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New Yorkers are slogging through the late winter blues, and in this week’s arts and culture check in, WNYC and Gothamist arts and culture editor Matthew Schnipper joins us to talk about why February can feel especially brutal, a packed spring concert calendar including Shelter’s 35th anniversary, Mayor Mamdani’s latest cultural references, the Tin Building’s pivot to a balloon museum, and a major...

Staten Island was one of the worst hit parts of New York City during Monday’s snow blizzard. Some places on the island got 29 inches of snow! And some on the Island are saying that there is still a lot of snow in the street. Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella joined WNYC's Sean Carlson to talk more how the borough is dealing with snow cleanup.

Construction on the $16 billion Gateway tunnel project that aims to build a new set of train tunnels under the Hudson River shut down earlier this month after the Trump administration froze federal funding. More than a thousand workers were forced to walk off the job. A federal judge ordered the money released and crews are preparing to restart the work, but the case is still moving through the fe...

A record-breaking snowstorm hits New York City, bringing travel bans, icy streets, and the first full public school snow day since 2019. Schools reopen Tuesday, and Janae sits down with WNYC education reporter Jessica Gould to talk about how students and teachers are using AI tools like ChatGPT and what the city’s incoming guidance could mean for classrooms across the five boroughs.

Sports reporter Priya Desai joins us to discuss the Knicks’ playoff push, Team USA women’s hockey’s gold medal run with two local players, and Unrivaled bringing elite women’s basketball to Barclays Center. Plus, WNYC’s James Ramsay weighs in on the dress shoe revival and what footwear says about being a “real” New York

A state Supreme Court judge has ruled that New York’s 11th Congressional District unlawfully dilutes the political power of Black and Latino voters, triggering a high stakes redistricting battle with national implications. At the center is Staten Island’s North Shore, a denser and more diverse part of the borough that some residents say has more in common with Lower Manhattan than with the rest of...

After a stretch of extreme cold in recent weeks, about two dozen people have died across New York City, most found outdoors and others at private residences. WNYC reporters Karen Yi and Brittany Kriegstein break down what officials know so far, including how many deaths were directly linked to hypothermia and the cases that challenge common assumptions about who is most vulnerable.

Starting on Friday, February 13, every other Friday will feature an arts & culture update from Gothamist’s culture editor Matthew Schnipper. This week’s topics include Mayor Mamdani’s ongoing cultural references, curling clubs at Prospect Park and the “ultimate NYC sandwich,” the tuna melt.

New York City is loud, expensive, crowded, and always changing, and the news often moves too fast to explain what that really means. NYC Now slows things down and focuses on the stories shaping daily life here, why it costs more to stay, who gets pushed to the edge, and how the systems New Yorkers rely on are starting to break. We also make room for the culture and neighborhoods that define this c...

Across New York City, a largely unregulated ghost fleet of tow trucks is growing after years of lax enforcement. Many of these unlicensed operators rush to crash scenes in the hopes of lucrative payouts, but also put consumers and pedestrians at risk. In this episode, WNYC’s Liam Quigley explains how the towing system works and why the city has struggled to regain control. He also tells host Janae...

New Yorkers are feeling the pinch as grocery prices climb and changes to SNAP eligibility rules loom. Janae talks to WNYC reporters Karen Yi and Joe Hong about their six-month project tracking food affordability across the five boroughs, and tips for stretching your dollar at checkout.

Ahead of Valentine’s Day, we take a closer look at why dating in New York City feels uniquely challenging. Janae speaks with Erika Ettin, an NYC-based dating coach, who breaks down why dating in the city is unique, and what she recommends New Yorkers do differently. Also, WNYC arts and culture reporter Hannah Frishberg shares the best Valentine’s Day activities for the lovers…and the haters.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani ran on a promise to dismantle the NYPD’s Strategic Response Group, a unit long criticized for its role in policing protests. But weeks into his administration, SRG officers are still being deployed, including at recent anti ICE demonstrations that led to mass arrests. In this episode, WNYC and Gothamist reporter Ben Feuerherd explains how the unit was created, ho...

Child care costs are reshaping family life in New York City with many parents saying they pay tens of thousands of dollars a year. Meanwhile, Governor Kathy Hochul is proposing to expand free child care for two year olds. In this episode, Janae talks to parents about the financial strain they're under, and WNYC’s Karen Yi explains what the plan would deliver, who would qualify, and why advocates w...

One month into Zohran Mamdani’s tenure as New York City mayor, his governing style is starting to take shape. From a snowstorm that tested his crisis response to early moves on child care alongside Governor Kathy Hochul, Mamdani has paired constant public visibility with a push to deliver on his affordability agenda. WNYC city politics reporters Brigid Bergin and Liz Kim assess what he has accompl...

Saks Global, the parent company of Saks 5th Avenue filed for bankruptcy this month. Janae and producer Iru head up to 5th Av. to check on the iconic NYC department store, and WNYC’s Ryan Kailath breaks down why this isn’t the kind of bankruptcy that leads to a liquidation sale but still flashes a warning sign for NYC businesses. Plus, where's all this snow going? Sanitation Department Deputy Joshu...

In this edition of Arts & Culture Check In, WNYC’s arts and culture editor Matthew Schnipper walks through what’s landing on the culture desk right now. That includes Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s latest use of pop culture references, concerts worth attending, and the Bronx Museum’s AIM Biennial spotlighting local artists. We also look at the Gotham Book Prize finalists, how New York shows up in this...

More than 5,000 rent stabilized apartments are set to change hands after the Pinnacle Group, once one of New York City’s largest landlords, entered bankruptcy and a judge approved the sale of its buildings. The case drew unusual attention when Mayor Zohran Mamdani made the bankruptcy proceedings one of his first public fights after taking office, arguing that the sale would leave tenants worse off...

If you live on Staten Island or in Southern Brooklyn, there are questions about the future of who is going to represent you in Washington. That’s because a judge is ordering a commission to redraw the congressional district's lines, because the current boundaries dilute the voice of Black and Latino voters on Staten island. The ruling might affect which party controls Congress after next year's mi...

Mira Nair is an acclaimed filmmaker whose documentary-inspired work often centers on identity and belonging. Vulture critic Roxana Hadadi helps us explore how Nair’s focus on empathy and way of seeing the world may have shaped the worldview of her son, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

New York City is the city that never sleeps, and its nightlife shapes the city’s culture, economy, and politics. In this episode, we speak with Ariel Palitz, the city’s first director of the Office of Nightlife, about building the office, the systemic challenges nightlife faces, and what the city can do to build more creative and inclusive spaces for life at night.

In this episode, WNYC’s arts and culture editor Matthew Schnipper discusses some of the stories his desk is covering at the moment, including how Mayor Zohran Mamdani uses pop culture name dropping to connect with different audiences, why a Staten Island public restroom just won a major architecture award, and what it actually takes to get stage time at the Comedy Cellar.

Housing is the issue that shapes how long people can stay in New York and whether they feel secure once they do. With a new mayor taking office and major housing decisions unfolding in courts, boardrooms, and city agencies, we take a step back to explain what is actually driving affordability right now. Tenant rights attorney and city planning commissioner Leah Goodridge breaks down how the system...

A year after congestion pricing took effect in Manhattan, the political uproar has largely faded even as the tolls remain in place. Traffic is down, transit use is up, and the dire warnings that once surrounded the program have quieted. WNYC transportation reporter Stephen Nessen looks back at how New Yorkers have adjusted, why backlash softened over time, and how the city’s experience fits into a...

In November, Bodega Paradise, an X rated bar in East Harlem, had its liquor license revoked and was forced to shut down. WNYC producer Iru Ekpunobi walks us through what happened, based on reporting by Charles Lane, and explains how New York City defines adult entertainment and enforces those rules.