Good Wednesday afternoon in New York City, where all these transit upgrades won’t happen as planned, thanks to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s freeze on congestion pricing.
Here’s what else is happening:
- Grub Street asked the PR guys behind the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest if all the news about Joey Chestnut dropping out because of his contract with a plant-based meat company was made up. Their answer was no, followed by, “This has been a wild roller coaster ride, and it’s been really fun.”
- Alan Rosen, the owner of Junior’s restaurant and a self-described “moderate Republican,” has reportedly met with political advisers to explore a potential 2025 mayoral run in NYC.
- The city is planning to redo its online ticket giveaway for the Macy’s July 4th fireworks show after the website broke this morning when the giveaway was initially supposed to be held.
- The Tompkins Square Park basketball courts got a new paint job, courtesy of Glossier, the WNBA and artist Na Chainkua Reindorf.
- Loyal Justin Timberlake fans wearing “I’m bringing tipsy back” t-shirts turned out at Madison Square Garden last night for his world tour.
- The Hudson Valley estate where Timothy Leary and friends took acid is for sale for $65 million.
- “White Chicks” at 20: It holds up.
- Sheryl Crow told the BBC that she was disgusted by Drake’s decision to use an AI-generated Tupac voice on one of his diss tracks.
- And finally, never mind: