It’s always good to see a familiar, friendly face, especially in times of trouble. Of course, nowadays, it may be difficult and indeed dangerous to greet someone face-to-face. Using the online videoconferencing app Zoom has helped businesses, friends and families commune without risk. Other apps have helped galleries and museums bring art — familiar and new — to as many homes as possible.  more

For Chris Fink, there isn’t a lot that matters to him more than climate change. And running to represent New York’s 16th Congressional District isn’t changing that. Even when Fink talks about any other issue, it doesn’t take long at all before he finds a connection to the climate. more

When Moss Cafe shut down March 17, Emily Weisberg was left wondering what to do next. The Johnson Avenue hotspot for farm-to-table kosher and vegetarian fare wasn’t spared from the mass closings of many New York City eateries. The ones who could stay open were forced to shift to delivery or curbside takeout. more

Sammy Ravelo has achieved a lot since arriving in the United States as a teenager ahead of his official paperwork legally making that possible. And now, Ravelo is ready to overcome even more — including a crowded field seeking to represent New York’s 16th Congressional District in the upcoming Democratic primary. more

It was 1997 when Urban Ellis decided it was time to live the good life.  But by 2002, he shook off years of inactivity, rising to become a major provider for the place he had called home since 1958: Marble Hill. more

In the era before coronavirus — which can feel like eons ago at this point — it was easy to move through a typical day without thinking much about neighbors. Sure, you might wave on the sidewalk, or hold the elevator door, but it was easy not to talk much. more

Her signature soprano carried through the great spaces of Carnegie Hall, the Miami Music Festival, and the Manhattan Opera Studio over the past decade with classic pieces like Mozart’s “Le nozze di Figaro” and “Pamina” — pieces we know better as “The Marriage of Figaro” and “The Magic Flute.” more

On an early spring morning, a jogger paces down Riverdale Avenue. Her earphones are in, her ball cap bent just over her eyes. Friends passing by in cars call out and keep going. Then she’s gone. On the side of a mailbox is a woman’s face, drawn in chalk. There are others, as well. On a wall. On the sidewalk. Hiding behind a tree. The jogger passes some of these faces without a second thought. more

In the wake of a tragedy, people seek solace in each other, as mourning is communal. Yet, the natural tendency to grieve together continues to be eviscerated by the coronavirus pandemic. more

Mother’s Day is an important holiday, allowing people from all walks of life to demonstrate their love and gratitude for the maternal figures in their lives. Flowers typically are a well-received gift for a mother as a way to communicate appreciation. But then again, these aren’t typical times. more