The Week in Green

⏰Good Morning. Spring hasn’t officially started but the weather is expected to be quite warm this week. Cherry blossoms have been sighted throughout the city, and it seems like they may be blooming a bit earlier than usual. Mega Millions has reached $735 million, and the Powerball jackpot has also joined the fun at $532 million. The color for the week is green as New York gets ready for St. Patrick's Day on March 17th.

The News
City Headlines

📱TikTok might get banned if a bill passes in the House next week. President Biden is ready to sign it if approved so this might actually happen after years of speculation. In reality, TikTok isn’t going to go away. They will just have five months to sell themselves to a US-approved company. Microsoft and Oracle were two companies that came close a few years ago in acquiring the US operations of the company.

👮The NYPD is now using social media to expand their reach and help spread their message. The department wants to address false accusations against its officers and set the record straight on any inaccuracies. If you are a social media wiz, they may have a job for you!

🕌Sunday marked the start of Ramadan, a significant religious holiday for Muslims worldwide. In New York, Muslims are preparing to observe the month of fasting, prayer, and self-reflection, even as the Israel-Hamas war continues. Special evening prayer services will be held throughout the month, emphasizing community and spirituality. The first day of fasting will begin on Monday, following the start of Ramadan on Sunday night.

🏈Russell Wilson recently met with the New York Giants in what was called an "exploratory meeting," which could mean different things. Maybe he wants to know if he'd have to compete with or sit behind Daniel Jones. Or perhaps the Giants are trying to gauge if Wilson is interested in these scenarios. It could also mean Wilson is curious about how serious the Giants are about drafting a quarterback early in the upcoming NFL Draft, which might make them a short-term option for him.

Signing Wilson would be a significant and potentially game-changing move for the Giants in free agency. Plus, it would be cost-effective, as Wilson will still be paid by the Broncos due to contract offsets. Any team that signs him would only need to pay him the league minimum based on his experience.

🌸Cherry blossoms have been spotted blooming at Hudson Yards and Central Park. The Higan Cherry trees in the Great Lawn started blooming last week. Central Park offers an interactive tool to track the blooms throughout the park. If you are a fan of cherry blossoms, make sure to get your cameras ready!

Things to do

• The Atlantic 10 Men’s Basketball Championship runs from March 12^th to March 17^th at the Barclays Center.

• Yo! MTV Bingo on March 12^th at the Alligator Lounge.

• Diane von Furstenberg for Target Event at the Shed in Hudson Yards.

• Jameson Irish Whiskey is hosting a St. Patrick’s Eve celebration at Good Morning America Plaza in Times Square on March 16^th . Sign up to attend the free event.

Let’s Eat

• Bibliotheque is a bookstore and cafe combination located in SoHo. Read a book and drink coffee sourced from Onyx Coffee Lab. Bookstores and cafes are popular in Asia and it looks like more are coming here to NYC.

• Dinner is great at Madre but the French toast at brunch is even better at this Greenpoint restaurant located at 214 Franklin Street, Brooklyn.

• La Bonbonniere is an old school New York diner located at 28 8th Avenue in the West Village. It’s been around for as long as I can remember and is cheap and good. It’s so good they don’t even have a website and it’s cash only. Don’t miss the French toast there!

• Popup Bagels are crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. They’re Martha Stewart’s favorite and have also won the Brooklyn Bagelfest two years in a row now. They are located at 177 Thompson Street in SoHo.

• Rolo's in Ridgewood, Queens is famous for their burgers, but their two sheet lasagna verde is also worth the trip on the M train.

The Hood
Hoop Dreams

🏨This Studio on West 30th might be the perfect place for Knicks fans. Located just a few blocks from Madison Square Garden this sunlit apartment even has an outdoor balcony. Conveniently located near the A, C, E, and 1 train, Whole Foods, and of course Macy's.

New Terminal

🚌The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has just revealed designs for the new Midtown Bus Terminal in Manhattan. The project is expected to be completed in phases, with a staging and storage facility ready by 2028. This will act as a temporary terminal until the main one is finished in 2032.

The new terminal has been designed to reduce congestion by accommodating more curbside inter-city buses that currently contribute to street traffic. In addition, the terminal has been designed for the future, incorporating all-electric bus fleets and cutting-edge technology throughout its multi-story, light-filled spaces. For more information about the project, please visit this link.

The Escape
Italy for $1.09

🏡Are you dreaming of owning a perfect summer home or a place to work remotely away from the office? Well, for just one Euro, you can now buy property in Mussomeli, Italy. This small Sicilian town is home to just over 11,000 people and is considered one of the safest towns in southern Italy.

Sounds like a dream come true, doesn't it? However, the only catch is that the properties available for purchase are in a state of disrepair and require major renovations. The town has set a condition that the renovations must be completed within three years. If you are up for the challenge and have enough cash to finance the repairs, this could be the home of your dreams.

Mountain Zipping

🚡Catamount Mountain Resort is all set to unveil the longest zipline in the United States this spring. The Catamount Zip Tour will take adventure enthusiasts on an exciting two-hour journey over the Hudson Valley and into the Berkshires.

The tour will feature three dual ziplines, which enable you to regulate your speed, with the potential to reach up to 55 miles per hour. One of the ziplines is over a mile long, making it the longest one in the country. The tour is scheduled to open on May 14 and costs $99 per person. The spots fill up quickly, but you can book ahead of time.

The Deals

• Breville’s Espresso machines aren’t cheap but it’s cheaper than going to Starbucks every morning.

• Apple’s iPad Mini is on sale. They may be announcing a new one soon but you won’t be getting it at a discount.

• March in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade for free. No need to stand behind the barriers, you can be part of the ceremonies.

• Singapore Airlines has an international roundtrip flight sale.

• This is a portable charger I always carry with me. It can be used to charge my phone or GoPro when I’m on the go.

Next Up
The Cyclone

🎢Coney Island's opening day is just a few weeks away on Saturday, March 23rd. This is the perfect opportunity for you to finally ride the Cyclone and grab a Nathan's hot dog. Did you know that the Cyclone is an official New York City landmark? It's also a pretty scary ride, reaching speeds of up to 60 miles per hour while plunging from a steep 85 feet. If that's too much for you to handle, you can always ride the tamer Tony's Express or simply take a walk on the beach and enjoy the sunset.