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Indoor Dining Returns to N.Y.C. After 6 Months Indoor Dining Returns to N.Y.C. After 6 Months
(32 minutes later)
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It’s Thursday.It’s Thursday.
Weather: A nice day: Sunny with scattered clouds and a high in the low 70s. Weather: A nice day: Sunny, with scattered clouds and a high in the low 70s.
Alternate-side parking: In effect until Saturday (Sukkot). Read about the amended regulations here.Alternate-side parking: In effect until Saturday (Sukkot). Read about the amended regulations here.
After more than six months of empty dining rooms, restaurants across New York City just moved a little closer back to normal.After more than six months of empty dining rooms, restaurants across New York City just moved a little closer back to normal.
Indoor dining was allowed to restart citywide at 25 percent capacity on Wednesday in a major milestone in the recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. While the reopening will probably not be enough to save some of the spots that have relied on takeout and outdoor tables since mid-March, Mayor Bill de Blasio was cautiously optimistic.Indoor dining was allowed to restart citywide at 25 percent capacity on Wednesday in a major milestone in the recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. While the reopening will probably not be enough to save some of the spots that have relied on takeout and outdoor tables since mid-March, Mayor Bill de Blasio was cautiously optimistic.
“It’s crucial, of course, to bringing back more jobs and helping businesses to survive,” Mr. de Blasio said. “But health and safety, as always, come first.”“It’s crucial, of course, to bringing back more jobs and helping businesses to survive,” Mr. de Blasio said. “But health and safety, as always, come first.”
[Read more about how the first day of indoor dining in six months went.][Read more about how the first day of indoor dining in six months went.]
Here’s what you need to know about the reopening of indoor dining:Here’s what you need to know about the reopening of indoor dining:
At noon on Wednesday, Aroma Brazil, a restaurant in Queens, had only three diners inside. In the Bronx, where the Mexican restaurant Xochimilco once held 40 customers, it could now only admit 10. But some owners told my colleague Michael Gold that even the limited service was cause for excitement and hope.At noon on Wednesday, Aroma Brazil, a restaurant in Queens, had only three diners inside. In the Bronx, where the Mexican restaurant Xochimilco once held 40 customers, it could now only admit 10. But some owners told my colleague Michael Gold that even the limited service was cause for excitement and hope.
Still, others were unsure whether more customers would feel safe enough to return and worried about making costly changes for little turnout. “It’s hard to know if there is going to be the demand,” said Leah Cohen, the chef at Pig and Khao on the Lower East Side.Still, others were unsure whether more customers would feel safe enough to return and worried about making costly changes for little turnout. “It’s hard to know if there is going to be the demand,” said Leah Cohen, the chef at Pig and Khao on the Lower East Side.
Customers who opted for indoor seating on Wednesday were met with a new dining experience, even before walking inside. Patrons got their temperatures checked and passed along their information in case the city’s contact tracers needed to follow up.Customers who opted for indoor seating on Wednesday were met with a new dining experience, even before walking inside. Patrons got their temperatures checked and passed along their information in case the city’s contact tracers needed to follow up.
Tables in restaurants were spaced six feet apart, a far cry from the cramped neighborhood eateries of pre-pandemic life. Seating at bars was not permitted, and closing time citywide was set at midnight.Tables in restaurants were spaced six feet apart, a far cry from the cramped neighborhood eateries of pre-pandemic life. Seating at bars was not permitted, and closing time citywide was set at midnight.
On Tuesday, Mr. de Blasio announced that the city’s daily rate of positive tests had risen to 3.25 percent; it dropped on Wednesday to 0.94 percent, but the seven-day average rate of positive test results citywide ticked slightly upward to 1.46 percent. Earlier this month, he had said that he believed indoor dining should “pause” if the infection rate in the city went past 2 percent.On Tuesday, Mr. de Blasio announced that the city’s daily rate of positive tests had risen to 3.25 percent; it dropped on Wednesday to 0.94 percent, but the seven-day average rate of positive test results citywide ticked slightly upward to 1.46 percent. Earlier this month, he had said that he believed indoor dining should “pause” if the infection rate in the city went past 2 percent.
The decision ultimately lies with Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who said on Wednesday that local officials should focus on compliance with safety rules before the reopening was scaled back. “Do Step 1 first: Enforce the mask compliance, issue a ticket,” he said. “And if that doesn’t work, yes, then we’re going to have to take more serious actions.”The decision ultimately lies with Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who said on Wednesday that local officials should focus on compliance with safety rules before the reopening was scaled back. “Do Step 1 first: Enforce the mask compliance, issue a ticket,” he said. “And if that doesn’t work, yes, then we’re going to have to take more serious actions.”
The restaurant industry in New York City has been devastated by the pandemic: nearly 1,300 city restaurants closed permanently between March and July, and in August nine in 10 were unable to pay full rent.The restaurant industry in New York City has been devastated by the pandemic: nearly 1,300 city restaurants closed permanently between March and July, and in August nine in 10 were unable to pay full rent.
My colleagues Winnie Hu and Amanda Rosa spoke with restaurateurs like Kenny McPartlan, who owns a barbecue spot in the Bronx. He said the return of indoor dining at limited capacity would still not be enough to make ends meet. “I’ll never make money like this,” he said. “Never.” In New Jersey, where indoor dining has been permitted for almost four weeks at a 25 percent cap, some places are still struggling to stay open.My colleagues Winnie Hu and Amanda Rosa spoke with restaurateurs like Kenny McPartlan, who owns a barbecue spot in the Bronx. He said the return of indoor dining at limited capacity would still not be enough to make ends meet. “I’ll never make money like this,” he said. “Never.” In New Jersey, where indoor dining has been permitted for almost four weeks at a 25 percent cap, some places are still struggling to stay open.
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She Was Resting With Her Sons. Then a Shot Was Fired.She Was Resting With Her Sons. Then a Shot Was Fired.
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Finding Help to Take Their Next StepsFinding Help to Take Their Next Steps
Want more news? Check out our full coverage.Want more news? Check out our full coverage.
The Mini Crossword: Here is today’s puzzle.The Mini Crossword: Here is today’s puzzle.
About 4,200 children have lost parents or guardians to Covid-19 in New York State, more than lost a parent during the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, according to a study. [The City]About 4,200 children have lost parents or guardians to Covid-19 in New York State, more than lost a parent during the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, according to a study. [The City]
A report found that New York City police officers violated human rights laws during a June protest in the South Bronx where many demonstrators were arrested. [Gothamist]A report found that New York City police officers violated human rights laws during a June protest in the South Bronx where many demonstrators were arrested. [Gothamist]
A lawsuit filed by the state attorney general said that New York Sports Clubs charged members fees while gyms were closed during the pandemic. [Business Insider]A lawsuit filed by the state attorney general said that New York Sports Clubs charged members fees while gyms were closed during the pandemic. [Business Insider]
Do you miss the butterflies that flutter as the stage lights go down? That effervescent feeling of a show you’ll never forget? You’re not alone.Do you miss the butterflies that flutter as the stage lights go down? That effervescent feeling of a show you’ll never forget? You’re not alone.
Join Hillary Clinton, a lifelong theater lover, at 7 tonight as she reflects on theater’s meaning, its absence and its future in a conversation with the Times’s theater reporter, Michael Paulson. Then, Audra McDonald, Danielle Brooks, Jessie Mueller and Neil Patrick Harris — all Broadway actors — will share what they miss most about the stage and what they want for theater’s return.Join Hillary Clinton, a lifelong theater lover, at 7 tonight as she reflects on theater’s meaning, its absence and its future in a conversation with the Times’s theater reporter, Michael Paulson. Then, Audra McDonald, Danielle Brooks, Jessie Mueller and Neil Patrick Harris — all Broadway actors — will share what they miss most about the stage and what they want for theater’s return.
The event is our third episode of “Offstage,” a series about theatermaking during the pandemic. R.S.V.P. here.The event is our third episode of “Offstage,” a series about theatermaking during the pandemic. R.S.V.P. here.
Expanding a park usually means modifying an existing landscape. The designers of Pier 26 faced a far more daunting challenge: creating an entirely new one in the swift current of the Hudson River.Expanding a park usually means modifying an existing landscape. The designers of Pier 26 faced a far more daunting challenge: creating an entirely new one in the swift current of the Hudson River.
On Wednesday afternoon, the revamped pier was opened at the end of North Moore Street in Manhattan. The latest addition to Hudson River Park, this 2.5-acre expanse is the city’s only public pier dedicated to river ecology.On Wednesday afternoon, the revamped pier was opened at the end of North Moore Street in Manhattan. The latest addition to Hudson River Park, this 2.5-acre expanse is the city’s only public pier dedicated to river ecology.
Incorporating a lawn, a sports court and decks elevated more than 12 feet above the water, it exhibits indigenous plants and trees that hark back to when only Native Americans occupied what is now New York. But the pier’s most distinctive feature is a feat of 21st-century artifice: Because the park’s sea wall prevented developing a rocky intertidal wetland — a science-education bonanza — at the shoreline, the trust decided to engineer one on the river itself.Incorporating a lawn, a sports court and decks elevated more than 12 feet above the water, it exhibits indigenous plants and trees that hark back to when only Native Americans occupied what is now New York. But the pier’s most distinctive feature is a feat of 21st-century artifice: Because the park’s sea wall prevented developing a rocky intertidal wetland — a science-education bonanza — at the shoreline, the trust decided to engineer one on the river itself.
Now, twice a day at high tide, this manufactured wetland floods completely, a process that visitors can observe from the decks overhead. During low tide, tour groups and school classes can descend a walkway into the marsh, where they can closely study the Hudson estuary, a vast ecosystem where the saltwater of the Atlantic Ocean mingles with the freshwater of the river and its tributaries.Now, twice a day at high tide, this manufactured wetland floods completely, a process that visitors can observe from the decks overhead. During low tide, tour groups and school classes can descend a walkway into the marsh, where they can closely study the Hudson estuary, a vast ecosystem where the saltwater of the Atlantic Ocean mingles with the freshwater of the river and its tributaries.
You can read more about the new project here.You can read more about the new project here.
It’s Thursday — go explore.It’s Thursday — go explore.
Dear Diary:Dear Diary:
My fiancé and I got engaged in February at the People’s Garden on 111th Street and Amsterdam Avenue.My fiancé and I got engaged in February at the People’s Garden on 111th Street and Amsterdam Avenue.
Afterward, we walked to one of our favorite places in the city, the Hungarian Pastry Shop, to celebrate.Afterward, we walked to one of our favorite places in the city, the Hungarian Pastry Shop, to celebrate.
The people who were working that day had graciously reserved a table for us and hidden a bottle of Champagne in the kitchen. They offered us anything we wanted on the house, took photos and videos and announced our engagement to everyone in the crowded shop. It was truly a memorable day.The people who were working that day had graciously reserved a table for us and hidden a bottle of Champagne in the kitchen. They offered us anything we wanted on the house, took photos and videos and announced our engagement to everyone in the crowded shop. It was truly a memorable day.
Several months later, we returned to the shop for the first time since our engagement. When it was our turn to order, the woman at the counter recognized us immediately.Several months later, we returned to the shop for the first time since our engagement. When it was our turn to order, the woman at the counter recognized us immediately.
“It’s you!” she said. “You are still together!”“It’s you!” she said. “You are still together!”
— Alissa Auerbach— Alissa Auerbach
New York Today is published weekdays around 6 a.m. Sign up here to get it by email. You can also find it at nytoday.com.New York Today is published weekdays around 6 a.m. Sign up here to get it by email. You can also find it at nytoday.com.
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