Month: November 2020

Environment, Featured, NY Environment, NY News, Tourism

New Greens and Grounds at Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

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The Brooklyn Botanic Garden reopened to visitors in August 2020. In September, Adrian Benepe, the former commissioner of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, came in as the Garden’s new president and chief executive.

The newly refurbished Brooklyn Botanic Garden still includes all the taxonomic detail and vibrant floral displays. The 52 acres of plant life are randomly categorized, with insects, birds, and a constantly-changing floral setup scattered throughout. The new Robert W. Wilson Overlook is constructed on a 1.25-acre slope of land that was left unkempt and deserted for too long. The slope was discovered in the 20th century when digging began on the adjacent Brooklyn Museum. The path also doubles as a ramp for disabled visitors.

While the Garden is open to visitors, the robust scholastic activities for children and adults are only available virtually. Children can register to have plants sent to their homes and gardening enthusiasts can consult with Botanical staff online.

Entertainment, Environment, Fitness, Sports, Tourism, Tribeca

Keeping a New York Tradition Running

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The New York City Marathon got underway on Oct. 17, 2020. This year, much like many other aspects of life in the City, the traditional route was forsaken for a virtual form. Runners were encouraged to register for any 26.2-mile route of their choosing and complete it within two weeks.

The New York Road Runners, the umbrella organization responsible for the annual marathon, reported that more than 28,000 runners from 130 countries and all 50 states signed up for the modified race this year. Close to 21% of those registered were based in New York’s metropolitan region.

Sunday, November 1, would have been the 50th anniversary of the New York City Marathon. While runners didn’t traverse the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, where the run usually gets underway, they could still run through the track down Fourth Avenue and Lafayette Avenue in Brooklyn, across the Queensboro Bridge, and through Manhattan and the Bronx to the “finish line” in Central Park.

There were no street closures, supportive crowds, or aid tents, but many fans of the marathon did put up encouraging signs to show their support.

Environment, Featured, Fitness, NY Environment, NY News, Technology, Tourism, Transportation

Another Way to Traverse New York City: Electric Scooter

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New York City’s Department of Transportation published a tender for “expressions of interest” for a pilot initiative which would bring electric scooters to the Big Apple. The initial plan is to introduce the scooters in all the boroughs except Manhattan in May 2021.

So far, big names in urban transportation have shown interest in the program. Bird, Lime, Voi, and Lyft have all taken steps to participate in the bidding process.

“We applaud the City and Commissioner Trottenberg for taking this crucial next step in making New York a global leader in environmental travel, micromobility, equitable transportation, and street safety.”

Maurice Henderson, Bird’s director of government partnerships