The Briefly for August 22, 2019 – The "Advertisements on Advertisements" Edition
Photos: Take a look inside the Watchtower’s old headquarters. (Brooklyn Daily Eagle)
Elyse Marks is not your average restoration architect and an Instagram account full of photos repelling off of some of the city's more well-known buildings proves it. (Untapped Cities)
What to see in the city's art galleries right now. (NY Times)
The landmarked Long Island City Pepsi-Cola sign is now brought to you by JetBlue. (amNY)
Tuesday night was a bloody one in Queens and Brooklyn, with four unrelated shootings resulting in five homicides. Gun violence is up over 25% from last year. (Gothamist)
A report by Coalition for the Homeless shows the city's housing plan is actually making the city's homelessness problem worse. (Curbed)
“New Yorkers are very, very spoiled,” Mr. Toma said, seated in the driver’s seat of a black Rolls-Royce Wraith, as he waited for the club to fill. (NY Times)
Harvey Weinstein wants his rape trial moved out of New York City because of the city's "inflammatory press coverage." (Gothamist)
The quarter-billion-dollar overhaul of the Grand Central Shuttle has begun. (amNY)
An 11-year-old border-terrier mix and very good boy named Theo was stolen from outside a grocery store in Williamsburg on Monday night. Theo is suffering from arthritis, liver issues, tumors, and more, but one thing he won't have to worry about is being away from home because he was reunited with his human on Wednesday. (Brooklyn Paper)
The atmosphere is "salon-like" in this "hidden gem" where women swap makeup tips and the lighting is good and there is open space. Where is this? Apparently, it's the second-floor women's bathroom at the Port Authority Bus Terminal. (NY Times)
The last of the pay-by-the-hour hotel to the history of the New Victory Theater, 10 seedy remnants of old Times Square you can still see today. (Untapped Cities)
Here are the ways landlords are trying to get around the new rent reform laws in order to screw you. (The Real Deal)
Legendary pizzeria Di Fara was seized by the state for owing $167k in taxes dating back to 2014. The mayor responded by saying he's "ready to do anything I can to get them reopened." (Grub Street)
"Now, if he wants to pay the $200,000 on behalf of the pizza place, he can do that." -Governor Cuomo (amNY)
Mystery solved. The staff of Dean & Deluca's says the store is so empty because they are going through a renovation, but will stay open as a coffee shop during the renovation. (Gothamist)
Lyft is partnering with GrowNYC and BMS Family Health and Wellness Centers to offer discounted rides to low-income New Yorkers in Brownsville to improve access to healthy food options at the green and farmer's markets and Project EATS. (The Brooklyn Reader)
Andrew Herman is illustrating every Mets home game this season. (New York Cliche)
The driver whose recklessness lead to the death of cyclist Jose Alzorriz on Coney Island Avenue is facing charges of manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, vehicular assault, and reckless endangerment. Mirza Baig, 18, is one of the few drivers facing prison after killing a cyclist or pedestrian. (Streetsblog)
The city has lowered the requirements necessary to enter its affordable housing lotteries, lessening barriers that discourage undocumented immigrants from applying. (LIC Post)
There's a GoFundMe for just about anything, including one for fired NYPD officer Daniel "Chokehold" Pantaleo. (Patch)
10 things you absolutely have to do in NYC before summer ends. (Time Out)
If you've ever been anywhere near Battery Park, you know the routine of ignoring the aggressive ticket sellers for trips around the Statue of Liberty. The ticket sellers are confusing at best and deceptive at worst. The city has terminated any docking permits to companies who accept tickets sold by street vendors. (Curbed)
The Fraunces Tavern, the oldest building in Manhattan, will celebrate its 300th anniversary with a party on October 1. (amNY)
The NYPD sergeant at the scene where Eric Garner was killed will not face a trial for her role in his death. Instead, Sgt. Kizzy Adonis will lose 20 vacation days. Eric Garner's mother said the NYPD is "actively participating in an ongoing cover-up" and the police union that represents Adonis said she was "scapegoated." (Patch)
If you go to Union Hall in Park Slope in September or October, there's a 1/6 chance that David Cross will be performing. He's announced 10 dates in the two months where he'll be testing out new material on stage. (Brooklyn Vegan)
Video: Mike Chen of Strictly Dumpling takes you on a tour of his four favorite Brooklyn pizzerias. Di Fara was not on the list. (Viewing NYC)
Meet the subway's "happiest conductor." (Gothamist)
The mayor was a laughing stock in Iowa, but for once it wasn't his polling numbers or debate performances. (Patch)
If you must get caught in a storm (that was me walking home from the subway last night before hosting John Trivialta at Parklife), Domino Park in Williamsburg is, at the very least, picturesque before the rain comes down. (Brooklyn Daily Eagle)
Democrat councilman Andy King was charged by the Standards and Ethics Committee with harassment, disorderly conduct, conflict of interest violations and retaliation, from Minority Leader and Republican Steven Matteo. Specific details of the allegations were not disclosed. (amNY)
The best ice-cream sandwiches in the city, ranked. (Grub Street)