Friday, July 17, 2026
Welcome to another Friday edition of the Tech:NYC Digest, featuring our favorite five highlights in New York and tech this week.
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Julie Samuels, Tech:NYC, and New York’s innovation economy (Columbia Business School’s Capital for Good Podcast)
Tech:NYC President and CEO Julie Samuels says New York’s tech industry has one big advantage. And that advantage is the city itself: “Tech is a creative industry,” she said. “It benefits from the creative energy of a big city.” 🏙️
New York’s mix of finance, healthcare, media, fashion, and culture gives startups a unique place to build and test new ideas.
The dying art of hand-made restaurant signs (New York Times)
Before you try the food, you probably notice the sign. And in New York, that’s often by design. This new documentary spotlights Noble Signs, the Brooklyn studio behind many of the city’s hand-painted and neon restaurant signs, from neighborhood staples to the latest hotspots.
The team also rescues and restores vintage storefront signs from businesses that have closed, persevering small pieces of New York history as the city evolves.
Chasing croakers with the night fishing crews of Sheepshead Bay (The City Reporter)
A summer night out in NYC doesn’t have to mean rooftop bars. One of the city’s oldest traditions is still alive in Sheepshead Bay (if you’re willing to stay up late). 🐟
Captain Tony Reyes runs one of the few remaining charter fishing boats still sailing from Brooklyn, taking anglers into New York Harbor to catch porgies and croakers under the stars.
Rising costs, tighter fishing regulations, and fewer boats have made the business tougher, but crews say the memories and tradition keep them coming back.
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In the city of immigrants, the World Cup has given many New Yorkers a welcome respite (Gothamist)
Talk about goals: In New York City, where 60% of residents are immigrants or the children of immigrants, the World Cup has given fans a chance to publicly embrace their cultures and find community.
Restaurants, cafés, and community spaces across neighborhoods like Little Senegal, Little Egypt, Sunset Park, and Jackson Heights became gathering places where fans celebrated their heritage together.
How a seed in space became a tree in Madison Square (New York Times)
Manhattan’s newest tree had quite a journey before taking root here in New York. A sweet gum tree that was grown from seeds that traveled aboard NASA’s Artemis I mission in 2022 has been planted in Madison Square Park. 🌳
The park was selected by NASA to receive one of the rare seedlings and it had a public celebration this week to mark its arrival.
Hope your weekend is out of this world, New York! 🚀
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