U.S. Cities With the Worst Traffic Are …

by Justin Glow on

The U.S. Department of Transportation has recently announced nine of the most congested U.S. cities which are in the running to obtain federal traffic-fighting aid.

Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Miami, New York City, San Diego, San Francisco, and Seattle where the nine semifinalists, with a “winner” set to be announced in August. The winning city will receive $1.1 billion in federal program aid designed to fight traffic using “levy tolls that vary based on traffic volumes,” and new mass-transit options for residents.

I thought Los Angeles would be on the list for sure. [via]

Related:

On the Inside: An Insider’s Guide to NYC

by Willy Volk on

On the Inside calls itself a “personality-driven Insiders city guide.” Covering New York City, the site showcases movers-n-shakers from the Big Apple — including filmmakers, actors, designers, writers, models, artists, and musicians — who share their favorite spots to eat, drink, shop, and relax in the City.

Allowing uses to search by Insider, neighborhood, or category of destination, On the Inside helps visitors (as well as the congenitally non-hip) learn about some off-the-beaten-track destinations. For example, actor/comedian Will Forte suggests having cocktails at Professor Thom’s — a split personality of a bar — while filmmaker Salvatore Stabile suggests heading to the Brandy Library for a quiet drink and some good conversation.

If you’re heading to the City and you don’t know exactly what you’re going to do, swing by, poke around, and I bet you’ll come away with several cool ideas.

[Thanks, Laurie!]

Garden in Transit: New York City in Full Bloom

by Justin Glow on

New York City, get ready for some color.

Garden in Transit is a city art project organized to paint colorful flowers on weatherproof panels that will be placed on tops of approximately 12,000 taxis in the New York City area.

Non-profit organization Portraits for Hope are organizing this “groundbreaking motivational art, education, and creative therapy project” which will use the artistic talents of kids in the pediatrics department at America’s oldest hospital, Bellevue. “Beginning in September 2007 and until year’s end, New York City will be visually transformed, as the ubiquitous yellow icon becomes a mobile artistic canvas.”

This is all being done in conjunction with Taxi ’07, celebrating 100 years of metered taxi service in New York City, which Gadling covered last month. More photos after the jump.

Coney Island Mermaid Parade, June 23

by Willy Volk on

Founded in 1983, the Mermaid Parade is an annual event that only New Yorkers could stage. Simultaneously honoring Coney Island’s historic Mardi Gras (that lasted from 1903 to 1954), while celebrating the sand, sea, salt air, and the beginning of summer, all kinds of participants dress in hand-made costumes as Mermaids, Neptunes, sea creatures, lighthouses, Coney Island post cards, amusement rides, antique cars, yachts, and more. Apparently, the primary reason for the fun is the goofy costumes — or lack thereof.

Don’t get too tired from all the parade excitement, because the parade is followed by the Mermaid Parade Ball, featuring live music, sideshow acts, and burlesque shows.

This year’s Memaid Parade is scheduled for June 23. It might be enough of a reason to head to NYC during the summer. If you need some nudging, check out NPR’s coverage of the 2004 event, in which 250,000 people attended.

A Renovated Coney Island??

by Iva Skoch on

Well, I’m surprised I read this first in a UK newspaper, but, apparently, there are some big changes headed for Brooklyn’s Coney Island. Most Americans probably know the park more for its past than its present: either its heyday 60 or so years ago, or its cameo in the movie The Warriors. But its future might be looking up–depending on who you ask.

A developer named Thor Equities has bought up large chunks of the area and is cleaning house. Apparently, the famous 80-year-old, Cyclone wooden roller coaster will stay, but much of the kitsch, old shops, junk vendors, and t-shirt shops will be torn down. Astroland will probably close. And, in its place? Twenty-one new theme park rides, costing $250m, to be opened by 2011.

And that’s not all: expect a Vegas-style megahotel, an indoor water park, and new luxury apartment developments as part of the project.