How much dog poop is on NYC sidewalks? I counted. 💩

Oh hello,

A company is researching a bicycle bell that can outsmart noise-canceling headphones, hopefully keeping pedestrians and bicyclists safe. 🔔 

And now..

In this week’s newsletter:

🎫 Events We Love This Week: April 15-22 - Earth Day festivities in Union Square & an eBay pop-up shop in SoHo

🍝 You’ll Have to Check It Out - A rare repeat, homemade pasta at an affordable price

💩 Dog Poop Data - One neighborhood almost doubled the others

Reading time. 👇

Notes: As always, this email was written by an actual human who lives in NYC, not artificial intelligence. 🥸

And as a subscriber, you can always access all your free NYC resources here.

Events We Love This Week: April 15-22, 2026

In the city this week? Here are some fun events we’re keeping an eye on.

Earth Day Festival - Sunday, April 19 from 12-6 pm

Celebrate Earth and its preservation this Sunday in Union Square. 🌎

The free festival includes:

• Interactive workshops

• Kids’ activities

• Sustainable foods

• Live performances and more

RSVP for additional info & details here.

The NYC Edit Market by eBay - April 17-19

In a moment that blurs the lines of online and IRL even further, eBay is hosting a pop-up shopping experience in SoHo.

To gain entry? You must list an item to sell on eBay!

But once inside, you’ll gain access to shop from the ever-popular NYC Edit collection.

Get all the info on this quirky pop-up here.

You’ll Have to Check It Out - Giano

What started as a random Google search in 2021 has turned into our go-to Italian spot in New York City.

Giano, in the East Village, keeps us coming back time after time with handmade pastas, friendly staff, and a cozy feel we haven’t found elsewhere.

On our most recent trip, Roberta, one of the owners, was seen exiting the kitchen covered in flour.

“Excuse my appearance,” she quipped as she scrambled past our table, “I was making tonight’s pastas.”

Need we say more? 🍝

Check out Giano here.

How Much Dog Poop Is Actually on NYC Sidewalks? I Counted.

There are few things more obvious than the gratitude of thousands of New Yorkers soaking up the much-needed sunlight after a dreadful winter.

During the uncharacteristically warm few days in early March, I spent two full days biking and walking 60+ miles across fifteen neighborhoods, enjoying the sun. Also?

I was counting dog poop. 💩

A recent article from the Gothamist garnered attention with a proclamation that dog poop data revealed the ‘city’s crappiest block,’ home to the worst dog poop problem. While I applaud the awareness and conversation the piece created, the data used to crown the crappiest block isn’t complete. It was based on 311 data, essentially the number of complaints, not actual dog poop on the sidewalk.

So, I set out with a tally counter, fifteen neighborhoods’ worth of 1,000 feet of varied sidewalk, and a spreadsheet ready to be filled with the scoop on the poop.

Have a good day,

Ashley & Devin from Better Together Here 💩