NYC Weekend Edition

Good Morning. 🌧️Looks like a rainy morning to start the day and a bit cooler weather for the weekend. On Sunday, the 26th annual Lunar New Year Parade will be starting on Mott and Hester Street at 1:00pm. Get there early if you want a good spot and have some soup dumplings afterwards.

The News
No Cuts and More Jobs!

💰Mayor Eric Adams finally had some good news for New Yorkers! He announced that the city's drastic budget cuts for the upcoming fiscal year are off the table, and the hiring freeze is being lifted. How did this happen? Well, it turns out that the city's economy performed better than expected in 2023, leading to an increase in tax revenue forecasts. Additionally, the city has made further cutbacks in spending on asylum seekers. Looks like at least someone will pick up the trash!

Tummy Ache?

🤮Make sure you wash your hands! The Northeast U.S. is currently experiencing the highest positivity rate for norovirus, a stomach virus, according to the CDC. Their data shows that over the past three weeks, the positivity rate for norovirus tests in the Northeast has been over 15%.

Norovirus is known for causing vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps, along with symptoms like fever, headaches, and body aches. People typically start showing symptoms within 12 to 48 hours of exposure. While most individuals infected with norovirus start feeling better within one to three days, they can still spread the virus for several days after symptoms disappear.

Another Long Season?

⚾New year but some old Mets? I was hoping for a better season this year but it looks like Steve Cohen’s boys are going to come out limping. Kodai Senga, announced by David Stearns, president of baseball operations, has a moderate strain in the back of his right shoulder. To recover, Senga will be resting until the symptoms subside and his strength returns. After that, he will undergo a normal spring training progression.

While he’s not expected to require surgery, there is currently no timetable for the Met’s ace to return. At least we can still get some good food in Flushing!

Things to do

• The Annual Lunar New Year Parade starts at 1:00pm this Sunday on February 25th in Chinatown.

• Like Comedy? Stop by Industry City for a free show on February 24^th .

• Off-Broadway 2-for-1 is back, some great shows are still available.

• The NYC Brewers Guild annual Opening Bash is back, drink over 100 beers on February 24^th .

• Flowers and Fashion, a winning combination are together at the New York Botanical Garden Orchid Show.

Let’s Eat

• A special Lunar New Year bagel with BBQ Pork Belly is available at Black Seed Bagels at select locations.

• A Cambodian restaurant, Bayon, just opened on the Upper East Side.

• I’ve always been a fan of fresh pasta. Forma in Brooklyn is cheap, fresh and good.

• Good Filipino food is hard to find in the city but Kalye is a little gem in the Lower East Side.

• Reyna is beautiful Mediterranean tapas restaurant, perfect for that special occasion located in Union Square.

The Hood
Small But Nice

🥵A studio on E49th St for $2,950 seems like a pretty good deal. It’s a bit out of the way near 1st avenue but you’re close to the water just a block away to enjoy those “work from home” days.

Google Owns NYC

🏢Google is taking over the West Side! Their new building at 550 Washington street finally opened. While the area is currently pretty quiet, you can bet that cafes, restaurants and bars will soon follow. Even with their recent layoffs, the search giant still employs 14,000 New Yorkers. Go Google!

Housing Lottery Opens

🎰Feeling lucky? Get a new studio for as low as $934 in a luxury building on W43^rd street. The lottery for these precious apartments just opened. While there are not many available, you have to be in it to win it! It’s a pet friendly building so you can bring fluffy with you.

The View
Free Night at Morgan

📚Located at 225 Madison Avenue on 36^th street, the Morgan Library & Museum is currently featuring a photography exhibition with eighteen photographs from prominent figures. Best of all, Friday nights are free for anyone who reserves a ticket in advance!

Best Seat Available

🎞️Looking for the perfect seat in the theater to watch the latest action flick? Seems like there is a strategy depending on you are watching. I guess it’s not as easy as just showing up early to get a great seat.

The Numbers
They’re Back

They left us for dead but we came back. One of the driving forces of New York’s economy, tourism, is bouncing back strongly. If you have a doubt, just take a walk in Times Square at night. Feels to me that it’s already more crowded than in 2019 but who knows what the actual methodology is in counting that many people. Congrats to NYC!