The "The Worst Subway Stations" Edition
Outdoor brunch spots, beach rules, the worst subway station, the ear-shaped mirror mystery, and more
Today - Low: 50˚ High: 66˚
Heavy rain starting in the afternoon.
This weekend - Low: 51˚ High: 58˚
• TODAY IS THE VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE FOR THE MAYORAL PRIMARY. (Brigid Bergin for Gothamist)
A quick note from Rob: I plan on taking a week off at the start of June (next week). If you’re interested in using The Briefly as a platform, please email me at thebriefly@gmail.com. Send me your idea of what you would do if I gave The Briefly over to you for a day. I’d rather use this week to amplify someone else’s voice. Let’s talk!
Here are the current rules for city beachgoing.
• Alexander Hamilton's duel with Aaron Burr happened in Weehawken, NJ, but Hamilton's death happened in front of an NYC fireplace that is now in Gracie Mansion. (Noah Sheidlower for Untapped New York)
• Here are the worst subway stations according to New Yorkers. On the list at #2 is Times Square, Andrew Yang's favorite subway station. (Shaye Weaver for Time Out)
• 10 secrets of the second to the worst subway station. (Untapped New York)
• The data that the MTA relied on to convince the city that the subways needed hundreds of more cops appears to be a case of bad data. The survey did not represent subway riders and oversampled the least likely demographic group to be targeted by police for minor infractions. (Stephen Nessen for Gothamist)
• Getting to the bottom of the mystery of the ear-shaped mirror that's all over Instagram. (Diana Budds for Curbed)
• A suggestion so bold and unexpected that it had to be included in this email: Why you should consider buying a house in Staten Island. (Erika Riley for StreetEasy)
• Amy Cooper, the woman who called the police on a Black man who was birding in Central Park last year, has filed a lawsuit against her former employer for firing her after video of the incident went viral, claiming she is a victim of racial discrimination, saying if she were not white her company would have done a proper investigation. Excuse me? (Ben Yakas for Gothamist)
• A review of Yellow Rose, "NYC's must-hit San Antonia-style taco destination." (Ryan Sutton for Eater)
• Jing Fong revival is now confirmed at 202 Centre Street with an occupancy of 125. (Elie Z. Perler for Bowery Boogie)
• Video: Walking the length of Lafayette Street. (ActionKid on YouTube)
• Is calling Andrew Yang unqualified to be mayor of New York City or doubting his connection to the city anti-Asian? This a very tricky conversation to navigate, but the Times puts a focus on Yang's recent proclivity to claim that criticisms of him are anti-Asian instead of being anti-Yang. (Katie Glueck for NY Times)
• Farewell to BERG'N in Crown Heights, which didn't make it out of the pandemic. BERG'N was the home to one of the most awkward dates of my life, but I can always find appreciation for anywhere that houses pinball machines. (Kevin Walsh for Forgotten New York)
• Your 2021 summer guide to Rockaway Beach food. (Scott Lynch for Gothamist)
• City Council candidate Lincoln Restler has a great idea to end parking placard abuse: Abolish parking placards completely. Then we can all unify behind hating diplomatic plates. (Gersh Kuntzman for Streetsblog)
• Re-fund the police, Trump won the election, no tolls for police, and the rest of the high/lowlights from the Republican Primary debate for mayor. (Brigid Bergin and Elizabeth Kim for Gothamist)
• Two staff members have quit, two have been fired and four others involved in a unionization drive have been terminated. Dianne Morales's progressive grass-roots campaign has begun to implode. (Jazmine Hughes for NY Times)
• Is 30th Ave in Astoria the coolest street in the city? Shaye Weaver makes the case. (Shaye Weaver for Time Out)
• The Vessel is reopening today with changes. Visitors will no longer be able to visit Vessel alone—they have to come in groups of two or more—and they are now charging people $10 to enter at most times. Officials at the Vessel say the changes reflect the Vessel's intention to be a "shared, immersive design experience" but don't mention that the Vessel has been closed since three people jumped from the structure to commit suicide. (Ben Yakas for Gothamist)
• The most pleasant outdoor bars in NYC. (Hannah Albertine for The Infatuation)
• The New York State Public Health Association is among 148 organizations worldwide that signed onto a statement released Monday calling for governments to “commit to work towards phasing out sales of combustible tobacco products.” (Caroline Lewis for Gothamist)
• The Tenement Museum is reopening on June 12 with a block party on Orchard Street. (Shaye Weaver for Time Out)
• Whoops! Upper West Side Council Member Helen Rosenthal was driving her car as she testified on video before a Council committee this morning about public education. (Julianne Cuba for Streetsblog)
• The best outdoor brunch spots. (Nikko Duren and Matt Tervooren for The Infatuation)
Featured Pet: Prospect Park Swans
Thank you to reader Ellie for sending in this photo of Brooklyn's pets, the female Prospect Park swan and her cygnets! Send in your pet/animal photos to thebriefly@gmail.com!