https://www.otdowntown.com/news/kips-bay-amc-to-close-by-end-of-year-IX6145486 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-08-26T19:13:24-04:00 Rumors Swirl as Kips Bay AMC To Close By End of Year https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/kips-bay-amc_4-11039911_20260826191247.jpg AMC Kips Bay 15 became a neighborhood staple after it opened in 1999. Now, the theater will be shutting its doors by the end of the year. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/kips-bay-amc-fairway_4-11039910_20260826192517.jpg If speculation that the owner of the block may be looking to sell is true, then the Kips Bay Fairway Market on the other end of the development would also likely be forced to close. https://www.otdowntown.com/news/nyc-s-lithium-battery-fires-on-pace-to-pass-last-year-s-record-JF6142964 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-08-26T19:55:53-04:00 NYC’s Lithium Battery Fires on Pace to Pass Last Year’s Record https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/bs4i0129-4-10895689-20260706154901_4-11037389_20260825172236.webp Lithium battery fires, such as one that occurred when a van full of e-vehicles exploded last month on W. 23rd Street (above), are on pace to achieve record highs in New York City this year. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/charred-lithium-ion-bikes-4-6524297-2_4-11037431_20260825190448.webp In an e-bike fire in June, 2023, four people were killed and two others hospitalized after fire erupted in an e-bike shop in Chinatown. The year was the deadliest on record for fatalities caused by lithium-ion batteries, with charred remains the day after the fire pictured above. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/5ee8f457-fe84-4bcf-8ccf-bffa40760c30_4-11037434_20260825190449.webp Fazil Kahn, a 27 year-old journalist from Delhi, India, was killed in his fourth floor apartment in Harlem when a deadly lithium-ion battery erupted on the third floor. Fire fighters had to use three rope-roof rescues to save other trapped residents in the building. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/dot-4-9119011-20250612144551-jpg_4-11037398_20260825172715.webp The NYC DOT also runs an e-bike safe battery swap program, which serves as part of the “Charge Safe, Ride Safe<i>”</i> action plan. https://www.otdowntown.com/news/nyc-families-struggle-with-late-summer-childcare-due-to-later-school-year-start-MA6147925 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-08-27T12:03:32-04:00 NYC Families Struggle With Late-Summer Childcare Due to Later School Year Start https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-08-27-115611_4-11041812_20260827120151.png Not in NYC: Of the top 20 school districts in the U.S., 19 have resumed classes for the current school year. New York City does not resume classes until Sept. 10. That places a burden on parents who need to find childcare for the three weeks between the end of most summer programs and the start of the academic year. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/starting-school_4-11040668_20260827120155.jpg The Sept. 10 school start date start leaves many working NYC parents struggling to cover weeks of costly childcare gaps. https://www.otdowntown.com/news/new-york-city-remembers-life-and-legacy-of-dolly-parton-KX6145279 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-08-28T12:18:13-04:00 New York City remembers life and legacy of Dolly Parton https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-08-26-at-4-17-44-pm_4-11039846_20260826162343.png Flaming Saddles, a country-western gay bar in Hell’s Kitchen, put a Dolly Parton memorial up Aug. 25. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-08-27-at-1-45-22-pm_4-11046190_20260827142337.png Temporary Dolly Parton signs went up at the Fulton Street subway station on Aug. 25 before being removed by MTA the next afternoon. Street artists known as “plannedalism” and “graycement” on Instagram were responsible for the tribute. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/dolly-parton-tribue-in-east-village_4-11042881_20260827124424.jpg A tribute to Dolly Parton a appeared on the marque at the IFC Center in the West Village on Sixth Ave. and West 3rd Street. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-08-28-at-11-06-47-am_4-11048303_20260828113821.png 17 New York state landmarks including the Grand Central Terminal Pershing Square Viaduct glowed pink the evening of Aug. 27. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/dolly-parton-ap-at-radio-city-may-11_4-11042884_20260827124424.jpg Although she was born in Pittman Center, TN, Dolly Parton always had a special connection to NYC. She was the center of attention on the street in front of Radio City Music Hall on May 11, 1993, as she unveiled a ceremonial sign in advance of a country music festival at the entertainment palace. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-08-26-at-12-59-24-pm_4-11038868_20260826130652.png the 103-floor Empire State building showed pink on Aug. 25 in honor of Dolly Parton who passed away that day. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-08-27-at-1-43-51-pm_4-11046193_20260827142341.png Temporary Dolly Parton signs went up at the Fulton Street subway station on Aug. 25 before being removed by MTA the next afternoon. Street artists known as “plannedalism” and “graycement” on Instagram were responsible for the tribute. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-08-28-at-11-23-50-am_4-11048306_20260828113827.png Seventeen New York State landmarks including the One World Trade Center glowed pink the evening of Aug. 27. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/can-someone-get-a-pic-of-the-dolly-pa_4-11048312_20260828113830.webp The New York State Department of Transportation put up “Dolly-themed safety messages” on various state highways on Aug. 27 and Aug. 28. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-08-27-at-1-42-16-pm_4-11046196_20260827142345.png One of the temporary Dolly Parton signs that street artists put up at the Fulton Street subway station on Aug. 25 before being removed by MTA the next afternoon. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/hq0skltwyaadmri_4-11048309_20260828113830.jpg The Kosciuszko Bridge glowed pink the evening of Aug. 27. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-08-26-at-1-03-21-pm_4-11038943_20260826130654.png One Times Square’s New Year's Eve Ball shone pink for Dolly Parton into the early hours of Aug. 26. https://www.otdowntown.com/news/diageo-to-lay-off-305-workers-at-wtc-hub-as-alcohol-consumption-slides-EK6149996 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-08-28T12:39:37-04:00 Diageo to Lay Off 305 Workers At WTC Hub As Alcohol Consumption Slides https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/tempimagevpzdke_4-11046589_20260827170123.jpg The beverage giant Diageo is laying off more than one-third of its workforce at its North American headquarters, located at 3 World Trade Center, as Americans drink less. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/diageo-global-headquarters-hq_4-11046603_20260827172123.jpg Diageo has its global headquarters located in London, England. While North American sales are falling, the company said was seeing stronger sales in Europe. https://www.otdowntown.com/news/long-island-rail-road-south-fork-fixes-include-direct-to-montauk-train-BC6150663 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-08-28T13:00:17-04:00 Long Island Rail Road South Fork Fixes Include Direct to Montauk Train https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/long-island-rail-raod-south-fork-mont_4-11048602_20260828120423.jpg Long Island Rail Road South Fork fixes will include a daily through train from Penn Station to Montauk, eliminating any changes along the way. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/long-island-rail-road-south-fork-fixe_4-11048595_20260828120207.jpg Long Island Railroad Station South Fork fixes will improve service to Montauk. Starting in September, there will be direct service all year long. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/old-montauk-lirr-station-art-gallery_4-11048174_20260828112223.jpg The historic old LIRR station at Montauk has been converted into an art gallery. https://www.otdowntown.com/news/partial-lunar-eclipse-visible-in-new-york-despite-clouds-CD6151646 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-08-28T13:50:44-04:00 Partial lunar eclipse visible in New York despite clouds https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/lunar_4-11049235_20260828135046.jpg The lunar eclipse was visible in New York City despite cloudy skies on the evening of Aug. 27. At times, the earth cast a reddish shadow on the moon, creating what is known as the “blood moon.” https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/fullsizerender-4_4-11048716_20260828124551.jpg The partial eclipse could be seen on West 23rd Street between 8th and 9th Avenues. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/img-6749_4-11048719_20260828124553.jpg The partial eclipse as seen from 23rd Street between 8th and 9th avenues.