THE SOHO WALL: REIMAGINED

For more than a decade and a half, it was a cherished New York City landmark sitting at the gateway of Soho’s shops: The DKNY mural by Peter Arnell watched over Houston Street for some 16 years before coming down in 2008. Five years later, DKNY revives its artistic legacy with #DKNYArtworks, a street-style showcase of 10 artists and 10 cities around the globe, reports WWD.com. Says Donna Karan, “We loved collaborating with individual artists that reflected their city while being inspired by ours.” Check out DKNYArtworks.com for artist profiles, making-of videos, and more.

DKNYArtworks.com

WWD on #DKNYArtworks

Mashable on #DKNYArtworks

GARCONLY BEHAVIOR

Speaking of reasons to get all dressed up: Here’s one for the top of your list Les Garçons Wednesdays at Le Baron. The door policy at this newly launched night is decidedly more relaxed, but the dress code isn’t: Promoter and host Michael Fragoso has one simple rule: “I want everyone to dress up. It’s like your entrance fee.” Of the scene, the New York Times’ Style section reported, “Sure enough, earlier this month, there were lots of nattily dressed boys milling about the main floor, as well as plenty of gals who raised their midweek game, donning evening wear and ropes of faux pearls.”

Les Garçons at Le Baron

photo via

BROOKLYN NIGHT BAZAAR

Holiday markets are the original pop-ups if you ask us: Get back to basics and hop on the L train to the Bedford Avenue stop for Williamsburg’s version of a community fair inspired by the night markets of Asia. Every Friday and Saturday night now through December 22, the Brooklyn Night Bazaar offers up indie vendors, indie food stalls, and indie music curated by hipsters from establishments like Fader and Hype Machine—not to mention Ping-Pong and pick-up soccer matches in the backroom. This week’s installment features Rockie Fresh on Friday and Fatima Al Qadiri on Saturday. Party starts at 6 p.m.

Brooklyn Night Bazaar

photo via

FLASHING LIGHTS

Sure it’s a little bit Vegas, but it’s also fun, of course, we’re talking about the newly launched Empire State Building light show. Instead of just changing colors, now the building’s cloud-skimming lights can move, shimmy, and cross-fade—dare we say, flashy? For its big debut earlier this week that nearly outshined the Rockefeller tree, the new Philips Color Kinetic lighting system cranked up “Empire State of Mind” with a show synced to Alicia Keys’ songs. Said the local singer, “The Empire State Building has always been a symbol of what’s possible in New York. And all the dreams that can come true in this city that never sleeps.” Cheers to one more reason to stay up late!

Empire State Building Light Show

photo via

HALF SIZES

Remember that scene in “Being John Malkovic” of the 7 1/2 floor? Well, in what looks like a Photoshopped meme, the city’s Transportation Department has now posted official street signs marking Manhattan’s 6 1/2th Avenue, reported the New York Time’s City Room blog. Sure it sounds like a shoe size, but the new pedestrian-only route connecting a quarter-mile stretch of public plazas and arcades running between 51st and 57th Streets between Avenue of the Americas (Sixth Avenue) and Seventh Avenue is a much-needed relief from the car-choked warren of Midtown Manhattan. This size 6 1/2 avenue was made for walking!

The official marking of a new manhattan avenue

photo by Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times

We are constantly reminded of why this city is so astounding and will always be the inspiration for our world.

#newyork #brooklynbridge #gehrybuilding #freedom tower #dkny<3snyc

PRIDE PARADE

Technically, it’s a civil rights demonstration, but really, it feels more like a street party that starts in midtown and ends in the Village. For more than 40 years, the annual Gay Pride Parade has been marching in support of issues affecting the LGBT community, from AIDS to marriage equality, and this year’s Grand Marshals include original party girl Cyndi Lauper and Chris Salgardo, among others. Post-parade, keep the party going with Dance on the Pier featuring DJs Eddie Baez, The Perry Twins, and Boris, as well as performances by Lauper and Eva Simons. The point is we all just want to have fun—and everyone should have the right to!

NYC Pride Walk

BOARDWALK THRILLS

Make a splash this Saturday, June 23, at the 30^th annual Mermaid Day Parade in Coney Island with sequins, sparkles, and wigs. Started as a tribute to Coney Island’s long-forgotten Mardi Gras, this whimsical, ribbon-cutting ceremony that marks the beginning of swim season has become a circus-sideshow-meets-Lady-Gaga-glitter fest bringing out a huge crowd of retro pinup mermaids and bedazzled aqua men. After the parade, grab a Nathan’s hotdog and stick around for the Mermaid Parade Ball at the New York Aquarium with a DJ set by Moby (a.k.a. King Neptune 2004).

Coney Island Mermaid Parade