19: A New Macy's Tower, the Empire State Building, and Grant's Tomb

A Great Big City — New York City News, History, and Events

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• 106 years ago on April 24, 1913 — The Woolworth Building opens, becoming the tallest building in the world for 17 years

• 122 years ago in 1897, on what would have been Grant's 75th birthday, Grant's tomb is first dedicated

• 230 years ago on April 30, 1789 — George Washington was inaugurated as the first U.S. President at Federal Hall on Wall Street

• "Babe Ruth Day" is held at Yankee Stadium

• Macy’s in talks to build 1.2M sf office tower atop Herald Square flagship.

• 79 years ago on April 28, 1940 — 'Pennsylvania 6-5000' is first recorded by the Glenn Miller Orchestra — Here's the Ithaca High School Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Bill Makin performing Pennsylvania 6-5000 for their winter concert in 2016

• New York City Missing Persons Day

• 80 years ago on April 30, 1939 — The first New York World's Fair opens at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park — Bowery Boys podcast on World's Fair history

• MTA posted a Twitter thread with info on upcoming L Train changes — If you're an L-train rider, get in touch at agreatbigcity.com/contact and let us know how you're dealing with the changes and if the delays have changed your routine.

• Check your special blue MetroCard this week for a chance to win a trip to Hawaii

• May 1, 1931 — The Empire State Building Officially Opens for Business — Empire State Building Run-Up

• Some updates on the attempted attack at St. Patrick's Cathedral

• April 26 in History: Bouncing Baby Boy Bombed!

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A Great Big City is more than a news blog. Did you know that every day, AGBC automatically checks the lighting schedule for the Empire State Building and sends out an alert at sundown, letting you know how the building will be lit and what the lights represent.

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Park of the day

• Captain Rivera Playground

• Brooklyn Botanic cherry blossom festival — Sakura Matsuri 2019: Brooklyn Botanic Garden Cherry Blossom Festival

Concert Calendar

• Danava, Dommengang, Elder, Mirror Queen, Monolord, The Atomic Bitchwax, The Skull, Windhand, and Worshipper are playing The Well on Friday, April 26th.
• Pup, Diet Cig, and ratboy are playing Brooklyn Steel on Friday, April 26th.
• Orville Peck is playing Elsewhere on Friday, April 26th.
• Hot Water Music, Errortype:11, and Iron Chic are playing Music Hall of Williamsburg on Friday, April 26th.
• Now, Now, Daddy Issues, and Foxing are playing Warsaw on Friday, April 26th.
• Kris Kristofferson is playing City Winery on Sunday, April 28th.
• Will Haven, Architect, Locked In A Vacancy, and Nerveshatter are playing Saint Vitus Bar on Sunday, April 28th.
• Neotheater Album Release Show and AJR are playing The Bowery Ballroom on Monday, April 29th.
• Sasami is playing Elsewhere on Tuesday, April 30th.
• The Mountain Goats and shana cleveland are playing Brooklyn Steel on Tuesday, April 30th.
• Kalmah, Vreid, and Winter Nights are playing Gramercy Theater on Tuesday, April 30th.
• Stephen Malkmus is playing 92nd Street Y on Tuesday, April 30th.
• Patti Smith is playing Webster Hall on Wednesday, May 1st.
• Infest, Scapegoat, and The Fight are playing The Kingsland on Friday, May 3rd.

Find more fun things to do at agreatbigcity.com/events.

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Did you know?

Here's something you may not have known about New York:

• One World Trade Center is the tallest building in NYC, the second-tallest building, 432 Park Avenue, actually has a higher roof since Midtown is at a higher elevation

Weather

The extreme highs and lows for this week in weather history:
Record High: 92°F on April 26, 2009
Record Low: 29°F on April 23, 1872

Weather for the week ahead:
Rain on Friday through next Tuesday, with high temperatures falling to 61°F on Monday. This week, UV levels are starting to climb into the High and Very High categories, so now is the time to start protecting your skin and eyes from ultraviolet radiation, which will be higher during the Summer months. Look for a skin protectant that is at least SPF 50 and labeled as "broad spectrum" and wear sunglasses if you'll be venturing outside the shadowy caverns of Midtown.

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Intro and outro music: 'Start the Day' by Lee Rosevere — Concert Calendar music from Jukedeck.com