Viewing NYC Articles in Brooklyn

[VIDEO] Why 42nd Street Should Be the World's Greatest Street

2026-06-27T12:00:00-04:00

In this insightful episode from KPF, Forth Bagley and Luc Wilson present a bold vision for transforming 42nd Street into a world-class thoroughfare, leveraging its unique position connecting iconic landmarks and diverse neighborhoods across Manhattan. Despite its potential, linking sites like the United Nations, Chrysler Building, Grand Central Terminal, New York Public Library, Bryant Park, and Times Square, 42nd Street has remained a fragmented and often overlooked urban artery. Through detailed data analysis, the architects propose targeted interventions including a river-to-river streetcar connecting new ferry terminals on the East and Hudson Rivers, expanded public spaces in Times Square, flexible pedestrianization in dense office clusters, and protected bike lanes and pocket parks in quieter residential areas. This holistic approach aims to unify the street's various "neighborhoods within neighborhoods" and transform it into a cohesive, people-first corridor, celebrating its role as a vibrant beating heart for New Yorkers.

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[WATCH] NEW YORK IS UNDERWATER

2026-06-26T12:00:00-04:00

The video follows Van Neistat as he attempts to repair a 25-year-old Seabed Aquarium Motion Lamp depicting the New York City skyline, including the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the Twin Towers, in a "3D" effect. He meticulously disassembles the device, explaining how two film strips spin at different rates to create the illusion of depth. The lamp's motor is broken due to a previous repair attempt using crazy glue, and Van faces challenges in replacing it with a new one that doesn't fit correctly. After significant modifications and custom-made parts, the lamp is successfully repaired and operates silently. The video concludes with a poignant reflection on the unexpected prophetic nature of the lamp's depiction of the Twin Towers, hinting at themes of trauma and recovery.

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[WATCH] Why New York Wanted to Tear Down the Manhattan Bridge

2026-06-24T12:00:00-04:00

The video delves into the contentious history of the Manhattan Bridge, a vital New York City crossing that, for decades, faced public and political debate over its very existence. Built after the successful Brooklyn Bridge and Williamsburg Bridge proved the East River could be conquered, the Manhattan Bridge's design, which heavily favored rail traffic on its outer edges, subjected it to constant uneven stress and structural fatigue. Critics frequently warned of its long-term problems, suggesting tunnels as a safer alternative to surface bridges. Despite the inherent challenges and the need for frequent, disruptive emergency repairs, the city eventually committed to an expensive, multi-year rehabilitation project to stabilize the indispensable structure, acknowledging that New York could no longer function without it. Today, the Manhattan Bridge stands as a permanent fixture, its turbulent past largely forgotten.

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[VIDEO] Mitch Hedberg Doesn't Like New York City Sandwiches

2026-06-23T12:00:00-04:00

Comedian Mitch Hedberg takes the stage on Late Show with David Letterman to deliver a string of his signature one-liner jokes. He shares humorous observations on mundane topics, including the impracticality of his safety-pinned suit, the vanity of teeth whitening, and his unconventional approach to "following his dreams." Hedberg also quips about receiving a hotel front desk worker's phone number as "zero," the protective flap in vending machines, the possessive nature of Reese's candy, and the abundance of rice. He recounts a disappointing pizza experience, makes a point about dry cleaner hours, reflects on college merchandise, and humorously notes the unchanging nature of parades. He even includes a brief, dark joke about his parrot. He then moves on to complain about the overwhelming amount of meat in New York City deli sandwiches, likening them to "a cow with a cracker on either side," before proposing a "club" for three-piece bread sandwiches with chips in the middle.

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[VIDEO] Overlooked Architecture of NYC's First Subway System

2026-06-21T12:00:00-04:00

Join host Jamie Adams from Up To The East Side as he explores the fascinating original portion of the New York City subway system, built by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) and opened in 1904. The journey begins on Manhattan's Upper West Side at the 110 Street-Cathedral Parkway Station, showcasing its mosaic tiles and expanded platforms. Jamie highlights unique architectural features in various stations, including the distinctive control houses at 72nd Street and Atlantic Avenue, the historic ticket booth at Wall Street, and the captivating Turkish kiosk replica at Astor Place. The video also visits the impressive original IRT Powerhouse near Columbus Circle, a landmark built to electrify the nascent subway. Each stop reveals a blend of meticulously preserved turn-of-the-century design and modern updates, offering a rare glimpse into the early engineering and aesthetics of one of the world's most iconic transportation networks.

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[WATCH] The Dying Art of Serving Dim Sum

2026-06-20T12:00:00-04:00

This video explores the enduring tradition of dim sum cart service at Golden Palace Restaurant in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, where two dedicated women, Pik Chan and Cheong Yin Ho, have worked side-by-side for nearly two decades. Host Priya Krishna highlights the strenuous demands of their job—navigating crowded dining rooms with heavy trolleys, keeping food hot, and communicating through glances and hand gestures amidst the lunch rush. The piece delves into their daily routines, from early morning kitchen prep to serving customers, emphasizing their teamwork, resilience, and the cultural significance of dim sum as a multi-generational family gathering.

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[VIDEO] The Wild Solution to New York's Sewer System Problem

2026-06-19T12:00:00-04:00

This video delves into New York City's extensive sewer system, which handles an astounding 1.3 billion gallons of wastewater daily across all five boroughs. From the city's early days of outhouses and rudimentary sewers in the 1600s, driven by concerns over diseases like cholera, to its complex modern network, the system has evolved significantly. The documentary highlights the critical work of facilities like the Newtown Creek Wastewater Resource Recovery Facility in Brooklyn, which processes wastewater through various stages including screening out non-flushable items like wipes and grease, and even converting sludge into green energy for local homes. However, the system faces immense challenges from aging infrastructure, severe storms causing combined sewer overflows (CSOs) that dump billions of gallons of untreated sewage into local waterways, and blockages from 'fatbergs' formed by grease and wipes. Innovative solutions, such as the implementation of green roofs like Kingsland Wildflowers at Broadway Stages that absorb stormwater runoff, are being pursued to mitigate these issues. Public awareness campaigns, like FatbergFreeNYC, also encourage residents to help protect the vital urban infrastructure by properly disposing of waste.

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[WATCH] I Quit My Job at Google to Start a Branzino Pop-Up Restaurant

2026-06-18T12:00:00-04:00

This video follows Mason Acevedo, a former data analyst at Google, as he transitions to running his successful pop-up restaurant, Piscator, full-time. The pop-up, located in the backyard of Troost in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, specializes in perfectly grilled whole branzino served with homemade focaccia, cabbage slaw, and seasonal berries. Mason shares his meticulous process, from preparing the bread dough and sauces in his apartment, to picking up fresh fish at the supplier, and finally setting up his compact, camping-style kitchen. He also visits the Union Square Greenmarket in Manhattan for fresh produce. The video showcases the growth of Piscator, from selling to a few friends to selling out pre-orders in minutes, highlighting the challenges and rewards of leaving a stable tech job for his culinary passion.

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[WATCH] Should the Subways be Extended to Staten Island?

2026-06-12T12:00:00-04:00

The video explores the feasibility and a multi-stage plan for extending the New York City Subway to Staten Island. The presenter argues that current conditions don't justify immediate rail expansion due to low ridership compared to other NYC boroughs and New Jersey. However, by implementing "Stage 0" with upzoning near existing Staten Island Railway stations and introducing Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) routes (S1, S2, S3), the island's density and transit ridership could increase significantly.
Stage 1 proposes extending the R train from Brooklyn to Grasmere, with a new yard at Lily Pond Avenue. Stage 2 outlines an elevated rapid transit line along Forest Avenue, connecting St. George to the Matrix Global Logistics Park, passing through key employment centers and areas ripe for housing development. Stage 3 introduces a Trans-Harbor Tube from St. George directly to Manhattan, connecting to Grand Central Terminal and offering through-running services with Metro-North Railroad. This stage would also require upgrading the Staten Island Railway to Metro-North standards and implementing Omni fare payment.
Finally, Stage 4 focuses on connecting Staten Island's Richmond Avenue Elevated to New Jersey via the Bayonne Bridge, linking with an upgraded PATH system (converting the Bayonne portion of Hudson–Bergen Light Rail to heavy rail) and extending it north into Bergenline and Anderson Avenues. This ambitious plan aims to transform Staten Island into a denser, transit-rich borough with strong connections across the region, boosting its population to over a million and enabling more efficient reverse commuting.

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[WATCH] The $850 Million Gamble That Reshaped Lower Manhattan

2026-06-10T12:00:00-04:00

This video chronicles the ambitious construction of 8 Spruce Street, also known as New York by Gehry, a residential skyscraper in Lower Manhattan. Designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry, the building represented an $850 million gamble to revitalize the area after 9/11. The summary highlights Gehry's unconventional design, which avoids straight lines and features a unique undulating stainless steel facade, while maintaining a rational interior. The project faced significant challenges, including neighbor lawsuits over its height and shadows, and the 2008 financial crisis which halted construction. However, led by MaryAnne Gilmartin and her team at Forest City Ratner Companies, and influenced by the success of Gehry's Guggenheim Bilbao museum, the developers navigated these obstacles through strategic compromises, including adding a public school and securing Liberty Bonds. The comeback of the tower not only reshaped the Financial District's skyline but also became a symbol of resilience and bold ideas for New York City, blending high-end living with community amenities like a school and medical floor within the building's base.

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