NYC's Summer of '26 Part 2

This past summer in NYC was so eventful that I need to write a short second part about NYC's Summer of '26!

First, there were the political primaries where two incumbent members of Congress lost and a new generation of leaders won at the state and federal level.

Second, I spent a week in Brooklyn with friends and saw and did lots of great stuff on the cusp of America's 250 birthday. 

Third, I went to Maine and ate well and saw lots of natural beauty. 

Fourth, I saw massive helictopers during a boat ride and went to the craziest baseball game ever. 

One helluva summer!

Classic Mr NYC

Fifteen years ago this week Occupy Wall Street began. I blogged about it extensively at the time -- yes, I've been doing this that long -- and now what was real time coverage has turned into a piece of NYC and American history. You can read the entire Mr NYC OWS Archive if you'd like!

And you call also listen to this interview with the great late-night NYC cable TV host Robin Byrd and also read my own extensive archive of her. 

25 Years Since 9/11/2001

To remember this historic day, here's the parts of the memorial service and a story.

The Further Adventures of Mr NYC

 

NYC's Summer of '26

On this first day of September, the summer of 2026 is winding down. Soon the autumnal equinox will be upon us, vacations will end, the air will turn crisp, kids will return to school, the leaves will turn, and thoughts will drift towards the holidays and year's end.

And yet ... and yet ... the summer of '26 in NYC is one for the history books.

Unlike most summers that vanish from the public memory year-after-year, this soon to-be-gone summer has left some traces that will not soon be forgotten.

Even two months ago, at the beginning of July, some in the media were calling it The Summer of New York. Here's a roll call of what happened:

• The Knicks win their first NBA championship in 53 years!
  
  
• The World Cup opens and closes at MetLife Stadium!
  
  
• Taylor and Travis get married at Madison Square Garden, the wedding of the year!
  
  
• America celebrated its 250th anniversary on July 4th with Sail4th in New York harbor!
  
  
• Crazy weather (thanks global warming!) with massive thunderstorms, high heat, and the smoky orange haze that blanketed the city due to the Canadian wildfires.
  
  
• A naked man jumped from the Brooklyn Bridge!
  
  
• The debut of Sterling Point, a lovely New Yorkers out of (and in the) water series!
  
  
• A glorious tribute to Dolly Parton from a gleaming Empire State Building!
  
  
• Even a documentary about NYC's favorite adult star Robin Byrd!
  
  
• And soon we will have a more serious milestone as we remember the 25th anniversary of 9/11/2001.

What a wild, historic summer! 

And here's something that might make 2026 the Summer of NYC into the Year of 2026: this fall are the midterm elections. If, some way, some how, the Democrats take back control of both houses of the US Congress, that means that the President of the United States, the Senate Majority Leader, and the House Speaker will all be from NYC. That'll be even wilder and more historic!

"I'm Waiting for the Man" -- The Velvet Underground in Dallas, October 1969

The greatest rock band ever to come out of NYC -- The Velvet Underground -- had a short life in the late 1960s. It would only be decades later that they would be considered one of the greatest and most influential bands of all time.

Still, during their brief existence, the Velvets toured the country. In the late 1960s they travelled to Dallas and their outdoor performance, and later another performance at a club, were recorded and can be seen/heard here.

There's actually very little footage of the Velvets during their time as a band so this is a rare and interesting treat, a small window into the past. 

Battle for the Pierre

Here's a fascinating article about the battle between owners and shareholders of the Pierre, the gorgeous hotel/apartment building on 59th Street -- across from its brethern the Plaza and the Sherry Netherland. It's a story of rich people vs. other rich people, corruption vs. stubborness, Old New York money and taste vs. global wealth and crassness.

It's an Only in NYC story!

FYI: the main dining room of the Pierre is where the legendary tango scene from Scent of a Woman took place.

NYC Remembers Dolly

Dolly Parton has died and I don't want to believe it but so it goes. Anyway, NYC is remembering the music legend by giving her the ultimate tribute -- illuminating the Empire State Building in her trademark pink.

And if you want to understand the true greatness of Dolly, a perfect example of her musical and performance genius, listen to her beautiful song "Butterfly" and watch her SNL monologue from 1989 -- part of it, uh ... doesn't really hold up but it shows you what a good sport Dolly was. RIP. 

Review: "Is This Thing On?" (2025)

Late last year a small film came and went that didn't get a lot of fanfare but is actually really good.

Called Is This Thing On?, it's about a middle-aged couples in suburban NYC who seperate. The forlorn husband finds himself accidently turning to stand up comedy to deal with his new, unwanted life, while he soon-to-be ex-wife tries to keep their old life and their kids lives going as before -- just without him.

This movie is something you don't get a lot these days -- a very funny, wonderfully acted story about regular people leading their lives. It was directed by Bradley Cooper, the movie star (who has a supporting role), and it stars Will Arnett and Laura Dern as the erstwhile couple and they excellent. Also in the cast are Christine Ebersole as the mother-in-law and the great actor Ciaran Hinds who plays the father -- and gives a beautiful, understated performance.

There are lots of movies about glamorous people in NYC living glamorous lives but this movie is about the regular, hardworking people dealing with their careers, their families, and their own sense of worth. You should see it!

Once Upon a Time ... in NYC