Bruce Caulfield stands next to a framed and enlarged subway map inside the W. 31st Tracks, where he is a co-owner. The railroad theme will play a big role in the new restaurant that he plans to open inside Grand Central Madison this fall. He is doing the new venue without that partners who still own the original Tracks with him. Photo: Ralph Spielman Co-owner of Tracks Saloon Near MSG Plans to Open 1st Restaurant Inside Grand Central Madison Bruce Caulfield is a Manhattanite on a mission. The restaurateur is a born, bred, and educated New Yorker, a graduate of... News 14 May 2024 | 01:33
The newest interpretive exhibit at the Tenement Museum, “Union of Hope 1869” notes the lives of Joseph and Rachel Moore, Black Americans who left rural New Jersey for a better life in New York City. Photo: Tenement Museum Tenement Museum Opens Its First Exhibit Dedicated to a Black Family That Moved into Area in the Civil War Era We are all proud of our original heritages and those that we identify with as Manhattanites. For everyone, New York City... City Arts 23 Apr 2024 | 04:20
Back home, Manhattan’s own Concorde is ready to start guided tours at the Intrepid Museum, resplendent in its new paint. ( Ralph Spielman) Concorde Reopens to the General Public at the Intrepid Museum After 7-Month Rehab The Concorde has landed. After a seven-month rehab, a British Airways Concorde that jetted the rich and famous to Europe... News 08 Apr 2024 | 10:25
As part of the multi-agency sweep on March 11 on the Robert F Kennedy Bridge, this car owner was arrested for fraudulent license plate use, one of the eight people arrested during the 8-hour operation at the Lincoln Tunnel, George Washington Bridge and the the RFK Bridge. Photo: MTA Ghost Cars Targeted by City/State Agencies in New Crackdown The city and state have announced a new joint crackdown on so-called ghost cars. Sounding almost cartoonish, these cars are... News 13 Mar 2024 | 10:25
At the east side of Broadway entrance to the Columbus Circle subway station, a current turnstile array provides little challenge to fare evaders who wish to jump over or scoot under the turnstiles, or wait for someone to exit through the emergency gate. Photo: Ralph Spielman MTA: Fare Evasion Expected to Top $700M in 2023 With fare evasion expected to top $700 million once all the figures for 2023 are tallied, the MTA is experimenting with new... News 04 Feb 2024 | 05:35
With the first contract let for Phase 2 of the Q line on the 2nd Avenue Subway, three new stations will join NYC Transit within the next ten years. Photo: MTA Five blocks on UES to be Torn Up as MTA Inches Foward with New Q Line Extension Shovels will be in the ground starting in March for the $182 million contract to relocate underground power and utility lines... News 25 Jan 2024 | 11:14
Subway track work in Queens will force schedule changes for Manhattan riders on upcoming weekends in January, Photo: MTA More Subway Chaos Expected as MTA Makes Weekend Repairs on E, F, N, Q,W & 7 Lines While the MTA said the 1, 2 and 3 lines were back running normally two days after the Jan, 4 crash at the W. 96th St. station,... News 08 Jan 2024 | 06:41
The MTA hopes a new brand of trunstile will cut down on fare evasion while allowing ADA access. Photo: MTA Fare Evaders Cost NYC Transit Close to $285M/yr; Now Hope is New Gates Will Thwart Them Fare evasion has become rampant on our subways and buses—with an estimated 12 percent jumping the turnstiles on subways and... News 29 Dec 2023 | 09:32
A statue of Bolto, the heroic Alaskan husky who was featured in a 1995 animated film highlighting his heroic role in a life saving serum run to Nome, Alaska in 1925 is still a crowd pleaser--especially for kids. The bronze statue is on Central Park’s East Drive and 67th St. The real life Bolto was on hand in December, 1925 to witness the unveiling of the Frederick Roth sculpture. Photo: NYC Parks Dept. Friends/Relatives Visiting for the Holidays? Here’s 10 Things That Are Free (or almost free) Maybe you’ve seen some of these sights, maybe not. But when friends and relatives descend on you this holiday season, here... News 21 Dec 2023 | 10:46
NYPD Traffic Agent Maya Yilmaz activates a ticket to an illegally parked vehicle in a bus lane on West 57th Street. The ticketing is part of the enhanced bus lane Traffic Enforcement procedures that have been in place since Dec. 4. Photo: Ralph Spielman Drivers Beware: Bus Lane Crackdown with Hefty Fines Is Underway; Aim is Faster Buses Bus riders may now see faster speeds on their rides, but car and truck drivers parked in marked bus lanes will see increased... News 16 Dec 2023 | 02:37
Assemblyman Alex Bores listens at NYC Transit president Richard Davey explains some of the problems and solutions he hopes are ahead for East Side subway and bus riders. Photo: Ralph Spielman What’s the State of Mass Transit on the East Side? After 18 months on the job, President Richard Davey rode along with an OUR TOWN reporter to assess what has been done and... News 14 Dec 2023 | 08:17
On every Saturday in December, the Subway Nostalgia Train will arrive and depart from the Second Avenue Station on the Lower East Side, starting at 10AM, bound for W. 145th Street, returning back to Second Avenue. Here is the NY Transit Museum’s R1-R9 train, with subway cars built between 1931-1938, arriving for its first trip of the day. ( Ralph Spielman) Nostalgia Train Rides Again On every Saturday in December, subway riders are able to stop, look and listen to charming reminders of New York City’s transit... News 09 Dec 2023 | 09:05
The new Penn Station entrance on Seventh Ave between 31st and 33rd St. allows more light into the concourse below and features an ADA accesible elevator and three new escalators as it re-opens after a 15 month shut down while construction was underway. Photo: Ralph Spielman Finally: New $600M 7th Ave. Entrance to Penn Sta. Opens Just in time for the holidays, the $600 million project to rebuild the Penn Station main entrance on the Seventh Ave. side... Home 23 Nov 2023 | 08:40
Artist Shahzia-Sikander stands before her massive LED art work “The Singings Suns” at the Moynihan Train Hall. The display changes every 15 minutes. Photo: Amtrak A Rail Treasure: Curated Art at Moynihan Hall and Penn Sta. What buildings have turned into Manhattan’s most unique art galleries? Two current Art at Amtrak installations are on view... City Arts 16 Nov 2023 | 03:07
Amtrak trains were again heading north on the Penn Station to Albany route after service was halted for four days due to structural damage at an Ion parking garage on W. 51st. above the tracks. Photo: Ralph Spielman Amtrak Service from Penn Station to Albany Restored, Crumbling Garage Repairs Underway The days-long shut down of Amtrak service from Penn Station to Albany due to structural damage at a crumbling Ion parking... News 16 Nov 2023 | 11:27