The Briefly for March 30, 2020 – The "Buying Whiskey for a Good Cause" Edition
Today - Low: 46˚ High: 48˚
Drizzle in the morning and afternoon.
Can you move during the pandemic? Yes. (Devin Gannon for 6sqft) In September of 2018, a construction crew in Elmhurst accidentally exhumed the mummified remains of a smallpox victim from the 1850s. Was that a bad omen? (Ephemeral New York) The New York Bacon and Beer Classic was rescheduled to September 26. Isn't it nice to think that life will return to normal at some point in the future? (Alex Mitchell for amNewYork Metro) Wheated is selling off its whiskey collection to help its laid-off employees. If you were looking to get your hands on some great whiskey at a reasonable price in Ditmas Park, you know where to go. (Robert Sietsema for Eater) Maybe whiskey's not your thing? Some restaurants have merch available. (Tanay Warerkar for Eater) The definition of what consists of a "real emergency" has changed. With a record volume of 911 calls, the FDNY is asking anyone who is thinking of calling 911 for coronavirus-related reasons to call a doctor first. (Jenna Amatulli for HuffPost) Photos: Inside the new 1,000-bed Javits Center hospital. (Dana Schulz for 6sqft) Aqueduct Racetrack, the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, the CUNY College of Staten Island, and the New York Expo Center will become temporary hospital sites that will add an additional 4,000 hospital beds to the city. (Devin Gannon for 6sqft) Central Park's East Meadow is being used as an emergency field hospital for COVID-19 patients. (John Del Signore for Gothamist) Elon Musk is sending 615 ventilators to the city, wait, why did Elon Musk have 615 ventilators to start? (Kathleen Culliton for Patch) Ample Hills is laying off all 101 of its workers. This, unlike their recent bankruptcy announcement, is related to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Eddie Small for The Real Deal) Photos: New York's first complete week of pandemic dining. (Gary He for Eater) It started as a list of the best things to eat in New York, now it's a list of 101 things we hope we can eat again soon. (Grub Street) Here are all the Michelin-rated restaurants in the city that are now offering takeout or delivery. (Bao Ong for Time Out) If you've always wanted a pet, there is quite literally no time like the present to adopt one. (Kevin Duggan for amNewYork Metro) The bars are closed, the restaurants shuttered, the gyms are barren, but there is a place for some New Yorkers to be social and remain physically distant: the stoop. (Doug Gordon for Curbed) Con Ed suspended checking gas and electric meters, so if someone comes to your door claiming to be from Con Ed, ignore them. (Brooklyn Eagle) The state has put an end to "non-essential" construction, limiting active construction to building hospitals, infrastructure projects, affordable housing, and homeless shelters. (Janaki Chadha for Politico) The Empire State building is working with Z100 to put together a light show every night at 9pm with new shows debuting on Friday nights. (Howard Halle for Time Out) So how did the first week of remote learning go? (Shumita Basu for Gothamist) Add the New York Philharmonic to the list of organizations streaming free performances. Check out past performances on Thursday nights. (Shaye Weaver for Time Out) The city's first map with any COVID-19 information is exceptionally unhelpful. Par for the course from the de Blasio administration. (Kathleen Culliton for Patch) Amazon bought the Lord & Taylor Building at 424 Fifth Avenue for one billion dollars. Amazon continues to expand its NYC footprint, despite not getting a ridiculous tax break from the city and state. (Sebastian Morris for New York YIMBY) Photos: Turns out we're still pretty bad at social distancing in city parks. (Jen Carlson for Gothamist) The NYPD was authorized to give $250 - $500 fines to people who aren't maintaining social distance, but only if they fail to disperse when ordered or if officers find people in the same place twice. (Erin Durkin for Politico) Pregnant women will not be forced to give birth without having someone with them. A new executive order from Governor Cuomo breaks any ban that was previously put in place by hospitals. It's amazing how quickly the government can move when it is motivated. (Katie Van Syckle and Christina Caron for NY Times) The state's tax deadline and the presidential primary were moved. The tax deadline to July 15 and the primary to June 23. (Anna Quinn for Patch) Along with the presidential primary, local elections were moved, creating questions about how the elections for Queens borough president and open city council seats. (Claudia Irizarry Aponte and Christine Chung for The City) One week after calling for a complete lockdown of the city, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams is calling for the city to close all parks and playgrounds. (Ben Yakas for Gothamist) Over the weekend, Rhode Island restricted access to the state for New Yorkers and then lifted their restrictions after Cuomo threatened to sue. (Bill Mahoney for amNewYork Metro) A look at the "new" Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who is starting to appear much more like the rest of the democrats than her previous spitfire self. (Alex Thompson and Holly Otterbein for Politico) A brief list of notable people who have tested positive for COVID-19 this weekend: MTA Chairman and CEO Pat Foye, Knicks owner James Dolan, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. All three are isolating and seem to be doing okay. (Robert Pozarycki for amNewYork Metro, Joe Pantorno for amNewYork Metro, and Erin Durkin for Politico) 17 Thai delivery and takeout picks. (Bryan Kim for The Infatuation) Thanks to Dylan for today's featured photo in Domino Park, which accurately captures how we're all feeling.