Total Pageviews

Happy Wife, Happy Life

Dear Diary:

I called up a restaurant that we had been wanting to go to for a while when we visit New York (my wife and I are both native New Yorkers). A young woman answered the phone.

“Hi, I’d like to make reservations for Valentine’s Day,” I said.

“Sure, sir, I think I can do that,” she replied. “Let’s see, Friday the 14th . . . ”

“Do you have anything available at 7?”

“Yes, we do. Seven o’clock, table for two?”

“Yes, that’s great,” I said as I gave her my name.

“You know,” the woman said, “of all the reservations I’ve taken for Valentine’s Day so far, you are the first guy to have called. All the other reservations have been made by women.”

“Really?” I asked, somewhat surprised.

“I’m even looking at the other names that are here on the list, and they’re all women’s names. So you’re the only guy. You get big points for that in my book.”

“Thanks. Do you mind if I tell you something?” I asked.

“Sure, go ahead.”

“I picked your restaurant and the time because that’s what my wife told me to do.”

Read all recent entries and our updated submissions guidelines. Reach us via email diary@nytimes.com or follow @NYTMetro on Twitter using the hashtag #MetDiary.



When New Yorkers Use Umbrellas During Snowstorms

The snow continues to fall, we’re in the middle of a winter boot shortage and New Yorkers on Twitter and elsewhere are talking about a sensitive topic:

Is it O.K., by New York standards of taste and etiquette, to use umbrellas in the snow?

That’s a good starting point, Barb. You aren’t the only one who doesn’t understand it.

Let’s talk about it.

The anti-umbrella lobby is passionate.

The umbrella users, though, don’t seem to care.

What about you, City Room readers? Why do you use an umbrella, or why do you protest it? Surely we can settle this debate in the comments.



New York Today: Live Updates on the Snowstorm

Joshua Bright for The New York Times

Updated 5:53 a.m

Good Thursday morning.

It’s 28 degrees, it’s been snowing since around midnight, and forecasters predict 8 to 14 inches in the city â€" more to the north and west, less to the south and east.

Here’s what you need to know:

- Public schools in New York City are open; field trips are canceled.

Many public school districts in the region are closed or opening late, though.

So are many private schools and colleges in and out of the city. See list.

- Snow will fall heavily through the morning rush and probably mix with rain and sleet after noon, with a high around 33 degrees.

Winds of around 20 miles an hour will blow, further limiting visibility.

- “Because of its timing and intensity, this storm is going to make both the morning and evening rush hours extremely difficult,” Mayor de Blasio warned on Wednesday night.

“If you do not need to drive, you will help yourself and everyone else by staying off the roads.”

- On the rails, Metro-North is running reduced service. All other systems are trying to run normal service.

- On the roads, speed limits are reduced on many highways and bridges. For details see “Commute” section below.

- Alternate-side parking is suspended through Monday. Meters are in effect.

- This mammoth storm has left 350,000 people without power as far south and west as Texas.

- Wet snow and ice on trees and wires could cause power failures here, too. The National Weather Service warned, “Heavy, wet snow may cause some weak flat-roof structures to collapse.”

- Government offices are open, but nonessential New York State employees can seek permission to stay home, Governor Cuomo said.

- A winter storm warning is in effect till 6 a.m. Friday.

New York City has also issued a hazardous travel advisory.

A state of emergency has been declared in New Jersey.

- See what streets have been plowed via the city’s Plow Tracker.

- The snow, sleet and rain will taper off around evening-commute time, but the mix of wet and frozen stuff on the ground â€" about six inches will have fallen by then â€" will be treacherous.

- Later this evening comes a last heavy round. The precipitation will change to all snow after midnight, and it may keep falling until 6 a.m. Friday.

- North and west of the city, only snow is expected. Totals could approach 18 inches in parts of New Jersey and lower New York State.

- Long Island and the Jersey Shore will see less snow, as little as a few inches.

Here’s what else is happening.

COMMUTE

Roads: Speed limits of 45 on the N.J. Turnpike and Garden State Parkway. Check traffic map or radio report on the 1s or the 8s.

Subways: O.K. so far. Check latest status.

Rails: Delays of up to 15 minutes on N.J. Transit. Cancellations on Morris and Essex Line. Metro-North at 75 percent capacity. Check L.I.R.R., Metro-North or N.J. Transit status.

Buses: Check latest status.

Ferries: Expect delays on Staten Island Ferry.

Air Travel: Delays are expected. Check with your airline. See map.

COMING UP TODAY

Check for cancellations before venturing out.

- Mayor de Blasio gives a storm briefing at 10:45 a.m.

- Money! Politics! Influence! It’s the city Campaign Finance Board’s post-election hearing, where the board looks at how cash-cows and contributors affected last year’s mayoral race in New York. 10 a.m. Watch live.

- It’s the last day of Fashion Week. Our colleagues at the On the Runway blog take a peek.

- “Masters of Fire: Copper Age Art from Israel” opens at N.Y.U.’s Institute for the Study of the Ancient World on the Upper East Side.

- For more events, see The New York Times Arts & Entertainment guide.

IN THE NEWS

- Mayor de Blasio’s first budget calls for a modest increase in city spending, much of it for education, public housing, homeless services and paid sick leave for workers. [New York Times]

- Derek Jeter will hang up his spikes after this season. [New York Times]

- Time Warner is being acquired by Comcast for $45 billion. [DealBook]

- Candy and other junk food have returned to a vending machine machine in City Hall after it was banned during the Bloomberg era. [New York Post]

- Goodbye, Sid Caesar. Goodbye, Maggie Estep.

- Scoreboard: Nets tame Bobcats, 105-89. Knicks bow to Kings, 106-101 in overtime.

Joseph Burgess and Michael M. Grynbaum contributed reporting. Alec Tabak contributed research.

New York Today is a morning roundup that stays live from 6 a.m. till late morning.

What would you like to see here to start your day? Post a comment, email us at nytoday@nytimes.com or reach us via Twitter using #NYToday.

Find us on weekdays at nytoday.com.



Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)