As you walk the city, you will discover the joy of flowers everywhere. Macys flower show is back, a gift to NYC for rising to the challenges of last year with resilience and optimism. Florist Lewis Miller has been secretly creating floral designs in the dark of night and our roving photographer has captured several of them. Shopping for Mother’s Day? Head to downtown Brooklyn for items from 40 female artisans. Governors Island is now open, and next week the New York Public Library reopens for browsing. Valerie Smaldone interviews Brenda Vaccaro and Chazz Palminteri. And the Broadway Babe has more great streaming picks.

May 2-16. Macys Flower Show is Back!

Give, love, bloom is the theme of this year’s two-week exhibition celebrating the promise of 2021 inspiring joy and hope for brighter days ahead. Featuring exotic flowers & plants from around the world, Macy’s Herald Square will be transformed into a breathtaking floral extravaganza.

Flower Flash

April showers bring May flowers all year round. The uber-talented florist Lewis Miller of Lewis Miller Design has been secretly creating sensational, sustainable floral designs in the dark of night. Like a gorilla artist he and his team often work overnight to create surprise and uplifting installations on the streets of New York City.

He began assembling his flower flashes in October of 2016 by repurposing flowers from big events to recreate uplifting surprise finds for pedestrians who are encouraged to take flowers from the streets. Word of flower flash sites spreads quickly on social media. These photos are from the few flower flashes I was lucky enough to see in person. They are one of my favorite things to photograph.  

All images are copyright of Nicole Freezer Rubens.

Our roving photographer, Nicole Freezer Rubens is the author of “The Long P:ause and the Short Breath,” photos and poetry from NYC’s pandemic.

Governors Island Reopens

A quick ferry ride and you’ll be transported to Governors Island an extraordinary and unique destination for transformative public art, unforgettable events, cultural and educational programming, and recreational activities for all ages. Check out the seasons programs and get your ferry tickets. Click here.

Beginning May 10. Browsing at the New York Public Library

The Library is reintroducing public computer reservations and limited browsing at select locations on a rolling basis. There is still no general space use, seating, or restrooms available at this time. Get the details.

Unique Items and Gifts, Made by Women

Head to downtown Brooklyn for the Spring Makers Show, founded by women and featuring over 40 makers with a wide range of unique gifts, crafts and clothes to celebrate Mother’s Day and refresh your spring wardrobe. City Point, 445 Albee Square West, Brooklyn. May 1-2, 8-9, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Free to enter.

Sammy Davis, Jr. and Marilyn Maye

Our Broadway Babe has more wonderful YouTube finds. They include a fabulous concert that Sammy Davis, Jr. did in 1988 with the Boston Pops. And everyone loves the indomitable Marilyn Maye, who gets better with age. Watch her 2020 New Year’s Eve show from her hometown of Kanas City. And there’s more. WATCH NOW.

GET THE BOOK. The sequel, “Can You Hear Us Now?” will be released in June.