I spent a day without my phone traveling across all 5 boroughs in New York City.

Meet Lauren Tran. Her pop-up bakery, Bánh by Lauren, started as an Instagram account in 2020 when the pandemic shut down restaurants like Gramercy Tavern, where she worked under the pastry chef Miro Uskokovic. During the pandemic, she sold weekly “bánh boxes” that featured Southeast Asian flavors in the form of classic French pastries and desserts. They consistently sold out within a few hours. Now, she organizes pop-ups at different locations throughout the city, featuring flavors like Vietnamese coffee and condensed milk, as well as her signature pandan coconut chiffon cake. They attract scores of people willing to show up early and wait in long lines for a chance to try her creations. Follow along to see how Lauren and her husband, Garland Wong, make it happen.

Drivers headed to downtown Manhattan will face a new toll beginning in spring 2024. The final fee, which is still up for debate, is expected to be between $9 and $23 dollars per day for passenger vehicles. Commercial vehicles will be charged upon each entry and exit to the zone. Regional planners believe the toll will nudge some drivers onto transit. The MTA plans to use the proceeds from congestion pricing to shore up its aging infrastructure. Watch the video above to see how New York City is planning to spend the cash raised by the new toll.