this weekend in Brooklyn NYC.
Click here to read recent OpEds and Editorials on Brooklyn BLVD.

Things To Do This Weekend in the Bronx NYC

Click here for the Bronx holiday market this weekend nyc. And click here for the Bronx holiday events nyc. These are also simultaneously a work in progress.

At right or above is a photo of the Dollar Savings Bank building along the Grand Concourse at Fordham Road in the Bronx. The building was first erected in 1932 - 1933 and modified periodically over the following decade. It was built in the Art Deco style, which was architecturally consistent with most of the other buildings of the time which ran along the Grand Concourse.

Likely more holiday events coming later today or early Saturday morning. Use link above to view the holiday markets.

Bedford Park / Belmont _ Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays, November 22, 2024 to January 5, 2025 from 3 to 9 pm - Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights - turn on at dusk at 4.30 pm, and you have between 3 and 4 pm to visit the animals in the buildings before they close at 4 pm. Holiday lights and events near the Belmont and Bedford Park neighborhoods in the Central Bronx. For details and $57 / $52 / $42 [kids] tickets, see - https://bronxzoo.com/holiday-lights

Saturday, November 16 - 30, 2024 [Ends January 20, 2025] from 10 am - 6 pm [closed holidays] - NYBG Holiday Train Show - at the New York Botanical Garden at 2900 Southern Blvd in the Belmont Neighborhood. Bronx holiday events & things to do nyc. Central Bronx. For details see below or - https://www.nybg.org

November & December 2024 on various days and at multiple times - Yankee Stadium Tours - at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. See the Yankees Museum, the ball park including both the dugout a press box or VIP suite for $41 / adult and $30 / child. For details and online tickets [only] see - https://www.mlb.com/yankees/ballpark/tours/public/classic-tours-tickets

Thursday, December 5, 2024 from 5 to 9 pm - Bronx Borough Presidents Office Winter Wonderland Extravaganza - use the holiday events link above for details and a url.

The Bartow Pell Mansion Holiday Events & Market - Holiday Luncheon 11/26, Jazzy Holiday First Friday 12/6, Holiday Party 12/7, Holiday Gift Fair 12/8, Selfies w/ Santa 12/14, BAE Holiday Concert w/ Robbie Pat 12/15, A Christmas Carol 12/11 & 12/17 and Holiday Cookies & Crafts 12/21. The details to all of these are posted in our Member Calendar as well as on their website - https://www.bartowpellmansionmuseum.org/events-2/

Click here for Bronx Halloween parties, parades & events Bx NYC.

Click here for Bronx Parades and large Ethnic / Cultural Festivals NYC.
Click here to see Bronx street fairs & festivals NYC 2024.
CLICK this link to view things to do this weekend in the Bronx NYC.
Click here to read recent OpEds and Editorials on Bronx Buzz.

In the December MCAL - The Bartow Pell Mansion Holiday Events & Market - Holiday Luncheon 11/26, Jazzy Holiday First Friday 12/6, Holiday Party 12/7, Holiday Gift Fair 12/8, Selfies w/ Santa 12/14, BAE Holiday Concert w/ Robbie Pat 12/15, A Christmas Carol 12/11 & 12/17 and Holiday Cookies & Crafts 12/21. And Sunday, December 8, 2024 there's a Holiday Gift Fair at the Riverdale Y. On Sunday, December 22, 2024 there will be a breakfast at Applebee's with Santa [$15 including photos w/ Santa] near Fordham Plaza. Click the MCAL link above for details.

Things To Do This Weekend on Staten Island NYC

Click here for the Staten Island holiday markets this weekend nyc. And click here for the Staten Island holiday events nyc. These are also simultaneously a work in progress.

Click into the holiday events link above for details on the following holiday events this weekend and coming week. And click into the holiday markets link for the holiday fairs.

Sundays, December 1, 8, 15 & 22, 2024 from 11 am to 2 pm - Holiday Sunday Brunch with Santa - at The Historic Old Bermuda Inn.

Monday, December 2, 2024 from 5 - 7 pm - Victory Blvd Holiday Tree Lighting Event

Wednesday, December 3, 2024 from 6.30 to 8 pm - SI Borough President Vito Fossella's Christmas Tree Lighting.

Thursday, December 5, 2024 from 6 to 10 pm - Christmas Tree Lighting at Monsignor Farrell.

Friday, December 6, 2024 beginning at 11.30 am - Holiday Golf Outing - National Lighthouse Museum Holiday Golf Outing - at Grand Oaks Country Club.

Friday & Saturday, December 6 & 7, 2024 - from 6 to 9 pm, and 9 am to 3 pm respectively - Christmas Tree & Wreath Sale and Vendor Craft Fair.

Historic Richmond Town _ Friday, Saturday & Sunday, December 6, 7 & 8, 2024 from 4 to 5 on Friday and from 12 noon to 5 pm Saturday & Sunday - Christmas in Historic Richmond Town.

Sunday, December 1, 2024 from 11 am to 4 pm - National Lighthouse Museum Holiday Market - at 400 The Promenade in the St. George neighborhood of SI. Staten Island holiday fairs and markets nyc. North SI. For details see below or - https://lighthousemuseum.org/events/

The photo at right shows one of the sea worthy steeds that ferry Staten Islanders to and fro the Big Apple daily.

Click here for Staten Island Parades and large Ethnic / Cultural Festivals NYC.
Click here to see Staten Island street fairs & festivals NYC 2024.
CLICK this link to view things to do this weekend on Staten Island NYC.
Click here to read recent OpEds and Editorials on Staten Buzz.

MCAL _ MEMBER EVENTS CALENDAR. Use this link for new member sign up and posting - Staten Buzz New Member Sign Up. Click this link Staten Island Events - Member Events to view free posts made by arts, cultural and community groups. This month includes Saturday, November 16, 2024 there's a Happy Play Day Thanksgiving Family event at JCC.

Have another great November weekend.

Thanksgiving - America's Communal Holiday

The Pilgrims Legacy: Love, Sharing & Community Empowerment

November 27, 2024 / NYC Neighborhoods / Thanksgiving Holidays in NYC / Gotham Buzz NYC.

A couple of years ago, I happened upon a childhood book of fables and fairytales that I had saved since I was a first grader. I was young enough to still like fairytales and old enough to be learning and loving to read.

The book, A Gateway to Storyland, by Platt & Munk Co, was given to me around the holidays, and the book still gives me a warm, loved feeling when I periodically open it to browse through the fairytales and fables containing little nuggets of age old wisdom about how to conduct onesself [see photo at right / the book is still in print]. I read it numerous times immediately upon receiving it, as the illustrations fed my imagination, and lessons embedded in the words resonated with timeless sagacity.

Unselfish Parental Love Manifested by Empowering Progeny

Love comes in many forms, but the purest form is unselfish love. The love of truly giving something with no thought of anything in return. That love is oftentimes given intergenerationally - from grandparents to parents to children.

Perhaps the greatest gifts are those that cost us nothing but our time. Like the gift of teaching someone something that they will be able to put to good use throughout their lives. Parents do this all the time, when they help their children develop skills, and impart some knowledge and learning ... just as my parents did many years ago, by giving me a well illustrated fairytale book to encourage my interest in reading, while sharing the time tested insights of the ages, handed down through storytelling.

I. A Brief Thanksgiving History

The Pilgrims Shared Communal Resources to Actualize a Dream

At Thanksgiving time we commemorate one of America's first settlements, founded by the risk-taking, resource-pooling, hardworking, spiritual community of Pilgrims.

The Pilgrims were early English settlers who arrived on American shores in the early 17th century [1600's]. They came here because they wanted a measure of freedom and self-determination that they were forbidden in Europe or what was called the 'old country'. The Pilgrims wanted to practice their faith, unencumbered, in a way that differed from the established Church of England. They pooled their money to obtain a ship, the Mayflower, to cross the Atlantic in mid September of 1620, landing on America's shores at Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts on November 9, 1620. Think of it. It took about a month and a half to travel a distance we can now traverse in about five hours.

The Pilgrims Receive Help from the Native People of a Strange Land

Per Wikipedia, the Piligrims survived a hard winter in 1621 with the help of the Wampanoag, an American Indian tribe. The Pilgrims were the immigrants, and the first Americans, the Indian natives, welcomed them. The Wampanaog taught the Pilgrims how to catch eels, and how to grow and harvest corn. Thus the Pilgrims ended 1621 with a good harvest which they celebrated and shared with their new friends, expressing their gratitude to a higher power, aka God, for the success of their endeavors.

Thus it was that the first Thanksgiving celebration happened in America ... or did it?

CLICK here for the rest of the story about Thanksgiving Day sentiments in NYC.

What did the NYC Council Speaker get After 'Negotiating' a 'Better' City of Yes Law?

She got 29,000 Fewer Affordable Housing Units, for which the Taxpayers will Pay $5 Billion More

November 27, 2024 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.

If this wasn't real, I'd be laughing pretty hard.

But because it is real, so I'm only laughing cynically, because it is so close to unbelievable ... and it's happening in - as Eric Adams likes to say - 'the Greatest City in the World'. To which I would comment, 'not for long, if this keeps up'.

Evidence Indicating the City of Yes Legislation has been Dishonestly Sold to Us

To give you an idea of how dishonestly the City of Yes legislation appears to have been sold to us by Mayor Eric Adams and Daniel Garodnick of the Department of City Planning - consider this.

Last week, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, 'negotiated' a better City of Yes legislative package.

So what did she / we get?

She / We got a package that costs $5 billion more, of our hard earned tax payer money, to be used to support wealthy and super rich real estate developers' and investors' projects; and in exchange she / we got 29,000 LESS AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS promised. So when is the last time you negotiated a better deal, for which you paid billions more, and got tens of thousands of units less, and walked away thinking you got a 'better' deal?

Come on. This is funny.

But in reality it is not very funny at all. It's dishonest.

This shows you how dishonestly Mayor Adams and his side kick Garodnick, appear to have been selling this package to the public. Part of the reason for the lower number of units is that they actually included some honestly affordable housing in the renegotiated legislation - but certainly not enough to even come close to justifying the passage of this legislation.

What Speaker Adrienne Adams did get, was a more honest assessment of what seemed to be a very dishonest legislative package, but it's still far, far less than anything that should fully justify it.

See 'Affordable Housing' story below dated 10.23.24, where 'affordable housing' is used to describe housing units that require an income of up to $250,000. And assuming my understanding of this is correct, Mayor Adams and Garodnick want taxpayers to give real estate developers and investors tax abatements, to build similar 'affordable housing' units, that would be rented to those earning 100% AMI [Area Median Income], which for a three person family is currently $127,000. The incentives might possibly extend to higher income levels [above 100% of the AMI], as the story below indicates - but I need to do more research to obtain confirmation or refutation that tax abatements would be given for units built for incomes above 100% of the AMI in the in the City of Yes legislation.

Brooklyn Borough President Reynoso Responds to the NYCC Negotiated Changes

I received an email from the Brooklyn Borough President's Office on Thursday, November 21, 2024 around the close of business, which I believe was either simultaneous to or immediately AFTER, the NYC Council committees voted to send the City of Yes to the full Council for a vote. Here are a couple of excerpts of what he said,

"... City of Yes was never going to fix everything. It was never an affordability strategy, it was never a production plan, and it was never a panacea for our city’s housing crisis ... But it was at least a modest opportunity to begin addressing the discriminatory zoning practices that force low-income, Black and Brown neighborhoods to do all of the work of building new housing while low-density neighborhoods get away with contributing nothing ... I urge Mayor Adams and the City Council to carefully consider the ramifications of these exemptions and be wary not to enhance the harms of administrations past ...”.

I believe the exemptions stayed, so it doesn't do what Reynoso had hoped it would do, along with all the things he knew it would not do.

So Reynoso tells us he knew that the 'City of Yes' would not address this, that or the other thing, but at least it addressed SOMETHING, and in the negotiations, that something was just taken out of the City of Yes legislation to get it passed. So perhaps the City of Yes now looks like what it always was - with NO EXCEPTIONS - which is very little to NOTHING for the people, and EVERYTHING for the wealthy real estate developers and investors who initiated, drafted and have been funding the politicians, who have been promoting the City of Yes legislation ... like Mayor Eric Adams.

It's a Win / Win & Lose. The winners are the Real Estate & Investment Industry / and Mayor Adams & the politicians who vote for the City of Yes and whose campaigns are funded by the Real Estate Industry / & the losers are the Majority of all other New Yorkers.

City of Yes - What do we get & What will it cost?

Adams Administration Fails to Provide Direct Answers to the Most Basic Questions

I submitted three questions to the Adams Administration over the past few days and months for which I received answers which I believe should be unacceptable to any New Yorker or any NYC Council member who pretends to be representing you. Ask them these same questions next time they attend a public meeting or event.

1. What size and in what borough will the 80,000 [109,000 original estimate] 'affordable' housing units be built in NYC because of the passage of the City of Yes zoning changes legislation?

Answer. They told me the 'invisible hand' of the market would take care of these details, so they couldn't provide them to me themselves.

2. At what monthly prices, will these units be rented, and specify unit size and price by borough?

Answer. They told me to see their website long page promo, which contained no such information.

3. How much in foregone tax revenue, will NYC taxpayers give up to the wealthy and super wealthy real estate developers, and national and international investments firms?

Answer. So far, no response to question #3.

Voters must ask themselves how the most sweeping zoning legislation in the past 50 years can get this far, after more than an entire year of the bill being floated, without the Adams Administration providing, and the NYC Council demanding answers to, these three most basic of questions, about what will we get [1 & 2], and what will it cost us [#3]. And I would add the NYC media to the list of culpable people who should have been asking these questions [see more about the media below].

The Real Answers to What do we get and What will it cost?

What do we get? We get to give up all sorts of government tax revenue [and hence government services] in order to fund all of the new tax abatement incentives Adams and Garodnick [and we'll soon see if the NYC Council does the same] are giving to the real estate industry and the real estate investment funds. And in return we'll probably get a lot closer to no new, lasting, truly affordable, housing - than to getting 80,000 truly affordable housing units, that the new current estimate implies.

What does it cost? It costs an incredible amount of lost tax revenue / funding for: 1) publiic education, 2) public transit infrastructure and services, 3) public healthcare and services, 4) public sanitation, 5) NYC fire prevention and response, 6) NYC law enforcement and 7) all of the infrastructure and other government services that enables New York to continue to function as the 'greatest city in the world' - in spite of New Yorkers electing government officials who fight so hard for the millionaires and billionaires who fund their campaigns, while apparently deceiving and ultimately swindling the New Yorkers who voted for them. But 'greatness' doesn't ever last forever ... let alone when people aren't paying attention to what their officials in government are doing to them - not for them.

Make Your Voice Heard by or Before Thursday, December 5th

The City of Yes, could be setting up NYC government to become the City that Fails us, because the government won't have enough tax revenue / resource to do their job, because the Adams Administration will have given so much of it away to the wealthy real estate developers and super rich national and international real estate investors who have funded his campaigns.

The NYC Council is scheduled to vote on Thursday, December 5th, 2024. Once they vote, this is either a done deal, or it's back to the drawing board to consider putting together real alternatives to solving NYC's housing problem, as opposed to the dishonest schemes / solutions that are sold on promises that are not likely to be delivered upon [but won't become apparent] before the pols who supported it, move onto their next gigs.

So make your voice heard by calling your council member or emailing them using the contact info on the NYC Council's website.

https://council.nyc.gov/districts/

Please share on social media before December 5th.

Is Mayor Adams Abusing Local Law 83?

There's an NYC local law which, according to Google AI interpretation of the info on NYC.gov states that,

" ... Local Law 83 of 2021 requires New York City agencies to direct at least 50% of their advertising spending to Ethnic and Community Media (ECM) outlets ... ".

The other half of the spending goes to the corporate / national media outlets.

So, ask yourself whether the reason you're hearing scant reporting on the City of Yes legislation, let alone that's critical of it, is because the other local and corporate media outlets are not well informed, or because they are 'on the Mayor's payroll'? Meaning, is the Mayor using taxpayer funded community media money as his own little piggy bank, to cultivate fealty from the NYC community, ethnic and corporate media?

If the local, ethnic and corporate media are not on his payroll [look for NYC government ads on their sites, in their newspapers, heard on radio and seen on TV outlets], then why aren't you hearing both sides [aka the downside / critical side] of this HUGE legislative story?

Please share on social media before December 5th.

P.S. I am going to try hard to publish at least one more report over the Thanksgiving Weekend or in the first day or two of next week, which will flush out a bit more what's going on here - time permitting. Please get involved. This bill really matters to NYC government funding and will preclude NYC government from finding real solutions - not what seem billionaire funded schemes - to address the affordable housing crisis in NYC.

Why a Supply-and-Demand Approach Alone Cannot Solve the Housing Affordability Crisis

Posted 11.28.24 _ November 20, 2024 By Layla Law-Gisiko, President. The City Club of New York

"Buy land; they're not making it anymore" - Mark Twain

The conventional supply-and-demand approach, which presumes that increasing the housing supply will lead to greater affordability, fails to address the root causes of the housing affordability crisis. This approach, while seemingly primal and basic, is actually specious. Drawing on the theories of Adam Smith, David Ricardo, Thomas Piketty, Joseph Stiglitz, and Ryan-Collins, Lloyd, and Macfarlane in Rethinking the Economics of Land and Housing, critics argue that the conventional approach fails to account for the unique characteristics of land and housing as commodities. They highlight how financialization, speculation, and wealth concentration distort housing markets and exacerbate inequality. The housing crisis cannot be resolved simply by increasing supply without additional interventions that address the influence of land values, speculative investments, and inequality in the housing market and that in certain circumstances, increasing supply will actually exacerbate the housing crisis.
In modern housing policy, increasing the supply of housing is often cited as the primary solution to the affordability crisis. According to a basic supply-and-demand framework, a larger housing stock should reduce prices by creating competition and addressing housing scarcity. However, housing and land are not commodities like others in the market. Land is fixed in supply, derives its value largely from its location and external factors, and is influenced heavily by speculative and financial practices. This analysis reveals that, contrary to the assumptions of traditional economics, increasing the housing supply is unlikely to resolve the crisis unless additional policies address the complex dynamics of land values, speculation, and market concentration.

1. The Distinct Economic Characteristics of Land
Adam Smith, in The Wealth of Nations, identifies that land is economically unique due to its immobility and finite supply. In his example of the Shetland Islands, he notes that the value of land depends not only on the potential productivity of the land itself but also on the resources available in the surrounding environment (Smith, 1776). Smith explains that in Shetland, the high rent was determined not by what could be produced on the land alone but by the fish resources in the adjacent sea that residents relied upon. This example reflects the way land values are often tied to external factors that drive up prices independently of actual housing demand or productivity on the land itself. In urban housing markets, this idea manifests in the form of location premiums—factors like proximity to employment, schools, and amenities—which increase land values beyond what housing construction alone would justify.

David Ricardo builds on this by developing the concept of economic rent in Principles of Political Economy and Taxation. He argues that the increase in land value does not necessarily correlate with improvements or investment in the land. Instead, as demand increases, the price of land rises even when its productive potential remains constant, a phenomenon that primarily benefits landowners without contributing to the general welfare (Ricardo, 1817). This effect is most pronounced in high-demand urban centers, where scarcity of land intensifies competition for available housing and drives up prices. Ricardo’s insights show that demand-driven policies, like increasing housing supply, do not directly address the escalating land prices that underlie much of the housing affordability problem. Without interventions to moderate land prices, even substantial increases in housing supply will fail to bring about affordable housing options.

2. Wealth Inequality and Housing Speculation: Piketty’s Perspective
Thomas Piketty, in Capital in the Twenty-First Century, emphasizes how wealth concentration leads to distortions in housing markets. Piketty’s fundamental inequality, r > g (where the return on capital exceeds the growth rate of the economy), highlights how individuals with access to capital—such as the wealthy, venture capital, hedge funds—can acquire assets, including housing, at a rate that far outpaces the general economic growth (Piketty, 2014). This imbalance allows wealthy individuals and entities to invest in property as a speculative asset rather than a necessity, leading to increased prices that are often untethered from the local economy or the needs of residents.
Piketty’s analysis illustrates that when the wealthy can accumulate multiple properties, invest in high-end housing, or when corporate landlords acquire housing portfolios, the supply of homes for the general population does not increase in a way that supports affordability. Instead, housing becomes a repository for wealth and a hedge against inflation, leading to a form of wealth concentration that exacerbates inequality. For instance, investment in luxury developments intended for high-net-worth individuals contributes little to the affordable housing supply, yet it drives up the average price level and decreases the accessibility of housing for lower-income households. As a result, increasing the housing supply without controlling speculative behavior and wealth concentration fails to address the root causes of unaffordable housing. (Piketty, Thomas. Capital and Ideology. Harvard University Press, 2020.)

3. Financialization of Housing and Market Distortions
Ryan-Collins, Lloyd, and Macfarlane, in Rethinking the Economics of Land and Housing, argue that housing has become heavily financialized in recent decades, meaning it is increasingly treated as a financial asset rather than a basic need. Financialization encourages speculative investment in property, decoupling property values from local income levels and skewing affordability. The authors state that “the financialization of land and housing has encouraged banks to prioritize mortgage lending over other forms of productive lending,” which inflates housing prices due to increased credit availability rather than genuine demand (Ryan-Collins et al., 2017). This speculative demand, driven by banks and financial institutions, promotes the accumulation of housing assets as investment tools, reinforcing rising land values and reducing the stock of affordable housing.
The process of financialization also introduces greater volatility into housing markets, as housing prices become more sensitive to interest rate changes and global financial trends than to local housing needs. Financial institutions have a vested interest in maintaining high property values because it supports mortgage lending as a lucrative revenue stream. This alignment between the banking sector and rising land values perpetuates high prices, particularly in areas with strong investment interest, making affordability elusive for average households. In this context, simply increasing the supply of housing without addressing financial speculation and land valuation practices will not make housing accessible to the general population.

4. The Adverse Effects of YIMBY (Yes In My Backyard) Movements
The YIMBY (Yes In My Backyard) movement, which advocates for increasing housing supply in urban areas, has gained significant momentum in recent years as a response to growing housing shortages. While the movement’s goal of promoting denser housing development is well-intentioned, it often neglects the underlying economic forces that drive housing unaffordability. The assumption that building more housing will automatically lead to lower prices is, in many cases, overly simplistic and flawed. By prioritizing unrestricted development without addressing factors like land speculation, financialization, and wealth concentration, YIMBY policies can inadvertently exacerbate the problem (Ryan-Collins, Lloyd, & Macfarlane, 2017).

In cities where speculative investment is widespread, increasing the housing supply can actually lead to higher land values, as developers focus on constructing luxury units that cater to wealthier individuals and investors, rather than meeting the needs of middle- and low-income households. This phenomenon is particularly evident in areas where financialization has decoupled housing from local income levels, creating a housing market that benefits investors rather than residents (Piketty, 2014). Moreover, YIMBY initiatives that focus exclusively on expanding housing stock may fail to address critical drivers of unaffordability, such as the displacement of existing communities through gentrification. This narrow focus risks exacerbating inequality and driving market-based displacement, ultimately deepening the housing crisis rather than solving it (Wyly, 2021)

5. Policy Implications: Addressing the Roots of Housing Affordability Issues
The insights of Smith, Ricardo, Piketty, and Ryan-Collins and colleagues illustrate that housing markets require a more nuanced approach than simply increasing supply. Smith and Ricardo’s discussions of land’s unique characteristics underscore the need for policies that specifically address the scarcity and value of land in urban areas. Ricardo’s theory of economic rent suggests that mechanisms such as land value taxes could help capture some of the unearned increases in land value, directing it toward public benefit rather than pure profit for landowners. By reducing the potential for speculative gain, land value taxes could moderate price escalation in high-demand areas.
Piketty’s findings highlight the necessity of wealth redistribution measures to curb the effects of speculative investment in housing. Policies that restrict or tax multiple property ownership, as well as taxes on luxury developments, could mitigate the influence of wealth concentration in housing markets and make more housing available for those who need it for shelter rather than investment.
Ryan-Collins et al. suggest regulatory interventions to limit the financial sector’s influence on housing, such as prioritizing lending for first-time homebuyers or restricting lending practices that encourage speculative investment. Addressing the financialization of housing could help shift the focus of housing markets from wealth accumulation toward meeting residents’ needs.

The simplistic supply-and-demand framework is inadequate to solve the housing affordability crisis. As insights from Adam Smith, David Ricardo, Thomas Piketty, and the authors of Rethinking the Economics of Land and Housing demonstrate, housing and land markets operate under unique economic pressures that are distinct from other goods in the market. The scarcity and fixed nature of land, speculative investment behavior, and financialization of housing markets all contribute to a system that drives up prices even when housing supply increases. To address affordability, policies must go beyond supply expansion and tackle these underlying dynamics. Through a combination of land value taxation, anti-speculative regulations, limits on the financialization of housing, and support for public housing, policymakers can develop a comprehensive approach that promotes genuine affordability and ensures that housing serves its intended purpose: providing secure, affordable shelter for all.

References:
Piketty, T. (2014). Capital in the twenty-first century. Harvard University Press.
Piketty, T. (2020). Capital and ideology. Harvard University Press.
Ricardo, D. (1817). Principles of political economy and taxation. John Murray.
Ryan-Collins, J., Lloyd, T., & Macfarlane, L. (2017). Rethinking the economics of land and housing. Zed Books.
Smith, A. (1776). The wealth of nations. W. Strahan and T. Cadell.
Wyly, E. (2022), YIMBY: The Latest Frontier of Gentrification. Int. J. Urban Reg. Res., 46: 319-330. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-2427.13067

Things to do This Weekend in NYC & Boros

Mexico Now Festival, Holiday Toy Train Show & Holiday Markets in Manhattan; Affordable Art Fair, Flip Circus and Quintet of the Americas concert in Queens; Frost Fest & Lightscape Show begin & Brooklyn Flea open in Brooklyn; NYBG Holiday Train Show & Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights begin, Bay Plaza Mall Tree Lighting & Yankee Stadium Tours in the Bronx; and Holiday Markets Galore on Staten Island; Next Week Thanksgiving Day Dinner and Parade & Black Friday

November 22, 2024 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / News Analytis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.

NYC Weather Forecast as of 11.22.24. But first - Sunrise 6.51 am & Sunset at 4.32 pm. The temperature highs will be in the high 40's all weekend and the temperature lows will be in the mid to high 30's all weekend. It's going to be a windy weekend with the winds kicking up from 10 - 20 mph Friday, falling back to about 15 mph on Saturday, and then falling back a bit more to 10 - 15 mph on Sunday. The humidity will fall from about 90% on Friday, to about 80% on Saturday and then down to 60% - 70% on Sunday. There's less than 1/3 inch of rain expected Friday and then it should be dry the rest of the weekend.

The photo above or at right was taken a bit earlier this year in the subway station at 42nd Street. The crossroads of the world, so they say. That becomes especially true around the holidays, when people from around the planet come here to celebrate their holidays and the new year.

Friday Early Afternoon Edition just after 12 noon. This is a solid first pass, with some more additions coming by the end of the business day and / or by the end of the calendar day 11.22.24, as we continue updating holiday markets and holiday events. It looks to be another busy and good weather weekend [excepting Friday]. Can you believe that Thanksgiving is less than a week away?

Things To Do This Weekend in Manhattan

Many of the seasonal holiday markets are beginning to hit their full stride. We provided the short updates of them last week, and we'll provide the full updates for this weekend, along with some new additions and updates. We're also beginning to ramp up for the holiday events, which are beginning now, but accelerate very quickly next week and the following weekend. Click here for the Manhattan holiday markets this weekend nyc. And click here for the Manhattan holiday events nyc.

Thursday, November 21 - 24, 2024 at various times - Mexico Now Festival - at the Chelsea Factory at 547 West 26th Street in Chelsea. A cultural celebration of all things Mexicano. Free. For details and to rsvp tickets see - https://www.chelseafactory.org

Gramercy Theater concerts - https://www.thegramercytheatre.com/shows

Click here for Manhattan Parades and large Ethnic / Cultural Festivals NYC.
CLICK here to view Manhattan street fairs and festivals NYC 2024. There are Mom's Day gift markets.
CLICK this link to view things to do this weekend in Manhattan NYC.
Click here to read recent OpEds and Editorials on Manhattan Buzz NYC.

Things To Do This Weekend in Queens NYC

Many of the seasonal holiday markets are beginning to hit their full stride. We provided the short updates of them last week, and we'll provide the full updates for this weekend, along with some new additions and updates. We're also beginning to ramp up for the holiday events, which are beginning now, but accelerate very quickly next week and the following weekend. Click here for the Queens holiday markets this weekend nyc. And click here for the Queens holiday events nyc.

The photo above or at right was taken in Queens at twilight earlier this month. I have always enjoyed the overlooked spaces in the city, that with nature's help, capture and create their own beauty.

Sunday, November 24, 2024 the Quintet of the Americas will be performing at Maple Grove Cemetery's Celebration Hall at 127-15 Kew Gardens Road in Richmond Hill, Queens in celebration of Latin American Music. Free and a reception follows where you can meet the musicians. For details see - https://www.queensbuzz.com/MemberEventsCalendarQueensNYC

Friday, November 8 - 26, 2024 at various times - Flip Circus in Queens. At the cricket fields in Forest Park. For details and tickets ranging from $30 for kids to $60 / $65 for adults, see - https://www.flipcircus.com

Click here for Queens Parades and large Ethnic / Cultural Festivals NYC.
Click here to view Queens street fairs & festivals NYC 2024.
CLICK this link to view things to do this weekend in Queens NYC.
Click here to read recent OpEds and Editorials on Queens Buzz NYC.

This month the Member Calendar includes November 13 - 17, 2024 Circus of 2nd Chances at 3AM Theater in LIC. Sunday, November 24, 2024 the Quintet of the Americas will be performing at Maple Grove Cemetery's Celebration Hall at 127-15 Kew Gardens Road in Richmond Hill, Queens in celebration of Latin American Music. Free and a reception follows where you can meet the musicians.

In December, the Member Calendar events include a Sunday, December 15, 2024 concert beginning at 4 pm by the Queens College Choral Society performing Haydn's Nelson Mass in a Concert for Unity and Peace [$6 - $18]. Also on two Saturdays, December 7 & 21, 2024 there will be a breakfast at Applebee's with Santa [$15 including photos w/ Santa]. Click the MCAL link above for details.

Things To Do This Weekend in Brooklyn NYC

Many of the seasonal holiday markets are beginning to hit their full stride. We provided the short updates of them last week, and we'll provide the full updates for this weekend, along with some new additions and updates. We're also beginning to ramp up for the holiday events, which are beginning now, but accelerate very quickly next week and the following weekend. Click here for the Brooklyn holiday market this weekend nyc. And click here for Brooklyn holiday events nyc.

The photo above or at right was taken a month ago at an outdoor art event in the Gowanus neighborhood of Brooklyn. The talented, but humble, artist shown here, specializes in lacquer and ceramics.

Friday November 22, 2024 through January 5, 2025 from 4.30 to 8.15 pm - Lightscape Show - at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden at 990 Washington Avenue in Prospect Heights. Holiday things to do in Brooklyn. For details see - https://www.bbg.org

Brooklyn Flea in Dumbo [under the arch] is now open Saturdays & Sundays 8 am to 5 pm thru 12/22. Details coming shortly. For details see - https://brooklynflea.com

Coney Island _ November 23 to January 7, 2025 - Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays [except Thanksgiving & Xmas] and Weekdays [12/25/ 24 - 1/1/2025] - 2nd Annual Frost Fest - at Luna Park on Coney Island. This event includes select rides, holiday lights and décor, seasonal food and a holiday market. For details and tickets see - https://lunaparknyc.com/

Friday, November 29 to December 15, 2024 at various times - Flip Circus in Brooklyn. At the main field in McCarren Park on the south side of the park. For details and tickets ranging from $30 for kids to $60 / $65 for adults, see - https://www.flipcircus.com

Two Plays - Polonsky & Billie Holiday Theater.

Click here for Brooklyn Parades and large Ethnic / Cultural Festivals NYC.
Click here to view Brooklyn street fairs NYC 2024.
CLICK this link to view things to do this weekend in Brooklyn NYC.
Click here to read recent OpEds and Editorials on Brooklyn BLVD.

Things To Do This Weekend in the Bronx NYC

Many of the seasonal holiday markets are beginning to hit their full stride. We provided the short updates of them last week, and we'll provide the full updates for this weekend, along with some new additions and updates. We're also beginning to ramp up for the holiday events, which are beginning now, but accelerate very quickly next week and the following weekend. Click here for the Bronx holiday market this weekend nyc. And click here for the Bronx holiday events nyc.

The photo above or at right was taken in Bronx Little Italy along Arthur Avenue. NYC began removing street side dining structures beginning August of this year, the last of which will come down at the end of this month [11/29/24]. Sidewalk dining, as pictured in the photo above, continues year round. Street side dining will be permitted again, come April 1, 2025, but with new rules regarding the street side dining structures.

Friday, November 22, 2024 beginning at 5 pm - 7th Annual Tree Lighting at Bay Plaza Mall - in the Baychester neighborhood. They describe the event as follows, " ... event with our enchanted holiday princess, multi-talented elves, a stilt walking toy soldier, The XFactor Drumline, and a parade with Santa! Enjoy music, dancing and giveaways for children with DJ Omar ...". Baychester free holiday events in the East Bronx. For details see - https://mallatbayplaza.com/event/7th-Annual-Tree-Light-Event/2145586107/

Bedford Park / Belmont _ Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays, November 22, 2024 to January 5, 2025 from 3 to 9 pm - Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights - turn on at dusk at 4.30 pm, and you have between 3 and 4 pm to visit the animals in the buildings before they close at 4 pm. Holiday lights and events near the Belmont and Bedford Park neighborhoods in the Central Bronx. For details and $57 / $52 / $42 [kids] tickets, see - https://bronxzoo.com/holiday-lights

Saturday, November 16 - 30, 2024 [Ends January 20, 2025] from 10 am - 6 pm [closed holidays] - NYBG Holiday Train Show - at the New York Botanical Garden at 2900 Southern Blvd in the Belmont Neighborhood. Bronx holiday events & things to do nyc. Central Bronx. For details see below or - https://www.nybg.org

November & December 2024 on various days and at multiple times - Yankee Stadium Tours - at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. See the Yankees Museum, the ball park including both the dugout a press box or VIP suite for $41 / adult and $30 / child. For details and online tickets [only] see - https://www.mlb.com/yankees/ballpark/tours/public/classic-tours-tickets

Click here for Bronx Halloween parties, parades & events Bx NYC.

Click here for Bronx Parades and large Ethnic / Cultural Festivals NYC.
Click here to see Bronx street fairs & festivals NYC 2024.
CLICK this link to view things to do this weekend in the Bronx NYC.
Click here to read recent OpEds and Editorials on Bronx Buzz.

MCAL _ MEMBER CALENDAR EVENTS. Use this link for new member sign up and posting - Bronx Buzz New Member Sign Up. Click this link Bronx Member Events Calendar to view free posts made by arts, cultural and community groups. This month includes the Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association (PPNA) is hosting Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson at its monthly meeting.

In the December events calendar, on Sunday, December 8, 2024 there's a Holiday Gift Fair at the Riverdale Y. On Sunday, December 22, 2024 there will be a breakfast at Applebee's with Santa [$15 including photos w/ Santa] near Fordham Plaza. Click the MCAL link above for details.

Things To Do This Weekend on Staten Island NYC

Many of the seasonal holiday markets are beginning to hit their full stride. We provided the short updates of them last week, and we'll provide the full updates for this weekend, along with some new additions and updates. We're also beginning to ramp up for the holiday events, which are beginning now, but accelerate very quickly next week and the following weekend. Click here for the Staten Island holiday markets this weekend nyc. And click here for the Staten Island holiday events nyc.

The photo above or at right was taken on the Staten Island Ferry, showing a couple of passengers enjoying a distant view of the Statue of Liberty, which is a distant reminder of who we were as a nation.

Please note that the following is a sampling of the holiday fairs and markets to be found on our holiday markets page - see link above.

Saturday, November 23, 2024 from 10 am - 4 pm - Moore Catholic High School Christmas Fair - at 100 Merrill Avenue in the Bullshead neighborhood of Staten Island NYC. North & West SI. For details see - https://www.moorecatholichs.org

Saturday, November 23, 2024 from 10 am to 5 pm - St John's Holiday Fair at St. John's Episcopal Church at 1333 Bay Street on Staten Island. Vendors, crafts, raffles and likely food and beverages. For details see - https://www.facebook.com/stjohnssiny/ or https://www.stjohnssi.org/

Saturday, November 23, 2024 from 10 am to 3 pm - Great Kills Moravian Church Holiday Fair - at 62 Hillsdale Terrace. Holiday markets in Central Staten Island. For details see below or - https://www.greatkillsmoravian.org/events/2024-11-23/

Saturday, November 23, 2024 from 11 am to 4.30 pm - Pre Holiday Market at Willowbrook Park - at 1 Eton Place near the entrance to the Carousel for All Children in Willowbrook Park. Holiday markets on Staten Island. For details see - https://www.google.com/search?q=willow+brook+si+holiday+fair

Click here for Staten Island Parades and large Ethnic / Cultural Festivals NYC.
Click here to see Staten Island street fairs & festivals NYC 2024.
CLICK this link to view things to do this weekend on Staten Island NYC.
Click here to read recent OpEds and Editorials on Staten Buzz.

Have another great November weekend.

Click this link for holiday parties, party venues, party halls and catering halls in Jackson Heights Queens NYC.

Stats & Facts Missing in the City of Yes Proposal

Have Mayor Adams & Daniel Garodnick been Selling Us 108,000 Units of Hooey?

November 12, 2024 / NYC Government & Politics / NYC Real Estate & Business / News & Analysis / Gotham Buzz NYC.

Adams Administration Fails to Provide Straight Answers Two Very Specific & Very Basic Questions - 1) How Many Affordable Housing Units Guaranteed by Passage of this Legislation & 2) a) What Size Units, b) at What 'Affordable' Price and c) in What Borough?

What 'Affordable' Housing Guarantees? It is being sold as a cure-all for NYC's housing crisis, yet when I asked the Adams Administration Department of Planning how many units of affordable housing would we be guaranteed by passage of this legislation, the answer that came back to me was a long-winded form of 'none'.

I'll say this again - No 'affordable' housing units are guaranteed by passage of the City of Yes legislation.

What Size Apartment, at What Price & in What Borough? When I asked the Adams Administration's Department of City Planning to provide me with details of how many units of affordable housing would be built, at what 'affordable' price, for what size apartment, and in what borough - I again received another round-about answer via a link they sent me, to one of their selling pitches on a website, where I found no specifics related to the question above.

Let me say this again - No description of what sized units, at what 'affordable' price and in what borough. I found this hard to believe, since for the past year Mayor Adams and Daniel Garodnick of the Department of City Planning have been publicly selling this legislation, by promising it will result in over 108,000 new units of 'affordable' housing being built.

My papa once told me, "No proof. No sale."

Or as the 1980's Reagan commercial asked, "where's the beef?". In this case 'beef' = 'affordable housing'.

Squeaky Chairs And Stubborn Hearts: The City Of Yes Hearing

Delayed Post _ October 24, 2024 / NYC Government & Politics / NYC Real Estate & Business / News & Analysis / Gotham Buzz NYC.

Editor's Note. We're publishing this two and a half weeks after the fact, as the 2024 federal elections consumed our time and attention. But it has come time again to refocus our attention on one of the most important legislative efforts in decades, which is working its way through the NYC Council, in what appears to be a major effort by international investors, developers and billionaires - aided and abetted by Mayor Adams and the Department of City Planning - to strip away a lot of local voters' rights to make meaningful comments about any new real estate developments or major construction efforts proposed in ALL NYC neighborhoods. The bill is expected to come up for a vote before the end of the year, and possibly as soon as this month.

By Layla Law-Gisiko, President of the City Club of New York.

Another epic hearing wrapped up Tuesday evening [10.22.24], a few minutes short of midnight. This was the grand finale of public hearings on the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity. At 9:37 AM, Council Member Kevin Riley, chair of the Subcommittee on Zoning and Variances, called the hearing to order. He solemnly announced that over 600 people had registered to speak.

In the course of the long day, approximately 320 people spoke. Though the split between supporters and opponents was fairly even, the strong presence of special interests and developers highlighted that most regular New Yorkers opposed the proposal.

When the doors of the City Council chamber opened at 9 AM, the room quickly filled, as the public bravely endured the torment of those infamous plastic squeaky chairs—perfectly designed to make you question all your life choices.

They could have enjoyed glorious fall weather and comfortable seating, but New Yorkers took time off their busy schedules to speak up. Renters, homeowners, public housing tenants, and SRO residents—New Yorkers from all walks of life and from all boroughs— voiced their fears about why they believe the plan will fall short of its promises and will hurt them. Overall, the mood was serious, and at times even anxious. New Yorkers expressed fear of displacement and gentrification, fear of a city ever more driven by real estate profit, fear of deregulation in the name of a laudable goal that many fear the proposal will never reach.

The chamber was full of public members, and sparse with council members. Council members came and went in a calm ebb and flow. The few who managed to stick around for most of the day included Council Members Marte, Brewer, Narcisse, Joseph, Osse, and Abreu, proving that endurance isn’t just for runners. And the marathon champion title went to the ever-calm Chair Kevin Riley, who somehow managed to steer a 14-hour hearing without losing his cool—or his sense of humor.

The City Club of New York voiced its opposition to the text as currently drafted. https://www.youtube.com/live/9E4Q2P6OyRY?t=10223s

We reminded Council members, with unwavering firmness, that the intricacies of housing economics defy simplistic solutions; research shows that mere supply does not mend the rift of affordability.

Council Member Brewer challenged the supply/demand dogma, asking: “I want affordable housing. We got the schools we got the transportation and I'm just tired of been told over and over again just market [rate housing], because I'm all for rezoning. I've been doing this for a long time, I got the rezoning but why are we doing it if we're not getting to the affordable housing.”

The City Council will accept written testimony until end of day Friday [10.25.24]. It can be sent to landusetestimony@council.nyc.gov

Now, the negotiations begin. There is no deadline to write or call your council member. The City Council is expected to vote in mid-November.

To learn more about City of Yes, watch our webinar with Council Member Chris Marte. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-z1WFQ25RNU

The "City of Yes for Housing Opportunity" is the Adams Administration zoning proposal aimed at increasing the housing supply by easing rules on development and encouraging new construction, all over New York City. The initiative seeks to address the city's ongoing housing shortage, making it easier to build a wider variety of housing
types, such as smaller units and mixed-use buildings, with the hope of accommodating more residents. While supporters argue that the plan is necessary to increase the overall housing stock and help alleviate the affordability crisis, critics are concerned that the proposal doesn't sufficiently guarantee affordable units and may lead to unchecked development, displacement, destruction of historic buildings and strain on infrastructure in certain neighborhoods. The proposal emphasizes the city's push for a more flexible zoning framework but has sparked debate about the best approach to balance growth with affordability and quality of life.

This report was written and contributed by Layla Law-Gisiko who is the President of the City Club of New York, which is a non-profit civic organization that evolved out of a social club, founded decades ago.

Queens Holiday Markets - Holiday Shops Shopping Queens NYC

Dec 20, 2024 at 12:15 am by mikewood

Shopping Holiday Markets In Queens

Christmas, Hanukkah & Kwanzaa Holiday Markets & Shopping in Queens

December 20, 2024 / Astoria Neighborhood / Long Island City LIC Neighborhood / Sunnyside Neighborhood / Woodside Neighborhood / Jackson Heights Neighborhood / Forest Hills Neighborhood / Flushing Neighborhood / Jamaica Neighborhood / Queens Neighborhoods NYC / Queens Shopping NYC / Queens Buzz NYC.

NOTE. We added an Update Log at the beginning of the listings, so it's easier for you to stay abreast of changes / updates / new additions.

Be sure to visit our Queens holiday events / Queens holiday things to do NYC page, as it contains related holiday events with a shopping element to them.

For links to holiday events and markets in all five boroughs of NYC scroll down to the bottom of this report.

Queens Holiday Markets Getting Underway

The growth in the number and size of Holiday markets has risen in Queens and New York City over the years. While some date back many years, most are traditions that started within the past five or ten years.

What does an increase in holiday markets mean? It means you have multiple opportunities to go holiday shopping yourself, or with friends, or with your kids or the whole family. Oftentimes the local markets offer unique items made locally, which you may not find anywhere else.

Each Queens holiday market is a bit different, as each of those listed in this posting are organized in collaboration with arts organizations and / or with religious or cultural organizations. Please feel free to send us a notice of your community organize Queens holiday market if it's not posted herein.

Queens Christmas, Hanukkah & Kwanzaa Holiday Markets

This is not meant to be a complete list of Queens holiday markets, but rather - as mentioned above - a curated listing of Queens holiday markets run by community organizations. The Queens holiday markets are organized individually in each Queens neighborhood including Astoria, Long Island City LIC, Sunnyside, Jackson Heights, Forest Hills, Flushing and Jamaica. Many of these markets may also host holiday tree lighting, menorah lighting or Kwanzaa candle lighting events in Queens.

Click here for our report about the Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Christmas holiday markets in Queens - Holiday markets in Queens, Astoria, Long Island City, Sunnyside, Flushing and Jamaica.

Holiday Events In Queens NYC - Holiday Things to do in Queens

Dec 20, 2024 at 12:15 am by mikewood

Queens Holiday Events & Queens Holiday Things To Do

Christmas Tree Lightings, Hanukkah Menorah Lightings, & Kwanzaa Candle Lightings in Queens

December 20, 2024 / Astoria Neighborhood / Long Island City LIC Neighborhood / Sunnyside Neighborhood / Woodside Neighborhood / Jackson Heights Neighborhood / Corona Neighborhood / Flushing Neighborhood / Jamaica Neighborhood / Queens Neighborhoods NYC / Queens Things To Do Holidays / Queens Buzz NYC.

NOTE. We added an Update Log at the beginning of the listings, so it's easier for you to stay abreast of changes / updates / new additions.

Be sure to visit our Queens holiday markets page, as it contains related holiday events with a shopping element to them.

For links to holiday events and markets in all five boroughs of NYC scroll down to the bottom of this report.

How The Queens Holiday Events Page on this Page are Organized

These holiday events on Queens are organized as follows:

1. BY NEIGHBORHOODS OF QUEENS

2. BY DATE (not always as it depends on when the info comes in)

Watch carefully as some locales have multiple dates, and all dates for a given locale are shown at the time the venue is first listed.

3. ALL OF THESE ARE FREE UNLESS FEES ARE SPECIFIED.

4. Note QUEENS HOLIDAY MARKETS are published on a separate page - the links to which are posted above and at the bottom of this page, along with links to holiday events in other boroughs.

Queens Holiday Lights, Christmas Tree Lightings, Hanukkah Menorah Lightings, Kwanzaa Candle Lightings Background

The holidays are a special time of the year. In ancient times there were harvest celebrations to give thanks and enjoy the bounty after a long growing and harvesting season aka a year of work.

Holiday lighting festivals and ceremonies have been on the rise in Queens in recent years. While some date back many years, most are traditions that started within the past five or ten years.

What does an increase in holiday lightings mean? It means you have ample opportunity to go yourself, or with friends, or to take your kids to one or more of them to learn a bit more about your own culture or the culture of others.

Each lighting is a bit different, as some are community and business-oriented, some are religiously oriented, a few have arts organizations behind them, and some are backed by non-religious cultural organizations. Please feel free to send us a notice of your holiday lighting event if it's not posted herein.

Queens Christmas, Hanukkah & Kwanzaa Holiday Events Begin in Earnest

This is not meant to be a complete list, but rather a list of the holiday lighting events, many of which I’ve attended one or more times since late 2007. The holiday lighting events are organized individually by each Queens neighborhood including Astoria, Long Island City LIC, Sunnyside, Woodside, Jackson Heights, Corona, Flushing, Jamaica and Whitestone. Many include the serving of some beverage like hot chocolate and generally something to munch on like cookies.

Click here for a schedule of the Xmas / Christmas Tree Lightings, Hanukkah Menorah Lightings, Kwanzaa Candle Lightings - Holiday events in Queens - Kwanzaa, Hanukkah & Christmas Queens.

How Believable is Donald Trump's Denial he's not Behind Project 2025?

Quick & Dirty Review of What Trump & Elon Appear to be Planning - Especially #2 & 5

November 3, 2024 / U.S. Government & Politics / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz.

Project 2025 was put together by a group, of very conservative, right wing groups working in concert. This includes, according to a CNN report, 140 Trump affiliates, of which more than a dozen played some role in the first Trump Administration.

To see this yourself, visit https://www.project2025.org.

1. They say they want to secure the border, but when a bi-partisan bill was generally agreed upon by both parties in both houses and ready to be passed into legislation, they / Trump nixed it, so Trump could use it as a campaign issue against Joe Biden. This is just a gimmick, because if they really wanted it, they could have had it over six months ago. As for deporting over 10 million immigrants who are already here ... think long and hard about what that looks and feels like - not just here, but abroad. It will probably look and feel a bit like the Nazis rounding up the Jews, back in the 1930's.

This is a nation of immigrants, and we should be happy that so many people are willing to pick up, and move themselves, to live and work here. In 2023 the U.S. had a population growth of just 1.2%, so we need immigrants to help power the labor force, help pay our retirements, and help pay our national debt. When we no longer look like a destination to move peoples' lives to, we're going to be in big trouble. And deporting over 10 million people, many of whom grew up here, really isn't thinking this thing through.

2. They want to 'de-weaponize the Federal Government by increasing accountability and oversight' of the FBI and Justice Department. Both agencies are already managed by the Executive Branch of government, and monitored and funded by the Senate and Congress. Specifically, the Senate and House both hold hearings, review agency policies, monitor agency enforcement, oversee agency functions, and perhaps most importantly is that they have the power of the purse in terms of reviewing appropriations. So the question here is - TO WHOM - do they want to make them accountable? The answer is to the very rich people who are supporting Trump, like Elon Musk.

It appears to me that they should reword this demand to reflect what they really want, which is to defang / cripple federal law enforcement.

3. Unleash American energy and reduce American energy prices. This is their way of saying 'drill baby, drill'. They don't want more clean energy, they want more dirty energy, by deregulating the oil industry, What we should be doing is taxing this cash cow [fossil fuels] out of existence, and refunneling the higher taxes into clean energy incentives, to accelerate the transition to powering society cleanly, before we run down the clock and it's too late.

4. 'Cut the growth of the federal government to reduce inflation'. First take note that the last time Donald Trump was president, he significantly increased government spending, and super-sized the national debt from $20 trillion to $28 trillon - breaking all records by a landslide. So quite frankly, this is simply not believable.

What makes this statement even more of a lie is that the inflation they plan to reduce is currently running at 2.1%, which isn't much different from the Federal Reserve's target rate of 2.0%. So maybe they want to take credit for reducing inflation, but reducing inflation any more than the Biden Administration already has would probably not be good, as 2% is the Federal Reserve's target rate for a smooth running economy.

Also recognize that inflation was a worldwide phenomenon caused by the pandemic, because worldwide production slowed / stopped for CoVid. Consumers and businesses began to bid up the prices of the things that had already been produced that were available, because they didn't know when production would resume. And after production recommenced, then the international shipping carriers and ports had to catch up on the back orders. Today, all of that has long been sorted out, which is why current inflation, using last month's reading was 2.1%. Again, not believable.

5. Make the bureaucrats more responsible to the President and Congress. They already are.

But this is where the hard right and Elon Musk, emasculate the federal government and make it work for them, and them only. Pushing the pain and hardship as far as the American people will tolerate, without rising up and taking to the streets in rebellion.

I don't have time to do #6 and #7, which are [#6] to move control and funding of education to the states [Education of a society is very complicated, so I haven't the time to properly address this, but local governments and states are already mostly in charge of education, and the Federal Government incentivizes programs and curricula they think are in the national interest [like math & science] which local schools may or may not participate in], and [#7] ban biological males from competing in women's sports [don't know enough about this, except to say that local institutions, if they clearly define who may participate on sports teams, should be able to manage this issue. This as a major point of Project 2025 vis-a-vis the other points, seems more designed to be an attack on the hot button issue of gender identity].

CLICK here to view the rest of our report on How Believable is Donald Trump's Denial he's not Behind Project 2025?

The Brain-Dead, Kiddie-Hosted, TV News

They Televise Musk Giving Out Millions of Dollars, & None Ask Why

October 31, 2024 / U.S. Government & Politics / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz.

Background Regarding the Crumbling News Foundation, Upon which TV News Once Relied

If you've been reading my work, especially in recent times, you'll notice how increasingly frustrated I have become with TV News. If you want to know why America doesn't seem quite right, it's because the TV folks rarely seem to do any real reporting. In times gone by, the real reporting was done by the journalists working for the newspapers, and then the TV newspeople essentially rewrote and then reread the newspaper journalists' work on air.

Newspapers have been decimated by the search engines, specifically Google, undermining the newspaper business models, by using newspapers' content to create a really wonderful apparatus - internet search. But the problem is that the technologists reap most of the advertising revenue, and virtually all of the profit, so that most newspapers can scarcely afford to do much real news anymore, because their staffs are being cut, and they can't invest in real journalism, which costs money.

Fast Forward to the State of Modern TV News Rooms Today

TV News used to generate much larger audiences, and hence ratings and revenue, than they do today. This is because most folks are spending far more time on their cell phones or on their computers, and thus watching far less TV. Part of the reason is the new technologies, but ...

But the other part of the equation is that the content on TV has growing incredibly old and stale. You can probably find as much content on TV today that was created in the 1950's, 1960's, 1970's, 1980's and 1990's as you can find content created in the first quarter century of this millenium. And moreover, most of the content created for TV in this millenium are those super cheap-to-produce games shows, that some segment of the population has the time, interest and / or boredom to watch. And a lot of the rest of the content produced today is either hospital or law enforcement shows, which really narrows the field in terms of viewing options, if you're interested in anything else.

Back to TV News. If you read our reporting on government and politics the past few months, or over the years, we are constantly in pursuit of the back story. Unfortunately, TV News which reaches a far larger audience than we do, make their living reciting headlines, which is not the same as reporting the news. This brings me to telling you why I'm writing this report.

The Real Swamp & The Real Story of Trump and Musk & Why They 'Need' to Win

Musk Didn't Think Trump was the 'Right Guy' in 2016 & Trump Called Musk a "Bullsh@t Artist"

It takes one to know one.

Back then, they were both right. But things have changed. At present both have a common interest in social media and in that business their respective fortunes seem somewhat aligned, as they are both seek to attract the white uneducated males in our country, to whom they have been feeding misinformation and propaganda, as if it were real news. And while financially, that business model doesn't appear to be working, perhaps they can make it work by getting Trump elected.

CLICK here to read the rest of our report on what seems Putin's role in why Elon Musk is trying to help Trump win election 2024.

Get it While it's Hot - 'Affordable Housing' Lottery in LIC

150 'Affordable Housing' Units Available for Folks w/ Incomes of 'Only' $99K to $250K

October 23, 2024 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Real Estate & Business / Gotham Buzz NYC.

'Better hurry' to participate in this 'affordable housing' lottery for apartments in the Jasper at 49-20 5th Street in Long Island City, Queens. Studios are renting for the 'low, low price' of $2,900 per month and two bedroom apartments are a 'steal' at only $4,400 per month.

To qualify you 'only' need to be earning between $99,000 and $250,000 per year. These annual incomes, which are an eligibility requirement, are only 'slightly' higher [+50% to +291%] than the median NYC salary of $64,000 per year.

But don't worrry, if you miss this 'great' opportunity for 'affordable housing', because the real estate developers, real estate investors, billionaires, property owners and Mayor Adams, are pushing hard to get through the City of Yes Zoning Law changes, which will provide huge tax breaks to investors, billioinaires and real estate developers to make even more of this kind of 'affordable housing' available all over NYC.

Isn't that 'exciting'? It looks like more 'affordable housing' is finally on its way ...

See related stories below and in our City of Yes Special Report section on Gotham Buzz.

And you still have time to be heard by the NY City Council regarding your opinion of the City of Yes. Written Testimony is accepted for 72 hours after the hearing that was held Tuesday 10.22.24. Use this email address to send them your opinions - landusetestimony@council.nyc.gov. I believe the comment period expires at the close of business on Friday 10.25.24.

Trump Presidency Deficits Cost Each American Household $62,000

Trump Talks about how Great the Economy was While he was President

What he and Network TV Nothingness News don't talk about, are the Deficits he Incurred to Fuel Spending

October 22, 2024 / Government & Politics / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.

The graphic at right shows your household share of the debt racked up by the federal government while Trump and the Republicans were in charge.

Trump Breaks Record for the Greatest Deficits in American History

Donald Trump keeps heralding the economy during his presidency 2016 - 2020, but what he doesn't talk about is how he put each household in America on the hook for $62,000 within just four years, or $23,188 per person. We know the Billionaires received that and then some via the 2017 tax cut, but most of the rest of us received pennies on the dollar - at best.

So why haven't the TV Networks newspeople talked about this or questioned Trump or Vance about this? Trump and Vance are both Republicans, and much of this debt was incurred while Republicans also controlled both the Senate and House. The Trump presidency $8 trillion deficit incurred within four years, was equal to 40% of all debt accumulated [and still on the books] by America's 44 previous presidents in the prior 225 years of the nation's existence.

The graphic at right shows the federal government debt trendline ending at the end of the Trump Administration.

Trump Calls for the FCC to Revoke TV News Licenses - I Agree, but for Different Reasons

So why aren't the TV Networks newspeople informing the American public and telling people about this when the subject of the 'Trump Economy' arises?

Probably because they are too busy looking in people's backyards in Springfield, Ohio for non-existent bones of the dogs and cats that Trump told their TV audience were eaten by Haitian immigrants. Or because they just had to cover the Donald doing a photo op flipping burgers at a McDonald's, propagandistically showing he's a working man. Or because they've buried their ostrich heads so far in the ground that they can't get them out when it really matters. They've taken the nation along with them into the black hole of nothing-newsworthy-news.

Trump has repeatedly suggested that the FCC licenses of TV News should be revoked. While his reasons are that they didn't give him a sycophantic, slatheringly obsequious interview; one of my reasons is that they have been failing the American public for decades, by not presenting real news, and also when they do, it's not done in a fair and balanced manner.

But my primary reason is that they are not owned by, nor do they represent, the various demographic groups / voices in the nation. Like their news coverage, they put a glossy shine on the appearance of representation, just as they pretend to do real journalism; but when you scratch the surface, it becomes very apparent, that just as it's not real journalism, their broadcasts do not give voice to the various demographic groups within the country.

I think we may be on a roll until election day.

Queens Halloween Parties Parades & Events In Queens NYC

Oct 25, 2024 at 12:15 am by mikewood

Queens Halloween Parties, Parades & Events in Queens NYC

Halloween Parties, Parades & Events in Astoria, LIC, Sunnyside, Woodside, Jackson Heights, Corona, Elmhurst, Jamaica & Flushing

MOSTLY DONE _ October 24, 2024 / Queens Neighborhoods / Queens Restaurants & Bars / Queens Buzz NYC.

Halloween occurs on a Thursday this year. The Queens Halloween party celebrations begin the weekend before and the weekend after Halloween day itself. The following is a round up of some of the Halloween parties planned in Queens that are open to the public.

There are a lot of parties planned for Halloween Weekend and Halloween Day this year. There are costume parties and live music for adults, and parades and parties for the kids. This report will provide you with a sampling of party opportunities for adults in the borough of Queens surrounding the Halloween holiday. And this page also includes links to the kids Halloween parties in Queens, as well as Halloween parties in other boroughs.

The photo to your right was taken of a Halloween party crowd in Queens in an earlier year. Halloween allows the latent artist and theatrical actor in us all, to come out of its inhibition. In earlier times it was said that masquerade events were to give the upper and lower classes a chance to mingle without being scandalized - as everyone was in costume.

Click here to read about Halloween Parties Parades & Events in Queens NYC this year.

LIC Summit 2024 - Real Estate Development in LIC & Queens & NYC

Oct 08, 2024 at 09:45 pm by PeterParker

The LIC Summit 2024

The Changing Cultural and Real Estate Landscape in Long Island City

October 8, 2024 / LIC Neighborhood / Queens Real Estate & Business / Queens Buzz.

A. Prelude to Attending the LIC Summit 2024

It was a beautiful, sunny, dry day as I walked over to the Museum of the Moving Image in LIC / Astoria. I arrived around 11 am to attend part of the second half of the LIC Summit, which is a real estate and business conference which examines in depth, an LIC centric world, but also mindful of the surrounding environment.

After I made my way through a flawless check-in, I found my way into the theater and sat down to listen in on the panel providing a Long Island City real estate update. These panels are structured such that the moderator serves up a number of questions to the panelists for comment, which is then followed by audience questions, which sometimes are the best, because they are asked by people like you and me, who have lived and worked in the area for a long while and witnessed and have adjusted to the huge changes that have occurred in Long Island City over the past couple of decades.

I. First Panel - LIC Residential Real Estate Update

This panel included Patricia Dunphy of SVP of Rockrose Development, Eric Benaim CEO / Founder of Modern Space, Dan Mogolesko SVP of the Durst Organization, Peter Papamichael Principal of the VOREA Group and Crystal Xu Director of Business Development United Construction & Development Group.

As I came in at the end of the panel presentation, I only caught the Q&A portion of the program, which follows.

A performance theater / school owner pondered aloud whether the developers were still interested in involving and supporting the arts and culture scene in Long Island City. At the turn of the century LIC was well known as a thriving artists community, as it offered very competitive rents and good access to mass transit. In the near quarter century since then many - if not most - of the artists have moved out of the area as they can no longer afford the rents, which have skyrocketed from under $1,000 / month to over $4,000 per month.

One of the panelists said they are interested in supporting the arts and he mentioned Culture Lab LIC as one of the arts institutions that has survived the changes. But that was pretty much the full extent of the conversation surrounding the arts community. So I reckon the short answer would be no.

CLICK here to read the rest of our report on the LIC Summit 2024 - Real Estate Development in LIC Queens NYC.

Things to do This Weekend in NYC & Boros

Pulaski Day Parade, Nigerian Independence Parade, LGBTQ Film Festival & NY Film Festival continues in Manhattan; Sunnyside Oktoberfest, Queens Dominican Day Parade, Amazing Maize Maze / Corn Fest at Queens County Farm, Hellgate Walking Tour & next week Conch Shell Film Fest in Queens; LGBTQ Film Fest & Zum Schneider Fest continues in Brooklyn; 30th Annual Tour de Bronx Bike Ride, SolFest Latine Theater Festival at PRTT, Chekov's Uncle Vanya Theater & Raft of the Medusa Performance in the Bronx; and SI Rolling Thunder Oktoberfest & Lighthouse Point Fest on Staten Island, and next week the LIC Summit in Qns 10/8, Brooklyn Black Tie Ball 10/9, Italian Festival on the Mount on SI begins 10/11 & Yom Kippur 10/11

Updated October 5, 2024 vs 10.4.24 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / News Analytis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.

NYC Weather Forecast as of 10.4.24. Today - sunrise 6.56 am & sunset at 6.32 pm. Nice weekend with moderate temperatures in the 60's and 70's. For the most part no rain, with the tiny exception of overnight Friday a small chance [25%] of a small amount [less than 1/10th inch] and then very late Sunday night but more likely on Monday, there's a 90% chance of a quarter inch of rain. The humidity was nearly 80% Friday, but falls to 50% - 60% on Saturday, before climbing back up again on Sunday to the mid 70% range. Winds are 4 - 9 mph all weekend. Generally a great fall weekend weatherwise.

Early Saturday Morning Edition at 1.30 am. This is done or mostly done. Looks like a jam packed weekend of fun things to do. Enjoy.

Things To Do Next Week in NYC

October 9, 2024 - details coming but use the Facebook link for details of events in most / all boroughs.
- September 23, 2023 - Durga Puja. The festival begins this weekend at various locations throughout NYC, but most notably in the Woodside, Jackson Heights, Jamaica and Richmond Hill neighborhoods in Queens. Durga Puja celebrates the goddess Durga, who is a motherhood figure representing the victory of good over evil. The celebrations, which cover a week of activity, are also something of a Hindu harvest festival. See this Facebook page for a listing of Durga Puja events in NYC and on Long Island - https://www.facebook.com/pujaprogramme/

Friday & Saturday, October 11 & 12, 2024 Yom Kippur - the holiest day of the Jewish year.

CLICK here to view our page of events in NYC & NYC things to do in October.

How Corrupt is the 'City of Yes' Zoning Legislation?

Proposed Massive Overhaul of Zoning Regulations Strips Power from Local Communities and Neighborhoods & Transfers it to Wealthy & Super Rich International, National & NYC Real Estate Developers & Investors

Updated September 24, 2024 & began February 21, 2024 / NYC Real Estate & Business / City of Yes Special Report Section / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Government & Politics / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz.

The 'City of Yes' - By, for and of, the Billionaire Investors & Real Estate Developers

This section contains the reporting we've been doing on the proposed City of Yes legislation. The City of Yes legislation appears, in essence, to be a major effort by Mayor Adams to have New Yorkers almost completely give up their power vis-a-vis having any kind of say with respect to real estate development in their neighborhoods and communities. The power is transferred to the Mayor's Office & NYC Department of Planning which is controlled by the Mayor, as well as to the billionaires, international investors & wealthy real estate developers - many of whom have contributed generously to the Mayor's election campaigns and legal defense fund, and appear to be continuing to do so. If this doesn't look right, then you're seeing what I'm seeing.

Is Mayor Adams Selling New York Out from Under Our Feet?

The City of Yes legislation seems a complete capitulation to the billionaires and real estate developers interests. In fact they are the ones who put together the 1366 page legislation. Given Mayor Adam's other ethical and legal problems, it is very troublesome that many of the same folks who will benefit significantly from the passing of this legislation, are also major contributors to the Mayor's - and also many City Councilmembers' - re-election bids / campaigns. It's time to pay attention, because this matters and with the election coming up, you can do something about it.

It's an Election Year - Pay Attention to What the NY City Council does

Mayor Adams isn't the only Mayoral candidate taking wealthy real estate developers' and billionaire property investors' cash, which oftentimes contain invisible strings that seem to be used to manipulate what gets done at City Hall ... like the City of Yes legislation appears to be.

Pay attention to whether any of the candidates running this election cycle, have the courage and integrity to call out this legislation for what it appears to be - a sell out of the masses of New Yorkers by their elected representatives - to the wealthy and super rich people who fund their campaigns.

Democracy only works if 'We The People' pay attention to who is who, and what they do, before we vote.

Unfortunately, you're not likely to be informed about this by the TV news teleprompter readers, who recite lullabies, while showing NYPD crime and social media accident videos, instead of reporting the news. Even on their best days, the TV teleprompter readers barely scratch the surface of what's really going on in this city - and on those rare occasions when they do - they seem oblivious to it.

Is the 'City of Yes' the Mayor's [and City Councils?] Quid Pro Quo?

What follows below are the reports we've done to date on the City of Yes - a nearly complete overhaul of New York City's zoning regulations.

More reports to follow, as time and resource allow.

Things To Do Columbus Day Weekend Queens - Columbus Day Parade QNS NYC

Oct 12, 2024 at 12:15 am by mikewood

Things To Do Columbus Day Weekend Queens

Things To Do In Queens Over The Columbus Day Weekend

October 13, 2024 / Things To Do Queens NY / Queens Buzz NYC.

NYC Weather Forecast as of 10.11.24. Today - Sunrise 7.03 am & Sunset at 6.20 pm. There's a 50% chance of a small amount [less than 1/5th inch] of rain Sunday night after 9 pm & ending Monday mid morning. Temperature highs will be in the low 70's through Sunday, descending to the low 60's on Monday. Temperature lows will be in the mid to high 50's through Sunday, descending into the mid 40's on Monday. It's going to be a windy weekend, with winds of 11 to 16 mph through Sunday, rising to 17 to 19 on Monday. The humidity will be 40% - 50% Friday and Saturday, rising to 60% - 70% on Sunday, before falling back to 50% - 60% on Monday. Generally a good weather three day holiday weekend. Enjoy.

This report contains a listing of some of the things to do in Queens over the Columbus Day Weekend including art museums, theaters, live music / comedy / dance venues, sporting & social events, and restaurants for Queens NYC.

Columbus Day Events In Queens

Click here to obtain information about things to do Columbus Day Weekend in Queens. This events calendar is updated monthly with about 100 different Queens fun / cultural events.

See our weekend post on the Friday of Columbus Day Weekend with things to do in Queens NYC including the Columbus Day Parade on the front page of this site. The weekend post will include all sorts of other events and activities not necessarily related to Columbus Day.

Columbus Day Parade - Astoria Queens

Saturday, October 12, 2024, assembly at 11 am and parade kicks off at 12 noon - 2 pm - 47th Annual Columbus Day Parade - Kicks off from Kaufman Astoria Studios at 34-12 36th Street, marches north on Steinway, west on 30th Avenue and then turns north on 33rd Street ending at Columbus Triangle at Astoria Blvd around 1 pm where there's an ending ceremony. Rain or shine. Organized by FIAO which is the Italian Federation of Queens.

Queens Public & Private Parks & Public Indoor Swimming Pools

Queens has one of the best collection of parks and golf courses in the NY Metro area, if not the best. Queens has at least 17 great parks. Click here for a listing of the Queens Parks including maps showing their locations along with a bit of park history.

NYC public indoor swimming pools are open [unconfirmed].

Golfing In Queens - Columbus Day Weekend

Queens has four golf courses and all of them are open this weekend. Click here for details about Queens Golf Courses including maps and links to the operators' websites.

CLICK here for things to do in Queens Columbus Day Weekend including the parade.

* Things to do This Weekend in NYC & Boros

Climate March Friday, UN Convenes & Autumn Begins Sunday, Steuben Day Parade & Oktoberfest in Central Park, Fall for Dance Fest, Feast of San Gennaro ending & Opening Reception for Art Exhibit in Manhattan; The MEMBER CALENDAR IS HOPPING this weekend in QUEENS with performance of Nunsense, Community Arts Day, Food & Wine Fest, Hellgate Walking Tour & Stemocracy at the NY Hall of Science, also Queens United International Music Party, the Moon Festival, Hispanic Day Parade, Oktoberfest at Bohemian Hall & Amazing Maize Maze / Corn Fest in Queens; Fort Hamilton Oktoberfest Friday, Greek Orthodox Fair, Climate Week & FAD market on Governor's Island & Flatbush Frolic in Brooklyn; Festival de Independencia de Mexico, Festival de El Grito de Lares, Bronx Native American Festival, Chekov's Uncle Vanya, Cocktail Party & Raft of the Medusa Performance in the Bronx; the 17th West Fest Westerleigh Folk Music Festival, a Greek Orthodox Festival & Shakespeares 'As You Like It' & Nansen Lodge Heritage Fair on Staten Island - Next Week Downtown Brooklyn Arts Festival & Zum Schneider Fest in Brooklyn

September 20, 2024 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / News Analytis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.

NYC Weather Forecast as of 9.20.24. Sunrise 6.42 am & Sunset at 6.55 pm. It looks to be a precipitation free weekend with the highs around 80 Friday, descending to the mid 70's for the rest of the weekend. The temperature lows will be around 60 and the humidity will hold steady all weekend at between 60% - 70%. The winds will also hold steady at about 10 mph all weekend. Have a great first Fall Weekend.

The photo at right was taken at the Steuben Day Parade in Manhattan in a prior year. The parade and accompanying Oktoberfest in Central Park return this weekend. See details below.

Friday Final Edition at 6.45 pm. Looks like a great Fall weekend both weather-wise and for things to do. Enjoy.

Things To Do This Weekend in NYC

September 22 - 30, 2024 - The United Nations General Assembly begins. Dignitaries and diplomats will begin convening in earnest Sunday. Already this Friday 9/20/24, various groups that want to be heard, will be protesting the mishandling of their issues by various governments around the world. Road closures along the east side of Midtown, near the U.N. [generally in the low 40's streets], begin as early as Saturday evening at 8 pm, so be prepared for extra traffic jams in Manhattan.
- This year they seem to have improved their communication effort and the following items are on the week long agenda. On Sunday, Monday, 9/22 & 9/23 they will be discussing sustainable development goals for international trade and development. On Tuesday, 9/24 they will showcase success stories of sustainable development efforts made 'round the world. On Wednesday, 9/25 they are hosting a plenary of sea level rise threats. On Thursday, 9/26 they will discuss anti-microbial resistance and efforts to combat it, as well as how to rid the world of nuclear weapons. On Wednesday thru Saturday, 9/25 - 9/28 & Monday, 9/30 there will be a high level debate about how the world can work together to make sure that nobody is left behind. On Tuesday, 9/24/24 President Joe Biden will address the General Assembly. For details and video links see - UN General Assembly in NYC 2024. https://www.un.org/en/webtv.un.org. For special reports on two of the world's military hotspots see our prior reports - 1) Why are American - not Israeli - taxpayers funding Israel's Expansionist Imperialism and 2) Ukraine Defends Against Russian Imperialism.

The photo above / at right was taken in 2022 outside the United Nations. In the lower foreground you can see a security officer, as well as several of them on the roof of one of the UN buildings. In the middle of the photo are some of the flags on the nations who come here, to convene with all other nations from around the world.

The first day of Fall 2024 is Sunday. Have a happy Autumn.

Things To Do This Weekend in Manhattan NYC

Friday, September 20, 2024 beginning at 2 pm - Climate March. Begins at Foley Square at Lafayette, Worth & Centre Streets in Downtown Manhattan near City Hall. Free. For details see - https://www.endfossilfuels.us/ and https://actionnetwork.org/events/youth-climate-strike-tear-down-the-pillars-of-fossil-fuels-2?source=direct_link&

Saturday, September 21, 2024 - Steuben Day Parade & Oktoberfest NYC. The parade begins at 12 noon from 5th Avenue at 68th Street and marches up to 86th Street. Following the parade there's an Oktoberfest at the Rumsey Playfield at 69th Street but in Central Park. Oktoberfest begins at 1 pm and runs until 6.30 pm. Enter Central Park at 72nd St & 5th Avenue. Admission $44 / $8 kids, sometimes tickets can sell out prior to the event. For details and tickets see - https://germanparadenyc.org/oktoberfest/ or https://www.facebook.com/steubenparadeny/

CLICK here for things to do in NYC in September events nyc.

Coney Island - Final Fireworks of the Summer 2024

August 30, 2024 / Coney Island / Brooklyn / Brooklyn BLVD.

On Friday night, the final fireworks show by the Alliance for Coney Island, started around 10 pm on the Reigelmann Boardwalk just east of the Steeple Chase Tower and adjacent to the Luna Amusement Park. It was a comfortable evening, with a slight, cool breeze coming in off the water. There were hundreds of spectators who came to see the show and enjoy an end of the summer ride and snacks at Luna Park. I shot the 10 - 15 minute show from various locations around the Boardwalk, water and Luna Park and then edited it down to about 2 - 3 minutes, ending with a bit of island music. Enjoy the show.

Things to do This Weekend in NYC & Boros

Last MoMA Summer Sounds Concert & Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit Closed in Manhattan; Oracabessa Festival, Rockaway Beach Music Series, U.S. Open, Sri Krishna Janmashtami, Queens Boro Dance Festival & Queens Jazz Trail Concert in Queens; West Indian American Day Parade & J'ouvert, Battle of Brooklyn, 24th Street Festival and Coney Island Fireworks in Brooklyn; Latin Foto Festival in Hunts Point, Bronx Writers' History at the Bronx Historical Society and Orchard Beach in the Bronx; and Do Portugal Circus at Staten Island Mall, the British are Coming & the Richmond County Fair on Staten Island

August 30, 2024 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / News Analytis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.

NYC Weather Forecast as of 8.30.24. Sunrise 6.20 am & Sunset at 7.31 pm. Some rain expected Saturday night and early Sunday morning, so it should be a good weekend. Temperatures in the 80's during the day and 70's at night. A gentle breeze and humidity climbs gradually during the weekend, falling again on Monday.

In the photo at right, is one of Historic Richmond Town's finest citizens, doing his thing in the woodwork shop. The man reminded me of, Geppetto, the kind and fatherly woodcarver who created Pinocchio, the fictitious wooden puppet who comes alive.

Saturday 8.31.24 Final Weekend Edition @ 11.45 am. All done. Looks to be a fair weather weekend with plenty of fun things to do as the unofficial end of the summer arrives. Enjoy your three day / end of summer weekend. Fall events to follow in September.

Things To Do This Weekend in New York City

Saturday, May 25 - September 8, 2024 from 10 am to 6 pm - NYC Beaches and public swimming pools are Open all Summer.

CLICK here to view our weekly reports about things to do each weekend in August in all five boroughs of NYC.

Queens Buzz Section Links

Queens Dominican Day Parade o Desfile Dominicana Queens NYC

Jul 24, 2024 at 12:15 am by PeterParker

Dominican Day Parades in Queens & NYC

There are Four Dominican Day Parades in NYC & Boroughs

July 23, 2024 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / Queens Buzz NYC.

NYC Weather Forecast as of 7.23.24. Generally looking good with no rain in the forecast, the highs in the high 80's and lows in the mid 70's. Winds 5 mph and humidity about average. Update coming with the Friday / Weekend post.

The photo at right was taken at one of the NYC Dominican Parades in NYC in a prior year. The Queens Dominican Parade has already passed as of June 22, 2024. See details below. There are only two more Dominican Day Parades this summer, because the Brooklyn Dominican Day Parade is on hiatus this year, reportedly planning a comeback in 2025.

Queens is Home to a Popular Dominican Day Parade

Dominican Day Parades in the Queens & NYC. NYC has several Dominican Day parades, a couple of which we've previously covered. We've included in this report about the upcoming Manhattan and Bronx Domincan Day Parades in NYC, so that if you missed the one in Queens, there's still time to enjoy the show.

CLICK here for our report on the Queens Dominican Day Parade / Queens Desfile Dominicana of 2024.

* How Dense are the Self-Defeating, Biden-Denying, Democrats?

Why aren't Democrats Promoting the 'Biden Team' Accomplishments, instead of Undermining the Top of their Ticket?

Updated July 19, 2024 vs 7.18.24 / National Politics / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz.

Democratic Leadership Deeply Disappoints - Schumer & Jeffries et al

I am very disappointed in the behavior of the Democratic Leadership, including U.S. Senate Majority Leader (D-NY) Chuck Schumer, U.S. Congressional Minority Leader (D-NY) Hakeem Jeffries, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), and Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) for making public their calling for Biden to step down, right in the middle of the presidential race. Note that these Democrats are - like the corporate mass media - urban and bicoastal - not from the Midwest / heartland / swing states.

A day after first posting this, a friend sent along a political cartoon published in The Week [shown at right]. It seems to capture the sentiment expressed above pretty well and shows all of the above named Democrats seated in the train, mentioned in order, from right to left.

Lincoln Said "It's Foolish to Change Horses in the Middle of a Race"

There's an old adage that goes something like this, "never change horses in the middle of the race". That quote is attributed to President Abraham Lincoln, who is said to have used it to persuade voters to re-elect him, rationalizing that, "... it would be foolish to change leaders in such a turbulent time ...". It seems the same wise advice has some relevance to today.

Since both Biden and Trump became their parties' presumptive presidential nominees on 'Super' Tuesday, March 12, 2024, the presidential race began that day. And since election day is approximately eight months later, on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, we have already passed the midway mark for this presidential race, which ends only three and a half months from now.

CLICK here to read the rest of our report on How Dense are the Self-Defeating, Biden-Denying Democrats.

Things To Do In Queens - Labor Day Weekend Events in Queens NYC

Aug 27, 2024 at 12:15 am by mikewood

Things To Do Labor Day Weekend in Queens NYC Things To Do / Events in Queens Over The Labor Day Weekend August 27, 2024 / Things To Do Queens NY / Queens Buzz NYC. NYC Weat.... Read More

Free Summer Theater in Queens - Free Things To Do In Queens - Astoria LIC Sunnyside Woodside Jackson Heights Corona Flushing Jamaica Long Island

Jul 08, 2024 at 12:15 am by mikewood

Queens Free Summer Outdoor Theater 2024 QNS NYC Free Things To Do In Queens, Free Shakespeare in the Park in Astoria, LIC, Long Island City, Sunnyside, Woodside, Jackson He.... Read More

Free Concerts in Queens - Astoria LIC Sunnyside Flushing Jackson Heights Woodside Jamaica Corona Long Island City - Free Things To Do In Queens

Jul 06, 2024 at 12:15 am by mikewood

Queens Free Things To Do - Free Concerts In Queens NYC 2024 Free Summer Concerts In Queens - Free Summer Concerts In The Park In Astoria, LIC, Long Island City, Sunnyside,.... Read More

4th of July Fireworks Queens NYC

Jul 03, 2024 at 12:15 am by mikewood

Queens 4th of July Fireworks 2024 NYC Best Viewing Locations / Places to Watch 4th of July Fireworks in Queens NYC including at Cunningham Park on Thursday 6/13/24; in Asto.... Read More

Queens Swimming Pools - Free Outdoor Public Swimming Pools In Queens

Jun 17, 2024 at 12:15 am by mikewood

Queens Free Public Outdoor Swimming Pools - Queens NYC Includes Maps, Contact Info & Links June 14, 2024 / Queens Neighborhoods / Queens Free Public Swimming Pools / Q.... Read More

Coop City Fireworks in the Bronx

July 6, 2024 / Coop City / Bronx Buzz NYC. I attended and recorded the Coop City fireworks in the Bronx this year. The fireworks display was launched from the Coop City Field located along the Hutchinson River which empties into the Long Island Sound.

They started around 9.30 pm and went for about 15 - 30 minutes, and I fouind it to be a fireworks display worth watching. Check out a few clips we put together from the show.

Cable TV's Knucklehead News

CNN's SuperFantastic Debate Fiasco

The CNN Presidential TV Debate Between President Joe Biden & "Former" President Donald Trump Showcased how Disinformative Modern TV News can be, Particularly When Moderated by Anchors who Don't Seem to Know Who the Current President is

June 27, 2024 vs 6.21.24 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.

I was horrified Thursday night, as I watched the CNN TV debate unfold between President Joe Biden and 'FORMER' President Donald Trump. Not only because of Joe Biden's performance, but even more so because of CNN's performance, including Jake Tapper's and Dana Bash's mega journalistic failure, for moderating a show, advertised as news [which is supposed to be about facts], that disinformed their TV audience.

Improper Sound Set Up - CNN Technical Failure?

The horrors started with the sound [wo]man's failure to properly amp or set up Joe Biden's microphone so that it properly projected his soft spoken voice at a level audible to the TV viewing public. I had to ratchet up the volume on my TV to twice the level I normally use, to hear what President Biden was saying.

No Fact Checking the Biggest Liar in Presidential History? Only on TV 'News'

Then there's the incredible failure by the TV anchors to properly moderate the debate. First of all they should NEVER have agreed to moderating a debate where fact checking was not a part of the process. I mean really, how can CNN look itself in the mirror tomorrow morning and tell everyone they are a news organization, when facts don't matter in of all things, a Presidential Debate?

And then add to that, that one of the candidates is known to be one of the biggest liars on the planet. According to a January 24, 2021 Washington Post report, they noted that Donald Trump had lied 30,573 different times, in the four years he was president.

Former President Trump went off on some of his predictable mendacious campaign tirades, about January 6th, abortion, immigration, the economy ... and pretty much everything else - without any corrections - save from President Biden, who quite frankly, in part because of his stutter, and in part because it was difficult to hear him, didn't do a very good job.

CLICK here to read our report on CNN's News Failure on the 1st Presidential TV Debate of 2024 - Knucklehead News.

Juneteenth - Things To Do NYC

Juneteenth Things to do in NYC, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx & Staten Island

June 17, 2024 / Things To Do NYC / Holidays, Parades & Ethnic Culture / Gotham Buzz.

Over the past ten years or so, interest and awareness of Juneteenth has grown fast. Juneteenth commemorates American slaves obtaining their freedom on June 19, 1865 in Texas, when Major General Gordon Granger ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation, wherein President Abraham Lincoln officially freed the slaves effective January 1, 1863. Unlike today, word didn't travel so fast, and in the Confederate states, the white slave owners did their best to keep the slaves from learning of Lincoln's Executive Order. Juneteenth is a word blend denoting June [nine]teenth. President Biden declared Juneteenth a federal holiday on June 17, 2021, taking effect immediately and in time for folks to first celebrate the holiday two days later, on June 19th, 2021.

In the photo at right is John Watusi, who was a Founder and the Executive Director of the Afrikan Poetry Theatre in years gone by [now deceased]. John was a poet and a civil rights activist who recognized, along with others, the important role that history and culture play in people's lives. So, while Juneteenth is a celebration of an African American liberation day, it is also a celebration of African American culture.

This year NYC Mayor Adams cited a number of NYC cultural and historical sites and tours related to Juneteenth and the African American experience in NYC. In an OpEd he penned and we published Monday, you'll find links to some of the sites and tours he references of interest. Click here to read recent OpEds and Editorials on Gotham Buzz NYC.

Juneteenth Historic Sites in NYC - Brooklyn, Manhattan & Online

Here are a couple of African American Historical Sites in NYC, some of which are referenced in the Mayor's OpEd. Brooklyn Juneteenth Historic Sites - Juneteenth Grove at Cadman Plaza in Downtown Brooklyn. It's there 24/7. Manhattan Juneteenth Historic Sites - African Burial Ground - located at Elk and Duane Streets just a block north of City Hall in downtown Manhattan. Online Juneteenth Historic Sites - African American Landmarks and Historic District Interactive Map & Seneca Village Online - created by the Landmarks Preservation Committee.

CLICK here to view the rest of our report about things to do on Juneteenth NYC - Juneteenth Events.

Click Manhattan 4th of July fireworks NYC for Manhattan independence day fireworks or click July 4th fireworks in NYC for NYC independence day fireworks in the 5 boros of NYC. Also see the Astoria Park fireworks and the Fort Totten fireworks in Bayside.

Saying No to the City of Yes

City of Yes is ...

An Attempt to Overcome NIMBY [Not in My Back Yard] in Favor of YIMBY [Yes in My Back Yard]

Yes to the Billionaires & Developers Who Created the Plan
No to the New York City Residents Who Already Live & Work Here

May 15, 2024 / City of Yes Special Report Series / NYC Real Estate & Business / NYC Government Media & Politics / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.

Since the beginning of the new year I've attended over a half dozen different lectures, presentations and community discussions, about the City of Yes and related topics. Two of them were presentations given by the NYC Planning Department who are selling the plan, one by the Federal Reserve which took a stance that leaned pro business but did not ignore the possible destructive ramifications of passing the legislation, one by a community activist group in Brooklyn, another by a Community Board in Manhattan, and two others by a civic group, also in Manhattan.

I tried to keep an open mind about the pros and cons of the legislation, but I couldn't help but begin forming opinions about the proposed legislation, as I collected, sorted and analyzed the legislation and information surrounding it. Over time, the ramifications of actually passing this legislation have begun to appear.

The Mayor's Rationale for Pushing Legislation Created by and for the Billionaires & International Real Estate Development Community

The legislation was concocted by billionaires, real estate developers and the NYC Planning Department, headed by Daniel Garodnick. As such, it reflects their interests, and seems to almost completely ignore the interests of the communities that the NYC government is supposed to be serving.

The Mayor has been pushing the City of Yes, because he believes it will eliminate the 'Not in My Back Yard aka NIMBY' that many infrastructure projects [including affordable housing] encounter when the government or real estate developers are trying to foist them on a community. Hence this would have the effect of enabling projects to move more quickly from conception to fruition, and at a lower cost to the government, billionaire or real estate developer pushing the project. The Mayor also believes that this will enable the creation of more affordable housing.

It might enable the creation of more affordable housing, and it might not. It could just enhance the bottom lines of the billionaires and developers pushing the plan, which in my mind is the more likely scenario.

The Downside of Passing Legislation that Usurps the Power of the People

But, more importantly, it would usurp the power that the people living in these communities currently have, to voice their concerns about new construction projects like affordable housing, commercial buildings or transit, being built within their neighborhoods. While I appreciate the Mayor's interest in reducing the time and cost of getting things built - like affordable housing - I don't think that taking away the power a community has over what is developed within their midst, is the right way to go about changing things. And perhaps even more importantly, I think any time you're transferring power from the little people to the rich and mighty, you're moving power in the wrong direction.

City Club of NY - ReThinking the Housing Crisis

So, with this in mind, I'm going to take you into a Zoom conference hosted by the City Club of New York which was entitled ReThinking the Housing Crisis, held on May 7, 2024. While not specifically about the City of Yes, it provides some contextual background which should help in evaluating it. And later this month we'll also have a report on the Federal Reserve's April 25, 2024 conference entitled 'Fostering Neighborhoods: Faith-Based Organizations and the Development of Affordable Housing' which was largely about the proposed City of Yes legislation. At that conference there were several speakers who promoted the legislation, but not without reservations, both of which we'll include in our report.

We'll have more to report later on ReThinking the Housing Crisis.
2nd part of GB 531

Things To Do Memorial Day Weekend In Queens NYC - Memorial Day Events & Parades in QNS NYC

May 24, 2024 at 12:15 am by mikewood

Things To Do Memorial Day Weekend in Queens NYC Things To Do In Queens Over The Memorial Day Weekend of 2024 Updated May 23, 2024 from 5/21/24 / Things To Do Queens NY / Q.... Read More

Mother's Day Restaurants In Queens

May 08, 2024 at 12:15 am by mikewood

Mother's Day Restaurants In Queens 2024 Mother's Day Restaurants in Astoria, LIC, Sunnyside, Woodside & Jackson Heights May 8, 2024 / Queens Neighborhoods NYC / Queens R.... Read More

queens world film festival nyc museum of the moving image

Queens World Film Festival - The Film Scene in Queens NYC

Apr 23, 2024 at 12:15 am by PeterParker

The Queens World Film Festival Mirrors the Changing World The Queens World Film Festival 2024 Opened Up Deep & It Has Enabled a Number of Queens Youths to Venture into th.... Read More

Solar Eclipse 2024 New York City

Jun 19, 2024 at 12:15 am by PeterParker

Solar Eclipse Grazes NYC There was a Partial Eclipse in NYC & a Total Eclipse in Buffalo April 9, 2024 / NYC Parks & Environment / NYC Neighborhoods / Queens.... Read More

City of Yes Text Amendments - Huge Zoning Changes in the Works - Part II.

The Proposed 'City of Yes Text Amendments' will Roll Back Local Community Board [and Hence Communities] Input into What is Built & What Activities are Allowed in Their Communities

April 2, 2024 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Real Estate / NYC Government & Politics / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.

Just over a week ago I attended a Zoom call, organized by Community Board 6 in Manhattan, regarding the proposed City of Yes Text Amendments Part II being promulgated by Mayor Adams and his Administration. We collectively sat through about an hour long presentation, which I found to be most enlightening as well as a bit disconcerting should the proposed changes pass without significant alteration.

I have obtained permission to publish the slides, which due to technical issues, I have had to publish in the three [vs one] slide shows you see below [they are in chronological order]. I'll post my full report early next week, but in the meantime the slides should give you an idea of how big the changes really are and has been done in such a manner that you can begin to figure out how these changes may affect you.

Whether you are a tenant, landowner or real estate developer - and no matter in which borough you live - these changes, if passed unalterred, are going to significantly change how things are done in NYC. And the more I dig into this, the more it seems to be a roll back of community input, which is - in my mind - an essential / core element of any democratic process.

Isn't it?

While I'm still not done with the research, these changes look to be quite harmful to the people of NYC, in so many different ways, while failing to provide any sure path to growing our inventory of truly affordable housing.

Much more coming next week and over the next couple of weeks.

CLICK here to view the slide show presentation made regarding the City of Yes at the Manhattan Community Board 6 Meeting on March 25, 2024. GB 523.

NYS Primary Voting Tuesday, April 2, 2024

In addition to the presidential primary, there are also NYS primary races on the ballot.

Queens Easter Brunches NYC Queens Easter Ceremonies QNS NYC Queens Easter Events NYC

Queens Easter Events, Brunches & Ceremonies in QNS NYC

Mar 29, 2024 at 12:15 am by PeterParker

Queens Easter Events, Brunches & Ceremonies in QNS NYC There are Two Easters Observed - 1) West European Christians & 2) East European Orthodox March 29, 202.... Read More

Queens St Patrick's Day Bars, Restaurants & Irish pubs In Queens NYC

Mar 11, 2024 at 12:15 am by mikewood

Queens St Patrick's Day Bars, Restaurants & Historic Irish Pubs in QNS 2024 St Pat's Day Irish Pubs & Restaurants in Astoria, LIC, Sunnyside, Woodside, Jackson Height.... Read More

city of yes text amendments, proposed nyc zoning law changes, nyc zoning laws,

City of Yes Text Amendments Part II - Economic Development

Sep 24, 2024 at 12:15 am by PeterParker

City of Yes Text Amendments - Huge Zoning Changes in the Works How Much Will the Proposed 'City of Yes Text Changes' Strip Communities of Input into What is Built in their Co.... Read More

st patricks day events queens nyc st patricks day parades queens st pats day parades qns nyc

St Patricks Day Parades in Queens NYC

Mar 07, 2024 at 12:15 am by PeterParker

St Pats Day Parades in Queens NYC This is a Look at the Upcoming St Patricks Day Parades in Queens, Including Photos of those We've Covered Over the Years with Links to a Pag.... Read More

* Updated - How Many Stops Act Veto Overridden & Was the Mayor Justified in Vetoing the How Many Stops Act Bill [586-A]?

And Did Corporate TV News Inform or Distort the Issue by Televising the Yusef Salaam Stop?

Updated February 1, 2024 from 1.30.24 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Law Enforcement / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.

The NYC Council voted to override Mayor Adams veto of the How Many Stops Act - Bill 586-A by a margin of 42 to override the veto and 9 in support of it, with 0 abstentions. The City Council also revoked the use of solitary confinement at Rikers. A number of the councilmembers stated an interest in working with Mayor Adams on implementation of the changes, to ensure there's no degradation of law enforcement effectiveness because of the change.

Some council members shared negative experiences of their own and their constituents, of being stopped by the police. Many NYC Council members also commended NYC Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams for drafting and pushing the legislation through the council.

The photo at right was taken at City Hall in December of 2023, when the Mayor met with members of the ethnic and community media, to discuss past, present and future issues and efforts.

CLICK here to read our report about why we think the Mayor was right in vetoing the Too Many Stops Act.

What They’re Saying: New York Leaders Continue to Voice Opposition to City Council Bill That Could Make NYC Streets Less Safe

This is a Reprint of a Press Release Issued by the Mayor's Office Regarding the How Many Stops Act

January 29, 2024 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Law Enforcement / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.

The Following is a Press Release issued by the Mayor's Office

NEW YORK – Following today’s veto on City Council bill Intro. 586-A — which could make New York City less safe by forcing New York City Police Department (NYPD) officers to spend more time filling out reports after Level 1 interactions with the public instead of patrolling the street and keeping the public safe — faith leaders, community advocates, business organizations, district attorneys, law enforcement professionals, and everyday New Yorkers voiced their opposition to the bill.

Here is what New York leaders are saying. What follows is the full reprint of a press release issued by the Mayor's Office on January 19, 2024.

CLICK here for a press release by the Mayor's Office regarding community leaders' response to Mayor Adams Vetoing the How Many Stops Act - 586-A in NYC.

********* CHANGES ABOVE

* The Federal Reserve in NYC Assesses the Risks due to Climate Change

Climate Change is Real. Its Impact is Already Affecting Economic Investments & Outcomes. The Federal Reserve Shared a Closer Look with us in October 2023.

January 23, 2024 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Issues / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.

On Monday, October 2, 2023 I headed down to the Federal Reserve Bank in NYC to make a withdrawal. Not a withdrawal of money, but to collect some information about Climate Change, at a Conference they hosted for local media outlets.

Keynote Speaker - Economics Professor Stiglitz

The Keynote speaker was Joseph E. Stiglitz, a professor at Columbia University, who participated in a discussion with John C. Williams, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of NY.

Informational Economics - Investment & Business Decisions are Based on Imperfect Information

The keynote speaker, Joseph Stiglitz, has expertise is in economics, and more specifically, informational economics. Stiglitz was preceded by economist George Stigler [not to be confused with the keynote speaker Joseph Stiglitz] who is credited with first developing 'The Economics of Information' in 1961 while a professor at the University of Chicago. This was the beginning of an entire area of study of how information and information systems affect economic decision making.

In the 1970's three researchers, one of whom was Joseph Stiglitz [the keynote speaker], is credited with developing the theory of 'Asymmetric Information' which posits generally that one of the parties - in a two party transaction - has better information. For example the seller of a used auto knows more about the car than the buyer, or a borrower likely has better information about whether there will be problems in repaying the loan than the lender.

CLICK here to read the rest of our report on a cursory assessment of the risks associated with climate change at the Federal Reserve Bank in NYC.

Things To Do Presidents Day Weekend - Queens Events Presidents Day Weekend Queens NYC

Feb 14, 2024 at 12:15 am by mikewood

Things To Do Presidents Day Weekend Queens Things To Do In Queens Over The Presidents Day Weekend February 14, 2024 / Things To Do Queens NY / Queens Buzz NYC. NYC Weather..... Read More

Queens Romantic Restaurants for Valentines Day - Queens NYC

Feb 06, 2024 at 12:15 am by mikewood

Queens Valentine's Day Restaurants & Events 2024 Romantic Restaurants For Dinner in Astoria, LIC, Sunnyside, Woodside, Jackson Heights & Flushing February 6, 2024 /.... Read More

Things To Do Martin Luther King Day Weekend in Queens NYC

Jan 11, 2024 at 12:15 am by mikewood

Things To Do MLK Day Weekend Events Queens Things To Do In Queens Over The Martin Luther King Day Weekend January 10, 2024 / Things To Do Queens NY / Queens Buzz NYC. MLK W.... Read More

New Years Resolutions 2024: The Road Ahead

A Few Axioms To Keep In Mind Throughout The New Year

January 1, 2024 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Holidays / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.

For all of us, today starts the beginning of a new year. It's an opportunity to start anew. And even if we don't fulfill our highest expectations, moving the needle in the right direction, is always a good thing.

The rest of this report is about some of the things you can do personally to make 2024 a better year for you.

CLICK here to read the rest of our report on New Years Resolutions 2024 - The Road Ahead.

Things to do This Weekend in NYC & Boros

Christmas Weekend with Holiday Markets, Holiday Events & NYE Parties - are Some of the Top Things to do this Weekend & Next Weekend in NYC

December 24, 2023 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / Gotham Buzz NYC.

NYC Weather. Sunrise 7.18 am. Sunset 4.33 pm. The temperature highs will rise from the low 40's on Friday, to the mid 40's on Saturday, to the high 40's on Sunday to the low 50's on Monday. The temperature lows will rise from the low 30's on Friday, to 40 on Saturday, to the mid 40's on Sunday and Monday. The winds will be below 5 mph all weekend, including Monday which is a national holiday. The humidity will rise from 60% on Friday, to 70% on Saturday, to 80% on Sunday and Monday. No precipitation is in the forecast. These temperature statistics are highly unusual for this time of year.

The photo at right, taken in Sunnyside Queens this week, shows an example of the holiday home decorations one can find in the five boroughs of NYC.

This weekend use the links below to find holiday events, holiday markets and look for things to do over the New Years Eve weekend. While all done for Manhattan, Staten Island, Queens and Brooklyn and mostly done for the Bronx, we'll be completing the NYE parties options sometime Sunday 12/24/23.

CLICK here to view the rest of our report about things to do Christmas / New Year week in NYC - Events NYC the last week of December.

* Exclusive: One on One Interview with the Mayor

The Eric Adams Story - Part I

Mayor Adams is a Complicated Man, Who Rose from Poverty, to the Highest Office in NYC

November 6, 2023 / NYC Government & Polltics / NYC Neighborhoods / Gotham Buzz. News Analysis & Opinion by Michael Wood.

This past summer, while working on another story in collaboration with the Mayor's Office of Ethnic & Community Media [aka MOECM], I entered into discussions with the MOECM, about the possibility of an exclusive interview with the Mayor. The Mayor's Office of Ethnic & Community Media was created a couple of years ago, to enhance local media access to the goings on at City Hall, in order to better inform the public. Under the Adams Administration, part of that program included providing greater government official availability to somewhere in the neighborhood of 250 local media outlets.

Famod Konneh, Associate Director for Outreach and Engagement collaborated with me to make arrangements for the interview, which took place on Friday, October 20, 2023. It's worth noting that every reporting story done live, is a collaboration of a sort, between the journalist and the subject(s) covered.

The photo at right shows Jose Bayona, the Executive Director of the Mayor's Office of Ethnic & Community Media [aka MOECM], at the MOEDM operations cener which is in the basement of City Hall, while he was setting up the video conference.

Interview Preparation - Doing My Homework

I did a considerable amount of research into the Mayor's past, while preparing for the interview. I did all this prep work, even though Famod had told me I would be limited to 20 minutes via a Zoom video call, as I was pitching him for more time. When I first first started the research, I did it in preparation for the interview, but, as sometimes happens with the kind of reporting I do, the more I learned, the more I became interested in learning even more about the Mayor and his life story.

Initially I thought I would do a standard hard news interview about key topics of the day including immigration, crime, the public schools and the budget. But, as I journeyed into the Mayor's past, I became more intrigued with the idea of doing a different story.

The Adams Administration's Unheralded Herculean Effort Managing the Immigrant Influx

As I conducted my research, I decided that NOT to inquire about the Mayor's - seemingly unappreciated or underappreciated - Herculean effort to manage the huge influx of immigrants into NYC. This situation, turned crisis, began when Texas Governor Greg Abbott began bussing immigrants from Texas border towns, beginning in August 5, 2022, to NYC. Governor Abbott began transporting immigrants here without any communication nor coordination with NYS Governor Hochul or NYC Mayor Adams.

Nonetheless, Mayor Adams somehow found enough lodging for somewhere between 65,000 - 125,000 immigrants bussed in since then, who arrived in the city within the past year or so. The Mayor also managed to carve enough funding out of the NYC budget to provide security, food, healthcare and logistics for the newcomers, with what - until fairly recently [the past three months or so] - appeared somewhere between scant and lagging help from the likes of U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and NYS Governor Kathy Hochul (D-NY), respectively.

In spite of this gargantuan challenge, Mayor Adams made sure NYC didn't miss a step. His Administration kept the influx of immigrants mostly off the streets, and appeared to ensure they were't coopted into criminal activities by providing for them, in spite of laws which forbade them from earning a living. This nearly heroic effort has mostly gone unheralded by the corporate media.

The photo above right shows the Mayor pondering a question I posed to him, during our Zoom interview. He's in the Mayoral limo enroute to his next event.

CLICK here to read the rest of the story about my exclusive interview with Mayor Adams about his life - profile.

November TTDo Monthly - GB 508

NYC Things to do in November in All 5 Boros of NYC

November Events in NYC by Week

Things to do This Weekend in NYC & Boros

NYC Marathon & Daylight Savings Time Sunday, Dia de los Muertos in Times Square Thurs Nite, Comedy Festival, Park Avenue Art Show, Washington Heights Jazz Fest, NY Comedy Fest & Bryant Park Winter Village Shops & Baltic Film Fest [Nxt Wk] in Manhattan; Diwali Festival in Jackson Heights, Off the Wall Affordable Art Fair and International Food Expo Next Week in Queens; Brooklyn Folk Music Festival and FAD Holiday Market in Brooklyn; Veterans Memoral Event in Van Cortlant Park & Universoul Circus at Orchard Beach in the Bronx; Holiday Market, Cranberry Festival & Fall Retreat on Staten Island

November 3, 2023 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / Gotham Buzz NYC.

NYC Weather. The temperature highs will be in the low 50's on Thursday, rising to the low 60's for the rest of the weekend. The temperature lows will be in the low 40's on Thursday, rising to the high 40's for the rest of the weekend. The winds will be about 4 - 6 mph all weekend. The humidity will be 40% - 60% on Thursday, rising to 50% - 60% on Friday and Saturday, and rising again to 60% - 70% on Sunday. No rain is in the forecast this weekend ... finally.

Sunrise / Sunset Times. On Thursday 11/2/23 the sun rose at 7.27 am & the sun set at 5.51 pm. But note that because of Daylight Savings Time, this Sunday, 10/5/23 the sun will rise at 6.31 am and the sun will set at 4.48 pm.

The photo at right was taken at the 2011 NYC Marathon as the marathoners were coming across the Pulaski Bridge which connects Greenpoint in Brooklyn to Long Island City in Queens.

CLICK here for things to do in things to do in November in NYC - ALL weekends Events NYC in November.

LIC Partnership Hosts LIC Summit about Real Estate in Long Island City

Nov 10, 2023 at 12:15 am by PeterParker

The LIC Summit at the Museum of the Moving Image

The One Things that was Clear, Amidst a Number of Rapidly Shifting Trends, was that the Times They are a Changing

October 23, 2023 / Queens Neighborhoods NYC / Queens Business NYC / Queens Buzz.

Last Tuesday, on a fairly nice October day, I visited the Museum of the Moving Image, to attend the LIC Summit which was organized by the Long Island City Partnership [LICP]. According to their website - at https://www.longislandcityqueens.com - the description and mission of the Long Island City Partnership is as follows:

"... [The] Long Island City Partnership(LICP) is the neighborhood development organization for LIC [Long Island City]. Our mission is to advocate for economic development that benefits the area’s industrial, commercial, science and technology, cultural, tourism, and residential sectors. The goal is to attract new businesses to LIC, retain those already here, engage residents and visitors, and promote a vibrant and authentic mixed-use community. LICP also operates the LIC Business Improvement District and LIC Industrial Business Zone (LIC IBZ), providing business services and assistance...".

The photo at right shows that it was a packed house at the LIC Summit this year at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria / LIC in Queens.

I believe the first Long Island City Partnership Summit was held in 2014 [also at the Museum of the Moving Image], which we reported on at the time. Based on their outreach this year, the purpose of the event remains largely intact, which is as follows, " ... to shape the future of the neighborhood, focusing discussions on LIC’s public spaces, sustainability and resiliency, as well as the challenges and opportunities of NYC’s fastest growing neighborhood ...".

So, while a lot has changed in Long Island City, Queens, NYC - and for that matter the world - their goals and efforts remain constant amidst this changing world. Likewise, many of the key issues of nearly a decade ago, haven't gone away. These include the scarcity of affordable housing, the need for public space and accessible transit, and the challenge of curating an environment where local small businesses can create and operate viable business models. And ... to be sure ... we are also facing new challenges, which include the time sensitive need to transition to renewable energy, and build and sustain resilient infrastructure - particularly in low lying and waterfront neighborhoods.

What follows are some excerpts from the participants of the Keynote panel at the LIC Summit. The participants included Moderator Carl Weisbrod, Senior Adviser at HR&A; and panelists Justin Ginsburgh, Managing Director Infrastructure Jet Blue; Donovan Richards, Jr, Queens Borough President; and Maria Torres-Springer, NYC Deputy Mayor of Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce for the City of New York.

CLICK here to read the rest of our report on the LIC Summit by the LIC Partnership / real estate in Long Island City, Astoria & Queens NYC.

LaGuardia Presidents Society 10th Annual Celebration

Oct 12, 2023 at 12:15 am by PeterParker

LaGuardia Community College Pioneers New Ground ... Again

Boyce Technologies Hosts LAGCC President's Society Ten Year Anniversary Celebration

October 9, 2023 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / Queens Buzz NYC.

A week ago from last Thursday, I attended a celebration of the President's Society at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City Queens. The LAGCC President's Society is an innovative program designed to help high potential students reach their full potential. The event was held at Boyce Technologies, which is located nearby and designs and manufactures mass transit security and communications equipment.

The reason it was held at Boyce Technologies, is because they and LaGuardia Community College have developed a symbiotic relationship, whereby the school has become one of Boyce's leading suppliers of human talent [reportedly about 20% of their employees], while Boyce has become a significant employer of LaGuardia Community College graduates.

About 200 of the roughly 600 LaGuardia Community College President's Society members, who enrolled in the program over the past ten years, attended the event. This is a particularly remarkable number, when one considers that a number of the attendees came from other parts of the country just to attend this one evening event, and that LaGuardia is a two year public college, not a four year one.

The photo above was taken at the LaGuardia Community College President's Society tenth anniversary reunion at Boyce Technologies in Long Island City on Thursday, September 28, 2023.

CLICK here for the full report on the gathering of the LaGuardia Community College 10th Anniversary of the President's Society including the photo slide show of the event.

Mount Sinai - Living Donor Celebration - at the NY Academy of Medicine NYC

I was Almost Shocked by a Lot of What I Learned about Kidney & Liver Transplants

September 25, 2023 / Manhattan Neighborhoods NYC / Manhattan Healthcare NYC / Manhattan Buzz.

Nearly two weeks ago, on Wednesday, September 13th, I headed into the New York Academy of Medicine at 1215 5th Avenue on the Upper East Side to attend a ceremony - a celebration actually - honoring Living Donors of Mt. Sinai's kidney and liver transplant program.

To be frank, when first approached to cover this event, I wasn't sure of what to expect. But after mulling it over, and perhaps with a bit of deference to my Mother, who had signed away her organs on her driver's license [and likely elsewhere], I decided to go to see what I might learn.

New York Academy of Medicine on the UES

The ceremony was held at the New York Academy of Medicine, which is located along 5th Avenue at 103rd Street. The NY Academy of Medicine was founded in 1847 by a number of NYC doctors, most notably the Presidents of the NYU School of Medicine, the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and the Medical Society of the City and County of New York. The Academy has played an influential role in shaping public health policy in NYC, NYS and the U.S.

The building in which the New York Academy of Medicine is located, as well as the location of the Mt. Sinai Living Donor Ceremony, was built in 1926 and is also home to the NY Academy of Medicine's library of various aspects of medicine, which was first started in 1847, opened to the public in 1878, and continues to be accessible to the public to this day. Generally it's dedicated to those wishing to do research and one has to make an appointment to use it. For more information and to make an appointment see - https://www.nyam.org/library/connect/visit-library/

The Mt. Sinai Living Donor Ceremony event was held on the third floor of the building what seemed a library reading room turned into a theater. The room had 20 foot high ceilings [possibly higher], nearly floor to ceiling windows overlooking Central Park, and I'm no expert, but I believe the bookcases in the front of the room were made of oak. The Carnegie Foundation donated about one million to the NY Academy of Medicine to build this building back in the 1920's.

My point in telling you all of this, is to provide a feeling and sense of connection to the past, the early roots of scientific healthcare in this country, which I assume was part of the consideration in selecting this location for the event ... as well as its proximity to the Mt Sinai Hospital campus on the Upper East side, which is located along 5th Avenue between 98th Street and 103rd Street.

CLICK here to read the rest of our story about kidney and liver transplants by Mount Sinai at a presentation at the NY Academy of Medicine.

Queens Things to do This Weekend NYC - Weekend Events QNS NYC

Dec 22, 2024 at 12:15 am by mikewood

THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND IN QUEENS

DECEMBER WEEKEND EVENTS IN QUEENS NYC

UPDATED 12 / 21 / 24

ALWAYS A WORK IN PROGRESS

Also, Click Logo at the Top of the Screen to Check Front Page for Additional

Things To Do in Queens this Weekend / Events NYC

DECEMBER is the month of holidays, including Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and - while it's not officially a holiday - New Years Eve.

This month look for holiday markets, holiday concerts, holiday theater and all sorts of other holiday events like Christmas tree lightings, Hanukkah menorah lightings and Kwanzaa candle lightings.

Queens is also the host of numerous concerts, theater and film events, as well as great food, parks and good public transit. Holiday markets and events abound this month.

The December photo featured above was taken at the Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden in Astoria in a prior year. Enjoy.

Use search to find prior stories, maps, photos and business listings.

CLICK here to view our page of things to do this weekend in Queens / Queens weekend events NYC.

Click Queens Events Directory Link / Scroll Down

Art Exhibits

Business & Educational Seminars

Dance Performances

Dining, Food & Drinks

Farmers Markets

Fashion / Film Events

Kids Events & Parades

Historic / Cultural Events

Holidays & Holiday Weekends

Live Music Performances

Member Calendar

Social Causes / Network Events

Sporting / Park Events / Nature

Street Fairs

Theater Events

Things To Do This Weekend in the Bronx NYC

Things To Do This Weekend in Brooklyn NYC

Things To Do This Weekend in Manhattan NYC

Things To Do This Weekend in Queens NYC

Things To Do This Weekend on Staten Island NYC

Oktoberfest Parties & Celebrations in NYC including in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx & Staten Island

Oktoberfest Begins Mid September in NYC and run thru October

UPDATED October 7, 2023 from 9.19.23 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / Gotham Buzz NYC.

The official / unofficial kick off to the month and a half of Oktoberfest events in NYC begins in Manhattan with the Steuben Parade. This report identifies a number of Oktoberfest events around NYC beginning mid September and running through the end of October.

The photo at right shows one of the floats in the Steuben Parade celebrating the consumption of bier, which in tandem with consumption of bratwurst, is an integral part of Oktoberest. One thing the photo doesn't show is the music, that also goes hand in hand with Oktoberfest.

A Brief History of Oktoberfest in NYC

Coming with time. We've posted a number of Oktoberfests in this report, but a few more are coming. Also watch the front page, as this year [only] they are likely to be posted there first.

CLICK here to view the rest of our report on Oktoberfest in NYC, including the boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island.

San Gennaro Festival in Little Italy Manhattan NYC

Manhattan's Signature Italian Festival Celebrates Little Italy in NYC

September 13, 2023 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / Gotham Buzz NYC.

Fall is just around the corner, which means the San Gennaro Festival is about to begin in Little Italy in Manhattan. See the front page or the parades & festivals page or click into the story for details of the San Gennaro Festival of 2023.

A Very Brief History of Little Italy Manhattan

Little Italy is just north of Canal street, across from Chinatown, which lies to its south. SoHo lies to its west, across Lafayette Street. While the Bowery is just east of it along Mott and Bowery Streets, and Nolita [North of Little Italy] lies to the north of it, across Broome Street. This is something of a downsized area from the original Little Italy of a century ago.

Little Italy was an important destination for Italians arriving in New York City in the late 1800's and early 20th century. It was generally a poor, working class neighborhood at that time, filled with laborers, and shopkeepers who traded food, wine and clothing. And the community was fairly self-sufficient with its own doctors, lawyers and bankers accoding to a Wikipedia account of an NYT story in 1896.

Little Italy's size and population peaked in the early 20th century, aat about 10,000, as Italians left for greener pastures in other parts of the city, including East Harlem, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens and Staten Island. Nonetheless, Little Italy remains somewhat intact, as a very popular tourist destination, the peak of which is celebrated in tandem with the San Gennaro Festival.

CLICK here to read the rest of our report about the San Gennaro Festival in Little Italy Manhattan NYC.

911 Commemoration Events & Remembrances in NYC & Boros

911 Commemorations this Weekend and Monday

September 10, 2023 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / Gotham Buzz NYC.

This weekend, there are a number of events around the five boroughs commemorating the losses of 911. The following are a few of those events.

The collection of photos at right shows an cultural performance at Lincoln Center honoring the victims of 911. The performance returns Monday at 8.05 am.

911 Remembrances / Commemorations NYC

Ongoing _ Daffodil Project in NYC Parks. For details see - https://www.nycgovparks.org/highlights/sept-11-memorials

CLICK here to view our report on 911 Memorial and Commemoration events in all 5 boroughs of NYC.

The West Indian American Day Parade(s) in Brooklyn NYC

A Deeper Dive into the Cultural Origins of the Carnival & Some Particulars About the Celebrations in Brooklyn

September 6, 2023 / NYC Neighborhoods / Brooklyn Parades & Festivals / Brooklyn BLVD NYC.

On a sultry Labor Day Monday morning, I set out for the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Prospect Lefferts Gardens and Crown Heights. The former, covers some of the area in Brooklyn known as Little Caribbean and it was to be the ending point for the Jouvert parade, which serves as the warm up for the larger West Indian American Day Parade.

Be advised that I was not aware of this distinction - two parades by the same group on the same day - until I had arrived and started making inquiries about when and where the actions was.

The Jouvert puportedly started at 11 am inside Prospect Park either at the entrance to the Kids Zoo [still not certain about this, but I'm getting closer to being precise] on Flatbush Avenue or based on a map I saw on the NYPD website, the Jouvert started at Grand Army Plaza, at the north end of Prospect Park. I'll be following up on this, and make the changes here when I get them.

The photo above right was taken at the West Indian American Day Parade in Brooklyn on Labor Day. Many different island cultures celebrate the carnival in unison. The flag in the lower right corner of the photo is Jamaican.

The Jouvert then marched east along Empire Boulevard before turning south on Nostrand Avenue and terminating at Winthrop. I arrived a bit before noon, at Empire Blvd and Nostrand, where the Jouvert Parade had already passed. The Jouvert Parade involves participants adorning themselves with paint and powder, sometimes sharing it with others in a style that reminded me of the Indian Holi celebration.

Speaking of Indians, the West Indies got their name after Columbus discovered them for the Spanish throne. They were called the West Indies, in order to differentiate them from the East Indies, with which the Portuguese had opened up trading routes in the 15th century just prior to Columbus's discovery. The East Indies comprises the islands that lie south of India, the Bay of Bengal and the South China Sea and north and west of Australia.

CLICK here to read the rest of our report about the West Indian American Day Parade in Brooklyn over the Labor Day Weekend.

Floyd Bennett Field Returns, for Encore, as Gateway to NYC

NYC Mayor Adams & NYS Governor Hochul Receive a Lease Agreement from the U.S. Government to Lease Floyd Bennett Field

August 29, 2023 / Brooklyn Neighborhoods / NYC Issues / Brooklyn BLVD.

Just over a week ago, Governor Hochul announced that she and NYC Mayor Adams had received a lease agreement from the Biden Administration, regarding the terms for leasing the Floyd Bennett Airfield for temporary use as a migrant center. The airfield is expected to be capable of providing temporary shelter for about 2,500 immigrants.

Floyd Bennett Field is a Part of the Gateway National Recreation Area

Floyd Bennett Airfield is located at the south eastern end of Brookyn and is part of the Jamaica Bay Wildlife sanctuary, as you can see from the map at right. The airport became a part of the National Park Service in 1972 when the Gateway National Recreation Area was established to protect important natural resources within / near NYC. Sandy Hook New Jersey is also a part of the Gateway National Recreation Area, while the rest of it is located in Queens, Staten Island and Brooklyn, as previously implied.

Floyd Bennett Airfield - NYC's First Airport - Opened 1931

Four years ago, on August 31, 2019, I visited the Floyd Bennett Airfield with the intention of doing a story on it, which - until now - I had not had an opportunity to do. On that visit, I biked the airfield, took photos in both the museum and peeked through the dusty windows of the hangars and warehouses on the airfield, to photographed our recent past.

Given that the airfield is about to be transformed into a sprawling migrant center, I thought folks might want to take a look at it as it was four years ago, before it is repurposed into something quite new. Along with this story, I'll also take you through a brief history ...

... as the Floyd Bennett Airfield was NYC's first airport, predating LaGuardia which according to Wikipedia opened on December 2, 1939 and JFK which opened as New York International Airport [nicknamed Idlewild] in July 1, 1948. Floyd Bennett Airfield opened on May 23, 1931.

CLICK here to read the rest of our report about the history of Floyd Bennett Field which was NYC's first airport and will now become an immigrant center.

Queens Farmers Markets / Green Markets In Queens, Astoria, Long Island City, Jackson Heights, Sunnyside, Woodside, Corona, Flushing, Jamaica, Forest

Jul 01, 2024 at 12:15 am by mikewood

Queens Farmers Markets 2024 Opening Dates, Hours, Items & How To Shop - 18 Queens Farmers Markets July 8. 2024 / Food & Wine in Queens / Queens Buzz NYC. This rep.... Read More

Free Summer Movies in Queens - Free Summer Movies Astoria LIC Sunnyside Woodside Jackson Heights Corona Flushing Jamaica free things to do Queens

Jun 29, 2023 at 12:15 am by mikewood

Queens Free Things To Do: Free Summer Movies In Queens 2023 Free Things To Do In Queens - Free Films & Summer Movies In Astoria, LIC, Long Island City, Sunnyside, Woodsid.... Read More

Things To Do Memorial Day Weekend In Queens NYC - Memorial Day Events & Parades in QNS NYC

May 24, 2024 at 12:15 am by mikewood

Things To Do Memorial Day Weekend in Queens NYC Things To Do In Queens Over The Memorial Day Weekend of 2024 Updated May 23, 2024 from 5/21/24 / Things To Do Queens NY / Q.... Read More

QUEENS STREET FAIRS - STREET FESTIVALS IN QUEENS NYC

Nov 23, 2024 at 12:15 am by mikewood

Queens Street Fairs & St Festivals 2024 I. Queens Street Fair Dates & Maps 2024 November 23, 2024 / Queens Neighborhoods / Queens Shopping / Queens Buzz. While.... Read More

Queens Romantic Restaurants for Valentines Day - Queens NYC

Feb 06, 2024 at 12:15 am by mikewood

Queens Valentine's Day Restaurants & Events 2024 Romantic Restaurants For Dinner in Astoria, LIC, Sunnyside, Woodside, Jackson Heights & Flushing February 6, 2024 /.... Read More

Easter & Passover Celebrations in NYC & Boros

Next Sunday is Easter for Western Christians and the Following Week it's Easter for Orthodox Christians

April 3, 2023 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / Gotham Buzz NYC / 438

Very Brief Introduction to Christian Easter Traditions

On Friday, April 7th, Christians observe Good Friday, which is when the Bible tells us that Jesus died on the cross. On Sunday, April 9th, Christians celebrate the Biblical account of Jesus rising from the dead.

Emperor Constantine became the Roman Emperor in 306. In 324 Constantine made Christianity the official religion of the Empire. In 1054, the Great Schism occurred, wherein Christianity split into two different sects - Roman Catholic Christians [primarily in Western Europe] and Orthodox Christians [primarily in Eastern Europe]. The traditions have much in common, but one of the differences is in how they calculate the time of Good Friday and Easter Sunday. The Western European Christians [Protestants and Catholics] use the Gregorian Calendar which was created in the 16th century and made the official calendar by Pope Gregory, while the Orthodox Christians use the Julian Calendar which was made law in the Roman Empire in 45 B.C. by Julius Caesar.

Thus there are years where the Western European and Eastern Orthodox Easter events fall at the same time, and there years where they do not. This year [2023] the celebrations of the two traditions are separated by a week, with the Western European Christians celebrating next weekend and the Orthodox Christians celebrating a week later.

CLICK here to view our report on NYC Easter events, Easter parades, Easter egg hunts, Easter brunches & Greek Orthodox Holy Friday processsions in NYC, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx & Staten Island.

Holiday Events In Queens NYC - Holiday Things to do in Queens

Dec 20, 2024 at 12:15 am by mikewood

Queens Holiday Events & Queens Holiday Things To Do

Christmas Tree Lightings, Hanukkah Menorah Lightings, & Kwanzaa Candle Lightings in Queens

NOTE. We added an Update Log at the beginning of the listings, so it's easier for you to stay abreast of changes / updates / new additions.

Be sure to visit our Queens holiday markets page, as it contains related holiday events with a shopping element to them.

For links to holiday events and markets in all five boroughs of NYC scroll down to the bottom of this report.

How The Queens Holiday Events Page on this Page are Organized

These holiday events on Queens are organized as follows:

1. BY NEIGHBORHOODS OF QUEENS

2. BY DATE (not always as it depends on when the info comes in)

Watch carefully as some locales have multiple dates, and all dates for a given locale are shown at the time the venue is first listed.

3. ALL OF THESE ARE FREE UNLESS FEES ARE SPECIFIED.

4. Note QUEENS HOLIDAY MARKETS are published on a separate page - the links to which are posted above and at the bottom of this page, along with links to holiday events in other boroughs.

Queens Holiday Lights, Christmas Tree Lightings, Hanukkah Menorah Lightings, Kwanzaa Candle Lightings Background

The holidays are a special time of the year. In ancient times there were harvest celebrations to give thanks and enjoy the bounty after a long growing and harvesting season aka a year of work.

Holiday lighting festivals and ceremonies have been on the rise in Queens in recent years. While some date back many years, most are traditions that started within the past five or ten years.

Queens Christmas, Hanukkah & Kwanzaa Holiday Events Begin in Earnest

Click here for a schedule of the Xmas / Christmas Tree Lightings, Hanukkah Menorah Lightings, Kwanzaa Candle Lightings - Holiday events in Queens - Kwanzaa, Hanukkah & Christmas Queens.

Queens Food Shops Shopping and Thanksgiving Dinners & Restaurants Queens NYC

Oct 15, 2024 at 12:15 am by mikewood

Thanksgiving Day Gourmet Food & Grocery Stores, Community Dinners & Restaurants In Queens

Thanksgiving Day Grocery Stores, Gourmet Food Shopping, Community Dinners & Restaurants in Astoria, LIC, Sunnyside, Woodside & Jackson Heights Queens

UPDATING October 15, 2024 vs 11.1.2022 / Queens Neighborhoods / Queens Restaurants / Queens Buzz NYC.

Thanksgiving Day History - Thanksgiving Food Shops, Dinners & Restaurants in Queens

thanksgiving day food shops communal feasts queens nyc thanksgiving day weekend food shops feasts restaurants thanksgiving queens nyc astoria lic sunnyside woodside jackson heights flushing jamaica thanksgiving food shops The origins of Thanksgiving Day in the United States began with one of America’s first settlements, founded by the risk-taking, resource-pooling, hardworking, spiritual community of Pilgrims. The Pilgrims were early English settlers who arrived on American shores in the early 17th century [1600’s]. They came here because they wanted a measure of freedom and self-determination that they were forbidden in Europe or what was called the ‘old country’. The Pilgrims wanted to practice their faith, unencumbered, in a way that differed from the established Church of England. They pooled their money to obtain a ship, the Mayflower, to cross the Atlantic in mid September of 1620, landing on America's shores at Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts on November 9, 1620.

The Pilgrims Receive Help from the Native People of a Strange Land

Per Wikipedia, the Piligrims survived a hard winter in 1621 with the help of the Wampanoag, an American Indian tribe. The Pilgrims were the immigrants, and the first Americans, the Indian natives, welcomed them. The Wampanaog taught the Pilgrims how to catch eels, and how to grow and harvest corn. Thus the Pilgrims ended 1621 with a good harvest which they celebrated and shared with their new friends, expressing their thanks to a higher power, aka God, for the success of their endeavors.

Thus it was that the first Thanksgiving celebration happened in America. There's some dispute to this account, which we'll address in a future post, near Thanksgiving Day.

We've identified a number of Queens shops, community dinners and restaurants open for dining on Thanksgiving Day in Queens. Enjoy.

Plans for Sunnyside Yard Moving Along

Window of Opportunity Closing for Residents' Input into Likely the Single Most Important Real Estate Development in Queens in a Lifetime

May 14, 2019 / Queens Neighborhoods / Queens Real Estate / Queens Buzz NYC.

The Sunnyside Yard development effort began on February 9, 2015, when Mayor Bill de Blasio presented a vision for the development of Sunnyside Yard in his first State of the City Address. The first effort in the project was a Feasibility Study, which began soon thereafter.

Two years ago, on April 18, 2017, I attended a session where the NYC Economic Development Corporation presented the results of the Feasibility Study to the Community Board in Sunnyside regarding the building of a deck over Sunnyside Yard, in a fashion similar to what was done over a century ago, when the rail lines heading north from Grand Central Station were decked over and Park Avenue was paved over them. Click here to read our series on the History of Sunnyside Yard.

The photo to your right shows Park Avenue between 1910 - 1920, being decked up above NYC infrastructure.

Sunnyside Yard Public Meetings: Moving Along the Development Curve

Last year, on October 24, 2018, the NYC Economic Development Corporation hosted an estimated 375 people at the NYCEDC's first Public Meeting at La Guardia Community College in Long Island City. I was told that they had modified the process and expanded the venue there in order to accommodate the community interest. The goal of the meeting was to obtain community input on how to utlize, the largest publicly controlled space in New York City, likely to be developed in our lifetimes.

The photo at right shows some of the elevated roads traversing Sunnyside Yard, in the same manner as some of the east / west roads traversed Park Avenue in the early 1900's. The plan is to deck it over to make use of the nearly 180 acres that encompass the space.

And on March 26, 2019 the NYCEDC held their second Public Meeting at PS 166Q Henry Gradstein Elementary School in Astoria. At this meeting the NYCEDC and the committee presented the findings of the first Public Meeting, and then oversaw breakout sessions by topic for anyone interested in contributing input into the direction of the Sunnyside Yard development project.

Sunnyside Yard Development & Community Input: Three Categories

The breakout sessions centered around three primary topics: 1) Urban Design, 2) Transportation and 3) Open Space. I chose to attend the transportation session, as it represents the underlying infrastructure - but I must admit that I would have also liked the opportunity to sit in on the two other sessions, as each has its own set of opportunities and costs.

More coming later today. I also placed a request earlier this morning with the NYCEDC as to the timing of next steps, as the information was not available on their website.

How the President, a Former NYC Mayor and Murdoch's Fox News Seemed to Incite the Capitol Insurrectionists

Rudy Giuliani, Nicknamed America's Mayor by Murdoch's Fox News, Appears to have Helped Incite the Band of Simpleminded Trumpsters to Insurrection

Updated January 11, 2021 from 1.8.21 / US Politics / NYC Neighborhoods / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.

Rising Film Star [Barat2] and Former NYC Mayor, Rudy Giuliani, appears to have devolved into something of a national freak show or farce over the past five years. Perhaps longer. But in the past few months, he's become something of a national disgrace.

Fox News seems to use nicknames for their propaganda assets, like referring to British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher as the 'Iron Lady' and President Ronald Reagan as the 'Gipper'. Rudy Giuliani seems to be yet another Fox propaganda asset and, as such, is oftentimes referred to as America's Mayor by Fox pundits.

This is not unlike how Murdoch's Fox News nicknames themselves America's Newsroom. This was a trick used by Hitler and Goebbels, using words and images to create the illusion that they, the Nazi Party [in this cae the Fox Nation with red, white and blue colors] was the same as the state - and thus represented all that was right and just. But remember - just because Murdoch's Fox News says it's so - doesn't make it so [like they used to call themselves 'Fair & Balanced' before they started fearing a lawsuit for false advertising]. But, the Australian born billionaire's overwhelming control and / or ownership of America's television media [see our special section on Murdoch and the 21st Propaganda Press on Gotham Buzz] does give him a leg up in attaching and making both good and bad labels stick to people, places and things.

On Wednesday, January 6, 2021, Rudy Giuliani joined Donald Trump and Donny junior at a Trump rally in Washington, D.C. near the White House. The Donald had promoted this gathering as something 'wild' and related to his seemingly phony stop the steal / election fraud fundraising claims. At the rally Trump told his supporters, numbering about 5,000 [per the park permit] to march down to the Capitol and that he'd be there with them.

I think it's safe to say that the Trump supporters who came to this event came prepared to continue to be misinformed and misled by the con men standing on the stage in front of them. After the speeches the audience mindlessly did as Trump had instructed them, and began marching toward the Capitol - but without their fearful leader [bonespurs acting up again?]. The Trumps and Giuliani were not to be found when the group arrived at the Capitol. What a surprise!

When the Trumpsters reached the barricades in front of the Capitol, the police in charge of protecting it, seemed to give way. What exactly transpired at this juncture we'll find out eventually, but one thing we do know for certain is that Trump didn't deploy as many of the National Guardsmen as he did for his tear gassing photo op with the Bible last summer. So Vice President Mike Pence had to step in to call up more National Guardsmen who eventually secured the Capitol - but not until after it had been ransacked [including one report of defecation].

CLICK here to read the rest of our report on How the President, a Former NYC Mayor and Murdoch's Fox News Seemed to Incite the Capitol Insurrectionists.

The Mirage of the 'Trump Economy' Part II

Australian born Billionaire, Rupert Murdoch Seems to use the Wall St Journal, NY Post & Fox News to Create the Illusion that Trump has Some Sort of Economic Magic Touch, but the Truth is $6 Trillion in New Debt & $3 Trillion in Federal Reserve Bond Purchases

September 21, 2020 / NYC Neighborhoods / Things To Do NYC / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.

Few real journalists - if any - have ever honestly accused Rupert Murdoch and most of the large media brands he controls in our nation, of being bastions of truth. In fact, it would seem, quite the opposite - including by some of the people who work for him.

When Murdoch purchased the Wall Street Journal in 2007 [fact check], there were concerns that he would turn it into another one of his propaganda rags. Shortly after the acquisition, a number of Wall Street Journal reporters fled to Bloomberg News. In fact dozens of them. Those journalists that remained at the Wall Street Journal, had to learn how to operate for an Australian born billionaire who seems to delight in misleading the masses - rather than informing them - in order to profit from the audience's ignorance, to which Murdoch media appear to contribute greatly. Murdoch is kind of like a street hustler whose propagandists do sleight of tongue [hand] tricks, while his political accomplices [puppets like Trump & McConnell] pick the pockets of the audience [Americans].

Not Your Father's Wall Street Journal - A Murdoch Propaganda Rag?

This summer over 280 journalists at the Wall Street Journal, became concerned that Herr Murdoch - like Nazi propagandist Herr Goebbels before him - was corrupting the Wall Street Journal into a propaganda outlet, in advance of the election this November. While Murdoch's distortion of the truth in the Wall Street Journal appears to have been going on for years, the event that immediately precipitated the letter, was a misleading - even deceptive - Op Ed by Vice Presidential candidate Mike Pence.

In the letter they had a few simple requests. A July 21, 2020 report in the Wall St Journal states,

"... [The WSJ's] Opinion’s lack of fact-checking and transparency, and its apparent disregard for evidence, undermine our readers’ trust and our ability to gain credibility with sources ...”

" ... The letter cites several examples of concern, including a recent essay by Vice President Mike Pence about coronavirus infections ... "

“.. [and that] WSJ journalists should not be reprimanded for writing about errors published in Opinion ..."

"... suggests removing opinion pieces from the “Most Popular Articles” and “Recommended Videos” lists on the website, and creating a separate “Most Popular in Opinion” list..."

" ... letter highlighted was an opinion article titled “The Myth of Systemic Police Racism,” which the letter’s authors said was one of the paper’s most read articles in June. The article argued that the “charge of systemic police bias was wrong during the Obama years and remains so today.” The letter says the piece “selectively presented facts and drew an erroneous conclusion from the underlying data...”

i have reported on similar truth distortions by Rupert Murdoch's media, including Fox News, the NY Post and many other media outlets controlled by him in our section about Rupert Murdoch and the Rise of the 21st Century Propaganda Press, which you can find by clicking this link.

CLICK here to read the rest of our report about Rupert Murdoch, an apparent stateless hostile foreign power, and his assault on American Democracy using his media outlets as the Trojan Horse - to promote apparent fraudulent narratives like 'the Trump economy'.