Cruise Ships return to New York Harbor: Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, no cruise ships sailed out of New York harbor for a year and a half. Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas was the first cruise ship to return, docking in Bayonne, N.J. on Aug. 18, 2021. Other ships soon followed. Norwegian Cruise Line and Crystal Cruises both have scheduled cruises leaving from New York City bound for the Caribbean or Bermuda in November and December 2021 and in January, February, March and April 2022. Cunard's ocean liner Queen Mary 2 will sail from New York on Dec. 22 for the Caribbean, returning early on the morning of Jan. 2, 2022. The next day, Queen Mary 2 will leave from New York on a seven-day trans-Atlantic crossing that will end in Southampton, England. For more information about some of the cruises leaving from New York City, click here. (Photo, Oasis of the Seas docked in Bayonne, N.J. © Terese Loeb Kreuzer)

Connection bus service halted: As of Nov. 23, the Connection bus service run by the Downtown Alliance has been halted until further notice. The bus, which has been serving the Lower Manhattan and Battery Park City communities for 15 years, has a route with 36 stops connecting the South Street Seaport with Broadway adjacent to City Hall Park.

The reason that the service has been temporarily discontinued has to do with safety. "There is a dispute with the operator of the buses over their safe operation," said Andrew Breslau, the Downtown Alliance's Senior Vice President of Communications and Marketing. "We will resume the service when we are satisfied it can be done to our standards. We cannot yet fix a date for its return, but are working to do so as soon as possible. Safety comes first."

The Downtown Connection is New York City’s only free bus service traveling a daily, circular path. When it is operating normally, the Connection bus service starts at 10 a.m. and ends with a final run at 7:30 p.m.

To accommodate Covid safety protocols, updated air-filtration systems and plastic partitions between seats had been installed in the buses. Seats were reconfigured to be forward facing for additional passenger protection.

"Work Resumes On Anish Kapoor’s Bean Sculpture At 56 Leonard Street In Tribeca, Manhattan," New York YIMBY, 11/20/2021. "Work is nearing completion on Anish Kapoor’s reflective 'bean' sculpture at the base of 56 Leonard Street, an 831-foot-tall residential skyscraper in Tribeca," says New York YIMBY. "The last curved sections of the amorphous work of art have finally been assembled, closing off the missing outer section facing the corner of Leonard and Church Streets. ... Anish Kapoor is also known for designing Chicago’s chrome steel-plated Cloud Gate and the ArcelorMittal Orbit from the 2012 London Summer Olympics." For the complete article, click here

"Silverstein leashes BarkBox for 52K sf at 120 Broadway," The Real Deal, 11/19/2021. "Silverstein Properties is barking up the right tree with its latest office lease at 120 Broadway, otherwise known as the Equitable Building," says The Real Deal. "Pet supply subscription company BarkBox is taking 52,000 square feet at the Financial District building, the Commercial Observer reported. The company will occupy the entire 12th floor. BarkBox will relocate from its digs at 221 Canal Street by next fall, according to the outlet. The company signed a 15-year lease for its space at 120 Broadway, though asking rents for the space were not revealed. According to the Observer, Silverstein laid down $52 million in 2019 in an effort to restore the building to its original condition." For the complete article, click here.

Hudson River oysters: For several months now, work barges and cranes of various sizes and configurations have been parked in the Tribeca section of the Hudson River next to what was once Pier 32. The broken pilings of that old pier were long ago taken over by double-crested cormorants and by a variety of gulls who rested on them in between foraging expeditions. But these days, most of the birds have fled. The barges and cranes, hired by the Hudson River Park Trust, have prevailed. A spokesperson for the HRPT explained that the "Tribeca Habitat Enhancements work includes installing gabions seeded with oysters and textured concreted piles in the Pier 32 pile field. The goal here is to install a variety of features in the river and river bottom to create improved habitat for oysters and fish. The work is currently still under way." Repeated requests for additional information have gone unanswered. A "gabion," by the way, is a wirework container filled with rock, broken concrete, or other material used in the construction of such structures as dams and retaining walls.

Holiday Lights: Battery Park City will celebrate the holiday season on Dec. 2 in South Cove. Since it will be the fifth night of Hanukkah, the South Cove menorah will have already been lit when the Holiday Lights festivities begin at 6 p.m. They will include the annual tree lighting and guest appearances by Sing Harlem Choir, PS/IS 276 Advanced Chorus, and Santa Claus. Free but please RSVP by clicking here. As part of the celebration, Stockings With Care, a charity started by Battery Park City resident Rosalie Joseph, will be collecting new, unwrapped gifts to distribute to families in need. From Nov. 29 to Dec. 2 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., the gifts can also be left in the collection box located in the lobby of the Battery Park City Parks office at 75 Battery Place. For more information about this gift collection, click here. (Photo: © 2014, Terese Loeb Kreuzer)

Stockings With Care: Since 1992, Stockings with Care, a charity started by casting director Rosalie Joseph and producer Tom Fontana, has been granting the holiday gift wishes of children whose families are in crisis. SWC works with various agencies that help these families. The children make their wish lists, which social workers pass on to Stockings With Care along with the name, gender and age of each child. Individual donors (aka "Santas"), corporations and a host of volunteers purchase and when necessary, wrap the gifts. They are then delivered anonymously to the parents before the holidays, ensuring the dignity of the parents and enabling them to create holiday magic for their children.

This year, Stockings With Care will supply gifts for 1,700 children. Anyone who wants to be a "Santa" has until Nov. 26 to sign up. SWC asks Santas to buy at least two of the gifts on a child's list. The cost varies depending on what the child is requesting. Santa captains supply a child's name and wishes and work with the Santas to keep within their budget.

Santas receive instructions about how to wrap and label the gifts they've purchased and where to drop them off, which must be done by Dec. 6.

If people want to donate money to Stockings With Care, they can donate online at projectswithcare.org or they can mail a check made out to Projects with Care and mailed to Projects with Care, 430 W. 24th St., Ste. 1E, New York, NY 10011.

Travel with the Museum of Jewish Heritage: The Museum of Jewish Heritage in Battery Park City is offering six live-streamed walking tours of cities that currently have or have had significant Jewish communities. The tours, which will be led by knowledgeable guides, will include Marrakesh, Paris, Venice, Seville, Istanbul, and Krakow. Each tour will be a one-time event and will not be available for subsequent playback. The first tour will be of Marrakesh and will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 19 at 11 a.m. Cost: $18 for museum members; $36 for non-members. A six-tour bundle costs $96 for members; $198 for non-members. (The promotion expires Dec. 31, 2021). For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.

Vaccination for children?: At the present time, only the Pfizer vaccine is authorized for children, aged 5 to 11 years old. Children can get vaccinated at their doctor’s office, pharmacies and at vaccine sites across the city.

Booster shots are now available for all New Yorkers, 18 years old and older who received their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at least six months ago, or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least two months ago. The booster shot can be any of the three authorized or approved vaccines. To find a booster vaccination site, go to nyc.gov/vaccinefinder and choose your preferred brand from the "Any Vaccine" drop-down menu.

Are booster shots free? Yes. Booster shots are free to anyone who is eligible to receive one. People with insurance may be billed but will not be charged an administration fee or any other fee.

In-home vaccination is now available to any New Yorker who requests one. Vaccine brand preference can be requested. Go to nyc.gov/homevaccine or call 877-829-4692 to request an in-home appointment.

Free transportation to and from a vaccination site is available to City residents who are 65 and older. To schedule free transportation by either ambulette or taxi (including wheelchair accessible vehicles) call 877-829-4692. Those younger than 18 must have their parent or guardian call to book the trip on their behalf.

Immunocompromised New Yorkers who are 12 years old or older and who received either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine can now get a third dose as part of their initial vaccination series at most vaccine sites (City-run sites, doctor’s offices, community health centers, hospitals, pharmacies). Immunocompromised people vaccinated with Johnson & Johnson can’t yet get a second shot. The third dose should be administered at least 28 days after the second dose. It should be of the same vaccine brand as the first two doses, if possible.

People with disabilities can get help making a vaccination appointment at an accessible site, traveling to and from their appointment and getting their shot. To make these arrangements, call 855-491-2667 or do it through the City's online appointment scheduler. Recognized disabilities may include seeing or hearing; thinking or concentrating; speaking; use of arms; taking care of daily chores; coping with feelings of sadness or anxiety; getting around; and climbing stairs. Email hubaccess@health.nyc.gov for more information.

Lower Manhattan Jump Start program: The Alliance for Downtown New York in partnership with the consultancy Streetsense has created a free program to help new retailers and restaurants get started in Lower Manhattan. Businesses accepted into the program will receive four interactive sessions with Streetsense tailored to the needs of each business but broadly dealing with physical operations, digital marketing, public relations and e-commerce. The package of consultancy services has an estimated value of $10,000 per award. To be eligible for the program a business must have a signed lease or letter of intent dated on or after July 1, 2021 for a storefront commercial lease in Lower Manhattan. The lease must be for at least one year. The location can't be open at the time of application and must be an independent business with no more than five locations in New York City, including the new one. For more information about the program and to apply, click here.

Performing on Little Island: Little Island, a man-made island in the Hudson River near West 14th Street, has issued an open call for artists of all disciplines whose skills can engage outdoor audiences. Performers will be paid. To be eligible, they must be 18+ (or legally permitted to employ child performers) and living or working in the Greater New York area in the summer of 2022. Applications are due by Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. For more information and to apply, click here.

Governors Island ferry access: Access to Governors Island is by ferry, with timed ticket reservations required. Ferries run daily from the Battery Maritime Building at 10 South St. in Lower Manhattan. The ferries are always free for kids 12 and under, for seniors 65 and up, for residents of NYCHA housing, for military servicemembers, Governors Island members, and for everyone on weekends before noon. Starting later this year, NYC Ferry will serve Governors Island daily via the South Brooklyn route. A launch date for this expanded service will be announced soon. NYC Ferry's shuttle from Wall Street/Pier 11 to Yankee Pier on Governors Island will continue on weekends until the launch of 7-day/week service along the South Brooklyn route. NYC Ferry riders on any line that makes stops at Wall Street/Pier 11 may transfer to a shuttle service to Governors Island on Saturdays and Sundays. Governors Island weekend ferry service from Brooklyn (Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park and Atlantic Basin in Red Hook) is currently not in service and will return in Spring, 2022. The first ferry to Governors Island from 10 South St. leaves at 7 a.m. The last ferry from Governors Island leaves at 6 p.m. Learn more about Governors Island ferries and book tickets by clicking here.

Lower Manhattan Greenmarkets: There are Lower Manhattan Greenmarkets in Tribeca (at Chambers and Greenwich Streets) and at Bowling Green, City Hall, the Oculus and the Staten Island ferry. GrowNYC asks that shoppers wear a face covering inside the market space and maintain a six-foot distance between themselves, Greenmarket staff, farm stand employees and other customers. Dogs and bicycles should be left at home.

Click here for a list of the fruits and vegetables now in season.