A Bigger BID?

Due to city budget cuts, this year’s gay pride parade will be a mile shorter than in previous years. That means the usual big crowds along 5th Ave in the Village are going to be even that much bigger. Brace yourself.

All gone.

Union Square will host its first-ever Night Market by Urbanspace. Union Square is no stranger to Urbanspace, as the company is responsible for putting on the park’s beloved annual Holiday Market. However, this will be the first time Urbanspace will operate an open-air food market during summer nights.

The Union Square Night Market will run for four Thursdays, starting July 11th. More than 20 vendors will come together to bring New Yorkers some of the best bites in the city. It will all take place along the South Plaza of Union Square Park.

So whether you’re interested in grabbing something to eat on your summer commute home or planning a date night, the Union Square Night Market will serve as the perfect venue for either!

Last Friday, NYC Parks & Recreation, CYNTHIA-REEVES PROJECTS, and the Union Square Partnership officially cut the ribbon on LOTUS, the newest piece of temporary art in the Union Square Park Triangle. LOTUS was the creation of Seoul-based artist Jaehyo Lee. To create the piece, the artist meticulously carved, shaped, burned the individual wood elements attached to a steel armature that stretches 12 feet high. The artwork has certainly made an impression as passersby who can be seen at all times of day stopping to look and touch the new art in the triangle.

Here’s a view of Union Square from 1985. The angle is from the southeast looking toward the northwest from the corner of 4th Ave. and 14th. Note that in the good ol’ days, the statue of George Washington was located in the intersection. It was later moved to the southern end of the park. 

The upscaling of the neighborhood continues with speakeasy Everything’s Jake on East 13th St. Cocktail prices are… not bad.