Top News in NYC & Tri-State Update July 6th:
NYC enters Phase Three today. That means the re-opening of nail salons, massage parlors, tattoo and tanning businesses. Restaurants and bars are still limited to take-out and delivery and outdoor service.
The High Line re-opens with timed entry and reduced hours.
The 9/11 Memorial Plaza reopens and the waterfalls resume flowing. The 9/11 Museum remains closed.
Playgrounds and dog runs in NYC parks have re-opened under Phase Two rules in NYC that started in late June.
NYC summer school session will be virtual, including virtual field trips.
See our guide to FREE and cheap virtual summer camps for kids and teens 4-18.
NYC has added another 23 miles of vehicle-free streets, including seven miles of protected bike lanes, in residential areas. Open Streets now total 67 miles.
NYC closes streets in all five boroughs on weekends for outdoor dining, to further help restaurants survive.
See our guide to outdoor dining ettiquette, including tipping.
See our Phase three guide for details of what’s open.
The man who designed the iconic and world-famous I Love NY logo has passed away. Bronx-born and lifelong New Yorker Milton Glaser was 91.
NYC beaches have opened for swimming, with lifeguards on duty 10am to 6pm daily, through Labor Day.
- See our guide to NYC beaches you can get to by subway
- NYC plan to open public outdoor swimming pools by mid-August
New Jersey has re-opened racetracks, museums, aquariums, libraries, outdoor amusement parks, water parks and playgrounds, racetracks, bowling allies, batting cages, including boardwalk rides ,at half capacity, on July 2nd, just in time for the busy July 4th weekend.
Racetracks, playgrounds, museums, aquariums, libraries, bowling allies, batting cages, as well as amusement and water parks can all open their doors starting today.
Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester and Rockland Counties are open under Phase Three rules this week, which means indoor dining, massages, manicures and tattoos.
New Jersey and New York have postponed plans to allow indoor dining
- It’s because of the surge in Coronavirus cases in “open” states in the South and West
- Read more in this New York Times article.
Social distancing, wearing a face covering in public and stay-at-home guidelines rules remain in effect in NYC.
Baseball returns to NYC. The NY Yankees and NY Mets have bailed on spring training in Florida, where Covid-19 cases have been spiking, are returning home to NYC to train in their respective stadiums, Yankee Stadium and Citi Field. But no spectators are allowed.
The NYC Marathon, largest in the world, in November has been cancelled.
Broadway shows are suspended through January 2021, which means theaters remain dark over the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.
- See our Virtual Events calendar to find out what’s streaming now.
Alternate side of the street parking is just one day a week starting this week.
The popular Midsummer Night Swing, three weeks of outdoor dancing to live bands in Lincoln Center, would be underway this week. It isn’t.
Also cancelled is Lincoln Center Out of Doors, three weeks of FREE outdoor concerts and dance performances normally in August..
In New Jersey, nursing homes now allow outdoor visits, with social distancing, starting tomorrow.
Curbside pickup for most retail stores, including clothing and electronics, remains in effect, under Phase One rules..
NYC subways and buses have returned to normal service, with social distancing rules.
Subway service remains closed 1am to 5am for cleaning, until further notice, which may change as more people return to work, including in the overnight hours.
The MTA has prepared new social distancing guidelines and hand sanitizer are available at stations. New signage with the updated rules include asking the public to where masks. Anyone not wearing a mask in mass transit will be provided one.
Staten Island Ferry, MetroNorth, LIRR and Amtrak have increased service.
Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester and Rockland Counties are now open under Phase Two rules
Alternate side of the street parking is suspended through June 28
Catholic Churches in Brooklyn and Queens open for weekday masses on June 29th and Sunday mass on July 3rd. The Diocese of Brooklyn says “COVID-19 safety protocols will be in place, including the requirement that all who enter a church must bring and must wear their own mask during the entire Mass and maintain proper social distancing.”
Dentists across New York State are open and must follow state guidelines on safety and social distance.
The Metropolitan Opera has cancelled its fall season.
The New York Philharmonic has cancelled its summer schedule, including the popular FREE concerts in NYC parks.
The New York City Ballet has cancelled its fall season, including the iconic holiday performances of The Nutcracker.
SummerStage free concerts in city parks are virtual this year.
Parts of Floyd Bennett Field in Queens re-open for hiking, biking and fishing.
The New York Times Travel Show in January 2021, at the Javits Convention Center, has been cancelled.
NY State veterinarians are allowed to perform non-emergency care.
NYC has closed more than 40 miles of streets near parks to improve social distancing.\
NY State will pay death benefits to front-line and emergency service workers who succumb to COVID-19 in the line of duty.
NY State campgrounds and R. V. parks are open.
NY State allows religious services to resume, limited to 10 people indoors, with social distancing.
NY State, NJ and Conn. beaches are open with social distancing rules.
NYC beaches are open to social-distancing visiting rules, but closed to swimming and group games, and there are no lifeguards.
Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester restrict beaches to local residents only. Identification is being checked at entry points to prevent use by NYC residents.
Beaches at NY State Parks including Jones Beach and Robert Moses are open to anybody.
NYC public swimming pools will not open this summer. New Jersey may open its public pools.
NYC is providing 74,000 air conditioners to the poor and elderly, to help them stay at home safely and comfortably.
NYC limits access to Central Park Sheep Meadow, Hudson River Park Piers 45 and 46 and Domino Park in Queens to ensure social-distancing rules.
For the first time ever, NYC subways are closed 1am to 5am daily for disinfectant cleaning. Additional bus service is being provided, as well as alternate transportation such as dollar vans.
NY State extends eviction ban through August, helping cassh-strapped renters.Gov.
NY State orders that renters can use security deposits to pay current rent.
NYC summer school session will be virtual, including virtual field trips.
NJ orders that no state resident’s internet or phone service be shut off for a failure to pay until 30 days after the public health emergency had ended.
IRS deadline for filing taxes has been extended from April 15 to July 15.
Dog runs in NYC parks are closed to prevent dog owners and dog walkers from ignoring social-distancing rules.
Health Resources
NYC has a 24-hour COVID-19 hotline for up to date information. Call (888) 364-3065.
If you are part of an at-risk population such as a senior or immuno-compromised and want testing, call (844) NYC-4NYC, or call 311 (save 911 for urgent emergencies).
Diagnostic testing sites are now open in some of the hardest-hit areas in NYC including:
- Harlem – outside Gotham Health Sydenham on 118th Street. It’s a walk-in clinic to get the traditional nose and throat tests that determine if you currently have COVID-19.
- East New York, Brooklyn – NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, East New York. 2094 Pitkin Avenue
- Morrisania, Bronx – NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Morrisania. 1225 Gerard Avenue
- Vanderbilt, Staten Island – NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Vanderbilt. 165 Vanderbilt Ave
- Jamaica, Queens – NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens, Jamaica. 82-68 164th Street
Those who meet the testing criteria and would like to schedule an appointment call 1-888-ONEMED1 OR go to onemedical.com and use code NYCCARE30.
Virtual Urgent Care – NYU Langone offers 24/7 access to health experts for flu-like symptoms or other minor medical concerns.
- Visit www.nyulangone.org/VUC
NYC has a 24-hour COVID-19 hotline for up to date information.
- Call (888) 364-3065.
New Jersey has a dedicated website for Covid-19 updates.
- Visit www.covid19.nj.gov.
Meal Resources
New Yorkers in need can get FREE MEALS at more than 400 locations.
Where to get FREE Kosher meals
Where to get FREE Halal meals
FREE meal delivery for elderly and housebound
NYCOTC has an Emergency Resourses hub page
to keep you up to date, including
How to Apply for Unemployment and Food Stamps
Special shopping hours for seniors & vulnerable
Where to get help
How to help frontline emergency workers
NYC on the Cheap has been updating this information at least once a week since March 12.
Floyd Bennett Field Re-Opens
Parts of Brooklyn’s Floyd Bennett Field been re-opened by the National Park Service, for socially distanced activities including fishing, biking and hiking. New fishing licenses will not be issued yet, but permits issued in 2019 will be honored.
The park is part of the Gateway National Recreation Area, federal officials said.
The park had been closed for nearly seven weeks ago to store inactive MTA buses, which have now been returned to active duty.
Metropolitan Opera Cancels Fall Season
This is the gravest crisis in the 137-year history of the fabled Met Opera.
The months of cancellations will be especially hard on the company’s employees, including the members of its world-renowned orchestra and chorus, who have not been paid since March, when the company furloughed them but agreed to keep paying for their health benefits.
Most have gone on unemployment, and several members of the company said that some of their colleagues have had to give up their homes.
NYC Streets Closed to Traffic
More than 40 miles of streets in all five boroughs are closed to traffic 8am to 8pm to facilitate social distancing outdoors.
In my neighborhood, kids are playing street hockey and soccer, adults are bringing out beach chairs and books.
What’s happening in your neighborhood? Let us know. Add a comment below.
Alternate side of the street parking tickets
- Any New Yorker under isolation who has received a ticket can appeal to the Department of Finance and provide medical documentation or testimony, which will be taken into consideration when the case is reviewed.
- For any additional questions call 311.
- Payment at parking meters will remain in effect throughout the City
Additional Cancellations, Postponements, News
New York Philharmonic has cancelled its summer performance in order to protect its audience, musicians, and employees from COVID-19.
This affects the concerts in the parks; the performances in China as part of the Shanghai Orchestra Academy and Partnership; and the residency at Bravo! Vail Music Festival in Colorado.
The Philharmonic plans to resume all three annual appearances in the summer of 2021.
NYC buses are FREE.
- Passengers must enter by rear door to protect drivers from close contact.
NYC subways are operating on a reduced schedule.
Staten Island Ferry, NYC Ferry, LIRR, MetroNorth operating on reduced schedule
Lincoln Center extends performance cancellations into June.
- Midsummer Night Swing has been cancelled.
Non-emergency elective surgery are cancelled in NY State to save hospital resources, including personnel and dwindling medical supplies.
Gov. Cuomo orders banks to suspend mortgage payments for three months
NYCOTC has added a Coronavirus category to stay up to date
The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island remain closed by the National Park Service.
NYC has banned shared rides with strangers from app-based services.
- Only shares from people who know one another, such as spouses or groups of friends will be permitted.
NYC parks, including Central Park, are open, but public programs and tours are cancelled.
- Exception – The Highline is closed because of its narrow pathways and staircases which do not allow for social distancing
- Access to Central Park Sheep Meadow is being monitored by NYPD to ensure social distancing
NYCOTC has added a Coronavirus hub page to keep you up to date
- This NYCOTC report is compiled from press releases and other materials received by NYCOTC, news sources including NY Times, Eater NY, Crain’s, the Real Deal (real estate news), The Verge and from the official websites of the NYC and NY State governments.
Update on Broadway shows and tickets
Broadway shows now are shuttered through Sept. 6.
Disney’s Frozen is closed permanently. It will not re-open.
According to the trade magazine Broadway News, ticket buyers had been frustrated by their inability to receive refunds for performances past April 12.
Now any patron who had tickets for performances through Labor Day will be contacted by their point of purchase with information on ticket exchanges and refunds.
Ticket refunds
Contact the theater or the company from which you purchased tickets, such as NYCOTC ticket partner Goldstar, for refunds or rebooking.
74th annual Tony Awards,
Originaly scheduled for June 7, and postponed until an undecided date.
New York Public Library
All 92 branches in Manhattan, Bronx and Staten Island to close Saturday, March 14 through the end of March, as have all public events and programs..
This means Friday the 13th was the last day you can pick up holds or borrow books until NYPL locations re-open.NYC
Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Cloisters, Met Breuer
The Met is postponing the opening viewing and reception for its 150th anniversary exhibition, “Making The Met, 1870—2020,” which had been planned for March 23.No date has been announced for the re-opening.
The Met had closed previously for only two major events in NYC – for the days following 9/11 and Hurricane Sandy, according to this full story in the NYTimes.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute annual Met Gala, scheduled for May 4, has been postponed. This year’s theme was to be “About Time: Fashion and Duration.”
E
velyn Kanter is a native New Yorker who has written for the NY Times, NY Daily News, NY Post, New York Magazine, and is a former on-air reporter for WCBS Newsradio 88 and WABC-TV Eyewitness News.
Evelyn Kanter also is the author of several NYC and Hudson Valley guidebooks, including my latest, 100 Things to Do in NYC Before You Die.
Purchase autographed copies by emailing evelyn@evelynkanter.com
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