AGBC News Episode 6: Groundhog Day, The Raven is Published, and Waze Navigates the Tunnels

Learn about New York's various famous groundhogs, hear the first review of 'The Raven', and follow Waze underground on AGBC News episode 6!

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• 74 years ago on February 1, 1945 — The north tube of the Lincoln Tunnel opens to traffic

• Staten Island Chuck — a second female 'hog named Charlotte died in September 2018 of kidney disease — Buffalo Bert

Temperatures will rise into the 30s this weekend for the appearance of Staten Island Chuck on Saturday 🐗 Hear more local news and NYC history on episode 6 of the AGBC News podcast: https://t.co/uVcwtqX6Ua #GroundhogDay pic.twitter.com/0bvWKlLs4N

— A Great Big City (@agreatbigcity) January 31, 2019

• 173 years ago January 29, 1845: 'The Raven' by Edgar Allan Poe is first published in the New-York Evening Mirror — Competing plaques claiming two different locations for where the home where he wrote 'The Raven' once stood.

• After surviving since 1984 in the East Village, world famous St. Mark's Comics will be closing at the end of February

• Waze Beacons installed in tunnels

• AGBC News Episode 5: Subway Car Problems, A Long-Distance Phone Call, and Ride a Lime — Bombardier resumes subway car deliveries to New York City after manufacturing problems caused a temporary halt in deliveries last week. Bombardier has delivery about half of the initial 300 cars ordered by the MTA, but the delivery schedule is now years behind.

• Lime has a new, rugged scooter that the company says is built for New York City roads

Park of the day

• Havemeyer Playground: "Triangle park near the Cross-Bronx Expressway in Unionport, Bronx. Features a playground, basketball court, and spray shower. Located at the Cross Bronx Exwy and Havemeyer Ave and has been a city property since 1946-01-31

It's a bit too cold to play a game of basketball at Havemeyer Playground, so check out a Parks Department rec center:

• Starting next week on February 3rd, NYC Parks will be holding their rec center open house week. Everyone is welcome to try out any of Manhattan's 13 recreation facilities that have exercise equipment, swimming pools, sports fields, and a calendar full of classes like Zumba, yoga, and water aerobics. The Parks Department rec centers offer a fantastic alternative to gyms, at a fraction of the cost: The most you would pay is just $150 for a year, which is $12.50 per month, then there are discounts for people young and old, veterans, and people with disabilities. You even get a 10% discount if you have a New York City ID card!

Starting Sunday: @NYCParks Open House week at Manhattan rec centers, where you can use exercise equipment and take fitness classes for $12.50 per month! 💪 https://t.co/uVcwtqX6Ua pic.twitter.com/uDKm43t6oz

— A Great Big City (@agreatbigcity) February 1, 2019

Concert Calendar

• Bring Me the Horizon, The Fever 333, and Thrice are playing the Hammerstein Ballroom in Midtown on Wednesday, January 30th starting at 7pm.

• Infected Mushroom is playing the Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg on Wednesday, January 30th at 8pm.

• Igloo Ghost, Umru, and Dasychira are playing Elsewhere in Bushwick on Wednesday, January 30th at 8pm.

• Brasstracks, Pell, and Kemba are playing Brooklyn Steel in Greenpoint on Thursday, January 31st at 8pm.

• White Rope, Upsetter, Blood Blush, and Amen are playing Alphaville in Bushwick on Thursday, January 31st at 8pm.

• Sad Baxter, Long Neck, Keep Score, and Benchmark are playing Gold Sounds Bar in Bushwick on Friday, February 1st at 7pm.

• Ted Leo, Slingshot Dakota, and Supernatural Psycho are playing the Brooklyn Bazaar in Greenpoint on Friday, February 1st at 8pm.

• Poppy is playing Irving Plaza in Union Square on Saturday, February 2nd at 7pm.

• The Roots are playing the Highline Ballroom at the final Highline Ballroom show on Tuesday, February 5th at 8pm.

Find more fun things to do at agreatbigcity.com/events.

• If you're a street artist who wants to paint without keeping an eye out for the cops or if you just have an idea for a joyful mural, the NYC Dept of Transportation is searching for artists to brighten up some of the city's concrete surfaces. Submit your idea for a piece of public art by February 15th and you may be selected to receive up to $12,000 for the project. Visit nyc.gov/dotart for more info.

Weather

The extreme highs and lows for this week in weather history:
Record High: 69°F on January 29, 2002
Record Low: -3°F on February 2, 1881

Weather for the week ahead:
Mixed precipitation throughout the week, with high temperatures bottoming out at 17°F on Thursday.

Thanks for listening to A Great Big City. Follow along 24 hours a day on social media @agreatbigcity or email contact@agreatbigcity.com with any news, feedback, suggestions, or corrections. If you enjoy the show, subscribe and leave a review wherever you're listening and visit agreatbigcity.com/podcast to see show notes and extra links for each episode.

Intro and outro music: 'Start the Day' by Lee Rosevere