59: A Bleecker Street Getaway and Ground-Breaking for the Subway

A Great Big City — New York City News, History, and Events

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• 69 years ago on March 29, 1951 — The 'Mad Bomber' begins his largest streak of attacks, planting a series of explosive devices in public spaces across New York

• 111 years ago on March 30, 1909 — The Queensboro Bridge opens to traffic

• April 1 in History: Greenwich Village Chase after Bleecker Street Armed Robbery

• March 24 in History: Ground-Breaking Ceremony for the Rapid Transit System on "Tunnel Day"

• 5 years ago on April 2, 2015 — Two women are arrested in Jamaica, Queens for planning terrorist bombings

• 161 years ago on April 4, 1859 — The Civil War anthem 'Dixie' debuts in New York as part of a blackface minstrel show

• 87 years ago on April 4, 1933 — The USS Akron, one of history's largest airships, crashes into the ocean off the coast of New Jersey, killing 73 and leaving three survivors

  https://img.agreatbigcity.com/uss-akron-flying-over-the-southern-end-of-manhattan-island-new-york-city-circa-1931-1933-via-us-naval-history-and-heritage-command.jpg'>

  USS Akron flying over the southern end of Manhattan Island, New York City, circa 1931-1933 via U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command

• 53 years ago on April 4, 1967 — Martin Luther King Jr. delivers a speech at Riverside Church in Morningside Heights titled "Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence" — Hear the full audio of the speech.

• 47 years ago on April 4, 1973 — The twin towers of the World Trade Center officially open, becoming the tallest buildings in the world ☮️

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Park of the day

• Haffen Park — 1750 BURKE AVENUE, the Bronx — Named after Louis F. Haffen, first Borough President of the Bronx. In 1996 Haffen Park received new modular play equipment (including slides, clatter bridges, and ladders), safety surfacing and paving. In 2006, a $1.2 million reconstruction project included the installation of a new synthetic turf field for both baseball and soccer, and a refurbished ballfield fence.

Did you know?

Here's something you may not have known about New York:

• You can take a free training course from the Department of Health to learn the right words to say to someone suffering with mental distress or substance abuse

Weather

The extreme highs and lows for this week in weather history:
Record High: 86°F on March 29, 1945
Record Low: 10°F on March 29, 1923

Weather for the week ahead:
Light rain throughout the week.

• AGBC Weather
• Weather.gov forecast

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