Hello New York!

New York City finally saw temperatures climb above freezing on Feb 2 after the longest sub-32°F stretch in years. The city returned to full stride with transit, offices, and cultural venues operating normally to start February. Contract negotiations continued in the city’s ongoing nurses strike, with talks focused on staffing and patient care standards. Comedy events, free grocery giveaway, and a NYC resident is named to the US Olympic team.

More events and news in today’s issue. Let’s get to it.

– Sofia Kurd.

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Which NYC borough has the most subway stations?

A) Manhattan
B) Brooklyn
C) Queens
D) The Bronx

Thanks for participating!

1. EconLOL: An Economics-Themed Comedy Show Wed, Feb 4 | 9:30 PM | Caveat, Lower East Side | Luke Strathmann brings together comedians and real-life economists to make fun of anything economics/finance/business-related, with PowerPoints.

2. Kalshi Free Groceries Giveaway Tue-Wed, Feb 4 | 12 PM | Westside Market, 3rd Ave | Prediction market platform Kalshi gives away free groceries as a marketing stunt. No catch—just show up.

3. An Evening of Romances with 831 Stories Thu, Feb 5 | 7:30 PM | Greenlight Bookstore, Fort Greene | Free Indie romance publisher 831 Stories authors Upasna Barath, Cat DiSabato, Eliza Dumais, and Lana Schwartz read and discuss their work. Wine reception follows.

4. Dumbo First Thursday Gallery Walk Thu, Feb 5 | 6-8 PM | DUMBO, Brooklyn | Free Explore DUMBO's waterfront arts scene with 14 galleries staying open late for opening receptions, special events, and artist talks. Optional 6 PM "insiders' tour" features talks from artists and curators (RSVP required).

5. Noguchi's New York @ The Isamu Noguchi Museum Opens Feb 4 | Long Island City, Queens | Isamu Noguchi's radical approach to sculpture, design, and landscape. The first major exhibition exploring Noguchi's relationship with New York City. Through July 5.

7. Uptown Showdown: 1920s vs. 2020s Thu, Feb 5 | 7 PM | Upper West Side | Comedy debate: flappers or influencers? Jazz clubs or TikTok trends? Featuring Brandon Collins (Drunk Black History), Janeane Garofalo (Wet Hot American Summer), Peter Grosz (The Beast in Me), Myq Kaplan (Rini), Ikechukwu Ufomadu (Fantasmas), and Natasha Vaynblat (The Tonight Show). Hosted by Shalewa Sharpe.

8. Chain Theatre Winter One-Act Festival Thu-Sat, Feb 5-7 | Hell's Kitchen | $24+ 90 new one-act plays from emerging and established playwrights.

1) NYC Native Kamryn Lute Named U.S. Winter Olympics Competitor
A 21-year-old New York City native, Kamryn Lute, has been named to the U.S. Olympic team for short track speed skating. She is currently the only NYC-born athlete representing Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics Milano Cortina. Lute trained largely outside the traditional Midwest pipeline for the sport, making her selection a notable outlier. Her qualification has been highlighted by local sports outlets as a rare New York City presence in winter Olympic competition.

2) NY Attorney General to Deploy Legal Observers to Monitor ICE Enforcement
New York Attorney General Letitia James announced that her office will deploy legal observers to monitor federal immigration enforcement activity across New York City. The observers are intended to document ICE operations and ensure compliance with state and local laws. The move follows heightened federal immigration activity and ongoing legal disputes between New York officials and federal authorities. City leaders framed the effort as oversight rather than interference.

3) L’Industrie Pizzeria to Open in Little Italy Next to Ferrara Bakery
Popular Brooklyn slice shop L’Industrie Pizzeria is opening a new location in Little Italy, steps from the historic Ferrara Bakery.

4) Fellow DSA Member Wins Special Election to Fill Mamdani’s Former Assembly Seat
Democratic Socialists of America member Diana Moreno won a special election to fill the Queens Assembly seat vacated by Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Moreno’s victory maintains the DSA hold on the district and signals continued progressive momentum in local state politics. Turnout was modest, typical of special elections, but the race drew attention due to its ideological implications. Moreno is expected to align closely with Mamdani’s legislative priorities.

5) Bronx Water Main Break Draws City Crews
An overnight water main break in Morrisania prompted an emergency response from city crews early Sunday morning. Several blocks experienced flooding, temporary water outages, and street closures while repairs were underway. Officials said the break was likely related to extreme cold stressing aging infrastructure. Service was restored later in the day, with full roadway repairs scheduled to follow.

6) NYPD Data Reiterates Record Safety Gains Across NYC in January
New NYPD data shows January 2026 was the safest January on record in New York City, with significant year-over-year declines in shootings and murders. Major felony complaints were also down across multiple boroughs. Police leadership credited targeted patrols, gun-recovery efforts, and transit enforcement. City officials cautioned that long-term trends matter more than single-month data but called the numbers encouraging.

7) Local Politicians Criticize City Snow Removal Rules After Recent Storms
Following delays after recent winter storms, several city and borough officials criticized NYC’s snow removal rules as unclear and inconsistently enforced. Complaints centered on confusion over sidewalk responsibility and delayed plowing on secondary streets. Some lawmakers called for clearer enforcement timelines and stronger penalties for noncompliance. The Department of Sanitation said cleanup was complicated by extreme cold and back-to-back weather events.

8) Historic Nurses Strike Continues With Safety Concerns at Forefront
The largest nurses strike in New York City history has continued into February and contract negotiations remained stalled. Nurses cited staffing ratios, patient safety, and burnout as core issues driving the walkout. Hospital administrators said contingency staffing plans are in place but acknowledged strain on operations. State mediators remain involved as talks continue without a resolution.

Share your voice and opinions on local NYC and national policies. Each month, we randomly pick one of all participants to win a prize. Feb 2026: $25 gift card.

George Washington used a secret spy ring in New York City that helped win the Revolutionary War.

During the British occupation of NYC, Washington oversaw the Culper Spy Ring—a network of merchants, a farmer, a code-maker, and even a female agent still known only by the alias "Agent 355." They smuggled intelligence out of Manhattan using invisible ink, coded letters, laundry-line signals, and dead-drop locations across Long Island and lower Manhattan.

Their intel exposed a British plan to kidnap Washington, uncovered Benedict Arnold’s treason, and helped the Continental Army intercept troop movements. The center of revolutionary espionage wasn't a battlefield—it was Manhattan coffee houses and taverns filled with British officers.

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