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On any given day you enter the world that is Ellen’s Stardust Diner, a Times Square staple since 1987 and the “Home of the Original World-Famous Singing Waitstaff,” you can feel the chaos. You can feel the hunger of diner-goers after waiting in a line that wraps around the side of the building, and of […]
Features
How These Second-Generation Asian Americans Are Revitalizing Chinatown
Despite its robust history spanning over a century, Chinatown faces ongoing sustainability struggles as store owners age. According to a 2023 report by NYC Small Business Services, created in collaboration with Chinatown BID and Think!Chinatown, Chinatown storefront vacancy rate reached 21.4% from 2021 to 2022, surpassing the citywide average of 13% in 2021. But these […]
Ezras Nashim’s Chief Operating Officer on personal life, work and balancing it all
It was a gloomy Friday in April and, for the first time, I entered the Borough Park neighborhood of Brooklyn. I was dressed in typical journalist fashion, wearing black trousers, a modest top and brown blazer — a contrast to the traditional garments worn in this tight-knit ultra-Orthodox Jewish community. I was there to meet […]
Cartwheels on the Catwalk: Olive Louise Jenkins and Their Fashion Line, “2theFuture”
American fashion designer Betsy Johnson is known for her cartwheels ending with splits on the catwalk — something that Olive Louise Jenkins is not far from achieving as well. Olive Louise Jenkins is a fashion designer and student by day, and circus member by night. The 22-year-old is promoting and growing their clothing brand, 2theFuture, […]
A Texas nurse’s decade-long battle over wastewater
In August 2013, Stephanie Ryder Morris’ family moved to Leander, a small but growing city about 25 miles north of Austin. Living along the South San Gabriel River initially felt like “a wonderland,” said Morris, now 51. In the time off from her nursing job, Morris recalled skipping stones and searching for frogs with her […]
Polers and divas and drag queens, oh my!
Shirtless and barefoot, Jake Nguyen quietly squeezes past bustling tables as he makes his way towards the center of The Red Pavilion’s packed dining space. Awaiting him is an aerial hoop, also called a lyra, hanging from the ceiling between a circle of Chinese lanterns. As the DJ starts the music, the room falls silent, […]
A Little Bit of Rock, a Little Bit of Pop and a Whole Lot of Nana
As a young girl, there were two things Dani Arana loved — singing and anime. Whether it was singing Kelly Clarkson or belting Katy Perry in the living room, she would wear the comic booky Japanese brand Toki Doki. So, it’s no surprise that she now calls herself Dani Doki. Dani Doki, 22, is a solo […]
Brothers in Arms
This short documentary explores the bonds of three sets of friends across different generations. It delves into their challenges expressing intimacy in a world that often doesn’t understand them. Through candid interviews and heartfelt moments, the film showcases the enduring power of friendship, and the resilience of these relationships amidst societal pressures.
How Thrifting Could Save the World
Two girls giggle by a clothes rack that reads “Women’s long sleeves,” clothes draped across their arms as they weave through shelves of semi-worn garments. A schoolgirl with a bulky book bag peeks over at the tattered record section while waiting in line for the fitting room. A guy convinces his friend to buy the […]
Turn Up the Jukebox! Why We’ve Turned Back Time on Music
Picture this: you’re at a party, a single disco ball hangs from the ceiling, and strobes of blue and purple lights illuminate the dance floor. The DJ’s turntables sit on the elevated stage, above it a neon sign that reads “Follow the call of the disco ball.” The room fills with over 200 people dressed […]