Following a slew of pop-ups and stand-alone exhibits, elusive England-based street artist Banksy is getting the New York City museum treatment: The Banksy Museum is set to debut at 227 Canal Street by Broadway on May 15. 

According to an official press release, the space will display over 160 works by the artist—from his instantly recognizable street art to studio pieces, videos and animated visuals—making this “the largest display of Banksy work ever seen in a single setting.”

Similar destinations have already debuted in Barcelona, Brussels, Kraków and Paris, all of them projects by Hazis Vardar, also the brainchild behind the famous Palace Nightclub in France. 

“Street art belongs in the raw setting of the streets,” said Vardar in an official statement. “But if people can’t see it, is it even art? Little of Banksy’s works are visible to the public at large. Most have been stolen for resale, inadvertently destroyed, or erased by overzealous city cleaning teams. Most of this transient art could only be viewed on tiny smartphone screens, which is no way to experience the scale or emotion of Banksy’s work. So we knew that we needed to create an exhibition that would bring Banksy’s art back before the public.”

To do the work justice, the creators of the museum created a space that “reflects the street experience” and employed a number of anonymous street artists to recreate Banksy’s work. That is all to say: what you’ll see on the walls and propped up for display won’t necessarily be Banksy’s own work but celebratory recreations of both iconic and lesser known pieces.

Tickets for the museum, which will be open daily from 10am to 8pm, are available right here. The exhibit spans the second and third floors of the building and, according to the press release, takes about an hour to be seen in totality—although you are encouraged to take in all the pieces at your own pace.

* This article was originally published here

By 2026, the Battery in downtown Manhattan is going to look pretty different, courtesy of the $200 million, city-funded Battery Coastal Resilience project that broke ground earlier this week.

Part of a larger effort that seeks to protect the area from climate change-related issues—think storm surges and rising sea levels, among others—the project involves the rebuilding and raising of the wharf promenade in the Battery, which was originally constructed by in the 1940s.

“The Battery Coastal Resilience project will help protect Lower Manhattan from the stronger storms that climate change is bringing while ensuring that New Yorkers can still enjoy the beautiful green space and cultural icons that The Battery has come to be known for,” said Mayor Eric Adams in an official statement.

But, there’s more: the above-mentioned plans are being carried forward alongside a separate initiative, the South Battery Park City Resiliency project, that will also change the look of the neighborhood.

The latter effort will help create an integrated coastal flood risk management system along the northern border of Battery Park all the way to the Museum of Jewish Heritage. For that to happen, authorities will build an entirely new Wagner Park and surrounding pavilion, lifting the 3.5-acre destination by about ten feet and adding a new restaurant and community space to the on-site activations. 

Last week, the city actually released a request for proposals (RFP) for the new eatery.

According to the document, those in charge are looking for prospective restaurant operators whose “price points are aligned with and responsive to a diverse clientele,” who are looking to serve “high-quality, healthy food options” within operating hours that are “compatible with the neighborhood’s character” and who will make an effort not to disturb surrounding folks with loud noises or foul odors.

Time-wise, officials are hoping that both the revamped park and the new restaurant will open by the spring of 2025.

The Battery Coastal Resilience project and the South Battery Park City Resiliency project are part of the larger Lower Manhattan Coastal Resiliency project, which will cost the city about $1.7 billion and also includes the Brooklyn Bridge-Montgomery Coastal Resilience and the Easy Side Coastal Resiliency project.

Clearly, the city is making an effort to step up our coastal infrastructure. Here’s to hoping New Yorkers will do their part in mitigating the effects of climate change as well.

* This article was originally published here

Did you know that how many pillows you sleep with is directly correlated to how much pain your body feels daily?

That’s one of the many things you’ll likely learn when joining Continuum, the new members-only wellness club set to open at 676 Greenwich Street near Christopher Street in the West Village on May 15.

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The focus on factual education is at the core of the destination’s ethos, one that champions well-being over all else and hopes to achieve just that through the use of the AI-powered software that it employs to create personal plans for each member.

If it all sounds very high-tech and expensive, that is because, well, it is: the membership fee to Continuum runs about $10,000 a month, granting folks access to the space’s top-notch gym, personal and physical trainers, saunas, treatment rooms, lounge, nap pod and more.

Given the interest in the concept and the solid cohort of people that have already signed up for the program, one thing is clear: New Yorkers have recently doubled down on their pandemic-era pledge to their healthier selves—no matter the cost.

“In the realm of health, the fundamentals of nutrition, exercise, and recovery are well-established science, yet the application remains elusive,” said CEO Jeff Halevy in an official statement. “We’ve been handed tools without a blueprint, leaving us to navigate the complexities of wellness alone. Our vision is to break down these silos, creating a cohesive ecosystem where meticulously collected data contributes to a deeper understanding of oneself. What we’re building is more than a luxury wellness club; Continuum is a totally integrated platform driven by the power of AI and individual biometrics, ensuring that health is both intentional and quantifiable.”

As mentioned by Halevy, Continuum operates as more than a straightforward gym: members, which will never exceed the cap of 250 in total, will undergo a series of tests and exams (think body composition scans, sleep analysis, blood panels and more) so that the club’s AI software could develop what actually amounts to a personal “prescription” that includes exercise not only regiments and dietary guidelines but also suggestions for specific therapies and services, which will be offered on-site as well.

The opulence of the offerings mirrors the business’ physical 25,000-square-foot flagship: plaster walls, modern decor, curated artworks, top-notch lighting fixtures and equipment made Continuum one of the swankiest wellness centers in the country.  

“A lot of people who are big in recovery spaces find that there is no place that ties that to exercise regime and gives me all the knowledge,” chief revenue officer Tom Wingert said to Time Out. “So not only do they have to go to two places to find what they’re looking for but they can’t speak to anyone who may offer guidance on both recovery and exercise. This place does both.”

Clearly passionate about the business and what it stands for, Wingert hopes to eventually open similar clubs around the country—starting with, perhaps, Miami and Los Angeles, where locals seem to share in on New Yorkers’ interest for anything that may prolong youth—but also make the AI software that powers Continuum available “a la carte.” Whether that will come along with a $10,000 price tag as well is yet to be seen.

* This article was originally published here

If it seems like forever ago since you last noticed miniature boats floating over Central Park’s Conservatory Water pond, that’s because the tiny crafts have not graced the body of water in five years. 

But now, for the first time after the pandemic, New Yorkers can once again sail the iconic remote-controlled vessels at the park: model boat sailing is officially back!

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Rocking the Boat, a non-profit based in the Bronx that teaches teenagers how to build life-size boats for sailing on Long Island Sound, is behind the relaunch of the beloved activity, reports the New York Times. 

According to Central Park’s own website, model boating is a tradition that is just as central to the character of the city as the park itself, with towns across the world also partaking in the pastime, including at Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris. 

A word on Conservatory Water, the pond where the boats float in: first made famous by E.B. White in his beloved 1945 children’s novel Stuart Little, which was adapted to a movie in 1999, the area is named after a large greenhouse of glass and metal that the city had planned to build but never finished. Originally, the pond was meant to reflect the greenhouse. Now, the body of water is known for turning into an ice skating rink during the winter, when the water freezes all the way through, and for its model boat racing, which attracts children from all over the city, during warmer months.

You can rent the model boats, which are built by members of Rocking the Boat, for $15 for a 30-minute session. If you decide to bring your own miniature boat, you’ll need to secure a $15 permit from the city’s parks department. 

* This article was originally published here

The upper crust of New York City society and all of the most relevant celebrities are preparing for their night on the red carpet at the annual Met Gala, but last night, The People’s Ball held court.

Last year, we named it the best nightlife event of 2023, and for good reason! Unlike the invitation-only event at the Met Museum tonight, the People’s Ball is open to all—and for free—at the Brooklyn Public Library. And on Sunday night, everyone was allowed to show off their best looks.

As the Library states, “the People’s Ball declares that the pinnacle of fashion is found in the everyday New Yorker!”

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The event was co-curated by Harlem icon Souleo, actress Delissa Reynolds and celebrity stylist Robert Verdi and featured a performance from drag icon Kevin Aviance, music from DJ Spinna and a tribute to New York Times fashion and street photographer Bill Cunningham on what would’ve been his 95th birthday with a catwalk featuring a group of his former models: Lauren Ezersky, Jean Stone, Lana Turner and Amy Collins.

“The People’s Ball has become one of Brooklyn’s rituals of spring,” said László Jakab Orsós, Vice President of Arts and Culture at Brooklyn Public Library. “Last night, hundreds of people from every corner of the borough and from every walk of life showed off their stellar outfits and unique personalities on a runway in the middle of the public library. This event celebrates the true spirit of democracy and reminds us that fashion and creativity belong to everyone, and you really don’t need much to be a relevant part of it – just imagination, inspiration, courage, and a zest for life, values that we all deeply believe in at the library.”

Below, see 10 of the most fabulous fits from the People’s Ball (and you can see 2023’s looks here).

1. A Gold leaf suit

2. An all-denim dress 

3. Power in gold

4. The best hat of the night

5. A clear message

6. A floral arrangement

7. The People’s princess

8. Brooklyn fashion trio

9.  Paper plumes 

10. Call 911, she’s on fire

* This article was originally published here