Viewing NYC Articles in Brooklyn

[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the BQE are well past their intended lifespan, posing an urgent question for New Yorkers about whether to rebuild the outdated infrastructure as is or pursue transformative alternatives such as those advocated by Off-Ramp NYC, which envisions replacing highways with green spaces,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] [VIDEO] The Subway's Leftovers | NYC Subway Remnants and Provisions Part 1: Manhattan

2026-09-13T12:00:00-04:00

This fascinating video tour uncovers the hidden history of the New York City subway system by exploring a variety of remnants and provisions scattered throughout Manhattan. From the famous abandoned City Hall loop to lesser-known tunnel bellmouths, storage tracks, and closed station platforms, the footage provides a rare glimpse into infrastructure that was either part of the original subway design, built for expansion plans that never materialized, or decommissioned as the system modernized. By examining these architectural leftovers, viewers gain a deeper understanding of how the city transit network has evolved and the many secret spaces that still exist right beneath the feet of daily commuters. For those interested in learning more about the preservation of these historic sites, you can explore the New York Transit Museum to see how they keep the history of the subway alive.

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[VIDEO] How the NYC Ferry Is Staging a Comeback

2026-09-12T12:00:00-04:00

Discover the unexpected resurgence of the NYC Ferry, a once-dominant mode of transport in New York City's 19th and early 20th centuries that waned with the advent of bridges and tunnels, eventually leaving only the Staten Island Ferry as a vestige. The modern system, launched in 2017 by then-Mayor Bill de Blasio, aimed to connect residents across the boroughs. Operated by the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), the ferry relies on a unique funding structure combining rent revenues and fares, rather than solely federal and state subsidies. Despite a 2022 audit by the City Comptroller that uncovered significant misreported expenditures and overpayments to its private operator, Hornblower Group, the NYCEDC maintains its financial decisions were sound and used the audit as a "wakeup call." In an effort to boost ridership and reduce per-trip subsidies, the ferry has embraced social media marketing, attracted leisure riders and commuters, and introduced new routes, driving ridership to a record 7.4 million passengers last year. The NYC Ferry is now charting a course for continued growth, aiming to expand to new neighborhoods and further integrate into the city's public transit landscape.

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[VIDEO] The Mets Were Made For The Yankees

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

This video delves into the rich history of New York City baseball, revealing how the modern rivalry between the New York Yankees and New York Mets runs deeper than often perceived. Before the 1950s, New York was home to three major league teams: the Yankees, the Brooklyn Dodgers, and the New York Giants. The Dodgers, representing Brooklyn's working class and notably signing Jackie Robinson to break baseball's color barrier, and the Giants, based in Manhattan, eventually left for California in 1957. This left the Yankees as the sole team, enjoying a period of dominance and winning many World Series. To fill the void and, more importantly, to create an antagonist for the powerhouse Yankees, the Mets were formed in 1962, adopting the colors of the Giants (orange) and Dodgers (blue) as a tribute. The video highlights how the Mets' identity was deliberately built to oppose the Yankees' tradition and intimidation with a chaotic and experimental approach, fostering the "Subway Series" rivalry that continues to this day.

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[VIDEO] We Do Things the Old Way

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

The video highlights Brennan & Carr, a beloved, long-standing American restaurant in Brooklyn, known for its iconic roast beef sandwich. Owner Eddie Sullivan emphasizes their commitment to traditional methods, from butchering prime top round beef in-house daily with José Lopez to slow-roasting it and preparing their famous "broth" from the meat's natural juices. The restaurant also prides itself on cleanliness, fresh ingredients—including daily fresh rolls from Bread Plus in Midwood—and genuine hospitality, with staff like head server Richie (Chi Chi) Egan fostering a family-like atmosphere. Customers enjoy various dipping styles for their sandwiches, from a light "dingle dangle" to a fully soaked "K.F.J."

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[VIDEO] Flatbush Avenue Redesign - Everything You Need to Know

2026-09-03T12:00:00-04:00

This video details the extensive redesign of Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, a major thoroughfare with nearly 400 years of history that serves over 130,000 daily bus riders. The project, expected to be completed by Fall 2026, aims to address decades of traffic congestion and slow bus speeds (averaging 6.8 mph, under 4 mph during peak hours) by implementing center-running bus lanes with physical concrete boarding islands. The redesign from Livingston Street to Grand Army Plaza will also include 29,000 square feet of new pedestrian space, 11 dedicated loading zones for businesses, and 14 new bike parking areas. The video outlines the four construction phases and highlights driver concerns about reduced lanes and potential traffic backups, particularly given Flatbush Avenue's direct connection to the Manhattan Bridge. Additionally, the city is undertaking a separate proposal to transform Grand Army Plaza from a confusing and dangerous traffic circle into a wide, open pedestrian plaza, directly connecting the iconic Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch to Prospect Park. The MTA's official website provides additional information on transit services, while Grand Army Plaza is managed by NYC Parks.

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[WATCH] How New York Got Its Fire Escapes

2026-08-28T12:00:00-04:00

This video explores the divergent paths New York City and Chicago took in developing their fire safety regulations, leading to unique architectural expressions in each city. New York, characterized by its dense, inward growth and crowded tenements, faced the pressing issue of residents being trapped during fires. This led to the adoption of external fire escapes, especially after devastating events like the 1860 Elm Street fire and the tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in 1911. In contrast, Chicago's outward expansion and prevalent use of wood construction made fire spread its primary concern, culminating in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Following pressure from insurance companies, Chicago shifted its focus to fire-resistant building materials and internal safety features. Today, while both cities' fire codes have evolved to be more aligned, New York's distinctive fire escapes remain an integral and often preserved element of its older buildings, whereas Chicago's fire safety is more subtly integrated into its architectural fabric.

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[VIDEO] Robert Caro on Writing The Power Broker

2026-08-27T12:00:00-04:00

Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer Robert Caro delves into the origins of his monumental work, The Power Broker, a biography of New York's influential urban planner Robert Moses. Caro explains how he was initially stuck on organizing the vast material until an impromptu speech by Moses, focusing on the public's ingratitude towards "great men," provided the thematic backbone for the book. He recounts the unique experience of interviewing Moses at his summer home, surrounded by the monuments Moses built, giving him profound insights into the man's genius and vision for connecting the region with roads like the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and the Belt Parkway, despite local opposition on Fire Island. Caro also shares a touching anecdote about working in the New York Public Library alongside fellow historian James Thomas Flexner, finding inspiration and relief in shared dedication to extensive research.

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[WATCH] Never Ever Surf in New York City's East River

2026-08-26T12:00:00-04:00

After a night of storms in New York City, the host heads to Brooklyn via the Williamsburg Bridge, reminiscing about a past skateboarding accident there. He arrives at Bushwick Inlet Park to meet two friends, including avid surfer Ben Gravy, who are attempting to surf the small waves of the East River. Ben shares that he started his YouTube surfing channel in 2015 to maintain sobriety and now does it out of pure love for the sport. The host then transitions to a philosophical discussion about social media and creativity, referencing the book Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better by David Epstein. He uses an analogy of potato chips as social media—tasty initially but ultimately unfulfilling and distracting. He highlights filmmaker Christopher Nolan's choice to avoid smartphones to maintain focus, calling digital devices “digital shackles.” Inspired by this, the host removed social media from his phone, which he believes has increased his own creative output and allowed for more meaningful experiences, contrasting them with the "brain numb" feeling after endless scrolling.

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[VIDEO] A Day Making NYC’s Most Hyped Sandwiches

2026-08-25T12:00:00-04:00

Bon Appétit goes behind the scenes at Salvo's, a popular New York City eatery run by chef and owner Salvatore La Rosa. Starting as a home kitchen operation delivering sandwiches from a mototaxi, Salvo's has evolved into a bustling brick-and-mortar shop. The video showcases the daily grind, from preparing hearty slow-cooked Neapolitan ragù and eggplant parm to assembling fried mortadella sandwiches. Salvatore also details the logistics of managing staff, distributors, and bakers, including daily bread deliveries from Otway Bakery in Brooklyn, highlighting the collaborative effort behind their acclaimed menu.

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