On a chilly February morning in lower Manhattan, the courtroom bustled with attorneys poring over legal documents. Judge Diane Keisel, wearing a sweeping black judicial robe and sipping iced coffee, presided over the pre-trial procedures, her steady demeanor belying the gravity of the upcoming trial. The air was hushed as Keisel’s austere instructions silenced the […]
Luis Flores uses TikTok to empower immigrant small business owners
It’s sunny in Hunts Point, the Bronx, on a late Spring morning. A gentle breeze brushes against my skin and makes the leaves sway. Despite the sunshine, it’s chilly and two layers of clothing are necessary to walk around comfortably. This Bronx neighborhood is far from the glittering backdrops often seen on the social media […]
Environmental activist Heeta Thakkar believes the government is beautiful
“Living in NYC, our government is honestly so beautiful,” says Environmental Activist Heeta Thakkar, who founded Zero Waste Schools (ZWS), a student-run organization that provides waste management solutions to NYC schools. Thakkar’s appearance is unassuming—a pair of blue jeans and a black winter coat hardly indicative of the fire in her belly. But her ambition […]
Booze, banter, and hardcore racing: The NYC bar that cracked the F1 code
It’s cold, windy, and eerily quiet on March 19 in Midtown in early spring. But inside the Irish sports bar Féile (pronounced Fay-La), if you close your eyes and imagine, it’s sunny and sandy, and you can hear engines revving. On the eight giant TV screens across the bar and a large projector, Formula One […]
Chanting “Women, life, freedom,” protesters in New York City demand regime change in Iran
On September 13, 2022, the Iranian Morality Police arrested 22-year-old Mahsa Amini for wearing her hijab incorrectly. Three days later, she was dead. Protests erupted across the globe. One of the largest demonstrations in the U.S. took place in New York City on November 19, 2022, when thousands from the Iranian-American diaspora marched from Times […]
The NYPD vintage fleet: back on NYC streets for parade
The weather demanded nothing more than a lightweight jacket on the morning of Italian Heritage Day and Indigenous People’s Day (formerly Columbus Day) on October 10, 2022. The iconic parade was just about to begin, and the atmosphere was lively and festive on Fifth Avenue; bands played music, dancers rehearsed with props, and crowds waving […]