Viewing NYC Articles by Matt Coneybeare

[VIDEO] Making 300,000 Cannolis A Year By Hand

2026-09-23T12:00:00-04:00

Discover the enduring legacy of Fortunato Brothers Bakery in Brooklyn, where traditional Italian pastries like cannolis, sfogliatelle, and cookies have been meticulously handmade since 1976. Co-owner Biagio Fortunato, a second-generation owner, shares insights into operating a 50-year-old business, highlighting the team's ability to produce up to 7,500 cannolis or 9,000 cookies daily using recipes brought over from Naples. Despite significant challenges, such as steep annual insurance policies, costly oven repairs, and fluctuating ingredient prices, the family remains committed to quality and tradition, aiming to continue their craft for future generations.

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[WATCH] The Dark Secrets Behind The Metropolitan Museum Of Art's Most Famous Exhibits

2026-09-22T12:00:00-04:00

The documentary The Dark Secrets Behind The Metropolitan Museum Of Art's Most Famous Exhibits delves into the hidden histories of several renowned artifacts housed at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. It uncovers the scandalous tale of the Diana statue, linked to the "Trial of the Century" involving architect Stanford White, socialite Evelyn Nesbitt, and the murder by Harry Thaw at Madison Square Garden. The video also examines Henry VIII's final suit of armor, revealing medical evidence suggesting his transformation into a tyrant after a jousting accident. Further investigations explore the mysterious power of the Temple of Dendur, the true nature of the Antioch Chalice (once believed to be the Holy Grail), and the Nazi-looted Manuscript of the Apocalypse displayed at The Cloisters. The film also highlights the Met's surprising contribution to designing modern military helmets and body armor during the World Wars, showcasing how ancient medieval technology influenced 20th-century warfare.

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[VIDEO] We Tried the Best Peking Duck in NYC

2026-09-21T12:00:00-04:00

Bon Appétit follows Chef Lucas Sin to Flushing, New York, to sample the city’s most traditional Peking Duck at JUQI inside Tangram Mall. The video delves into the meticulous process of preparing Beijing-style roast duck, showcasing techniques such as air-pumping the duck's skin to separate it from the meat, blanching the birds in hot water infused with aromatics, applying a warm honey and spice glaze, and then carefully drying them in a climate-controlled room with powerful fans. The ducks are finally roasted in a traditional Míng huǒlú oven, featuring exposed flames, to achieve the signature glassy, crispy skin. This detailed culinary journey underscores the commitment to traditional craftsmanship, resulting in a dish where perfect texture and aromatic fattiness are celebrated.

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[WATCH] Tompkins Square Bagels

2026-09-20T12:00:00-04:00

In this special episode of New York's Best Bagel, host Henry Rosoff takes an in-depth look at Tompkins Square Bagels, a popular bagel shop in the East Village. Founded in 2011 by owner Chris Pugliese, the shop blends old-school Brooklyn bagel-making techniques with high-end New York City restaurant experience. All bagels are hand-rolled, proofed, boiled in NYC tap water with barley malt, and baked fresh throughout the day, while fillings like eggs and bacon are cooked to order. Tompkins Square Bagels is known for its generous cream cheese servings, including innovative flavors like birthday cake, and unique offerings such as the "French Toast Bagel" and the signature "The Weezer" sandwich, a hearty combination of bacon, chorizo, egg, cheddar, and cream cheese. Rosoff gives the shop an impressive official tasting score of 9.3 bagels, highlighting its commitment to quality and community.

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[VIDEO] Inside New York’s Famous Skybridge

2026-09-19T12:00:00-04:00

The video explores the American Copper Buildings, a distinctive residential complex on Manhattan's East River, known for its dramatic skybridge. Viewers get a rare look inside the private skybridge, resident lounge, panoramic gym, and an indoor pool, all offering unique perspectives of the New York City skyline. The atmosphere within these high-rise amenities feels surprisingly calm and disconnected from the bustling city below, providing cinematic views of landmarks like the Empire State Building, Roosevelt Island, and Long Island City. The building is also notable for blending luxury market-rate apartments with affordable housing units via the city's housing lottery system.

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[WATCH] Robert Caro on how Robert Moses infrastructure projects fueled discrimination

2026-09-18T12:00:00-04:00

Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer Robert Caro shares insights from his research into Robert Moses, particularly how the "master builder" utilized public works to perpetuate discrimination. Caro explains how Moses intentionally designed infrastructure like the low bridges on parkways leading to Jones Beach State Park to prevent public transit, such as buses, from reaching the popular bathing spot. This effectively excluded poor people and people of color, who lacked private automobiles, from accessing the beach. Caro describes his own observations decades later, noting the stark racial demographics at the beach, which underscored the lasting impact of Moses's discriminatory policies on the powerless.

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[REPOST] Watch: Slideshow of Vintage Photographs Showing Inwood's West 207th Street in 1926

2026-09-17T12:00:00-04:00

Cole Thompson runs a fantastic local blog titled My Inwood which is, you guessed it, all about Manhattan's Inwood Neighborhood.

In this recent video, Thompson shares a collection of dozens of vintage photographs of West 207th St. captured in 1926.

The photos themselves are part of a massive collection spanning 1900-1947. The photos, taken by city agencies, mainly for insurance purposes, documented the impact of subway construction on neighborhoods throughout the city. The photos in this montage were taken during the construction of the Broadway “A Line.”

The music featured in the video is Dave Brubeck — "It’s a Raggy Waltz"

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[REPOST] [VIDEO] Walking Through NYC's St. Mark's Place: Downtown's Historic Arts Center

2026-09-16T12:00:00-04:00

Join tour guide and comedian Tom Delgado for an engaging stroll down St. Marks Place, one of the most culturally significant streets in the East Village. This walk highlights the neighborhood's evolution from a 19th century enclave for the wealthy and German immigrants to a gritty mid-century hub for counterculture artists, musicians, and visionaries. Throughout the journey, you will discover the rich histories behind local landmarks like the Hamilton-Holly House, the former Electric Circus nightclub, and the iconic Physical Graffiti building famously featured on a Led Zeppelin album cover. Through personal anecdotes and historical insights, the video captures the spirit of downtown New York City while reflecting on the modern challenges of gentrification and the changing landscape of small businesses in the area.

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[VIDEO] Transportation as Atrocity: A Brief Investigation

2026-09-15T12:00:00-04:00

This video delves into the contentious presence of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) in New York City, exploring its detrimental impact on adjacent neighborhoods and contemplating its future. It highlights how mid-20th century urban planning decisions, heavily influenced by figures like Robert Moses, sliced through thriving communities in Brooklyn. The video showcases various segments of the BQE, including the Cobble Hill Trench, the Triple Cantilever in Brooklyn Heights, the Downtown Brooklyn section (including Dumbo), and the Navy Yard Viaduct through Fort Greene and Clinton Hill, illustrating the noise, pollution, and disruption residents face. It also points out the severe opportunity cost of the extensive land dedicated to the expressway in a densely populated and highly valuable real estate market. The host emphasizes that despite being an engineering marvel, sections of the BQE are well past their intended lifespan, posing an urgent question for New Yorkers about whether to rebuild the outdated infrastructure as is or pursue transformative alternatives such as those advocated by Off-Ramp NYC, which envisions replacing highways with green spaces, housing, and efficient transit. The video concludes by urging New Yorkers to consider the kind of city they want to build for the future, moving away from car-centric designs towards more livable and connected communities.

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[REPOST] [WATCH] New York's West Village, Explained

2026-09-14T12:00:00-04:00

Greenwich Village (and its subsection the West Village) is one of the most iconic and historic neighborhoods in the United States. This video traces the history of the neighborhood from its early days as a suburb of New York to its present status as one of the most affluent and wealthy places in the country. We discuss the Stonewall riots, Jane Jacobs, the tradeoffs and dangers of historic preservation, the infamous Cut article, and Washington Square Park.

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