It’s Thursday afternoon in New York City, where we are facing a windy, rainy Friday, so enjoy the relatively pleasant weather today.
Here’s what else is happening:
- New York Public Library released its list of the most borrowed books of 2025, with the No. 1 spot going to "James" by Percival Everett, which also won the Pulitzer Prize this year.
- The incoming archbishop of New York and Pope Leo, both Chicagoans, named Aurelio’s Pizza as their favorite pizza place in the Windy City.
- Staten Islanders are again pushing to secede from New York City as Zohran Mamdani prepares to take office.
- Did you become a salmon sperm fanatic this year?
- Happy birthday, New Jersey!
- The "Wicked" movies has been really good for ticket sales of "Wicked" on Broadway (not that the show was struggling with ticket sales).
- A public bathroom in the middle of Allen Street on the Lower East Side could finally be reopened after decades.
- The West Side Rag is trying to decode the message behind several mysterious plastic bags filled with decorated eggs that were hung on trees in Riverside Park.
- And finally, polar bear adoption.
