The Briefly for December 21, 2018 – The "What A Federal Shutdown Means for New York" Edition
This weekend's subway changes and construction. (Subway Weekender)
10 must-visit spots in Long Island City. You should probably visit before Bezos moves in. (Untapped Cities)
20 candidates in a 90 minute Q&A session. The Public Advocate election is getting crowded. (Bklyner)
The man who promised to save the dead Brooklyn food incubator Pilotworks has decided to back out of the deal. (Eater)
Here's what a federal government shutdown would mean for New York City. (Patch)
The city's Independent Budget Office says the city's financial situation is "relatively strong," but admits the city faces "significant uncertainty" around public services like the subway, the NYCHA, and public hospitals. (Metro)
Harvey Weinstein's request to dismiss his sexual assault charge was denied and the case will go forward. (NY Times)
If you thought the L train shutdown or the BQE replacement was going to be a mess, just wait for the twenty year work on the Grand Central Terminal train shed. The train shed is the size of 20 football fields and runs from 42nd Street to 57th Street. (6sqft)
New York City is Atlas Obscura's most popular destination of 2018. Duh. (amNY)
The man who portrays Santa in Bryant Park is a Nobel Peace Prize-winner for being a charter member of the American branch of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War. What do you want for Christmas? This Santa already brought us a small slice of world peace. (amNY)
No matter how rough your SantaCon was, it wasn't as bad as Christopher Visone's, who just woke up from his medically induced coma. (Gothamist)
Parking Summons Advocate Jean Wesh will finally open his lower Manhattan office today after eight months being on the job. (NY Post)
Say goodbye to the E and M tunnel between Queens and Manhattan. It's not exactly the L train shutdown, it will be closed from December 26 until December 31 for repairs. (LIC Post)
Calvert Vaux's fingerprint is all over the city. Learn about the co-designer of Central Park and multiple landmarks across the city. (GVSHP)
So this is Christmas. How are you going to get around the city? (Curbed)
He snuck prostitutes into his apartment in suitcases and other details you didn't want to know about Eliot Spitzer's sex life. (NY Post)
L train shutdown be damned. Retail real estate in Williamsburg is the highest among 16 retail corridors in Brooklyn. (Brooklyn Daily Eagle)
If you'd rather do anything than take the train to Dyker Heights on a winter night, you can check out the photos instead. (amNY)
The city is lying when they boast about building 20.9 miles of protected bike lanes in 2018. The real number is 23% less. (Streetsblog)
Congestion pricing will not take effect January 1, thanks to a lawsuit on behalf of the taxi industry, claiming the practice is discriminatory. The ruling by Supreme Court Justice Martin Schulman will delay the start until a full hearing can be scheduled. (NY Post)
A little league baseball field isn't the ideal location for a four year parking lot for construction vehicles, but that's what the West Side Little League is looking at. (West Side Rag)
State Senator Kevin "Kill Yourself!" Parker is signing up for Thrive NYC's mental-health courses after his outburst on Twitter. No word on what he'll do about his car sporting the wrong license plate, a lapsed inspection, and an un-authorized parking placard. (NY Post)
A story of two old friends who met on New Year's Eve on 1979 while watching the ball drop from their respective taxis, and how their close friendship has changed over the years to provide a support structure against the harshness of an uncaring city. (NY Times)
A look at ABC No Rio's four story "Passive House" building, set to begin construction next year. (Bowery Boogie)
The 12 best restaurants in Brooklyn Heights. (GrubStreet)
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