Is It Safe to Have a New Year’s Eve Party During the Omicron Surge?

When it comes to handling the uncertainties surrounding the Omicron surge, assess your own risk tolerance and weigh those risks against the rewards.

NYTimes New Year's Eve https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/25/realestate/new-years-eve-party.html Ronda Kaysen

Original Source: NY Times >>

Tracing the Origins of a Black American New Year’s Ritual

Families have long embraced the tradition of eating black-eyed peas and greens on Jan. 1, but the inspiration for the ritual crosses cultures and continents.

NYTimes New Year's Eve https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/24/dining/black-eyed-peas-greens-new-years.html Kayla Stewart

Original Source: NY Times >>

Phish Reschedules New Year’s Concerts at Madison Square Garden

The band moved its upcoming run of shows, a tradition at the arena, to April to avoid further spread of the coronavirus.

NYTimes New Year's Eve https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/23/arts/music/phish-new-years-eve-postponed-covid.html Laura Zornosa

Original Source: NY Times >>

Times Square New Year’s Eve Party Is Scaled Back as Omicron Spreads

Mayor Bill de Blasio made the announcement on the same day New York reported its highest recorded daily coronavirus case total ever.

NYTimes New Year's Eve https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/23/nyregion/times-square-new-years-eve-party-covid.html Karen Zraick

Original Source: NY Times >>

At New Year’s in Vienna, Everything Old Is New Again

The Vienna Philharmonic’s annual performance brings to light memories and traditions, both bright and dark.

NYTimes New Year's Eve https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/24/arts/music/vienna-philharmonic-new-years-concert.html Rebecca Schmid

Original Source: NY Times >>

Save over $50 on this Kickstarter-funded levitating lamp that doubles as a charger and speaker

TL;DR: As of Dec. 24, you can get the Gravita Levitating Smart Lamp for just $76.49 with the code MERRY15 — that’s a discount of 43% from its regular price of $134.A great way to start a new year is by updating your space. Out with the old and in with the new is how the saying goes, right? There’s no need to overhaul everything, though. A few little changes — like switching up the lighting — can go a long way. The Gravita Levitating Smart Lamp is the most unique upgrade you can make to your lighting setup in any room. And it’s on sale for less than $80 for a limited time.Successfully funded on Kickstarter with over $178K, the Gravita Levitating Smart Lamp is a minimalist lamp with a maximum amount of power. It’s powered by LED for a 20-year (50,000 hours) lifespan and optimized to be easy on the eyes at a relaxing 1700K temperature. But more importantly, the Edison light bulb levitates in thin air, thanks to the power of magnets. To get the bulb to float, you simply hold it with both hands and center it just above the base. Then slowly move it up until you’re about 2 cm below the upper magnetic rod and you’ll start to feel a repelling force. When you feel the bulb start to balance in the air, you can let go and watch it levitate. Yes, it really is as cool as it sounds.That’s hardly the only feature that makes the Gravita such an awesome upgrade, though. Its button-free design is controlled by touch, so it’s extremely user-friendly. Plus, the base of the lamp works double duty as both a charging station and a Bluetooth speaker.The base itself acts as a wireless charger, so you can juice up a Qi-enabled device

Mashable https://mashable.com/deals/dec-24-gravita-levitating-smart-lamp

Original Source: Mashable >>

The 25 best British TV shows and movies of 2021

The cheek, the nerve, the gall, the audacity, and the gumption! What a year it’s been for British TV and films.The UK may have endured several lengthy lockdowns amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but its screen industry has risen to the challenge, producing a huge amount of high quality viewing for those spending a large amount of time at home.We’ve joined an all-female Muslim punk band, moved into the Pink Palace in the ’80s, accidentally had a one night stand with a movie star, been imprisoned for treason in the Tower of London, and hit the trail of some “bent coppers.”We’ve looked at the best films and the best TV series of the year, but these are specifically the best from the UK — and where you can watch it within and outside the country. Now, on with the show…TVWe Are Lady Parts

Sarah Kameela Impey as Saira, Anjana Vasan as Amina, Juliette Motamed as Ayesha, and Lucie Shorthouse as Momtaz.
Credit: Saima Khalid / Peacock

What started as a Channel 4 comedy short has now been made into one of the must-see shows of the year. Created by Nida Manzoor, We Are Lady Parts is a six-part series about the formation of an all-women Muslim punk band, and every moment rules. You’ll meet Saira (Sarah Kameela Impey), Ayesha (Juliette Motamed), Bisma (Faith Omole), and Momtaz (Lucie Shorthouse) as they recruit lead guitarist Amina (Spider-Man: Far From Home and Mogul Mowgli star Anjana Vasan). As Mashable’s Proma Khosla writes in her

Mashable https://mashable.com/article/best-british-movies-and-tv-2021

Original Source: Mashable >>

N.Y.C. Mayor Announces $100 Booster Incentive Before New Year

Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city would offer $100 to residents who get boosters at city-run sites by New Year’s Eve.

NYTimes New Year's Eve https://www.nytimes.com/video/nyregion/100000008130720/nyc-booster-incentive.html Mayor Bill De Blasio Via Youtube

Original Source: NY Times >>

Cómo encontrar el espíritu musical de Notre Dame

Aunque la querida catedral de París todavía está siendo restaurada tras el devastador incendio de 2019, otras iglesias mantienen vivas sus tradiciones musicales en estas fiestas.

NYTimes New Year's Eve https://www.nytimes.com/es/2021/12/22/espanol/notre-dame-incendio.html Elaine Sciolino

Original Source: NY Times >>