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Thursday, July 2, 2026

Fireworks explode over the East River and Brooklyn Bridge during the Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Show on July 4, 2025 in New York.

Dear New Yorkers,

Between the international fleet of tall ships in the Hudson, holiday events, the annual hot-dog eating contest and Taylor Swift’s mysterious possible Madison Square Garden wedding, the city’s going to be crazy-busy this weekend. (Don’t forget the World Cup.)

With more than 5.5 million visitors expected to pass through the city’s airports, bridges and tunnels during the Independence Day celebrations.

City officials are prepping for heat, gridlock, fireworks — and tons of celebration.

Here's what to know about street closures, getting into big events and navigating the ever-overcrowded subways.

Weather ☀️

Stay safe. It’s hot and sunny with a high near 102.

MTA 🚇

Midday in Brooklyn, Brighton Beach-bound B trains stop at Avenue U and Neck Road, while Manhattan-bound Q trains skip those stops. Manhattan-bound D trains skip 20th Avenue, 18th Avenue, 79th Street and 71st Street.

In The Bronx, Manhattan-bound 6 trains skip St. Lawrence Avenue, Morrison Avenue-Soundview, Elder Avenue and Whitlock Avenue.

Until 1 p.m., Manhattan-bound express 6 trains run local from Hunts Point Avenue to 3rd Avenue-138th Street.

Find all the MTA’s planned changes and the latest delays here.

Alternate side parking 🚙

It’s in effect today, July 2.

By the way …

A New York classic — Magnolia Bakery’s banana pudding — just earned national recognition. The best dessert in the country is available all over Manhattan, but beware of the long lines.

Our Other Top Stories

A beloved Brooklyn senior center is closing after more than 20 years. The building’s nonprofit owner refused to renew the lease. The longtime refuge had served as one of the city's designated cooling centers. A former city social services commissioner appears to be a key witness in the federal bribery case against power broker Frank Carone, Eric Adams’ former City Hall chief of staff.

SPONSORED Where Are You in Your Housing Journey? Homeownerships is one of the largest investments consumers will make in their lives – and one of the most exciting. But, the housing market has experienced a lot of highs and lows over the past few years, and many buyers are sitting on the sidelines wondering if now is the right time for them to buy. Here are a few questions considerations to determine whether you are financially ready for homeownership: Your financial health is sound. This might look like having a regular, dependable source of income, having a good credit score—lenders typically look for a score of 620 and above—and having a low debt-to-income ratio. This allows lenders to better gauge how much you may be able to afford. You understand the true cost of homeownership: This might look like understanding not only your borrowing capacity but also the monthly payment. You’re also prepared for the additional costs of buying a home, such as closing costs, property taxes, homeowners association fees, among other costs, as well as ongoing maintenance or repairs. Look for financial tools like the Chase affordability calculator to help determine buying power, based on income, and preferred monthly loan payments. Your personal goals and timelines match up: Think about your upcoming life events and whether it makes sense to own a home, such as retiring, relocating or a growing family. For more information to prepare you for your home buying journey, visit chase.com/afford or connect with a local a mortgage professional who can help make recommendations based on your unique financial picture and goals.

Reporter’s Notebook

Knicks Boost for Bars

The Knicks aren’t the only winners from their 2026 championship run. Their streak also delivered a major boost to the city’s bars, restaurants and nightlife, according to a new NYC Hospitality Alliance survey.

Among venues showing the games, 87.5% reported higher sales during the playoffs and Finals, and 65.5% reported significant sales. More than half saw game-day sales jump past 20%, with nearly a third topping 30%. To keep up with the traffic, 70% of businesses added staff, one third hired security, and 30% upgraded their audio-visual equipment or added TVs.

The games brought unprecedented demand for spaces to watch and socialize. One venue reported a 1,400-person waitlist for the final game, the Alliance said, and every single respondent said the run boosted the city's overall business climate. Restaurants without TVs reported slower sales during tipoff as fans flocked to watch parties.

It's not only owners that are doing well. Martin Whelan, owner of the Stout NYC near Madison Square Garden, said he had promoted a staffer to bartender just before the Knicks parade. That day alone, she earned $1,000.

“Maybe bartenders at some restaurants make $1,000 a day, but my employees don’t,” he said.

— Carol Chen and Greg David

Fresh Cars for the D Line

The D line is the latest stop for new-look subway cars that are replacing some that have been running since 1986.

The line between Norwood-205th Street in The Bronx and Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue in Brooklyn is the seventh to receive R211 cars that began carrying riders in March 2023. The cars also operate on the A, B, C, G, Rockaway Park Shuttle and the Staten Island Railway.

“Riders tell us in surveys that they love the design and the extra space of these 211s,” Janno Lieber, MTA chairperson and chief executive said Wednesday. “But this isn’t just about aesthetics — we love the fact that they are so much less prone to breakdowns.”

According to MTA data, over a 12-month period, the new cars broke every 297,000 miles — the systemwide 12-month average is nearly 126,000 miles. Featuring wider doors, brighter lighting and more accessible seating, the cars are part of a more than $4.5 billion purchase made over the course of two MTA five-year capital programs.

The subway now has 890 R211 cars, while the Staten Island Railway has 75, with 620 more yet to be delivered. They are replacing the R68 models that began arriving in the subway just months before the Mets last won a World Series in 1986.

— Jose Martinez

Things To Do

Here’s what’s going on around the city this week.

Thursday, July 2: This trivia game might make you hungry. Play food-themed trivia in Washington Heights if you’re 18 and up. Free, Fort Washington Library, 2-3 p.m. Thursday, July 2: Reconnect with nature and get your volunteer hours in by counting trees in Brooklyn. Free, Canarsie Park, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Thursday, July 2: Hop on the ferry to see a historical terracotta sculpture garden. Free, H.H. Biddle House in Conference House Park, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

THE KICKER:  The New York Public Library’s collection of centuries-old menus offers some insight on how historical dining differs from where we are now: scrambling for tables on Resy and logging it all on Beli.

Thanks, as always, for reading. Make it a great Thursday.

Love,

The City Reporter

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