🌱 Times Square Upheaval + UES Demolition Plans | Daily Digest

Adam Nichols
·5 min read

It's that strange week between holidays where everyone's recovering from Christmas, and preparing for New Year's Eve. And this year, like last, COVID-19 is being a real party pooper.

The Times Square celebrations have already had to be hastily reconsidered, with the amount of people attending being cut to a quarter of the number originally planned. Parents are worried that the number of kids being hospitalized with the virus has gone up drastically, and knock-on effects of the pandemic have made holiday travel a nightmare.

In non-COVID news, most of an Upper East Side block could be torn down by a developer who wants to replace the century-old buildings with new ones. But a sole tenant may be a thorn in their side. And punk Queen Patti Smith has become the latest to be given the key to New York City by Mayor Bill de Blasio.

What Else We're Reading:

  1. COVID tests last week found 1 in 60 people in Manhattan were positive. (WABC-TV)

  2. What will hapen to New York City's skyscrapers and office buildings if the move to work-from-home doesn't end? (New York Post )

  3. The MTA is scaling back subway service as it tries to deal with the effects of the COVID surge.

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And now, today's weather:

Variably cloudy; not as cool. High: 50 Low: 40.

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Today in New York City:

  • “The Greatness of Tuscany,” a free webinair presented by Dr. Rocky Ruggiero (11:30 AM)

  • Free Improv Comedy Workshop For Beginners (4:00 PM)

  • NewFilmmakers NY [ Tuesday / December 28th / Online ] (6:00 PM)

  • Chris Botti (8:00 PM)


From my notebook:

  • NYC Mayor's Office: Updates on COVID-19 testing sites through the city this week. (Facebook)

  • Central Park: "Swaying, golden grasses along the north end of Turtle Pond look stunning against a bright winter sky, but the real seasonal showstopper is the bald cypress tree." (Instagram)

  • New York City Fire Department (FDNY): "On Saturday, December 25, FDNY members from Station 58 and Division 3 partnered with the Steel Horses motorcycle club in organizing a holiday toy drive." (Facebook)

  • New-York Historical Society: "🎶 Radio City Music Hall opened in NYC #OnThisDay in 1932, boasting the world's largest auditorium.⁣" ⁣ ⁣ (Facebook)

  • NYC: The Official Guide: "#NYCgoRecap2021: This week we'll be taking a look back and highlighting the best of NYCgo content all week long." (Facebook)

  • The High Line: "This fall, the High Line held a celebration to recognize our wonderful, hardworking volunteers. Join us in celebrating their contributions with a comment of support or a like! Photos by Liz Ligon" (Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

Events:

  • The Williamsburg Hotel New Year's Weekend Thursday party 2022 (December 30)

  • Mister East NJ New Years Eve 2022 (December 31)

  • Casa 51 NYC 5 Hour Openbar & Buffet NYE 2022 (December 31)

  • Stitch NYC New Year's Eve Singles Openbar Party 2022 (December 31)

  • Playwright Bar & Lounge 40s & Over New Years Eve Party 2022 (December 31)

  • Ravel Penthouse 808 New Years Eve NYE 2022 (December 31)

  • Harbor NYC New Years Eve NYE 2022 (December 31)

  • 42 D'or formerly Playboy Club NYC New Years Eve NYE 2022 (December 31)

  • The Ugly Duckling NYC New Years Eve NYE 2022 (December 31)

  • Ariana's South NYC New Years Eve NYE 2022 (December 31)

  • New Years Eve at Doha Bar Lounge in Queens, NYC (December 31)

  • Ammos Estiatorio NYC New Years Eve party 2022 (December 31)

  • Libertador NYC New Year's Eve NYE Party 2022 (December 31)

  • The Harrison Time Square NYC New Years Eve Party 2022 (December 31)

  • Big City Tavern formerly Roxy Diner Time Square NYC New Years Eve Party 2022 (December 31)

  • Brooklyn Billiards NYE 3 Hour Openbar, Food & Pool 2022 (December 31)

  • The Billiard Company New Years Eve 2022 (December 31)

  • Doha Nightclub New Years Eve NYE 2022 (December 31)

  • Blue Midtown NYC New Years Eve NYE 2022 (December 31)

  • The Late Late NYC New Years Eve NYE 2022 (December 31)

  • Elite Williamsburg NYC New Years Eve NYE 2022 (December 31)

  • The Beach House LI Long Beach New Years Eve 2022 (December 31)

  • Rosewood Theater New Years Eve NYE 2022 (December 31)

  • Ring In the New Year With 15 Percent Off Beautiful Blooms From FTD! (December 31)

  • Don Miguelo live at El Ambiente NY New Years Eve 2022 (December 31)

  • The Williamsburg Hotel New Years Day Saturday party 2022 (January 1)

  • Success Academy Presents, How to Get into Kindergarten with Alina Adams (January 6)

  • Add your event

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Tuesday. I'll see you soon!

— Adam Nichols

Your regular newsletter curator, Matt Troutman, is taking a well-earned break and will be back in the new year.

This article originally appeared on the New York City Patch