There haven't been many ticker tape parades through downtown in recent years, making today's celebration all the more inspiring. At 11am, the city will celebrate our "Hometown Heroes" with a big thank you to healthcare, transit, and all the other frontline workers who kept the city going through the pandemic. Although we are not clear of COVID yet, the success of the July 4th weekend bodes well for recovery. Certainly venues have taken note:

• The Statue of Liberty pedestal and interior have reopened, with Statue City Cruises extending hours (crown reopening still pending)
• The Hyatt Centric Times Square has reopened
• Theater District stalwart Bond 45 has reopened
• Family-friendly experiential retailer CAMP has opened Art CAMP at The Shops at Columbus Circle
• New Phoenix roller coaster now open on Coney Island
• A revamped Serendipity3 returns on Friday
• Reservations open for NYC Restaurant Week starting Monday, July 12th; discount meals begin July 19th and last for nearly a month
• Pixar-inspired mini golf course Pixar Putt to open August 1st in Battery Park City
• The International Puppet Fringe Festival brings in-person programming August 11th-15th
• The 40th Annual Battery Dance Festival will include in-person performances by 38 companies, August 15th-20th
• Art show Future Fair comes to the Starrett-Lehigh Building September 10th-12th
• The 21st Havana Film Festival New York (HFFNY) comes to New York theaters September 17th-23rd
• Brooklyn's Atlantic Antic Festival will return October 3rd
• The Joyce announces it will reopen for in-person 2021-2022 dance season
• The 2021 New York Comedy Festival will take place across all five boroughs, November 8th-14th

The 2021 America’s Best Cities Report is now out. New York City is #1. With NYC & Company's “It’s Time for New York City” campaign underway, the world is getting the message about the city's comeback.

New LEGO flagship now open at Rock Center. Image: Cindy Ord/Getty Images.

LINKS OF INTEREST

NYC

• New-York Historical Society to expand space, including permanent home for The American LGBTQ+ Museum
• New NY Waterway ferry service connecting Manhattan to Red Hook's IKEA
• Era of New York belonging only to New Yorkers nears end
• Locals force pause on "Circle of Heroes" monument in Battery Park City
• MTA unveils subway car of the future
• Meet New York City's Director of Nightlife
• New esports bar now open in Brooklyn
• New multilevel LGBTQ+ bar The Q now open in Hell's Kitchen
• Newtown Creek Nature Walk in Greenpoint completed
• Until more tourists come, NYC hotels can't bring back furloughed staffers
• New York now most congested city in the U.S., overtaking L.A.

NATIONAL

• Google will phase out Reserve with Google for tour bookings starting August 1st
• Flying car completes test flight between airports

CLOSING TIME

• After 56 years, Midtown Tennis Club to be replaced by apartment building
• Upper West Side's La Mirabelle bids adieu after 37 years
• The Brindle Room vacates East Village home

GOOD FOOD AND GOOD SERVICE? | THIS WEEK'S INSIGHTS FROM EVERYTHING TO DO FACEBOOK GROUP

Looking for on-the-round reporting about the city? Everything To Do NYC Facebook Group brings together 40,000 city superfans sharing what they're experiencing around town. A recent city newcomer, hired as a restaurant manager, complained about not being able to find good restaurant experiences in NYC. The group quickly schooled him. Among the suggestions: Paesano’s, Werkstatt, Cafe Mogador, Bar Primi, Da Nico, Wallse, Smith, Avra, John's, Keens, La Contenta, Le Baratin, Molyvos, Peak, Nami Nori, Red Rooster Harlem, Blue Ribbon Chicken, The Fulton by Jean Georges, and many more. All told there have been 178 comments here already. A poster on Saturday asked for advice on moving to NYC and has 327 suggestions already! ETD provides a great forum to market your venue, and to get a read of what tourists and locals are thinking. If you're not a member yet, join us.