Staten Neighborhoods & News Shorts

October 2025 / Staten Island Neighborhoods & History / Staten Island Arts & Culture NYC / Staten Island News NYC / News Analysis & Opinion / Staten Buzz NYC.

Saturday, October 11, 2025 from 6 pm to 11 pm [Show starts 8 pm] - Oktoberfest at Killmeyers Tavern - at 4254 Arthur Kill Road in Clay Pits Pond State Park on Staten Island. A celebration of Bavarian food, music and culture at an old time Bavarian bar and biergarten. For details see - WS - https://killmeyers.com or FB - https://www.facebook.com/killmeyers

Saturday & Sunday, October 11 & 12, 2025 from 12 noon - 6 Saturday - 15th Anniversary Fall Festival and Italian Exotic Car Show - at Case Belvedere at 79 Howard Avenue in the Silver Lake neighborhood near Grymes Hill and just south of Tompkinsville on Staten Island. The event features luxurious, classic and performance Italian autos on the lawn, along with Italian food and drink, and live entertainment. This is a Staten Island festival more than a street fair in Silver Lake near the Grymes Hill and Tompkinsville neighborhoods of Staten Island. See Casa Belvedere Italian Cultural Foundation for details. Admission $10. Kids under 12 free. For details see - WS - https://casa-belvedere.org/ or FB - https://www.facebook.com/casabelvederesi

The photo above or at right was taken from Casa Belvedere in Silver Lake / Grymes Hill a few years ago at a prior classic car show. The car show returns this weekend.

CLICK here to read the rest of our report containing New York City Neighborhood News Briefs for 2025.

Brooklyn Neighborhoods & News Shorts

October 2025 / Brooklyn Neighborhoods & History / Brooklyn Arts & Culture NYC / Brooklyn News NYC / News Analysis & Opinion / Brooklyn BLVD NYC.

Saturday, October 4, 2025 from 12 noon to 4 pm - Cider Feast - at Industry City Courtyard 1/2 Gate at 635 2nd Avenue in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn. Sample various ciders and pair with various delectables. For details and $49 to $130 tickets see - https://ciderfeasthq.com

In the photo above or at right, you can see some two women out and about at the Atlantic Avenue Antic street fair in Brooklyn this Sunday. It's one of the more popular outdoor events, and this year was no exception. The weather made if feel like the summer had returned, as you can see by how folks are dressed.

Sunday, October 5, 2025 from 12 noon to 6 pm - Atlantic Avenue Antic - Along Atlantic Avenue from 4th Avenue in Boerum Hill, to Hicks Street in Cobble Hill & Brooklyn Heights. This Brooklyn Street Fair is billed as the largest and oldest street festival in Brooklyn and has ethnic food, live entertainment and shopping. In the past they had approximately 500 food, drink and shopping vendors along with 11 stages of live entertainment. For details see - https://www.atlanticave.org OR - see MCAL link below for details.

Bronx Neighborhoods & News Shorts

October 2025 / Bronx Neighborhoods & History / Bronx Arts & Culture NYC / Bronx News NYC / News Analysis & Opinion / Bronx Buzz NYC.

Updated October 4, 2025 v. 10/3/2025 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.

Sunrise 6.53 am. Sunset 6.36 pm. Daylight Savings Time. We're getting 11 hours & 42 minutes of daylight or three hours and 24 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 on Sunday at the Tour de Bronx Bike Ride on the Grand Concourse at 161st Street just outside of the Bronx Borough Hall. About 4,000 cyclists signed up for the event, and based on what I saw on a beautiful, warm, sunny, dry morning, most of them showed up for the ride.

Concourse Village _ Sunday, October 5, 2025 - from 8 am to 4 pm - 31st Annual Tour de Bronx Bike Ride - begins at 161st Street and Grand Concourse and bicycles up to the New York Botanical Garden. The program includes 40 mile, 25 mile and 10 mile long rides which kick off at 10 am, 10.15 am & 10.30 am respectively. Free, but you check in before departing to obtain a numbered bib. For details see - https://www.ilovethebronx.com/tour-de-bronx

Brooklyn Neighborhoods & News Shorts

September 2025 / Brooklyn Neighborhoods & History / Brooklyn Arts & Culture NYC / Brooklyn News NYC / News Analysis & Opinion / Brooklyn BLVD NYC.

September 19, 2025 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.

Sunrise 6.34 am. Sunset 7.09 pm. Daylight Savings Time. We're getting 12 hours & 35 minutes of daylight or two hours and 31 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 last Sunday evening outside Brooklyn Borough Hall, where they held The People's Runway Fashion Show. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso teamed up with Arts Ambassador Colm Dillane, of Brooklyn based fashion brand KidSuper, to put on an inspiring People's Fashion Show at Borough Hall, right in the middle of NYC Fashion Week [9/11 - 9/16/2025]. Scroll down for more photos. And Bravo, well done.

Saturday, September 20, 2025 - 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 [see below]. For details and tickets see - https://germanparadenyc.org/oktoberfest/ or https://www.facebook.com/steubenparadeny/

Saturday, September 20, 2025 from 1 to 6.30 pm - Steuben Day Oktoberfest NYC. - in the Rumsey Playfield in Central Park [about East 69th Street]. Enter Central Park at 72nd St & 5th Avenue. Admission $37 / $5 kids (6 - 13) / Free kids (under 6). Sometimes tickets can sell out prior to the event. For details and tickets see - https://germanparadenyc.org/oktoberfest/ or https://www.facebook.com/steubenparadeny/

The photo above or at right was taken at The People's Runway Fashion Show in front of Brooklyn Borough Hall last Sunday evening. The free open air event, in front of Brooklyn Borough Hall, attracted dozens of designers and models to feature their wares on the runway.

Bronx Neighborhoods & News Shorts

September 2025 / Bronx Neighborhoods & History / Bronx Arts & Culture NYC / Bronx News NYC / News Analysis & Opinion / Bronx Buzz NYC.

Grand Concourse Friday Street Fair, Central American Independence Parade and Festival, African Heritage Festival & the City Island Art Fair

Friday, September 12, 2025 - 10 am to 6 pm - 161st Street Friday Fair - along 161st Street from Grand Concourse to Walton Avenue. This is a street fair.

In the photo above or at right, you can see performers at the Central American festival in Crotona Park in a prior year. The festival returns this weekend on Sunday. See details below.

Saturday, September 13, 2025 from 10 am to 5 pm - African Heritage Festival - at 1700 Crotona Park [at Claremont Parkway & Crotona Avenue]. Music, dance, food and possibly shopping. Organized by the African Advisory Council and BP Gibson. For details contact - David Coulibaly at dcoulibaly@bronxbp.nyc.gov or 917-769-2866 or Catherine Cudjoe Keymama at 718-708-1086 or see FB - https://www.facebook.com/groups/Africansinnewyorkinc/posts/24496451129990017/ OR FB https://www.facebook.com/p/African-Advisory-Council-of-the-Bronx-100064603337113/

Saturday & Sunday, September 13 & 14, 2025 from 11 am - 7 pm - City Island Arts & Crafts Fair - Along City Island Avenue aka Main Street between Schofield and Bay Streets. The epic center is at Hawkins Park and there will be some 60 plus artisans, craftspeople and food vendors there. I believe many / most of the vendors are local. Street fairs festivals in the City Island neighborhood of the East Bronx. For details see - https://cityislandchamber.org/

Sunday, September 14, 2025 from 11 am to 5 pm - 29th Annual Central American Independence Parade Followed by a Festival in Crotona Park. The parade begins at 12 noon at East Tremont Avenue & Southern Blvd, which is the site of the Happy Land Fire Memorial where in 1990 about 100 people - mostly Honduran Garifuna - lost their lives celebrating carnival. The parade marches down either Southern Blvd and / or Boston Road, turns west onto Charlotte Street to Crotona Park East - ending between Crotona Avenue and Claremont Parkway in Crotona Park. This parade and festival celebrate Central American cultures including the Honduran Garifuna via stage performances, culture, food, drink, arts and crafts for the whole family. They describe the events as follows, " ... The Annual Central American Parade and Cultural Festival celebrate the 204th anniversary of the independence of the Central American countries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, from Spain on September 15th, 1821. September 15th marks the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month, in honor of such historic event ...". Street fairs in the Bronx neighborhood of West Farms. For details see - https://www.garifunaexperience.com or FB - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/central-american-independence-day-celebration-tickets-677174686717 | https://www.facebook.com/events/1226380425900591/

Queens Neighborhoods & News Shorts

September 2025 / Queens Neighborhoods & History / Queens Arts & Culture NYC / Queens News NYC / News Analysis & Opinion / Queens Buzz NYC.

Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday, September 11, 12, 13 & 14, 2025 from 6 - 10 pm Thursday & Friday, 5 - 11 pm on Saturday and 1 - 9 pm on Sunday - Hellenic Orthodox Traditionalist Church of America [St Markella] - celebrates patron feast day with traditional Greek food, arts and crafts and music. Along 22-68 26th Street between 22nd & 23rd Avenues in Astoria. For details see - https://www.saintmarkellagoc.org or FB - https://www.facebook.com/saintmarkella

In the photo above or at right, you can see the Greek festival at St. Markella in Astoria. The festival returns this weekend. Details coming soon / above.

Manhattan Neighborhoods & News Shorts

September 2025 / Manhattan Neighborhoods & History / Manhattan Arts & Culture NYC / Manhattan News NYC / News Analysis & Opinion / Manhattan Buzz NYC.

Thursday - Sunday, September 11 - 21, 2025 event times vary - The 99th Annual Feast of San Gennaro Festival & Parade. This is an 11 day Italian festival that runs through Sunday, September 21st in Little Italy in Manhattan. There are events every afternoon / evening of the festival. It begins at 6 pm on Thursday 9/11/25 with the Blessing of the Stands. On Saturday, 9/13 from 2 to 5 pm there's a parade / procession through Little Italy. And on Friday, 9/19 at 6 pm there's a church service followed by a procession through the streets of Little Italy, departing from the Shrine Church of the Most Precious Blood at 113 Baxter Street. For details of other events at the San Gennaro Festival and a bit of history of San Gennaro and Little Italy Manhattan see our story about the Feast of San Gennaro Parade & Festival in Little Italy NYC - or visit their website for details of all events - https://sangennaronyc.org/

The photo above or at right was taken at the FEC Chelsea NYCHA Demolition Protest, the notice of which we posted above. See photo caption above for further details about what seems like a corrupt 7 acre Chelsea public land grab. The price of democracy is eternal vigilance and a People who think they can remain ignorant and free believes in something that never was and never will be.

Manhattan Neighborhoods & News Shorts

September 2025 / Manhattan Neighborhoods & History / Manhattan Arts & Culture NYC / Manhattan News NYC / News Analysis & Opinion / Manhattan Buzz NYC.

FEC Chelsea NYCHA Tenants Protest March Saturday at 12 noon & Next Week NYC Century Bike Tour of All 5 Boros Returns

• Saturday, September 13, 2025 beginning at 12 noon - FEC Chelsea NYCHA Tenants Protest March - begins in two separate places [1) the public park located at 19th Street & 9th Avenue & 2) Hudson Guild at 441 West 26th Street] and converges and ends at one destination which is on the west side of 9th Avenue at W. 24th Street. The reason they are marching is as follows: 1) Stop displacement of seniors and families – NYCHA’s plan would uproot elders who may never live to return by 2041. 2) Reject developer giveaways – Related/Essence and other private interests profit while tenants lose homes. 3) End manufactured crisis – NYCHA neglects repairs, leaves units vacant, then calls demolition the “solution.” 4) Defend community stability. To learn more about what's going on with FEC Chelsea NYCHA, see - https://www.stopfecdemolition.org
  • Editor's Note / Opinion: What the Adams Administration & Related Companies have done looks like a con job to essentially privatize about 7 acres of public property in the heart of Manhattan, taking control at what seem to be super discount prices because of what looks like a manufactured crisis, while billionaire TV News distracts the public with celebrity gossip & crime / accident videos, and mostly looks the other way. To learn more about what's really going on in NYC that the billionaire TV News / 'mainstream my ass' media doesn't report, click into the following links to view a few of our emerging new website sections - 1) Context - NYC Oligarchy privatizing NYC public land / wealth while the billionaire TV News looks the other way, 2) Is this a fraudulent transaction? FEC Chelsea NYCHA in OpEds, and 3) NYC Landlord Tenant Harassment.

The photo above or at right was taken at the FEC Chelsea NYCHA Demolition Protest, the notice of which we posted above. A hundred, possibly more, folks came out in an effort to raise awareness of what seems like a corrupt takeover of public land at bargain basement prices by one of Mayor Adams biggest supporters, real estate developer Stephen Ross. An announcement was made this week that Ross may be on track to take over Wollman Rink in the south east corner of Central Park from the Trump Organization. Adams and Ross's Related Companies have said that Adams has not been promised a job after he bows out of the Mayors Race and his terms ends.

Staten Neighborhoods & News Shorts

September 2025 / Staten Island Neighborhoods & History / Staten Island Arts & Culture NYC / Staten Island News NYC / News Analysis & Opinion / Staten Buzz NYC.

Saturday, September 6, 2025 from 11 am VIP / 12 noon to 4 pm - Pig Island Festival - at Snug Harbor Cultural Center. They described it as follows, "... this pork-laden festival [includes 20 chefs who] compete for the most delicious porcine dishes. There will also be craft beer, hard cider, spirits and other food offerings – all-included with a general admissions ticket ... " In the South Meadow at Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden at 1000 Richmond Terrace in the Randall Manor neighborhood on Staten Island. Staten Island street fair / festival in Randall Manor - Admission $41 / $70 / $92. For details see - https://snug-harbor.org

The photo above or at right, shows the Brooklyn Bridge traversing the East River. Brooklyn Bridge Park is also in the photo at the foot of the bridge, on the Brooklyn side, which is the green space at right in the photo. The photo was taken last year from the Staten Island Ferry heading south to the Island.

Bronx Neighborhoods & News Shorts

September 2025 / Bronx Neighborhoods & History / Bronx Arts & Culture NYC / Bronx News NYC / News Analysis & Opinion / Bronx Buzz NYC.

September 5, 2025 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.

Sunrise 6.27 am. Sunset 7.21 pm. Daylight Savings Time. We're getting 12 hours & 54 minutes of daylight or two hours and 12 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 at the Ferragosto Festival in Bronx Little Italy last year. The Italian celebration returns to Bronx Little Italy on Sunday. See below for details.

Sunday, September 7, 2025 from 12 noon to 6 pm - Ferragosto Festival - in Little Italy along Arthur Avenue between East 187th Street and Crescent Avenue in the Belmont neighborhood of the Bronx NYC. It's an Italian harvest celebration & celebrating 101 years of Arthur Avenue in the Belmont section of the Bronx. Bronx St Fairs in the Belmont neighborhood. For details see - https://bronxlittleitaly.com

Staten Neighborhoods & News Shorts

August 2025 / Staten Island Neighborhoods & History / Staten Island Arts & Culture NYC / Staten Island News NYC / News Analysis & Opinion / Staten Buzz NYC.

Historic Richmond Town _ Saturday, Sunday & Monday, August 30, 31 & September 1, 2025 from 12 noon - 8 pm. Richmond County Fair - At Historic Richmond Town at 441 Clarke Avenue. Food, music, carnival, crafts, living history, entertainment & shopping for families and folks of all ages. Admission $7 kids / $12 seniors / $15 adults & kids age 5 and under are free. Staten Island street fairs / festivals in Historic Richmond Town. One of the biggest events on Staten Island. For details see - https://www.historicrichmondtown.org

In the photo above or at right was taken last year at the County Fair in Historic Richmond Town. It's an old fashioned county fair, in an historic setting, albeit without the livestock. There are plenty of food and market vendors to round out the holiday for the kids and family.

Bronx Neighborhoods & News Shorts

August 2025 / Bronx Neighborhoods & History / Bronx Arts & Culture NYC / Bronx News NYC / News Analysis & Opinion / Bronx Buzz NYC.

Saturday, August 30, 2025 from 12 noon to 7 pm - Bronx Night Market - see street fairs page for details.

Hunts Point _ Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays, August 1 - 31, 2025 from 2 to 6 pm Thurs & 12 noon to 5 pm Fri & Sat - Latin Foto Festival - at the Bronx Art Space at 700 Manida Street off Spofford Avenue in the Hunts Point neighborhood of the Bronx. There's an outdoor art space that is part of the exhibit which is open 24/7. Free. For details see - http://www.bronxartspace.com

Saturday, May 24, 2025 - Sunday, September 7, 2025 - NYC Beaches Opening & Closing for the Summer - Orchard Beach in Pelham Bay Park. Also outdoor public swim pools also close on Sunday, September 7th.

The photo above or at right shows folks relaxing at Orchard Beach in the Bronx. There's only one more week of beach side swimming left in the year.

Brooklyn Neighborhoods & News Shorts

September 2025 / Brooklyn Neighborhoods & History / Brooklyn Arts & Culture NYC / Brooklyn News NYC / News Analysis & Opinion / Brooklyn BLVD NYC.

• All Weekend [see below**] / Monday, September 2, 2024 beginning at 10 am - 57th Annual West Indian American Day Parade and Carnival. There are events related to the parade going on all weekend [see below]. The parade begins at 11 am on Labor Day, Monday September 2nd starting near the Children's Zoo in Prospect Park, which is just south of the Grand Army Plaza near the Brooklyn Museum. The parade then marches south through Prospect Park along Flatbush Avenue. At the Flatbush they exit from the Park, the parade turns onto Empire Blvd and heads east to Nostrand, and then turns south ending at Midwood. Almost every site I saw seemed to get this wrong except the NYPD and the Organizers' site. The event runs from 10 am - 6 pm and you'll also find food stalls and shopping along along Eastern Parkway in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn.
• Click here to read a brief report we did on the WIADC West Indian American Day Parade / Jouvert in Brooklyn last year.
• ** There are multiple events over the weekend. On Friday night from 8 pm to 3 am there's Socafest which is live music and some drinks for $75 / $ 150 at the Brooklyn Museum. On Saturday beginning at 7 pm there's a steelpan competition that costs $50, also at the Brooklyn Museum. On Sunday at 3 pm there's an outdoor concert for $70 at the Brooklyn Museum. On Monday, beginning at 6 am, J'ouvert [French for 'day break'] begins in Grand Army Plaza, followed by the parade gathering at 10 am and stepping off at 11 am. For details see - https://wiadcacarnival.org or their FB page at - https://www.facebook.com/Jouvertcity.

The photo above or at right was taken in a prior year at the West Indian American Day Carnival and Parade. In addition to the parade there are all kinds of food stalls and outdoor shops selling Caribbean related food, clothing and other items.

Manhattan Neighborhoods & News Shorts

August 2025 / Manhattan Neighborhoods & History / Manhattan Arts & Culture NYC / Manhattan News NYC / News Analysis & Opinion / Manhattan Buzz NYC.

Friday, August 22 to Monday, September 1, 2025 beginning at either 7.30 or 8 pm - Metropolitan Opera HD Festival - at the mall / fountain at Lincoln Center located along Columbus Avenue between 64th and 66th Street on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. These are FREE summer outdoor concerts at Lincoln Center on the Upper West Side of Manhattan NYC. For details of the full schedule see - https://www.metopera.org/about/press-releases/the-metropolitan-operas-summer-hd-festival-returns-to-lincoln-center-plaza-with-11-free-screenings-august-22september-1/

The photo above or at right was taken in a prior year at the Lincoln Center HD Opera Festival. The festival is free, open to the public and is based on first come first serve seating. It's a nice way to spend some time.

Staten Neighborhoods & News Shorts

August 2025 / Staten Island Neighborhoods & History / Staten Island Arts & Culture NYC / Staten Island News NYC / News Analysis & Opinion / Staten Buzz NYC.

August 23 & 24, 2025 from 11 am to 9 pm & ending at 7 pm on Sunday - Snug Harbor Annual Dance Festival - at Snug Harbor at 1000 Richmond Terrace in Randall Manor on Staten Island. A full day of dance and other activities. Pay what you can [suggested $10 - $30]. For details see - https://snug-harbor.org/event/2025shdf/?instance_id=8568

Historic Richmond Town _ Saturday, Sunday & Monday, August 30, 31 & September 1, 2025 from 12 noon - 8 pm. Richmond County Fair - At Historic Richmond Town at 441 Clarke Avenue. Food, music, carnival, crafts, living history, entertainment & shopping for families and folks of all ages. Admission $7 kids / $12 seniors / $15 adults & kids age 5 and under are free. Staten Island street fairs / festivals in Historic Richmond Town. One of the biggest events on Staten Island. For details see - https://www.historicrichmondtown.org

At right is a photo of one of the Staten Island Ferries, with folks aboard as if it were the Love Boat, as they head out into the New York harbor on their voyage to distant Manhattan.

Staten Neighborhoods & News Shorts

August 2025 / Staten Island Neighborhoods & History / Staten Island Arts & Culture NYC / Staten Island News NYC / News Analysis & Opinion / Staten Buzz NYC.

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.

Brooklyn Neighborhoods & News Shorts

August 2025 / Brooklyn Neighborhoods & History / Brooklyn Arts & Culture NYC / Brooklyn News NYC / News Analysis & Opinion / Brooklyn BLVD NYC.

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.

Queens Neighborhoods & News Shorts

August 2025 / Queens Neighborhoods & History / Queens Arts & Culture NYC / Queens News NYC / News Analysis & Opinion / Queens Buzz NYC.

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.

Brooklyn Neighborhoods & News Shorts

July 2025 / Brooklyn Neighborhoods & History / Brooklyn Arts & Culture NYC / Brooklyn News NYC / News Analysis & Opinion / Brooklyn BLVD NYC.

Williamsburg _ Wednesday thru Sunday, July 9 - 20, 2025 - Times vary but oftentimes begin in the afternoon & run into the night - The Annual Our Lady of Mount Carmel Feast / The Giglio Festival. This tradition began in 1887 and continues at Havemeyer at North 9th Street in Williamsburg. A DAILY Italian festival with food, music, dance, entertainment and kiddie rides, as well as the cultural hoisting of the Giglio. Organized by Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church. For daily event details copy & paste - https://www.olmcfeast.com. For daily event details copy & paste www.olmcfeast.com. Williamsburg Street Fairs / St Festivals in Brooklyn.

Williamsburg _ Sunday, July 13, 2025 from 1.30 to 5.30 pm - Our Lady of Mount Carmel Feast Giglio Festival Capo Parade - at Havemeyer at North 9th Street in Williamsburg or 275 North 8th Street. For details see - https://www.olmcfeast.com

The photo at right was taken at the Giglio Festival in Williamsburg in the prior year. As you can see, a number of men hoist the ship, filled with other men, above them. The event returns this weekend. See paragraphs above for details.

Brooklyn Neighborhoods & News Shorts

June 2025 / Brooklyn Neighborhoods & History / Brooklyn Arts & Culture NYC / Brooklyn News NYC / News Analysis & Opinion / Brooklyn BLVD NYC.

Friday - Sunday, May 30 to June 8, 2025 at various times - the Brooklyn Film Festival - at three live location venues including Windmill Studios at 300 Kingsland Avenue, the Wythe Hotel at 80 Wythe Avenue, and the Round Table Brewery at 245 South First, as well as online. There will be 145 films presented in 42 programs, spanning six categories including Feature, Documentary, Short Documentary and Narrative, Experimental and Animation. Last year [2024] there WAS also a full day of panels and talks but I don't see anything like that for 2025. The primary location for live viewing is at Windmill Studios on 300 Kingsland Avenue [and the other two locations noted above] in Greenpoint Brooklyn. For $15 / $12 tickets and details see - https://www.brooklynfilmfestival.org/

The photo above or at right was taken at the Brooklyn Puerto Rican Day Parade in Sunset Park / Bay Ridge last year [2024]. The parade returns this weekend.

Brooklyn Neighborhoods & News Shorts

June 2025 / Brooklyn Neighborhoods & History / Brooklyn Arts & Culture NYC / Brooklyn News NYC / News Analysis & Opinion / Brooklyn BLVD NYC.

Friday & Saturday, June 27 & 28, 2025 _ beginning at 7 pm - Lady Land - at Under the K Bridge Park under the Kosciuszko Bridge on the Brooklyn [south] side of Newtown Creek at Van Dam Street and Meeker Avenue. It's a queer music festival and pride party. Kardi B is headlining the first night. For details and $99 & up tickets, copy & paste - https://www.ladylandfestival.com

The photo above or at right was taken at the Lady Land Festival last year. Lady Land returned today and runs through Saturday.

Manhattan Neighborhoods & News Shorts

April 2025 / Manhattan Neighborhoods & History / Manhattan Arts & Culture NYC / Manhattan News NYC / News Analysis & Opinion / Manhattan Buzz NYC.

Wednesday - Sunday, April 30 - June 1, 2025 beginning at 8 pm most evenings [Saturday Matinee] - The United States vs Ulysses - at the Irish Arts Center at 726 11th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. They describe the play as follows, " ... It’s 1933, and James Joyce’s sexually explicit Ulysses has been banned in the U.S. for a decade. But now, a hungry young publisher and an ambitious lawyer have teamed up to take on the Puritans. Can they convince the judge that Ulysses is not obscene? And what will happen when Ulysses gets under their skin—and Molly Bloom gets into their heads? ...". For details and $25 - $76 tickets see - https://irishartscenter.org

In the photo at right, taken this weekend, you can see the cast performing the United States vs Ulysses at the Irish Arts Center in an Off Broadway production in Midtown Manhattan. The play is an historical drama, set in a court room in the early 1930's, which delves into the issues surrounding the limiting free speech.

Manhattan Neighborhoods & News Shorts

May 2025 / Manhattan Neighborhoods & History / Manhattan Arts & Culture NYC / Manhattan News NYC / News Analysis & Opinion / Manhattan Buzz NYC.

May 10 - 18, 2025 _ UPDATES Coming Later _ from noon to 6 pm - Atlantic Avenue Art Walk in Brooklyn. Along Atlantic Avenue from 4th Street to the Waterfront in Brooklyn. They describe the event as follows, "... This 1.5-mile, self-guided tour along Atlantic Avenue ... and its immediate side streets, will feature art from different mediums while showcasing approximately 150 emerging and established Brooklyn artists at 70+ participating businesses ... eclectic shops, diverse restaurants, galleries and wide range of vital businesses and organizations ... [along a] tree-lined avenue that stretches through charming Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, and Boerum Hill to Downtown Brooklyn ...". Organized by Atlantic Ave LDC - https://www.atlanticave.org/artwalk

The photo at right, taken this weekend, shows a number of carefully selected appetizers served at Symposium Greek restaurant near Columbia University on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

Manhattan Neighborhoods & News Shorts

April 2025 / Manhattan Neighborhoods & History / Manhattan Arts & Culture NYC / Manhattan News NYC / News Analysis & Opinion / Manhattan Buzz NYC.

Wednesday - Sunday, April 30 - June 1, 2025 beginning at 8 pm most evenings [Saturday Matinee] - The United States vs Ulysses - at the Irish Arts Center at 726 11th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. They describe the play as follows, " ... It’s 1933, and James Joyce’s sexually explicit Ulysses has been banned in the U.S. for a decade. But now, a hungry young publisher and an ambitious lawyer have teamed up to take on the Puritans. Can they convince the judge that Ulysses is not obscene? And what will happen when Ulysses gets under their skin—and Molly Bloom gets into their heads? ...". For details and $25 - $76 tickets see - https://irishartscenter.org

In the photo at right, taken last weekend, you can see a performance of the United States vs Ulysses at the Irish Arts Center, in an Off Broadway production in Midtown Manhattan. The play takes an intellectually fascinating journey, into the arguments both pro and con, for allowing or limiting free speech, by way of radio show of a real American court room battle in the early 1930's.

Manhattan Neighborhoods & News Shorts

May 2025 / Manhattan Neighborhoods & History / Manhattan Arts & Culture NYC / Manhattan News NYC / News Analysis & Opinion / Manhattan Buzz NYC.

May 31, 2025 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.

Sunrise 5.27 am. Sunset 8.18 pm. Daylight Savings Time. We're getting 14 hours & 59 minutes of daylight or five hours and 19 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. The Summer Solstice is coming June 20, 2025 which will be the longest day of this year.

NYC Weather. Over a half inch of rain is expected Friday afternoon and evening. The rain continues overnight until about 8 am Saturday, at which point we're mostly dry for the rest of the weekend, except between the hours of 3 - 6 pm Saturday afternoon, when there's a 45% chance of some small bit of rain. The temperature highs will hit 70 all weekend, but not stay there long, rising and descending from around 60 on Friday and Saturday, and around the mid 50's on Sunday. The humidity will be in the 60% range on Friday, descending to the 50% range on Saturday and descending further to about 40% on Sunday. The winds will be 5 - 10 mph Friday, rising to 10 - 15 mph on Saturday, and then levelling off a bit at 7 - 13 mph on Sunday. Generally, it's a nice brisk Spring weekend.

The photo above or at right was taken earlier this month, at Symposium Greek restaurant near Columbia University, on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. It's an authentic Greek restaurant, that can whisk you away to Greece for a few short hours, without the hassle of days of travel, and airfare.

Manhattan Neighborhoods & News Shorts

April 2025 / Manhattan Neighborhoods & History / Manhattan Arts & Culture NYC / Manhattan News NYC / News Analysis & Opinion / Manhattan Buzz NYC.

Sunrise 6.34 am. Sunset 7.24 pm. Daylight Savings Time. We're getting three hours and 37 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. Spring began Thursday, March 20, 2025, which is also the Spring Equinox, when the day is half daylight and half dark.

NYC Weather. There's 3/4 inch of rain expected Friday before 10 am. On Saturday there's a 20% to 50% chance of less than a quarter inch of rain all day, so it should be a fair day. On Sunday, the probability of rain rises to 70% by 11 am, and then falls to 20% by 2 pm, for a total expected rainfall of a bit more than a quarter inch of rain, so again a mostly manageable day. The temperature highs will be in the mid 60's on Friday, falling into the low to mid 50's for the rest of the weekend. The temperature lows will fall from the high 40's on Friday, to the mid 40's on Saturday and then into the low 40's on Sunday. The winds will range from 7 to 12 mph all weekend, with Saturday being on the high side. The humidity will rise from about 50% on Friday, to 70% - 85% on Saturday, before falling back to 60% - 75% on Sunday.

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.

Manhattan Neighborhoods & News Shorts

April 2025 / Manhattan Neighborhoods & History / Manhattan Arts & Culture NYC / Manhattan News NYC / News Analysis & Opinion / Manhattan Buzz NYC.

Saturday, April 5, 2025 from 2 pm to 4 pm - the 27th Annual Tartan Day Parade. Beginning at 6th Avenue at 44th Street, marching north to 55th Street in Midtown. The festivities begin the week preceding it and there's an after party. From 4.30 - 8.30 pm there's an after party. In 2024 it was at Sony Hall at 235 West 46th Street in Manhattan costing $109 which includes drinks and entertainment. This year it's been SOLD OUT. But the parade is free for all and no rsvp needed. For details see https://www.nyctartanweek.org/. Tartan Day parade in Manhattan.

Saturday, April 5, 2025 from 1 to 3 pm - Hands Off - Trump budget cut protests at Bryant Park between 40th and 42nd Street and between 5th and 6th Avenues in Midtown Manhattan. NYC Protests of Trump Federal Government budget cuts.  For details see - https://www.mobilize.us/handsoff/

The photo above or at right was taken at one of the Hands Off protests in Manhattan on Saturday. This shows folks who spilled over and up the steps in front of the NY Public Library on 5th Avenue. Thousands congregated along 42nd and 40th Streets and then down along 5th Avenue, chanting, cheering and chewing the fat with each other, in spite of the rainy / inclement weather. They were protesting the Trump / Musk cutting of federal government services and programs, in order to fund an ongoing tax cut for billionaires, who already pay lower tax rates than the middle / working classes.

Manhattan Neighborhoods & News Shorts

April 2025 / Manhattan Neighborhoods & History / Manhattan Arts & Culture NYC / Manhattan News NYC / News Analysis & Opinion / Manhattan Buzz NYC.

* 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.

Manhattan Neighborhoods & News Shorts

April 2025 / Manhattan Neighborhoods & History / Manhattan Arts & Culture NYC / Manhattan News NYC / News Analysis & Opinion / Manhattan Buzz NYC.

Things to do This Weekend in NYC & Boros

Partial Solar Eclipse, Greek Independence Parade, Holi Celebration at the Seaport, IFPDA at Park Ave Armory, Japan (Food) Fes, Dance Festival, Buena Vista Social Club Performances, Cold Sweat at the Players Theatre & Next Week April Fools Day Parade in Manhattan; Bayside St. Patrick's Day Parade & Pubs, First Street Fair of the Season, Greek Indie Parade in Manhattan & Mets Home Opener Next Week in Queens; Luna Park Opens on Coney Island, DeKalb Market, Fort Greene Artisans Bazaar, A Streetcar Named Desire at BAM in Brooklyn; Yankees Home Opener, Bronx Arts Ensemble & Bartow Pell Mansion Concerts in the Bronx; Famous Staten Island Women History, Tavern Concert & Art Opening Reception on Staten Island & Next Week National Action Network Convention, ArtExpo & Qns Colleges & Universities Fair

March 28, 2025 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.

Sunrise 6.46 am. Sunset 7.17 pm. Daylight Savings Time. We're getting three hours and 18 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. Spring began last week on Thursday, March 20, 2025, which is also the Spring Equinox, when the day is half daylight and half dark.

NYC Weather. The temperature highs will rise from the low 60's on Friday, to about 80 [yes that's not a typo - 80] degrees on Saturday, and then will fall back to 50 on Sunday. The temperature lows will be in the low 50's on Friday, descending to the mid / high 40's for the rest of the weekend. The humidity will range from 40% - 60% on Friday and Saturday, and then rise to 60% - 80% on Sunday. There's a 50% chance of about a quarter inch of rain Sunday evening after 8 pm. The winds will be between 5 - 10 mph on Friday and Sunday, rising a bit to 7 - 12 on Saturday.

New Album or New Project? The folks in the photo above or at right, reminded me of an album cover of the Ramones, which was a 1970's rock group based here in NYC.

But the folks in the top photo are in fact some of the key members of the Elizabeth Street Community Garden, who have so valiantly fought to keep the Adams Administration from closing it.

The Adams Administration wants to enable several community organizations to erect another unimaginative, glass and steel box pile on the site. The proposed development, like all government sponsored real estate developments of late, is being sold to the public as including all or some 'affordable housing', which - if recent history is any indicator - would then only be affordable to people making $170,000 to $250,000 per year. Please note that these rents aren't the specifics of this project, per se. And the Adams Administration says otherwise. But unfortunately I no longer trust most NYC government officials when it comes to the deceitful affordability claims they've been making about real estate developments since Michael Bloomberg became Mayor [although it should be said that Mayor de Blasio injected more truth into the conversation than either of Bloomberg or Adams]. Also, the numbers often change, and sometimes quite significantly, between the time when the projects are proposed, and when the deals are finalized. Too often it seems the changes are made when the dealmakers know the public isn't watching any longer.

The doors to the garden were expected to be closed as early as this week, but the group continues to fight on. They're working on a proposal to keep the space intact and usable by the entire community, instead of solely for the future owners of a taxpayer-subsidized development, erected by real estate developers, rented to those who can afford to pay the freight for rentals, sold to the public as 'affordable housing', in order to obtain some of the taxpayer funded subsidies. The color photo above was taken this week. Late Edit Saturday Night 11 pm. It occurred to me this evening, to include the Elizabeth Street Garden website info, as you might be interested in getting involved and helping them - https://www.elizabethstreetgarden.com

Manhattan Neighborhoods & News Shorts

March 2025 / Manhattan Neighborhoods & History / Manhattan Arts & Culture NYC / Manhattan News NYC / News Analysis & Opinion / Manhattan Buzz NYC.

Thursday - Sunday, March 6 - 23, 2025 - La Gota Fria: Cold Sweat - at the Players Theatre at 115 MacDougal Street in the Village neighborhood of Manhattan. For details and tickets see - http://www.theplayerstheatre.com

In the photo at right, taken a couple of weeks ago, you see a full auditorium at the NYU Skirball Center in Manhattan where there was a Mayoral Forum. That the attendance was solid, was heartening, as it shows that some members of the electorate are paying attention to a very important electoral contest coming June 24th.

Manhattan Neighborhoods & News Shorts

March 2025 / Manhattan Neighborhoods & History / Manhattan Arts & Culture NYC / Manhattan News NYC / News Analysis & Opinion / Manhattan Buzz NYC.

MORE DETAILS COMING NEXT WEEK _ March 6 - 23, 2025 - La Gota Fria: Cold Sweat - at the Players Theatre at 115 MacDougal Street in the Village neighborhood of Manhattan. For details and tickets see - http://www.theplayerstheatre.com

Sunday, March 9, 2025 beginning at 1.30 pm - March Across Brooklyn Bridge - commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the March in Selma. Begins at the steps of City Hall in Manhattan and ends on the Brooklyn side west of Borough Hall.

In the photo at right are six of the nine announced candidates running for NYC Mayor, and one unannounced 'candidate' or protester who made quite a theatrical appearance at the event. It wasn't clear what her message was, but whatever it was, she delivered it comically, amusing the audience for several minutes, before being carried off stage by security in an agreeable and respectful manner [on both sides].

I don't think Mayor Adams nor former Governor Cuomo have the courage to debate the other candidates in a public forum, as they're not likely to have good answers when queried for their actions. TV News seems willing to play the role of a propaganda machine for both men - by providing them with what seems unlimited access to TV News audiences- without asking either of the two leading candidates the hard questions about their actions that the public should know before heading to the voting booth on June 24th.

Bear in mind that all commercial TV Network News outlets are controlled by billionaires, who appear to use their outlets to manipulate the electorate to vote for candidates they favor [like Cuomo and Adams]. The candidates favored by the billionaires seem in turn give them and their friends huge tax breaks and other public policy gifts and favors, in exchange for the billionaires' support. The electorate needs to wake up and take to the web to find out what's really going on [see story coming next week about Trump SOTU speech]. And voters need to help educate the 50+ crowd who rely primarily on TV News, and turn out in larger numbers to vote than the younger generations, using the TV News distorted perspective / unreality TV / misinformation, which is why so many of the wrong people are in key positions in government at present.

Manhattan Neighborhoods & News Shorts

February 2025 / Manhattan Neighborhoods & History / Manhattan Arts & Culture NYC / Manhattan News NYC / News Analysis & Opinion / Manhattan Buzz NYC.

NYC Weather. Sunrise 7 am. Sunset 5.20 pm. We're getting an hour and five more minutes of sunlight than we were the weekend of the Winter solstice in late December. Spring Forward Daylight Savings Time is Sunday, March 9th, 2025 - only four weeks away.

Saturday evening we're expecting about 5 inches of snow between the hours of 6 pm and Sunday 8 am. The temperature highs will hit 40 on Friday before descending into the mid 30's the rest of the weekend. The temperature lows will remain between 25 and 30 degrees all weekend. The humidity will range from 30% - 40% Friday, rising from 30% to 70% on Saturday, before tapering off between 50% - 60% on Sunday. The winds will be 10 - 15 mph Friday, falling to 5 - 10 mph for the rest of the weekend.

The photo at right was taken at the Georges Berges Gallery at 462 West Broadway [at Houston] in SoHo a couple of weeks ago. There's a group show, entitled Tarot, at the gallery, which runs through February 28th, and it's well worth a visit. The images in the painting change when you move.

Manhattan Neighborhoods & News Shorts

February 2025 / Manhattan Neighborhoods & History / Manhattan Arts & Culture NYC / Manhattan News NYC / News Analysis & Opinion / Manhattan Buzz NYC.

NYC Weather. Sunrise 6.51 am. Sunset 5.29 pm. We're getting an hour and twenty three more minutes of sunlight than we were the weekend of the Winter solstice in late December. Spring Forward Daylight Savings Time is Sunday, March 9th, 2025 - only three weeks away.

We're expecting less than two inches of snow beginning around 1 pm Saturday, turning into an additional half inch of rain on Sunday before winding down around 8 pm.

The temperature highs will be in the mid 30's on Friday and Saturday, rising to the low 40's on Sunday. The temperature lows will be in the high 20's on Friday and Sunday, rising to the mid 30's on Saturday. It's going to be a windy weekend with winds between 5 - 13 mph Friday, between 7 - 11 mph on Saturday and then rising to between 10 - 17 mph on Sunday. The humidity will range from 40 - 50% on Friday, from 50% - 90% on Saturday and between 80 - 90% on Sunday.

The photo above or at right was taken earlier this week at the Downtown Independent Democratic Club, which seven of the nine candidates running for Mayor attended. We'll post a full report Sunday evening, so you can begin doing your homework prior to voting four months from now in the primary. While Mayor Adams was not in attendance, these seven candidates were: NYC Comptroller Brad Lander, NYS Assemblymember Mamdani, Former Vice Chair of the DNC Michael Blake, Former NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer, Former Hedge Fund Manager Whitney Tilson, NYS Assemblymember Jessica Ramos and last but not least NYS Senator Zellnor Myrie.

Manhattan Neighborhoods & News Shorts

February 2025 / Manhattan Neighborhoods & History / Manhattan Arts & Culture NYC / Manhattan News NYC / News Analysis & Opinion / Manhattan Buzz NYC.

Friday & Saturday, February 14 & 15, 2025 beginning at 7.30 pm and 2 pm respectively - Remembering - at the Brooklyn Academy of Music at 30 Lafayette Avenue in the Fort Green neighborhood of Brooklyn. The performance is described as follows, " ... a multimedia production exploring the Middle Passage, slavery, and emancipation ... the event blends  contemporary and African dance with spoken word, music, and African drumming, bringing American history to life through African voices and dynamic audiovisual elements ...". For $45 / $75 tickets and details see - https://www.bam.org

NYS Senator Zellnor Myrie of Brooklyn, one of about nine candidates for Mayor, is shown in the photo above or at right, speaking to a live and Zoom audience of between 300 - 500 people at Downtown Independent Democrats Club on the Lower East Side earlier this week. We hope to post a full report about all of the candidates on Sunday evening. It's not too early to do your homework / research on the mayoral candidates, as the Democratic Primary is only four months away.

Manhattan Neighborhoods & News Shorts

February 2025 / Manhattan Neighborhoods & History / Manhattan Arts & Culture NYC / Manhattan News NYC / News Analysis & Opinion / Manhattan Buzz NYC.

NYC Weather. Sunrise 7.07 am. Sunset 5.12 pm. We're getting 50 more minutes of sunlight than we were the weekend of the Winter solstice in late December. The temperature highs will be in the high 30's on Friday and Saturday, rising to the mid 40's on Sunday. The temperature lows will be in the mid 30's on Friday and Sunday, dipping in between to 20 on Saturday. The humidity will rise to 80% assuming that precipitation arrives Friday evening, then dipping to 40% - 50% on Saturday, before rising back to 50% to 70% on Sunday. There's a 75% chance of a small amount of precipitation [1/5 inch tops] Friday evening. After that it's dry for the rest of the weekend.

The photo at right was taken at the Georges Berges Gallery at 462 West Broadway [at Houston] in SoHo this past Thursday evening. There's a group show, entitled Tarot, at the gallery, which runs through February 28th, and it's well worth a visit.