Hi New York!
Did you know? On today’s date, Jan 19, we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. MLK repeatedly used New York City as a national platform, most notably delivering his pivotal 1967 anti–Vietnam War speech at Riverside Church, one of the most consequential moments of his public life.
In today’s NYC Newsletter:
2-for-1 Broadway tickets, Harbaugh signs to Giants, hidden gems and best events this week.
Let’s get to it.
– Sofia Kurd.
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New York Question Of The Day
The answer to last week’s trivia [Which NYC neighborhood was once an independent city before becoming part of New York]: B) Brooklyn. Before 1898, Brooklyn was its own independent city—and briefly the third-largest city in the United States, with its own mayor, economy, and identity separate from Manhattan. It was only consolidated into New York City through the controversial 1898 merger that created the five-borough system, a move many Brooklynites fiercely opposed at the time
NYC TRIVIA:
Want to participate? Reply directly to this newsletter. No cheating!
Which New York City TV show was the first to film extensively on real NYC streets, rather than soundstages?
A) Seinfeld
B) Sex and the City
C) Law & Order
D) Friends
Best Events
NYC Broadway Week - Get 2-for-1 Broadway tickets
A limited-time promotion offering 2-for-1 tickets to select Broadway shows, aimed at filling theaters during the post-holiday winter lull.J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions Squash (Grand Central)
World-class squash played inside a glass court beneath the terminal’s arches; surprisingly intense and free to watch from the concourse.The Winter Show (Park Avenue Armory)
A high-end antiques and design fair inside the Armory—with beautiful, museum-quality pieces.Under the Radar (Jan 7–25) (Check the free ticket giveaway)
A citywide festival presenting experimental theater, dance, and performance works across more than 20 venues, featuring both New York–based and international artists.New York Jewish Film Festival (Lincoln Center)
Curated indie films and documentaries exploring Jewish life and history, with filmmaker talks throughout the run.Renoir Drawings (through Feb 8)
A Morgan Library exhibition focused exclusively on Renoir’s works on paper, including drawings, pastels, and watercolors.MoMA Mart — MoMA’s Design Store turns “grocery shopping” into a design prank
Shelves of fake food that are actually lamps, candles, stools, and sculptural home objects (Jan 6–Mar 29; SoHo + Midtown; free to browse).
Roebling Rink at Brooklyn Bridge Park
Ice skating directly under the Brooklyn Bridge with skyline views. If you’re looking for something less chaotic than Midtown rinks.
Hidden Gems
Molasses Books (Bushwick)
Used bookstore & cafe where patrons can barter volumes for coffee, beer or more books. On certain evenings, the owner opens a side window facing the street and reads poems to whoever happens to be walking by.Table Tennis Social Club @ SPiN
A weekly ping-pong-meets-nightlife mashup where you can play against an interesting mix of people — software engineers play against retired semi-pros and art-school kids.A list of all the arts and culture spots in NYC you can visit for free.
Local News
NYC suspends alternate side parking and curbside collection for MLK Day
Sanitation and street-cleaning services are paused citywide Monday in observance of the holiday, with regular service resuming Tuesday. Parking meters remain in effect.John Harbaugh signs on as head coach of the New York Giants
John Harbaugh has officially signed on as the new head coach of the New York Giants, leaving his post at Michigan after delivering them a national title. The move follows weeks of speculation and gives the Giants one of the most high-profile hires in recent team history.NYC museums and Met workers unionize for broader labor influence — Workers at the Metropolitan Museum of Art voted to unionize, a milestone in the city’s arts labor movement that could influence wages and workplace culture across cultural institutions.
“Sauna Wars”: NYC’s new wellness battleground is hot, cold, and luxe
High-end bathhouses and communal sauna spaces are popping up across Flatiron, Tribeca, and Williamsburg, turning wellness into a competitive social scene. Operators like Bathhouse, Remedy Place, and World Spa are drawing lines between old-school steam and influencer-tier experiences. (Vanity Fair)Governor Hochul announces utility cost relief for New Yorkers in 2026 budget plan
The proposal includes expanded energy rebates and infrastructure upgrades to cut costs for households amid high winter heating bills. Details are expected to unfold over the coming legislative session.NYC's women’s pro hockey team sets U.S. attendance record in DC win
The New York PWHL team earned a 2–1 win against Montréal during a game that broke U.S. attendance records for women’s hockey, drawing over 17,000 fans. The game was held in D.C. but signals surging attention to women’s sports among NYC fans. (The PWHL)NYPD reports 2025 as NYC’s safest year on record for gun violence and subway crime
City officials released data showing historic lows in shootings and transit incidents, crediting new patrol strategies and focused deterrence programs. The report highlights declines across multiple boroughs.
New York City Fact
In the early 2000s, the Central Park Zoo became unexpectedly famous thanks to Roy and Silo, two male chinstrap penguins who paired off, built a nest together, and tried to hatch a rock they were treating like an egg. Zookeepers eventually gave them a real fertilized egg from another penguin pair that struggled with incubation — and Roy and Silo successfully hatched and raised the chick, later named Tango.
For a while, they were the most talked-about residents of the zoo. Their story turned into a bestselling children’s book (And Tango Makes Three) and sparked citywide debates about animal behavior, parenting, and what counts as a “family” in New York. It’s still one of the most charming, distinctly NYC animal stories ever.
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