The MTV Video Music Awards, widely referred to as the VMAs, first aired from Radio City Music Hall in 1984, making this year’s festivities the program’s 40th. 

For the first time since 2018, the award show will take place in New York once again, this time at the UBS Arena in Queens on September 10.

“We are excited to welcome back the MTV Video Music Awards to New York State,” Governor Kathy Hochul said in an official statement. “From its origins at Radio City Music Hall in 1984 to this September’s event at the UBS Arena, the VMAs continue to captivate millions, showcasing the very best in music video artistry. As we prepare to host this 40th anniversary event, let’s embrace the spirit of creativity and innovation that defines our state’s cultural landscape.”

A confluence of factors make the 2024 iteration of the show super-exciting: not only is it the program’s 40th anniversary, but it’s the first time that the staff will venture out to Long Island. It’s also the first time that UBS Arena gets to host an awards show.

For the past two years, the VMAs have been held at the Prudential Center in New Jersey and, before that, the show had taken over both Manhattan and Brooklyn arenas in addition to spaces across Los Angeles. 

The host of the event and the list of nominees have yet to be announced but, if we may, we’d love to make a few suggestions that honor the event’s anniversary.

Back in 1984, the inaugural broadcast was led by Canadian actor and comedian Dan Aykroyd and the always-phenomenal, NYC resident Bette Midler. Why not call the two back for a second stab at hosting duties?

Performance wise, we know that the roster of acts is intricately connected to the popular songs of the day, but we’d love to see Cyndi Lauper, whose “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” won best female video of the year back then, take the stage to deliver her iconic track in her instantly recognizable tone once more. 

As for tickets, you’ll likely be able to snag some (at a price!) on TicketMaster and the likes but the outlets have not yet released any details about passes. Stay tuned for more news on that front.

* This article was originally published here

One of our favorite New York cocktail mavens is opening a new neighborhood wine bar in Brooklyn: Ivy Mix, co-owner of the great Leyenda over in Carroll Gardens, is part of the founding team behind Whoopsie Daisy, which is set to debut on Wednesday, May 1. A collaboration with Conor McKee and Piper Kristensen of Fiasco! Wine + Spirits, the casual, 35-seat Crown Heights den will be located less than a block from that sibling bottle shop and will spotlight both natural wines and local bites. 

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Aimed at serving “both local community members in need of a high-integrity hangout spot and visitors looking for their next favorite pour,” the beverage list will champion both natural and biodynamic wines, with a focus on diverse producers, low-intervention, and traditional production methods. The bar will work in tandem with Fiasco!, offering an overlapping drinks selection that guests can later find and purchase at the nearby wine and spirits shop to be enjoyed at home.

The drinks program at Whoopsie will be complemented by a similarly thoughtful snack menu: think bread and butter, tinned fish, cheese and charcuterie, and, for something a little sweet, chocolate chip cookies from Ridgewood’s L’imprimerie bakery with locally sourced milk. Food items will largely pull from boutique New York farmers and mongers including Blakesville Creamery, La Salumina, Churchill Creamery, C. Hesse Cheese, and Jake’s Gouda. 

Alongside that local ethos is a dedication to low-waste initiatives, such as the elimination of citrus garnishes for cocktails and reusing wine kegs to round out the wine program. The Whoopsie Daisy team is also aligning itself with partners that share its dedication to sustainability and will regularly host pop-up events featuring winemakers, craft spirit producers and other like-minded retailers. 

Check out some of the food-and-drink offerings, as well as Mix and the rest of the opening team from Whoopsie Daisy below: 

* This article was originally published here

Last week, Governor Kathy Hochul released a new $237 billion state budget deal that, among other things, included a clause permitting local movie theaters to apply for a license to sell hard liquor on site. 

Both the New York State Senate and the Assembly already approved the measures, but no word yet on when the changes will go into effect.

One thing to keep in mind: according to the new guidelines, customers will only be allowed to buy a single drink per transaction (so you and your date will have to head to the bar together).  

Of course, the concept of drinking while catching the new Dune isn’t completely foreign: theaters like iPic are known to deliver a culinary experience alongside movie screenings, and they do so by holding a restaurant license and operating a full kitchen with staff delivering orders directly to the various seats. 

Back in 2022, officials passed new laws allowing “traditional” theaters to serve wine, beer and cider to movie-goers. Sipping on a mojito, though, has been prohibited until now. 

The new budget includes a number of other measures: liquor stores no longer have to be located at street level to qualify for a license (believe it or not, that was a Prohibition era law!) and the “drinks to go” provision that came about during the pandemic will now be extended another five years, beginning 2025 through 2030. 

Basically, NYC is entering the golden era of cocktail sipping outside of bars—and we’re here for it.

* This article was originally published here