Outdoor Dining in NYC ‘Should Become Permanent’ Mayor De Blasio Says

Mayor suggests making outdoor dining a permanent facet of NYC

One month after Mayor Bill de Blasio confirmed that outdoor dining would return in 2021, he’s now hinting that the Open Restaurants and Open Streets programs could become permanent fixtures of summertime dining. In a press conference on Monday, Mayor de Blasio referred to the dual programs — which allow restaurants to use sidewalk space for outdoor seating and closes popular streets to vehicular traffic, respectively — as “a great victory” for the city’s restaurants and bars. “Communities have loved Open Restaurants. Open Streets have been a great success,” he said. “All of that I think should become permanent in New York City.”

It’s worth noting that by “permanent” Mayor de Blasio is referring to the return of outdoor dining as a seasonal annual tradition, not as a year-round fixture, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the mayor’s office. Permanent outdoor dining in the summer is a start, but it’s also not quite what elected officials and restaurateurs have been asking for. The city’s outdoor dining program is set to expire on October 31, and elected officials and restaurateurs have been calling for it to be extended through the end of the year for months now, as one way to buoy the more than 10,000 restaurants participating in the program.

At the time of writing, Mayor de Blasio has yet to commit to extending outdoor dining through the end of 2020. A spokesperson for the mayor’s office confirmed that extending the program is still a possibility.

In other news

— There’s two new brunch options in New York City this week. For those clinging to their summer Fridays for dear life, Motel Morris in Chelsea is now doing Friday brunch starting at 11 a.m. Meanwhile in Bushwick, the Turk’s Inn is serving Turkish-American brunch on its rooftop with reservations available through Resy.

— East Village wine bar Kindred is selling day passes to a new service called Work From Kindred. A $25 day pass includes wifi and unlimited coffee, along with a seat at the bar’s sheltered outdoor seating area from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

— Seafood icon Le Bernardin will reopen for indoor dining on September 30, chef Eric Ripert shared via Twitter. Reservations are now available by phone or through Resy.

— Dante will be selling cocktails at Jean-Georges restaurants across the city this week, with $5 from each bottle going to the Restaurant Workers Community Fund.

— Chip NYC, one of the city’s cookie mini-chains, is selling $1 coffee from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. through September at its West Village, Long Island City, and Astoria locations.

— Aigner Chocolates in Forest Hills celebrated its 90th anniversary over the weekend.

— Was it worth it: