As part of the Million Trees program the city is training young adults to care for its tall leafy greens. First step? Learn how to climb one. Using ropes and harnesses the twenty-somethings—many of whom have had trouble getting jobs and come from underprivileged families—do practice drills like dodging branches to ring bells hidden around the tops of trees, reports the Times. They're trained by the very best: “Spider-Man!” and “Beast!” shouted students as their instructor—tree-climbing champ Mark Chisholm— scaled an 80-foot sycamore (video here). And they get paid $11/hour for this?! The program is in its second year; previously, about half the students (this year's group is 33 people) got jobs at places like the Botanical Gardens, Wave Hill , the Prospect Park Alliance and the Central Park Conservancy. Sounds pretty nice, hopefully it won't end in a lawsuit. more ›

When we feel the need to get away from the city without actually leaving the city, we head up to the Bronx. Places like City Island, Wave Hill, The New York Botanical Garden, and The Bronx Zoo are some of our favorite places to visit in all of New York, and we realize that's only the tip of the iceberg when considering the Bronx's appealing features. more ›

While we're on the topic of the Bronx, this week's classic New York trip is to one of the only mainland boroughs many treasures: Wave Hill. A gorgeous property in Riverdale with views of the Palisades, it has been stunning visitors since Wave Hill House was first built in 1843. more ›

A heat advisory is normally issued when the heat index, a combination of temperature and humidity, is expected to reach 100 degrees. The heat index may not reach 100 today but in this morning's forecast discussion the Weather Service was taking a less rigorous approach to today's weather misery: more ›