Midtown’s Meaty Mecca
The halal cart on 53rd Street and Sixth Avenue is probably the worst-kept secret in the city. If you don’t hear about it from a friend first, it’s hard to miss, even on this busy intersection — a line of hungry patrons stretches down the block. The Egyptian four-man team at New York’s Best Halal […]
Koreatown Museum Bridges the Cultural Gap for Americans, Koreans
Karen Madsen leaned over the glass case, peering with great interest at the assortment of colorful knots; clumps of jewel-colored tassels all consisting of a single, long thread. As she considered the traditional Korean knots, called norigae, Robert Turley explained the knots’ incredible value as artifacts that were difficult to come by and owned only by those who were royal or extremely wealthy.
Youth Homelessness Declines during the Holiday Season
Covenant House makes the holiday season special for homeless youth who have nowhere to go. With the number of intakes expected to decline for Christmas, Covenant House is more than prepared for anyone who shows up.
Retired at Twenty: New York City Carriage Horses
The debate over the iconic New York City carriage horse continues to be waged. Yet it leaves out one crucial question: where do these horses go to retire? The answer is a bit more complicated than you might think.
Natural Sapphires Versus Treated Sapphires
Looking for sapphire jewelries in Manhattan’s Diamond District? Be careful. Do you know the difference between a natural piece and a treated one? Can you distinguish them? How do you feel about the fact that most of the sapphires in the 47th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenue are heat-treated? Read this and find out the truth about “natural sapphires.”
The Chameleon
A profile of boxer, model and up and coming actor Ngo Okafor as he tries to adapt once more and tackle a new career.
Holiday Tourists Make Their Mark, For Better or For Worse
Every year, tourists flock to New York for traditions like the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting. Are there more tourists this year? And if so, why?
Rough Times for a Resilient Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall remains a beacon for musical mastery in NewYork City, but are New Yorkers still wondering about “how” to get to Carnegie? Or are they dwelling on the “why”?
Some Travelers Maintain Holiday Plans Despite Predictions of Decline
While travel may be down for the holidays, many travelers, including several New Yorkers passing through the Port Authority Bus Terminal on Sunday, are remaining stalwart in their plans to make it home.
Giving the Gift of Self-Defense
On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me a $43.85 pink pepper spray gun. Odd as this choice of gift may sound- even compared to piping pipers and milking maids- pepper spray sellers say the holiday season is their busiest time of year.
Activists Unite Against AIDS Stigma
New York City heralded World AIDS Day 2011 with film screenings, art exhibitions and group discussions. Supporters of HIV/AIDS awareness and education are seeking new and novel ways to promote their cause.
Bookstore Boom at Penn Station
Local businesses in the underground realms at Penn Station report that books sales are on the rise since the closure of Borders.
Surviving the Economy, One Sandwich At A Time
In hard times, people like their sandwiches. And their burgers, fries and cheesecake. At least that’s what some of New York’s famous delis have been banking on in the current economy. Lucky for them, tight budgets and conservative spending had little impact on profits this year. Some owners say people might even be more likely […]
Empire State Building, New York City Mark World AIDS Day
The Empire State Building is floodlit red to mark World AIDS Day on December 1, and many other events take place around the city. New York City has very high HIV infection rates so awareness campaigns are an important way to remind people the disease is still a problem both in New York and globally.
Decking the Halls in the Flower District
Flower district stores prepare for their busiest season of the year, and hope that this year will bring an economic turnaround.
William Wai’s Four Decades in the Garment Industry
Can you imagine the life of a Chinese immigrant who has been working in the Garment District of Manhattan for four decades? Here is the story of 61-year-old pattern maker William Wai, who came here in 1971, did odd jobs, attended school, married and divorced, earned citizenship, opened design companies and failed, and kept working.
The Color of Money
As New York women, and the men who buy gifts for them, plan their holiday store invasions this year, one reporter hits the street and wonders: how much you would be willing to pay for the perfect color handbag?
A Preview of Holiday Windows Through a Photographer’s Lens
Rudy Pospisil documents the department store windows all over the world. This holiday season, he found himself in front of Bergdorf Goodman in a chance meeting with the creative directors of the displays.
‘You Can’t Go Wrong with Cashmere’
Are you shopping on Black Friday? That’s the question we asked shoppers at Columbus Circle, Ladies’ Mile and Herald Square. The answer? It seems the economy is still in a downward spiral.
New Plan to Count Food Trucks Makes Street Vendors Fear for Livelihood
Proposed street vendor legislation would count the number of trucks versus carts, says City Councilwoman Gale Brewer.
Midtown West: Walking Can Be Bad for Your Health
Transportation Alternatives has compiled a color-coded list of the most dangerous Community Board districts for pedestrians. Community District Five topped the list with 8,604 accidents during a 15-year period and a “code red” designation.
Port Authority Greenmarket: An Oasis in the Midtown West Food Desert
The Port Authority farmer’s market offers fresh produce in an unusual location. But how much does this small market contribute to the fresh food options in the area around Port Authority and Times Square?
The Gold Angel of the Helen Hayes Theater
At 255 West 43rd Street, two cupids and one angel coated in gold paint live in the lobby of the Common Ground Community’s residence, The Times Square. Saved from the façade of the original Helen Hayes Theatre, the figures keep a protective watch over the residents, according to 10-year tenant Jim Davis. Davis arrived some […]
With Borders Gone, Readers at a Loss
Six weeks after the closing of the Borders bookstore in Time Warner Center, many residents are at a loss about where they can buy books.
