The Briefly for December 22 - 26, 2020 – The "Tracy Morgan is the Good Dude of 2020" Tuesday Edition

Today - Low: 31˚ High: 42˚

Possible drizzle in the morning.

Little Island, legal weed, the Open Culture program, and the 11 things we can actually look forward to in NYC in 2021. (Shaye Weaver for Time Out) The NYPL's most popular books of 2020, which are very 2020 in their themes. (Shaye Weaver for Time Out) Yeah, you might love Christmas, but not as much as "Frankie Christmas" whose back is adorned with a giant Santa tattoo under "Merry Christmas" and whose house is fully adorned for Christmas starting in September. (Stacie Joy for EV Grieve) Tracy Morgan continues to be the good dude of the year, this time partnering with the Food Bank for New York City and Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson to give turkeys and toys to NYCHA residents of Highbridge Houses in the Bronx. (Jason Cohen for Bronx Times) It's not doomsday, at least when it comes to the MTA. The $908 billion federal stimulus includes $4 billion for the MTA which avoids a doomsday scenario. Now, instead of being in a $12 billion hole, the MTA is in an $8 billion hole. Wait, this isn't doomsday? (Jake Offenhartz for Gothamist) A look at what else NYC gets besides $600 each from the latest pandemic stimulus bill. (Matt Troutman for Patch) A part of the bill was $15 billion for the Save Our Stages Act, which will go a long way to help venues and theaters by allowing them to apply for Small Business Administration grants to support six months of payments to employees, rent, utilities, and maintenance. Venues that have lost more than 90% of their revenue can apply first. (Elie Z Perler for Bowery Boogie) A running list of Williamsburg & Greenpoint places closed for good during COVID-19, the latest addition to the list is The Diamond, which closes January 3. (Bill Pearis for BrooklynVegan) The Classic Coffee Shop on Hester Street is closing on Christmas after forty years. This isn't a pandemic closure or an eviction, owner Carmine Morales decided to retire. (Elie Z. Perler for Bowery Boogie) The Times looks at the 2021 mayor's race through the lens of hired political consultants, riding the subway, early contenders, failures in leadership, and ranked-choice voting. Yeah, but which contenders have ever had a drink at The Continental? (Emma G. Fitzsimmons and Jeffrey C Mays for NY Times) 360° Video: If you miss riding the subway, take a ride from Astoria to Bay Ridge. (ActionKid) Video: The finished Surrogate’s Courthouse skylight restoration project, which is absolutely stunning, and quite honestly might be one of the most beautiful interiors in the entire city. (Nicole Saraniero for Untapped New York) Speaking of 2021, the "2021" numbers have arrived in Times Square, signaling an end to a cursed year. (Jen Carlson and Jen Chung for Gothamist) The city plans to launch a mental health screening initiative for public school students, which will be in place by September and not whenever all students are allowed back inside school buildings. (David Cruz for Gothamist) Coney Island is getting a new roller coaster called the Phoenix as a part of Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park. The coaster is expected to be built along W. 12th St between the Bowery and the boardwalk. (Brian Braiker for Brooklyn Magazine) Apartment Lust: A $2.3 million, 2,000 square foot condo in Hudson Square with wood-beamed ceilings, brick walls, rustic wood floors, a terrace, and a completely updated kitchen. (Dana Schulz for 6sqft) 19 restaurants for cozy outdoor dining in Brooklyn. (Erika Adams for Eater) Workers under 25 made up just 10 percent of the city’s total workforce before the pandemic, holding 15 percent of the jobs in the hardest-hit service industries. As the Times headline goes, They’re Young, Unemployed and Facing Bleak Prospects. Not a catchy chant, but it's the truth. (Winnie Hu for NY Times) Dozens of judges are being forced to retire to close a pandemic budget gap and in response they're suing New York state, charging age discrimination. (Benjamin Weiser for NY Times) Answering the question: What is a pied-à-terre? (Laura Vacsey for StreetEasy) Why New Yorkers love New York. (Jen Carlson for Gothamist) The 2020 NYC Christmas food guide. (Nikko Duren for The Infatuation) Thanks to reader Alex for todays featured photo!