https://www.otdowntown.com/news/judge-permanently-bars-feds-from-freezing-gateway-funds-EC5994446 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-06-30T21:44:15-04:00 Judge Permanently Bars Feds From Freezing Gateway Funds https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-02-16-at-3-08-15-pm-4_4-10879710_20260630174248.webp A judge has permanently barred the Trump administration from freezing funds going towards the Hudson River Tunnel portion of the Gateway Project (above), after a previous freeze led to temporary layoffs. https://www.otdowntown.com/news/chelsea-downtown-manhattan-events-jul-2-8-LE5996379 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-07-01T12:13:37-04:00 Chelsea & Downtown Manhattan Events: Jul. 2-8 https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/intrepid-via-intrepidmuseum-org_4-10880513_20260701121339.jpg intrepid via intrepidmuseum.org https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/high-line-via-highline-org_4-10880517_20260701121340.jpg high line via highline.org https://www.otdowntown.com/news/boulevard-of-heroes-city-names-streets-to-honor-champion-knicks-BB5993012 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-07-01T14:14:18-04:00 Boulevard of Heroes: City Names Streets to Honor Champion Knicks https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/20260630-dsc02548_4-10879103_20260630141852.jpg The Jalen Brunson street sign at West 11th Street and Seventh Avenue is considerably higher than the honorary signs for his teammates. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/20260630-dsc02529_4-10879098_20260630141844.jpg OG Anunoby sharing the honor with Rock and Roll legend Jimi Hendrix on West Eighth St. and 6th Ave. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/20260630-dsc02495_4-10879099_20260630141845.jpg West 4th Street Courts, hosting Kenny Graham’s Pro Classic N.Y.C. tournament. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/20260630-dsc02507_4-10879100_20260630141846.jpg The sign for Jose Alvarado at Washington Pl. and 6th Ave. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/20260630-dsc02485_4-10879101_20260630141848.jpg Josh Hart Street, located on West Third Street and 6th Avenue. https://www.otdowntown.com/city-arts/the-world-cup-of-comedy-comes-to-soho-ID5995930 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-07-01T17:45:11-04:00 The World Cup of Comedy Comes To Soho https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/poster-flare-web_4-10880060_20260701163054.jpg Alex Hill’s one-man show, “Why I Stuck a Flare Up My Arse for England,” transforms the true act of a superfan into a story of belonging and friendship. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/copy-of-why-i-stuck-a-flare-up-my-ars_4-10880061_20260701163055.jpg Alex Hill is a writer, actor, and producer from Egham, England. His award-winning debut play, “Why I Stuck a Flare Up My Arse for England,” now off Broadway in NYC, premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2023. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/copy-of-why-i-stuck-a-flare-up-my-ars_4-10880063_20260701163101.jpg Directed by Sean Turner, “Why I Stuck a Flare Up My Arse for England” is a physically demanding role for writer/actor Alex Hill, who says Turner “made me bring it into my body more and give it 110 percent.” https://www.otdowntown.com/news/wilson-narrowly-clinches-chelsea-city-council-democratic-primary-HB5993283 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-07-01T18:53:41-04:00 Wilson Narrowly Clinches Chelsea City Council Democratic Primary https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-07-01-at-6-51-15-pm_4-10879273_20260701185132.png Carl Wilson, who currently serves as City Council Member for District 3, won the democratic nomination for re-election in November after three rounds of ranked-choice voting for an over 50% majority. https://www.otdowntown.com/news/mta-spruces-up-subway-bathrooms-secures-toilet-seats-XC5985154 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-07-02T11:51:56-04:00 MTA Spruces Up Subway Bathrooms, Secures Toilet Seats https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/union-square_4-10871957_20260626182746.jpg A January report from the MTA Inspector General found ten observed bathrooms lacking toilet seat covers, including those at Union Square (above). That has now been fixed. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-06-26-at-5-37-10-pm_4-10871944_20260626174605.png An example of a preexisting subway bathroom with an installed toilet seat. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-06-26-at-5-18-26-pm_4-10871950_20260626174603.png Certain bathrooms in New York City’s subway system reportedly lacked toilet seats (above) as of last year, according to a report by the MTA’s Inspector General. However, this has now reportedly been rectified. https://www.otdowntown.com/news/climbing-couple-arrested-after-proposal-atop-empire-state-building-DF5997234 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-07-02T13:11:19-04:00 Climbing Couple Arrested after Proposal Atop Empire State Building https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-07-01-at-4-39-51-pm_4-10881235_20260701164101.png Two daredevil climbers who scaled the Empire State Building and unfulred a peace banner atop the building’s needle were arrested by the NYPD on July 1. https://www.otdowntown.com/home/birthright-citizenship-upheld-as-supreme-court-rejects-trump-s-proposed-limits-IB5993659 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-07-02T14:25:05-04:00 Birthright Citizenship Upheld As Supreme Court Rejects Trump’s Proposed Limits https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/birthrightcitizenshipimage-dsc07760-scaled_4-10881420_20260701190308.jpg The 14th Amendment has ensured birthright citizenship since 1868 and the Supreme Court upheld that provision, dealing a blow to President Donald Trump who had railed against the law for more than a decade. The amendment guarantees people born on U.S. soil are citizens, regardless of their parents’ citizenship status. https://www.otdowntown.com/news/fidi-hotel-forced-to-evacuate-after-bear-spray-incident-NB5993593 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-07-02T14:31:33-04:00 FiDi Hotel Forced to Evacuate after Bear Spray Incident https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-06-30-at-3-19-59-pm_4-10879298_20260630152535.png This 400-room hotel saw most of its guests evacuated onto Stone Street following an assault involving bear spray on the 20th floor. Two occupants were transported to an area hospital in stable condition. https://www.otdowntown.com/news/ahead-of-bill-hearing-carriage-workers-plead-case-to-keep-horses-EB5993215 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-07-02T16:35:32-04:00 Ahead of Bill Hearing, Carriage Workers Plead Case to Keep Horses https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/3e0a4184_4-10879688_20260630170255.jpg Horse carriage rides resumed in the park June 23, after a six-day pause to pay respect for a fatal incident, in which a teen fell from a runaway carriage and died. It was halted again after the temperature soared over 89 degrees in recent days. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/3e0a4259_4-10879161_20260630170247.jpg Christina Hansen, a carriage owner and spokesperson for the union, with Cheyenne the horse. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/3e0a4182_4-10879690_20260630170258.jpg Horse carriages line up at the bottom of the park before picking up visitors to take around the park’s loop. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/3e0a4215_4-10879684_20260630170251.jpg As the city prepares for a July 15 hearing on a bill to ban Central Park carriage horses, the union representing carriage owners says a ban will devastate the drivers’ livelihoods. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/3e0a4200_4-10879686_20260630170253.jpg Central Park horses return to three different Hell’s Kitchen stables after working in the park. At the 52 St location, horses are kept upstairs and are watched over 24/7. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/3e0a4174_4-10879692_20260630170301.jpg The union imposes strict guidelines for the care of the horses, including a weather restriction of 89 degrees for the horses to be outside and working. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/3e0a4154_4-10879694_20260630170305.jpg Currently, horses do not have a designated place to line up in the park. https://www.otdowntown.com/food-drink/miss-subways-reunion-brings-extra-pizazz-to-ellen-s-stardust-diner-AC5994046 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-07-02T16:48:35-04:00 Miss Subways Reunion Brings Extra Pizazz to Ellen’s Stardust Diner https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/3e0a4397_4-10881375_20260701172931.jpg Ellen Hart, owner of Ellen’s Stardust Diner and a former Miss Subways (1959), poses with Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal holding her original Miss Subways poster and a Proclamation in celebration of the Miss Subways reunion and her 85th birthday. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/3e0a4573_4-10879394_20260701172935.jpg Ellen Hart posing with Juliet Papa, Reporter at 1010 WINS, (left) and Julie Coker, President and CEO of NYC Tourism and Conventions (right). Papa and Coker received the Miss Subways Honorary sashes. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/3e0a4332_4-10881378_20260701172938.jpg Ellen Hart pictured with fellow Miss Subways. From left to right: Eileen Ryan Keating, Dolores Mitchell Byrne, Maureen Walsh Roaldsen, Mary Gardiner, Heide Hafner, and Ellen Hart. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/3e0a4469_4-10881384_20260701172944.jpg Actor Samantha Stevens arrived dressed up as Marilyn Monroe and impersonated the actress’s 1962 performance of “Happy Birthday, Mr. President.” Similarly to President John F. Kennedy, Hart was pleasantly cringing to the side. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/3e0a4527_4-10881381_20260701172941.jpg A Starduster performing “New York, New York.” During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ellen’s Stardust Diner struggled to survive the hardships of quarantine and limited tourism. The vibrant diner has since gotten back on its feet. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/3e0a4582_4-10881387_20260701172948.jpg The “Miss Subways” wall in Ellen’s Stardust Diner, showing the various women’s original posters which lined subway cars from 1941 until 1976.