Podcasts about agbc

We are back at it again with the light novels in this fifth episode of AGBC Part V: The Reading Experience. This time, we're reading Victoria of Many Faces, the story of a former spy trying to start a new life in another country. Topics include inevitable comparisons to Spy x Family, dissatisfaction in the workplace, and Italian grandmothers. Post in the Discord or pop off in the comments below on anything and everything AGBC and maybe we’ll talk about it on the next episode. Runtime: 54 minutes Direct Download RSS Feed iTunes Spotify Stitcher Google Music Send us Feedback! Support us on Patreon! Join our Discord server! More episodes

We are back at it again with the light novels in this fourth episode of AGBC Part V: The Reading Experience. This time, we're reading Record of Lodoss War: The Grey Witch, the story of a group of brave adventurers on a quest in the land of Lodoss. Topics include the early Japanese tabletop RPG scene, some harsh realities of book publishing, and Inaki’s nasty water receptacle. Many thanks to Dawn from the Anime Nostalgia Podcast for joining the show to talk Lodoss War with us! Post in the Discord or pop off in the comments below on anything and everything AGBC and maybe we’ll talk about it on the next episode. Runtime: 90 minutes Direct Download RSS Feed iTunes Spotify Stitcher Google Music Send us Feedback! Support us on Patreon! Join our Discord server! More episodes

We are back at it again with the light novels in this third episode of AGBC Part V: The Reading Experience. This time, we're reading The Vexations of a Shut-In Vampire Princess, the story of a hikkikomori-NEET vampire who is forced to get a job. Topics include 6/10 anime adaptations, Type-Moon nonsense, and the key to success in life. Post in the Discord or pop off in the comments below on anything and everything AGBC and maybe we’ll talk about it on the next episode. Runtime: 45 minutes Direct Download RSS Feed iTunes Spotify Stitcher Google Music Send us Feedback! Support us on Patreon! Join our Discord server! More episodes

We are back at it again with the light novels in this second episode of AGBC Part V: The Reading Experience. This time, we're reading Sword Art Online 1: Aincrad, the story of a gamer trapped in a virtual world where death in the game means death in real life. Topics include the generational gap and Super Mario 64, Chapter 16.5, and the almighty TikTok algorithm. Post in the Discord or pop off in the comments below on anything and everything AGBC and maybe we’ll talk about it on the next episode. Runtime: 58 minutes Direct Download RSS Feed iTunes Spotify Stitcher Google Music Send us Feedback! Support us on Patreon! Join our Discord server! More episodes

We are back at it again with the light novels in this first episode of AGBC Part V: The Reading Experience. This time, we're reading Ascendance of a Bookworm, the story of a book maniac reincarnated in another world without public libraries. Topics include 30 Rock, a singular Reese’s chocolate peanut butter cup, and some brief waffle on the Star Wars prequels. Post in the Discord or pop off in the comments below on anything and everything AGBC and maybe we’ll talk about it on the next episode. Runtime: 53 minutes Direct Download RSS Feed iTunes Spotify Stitcher Google Music Send us Feedback! Support us on Patreon! Join our Discord server! More episodes

We are back at it again with the light novels in this ninth and FINAL episode (for this arc) of AGBC Part IV: Book Club is Not Crash. This time, we're reading JK Haru is a Sex Worker in Another World: Summer, continuing the story of Haru and her quest to save the world while working her day job at a brothel. Topics include locked room mystery ennui, fantasy cooking, and Mara from Shin Megami Tensei. Post in the Discord or pop off in the comments below on anything and everything AGBC and maybe we’ll talk about it on the next episode. Runtime: 1 hour 8 minutes Direct Download RSS Feed iTunes Spotify Stitcher Google Music Send us Feedback! Support us on Patreon! Join our Discord server! More episodes

We are back at it again with the light novels in this eighth episode of AGBC Part IV: Book Club is Not Crash. This time, we're reading Min-Maxing My TRPG Build in Another World Vol. 2, continuing the story of Erich and his TRPG build. Topics include rye bread, teething remedies for infants, and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Post in the Discord or pop off in the comments below on anything and everything AGBC and maybe we’ll talk about it on the next episode. Runtime: 46 minutes Direct Download RSS Feed iTunes Spotify Stitcher Google Music Send us Feedback! Support us on Patreon! Join our Discord server! More episodes

We are back at it again with the light novels in this seventh episode of AGBC Part IV: Book Club is Not Crash. This time, we're reading The Apothecary Diaries Vol. 2, continuing the story of Maomao and the mysteries she encounters inside the imperial court. Topics include our uncle who works at Japan, Umineko When They Cry, and the Blowfish Challenge (don't try this at home). Post in the Discord or pop off in the comments below on anything and everything AGBC and maybe we'll talk about it on the next episode.

We are back at it again with the light novels in this fifth episode of AGBC Part IV: Book Club is Not Crash. This time, we're reading Spice and Wolf Vol. 2, continuing the story of the wise wolf Holo and her traveling merchant companion, Lawrence. Topics include the ancient profession of shepherding, the curvature of a sabre, and some educated guesses on sheep anatomy. Post in the Discord or pop off in the comments below on anything and everything AGBC and maybe we'll talk about it on the next episode.

We are back at it again with the light novels in this fifth episode of AGBC Part IV: Book Club is Not Crash. This time, we're reading Spice and Wolf Vol. 2, continuing the story of the wise wolf Holo and her traveling merchant companion, Lawrence. Topics include the ancient profession of shepherding, the curvature of a sabre, and some educated guesses on sheep anatomy. Post in the Discord or pop off in the comments below on anything and everything AGBC and maybe we'll talk about it on the next episode.

We are back at it again with the light novels in this fifth episode of AGBC Part IV: Book Club is Not Crash. This time, we're reading Slayers Vol. 2, continuing the story of sorceress Lina Inverse and her swordsman companion, Gourry. Topics include tabletop roleplaying games, Ryu ga Gotoku, and another impassioned food rant from Inaki. Post in the Discord or pop off in the comments below on anything and everything AGBC and maybe we'll talk about it on the next episode.

We are back at it again with the light novels in this fifth episode of AGBC Part IV: Book Club is Not Crash. This time, we're reading Slayers Vol. 2, continuing the story of sorceress Lina Inverse and her swordsman companion, Gourry. Topics include tabletop roleplaying games, Ryu ga Gotoku, and another impassioned food rant from Inaki. Post in the Discord or pop off in the comments below on anything and everything AGBC and maybe we'll talk about it on the next episode.

We are back at it again with the light novels in this fourth episode of AGBC Part IV: Book Club is Not Crash. This time, we're reading Are You Okay With a (Slightly) Older Girlfriend? Vol. 2, continuing the story of an average teenage boy and his 27-year old girlfriend. Topics include the famous Hitachi Magic Wand back massager, the truth behind bloomers fetish, and bad ideas for romantic gifts. Post in the Discord or pop off in the comments below on anything and everything AGBC and maybe we'll talk about it on the next episode.

We are back at it again with the light novels in this fourth episode of AGBC Part IV: Book Club is Not Crash. This time, we're reading Are You Okay With a (Slightly) Older Girlfriend? Vol. 2, continuing the story of an average teenage boy and his 27-year old girlfriend. Topics include the famous Hitachi Magic Wand back massager, the truth behind bloomers fetish, and bad ideas for romantic gifts. Post in the Discord or pop off in the comments below on anything and everything AGBC and maybe we'll talk about it on the next episode.

We are back at it again with the light novels in this third episode of AGBC Part IV: Book Club is Not Crash. This time, we're reading Torture Princess Vol. 2, continuing the story of a hapless dummy pulled between the elegant and sadistic Elisabeth and his homicidal robot girlfriend, Hina. Topics include offal cuisine, positivity in the face of overwhelming edginess, and Are You Okay with a (Slightly) Older Girlfriend, again. Post in the Discord or pop off in the comments below on anything and everything AGBC and maybe we'll talk about it on the next episode.

We are back at it again with the light novels in this third episode of AGBC Part IV: Book Club is Not Crash. This time, we're reading Torture Princess Vol. 2, continuing the story of a hapless dummy pulled between the elegant and sadistic Elisabeth and his homicidal robot girlfriend, Hina. Topics include offal cuisine, positivity in the face of overwhelming edginess, and Are You Okay with a (Slightly) Older Girlfriend, again. Post in the Discord or pop off in the comments below on anything and everything AGBC and maybe we’ll talk about it on the next episode. Runtime: 54 minutes Direct Download RSS Feed iTunes Spotify Stitcher Google Music Send us Feedback! Support us on Patreon! Join our Discord server! More episodes

We are back at it again with the light novels in this second episode of AGBC Part IV: Book Club is Not Crash. This time, we're reading Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki Vol. 2, continuing the story of a gamer who just can't catch a break inside a high school filled with intimidating normies. Topics include Are You Okay with a (Slightly) Older Girlfriend, Saitama, and anime for bottoms. Post in the Discord or pop off in the comments below on anything and everything AGBC and maybe we'll talk about it on the next episode.

We are back at it again with the light novels in this second episode of AGBC Part IV: Book Club is Not Crash. This time, we’re reading Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki Vol. 2, continuing the story of a gamer who just can’t catch a break inside a high school filled with intimidating normies. Topics include Are You Okay with a (Slightly) Older Girlfriend, Saitama, and anime for bottoms. Post in the Discord or pop off in the comments below on anything and everything AGBC and maybe we'll talk about it on the next episode.

We are back at it again with the light novels in this first episode of AGBC Part IV: Book Club is Not Crash. This time, we’re reading So I’m a Spider, So What? Vol. 2, continuing the story of a spider who just can’t catch a break inside a dungeon filled with fearsome monsters. Topics include effective menuing, the differences between light novels and regular books, and spice. Post in the Discord or pop off in the comments below on anything and everything AGBC and maybe we'll talk about it on the next episode.

We are back at it again with the light novels in this first episode of AGBC Part IV: Book Club is Not Crash. This time, we're reading So I'm a Spider, So What? Vol. 2, continuing the story of a spider who just can't catch a break inside a dungeon filled with fearsome monsters. Topics include effective menuing, the differences between light novels and regular books, and spice. Post in the Discord or pop off in the comments below on anything and everything AGBC and maybe we'll talk about it on the next episode.

We are back at it again with the light novels in this ninth episode of AGBC Part III. This time, we're reading Higehiro: After Being Rejected, I Shaved and Took in a High School Runaway, the story of a work freak who is rejected by his hot boss, so he decides to take in a high school runaway after shaving. Topics include criticisms of modern workplace culture, making mistakes you immediately begin regretting for the rest of your life, and lots of bickering at the end about Sword Art Online when we were supposed to mention the next book (it's So I'm a Spider, So What? Vol. 2). Post in the Discord or pop off in the comments below on anything and everything AGBC and maybe we'll talk about it on the next episode.

We are back at it again with the light novels in this ninth episode of AGBC Part III. This time, we’re reading Higehiro: After Being Rejected, I Shaved and Took in a High School Runaway, the story of a work freak who is rejected by his hot boss, so he decides to take in a high school runaway after shaving. Topics include criticisms of modern workplace culture, making mistakes you immediately begin regretting for the rest of your life, and lots of bickering at the end about Sword Art Online when we were supposed to mention the next book (it’s So I’m a Spider, So What? Vol. 2). Post in the Discord or pop off in the comments below on anything and everything AGBC and maybe we'll talk about it on the next episode.

We are back at it again with the light novels in this eighth episode of AGBC Part III. This time, we're reading Min-Maxing My TRPG Build in Another World, the story of a tabletop gaming nerd who is reborn into another world and accrues a harem of monster girls. Topics include Dark Souls, drunkenness at weddings, and George R.R. Martin. Post in the Discord or pop off in the comments below on anything and everything AGBC and maybe we'll talk about it on the next episode.

We are back at it again with the light novels in this eighth episode of AGBC Part III. This time, we’re reading Min-Maxing My TRPG Build in Another World, the story of a tabletop gaming nerd who is reborn into another world and accrues a harem of monster girls. Topics include Dark Souls, drunkenness at weddings, and George R.R. Martin. Post in the Discord or pop off in the comments below on anything and everything AGBC and maybe we'll talk about it on the next episode.

We are back at it again with the light novels in this seventh episode of AGBC Part III. This time, we're reading Tearmoon Empire, the story of a bratty princess who is reborn with a chance to correct her life after dying by the guillotine. Topics include persistent disagreement between the hosts, school setting fatigue, and being reprimanded by librarians for having the gall to show interest in books. Post in the Discord or pop off in the comments below on anything and everything AGBC and maybe we'll talk about it on the next episode.

We are back at it again with the light novels in this seventh episode of AGBC Part III. This time, we’re reading Tearmoon Empire, the story of a bratty princess who is reborn with a chance to correct her life after dying by the guillotine. Topics include persistent disagreement between the hosts, school setting fatigue, and being reprimanded by librarians for having the gall to show interest in books. Post in the Discord or pop off in the comments below on anything and everything AGBC and maybe we'll talk about it on the next episode.

We are back at it again with the light novels in this sixth episode of AGBC Part III. This time, we’re reading She Professed Herself Pupil of the Wise Man, the story of a gamer who is transported into a video game. That’s it, that’s the premise. Topics include Bethesda game design principles, anti-guns-in-fantasy-novels sentiments, and sympathy for creators just trying to feed themselves. Post in the Discord or pop off in the comments below on anything and everything AGBC and maybe we'll talk about it on the next episode.

We are back at it again with the light novels in this sixth episode of AGBC Part III. This time, we're reading She Professed Herself Pupil of the Wise Man, the story of a gamer who is transported into a video game. That's it, that's the premise. Topics include Bethesda game design principles, anti-guns-in-fantasy-novels sentiments, and sympathy for creators just trying to feed themselves. Post in the Discord or pop off in the comments below on anything and everything AGBC and maybe we'll talk about it on the next episode.

We are back at it again with the light novels in this fifth episode of AGBC Part III. This time, we’re reading Are You Okay With a (Slightly) Older Girlfriend?, the story of an average teenage boy and his new 27-year old girlfriend. Topics include Kirby Super Star, Mega Man Battle Network, and Super Smash Bros. Post in the Discord or pop off in the comments below on anything and everything AGBC and maybe we'll talk about it on the next episode.

We are back at it again with the light novels in this fifth episode of AGBC Part III. This time, we're reading Are You Okay With a (Slightly) Older Girlfriend?, the story of an average teenage boy and his new 27-year old girlfriend. Topics include Kirby Super Star, Mega Man Battle Network, and Super Smash Bros. Post in the Discord or pop off in the comments below on anything and everything AGBC and maybe we'll talk about it on the next episode.

We are back at it again with the light novels in this fourth episode of AGBC Part III. This time, we’re reading The Executioner and Her Way of Life, the story of a mopey assassin besieged by the amorous advances of her childhood best friend and her latest target. Topics include the beauty of muscles, character arc haircuts, and redemption for Torture Princess. Post in the Discord or pop off in the comments below on anything and everything AGBC and maybe we'll talk about it on the next episode.

We are back at it again with the light novels in this fourth episode of AGBC Part III. This time, we're reading The Executioner and Her Way of Life, the story of a mopey assassin besieged by the amorous advances of her childhood best friend and her latest target. Topics include the beauty of muscles, character arc haircuts, and redemption for Torture Princess. Post in the Discord or pop off in the comments below on anything and everything AGBC and maybe we'll talk about it on the next episode.

We are back at it again with the light novels in this third episode of AGBC. This time, we're reading the second volume of Konosuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World!, the story of a guy reborn into a totally normal RPG world with no advantages except the companionship of a pampered goddess.Topics include the reason why there were no new episodes for a while (sorry), inaccurate dinosaur toys, and mana transfers. Post in the Discord or pop off in the comments below on anything and everything AGBC and maybe we'll talk about it on the next episode.

We are back at it again with the light novels in this third episode of AGBC. This time, we’re reading the second volume of Konosuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World!, the story of a guy reborn into a totally normal RPG world with no advantages except the companionship of a pampered goddess.Topics include the reason why there were no new episodes for a while (sorry), inaccurate dinosaur toys, and mana transfers. Post in the Discord or pop off in the comments below on anything and everything AGBC and maybe we'll talk about it on the next episode.

We are back at it again with the light novels in this second episode of AGBC Part III. This time, we’re reading Torture Princess, the story of a guy reborn into servitude to a bratty noble girl with a disturbing penchant for violence. Topics include Elizabeth Báthory, grimdark media clichés, and a certain infamous baby from history. Post in the Discord or pop off in the comments below on anything and everything AGBC and maybe we'll talk about it on the next episode.

We are back at it again with the light novels in this second episode of AGBC Part III. This time, we're reading Torture Princess, the story of a guy reborn into servitude to a bratty noble girl with a disturbing penchant for violence. Topics include Elizabeth Báthory, grimdark media clichés, and a certain infamous baby from history. Post in the Discord or pop off in the comments below on anything and everything AGBC and maybe we'll talk about it on the next episode.

We are back at it again with the light novels in this first episode of the newly rebooted Ani-Gamers Book Club, now permanently on the main podcast feed! (Yes, we reset the numbering for this new version of the show.) We are joined by the boss, Evan Minto, who selected Boogiepop and Others, the story of a group of classmates caught in a secretive conflict between the forces of good and evil. Topics include the works of Satoshi Kon, arguments about the qualification for media to be considered goth, and gender. Post in the Discord or pop off in the comments below on anything and everything AGBC and maybe we'll talk about it on the next episode.

Visit agreatbigcity.com/support to learn how to support New York City local news and allow us to keep bringing you this podcast. If you are a New York-based business and would be interested in sponsoring our podcasts, visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. 93 years ago on June 26, 1927 — The Coney Island Cyclone wooden roller coaster opens to the public Postcard featuring The Cyclone via Boston Public Library / The Tichnor Brothers Collection 51 years ago on June 28, 1969 — Tensions between police and the gay community boil over into a revolt during an overnight raid on the Stonewall Inn 37 years ago on June 28, 1983 — Eight men are arrested in a $1.5 million gold heist 3 years ago on June 30, 2017 — A doctor opens fire at Bronx-Lebanon hospital, killing one and wounding six 21 years ago on July 1, 1999 — Area code 646 launches in Manhattan to supplement 212 and 917 numbers 34 years ago on July 3, 1986 — The opening ceremony of Liberty Weekend begins four days of celebrations around the Statue of Liberty's 100th anniversary and reopening after an extensive renovation 4 years ago on July 3, 2016 — A tourist steps on an explosive device in Central Park — If you have any information or photos from that day, contact NYPD CrimeStoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (1-800-577-8477), via text message at CRIMES (274637), or via online form. 2 years ago on July 4, 2018 — A woman climbs the Statue of Liberty pedestal, causing Liberty Island to be evacuated and canceling many midday Fourth of July tours AGBC history: 3 years ago — Would $123 Convince You to Bike to Work? — Wednesday, June 28 8 years ago — The NYPD's Newest Helicopter Focuses on Spotting Terrorism — Friday, June 29 8 years ago — Occupy Wall Street - June 28th, 6PM — Friday, June 29 9 years ago — Blimp Race on the Hudson — Monday, July 4 1 year ago — A Great Big City Will No Longer Publish to Facebook — Friday, July 5 9 years ago — Mosquitoes infected with West Nile virus detected in New York City — Thursday, July 7 A Great Big City has been running a 24-hour newsfeed since 2010, but the AGBC News podcast is just getting started, and we need your support. A Great Big City is built on a dedication to explaining what is happening and how it fits into the larger history of New York, which means thoroughly researching every topic and avoiding clickbait headlines to provide a straightforward, honest, and factual explanation of the news. Individuals can make a monthly or one-time contribution at agreatbigcity.com/support and local businesses can have a lasting impact by supporting local news while promoting products or services directly to interested customers listening to this podcast. Visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. AGBC is more than just a news website: Every evening, just before sundown, A Great Big City checks the Empire State Building's lighting schedule and sends out a notification if the tower's lighting will be lit in special colors for a holiday or celebration. Follow @agreatbigcity on social media to receive the alerts. Park of the day Mullaly Park — 1015 RIVER AVENUE, the Bronx — 15 acre park in West Concourse, Bronx, named for newspaperman John Mullaly, who also helped found the New York Park Association in 1881. Today's fact about New York Here's something you may not have known about New York: There is a birth in New York City every 4.4 minutes Weather The extreme highs and lows for this week in weather history: Record High: 103°F on July 3, 1966 Record Low: 52°F on June 29, 1888 AGBC Weather Weather.gov forecast Thanks for listening to A Great Big City. Follow along 24 hours a day on social media @agreatbigcity or email contact@agreatbigcity.com with any news, feedback, or topic suggestions. Subscribe to AGBC News wherever you listen to podcasts: iTunes, Google Play, or Pocket Casts, Podcast Addict, Overcast, or listen to each episode on the podcast pages at agreatbigcity.com/podcast. If you enjoy the show, subscribe and leave a review wherever you're listening and visit our podcast site to see show notes and extra links for each episode. Intro and outro music: 'Start the Day' by Lee Rosevere — Concert Calendar music from Jukedeck.com

Visit agreatbigcity.com/support to learn how to support New York City local news and allow us to keep bringing you this podcast. If you are a New York-based business and would be interested in sponsoring our podcasts, visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. 123 years ago on June 15, 1897 — A fire sweeps through Ellis Island's wood buildings 136 years ago on June 16, 1884 — America's first roller coaster opens in Coney Island 72 years ago on June 16, 1948 — Australian adventurer Ben Carlin and his wife Elinore launch their amphibious jeep into New York Bay in an attempt to circumnavigate the globe 67 years ago on June 22, 1953 — The Hollow Nickel Case 45 years ago on June 24, 1975 — Eastern Air Flight 66 crashes on approach at JFK Airport, killing 113 people 101 years ago on June 26, 1919 — The first issue of the Illustrated Daily News is published, which would become the modern-day New York Daily News Manhattanhenge Photography Tips and Viewing Locations A Great Big City has been running a 24-hour newsfeed since 2010, but the AGBC News podcast is just getting started, and we need your support. A Great Big City is built on a dedication to explaining what is happening and how it fits into the larger history of New York, which means thoroughly researching every topic and avoiding clickbait headlines to provide a straightforward, honest, and factual explanation of the news. Individuals can make a monthly or one-time contribution at agreatbigcity.com/support and local businesses can have a lasting impact by supporting local news while promoting products or services directly to interested customers listening to this podcast. Visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. AGBC is more than just a news website: It also automatically checks MTA data before morning rush hour and sends out notifications if there are delays on any subway lines, LIRR or MetroNorth trains, and bridges and tunnels. Follow @agreatbigcity on social media to receive the alerts. Park of the day Michel Triangle — Clay Av bet. E 171 St and Claremont Pkwy, the Bronx — Michel Triangle is bounded by Clay Avenue, Webster Avenue, and East 165th Street. The road that is now Clay Avenue, between 164th and 167th Streets, was part of the old General Staats Morris' racetrack that had been laid out in 1750 and survived through the mid-1800s. Did you know? Here's something you may not have known about New York: The largest class of Staten Island Ferry can carry 6,000 passengers Weather The extreme highs and lows for this week in weather history: Record High: 98°F on June 19, 1994 Record Low: 48°F on June 18, 1950 Weather for the week ahead: Possible light rain on Sunday and Tuesday. AGBC Weather Weather.gov forecast Thanks for listening to A Great Big City. Follow along 24 hours a day on social media @agreatbigcity or email contact@agreatbigcity.com with any news, feedback, or topic suggestions. Subscribe to AGBC News wherever you listen to podcasts: iTunes, Google Play, or Overcast, TuneIn Radio, RadioPublic, or listen to each episode on the podcast pages at agreatbigcity.com/podcast. If you enjoy the show, subscribe and leave a review wherever you're listening and visit our podcast site to see show notes and extra links for each episode. Intro and outro music: 'Start the Day' by Lee Rosevere — Manhattanhenge music: Anonymous420

[Coronavirus monologue — 7 northeast states form a joint committee to evaluate ending social distancing] Visit agreatbigcity.com/support to learn how to support New York City local news and allow us to keep bringing you this podcast. If you are a New York-based business and would be interested in sponsoring our podcasts, visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. 116 years ago on April 8, 1904 — Longacre Square is renamed 'Times Square' 107 years ago on April 9, 1913 — The first game is played at Ebbets Field 154 years ago on April 10, 1866 — The ASPCA is founded in New York City, becoming the oldest animal welfare organization in the United States 59 years ago on April 11, 1961 — Bob Dylan plays in Greenwich Village for the first time 115 years ago on April 12, 1905 — The Hippodrome Theatre opens 103 years ago on April 12, 1917 — The Bijou Theatre opens on 45th Street at Broadway 38 years ago on April 12, 1982 — Three CBS employees are killed after encountering a gunman abducting a woman on the top of the Pier 92 parking garage 17 years ago on April 13, 2003 — Subway tokens are phased out and replaced by the MetroCard 2 years ago on April 14, 2018 — David Buckel, a prominent gay rights lawyer and environmental advocate, sets himself on fire in Prospect Park 9 years ago on April 16, 2011 — Area code 929 enters service 1 year ago on April 17, 2019 — A man was taken into custody after attempting to enter St. Patrick's Cathedral with cans of gasoline 14 years ago on April 18, 2006 — Roosevelt Island Tram suffers mechanical problems, trapping 69 people in two tram cars in the air for seven hours A Great Big City has been running a 24-hour newsfeed since 2010, but the AGBC News podcast is just getting started, and we need your support. A Great Big City is built on a dedication to explaining what is happening and how it fits into the larger history of New York, which means thoroughly researching every topic and avoiding clickbait headlines to provide a straightforward, honest, and factual explanation of the news. Individuals can make a monthly or one-time contribution at agreatbigcity.com/support and local businesses can have a lasting impact by supporting local news while promoting products or services directly to interested customers listening to this podcast. Visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. AGBC is more than just a news website: Every evening, just before sundown, A Great Big City checks the Empire State Building's lighting schedule and sends out a notification if the tower's lighting will be lit in special colors for a holiday or celebration. Follow @agreatbigcity on social media to receive the alerts. Park of the day Ionia Avenue Forest — A very densely-forested triangle at the southern end of Staten Island New York Fact Here's something you may not have known about New York: NYCHA, the New York City Housing Authority, oversees 325 housing developments citywide comprised of 2,418 buildings that house 400,000 New Yorkers Weather The extreme highs and lows for this week in weather history: Record High: 92°F on April 16, 2002 Record Low: 22°F on April 12, 1874 AGBC Weather Weather.gov forecast Thanks for listening to A Great Big City. Follow along 24 hours a day on social media @agreatbigcity or email contact@agreatbigcity.com with any news, feedback, or topic suggestions. Subscribe to AGBC News wherever you listen to podcasts: iTunes, Google Play, or RadioPublic, TuneIn Radio, Player FM, or listen to each episode on the podcast pages at agreatbigcity.com/podcast. If you enjoy the show, subscribe and leave a review wherever you're listening and visit our podcast site to see show notes and extra links for each episode. Intro and outro music: 'Start the Day' by Lee Rosevere — Concert Calendar music from Jukedeck.com

Visit agreatbigcity.com/support to learn how to support New York City local news and allow us to keep bringing you this podcast. If you are a New York-based business and would be interested in sponsoring our podcasts, visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. 69 years ago on March 29, 1951 — The 'Mad Bomber' begins his largest streak of attacks, planting a series of explosive devices in public spaces across New York 111 years ago on March 30, 1909 — The Queensboro Bridge opens to traffic April 1 in History: Greenwich Village Chase after Bleecker Street Armed Robbery March 24 in History: Ground-Breaking Ceremony for the Rapid Transit System on "Tunnel Day" 5 years ago on April 2, 2015 — Two women are arrested in Jamaica, Queens for planning terrorist bombings 161 years ago on April 4, 1859 — The Civil War anthem 'Dixie' debuts in New York as part of a blackface minstrel show 87 years ago on April 4, 1933 — The USS Akron, one of history's largest airships, crashes into the ocean off the coast of New Jersey, killing 73 and leaving three survivors USS Akron flying over the southern end of Manhattan Island, New York City, circa 1931-1933 via U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command 53 years ago on April 4, 1967 — Martin Luther King Jr. delivers a speech at Riverside Church in Morningside Heights titled "Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence" — Hear the full audio of the speech. 47 years ago on April 4, 1973 — The twin towers of the World Trade Center officially open, becoming the tallest buildings in the world ☮️ A Great Big City has been running a 24-hour newsfeed since 2010, but the AGBC News podcast is just getting started, and we need your support. A Great Big City is built on a dedication to explaining what is happening and how it fits into the larger history of New York, which means thoroughly researching every topic and avoiding clickbait headlines to provide a straightforward, honest, and factual explanation of the news. Individuals can make a monthly or one-time contribution at agreatbigcity.com/support and local businesses can have a lasting impact by supporting local news while promoting products or services directly to interested customers listening to this podcast. Visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. AGBC is more than just a news website: Every evening, just before sundown, A Great Big City checks the Empire State Building's lighting schedule and sends out a notification if the tower's lighting will be lit in special colors for a holiday or celebration. Follow @agreatbigcity on social media to receive the alerts. Park of the day Haffen Park — 1750 BURKE AVENUE, the Bronx — Named after Louis F. Haffen, first Borough President of the Bronx. In 1996 Haffen Park received new modular play equipment (including slides, clatter bridges, and ladders), safety surfacing and paving. In 2006, a $1.2 million reconstruction project included the installation of a new synthetic turf field for both baseball and soccer, and a refurbished ballfield fence. Did you know? Here's something you may not have known about New York: You can take a free training course from the Department of Health to learn the right words to say to someone suffering with mental distress or substance abuse Weather The extreme highs and lows for this week in weather history: Record High: 86°F on March 29, 1945 Record Low: 10°F on March 29, 1923 Weather for the week ahead: Light rain throughout the week. AGBC Weather Weather.gov forecast Thanks for listening to A Great Big City. Follow along 24 hours a day on social media @agreatbigcity or email contact@agreatbigcity.com with any news, feedback, or topic suggestions. Subscribe to AGBC News wherever you listen to podcasts: iTunes, Google Play, or Player FM, Spotify, TuneIn Radio, or listen to each episode on the podcast pages at agreatbigcity.com/podcast. If you enjoy the show, subscribe and leave a review wherever you're listening and visit our podcast site to see show notes and extra links for each episode. Intro and outro music: 'Start the Day' by Lee Rosevere

Visit agreatbigcity.com/support to learn how to support New York City local news and allow us to keep bringing you this podcast. If you are a New York-based business and would be interested in sponsoring our podcasts, visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. [Coronavirus monologue] 53 years ago on March 26, 1967 — Thousands of people gathered at Central Park's Sheep Meadow on Easter Sunday for one of the first hippie "be-ins" of the 1960s 5 years ago on March 26, 2015 — A gas explosion and fire destroys three buildings at Second Ave and St. Marks 57 years ago on March 28, 1963 — Alfred Hitchcock's 'The Birds' Premieres in New York at the Palace Theater on Broadway 35 years ago on March 31, 1985 — The First WrestleMania is held at Madison Square Garden, featuring Mr. T and Hulk Hogan March 21 in History: Charles Lindbergh Receives the Medal of Honor in 1928 March 23 in History: Elisha Otis Installs First Passenger Elevator March 27 in History: The Disappearing House March 28 in History: Alfred Hitchcock's 'The Birds' Premieres in New York A Great Big City has been running a 24-hour newsfeed since 2010, but the AGBC News podcast is just getting started, and we need your support. A Great Big City is built on a dedication to explaining what is happening and how it fits into the larger history of New York, which means thoroughly researching every topic and avoiding clickbait headlines to provide a straightforward, honest, and factual explanation of the news. Individuals can make a monthly or one-time contribution at agreatbigcity.com/support and local businesses can have a lasting impact by supporting local news while promoting products or services directly to interested customers listening to this podcast. Visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. AGBC is more than just a news website: Our fireworks page monitors the city's announcements of upcoming fireworks, lists them on our site, and automatically sends out a notification just before the fireworks begin, so that you can watch the show or prepare your pet for the upcoming sounds of explosions. Visit agreatbigcity.com/fireworks to see the full calendar and follow @agreatbigcity on social media to receive the alerts. Park of the day Estella Diggs Park — 3436 3 AVENUE, the Bronx — Formerly known as Rocks and Roots Park, the park was named after Estella Diggs, the first African-American woman to represent the Bronx in the NY State Assembly. Did you know? Here's something you may not have known about New York: If the NYC population was spread out at the same density as Wyoming, it would cover nearly half of the lower 48 states Weather The extreme highs and lows for this week in weather history: Record High: 84°F on March 21, 1921 Record Low: 10°F on March 21, 1885 Weather for the week ahead: Rain on Monday through Friday. AGBC Weather Weather.gov forecast Thanks for listening to A Great Big City. Follow along 24 hours a day on social media @agreatbigcity or email contact@agreatbigcity.com with any news, feedback, or topic suggestions. Subscribe to AGBC News wherever you listen to podcasts: iTunes, Google Play, or TuneIn Radio, Spotify, RadioPublic, or listen to each episode on the podcast pages at agreatbigcity.com/podcast. If you enjoy the show, subscribe and leave a review wherever you're listening and visit our podcast site to see show notes and extra links for each episode. Intro and outro music: 'Start the Day' by Lee Rosevere — Concert Calendar music from Jukedeck.com — Monologue music: ＠ｈｏｔｌｉｎｅ．ｇｏｖ by Anonymous420

Visit agreatbigcity.com/support to learn how to support New York City local news and allow us to keep bringing you this podcast. If you are a New York-based business and would be interested in sponsoring our podcasts, visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. Coronavirus Info for NYC — Westchester resident tests positive for coronavirus, becoming second New York case NYC looks at new idea to fix the BQE: An $11B tunnel through Brooklyn 26 years ago on March 1, 1994 — A Lebanese-born man fires two handguns at a van of Jewish students on the Brooklyn Bridge, killing one and wounding three 97 years ago on March 5, 1923 — "Human Fly" Harry F. Young falls to his death while climbing the Hotel Martinique as part of a movie promotion Upcoming Events: Mar 8 – Daylight Saving Time begins Mar 9 – Full Moon (Worm Moon) Supermoon Mar 9 – First night of Purim Mar 9 – Hindu festival of Holi Mar 17 – St. Patrick's Day Mar 19 – March Equinox 50 years ago on March 6, 1970 — The Weather Underground townhouse explodes while the terrorist organization is constructing a bomb 12 years ago on March 6, 2008 — A unsolved mystery that stands out in modern New York history: An IED explodes outside the Times Square Army recruitment office 3 years ago on March 7, 2017 — The 'Fearless Girl' statue is placed at Bowling Green, facing the famous Wall Street Bull statue 61 years ago on March 9, 1959 — The Barbie doll debuts at the American International Toy Fair in New York 287 years ago on March 12, 1733 — Bowling Green Park is established as the city's first official park 6 years ago on March 12, 2014 — A natural gas explosion levels two five-story buildings on Park Avenue Stories from AGBC History: 9 years ago — What's happening with Admirals Row? — Friday, March 4 9 years ago — The TLC releases the results of their Taxi of Tomorrow survey — Friday, March 4 3 years ago — Caught on Live Video: ABC 7 Reporter Approached by Man in Mask on Lower East Side — Saturday, March 4 3 years ago — Not Real Yet - Don't Get Fooled by These Trump Internment Camp Signs — Monday, March 6 3 years ago — FDNY Debuts New Tethered Drone with Infrared Camera — Tuesday, March 7 A Great Big City has been running a 24-hour newsfeed since 2010, but the AGBC News podcast is just getting started, and we need your support. A Great Big City is built on a dedication to explaining what is happening and how it fits into the larger history of New York, which means thoroughly researching every topic and avoiding clickbait headlines to provide a straightforward, honest, and factual explanation of the news. Individuals can make a monthly or one-time contribution at agreatbigcity.com/support and local businesses can have a lasting impact by supporting local news while promoting products or services directly to interested customers listening to this podcast. Visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. AGBC is more than just a news website: Our fireworks page monitors the city's announcements of upcoming fireworks, lists them on our site, and automatically sends out a notification just before the fireworks begin, so that you can watch the show or prepare your pet for the upcoming sounds of explosions. Visit agreatbigcity.com/fireworks to see the full calendar and follow @agreatbigcity on social media to receive the alerts. Park of the day New Lots / Dumont Triangle — A possible competitor for smallest park, this traffic island features just one tree and no grass, with paving stones surrounding the tree. Parks Events Astronomy: The Full Moon — Date: March 8, 2020 The wonders of the universe are ready to be discovered and New York City parks are the perfect place to stargaze and explore the night sky. Concert Calendar Celine Dion is playing Barclays Center on Thursday, March 5th at 7pm. Dermot Kennedy with SYML is playing Radio City Music Hall on Thursday, March 5th at 8pm. 070 Shake (16+, Rescheduled from October 9, 2019) are playing Webster Hall on Thursday, March 5th at 9pm. Jane Birkin is playing Beacon Theatre on Friday, March 6th at 8pm. Fabolous with Funkmaster Flex is playing Apollo Theater on Friday, March 6th at 8pm. bbno$ is playing Bowery Ballroom on Friday, March 6th at 8pm. Silversun Pickups with The New Regime is playing Brooklyn Steel on Friday, March 6th at 8pm. Omarion with Bow Wow and Ying Yang Twins and Soulja Boy and The Millenium are playing The Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden on Friday, March 6th at 8pm. Celine Dion is playing Prudential Center on Saturday, March 7th at 7pm. Steve Hackett is playing Bergen Performing Arts Center on Saturday, March 7th at 8pm. Moein is playing Manhattan Center on Saturday, March 7th at 9pm. bbno$ is playing Music Hall of Williamsburg on Saturday, March 7th at 9pm. Tchami is playing Terminal 5 on Saturday, March 7th at 9pm. Celine Dion is playing Prudential Center on Sunday, March 8th at 7pm. The Brothers (Allman Brothers Band 50th Anniversary) are playing Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, March 10th at 8pm. Dashboard Confessional with The Get Up Kids is playing Webster Hall on Wednesday, March 11th at 7pm. Find more fun things to do at agreatbigcity.com/events. Today's fact about New York Here's something you may not have known about New York: Residents or businesses can order posters, decals, and signs to properly label recycling bins and list items that are recyclable Weather The extreme highs and lows for this week in weather history: Record High: 77°F on March 9, 2016 Record Low: 3°F on March 5, 1872 Weather for the week ahead: Light rain Friday AGBC Weather Weather.gov forecast Thanks for listening to A Great Big City. Follow along 24 hours a day on social media @agreatbigcity or email contact@agreatbigcity.com with any news, feedback, or topic suggestions. Subscribe to AGBC News wherever you listen to podcasts: iTunes, Google Play, or TuneIn Radio, Pocket Casts, Overcast, or listen to each episode on the podcast pages at agreatbigcity.com/podcast. If you enjoy the show, subscribe and leave a review wherever you're listening and visit our podcast site to see show notes and extra links for each episode. Intro and outro music: 'Start the Day' by Lee Rosevere — Concert Calendar music from Jukedeck.com — Upcoming Events music: 'The Job Next Door' by Anonymous420

Passengers Aboard Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas Cruise Ship Test Negative for New Coronavirus — AGBC Health page tracking the coronavirus Gunman Who Allegedly Ambushed Cops Due in Court as Tension Between NYPD, Elected Officials Escalates 64 years ago on February 8, 1956 — Eastern Air Flight 663 swerves to avoid an oncoming aircraft and crashes near Jones Beach, killing all 84 people on board 78 years ago on February 9, 1942 — The SS Normandie catches fire and capsizes into the Hudson River 52 years ago on February 11, 1968 — Madison Square Garden opens on the site of the old Pennsylvania Station Back in April 2019 on Episode 19 of the podcast, I first talked about the possibility of a tower rising above Macy's in Herald Square, and this week, the speculation of the tower moved closer to reality as the retail giant revealed new architectural renderings of a 900ft tower planned to be built on top of the classic Midtown store. Upcoming Events: February 10: Tu B'Shevat

Coronavirus Info for NYC 175 years ago on January 29, 1845 — 'The Raven' by Edgar Allan Poe is first published in the New-York Evening Mirror 63 years ago on February 1, 1957 — Northeast Air Flight 823 crashes on Rikers Island after takeoff at LaGuardia, killing 20 and injuring 78 28 years ago on February 4, 1992 — Area code 917 is introduced, originally used only for cell phones 4 years ago on February 5, 2016 — A crane working at 60 Hudson Street collapses on Worth Street, killing one and injuring three — Read more about the life of David Wichs, who was killed in the collapse. 56 years ago on February 7, 1964 — The Beatles land at JFK Airport, beginning the British Invasion in American music culture 24 years ago on February 7, 1996 — The Concorde makes its final commercial flight from JFK Airport to London, ending the era of supersonic travel 7 years ago on February 8, 2013 — Winter Storm Nemo hits NYC — Winter Storm Nemo hits NYC 4 years ago — Zika Virus in NYC: Links and Information 8 years ago — A cannonball is discovered on Governors Island 2 years ago — Vintage New York Travel Tips Featured in a 1977 Newspaper — AGBC News Episode 8: The Beatles Meet NY, Empty Skyscrapers, and Travel Tips from 1977 A Great Big City has been running a 24-hour newsfeed since 2010, but the AGBC News podcast is just getting started, and we need your support. A Great Big City is built on a dedication to explaining what is happening and how it fits into the larger history of New York, which means thoroughly researching every topic and avoiding clickbait headlines to provide a straightforward, honest, and factual explanation of the news. Individuals can make a monthly or one-time contribution at agreatbigcity.com/support and local businesses can have a lasting impact by supporting local news while promoting products or services directly to interested customers listening to this podcast. Visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. AGBC is more than just a news website: It also automatically checks MTA data before morning rush hour and sends out notifications if there are delays on any subway lines, LIRR or MetroNorth trains, and bridges and tunnels. Follow @agreatbigcity on social media to receive the alerts. Park of the day Benjamin Gladstone Square — Hoe Ave., Westchster Ave., W. Farms Rd., the Bronx — Named for Benjamin Gladstone (1897-1935), a New York City native who represented the Bronx's Fifth Assembly District in the New York State Legislature. Concert Calendar Here's the AGBC Concert Calendar for the upcoming week: Cold War Kids is playing Webster Hall on Tuesday, February 4th at 8pm. Cold War Kids is playing Webster Hall on Wednesday, February 5th at 8pm. Dijon is playing Bowery Ballroom on Thursday, February 6th at 7pm. Poppy with VOWWS is playing Brooklyn Steel on Thursday, February 6th at 8pm. Rex Orange County is playing Radio City Music Hall on Friday, February 7th at 8pm. Amber Liu is playing Terminal 5 on Friday, February 7th at 8pm. Mayer Hawthorne is playing Music Hall of Williamsburg on Friday, February 7th at 9pm. Apollo Music Cafe is playing Apollo Theater on Friday, February 7th at 10pm. Oprah with Michelle Obama is playing Barclays Center on Saturday, February 8th at 9am. Thrice with mewithoutYou is playing Brooklyn Steel on Saturday, February 8th at 7pm. Rex Orange County is playing Radio City Music Hall on Saturday, February 8th at 8pm. Michael Kiwanuka with Sammy Brue is playing Terminal 5 on Saturday, February 8th at 8pm. J.I. Prince is playing SOB's on Saturday, February 8th at 8pm. Apollo Music Cafe is playing Apollo Theater on Saturday, February 8th at 10pm. Rynx is playing Music Hall of Williamsburg on Saturday, February 8th at 10pm. J.I. Prince is playing SOB's on Sunday, February 9th at 7pm. Find more fun things to do at agreatbigcity.com/events. Learn about New York Here's something you may not have known about New York: 1.8 million New Yorkers benefit from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that helps families and individuals supplement the cost of their diet with nutritious foods Weather The extreme highs and lows for this week in weather history: Record High: 70°F on February 5, 1991 Record Low: -6°F on February 5, 1918 Weather for the week ahead: Rain tomorrow through next Friday. AGBC Weather Weather.gov forecast Thanks for listening to A Great Big City. Follow along 24 hours a day on social media @agreatbigcity or email contact@agreatbigcity.com with any news, feedback, or topic suggestions. Subscribe to AGBC News wherever you listen to podcasts: iTunes, Google Play, or Pocket Casts, Overcast, TuneIn Radio, or listen to each episode on the podcast pages at agreatbigcity.com/podcast. If you enjoy the show, subscribe and leave a review wherever you're listening and visit our podcast site to see show notes and extra links for each episode. Intro and outro music: 'Start the Day' by Lee Rosevere — Concert Calendar music from Jukedeck.com

11 years ago on January 15, 2009 — Captain Sullenberger lands USAir Flight 1549 in the Hudson River, an event that would become known as the Miracle on the Hudson 19 years ago on January 17, 2001 — A 2.4 magnitude earthquake strikes the Upper East Side of Manhattan 63 years ago on January 21, 1957 — The Mad Bomber is arrested after planting at least 33 bombs that injured 15 people 50 years ago on January 22, 1970 — The first Boeing 747 enters commercial service on a Pan Am route from JFK Airport to London Heathrow 15 years ago on January 23, 2005 — The FDNY suffers "Black Sunday" when three firefighters are killed are four are injured in two separate fires — Fatal fires break out in Brooklyn, Queens and Bronx early Monday — one victim likely murdered before blaze 105 years ago on January 25, 1915 — Alexander Graham Bell places the first transcontinental long-distance telephone call from New York to San Francisco 2 years ago — Gov. Cuomo Pledges State Funds to Re-Open Statue of Liberty — Sunday, January 21 2 years ago — January 24 in History: Fraunces Tavern Bombing Kills Four — Wednesday, January 24 1 year ago — Survey Says: Bring on the Marijuana, But None For Me, Thanks — Thursday, January 24 A Great Big City has been running a 24-hour newsfeed since 2010, but the AGBC News podcast is just getting started, and we need your support. A Great Big City is built on a dedication to explaining what is happening and how it fits into the larger history of New York, which means thoroughly researching every topic and avoiding clickbait headlines to provide a straightforward, honest, and factual explanation of the news. Individuals can make a monthly or one-time contribution at agreatbigcity.com/support and local businesses can have a lasting impact by supporting local news while promoting products or services directly to interested customers listening to this podcast. Visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. AGBC is more than just a news website: Every evening, just before sundown, A Great Big City checks the Empire State Building's lighting schedule and sends out a notification if the tower's lighting will be lit in special colors for a holiday or celebration. Follow @agreatbigcity on social media to receive the alerts. Park of the day Church Triangle Parks Events Lunar New Year: 21st New Year Firecracker Ceremony and Cultural Festival Lunar New Year Celebration Dragon Dance audio via KrisNM on Flickr Concert Calendar This is the AGBC Concert Calendar for the upcoming week: Teddy Swims is playing Mercury Lounge on Saturday, January 25th at 7pm. Mat Kearney is playing New York Society for Ethical Culture on Saturday, January 25th at 7pm. Billy Joel is playing Madison Square Garden on Saturday, January 25th at 8pm. LAUNDRY DAY is playing Bowery Ballroom on Saturday, January 25th at 8pm. Goose is playing Music Hall of Williamsburg on Saturday, January 25th at 9pm. Itzy - Band is playing Kings Theatre on Sunday, January 26th at 8pm. Lauren Alaina is playing Bowery Ballroom on Monday, January 27th at 8pm. Phora is playing Bowery Ballroom on Tuesday, January 28th at 7pm. Stray Kids is playing The Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, January 29th at 6pm. Ali Gatie is playing Bowery Ballroom on Wednesday, January 29th at 7pm. Iann Dior with Landon Cube are playing Gramercy Theatre on Wednesday, January 29th at 8pm. Heilung is playing Webster Hall on Wednesday, January 29th at 8pm. The Wood Brothers with Kat Wright is playing Webster Hall on Thursday, January 30th at 7pm. Loud Records 25th Anniversary with Wu Tang Clan , Big Pun tribute, Fat Joe, Mobb Deep and more are playing Radio City Music Hall on Thursday, January 30th at 8pm. The Wood Brothers with Kat Wright is playing Webster Hall on Friday, January 31st at 7pm. George Dalaras is playing Apollo Theater on Friday, January 31st at 8pm. Find more fun things to do at agreatbigcity.com/events. Today's fact about New York Here's something you may not have known about New York: Ward's Point in Tottenville, Staten Island is the southernmost point of both New York City and New York State Weather The extreme highs and lows for this week in weather history: Record High: 72°F on January 26, 1950 Record Low: -6°F on January 24, 1882 Weather for the week ahead: Rain on Saturday. AGBC Weather Thanks for listening to A Great Big City. Follow along 24 hours a day on social media @agreatbigcity or email contact@agreatbigcity.com with any news, feedback, or topic suggestions. Subscribe to AGBC News wherever you listen to podcasts: iTunes, Google Play, or Player FM, Spotify, Podcast Addict, or listen to each episode on the podcast pages at agreatbigcity.com/podcast. If you enjoy the show, subscribe and leave a review wherever you're listening and visit our podcast site to see show notes and extra links for each episode. Intro and outro music: 'Start the Day' by Lee Rosevere — Concert Calendar music from Jukedeck.com

AGBC collects a variety of links from across the internet and analyzes them to power our links page. Links are selected and ranked based on whether they are about New York and interesting enough to share. A few times per day, this same system also re-ranks the past few hours of news links and creates our top stories page. Taking that same idea and expanding it, here are the top stories about NYC for each month of 2019, along with a bit of follow-up to see how things have progressed since they were first published. January 2019 New York City's 2019 Women's March in Photos Not quite as large as the original 2017 Women's March, but still impactful enough to earn the highest-rated news story from January 2019. The third Women's March was actually two marches after one had split from the original organizing committee. Accusations of antisemitism against organizers of the national march led local organizations to split from the group based in Washington D.C. On January 19th, both an independent group, the Women's March Alliance, and the original national group held protest marches, one on the Upper West Side and one in downtown Manhattan at Foley Square. For 2020, the Women's March Alliance plans to march near Columbus Circle, but has not released a route as of yet, and the official local chapter of the national Women's March plans a rally in Foley Square. Both events are scheduled for January 18th. February 2019 Police detective killed by friendly fire in New York City A chaotic robbery at a T-Mobile store in Richmond Hill in Queens led to the first NYPD killed in the line of duty in nearly two years. The death of Detective Brian Simonsen brought increased focus to the case and revealed the many strange details of what would have been a typical store robbery. Most striking was the revelation that, although a bystander correctly told police that the man was robbing the store with a gun and forcing employees into a back room, in the aftermath of the police response and the shooting of the suspect, the gun was found to have been fake, and Simonsen had been accidentally shot and killed by fellow police officers. When the suspect emerged from the back room holding the realistic gun, officers retreated back outside, but the suspect not only raised the gun, but made movements as if he were firing it at officers. The seven officers at the scene then fired 42 shots within 11 seconds, striking the suspect eight times and hitting two officers. A second suspect, who had served as a lookout during the robbery, was captured several days later. Sergeant Matthew Gorman, who was also one of the first to respond to the robbery, was also hit in the hip by shots fired by other officers, but survived his injuries. In an interview with local news site The City in April 2019, the suspect said he was attempting to commit suicide by cop and he expressed that he wanted to tell the family of Detective Simonsen how sorry he was, although more recently, speaking to the NY Post from Rikers while awaiting trial, he stated that the robbery was meant as a prank and that he shouldn't be held responsible for the shootings of the officers. Although Detective Simonsen's death had been the first NYPD death in almost two years, tragedy would strike again in September 2019, when Detective Brian Mulkeen was accidentally shot and killed by fellow NYPD officers during a struggle with a suspect at the Edenwald NYCHA Houses in the Bronx. March 2019 Manhattan drivers near new era that may include $11.52 tolls The top story for March was about the congestion pricing plan, which was planned as part of the budget. Although the final toll price to charge vehicles entering Manhattan south of 60th Street hasn't been decided on, a prior study in 2017 by a state-appointed task force called for a $11.52 toll, which is being used as a baseline for what the new recommendation will actually be in 2020. The congestion pricing plan would go on to pass as part of the state budget on April 1, 2019 despite the pricing not yet being finalized. Under the current plan, pricing and enforcement systems will be studied throughout 2020 and announced at the end of the year. With details still up in the air, the earliest that congestion pricing could take effect would be 2021, but it remains to be seen how many legal challenges the various parts of the system will face, including potential last-minute lawsuits similar to those that delayed the 14th Street busway for three months this year. When congestion pricing does take effect, the funds will be used to improve the entire MTA system and install bus and bike lanes citywide. If the timeline holds true, New York will be the first city in the United States to implement congestion pricing, following world cities like Singapore, London, and Stockholm. April 2019 Toll hike makes Verrazzano–Narrows Bridge most expensive in country While the congestion pricing plan made headlines in March 2019 when it was finalized in the state budget, another toll jumped into the spotlight by April 2019, when the Verrazzano Bridge became the most expensive toll bridge in the country. Depending on your discounts and payment methods, may pay a variety of prices to cross, but the most expensive crossing, a Staten Island-bound non-E-ZPass trip, increased $2 and hit $19 on April 1st, 2019. If you're looking to cross the bridge on a budget, you can get a discount for using an E-ZPass, which will bring the price down to $12.24, and if you're a Staten Island resident, you can further chop away at the price by showing proof of residency to get a $5.50 price, or if three or more people can carpool together in a Staten Island-registered vehicle, the price drops to $3.40. The MTA-maintained bridge had daily traffic of more than 202,000 daily crossings in 2016, down from an all-time high of 219,000 in 2001, and in 2017, tolls on the bridge totaled about $417 million per year. May 2019 Brooklyn, Queens neighborhoods top list of fastest growing rental markets With May 1st being the time when New York leases traditionally expired, it's no surprise that the top story for May was about rental prices. Real estate site StreetEasy outlined their report in which housing sales were dropping while the rental market was growing, especially in Brooklyn and Queens. StreetEasy saw the biggest rental growth in the most expensive neighborhoods, which they theorized may be because people who want to live in those desirable neighborhoods are more willing to rent as sales prices have been increasing three times more quickly than rentals. Given the different rates of price increases between rentals and sales, an expensive rental may still be the smartest choice once all the costs of owning an apartment are factored in. Even with Amazon canceling plans to move to Long Island City, that neighborhood remained in the greatest demand in Queens, with Dumbo taking the priciest spot in Brooklyn. Although May 1st is no longer official the city's Moving Day, the middle of the summer is still a difficult time to change apartments, so if you're looking for a new place, consider trudging through the snow-filled streets when the lower number of renters means you'll have more bargaining power when signing a new lease! June 2019 Even Without Amazon, Rents Spike in Northwest Queens Like I said, during the summer, a city's mind turns towards real estate, and for June, real estate site Mansion Global looked at data from Douglas Elliman and Citi Habitats focused on the high end of rentals in the city. Like the StreetEasy report, Douglas Elliman found luxury rents rising in Long Island City despite Amazon's decision to cancel HQ2. Long Island City will continue to grow with or without Amazon, and the new luxury buildings rising up in the former industrial neighborhood are finding tenants willing to make it the most expensive neighborhood in Queens. Luxury rentals in Manhattan stayed the same year-over-year, with the Soho and Tribeca area remaining the priciest, with a median monthly rent of $6,150, and Dumbo the priciest in Brooklyn, with a median rent of $5,100. July 2019 NY House Dems call on city to bail out thousands of cab drivers suffering because of taxi medallion ‘crisis' As the summer moved on, the top story for July highlighted the ongoing crisis hitting yellow cab drivers, who are being impacted by ride-share companies while being left with large investments in pricey taxi medallions and business expenses. In July 2019, the Daily News covered a letter signed by 10 U.S. Congressmembers from New York who asked the city council's newly-formed Taxi Medallion Sale Prices Task Force to ensure assistance for taxi drivers and medallion owners who were suffering from a weakening medallion market and predatory lending. The letter came after a New York Times report on the hardships faced by taxi drivers, including mounting debt that led some drivers to suicide. The city was eyed as a source of assistance after the report showed more than a decade of artificially-inflated medallion prices and the city's $855 million earned from selling medallions directly and by collecting taxes on medallion sales. After an influx of mostly-unregulated ride-share companies flooded the market, prices of medallions dropped, leaving medallion owners in debt on an asset that had been sold as a sure-fire investment. For reference, taxi medallions peaked at a price of $1 million in 2013, but none of have for more than $500,000 since 2018. August 2019 NYPD officer shoots self in head in Queens home, ninth suicide of city cop this year After July's story highlighting the risk of suicide among taxi drivers, in August a similar threat was revealed among NYPD officers, when an off-duty officer took his own life, becoming the ninth officer to die by suicide in 2019. Robert Echeverria was a 25-year member of the NYPD, and his death turned the conversation toward an epidemic of officer suicides that needed special attention. According to the Daily News, another officer had taken his own life just one day earlier, and four officers killed themselves in June 2019. Sadly, by October 2019 a 10th officer would die by suicide, doubling the typical rate of suicides seen among NYPD officers and leading the city to establish confidential mental health services for NYPD members, offering free counseling and prescriptions through a partnership with NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. Officers interested in seeing what services the program provides can search "NYPD Finest Care" or call NewYork-Presbyterian at 1-877-697-9355 and ask for the NYPD Finest Care counseling program. September 2019 Six hundred straphangers evacuated in Brooklyn after train's mechanical failure We couldn't escape 2019 without a story of the subway breaking down, and September certainly delivered when a Manhattan-bound 'C' Train became stuck between stations underneath Brooklyn Heights at the High Street–Brooklyn Bridge station. Although there was also smoke reported in the tunnel, the cause was determined to have been the train's emergency brakes being activated. Although that sounds like the same work of the chronic emergency brake puller arrested in May 2019, this brake was apparently automatically activated after one of the shoes that make contact the third rail and power the train lifted off and caused sparks and smoke in the tunnel. In order to evacuate the tunnel, another train was pulled to the end of the disabled train and passengers were able to walk from one to the other and evacuate through the nearby station. Thankfully only one person was treated for a minor injury, which was a much better outcome than if a train of 600 people had come to a jolting stop, where many people would have been thrown to the ground. If you happen to find yourself crawling out of a smoke-filled subway tunnel but your coworkers refuse to believe your story, you can submit a Subway Delay Verification online to receive an official confirmation that you were late due to the MTA. One train evacuation aside, according to the MTA's own data, major incidents are slowly trending down across the entire subway system after a spike in January 2018. Subway on-time performance has also been on the rise, with Andy Byford claiming on-time performance topped 80% for the first time in six years, a figure defined as a train arriving within five minutes of its scheduled arrival. October 2019 ​Videos Of Teen Arrests In Subway Spur Outrage​ November 2019 City Council Grills MTA On Fare Evasion, Homelessness, And Hiring 500 New Cops By the time October and November rolled around, the MTA was having a harder time in the news. For two months, the top stories were directed at policing in the subways. Two chaotic arrests caught on video in October spread across social media and formed protests in response to what people saw as unnecessarily aggressive actions by police in the subway. Adding to the problems raised by the videos were confusion about what the teenagers in either video were being detained for, and the confusion was amplified by the clipped nature of the videos, only showing the police response and not the events that led to any of the teens being detained. Once it was revealed that one of the arrests was over turnstile jumping, the focus turned toward the MTA and Governor Cuomo's plan to hire 500 new police officers who would be assigned to the subway system. Critics saw the 500 officers as an unnecessary addition to preexisting NYPD subway patrols and the MTA police force, and at a time when the NYPD's data showed a decrease in subway crime. During a meeting with the city council in November, the plan for the new officers was scrutinized, with questions raised on why the 500 officers, which would cost $50 million a year, were being added when the MTA was running at a deficit. The costs of police assigned to stop fare evasion could potentially put a dent in the estimated $215 million per year lost to turnstile jumping, but the methods the MTA uses to estimate those losses were also questioned, as well as whether the 500 police would even be assigned to monitor fare evasion or if they were meant for general policing. The lack of any concrete plan for the 500 officers made the public and the city council skeptical, combined with video going viral on social media at the same time showing what people already considered an overly aggressive police response to a possible turnstile jumper. December 2019 'Bus lanes are for buses': MTA rolls out enforcement cameras on Brooklyn bus line And, ending out a year of top stories, another MTA story, but one where the MTA gets some good-natured retaliation after so many critical stories in previous months. For December, bus-mounted cameras took the top story spotlight as the MTA's social media campaign for the cameras gave straphangers a chuckle. Back in September, the MTA first started having some fun introducing their bus-mounted traffic cameras by showing an animated bus taking a photo that actually zapped the delivery truck out of the way, sending the bus lane scofflaw off into some other dimension and leaving the bus lane clear. After a 60-day trial period where warnings were mailed out, the cameras began issuing actual tickets along the M15 Select Bus line in December, where the cameras had caught 15,000 total bus lane blockages during the 60-day trial period. The first casualty in December was Santa and his sleigh! In a second social media post promoting the expanding bus camera program, a B44 bus zapped Santa's sleigh out of the way after Santa left his delivery vehicle parked in the bus lane. In another animation, an M15 bus cleared the snowy streets by zapping a car with an ice ray and knocking it out of the bus lane. The cameras will also come to M14 buses to help enforce parking and stopping rules along the 14th Street busway. So that was the year in New York City news! A few quick, unscientific numbers from our database of news stories: Of the 27,556 links indexed over 2019, the most common borough mentioned was Brooklyn, followed by the Bronx, Queens, Manhattan, and then Staten Island. "Police" and "NYPD" appeared in 3,575 stories, with firefighting keywords like "FDNY" and "fire" appearing in 1,066 stories. Both "man" and "woman" appeared in the top 25 most-popular terms, with terms like "man" and "boy" appearing 1,739 times and "woman" and "girl" appearing 1,058 times. A Great Big City has been running a 24-hour newsfeed since 2010, but the AGBC News podcast is just getting started, and we need your support. A Great Big City is built on a dedication to explaining what is happening and how it fits into the larger history of New York, which means thoroughly researching every topic and avoiding clickbait headlines to provide a straightforward, honest, and factual explanation of the news. Individuals can make a monthly or one-time contribution at agreatbigcity.com/support and local businesses can have a lasting impact by supporting local news while promoting products or services directly to interested customers listening to this podcast. Visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. AGBC is more than just a news website: Every evening, just before sundown, A Great Big City checks the Empire State Building's lighting schedule and sends out a notification if the tower's lighting will be lit in special colors for a holiday or celebration. Follow @agreatbigcity on social media to receive the alerts. Park of the day Sherman Street Seating Area — 40.650827, -73.973892 — This plaza provides a nice set of benches and some old trees providing shade before you ascend the stairs to cross Ocean Parkway via the pedestrian bridge. Parks Events Recycle your Christmas tree at Mulchfest — The Parks Department and the Sanitation Department are ready to take that Christmas tree off your hands with locations across the city where they will chop up real trees into mulch that can be spread around other trees to protect them from cold weather. You'll be able to drop off your tree, and at some locations you'll even be able to see the trees get chopped into mulch and be able to take some mulch home with you to either use on your own tree or to spread around a tree along the street. Remember to remove all lights and ornaments before handing over your tree, and schedule your trip for a Saturday if you want to see the mulch-making machine in action! Check out the list of locations at nycgovparks.org and drop off your tree anytime from December 26th to January 11th and visit one of the chipping sites on Saturdays beginning at 10am to pick up a bag of mulch! If you can't make it to the park, the Sanitation Department offers curbside pick-up of trees from January 6th through January 17th, when you can place your tree outside with regular trash bags. Real trees collected curbside will also be made into mulch and used in parks across the city. Concert Calendar Here's the AGBC Concert Calendar for the upcoming week: Flosstradamus is playing Webster Hall on Friday, January 3rd at 9pm. Dry Reef is playing Mercury Lounge on Friday, January 3rd at 10pm. I Love The 90s with The Fresh Kids of Bel-Air is playing (Le) Poisson Rouge on Friday, January 3rd at 11pm. Ja Rule with Ashanti is playing New Jersey Performing Arts Center on Saturday, January 4th at 8pm. Satisfaction is playing Bergen Performing Arts Center on Saturday, January 4th at 8pm. Jessie's Girl is playing (Le) Poisson Rouge on Saturday, January 4th at 9pm. Reggaeton vs Hip Hop Night NYC is playing Bowery Ballroom on Saturday, January 4th at 10pm. Firebeatz is playing Marquee New York on Saturday, January 4th at 11pm. Wolfgang Gartner is playing Webster Hall on Saturday, January 4th at 11pm. Motion City Soundtrack with The Sidekicks is playing Webster Hall on Wednesday, January 8th at 7pm. Yola is playing Music Hall of Williamsburg on Wednesday, January 8th at 8pm. yMusic is playing Bowery Ballroom on Thursday, January 9th at 7pm. Smif-N-Wessun with Black Moon is playing Gramercy Theatre on Thursday, January 9th at 7pm. The Dead South with Legendary Shack Shakers is playing Warsaw on Thursday, January 9th at 8pm. Cimafunk is playing Webster Hall on Thursday, January 9th at 8pm. Afromondo Showcase is playing SOB's on Thursday, January 9th at 8pm. Find more fun things to do at agreatbigcity.com/events. New York Fact Here's something you may not have known about New York: 220 West 135th Street lost its National Historic Landmark status in 2009 when it was discovered not to have been the correct address for the home of Florence Mills Weather The extreme highs and lows for this week in weather history: Record High: 72°F on January 6, 2007 Record Low: -4°F on January 1, 1918 Weather for the week ahead: Light rain on Friday through next Wednesday. Thanks for listening to A Great Big City. Follow along 24 hours a day on social media @agreatbigcity or email contact@agreatbigcity.com with any news, feedback, or topic suggestions. Subscribe to AGBC News wherever you listen to podcasts: iTunes, Google Play, or Player FM, Spotify, Overcast, or listen to each episode on the podcast pages at agreatbigcity.com/podcast. If you enjoy the show, subscribe and leave a review wherever you're listening and visit our podcast site to see show notes and extra links for each episode. Intro and outro music: 'Start the Day' by Lee Rosevere — Concert Calendar music from Jukedeck.com — Buzzy 'Auld Lang Syne' by David Fifield — 'Auld Lang Syne' by Two Ton Baker and the Maple City Four

Starting off with a bit more busway news this week: In a study released by Sam Schwartz Transportation Consultants [PDF link], the 14th Street busway has improved travel times on multiple modes of transit by evaluating a variety of data sources, including the Department of Transportation, independent traffic counting, and Citibike data. M14 A and D bus weekday ridership is up 24% compared to last year, and transit times between Third Avenue and Eighth Avenue are faster by 36%, making the crosstown bus ride 5.3 minutes faster. Although the criticisms of the busway before it was even implemented were that the surrounding streets would become parking lots, the data shows that travel time on the surrounding crosstown streets stayed the same or increased by an average of one and a half minutes during weekday rush hours, with the biggest total increase found on 17th Street, the first crosstown street to the north of 14th that isn't broken up by Union Square. By comparison, travel times on the next-closest two-way crosstown streets, 23rd to the north and Houston to the south, showed a variety of increases and decreases in total travel times compared to October last year. On the Avenues, only minuscule changes were seen in drive times, with speeds actually increasing significantly during morning rush hours. The preliminary report released by Sam Schwartz Transportation Consultants is the first of seven scheduled reports, with the final report on the project set to be released in Spring 2021. In the span of just 16 hours, four people were struck and killed by drivers across the city. In Manhattan, a 26-year-old woman was struck at a crosswalk in SoHo by a box truck driving in reverse, a man in Hell's Kitchen was struck and killed by a sanitation truck driver, an 85-year-old man was killed in Sunset Park by a truck driver, and a 57-year-old man was struck by three drivers separate and killed in Park Slope. According to Streetsblog.org, that brings the total number killed by drivers this year to 214, an 8% increase over 2018. In response, Mayor de Blasio stated that the NYPD will be deploying extra officers citywide to increase truck enforcement. The news sadly coincides with bicyclist Daniel Cammerman being struck and killed by the driver of a school bus on the 96th Street Central Park transverse on December 18th and the Brooklyn Supreme Court handing down a $43 million ruling this week in the case of a young girl struck and seriously injured by the driver of a school bus in 2017. Now is the time to focus on avoiding the flu this winter. The measles outbreak was a rare occurrence that was confined to small communities and mostly young children who hadn't yet been vaccinated, and only a few hundred people were affected, but different types of flu viruses take hold each year and flu vaccines must be built to properly address the flu strains that will be most prominent during each flu season. Data from the New York Department of Health shows that flu activity in New York City is already at a high level and there has been a 48% increase in hospitalizations statewide due to influenza. Within the city, there have been a total of 2,028 cases since the flu season began in October, with the past week showing a sharp increase of nearly 1,000 new cases within a week. The number of total cases is much higher at this point in the season than it has been in previous years. Given the early arrival of flu season, it's important to get a flu shot as quickly as possible, and it is a vital step for young children and older adults, especially anyone with heart disease, diabetes, asthma, lung disease, liver disease, or those who are pregnant. Just like the measles vaccine, everyone should receive a flu shot to avoid potentially spreading the disease to someone else in the city who may have a more compromised immune system. To find flu vaccinations across the city, use the NYC.gov Health Map at nyc.gov/flu or visit your neighborhood pharmacy, hospital, or clinic and ask if they administer flu shots. And please, everyone, wash your hands and cover your mouth by coughing or sneezing into your elbow! It's one of the easiest most impactful actions you can take to stop the spread of disease, and everyone holding the subway pole after you will be thankful. 30 years ago on December 15, 1989 — Arturo Di Modica's 7,100 pound bronze 'Charging Bull' statue is secretly installed overnight near the New York Stock Exchange Christmas tree as a gift to the people of NYC Christmas and Hanukkah are on the way, and our list of tree and menorah lightings at agreatbigcity.com/christmas or agreatbigcity.com/hanukkah has the times and dates of 50 lighting ceremonies across the city! You can sort the list by holiday and past events are still listed, so that you can find a local Christmas tree to visit and keep track of public menorah lightings for each day of Hanukkah. If you don't see your local event on the list, drop us a note and we'll put the info up, whether it's the Rockefeller Center tree or just a neighborhood gathering to hang homemade ornaments on an evergreen in the local park! 48 years ago on December 26, 1971 — Members of Vietnam Veterans Against the War occupy the Statue of Liberty for 42 hours to draw attention to the ongoing war 35 years ago on December 22, 1984 — Bernhard Goetz shoots four men on a subway car, seriously wounding them during what was either a panhandling or robbery attempt 8 years ago — A Very Shepherd Christmas - Stories From Jean Shepherd's New York City Radio Show — Shepherd hosted a late-night show on WOR for 21 years, and each night was packed with the same storytelling and clever insights that became the inspiration for 'A Christmas Story'. While his voice has become ingrained in Christmas pop culture as the narrator of 'A Christmas Story', the recordings of his radio career from 1956-1977 paint a raw, impressionistic vision of New York City life. When Christmas came around each year, Shep would retell some of the various anecdotes that would be gathered together into 'A Christmas Story', some of which had recently been published in Playboy magazine and some of which made their debut on his radio show. A Great Big City has been running a 24-hour newsfeed since 2010, but the AGBC News podcast is just getting started, and we need your support. A Great Big City is built on a dedication to explaining what is happening and how it fits into the larger history of New York, which means thoroughly researching every topic and avoiding clickbait headlines to provide a straightforward, honest, and factual explanation of the news. Individuals can make a monthly or one-time contribution at agreatbigcity.com/support and local businesses can have a lasting impact by supporting local news while promoting products or services directly to interested customers listening to this podcast. Visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. AGBC is more than just a news website: Every evening, just before sundown, A Great Big City checks the Empire State Building's lighting schedule and sends out a notification if the tower's lighting will be lit in special colors for a holiday or celebration. Follow @agreatbigcity on social media to receive the alerts. Park of the day Franz Sigel Park Parks Events Lighting of the Largest Menorah in Brooklyn Lighting of the World's Largest Menorah in Manhattan Christmas Eve Caroling Concert Calendar This is the AGBC Concert Calendar for the upcoming week: Yo La Tengo is playing Bowery Ballroom on Sunday, December 22nd at 7pm. A KANYE WEST OPERA - MARY is playing David Geffen Hall on Sunday, December 22nd at 8pm. Yo La Tengo is playing Bowery Ballroom on Monday, December 23rd at 7pm. Yo La Tengo is playing Bowery Ballroom on Tuesday, December 24th at 7pm. Yo La Tengo is playing Bowery Ballroom on Wednesday, December 25th at 7pm. Yo La Tengo is playing Bowery Ballroom on Thursday, December 26th at 7pm. Dave East is playing PlayStation Theater on Thursday, December 26th at 9pm. Yo La Tengo is playing Bowery Ballroom on Friday, December 27th at 7pm. PNB Rock (16+, Rescheduled from October 20, 2019) are playing Brooklyn Steel on Friday, December 27th at 8pm. Oliver Heldens is playing Schimanski on Friday, December 27th at 9pm. The Disco Biscuits is playing PlayStation Theater on Friday, December 27th at 9pm. Gogol Bordello with Dub Trio is playing Webster Hall on Saturday, December 28th at 6pm. Phish is playing Madison Square Garden on Saturday, December 28th at 7pm. Yo La Tengo is playing Bowery Ballroom on Saturday, December 28th at 7pm. The Allman Betts Band is playing Beacon Theatre on Saturday, December 28th at 8pm. NERO is playing Schimanski on Saturday, December 28th at 9pm. Find more fun things to do at agreatbigcity.com/events. Today's fact about New York Here's something you may not have known about New York: There have been 7 versions of the Times Square New Years Eve Ball: One made in 1907, 1920, 1955, 1995, 1999, 2007, and 2008 Weather The extreme highs and lows for this week in weather history: Record High: 72°F on December 24, 2015 Record Low: -4°F on December 20, 1942 Weather for the week ahead: No major precipitation throughout the week. Thanks for listening to A Great Big City. Follow along 24 hours a day on social media @agreatbigcity or email contact@agreatbigcity.com with any news, feedback, or topic suggestions. Subscribe to AGBC News wherever you listen to podcasts: iTunes, Google Play, or Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, or listen to each episode on the podcast pages at agreatbigcity.com/podcast. If you enjoy the show, subscribe and leave a review wherever you're listening and visit our podcast site to see show notes and extra links for each episode. Intro and outro music: 'Start the Day' by Lee Rosevere — Concert Calendar music from Jukedeck.com — "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Visit agreatbigcity.com/support to learn how to support New York City local news and allow us to keep bringing you this podcast. If you are a New York-based business and would be interested in sponsoring our podcasts, visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. A moment of remembrance this week for Alelia Murphy, who I mentioned back in July on Episode 30 of the podcast when she celebrated her birthday as the oldest living American. The Harlem resident died at the end of November at the age of 114 years, 140 days old. Ms. Murphy was born in North Carolina in 1905 and has lived in Harlem since the 1920s. Her funeral was held December 6th at the United House of Prayer for all People church on Frederick Douglass Boulevard. The previous oldest American, Lessie Brown, died in January 2019. According to the Gerontology Research Group, the oldest living American is now Hester Ford, born just one month after Ms. Murphy in 1905. According to the records of the Gerontology Research Group, the oldest known New Yorker was Susannah Mushatt Jones, who was born in 1899 and lived 116 years, 311 days until her death in 2016 at a senior home in Brooklyn. In Uber's end-of-year report, the Empire State Building topped the list of most Ubered-to locations worldwide, with 1WTC coming in second place. — Transportation reporter Aaron Gordon wrote on Jalopnik that the Empire State Building is within a 10 minute walk of nearly every single subway line, PATH trains, MetroNorth, and the LIRR. At the World Trade Center, the second-most Ubered-to location worldwide, 12 subway lines and the PATH train stop nearby. Other proposals, like City Council Speaker Corey Johnson trying to convince Mayor de Blasio to duplicate the 14th Street busway in Midtown streets on 34th or 42nd Street would also help replace the caravan of crosstown Ubers with city buses that could alleviate the gridlock near the Empire State Building. According to the DOT's 2019 Mobility Report, on 34th, 42nd, and 57th Streets, over 50% of the traffic is composed of taxis and rideshare vehicles, and traffic speeds in Midtown are 30% slower compared to the rest of Manhattan south of 59th, with vehicles creeping along at just 4.9 mph. Christmas tree lightings are already happening! So check out the AGBC list of tree and menorah lightings at agreatbigcity.com/christmas or agreatbigcity.com/hanukkah, where there are currently 41 lightings across the city. If you don't see your local event on the list, drop us a note and we'll put the info up, whether it's the Rockefeller Center tree or just a neighborhood gathering to hang homemade ornaments on an evergreen in the local park! 5 years ago on December 5, 2014 — Korean Air Flight 86 is forced to return to the gate at JFK Airport after Korean Air vice president Heather Cho throws a temper tantrum over the serving of in-flight macadamia nuts Back in Episode 49 we covered the closing of Ellis Island in 1954 and how the brick buildings were almost torn down to make way for a futuristic city designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, but 119 years ago on December 17, 1900, A new Ellis Island processing center opens after a fire destroyed the original wood buildings 25 years ago on December 7, 1994 — Howard Stern and a passing motorist save a man threatening to jump from the George Washington Bridge 40 years ago on December 2, 1979 — Elvita Adams attempts to jump from the Empire State Building, but is saved after hitting a ledge 20 feet below 1 year ago on December 10, 2018 — The 'Fearless Girl' statue is relocated from Bowling Green to a permanent location outside the New York Stock Exchange building 30 years ago on December 15, 1989 — Arturo Di Modica's 7,100 pound bronze 'Charging Bull' statue is secretly installed overnight near the New York Stock Exchange Christmas tree as a gift to the people of NYC A Great Big City has been running a 24-hour newsfeed since 2010, but the AGBC News podcast is just getting started, and we need your support. A Great Big City is built on a dedication to explaining what is happening and how it fits into the larger history of New York, which means thoroughly researching every topic and avoiding clickbait headlines to provide a straightforward, honest, and factual explanation of the news. Individuals can make a monthly or one-time contribution at agreatbigcity.com/support and local businesses can have a lasting impact by supporting local news while promoting products or services directly to interested customers listening to this podcast. Visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. AGBC is more than just a news website: It also automatically checks MTA data before morning rush hour and sends out notifications if there are delays on any subway lines, LIRR or MetroNorth trains, and bridges and tunnels. Follow @agreatbigcity on social media to receive the alerts. Park of the day Haviland Playground — Haviland Ave., Watson Ave. bet. Virginia Ave. and Pugsley Ave., the Bronx — Set on land that was part of Pugsley Farm and named for earlier landowners Joseph and Mary Haviland. Serves as the playground for adjacent I.S. 125. Parks Events Check out our list of Christmas tree and menorah lightings across the city for some of this week's upcoming tree lightings, since most of them are placed in public parks! And now let's check in with our robot friend for the concert calendar: Concert Calendar This is the AGBC Concert Calendar for the upcoming week: Summer Walker with Melii is playing Terminal 5 on Sunday, December 8th at 8pm. Dimash Qudaibergen is playing Barclays Center on Tuesday, December 10th at 7pm. Angele with Angel is playing Webster Hall on Tuesday, December 10th at 7pm. Holiday Cheer for WFUV Benefit Concert: Mavis Staples with Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats is playing Beacon Theatre on Tuesday, December 10th at 8pm. CAAMP with Savannah Conley is playing Brooklyn Steel on Tuesday, December 10th at 8pm. Billy Joel is playing Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, December 11th at 8pm. Idina Menzel is playing Carnegie Hall - Stern Auditorium on Wednesday, December 11th at 8pm. CAAMP is playing Brooklyn Steel on Wednesday, December 11th at 8pm. Anuel AA is playing Barclays Center on Thursday, December 12th at 8pm. DaBaby is playing Terminal 5 on Thursday, December 12th at 8pm. Omar Apollo is playing Brooklyn Steel on Thursday, December 12th at 8pm. Jingle Ball with Taylor Swift, Jonas Brothers, Camila Cabello, and more are playing Madison Square Garden on Friday, December 13th at 7pm. HennyPalooza is playing Barclays Center on Friday, December 13th at 8pm. Lindsey Stirling is playing New Jersey Performing Arts Center on Friday, December 13th at 8pm. Live from Here with Chris Thile is playing The Town Hall on Saturday, December 14th at 5pm. Tyler Childers with Liz Cooper & The Stampede is playing Brooklyn Steel on Saturday, December 14th at 9pm. Find more fun things to do at agreatbigcity.com/events. New York Fact Here's something you may not have known about New York: The Port Authority of NY and NJ oversees a "port district" area that is loosely defined as a 25-mile radius around the Statue of Liberty Weather The extreme highs and lows for this week in weather history: Record High: 75°F on December 7, 1998 Record Low: 3°F on December 10, 1876 Weather for the week ahead: Rain on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday Thanks for listening to A Great Big City. Follow along 24 hours a day on social media @agreatbigcity or email contact@agreatbigcity.com with any news, feedback, or topic suggestions. Subscribe to AGBC News wherever you listen to podcasts: iTunes, Google Play, or TuneIn Radio, Player FM, Podcast Addict, or listen to each episode on the podcast pages at agreatbigcity.com/podcast. If you enjoy the show, subscribe and leave a review wherever you're listening and visit our podcast site to see show notes and extra links for each episode. Intro and outro music: 'Start the Day' by Lee Rosevere — Concert Calendar music from Jukedeck.com

Visit agreatbigcity.com/support to learn how to support New York City local news and allow us to keep bringing you this podcast. If you are a New York-based business and would be interested in sponsoring our podcasts, visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. The ridership on crosstown buses at 14th Street has increased to more than 32,000 daily riders, an increase over last year's 26,000 daily riders, and now the city is looking at increasing service along the route. Now that buses are moving faster thanks to the clear streets and the installation of bus loading platforms, some are beginning to need to hold at bus stops to avoid getting ahead of schedule. The 14th Street buses will also be getting on-board camera systems that photograph any bus lane blockers and send that info to the Department of Transportation. Any scofflaws caught blocking buses by those on-board cameras or street-mounted cameras will be subject to fines. These are the same on-board cameras that made a dramatic debut recently when the Transit Authority posted a video on social media showing the bus camera zapping a delivery truck out of the bus lane. Although there haven't been any reports of disintegrating delivery vans, the cameras have been operating on the M15 and B44 Select Bus routes. Good and bad news for any holiday shoppers hoping for some traffic relief in Midtown this holiday season: City Council Speaker Corey Johnson said the success of the 14th Street busway should lead the city to expand the program to similar streets like 34th and 42nd, but Mayor de Blasio's view is still that instituting busways on other streets would be a premature move before the 14th street pilot program has completed. The current busway pilot program is scheduled to last 18 months, after which the DOT will examine the results and decide whether the program will continue. Midtown bus riders may still be stuck behind empty Ubers on 34th Street, but visitors to Rockefeller Center will get a bit more breathing room. The city announced on November 22nd that, beginning Friday, November 29th, movable barriers will be installed to close streets around Rockefeller Center and add more pedestrian space during the holiday season. The plan is to completely close 49th and 50th Streets from Fifth to Sixth beginning in the afternoon until midnight, when most shoppers and visitors will be in the area. Along Fifth Avenue from 48th to 52nd, a lane of the road on each side will be reclaimed for pedestrian traffic with movable barriers. On Sixth Avenue, a similar barrier setup will take over one lane of traffic, but only when the NYPD and DOT observers see that crowds are growing and more pedestrian space is needed. According to State Senator Brad Hoylman, the Rockefeller Center area attracts 125 million visitors during the holiday season. When news of the potential street closure plan leaked at the end of October, Mayor de Blasio emphasized that it had not yet been approved by City Hall and that someone at the DOT may have accidentally or intentionally leaked it "trying to further their own agenda". The plan will take effect the day after Thanksgiving. You may notice one problem when you combine the previous two stories: In response to news of the Rockefeller Center street closures, Transit Authority head Andy Byford released a short statement criticizing what he called a unilateral decision by the city that will slow down buses in the Rockefeller Center area since they are not given priority in the current plan. Fifth Avenue is a major north-south route for buses, and it remains to be seen how the four-block narrowing of the street will impact traffic or transit times. This week, the Port Authority announced this week that they hope to use autonomous vehicle technology to more closely space their buses through the Lincoln Tunnel. While they plan realistically wouldn't eliminating drivers, the technology would allow the buses to drive close to each other and maintain a higher speed by closely monitoring the surrounding environment and avoiding collisions with greater accuracy than a human driver. Today's podcast is brought to you by City Survival: The AGBC Holiday Gift Guide — Whether it's a tiny replica of a fire escape to hang on your wall or a gadget that may one day help you escape a stalled subway train, find all your gifts this year through our Gift Guide at agreatbigcity.com/gift-guide and your purchases will financially benefit AGBC. Coming up November 28th, the 93rd annual Macy's Thanksgiving parade will fly 16 giant balloons from 77th Street to 34th Street, with new giant balloons this year of Astronaut Snoopy, Dr. Seuss's Green Eggs and Ham, a new Spongebob Squarepants design featuring Gary the snail, and the reappearance of Smokey the Bear, but those new balloons will hopefully stop to pay their respects to some of their fallen comrades. Over the 93 years of Macy's parades, there have been three major balloon crashes: 26 years ago in 1993 — The Sonic the Hedgehog balloon in the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade knocks down a streetlight in Columbus Circle, injuring a child and an off-duty police officer 22 years ago in 1997 — Four are injured, two seriously, when a Cat in the Hat balloon from the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade knocks down a streetlight on Central Park West — Hear more about the Corey Lidle plane crash on Episode 44 of the podcast 14 years ago in 2005 — Two are injured when an M&M balloon from the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade knocks down a streetlight in Times Square Safety limits are now set on where balloons may only fly if sustained winds are below 23mph and gusts are below 34mph. For this Thanksgiving, the winds are predicted to be in the 20mph range, so it remains to be seen if high winds may ground the balloons this year. No matter what happens to this year's Macy's balloons, it won't be as exciting as the parade's end from 1927 to 1932, when parade balloons were simply launched into the sky after the parade, where the helium-filled balloons would rise into the air and Macy's predicted they would deflate and land, so they attached a note that offered a $100 reward to anyone who returned the balloon's remains. The tradition ended, however, when one of the loose balloons finally ended up getting stuck on the wing of an airplane and sent the plane into a tailspin. 13 years ago on November 25, 2006 — Sean Bell is shot and killed by police in a controversial shooting that raised protests over how police handled the encounter and whether anyone in Bell's bachelor party was actually armed — Sean Bell is shot and killed by police in a controversial shooting that raised protests over how police handled the encounter and whether anyone in Bell's bachelor party was actually armed. Upon leaving the bachelor party at a strip club, undercover police testified that they heard one of Bell's friends say he was going to get a gun, so police, who were outside the club investigating possible prostitution at the location, drew their guns and fired on the group, killing Bell and severely injuring two others. The NYPD response hinged on whether a gun was mentioned or displayed, with witnesses saying no one in the bachelor party mentioned a gun and none being found at the scene. Mayor Bloomberg called the shooting unacceptable and said it looked like a case of excessive force, with five officers firing a total of 50 shots, hitting Bell four times, Trent Benefield three times, and Joseph Guzman 19 times. Protests took place comparing Bell's death to similar police shootings of unarmed men and protesters called for the officers to be held accountable. Three of the five officers involved in the shooting were indicted and went before a judge in a bench trial where all charges were dropped on April 25, 2008. Despite their acquittal, all officers and their commanding officer were fired or forced to resign by 2012. Liverpool Street from 94th to 101st Ave in Jamaica, Queens was named in honor of Sean Bell on what would have been his 27th birthday. 109 years ago on November 27, 1910 — The original Penn Station opens to the public, with an estimated 100,000 visitors on the first day — The original Penn Station opens to the public, with an estimated 100,000 visitors on the first day The city operated a bit differently in those days, with the New York Times noting the increase in pedestrians on a Sunday in the "usually very quiet" area in Midtown between Penn Station and Times Square, and that the crowds were "impressed with the lack of confusion" at Penn Station on opening day. One aspect of the opening day report did seem all too familiar: The new station caused a notable increase in subway passengers at both the Times Square and 33rd Street stations, causing passengers to question why there had not been extra capacity added to the Seventh Avenue cross-town trolley. The increase in train traffic also relocated a large number of support personnel to the city, with many settling in southeast Queens near the newly-constructed Sunnyside train yards. This increased the population of Long Island City by at least 2,000. The original above-ground structure of Penn Station would remain until 1963, when it had fallen into disrepair and was torn down and replaced with Madison Square Garden. The loss of what was once an architectural wonder led to the formation of the Landmarks Preservation Commission that would save Grand Central Terminal from a similar fate just two years later. Today, the Moynihan Train Hall near Penn Station is being renovated into a modern version of what Penn Station once was. The new train station will service Amtrak and LIRR customers and feature a soaring glass atrium ceiling about the size of Grand Central's main hall. A Great Big City has been running a 24-hour newsfeed since 2010, but the AGBC News podcast is just getting started, and we need your support. A Great Big City is built on a dedication to explaining what is happening and how it fits into the larger history of New York, which means thoroughly researching every topic and avoiding clickbait headlines to provide a straightforward, honest, and factual explanation of the news. Individuals can make a monthly or one-time contribution at agreatbigcity.com/support and local businesses can have a lasting impact by supporting local news while promoting products or services directly to interested customers listening to this podcast. Visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. AGBC is more than just a news website: Every evening, just before sundown, A Great Big City checks the Empire State Building's lighting schedule and sends out a notification if the tower's lighting will be lit in special colors for a holiday or celebration. Follow @agreatbigcity on social media to receive the alerts. Park of the day Bergen Triangle — E. 181 St., Anthony Ave., Grand Concourse, the Bronx — Named for William Bergen, one of the largest developers in the Bronx, who spotted vacant lots and bought them, constructing over two hundred homes on his land. One of Bergen's most notable achievements as a developer was the construction of the Bergen Building, built in 1915 at the intersection of Tremont and Arthur Avenues, about one mile southeast from Bergen Triangle Park. Parks Events The city will be hosting Black Friday Hikes on November 29, 2019 as a way to clear your mind from any holiday stress and avoid any ravenous shopping crowds. There will be one official hike in each borough, but you're encouraged to visit any park and take your own hiking adventure. Concert Calendar Here's the AGBC Concert Calendar for the upcoming week: Snoh Aalegra with Baby Rose is playing Webster Hall on Sunday, November 24th at 7pm. Bob Dylan is playing Beacon Theatre on Sunday, November 24th at 8pm. Hozier with Angie McMahon is playing Hammerstein Ballroom on Monday, November 25th at 8pm. Jaden Smith and Willow Smith are playing Terminal 5 on Tuesday, November 26th at 7pm. Hozier with Angie McMahon is playing Hammerstein Ballroom on Tuesday, November 26th at 8pm. Bob Dylan is playing Beacon Theatre on Tuesday, November 26th at 8pm. Bob Dylan is playing Beacon Theatre on Wednesday, November 27th at 8pm. Lil Tjay is playing PlayStation Theater on Wednesday, November 27th at 8pm. Mega Bash with Luis Fonsi, Reik, Ozuna are playing Prudential Center on Friday, November 29th at 7pm. Bob Dylan is playing Beacon Theatre on Friday, November 29th at 8pm. Fobia is playing PlayStation Theater on Friday, November 29th at 8pm. Madeon with Instupendo is playing Brooklyn Steel on Friday, November 29th at 8pm. Pentatonix is playing The Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, November 30th at 7pm. Guster with Rubblebucket is playing Terminal 5 on Saturday, November 30th at 7pm. Bob Dylan is playing Beacon Theatre on Saturday, November 30th at 8pm. Hot Tuna is playing The Town Hall on Saturday, November 30th at 8pm. Find more fun things to do at agreatbigcity.com/events. Today's fact about New York Here's something you may not have known about New York: You can call, text, or chat with a trained counselor 24 hours a day at the city's NYC Well program Weather The extreme highs and lows for this week in weather history: Record High: 77°F on November 20, 1985 Record Low: 13°F on November 22, 1880 Weather for the week ahead: Light rain this weekend, with a chance of wind on Wednesday and Thursday Thanks for listening to A Great Big City. Follow along 24 hours a day on social media @agreatbigcity or email contact@agreatbigcity.com with any news, feedback, or topic suggestions. Subscribe to AGBC News wherever you listen to podcasts: iTunes, Google Play, or Spotify, Player FM, Pocket Casts, or listen to each episode on the podcast pages at agreatbigcity.com/podcast. If you enjoy the show, subscribe and leave a review wherever you're listening and visit our podcast site to see show notes and extra links for each episode. Intro and outro music: 'Start the Day' by Lee Rosevere — Concert Calendar music from Jukedeck.com