Things to do This Weekend in NYC & Boros

Scroll Down to see Each Boro's Headline Events & Things to Do: Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx and Staten Island

August 15, 2025 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / Gotham Buzz NYC.

Sunrise 6.06 am. Sunset 7.53 pm. Daylight Savings Time. We're getting 13 hours & 47 minutes of daylight or one hour and 19 minutes less of sunlight than we were getting the weekend of the Summer Solstice, on June 20, 2025. The Summer Solstice is the longest day of this year, providing 15 hours and 6 minutes of sunlight in NYC.

NYC Specific Weather - This can be very Different vs TV News Area Weather. No precipitation is in the forecast. The high temperatures will be in the high 80's and the low temperatures will be in the low to mid 70's. Winds will range from 5 - 10 mph all weekend. And the humidity will range from about 80% Saturday to the mid 90% on Sunday.

The photo at right was taken last year at the opening of the Battery Park Dance Festival, which runs this weekend. It's well worth the visit and its free.

Friday Mid Afternoon Edition @ 3.45 pm. Pretty much done. Looks to be another great summer weekend. Have a good one.

NYC News Briefs / News Analysis & Opinion. Stagflation May be Headed our Way, Eric Adams Support Seems Fueled by Avarice & Why are U.S. Taxpayers Funding Israeli Imperialism

It Looks Like We May be Heading for a Stagflation Economy. According to 8.15.25 Yahoo Finance report, wholesale prices rose faster than expectations, up 0.9% in July, far faster than expectations. The core rate grew 3.7% vs an expected 3%. The Fed target rate is 2%. Services, not goods, were the driving force behind the inflation increase, and services are not tied to tariffs. We might be heading into a stagflation economy, where inflation continues or picks up, while jobs growth slows, as happened this month.

The contributors to a staglationary economy include that the U.S. dollar has lost 10% of its value since the beginning of the year. This means everything purchased outside of the U.S. will essentially cost 10% more to Americans. And tariffs will eventually add further to the inflation problem by increasing the cost of goods further.

TV News doesn't seem to understand that there's a lag time between when changes in the economy occur [like tariffs or currency valuation changes], and when the impact of them shows up at the cash register. Macroeconomic lag times range from three to eighteen months as these changes work their way through the economy. And speaking of TV News, it's worth mentioning that a stagflationary economy would be just the opposite of the 'Trump Economy' touted by Fox News during the Fall 2024 campaign cycle. For details see - https://finance.yahoo.com/news/why-hotter-than-expected-wholesale-prices-make-the-feds-september-rate-cut-decision-harder-155711746.html

Is Eric Adams Recycling Faith Based Campaign Endorsements? About a week ago, Eric Adams announced that he was being endorsed by 100 faith based leaders. The endorsements appeared to come from some of the same people who've been supporting Adams all along, some of whom I've seen at various mayoral events, and some of whom I believe stood with him when he announced his re-election bid as an Independent in June of 2025.

Earlier this week Adams also picked up an endorsement from former NYS Democrat Governor Paterson, who is legally blind, and who switched his allegiance from Cuomo in the Democratic primary, to Adams running as an Independent.

A group of police unions also endorsed Adams this week, but notably missing was the largest NYC police union, the NYPBA. The NYPBA had previously endorsed Adams in the 2021 election, reportedly unenthusiastically. This may be why the NYPBA is holding back their endorsement again, or it could be that the NY Patrolmens Benevolent Association union is not happy that Adams has sullied the name of the NYPD, having been charged in a lawsuit with turning the NYPD into his own personal "racketeering enterprise".

Big Real Estate Funding of Adams Continues. Adams continues to rake in big dollar donor cash, topping the field in terms of campaign contributions during this last reporting cycle. Depending on how you count it, and whether Adams obtains matching funds, Adams took in a million $ or more in campaign donations. As you can see by the graphic at right, Adams appears once again to be heavily favored by the real estate and developer community, who are funding him for "getting stuff done" ... for them.

Zohran Mamdani came in second in terms of campaign contributions netting $852,000, fueled in large part by small donors, who helped Mamdani win the Democratic primary and become the leading contender in this NYC mayoral race.

Recent NYC Mayoral Poll. A Siena College poll, released Tuesday, showed Mamdani (D) ahead in the Mayoral race, leading the pack with 44% of the vote. Mamdani was followed by Cuomo (I) 25%, Curtis Sliwa (R) 12% and Eric Adams (I) 7% bringing up the rear. The poll was conducted August 3 - 7, 2025 and has a margin of error of +/- 7%.

On September 8, 2025, NYC Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani will be featured on the cover of Time Magazine, which includes a lengthy background piece on his unlikely rise to prominence since the beginning of this year.

Why are U.S. Taxpayers - not Israeli Taxpayers - funding Israeli Aggression? According to an 8.14.25 Associated Press report this week, Israel announced more settlements on the West Bank. If approved, which is likely, the settlements will cut the Palestinian West Bank in two. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said that this should put an end to the two state solution, which for decades the U.S. and Europe had supported, which would recognize both an Israeli and Palestinian state. For details see - https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/israel-announces-a-settlement-that-critics-say-will-effectively-sever-the-west-bank-in-two/ar-AA1KvNc0?ocid=BingNewsSerp

An 8.7.25 report by the Times of Israel also informed us that Netanyahu planned to take military control over all of Gaza. He told reporters, 'we don't want to keep it.' To learn a bit more about what Israel is doing with U.S. taxpayer money and weapons that TV News doesn't report [hint - it's not going toward defense, but rather offense], click the link above or copy & paste - https://www.gothambuzz.nyc/article/534/israeli-imperialism-funded-by-the-american-taxpayer-the-palestinian-kristallnacht

Things To Do This Weekend & Next Week in Manhattan

Battery Dance Festival, Harlem Week, Summer Streets, Blues BBQ Fest, India Parade & Next Week Anime NYC

Thursday - Sunday, August 7 - 18, 2025 at various times & locations - Harlem Week. Various programs that include model casting, a 5K run [Saturday, August 10, 2025] and a job fair. I believe all are free. They say it's a state of mind. For details see - INST - https://www.instagram.com/harlemweek/ or https://www.ccny.cuny.edu/calendar/percy-sutton-harlem-5k-run

Saturday, August 9 and Tuesday thru Saturday, August 9 & 12 - 16, 2025 beginning at 7 pm [in the past until 9 pm] - Battery Dance Festival - at two locations. The opening night is at 20 Battery Place in Robert Wagner Park in Battery Park City. The rest of the festival is at 75 River Terrace (the North Esplanade) in Rockefeller Park in Battery Park City in Downtown Manhattan. The 44th Annual Dance Festival features dozens of choreographers and dancers from around the city, the nation and parts of the world. Each day features a different group. Free [but donations welcome]. Free summer outdoor dance performances in Battery Place in Downtown Manhattan NYC. For details see - https://batterydance.org/battery-dance-festival/.

Saturdays, August 2, 9 & 16, 2025 from 7 am to 3 pm - Summer Streets - There will be street closures to autos and trucks from Brooklyn Bridge to West 125 Street including the following: Lafayette Street and Park Avenue between Brooklyn Bridge and East 110 Street, East 110 Street between Park Avenue and Broadway, Adam Clayton Powell Jr Boulevard between West 110th Street [Central Park North] and West 125 Street and Broadway between West 110th and Dyckman Street. For details, copy & paste - https://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/pedestrians/summerstreets.shtml

Saturday, August 16, 2025 from 1 - 9 pm - Blues BBQ Festival - at Pier 76 on the Hudson River. Free summer concerts at Pier 76 on the Hudson just behind the Javits Center in Midtown Manhattan NC. Free admission, with food not included and they have some rules / guidelines for attendees. For details see - https://hudsonriverpark.org/visit/events/event/blues-bbq-festival-2025/

Saturday, August 16, 2025 beginning at 10 am* - Indian Parade Flag Raising Ceremony - in Times Square at 44th Street and Broadway. * Editor's Note - This time is from 2024, as no time was provided in 2025. For details see - https://fianynjct.org

Sunday, August 17, 2025 from 12 noon - 6 pm* - India Day Parade begins along Madison Avenue from 38th to 26th Street, followed by an Indian food, shopping and entertainment fair in Madison Square Park in Midtown. Some Bollywood stars may be in attendance. See a prior report we did on the India Day Parade in Manhattan NYC. * Editor's Note - This time is from 2024, as no time was provided in 2025. For more information see - https://fianynjct.org/event/

Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday, August 21 - 24, 2025 from 4 to 8 pm first nite, 10 am to 7 pm Friday & Saturday & ending at 5 pm Sunday - Anime NYC - at the Javits Center at West 34th Street and 11th Avenue in West Midtown. The convention is described as follows, " ... Anime NYC is New York City’s anime convention! A showcase of the best of Japanese pop culture in the biggest city in America, Anime NYC brings anime fans together for three days of unique exhibits, exclusive screenings, and appearances by some of the biggest creators in Japan ...". For details and tickets starting at $51 and up, see - https://animenyc.com

OLD NOTE DATE _ UPDATE COMING SHORTLY _ July 2024 - SummerStage in Central Park & Boros - For details see - https://cityparksfoundation.org.

OLD NOTE DATE _ UPDATE COMING SHORTLY _ June 2024 - the Blue Note Jazz Festival - The Blue Note always has something going. For details see - https://www.facebook.com/BlueNoteNYC

Also a number of upcoming street festivals - see link below.

Public Theater at Delacorte Theater. Gramercy Theater concerts - info coming but in the meantime - https://www.thegramercytheatre.com/shows

• Click here to view the Manhattan Farmers Markets NYC.
• Click here for Manhattan Parades and large Ethnic / Cultural Festivals NYC.
• CLICK here to view Manhattan street fairs and festivals NYC 2025. 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 - see top of this report under NYC, for the headlines of them.

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.

Mondays in August & September, Democracy Vigil Meeting. Wednesdays & Saturdays - The Outlaws Who Built NYC Tours. See MCAL link above for details.

Things To Do This Weekend & Next Week in Queens NYC

India Parade, Queens Night Market, Legally Blonde, QBoro Dance Fest & Next Week U.S. Open Fan Week

Saturday, August 16, 2025 from 1 - 6 pm - India Day Parade & Celebration - Begins at Langdale & 268th Street and marches down to 249th Street and Hillside Avenue. This year the after party is at Hillside Avenue [northwest corner] and Little Neck Parkway [west service road] in Bellerose / Floral Park. The event includes a parade, Bollywood celebrities, dignitaries, entertainment including song and dance, and food and shopping stalls. This is organized by the Bellerose Indian Merchants Association. For details see FB - https://www.facebook.com/indiadayparadequeens | or FB https://www.facebook.com/people/Floral-ParkBellerose-Indian-Merchants-Association-Inc-F-Bima/100064636723722/

Legally Blonde, the musical, is playing at the Royal Star Theatre in Jamaica beginning at 8 pm on 8/9, 8/16 & 17, 8/22, 23 & 24/ 2025. Tickets are $21 /$23. See MCAL link below for details.

Saturdays, August 16, 2025 from 4 pm to 12 midnight - Queens International Night Market - see street fairs page or - https://queensnightmarket.com. Following the market on Saturday, they go on hiatus until after the U.S. Open.

From Monday through Saturday, August 18 - 23, 2025 at various times _ U.S. Open Fan Week at the USTA complex in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Register for a Fan Access Pass and obtain FREE tickets to wach the Qualifing Matches at the U.S. Open. For details see - https://www.usopen.org/

The photo at right was taken at the USTA tennis center in Flushing Meadows Corona Park in a prior year. Fan Week begins next week.

Auditions for the Queens Choral Society begin August 19th and end August 26, 2025. See MCAL link below for details.

Saturday, June 7 - September 13, 2025 at various times & locations - Queens Boro Dance Festival. The performances are weekly all summer long in numerous locations across the borough. Free. For details see - https://queensborodancefestival.org

See It Big at MoMI / Summer Concerts a LAHM

• Click here to view the Queens Farmers Markets NYC.
• Click here for Queens Parades and large Ethnic / Cultural Festivals NYC.
• Click here to view Queens street fairs & festivals NYC 2025.
• 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 - see top of this report under NYC, for the headlines of them.

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. This month includes

Tuesdays & Thursdays in July & August beginning at 9.15 am and 11 am both days - Nature for Young Kids - at Alley Pond Environmental Center. For Adult with child ages 2 - 3 years old. See MCal link above for details and tickets which run $88 for adult / child for four weeks in July & $66 for three weeks in August.

The Hell Gate Walking Tour returns for the first three Sundays in September 2025. See MCAL link above for details.

Things To Do This Weekend & Next Week in Brooklyn NYC

Feast of Santa Rosalia in Bensonhurst, Rum Festival, Pakistani Independence Parade, FAD Market, Coney Isle Friday Night Fireworks

Thursday - Sunday, August 14 - 24, 2025 from about 6 - 10 pm and probably starts earlier on the weekends - Celebration of the 51st Annual Feast of Santa Rosalia - Along 18th Avenue [aka Cristoforo Colombo Blvd] from 68th to 75th Streets in Bensonhurst. Italian food, music, rides, shopping two stages of live entertainment and a canoli eating contest. The procession begins at 2 pm on the last Sunday [8/24] at 18th Avenue and 72nd Street. Organized by FIAO Brooklyn. Brooklyn street fairs in the Bensonhurst neighborhood of BK. For details call Angelo 718.909.3598 or Renato 917.558.2902.

The photo at right was taken at the Santa Rosalia festival in the Bensonhurst neighborhood of Brooklyn in a prior year. The festival returns this week / weekend. See details above.

Saturday & Sunday, August 16 & 17, 2025 from 11 am to 5 pm - FAD Holiday Market - see street fairs link below for details.

Saturday, August 16, 2025 from 1 pm to 6 pm - 6th Annual Brooklyn Rum Festival - at Bkloft26 at 153 26th Street in the Greenwood Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn. Sample 50 rums from the Caribbean Islands as well as food, entertainment and dancing. Food & drink festivals v. street fairs in BK. Tickets $66 for 21 + and no tickets sold at door. For details see - https://www.bkrumfest.com/

Sunday, August 17, 2025 from 11 am to 6 pm _ Pakistani Independence Day Parade & Festival. They march along Coney Island Avenue beginning at Foster / Newkirk ending at Avenue H. There's an after party & cultural celebration that lasted until 7 pm in prior years. The parade was founded in 1990 in 'Little Pakistan'. Parades, festivals and cultural celebrations in West Midwood Brooklyn NYC. Contact - https://www.facebook.com/BrooklynMela | https://www.urdunewsus.com

Fridays, June 20 - September 5, 2025 _ Weekly _ The Coney Island Weekly Friday Night Fireworks - at Steeple Chase Tower off the Boardwalk near Luna Park [see fireworks link that follows for details]. Including July 4th. For details, copy & paste - https://www.allianceforconeyisland.org

(TBD - The Black Joy Film Fest & BRIC Concerts)

Two Plays - Polonsky & Billie Holiday Theater.

CLICK to see Brooklyn 4th of July fireworks 2025 best viewing locations & Coney Island July 4th fireworks 2025 BK NYC

• Click here to view the Brooklyn Farmers Markets NYC.
• Click here for Brooklyn Parades and large Ethnic / Cultural Festivals NYC.
• Click here to view Brooklyn street fairs NYC 2025.
• CLICK this link to view things to do this weekend in Brooklyn NYC.

• Click here to read recent OpEds and Editorials on Brooklyn BLVD - see top of this report under NYC, for the headlines of them.

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

Things To Do This Weekend & Next Week in the Bronx NYC

Bronx Summer Concert Series & Next Week St. Helena Festival & Summer Streets

Sunday, August 17, 2025 from 12 noon to 5 pm - Bronx Summer Concert Series- at Bronx Park East at Lydig Avenue. For details see - https://bronxboropres.nyc.gov/event/bronx-summer-concert-series-2/

Next Week

Friday - Sunday, August 22 - 24, 2025 from 5 to 10 pm Friday & opening at 11 am Saturday & Sunday - St Helena Festival. It's an old fashioned summer carnival with rides, games, entertainment, shopping, food, beverages [no alcohol], contests and prizes. At the Church of St. Helena in the Parking Lot at 1315 Olmsted in Parchester, near Castle Hill in the Bronx. Tickets are inexpensive w/ volume discounts. Street fairs in Westchester Square neighborhood of the Bronx. For details and ride tickets see - https://churchofsthelena.com

Saturday, August 23, 2025 from 7 am to 3 pm - Summer Streets - There will be street closures to autos and trucks along Eastern Parkway between Grand Army Plaza and Buffalo Avenue in Brooklyn, and along Grand Concourse between East Tremont Avenue and Mosholu Parkway in the Bronx. For details, copy & paste - https://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/pedestrians/summerstreets.shtml

• Click here to view the Bronx Farmers Markets NYC.
• Click here for Bronx Parades and large Ethnic / Cultural Festivals NYC.
• Click here to see Bronx street fairs & festivals NYC 2025.
• 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 - see top of this report under NYC, for the headlines of them.

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

September 27 & 28, 2025 - the Bartow Bricante Flea Market - see MCAL link above for details.

Things To Do This Weekend & Next Week on Staten Island NYC

Sounds of Summer Concert, Cottage Row Curiosities

Saturday, August 16, 2025 beginning at 7 pm - Summer Concert Series w/ Vito Piccone & the Elegants - at Midland Beach Splaza. For details see - https://www.statenislandusa.com/summerconcerts.html

Saturday, August 16, 2025 from 12 noon to 5 pm - Cottage Row Curiosities at Snug Harbor Cultural Center - See street fairs link below for details.

At right are Staten Island Ferry passengers, many of whom are tourists, taking photos of the Statue of Liberty as we traversed the New York City harbor last Sunday.

• Click here to view the Staten Island Farmers Markets NYC.
• 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 - see top of this report under NYC, for the headlines of them.

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 TBD.

Have a nice weekend.

Things to do This Weekend in NYC & Boros

Scroll Down to see Each Boro's Headline Events & Things to Do: Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx and Staten Island

August 8, 2025 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / Gotham Buzz NYC.

Sunrise 5.59 am. Sunset 8.02 pm. Daylight Savings Time. We're getting 14 hours & 3 minutes of daylight or one hour and three minutes less of sunlight than we were getting the weekend of the Summer Solstice, on June 20, 2025. The Summer Solstice is the longest day of this year, providing 15 hours and 6 minutes of sunlight in NYC.

NYC Specific Weather - This can be very Different vs TV News Area Weather. No precipitation is in the forecast for the weekend. The temperature highs will be in the low to mid 80's all weekend. The temperature lows will be in the high 60's all weekend. The winds will range between 3 - 8 mph all weekend. The humidity will range from 50% - 65% all weekend. Seems to be a pleasant repeat of last weekend.

In the photo above or at right is a dragon meandering through the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival grouns in Flushing Queens. The festival returns this weekend.

• CLICK here to read the rest of our report, as well as other Weekend Things To Do in NYC in August 2025 _ NYC events.

In Nearly Four Years has Eric Adams done Anything to Rein in Landlord Harassment & Slumlord Millionaires? Have Privately Controlled TV News Networks Spread & Amplified another seemingly Trump Epstein Big Lie? Why Did Trump Have to Travel to Scotland to Find out that the Palestinians are Starving in Gaza?

August 1, 2025 / NYC Politics & Government / NYC Social Issues / Gotham Buzz NYC.

Eric Adams has Succeeded in Helping Billionaires Build Luxury Housing, but He has Failed to Stop Landlord Harassments of NYC Tenants & the Alleged Cheating of Black & Brown Homeowers out of Their Properties via Deed Theft - Documented in Film Slumlord Millionaire and in an OpEd by FEC NYCHA Tenants

News Analysis, Opinion & Insight. This story is not likely to show up on your TV screen in a timely fashion, because real news stories and real news insights rarely do. And too often, by the time they do, it's far too late to make a difference.

This is the trailer to a recent film that came out regarding landlord harassment in NYC, as well as about black and brown homeowner deed theft - neither of which Eric Adams appears to have done much about, during his nearly four years in office as NYC Mayor - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuuBlQJh86M

If you find the trailer interesting enough, you can watch the full one hour and 22 minute long film on PBS until 8.26.25 - at which time it expires. Viewing the film now is free, but it is preceded by two short PBS promos before the film begins - https://www.pbs.org/video/slumlord-millionaire-3sgi7g/

Eric Adams claims to be a pro housing Mayor. It is true that he's been very supportive of housing projects by billionaires and international investors. But Adams has not advocated much - if at all [eg. the Rent Guidelines Board rent increases during his one term in office] - for tenants. And he's not been a champion of the black and brown people to whom he tells what now seems his phony personal housing insecurity story. You know, the one about him bringing his clothes to school as a child for fear of eviction. This story wouldn't be the first nor the only lie he has publicly told New Yorkers. And Adams appears to be helping multi-billionaire real estate developer Stephen Ross move FEC NYCHA tenants out of their homes, so that Ross can grab even more NYC land than he already has.

But don't take my word for it.

• CLICK here to read the rest of our report about Eric Adams doing nothing to rein in Landlord Harassment & Slumlord Millionaires? Billionaire controlled TV News Networks Spread & Amplify what seems another Trump Epstein Big Lie and Why Did Trump Have to Travel to Scotland to Find out that the Palestinians are Starving in Gaza?

Mamdani Beats out Cuomo for Union Support, While Adams is Facing More Corruption Charges & Trump Tries to Put the Epstein Genie back in the Bottle

July 25, 2025 / NYC Politics & Government / NYC Social Issues / Gotham Buzz NYC.

Eric Adams Facing More Corruption Charges vis-a-vis NYPD & Mamdani Beats out Cuomo for Union Support

News Analysis & Opinion.

Meanwhile former NYPD Captain, Mayor Eric Adams, was hit with yet another set of corruption charges in court, this time alleging that Adams had turned NYPD operations into a criminal enterprise. See graphic above or at right.

We'll provide details sometime later, but in the meantime, take a look for yourself at what kind of a 'law and order' Mayor Adams is - https://www.thecity.nyc/2025/07/16/nypd-donlon-lawsuit-adams-racketeering/

NYC mayoral candidate, Zohran Mamdani, has secured the backing of a number of large NYC unions support, beating out former Governor Cuomo for unions that had previously supported him.

We'll provide details sometime later, but in the meantime here's a video Mamdani did, taking a pre-emptive shot mocking the adolescently edited NY Post, instead of the other way around https://www.facebook.com/reel/1066919915568285

• CLICK here to read the rest of our report about Mamdani Beats out Cuomo for Union Support, While Adams Facing More Corruption Charges & Trump Tries to Put the Epstein Genie back in the Bottle.

Trump, the Epstein Files & the Republican Party's New Value System

July 18, 2025 / U.S. Politics & Government / NYC Social Issues / Gotham Buzz NYC.

The Epstein Files & the Republican Party's New System of Values

News Analysis & Opinion. There was a time when Republicans used to claim they were the party of 'Family Values'. They took umbrage at some of the amorality espoused on network TV, berated single mothers, women who opted for abortions, government officials' sex scandals, dishonesty and pornography. They said they were the party of responsibility, kindness and love. But today, it seems that Republicans have done a 180 on almost everything they once stood for, including fiscal conservatism.

Recently Republicans looked the other way, as their party for the fourth time in the past 45 years, passed a tax cut for the wealthiest people on the planet. And funded it by putting their children, grandchildren and unborn heirs on the hook to pay it. Is giving rich people government money the nation doesn't have responsible? Is dumping huge amounts of debt on your children and their children [and beyond] responsible?

As you can see by reading the graphic above or at right, one of the alleged mobsters who used to visit Trump's casino in New Jersey wouldn't let Trump near his daughter because he likely knew the kind of person Trump was.

As for kindness and supporting families, we need to ask whether they think that pulling food assistance and healthcare support from poor families, to partially fund the cost of the uber rich tax cut, is going to help families stay together, or uplift them? Or step on them and keep them from having a chance at "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness"?

And then there's the Epstein files. Jeffrey Epstein described Donald Trump as one of his "best friends" for decades. Epstein's townhouse, where some of the alleged under age girls parties were held, is only a stone's throw from Trump Tower. Trump was photographed and video recorded numerous different times with his longtime associate Jeffrey Epstein at all kinds of parties [see photos]. Epstein bought a mansion in the Mara Lago neighborhood, where Epstein allegedly threw under age girls pool parties that Donald Trump has been rumored to have attended.

Is it really such a stretch to think that Donald Trump, owner of the Miss America pageant, who apparently felt entitled to walk into the contestants' dressing rooms unannounced, wouldn't cross the line to have sex with underage girls? Trump was also sued numerous times regarding various improprieties with varying outcomes. Keep in mind that Donald Trump is a master manipulator of our legal system, among other things.

• CLICK here to read the rest of our report about Trump, the Epstein Files & the Republican Party's New Value System.

Things to do This Weekend in NYC & Boros

July 4th Fireworks & Weekend _ Scroll Down to see Headline Events & Things to Do for Each Boro: Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx and Staten Island

July 4, 2025 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / Gotham Buzz NYC.

Sunrise 5.296 am. Sunset 8.301 pm. Daylight Savings Time. We're getting 15 hours & 1 minutes of daylight or five minutes less of sunlight than we were getting the weekend of the Summer Solstice, on June 20, 2025. The Summer Solstice is the longest day of this year, providing 15 hours and 6 minutes of sunlight in NYC.

The photo above or at right was taken a few years ago, of folks lined up along the East River waterfront in Queens, on a warm summer day, waiting in anticipation of ... This year Queens won't have a front row seat to the Macy's 4th of July fireworks as they are being staged at the south end of the East River, so folks will have to travel to Brooklyn and Manhattan for the front row seats. In prior years some of the fireworks barges were staged around Midtown, whereas this year none will be positioned north of the Brooklyn Bridge. That said, they're trying something new this year, as two launch areas are being positioned atop the Brooklyn Bridge - one at each tower. The height of these two launch areas may make remote viewing more accessible from longer distances.

NYC Specific Weather - This can be very Different vs TV News Area Weather. The temperature highs will be in the mid to high 80's Friday and Saturday, while the temperature lows will be around 70 for those two days. The Sunday high will be about 90 and the low in the mid to high 70's. No rain is in the forecast for NYC this weekend. The winds will be about 3 - 8 mph Friday and Saturday, rising to 5 - 10 mph on Sunday. The humidity will range from 50% - 65% in what appears to be a relatively stable three days, although rising slightly each day. So, all tolled, the weekend looks to be pretty fine.

Friday Early AM Edition @ 3 am. Friday July 4th events are mostly done. We may have one or two additions by about lunchtime. And by the end of Friday will have the whole weekend posted. Have a Happy 4th of July weekend.

Things To Do This Weekend & Next Week in NYC

NYC Beaches and Public Outdoor Swim Pools are Open for the Summer.

CLICK here to see NYC 4th of July Fireworks all 5 Boroughs.

Things To Do This Weekend & Next Week in Manhattan

Macy's 4th of July Fireworks

Macy's 4th of July Fireworks begin at 9.35 in the East River & atop the Brooklyn Bridge. For details use our link below which contains maps and explanations of viewing and restrictions and / or see - https://www.macysinc.com/newsroom/news/news-details/2025/Macys-4th-of-July-Fireworks-Show-Live-From-the-Brooklyn-Bridge-and-the-East-River-With-Sparkling-Displays-and-Electrifying-Musical-Performances/default.aspx

CLICK to see Manhattan 4th of July fireworks 2025 best viewing locations & Macy's July 4th Fireworks NYC

• Click here to view the Manhattan Farmers Markets NYC.
• Click here for Manhattan Parades and large Ethnic / Cultural Festivals NYC.
• CLICK here to view Manhattan street fairs and festivals NYC 2025. 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 - see top of this report under NYC, for the headlines of them.

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 & Next Week in Queens NYC

4th of July Fireworks at Breezy Point & Subway Series Yankees / Mets

July 4 - 6, 2025 - Subway Series - Yankees vs Mets - at CitiField in Queens. For tickets and details see MLB website.

Saturday, July 5, 2025 from 8 - 8.20 pm* - Fireworks and July 4th celebration. * Note that the time posted this year [8 - 8.20 pm] seems early, as historically it's been booked an hour later. I found one unofficial site that posted 9 pm as the start time, so get there early or risk missing them. At Breezy Point which is a neighborhood located along the west end of the Rockaways. Organized by the Breezy Point Coop. For details, copy & paste - https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-01301

Saturday, June 7 - September 13, 2025 at various times & locations - Queens Boro Dance Festival. The performances are weekly all summer long in numerous locations across the borough. Free. For details see - https://queensborodancefestival.org

CLICK to see Queens July 4th fireworks 2025 & Astoria Park 4th of July fireworks & Bayside Fireworks 2025 Queens NYC.

• Click here to view the Queens Farmers Markets NYC.
• Click here for Queens Parades and large Ethnic / Cultural Festivals NYC.
• Click here to view Queens street fairs & festivals NYC 2025.
• 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 - see top of this report under NYC, for the headlines of them.

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. This month includes

Tuesdays & Thursdays in July & August beginning at 9.15 am and 11 am both days - Nature for Young Kids - at Alley Pond Environmental Center. For Adult with child ages 2 - 3 years old. See MCal link above for details and tickets which run $88 for adult / child for four weeks in July & $66 for three weeks in August.

Things To Do This Weekend & Next Week in Brooklyn NYC

54th International African Arts Festival, 4th of July Fireworks along the East River & at Coney Island

Friday, July 4, 2025 from 11 am - 1 pm - Nathan's Hotdog Eating Contest - At the corner of Stillwell and Surf. Contestants show many hotdogs they can eat in ten minutes. In 2021 - For the men, Joey Chestnut ate 76 hotdogs in ten minutes, and for the women, Michelle Lesco ate just shy of 31 hot dogs in ten minutes.

Friday, July 4, 2025 - Macy's 4th of July Fireworks begin at 9.35 in the East River & atop the Brooklyn Bridge. For details use our link below which contains maps and explanations of viewing and restrictions and / or see - https://www.macysinc.com/newsroom/news/news-details/2025/Macys-4th-of-July-Fireworks-Show-Live-From-the-Brooklyn-Bridge-and-the-East-River-With-Sparkling-Displays-and-Electrifying-Musical-Performances/default.aspx

Friday thru Sunday, July 4 - 6, 2025 from 10 am - 9 pm Daily - The 54th International African Arts Festival - At Commodore Barry Park at Navy Street [North Elliot Place] and Flushing & Park Avenues in the Fort Greene Neighborhood of Brooklyn. This fair includes food, shopping and there are also daily musical / dance performances. Admission with $5 - $10 suggested donation at the gate. Street fairs in Fort Greene BK. https://iaafestival.org/

Fridays, June 20 - September 5, 2025 _ Weekly _ The Coney Island Weekly Friday Night Fireworks - at Steeple Chase Tower off the Boardwalk near Luna Park [see fireworks link that follows for details]. Including July 4th. For details, copy & paste - https://www.allianceforconeyisland.org

Two Plays - Polonsky & Billie Holiday Theater.

CLICK to see Brooklyn 4th of July fireworks 2025 best viewing locations & Coney Island July 4th fireworks 2025 BK NYC

• Click here to view the Brooklyn Farmers Markets NYC.
• Click here for Brooklyn Parades and large Ethnic / Cultural Festivals NYC.
• Click here to view Brooklyn street fairs NYC 2025.
• CLICK this link to view things to do this weekend in Brooklyn NYC.

• Click here to read recent OpEds and Editorials on Brooklyn BLVD - see top of this report under NYC, for the headlines of them.

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

Things To Do This Weekend & Next Week in the Bronx NYC

Subway Series Yankees / Mets

Thursday, July 3, 2025 beginning at 9 pm - Independence Day Fireworks at Coop City. It will be held at Little League Field in Co-op City in the Bronx. People will start gathering around 5 pm, there's a concert by a band at 7 pm and the fireworks show will begin around 9 pm. This fireworks display returned after a couple year hiatus during the pandemic [2020 - 2022 I think]. For details see - https://www.coopcity.com or https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-01301

July 4 - 6, 2025 - Subway Series - Yankees vs Mets - at CitiField in Queens. For tickets and details see MLB website.

CLICK to see Bronx 4th of July fireworks 2025 & Orchard Beach July 4th fireworks 2025 BX NYC.

• Click here to view the Bronx Farmers Markets NYC.
• Click here for Bronx Parades and large Ethnic / Cultural Festivals NYC.
• Click here to see Bronx street fairs & festivals NYC 2025.
• 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 - see top of this report under NYC, for the headlines of them.

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

Things To Do This Weekend & Next Week on Staten Island NYC

Travis Town Independence Day Parade, 4th of July Fireworks at the Ferry Hawks Game & Remote Viewing of both the Macy's and Coney Island Fireworks

Thursday, July 3, 2025 beginning at 7 pm & 9 pm respectively - 4th of July concert & 4th of July fireworks show. Vinnie Medugno and the Cocoa Band. Both the concert and the fireworks are FREE. At Turtle Circle at Midland Beach along the east shore of Staten Island near Staten Island University Hospital in Dongan Hills on Staten Island. For details, see - https://www.instagram.com/sibpvito/?hl=en or https://www.statenislandusa.com or https://www.facebook.com/SIBPVito/

Friday, July 4th, 2025 beginning at 11.30 am - Travis Independence Day Parade and celebration that harks back to a simpler time. The roads close at 11.15 am. The ceremonies begin at 12 noon at Independence Park honoring some of the local parade celebrities. The parade starts at 12.30 pm. The parade route is triangular beginning at the Showplace Entertainment Center at 141 East Service Road, marches west on Victory Blvd to Glen Street. Then to Cannon Avenue, before heading south on Victory Blvd ending back at the Showplace Center. 4th of July parades on Staten Island. For tickets and details copy & paste - https://travisparade.org/

Friday, July 4, 2025 after the game / dusk - Staten Island Ferry Hawks fireworks display - at SIUH Community Park at 75 Richmond Terrace which is a short walk from the Staten Island Ferry Terminal in St. George. The game time is 7 pm and the fireworks start at dusk / after the ball game. For Ferry Hawks tickets and full fireworks schedule, copy & paste - https://ferryhawks.com/sports/2025/1/27/2025-home-schedule.aspx

Macy's 4th of July Fireworks begin at 9.35 in the East River & atop the Brooklyn Bridge. For details use our link below which contains maps and explanations of viewing and restrictions and / or see - https://www.macysinc.com/newsroom/news/news-details/2025/Macys-4th-of-July-Fireworks-Show-Live-From-the-Brooklyn-Bridge-and-the-East-River-With-Sparkling-Displays-and-Electrifying-Musical-Performances/default.aspx

CLICK to see - Staten Island 4th of July fireworks 2025 & Empire Outlets, the Staten Island Ferry Hawks Fireworks 2025 and the Travis July 4th Parade SI

• Click here to view the Staten Island Farmers Markets NYC.
• 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 - see top of this report under NYC, for the headlines of them.

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 TBD.

Have a nice weekend.

GB 568

Things to do This Weekend in NYC & Boros

5 Boro Bike Ride, Janes Walk History & Architecture Weekend all 5 Boros NYC; Stone Street Cinco de Mayo Festival, Clio Art Fair, Macy's Flower Show & Buena Vista Social Club Continue in Manhattan; Closing Reception 'Free Your Mind' at JCAL, Cinco de Mayo at Kupferberg, 63rd & Myrtle Avenue Spring Fairs in Queens; Church Avenue Festival, Luna Park Opens on Coney Island Brooklyn; Run the Bronx & Gjergj Kastrioti Skenderbeu Fair in the Bronx; Yankee Peddler Day in Historic Richmond Town & Spring Outdoor Market at the Conference House on Staten Island - Next Week Met Gala, Bronx Weeks begin, Bronx Arts Ensemble, FEC No Demolition NYCHA & CUNY Jazz Festival in Washington Heights

Updated May 3, 2025 vs 5.1.25 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.

Sunrise 6.02 am. Sunset 7.52 pm. Daylight Savings Time. We're getting 13 hours & 58 minutes of daylight or four hours and 43 more minutes of sunlight than we were getting the weekend of the Winter Solstice, on December 21, 2024, which is the shortest day of the year at 9 hours and 15 minutes of daylight. Spring began Thursday, March 20, 2025, which is also the Spring Equinox, when the day is 12 hours long - half daylight and half dark.

NYC Weather. There's a 50% - 60% chance of a half inch of rain after 4 pm on Saturday, and a 40% - 60% chance of over a half inch of rain on Sunday. Definitely manageable. The temperature highs will rise from about 70 degrees on Thursday, to about 80 on Friday and Saturday, before falling back a bit to about 70 degrees on Sunday. The temperature lows will be around 60 degrees all weekend. The humidity will rise from 40% on Thursday morning to 70% later in the day. For the rest of the weekend the humidity will range between 60% - 80%. The winds will range between 5 - 10 mph all weekend.

The photo above or at right was taken earlier this week. Notice the man sitting on a ledge in the top left portion of the photo. Folks were out enmasse, enjoying the unseasonally warm weather.

Saturday Very Early AM Edition @ 2 am. Done. FYI - a few weeks ago we did a major Spring cleaning update to the street fairs and farmers markets to reflect the coming months / season of outdoor activities, which you can find by using the links below. Henceforth we will be updating either weekly or as needed.

Things To Do This Weekend & Next Week in NYC

Friday, Saturday & Sunday, May 2, 3 & 4, 2025 at various times but generally from 10 am to 5 pm - Janes Walk Weekend - at 200 locations in all five boroughs. Various art, culture, history and architectural tours throughout all five boros of NYC. Free. They describe the event as follows, " ... MAS staff organize a fleet of volunteer walk leaders, to create 200+ FREE, in-person, virtual, and on-demand walks with over 10,000 participants ... During Jane’s Walk NYC weekend, the simple act of exploring the city is enhanced with personal observations, local history, and civic engagement."... Organized by the Municipal Art Society. Not a street fair so much as a streets tour. For details including a map of locations, copy & paste - https://www.mas.org/janes-walk-nyc-2025/

In the photo above or at right, you can see a number of shops lined up along the subway and street. Small merchants around NYC and the nation, like Wall Street, are nervous about the prospect that Trump tariffs and disruptions, could have a negative impact on their businesses and livelihoods.

Sunday, May 4, 2025 first wave beginning at 7.30 am & officially over at 6 pm - 5 Boro Bike Ride. It starts between Canal Street and the Battery in Manhattan, depending on the cyclist wave folks are in. And it ends at Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island. Not a street fair per se, but rather a major cycling event. For details, copy & paste - https://www.bike.nyc

Thursday & Friday, May 8 & 9, 2025 from 12 noon to 10 pm - CUNY Jazz Festival - in Aaron Davis Hall at [it's either 129 or the flyer says 160] Convent Avenue in Washington Heights Manhattan NYC. For details see - https://jazz.ccnysites.cuny.edu/contact/

Saturday, June 14, 2025 is the Deadline to Register to Vote in the NYC Primary on June 24th. Applications must be received by the NY Board of Elections to be eligible to vote in this election. As it's a Saturday, we recommend you make sure they get it by Friday, June 13, 2025. The winner of the Democratic primary is almost always the person who becomes Mayor [Giuliani and Bloomberg were exceptions because of Rupert Murdoch's NY Post & Fox News manipulations & Bloomberg's $$$], as 56% of NYC voters identify as Democrat, and about 26% identify as Republican [other sources say these numbers are 48% & 21% respectively].

• CLICK here to read the rest of our report, as well as other Weekend Things To Do in NYC in May 2025 _ NYC events.

Elizabeth Street Garden in Manhattan

Updated April 5, 2025 vs 4.4.2025 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.

The photo above or at right was taken a couple of weeks ago in the Elizabeth Street Garden in the NoHo neighborhood of Manhattan. They are trying to get the city to preserve the area as a permanent community green space, and to build the proposed 'affordable housing' elsewhere. The city has been threatening to close the garden any day now, but given it's an election year, Adams may wait until after he loses it. We'll have an update of Eric Adams' latest shenanigans later today or over the weekend.

* No Foolin' - Elizabeth Street Garden Event - Tuesday, April 1, 2025

3.31.28 Manhattan _ Just in today, an event tomorrow at 4 pm, to commemorate the garden and its artistic inspirations. This is how they described the event, " ... We are calling on everyone to gather in the Garden tomorrow (Tuesday) at 4 PM to celebrate this special space. We’ll be there for a while, but please try to arrive at 4 PM if you can. We are still in federal court and doing everything we can. At this point, we're taking it day by day. If you're a painter, photographer, poet, or artist who has created something inspired by the Garden, please bring your work. We only ask that it be related to the Garden. We want to show everyone how much Elizabeth Street Garden means to our community and to New York City ...". See related story in the weekend post of 3.28.25 below, next to the E St Garden / Ramones photos. The short story also includes their website url.

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.

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'.

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.

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.

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.

Menu Links to Sections

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.

NYS Primary Voting Tuesday, April 2, 2024

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

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.