A new bill is in the works which could permanently change the shape of outdoor dining in NYC.

Happening in the World: Protestors took to the streets of Tbilisi, Georgia after a “transparency of foreign influence” law was introduced in parliament. The bill would require non-governmental organizations and independent media who receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad to declare themselves as foreign agents. Georgian citizens and the country’s president have condemned the bill, which they say will limit press freedom and suppress civil society. Protesters rallied outside the parliament building, where they were met by police. (BBC)

Happening in the US: The eruption of Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano has paused after 61 days. The eruption began in early January when scientists detected a glow on the crater floor, one month after the last eruption had ended. The eruption began reducing by mid-February due to the “larger deflationary tilt drop,” which causes the ground to deflate and the pressure to drop. No volcanic activity from Kilauea has been confirmed since Monday. (AP)

Happening in NYC: City lawmakers are closing in on a bill that would no longer allow the free usage of public sidewalks for outdoor dining by restaurants, which restaurants were not charged for during the pandemic. This new legislation plans to make outdoor dining a permanent part of city life, but the details have not yet been fully fleshed out, including the price and whether or not to allow outdoor dining year-round. Outdoor dining has been criticized for taking up room for parking, bikes, and pedestrians, as well as increasing noise and rodents for nearby residents. Nearly 13 thousand restaurant owners participate in the city’s outdoor dining program, with the demand for outdoor dining continuing to rise. (The Gothamist) 

Happening in Our Community: Meal Planning for Busy People, A discussion with Registered Dietitian Molly Chanzis, will be held online today from 12 to 1 pm. The discussion will cover how to make healthy eating sustainable and realistic, healthy eating basics, how to meal plan, and how to keep up with a meal planning routine. Chanzis has been a dietitian for over 10 years and focuses specifically on sustainability.

Outdoor restaurant via Flickr