Morning Brief: December 18

President Obama’s announcement yesterday that the USA and Cuba will be resuming full diplomatic relations got us thinking about Cubans, New York… and the New York Cubans. The Negro League baseball team existed from 1935-1950, but the name was a bit of a stretch.  They were neither entirely Cuban—though they did have some Cuban players—nor did they play in New York—Paterson’s Hinchliffe Stadium was their home.  Nonetheless, they saw success, winning the Negro World Series in 1947, more than a decade before Fidel Castro took power in Cuba and the diplomatic relations with the US were severed.

NEED TO KNOW

U.S. said to Find North Korea Ordered Cyberattack on Sony [NY Times].

What the U.S.-Cuba Breakthrough Could Mean for Music [Billboard].

Citing Health Risks, Cuomo to Ban Fracking in New York State [NY Times].

NY Selects Homes for New Casinos [WFUV News].

Staten Island Judge Recuses Self from Hearing on Whether to Release Grand Jury Proceedings in Eric Garner Case [NY Daily News].

SPORTS

Nets lost in Toronto.

Devils fall to Ottawa 2-0

Tonight

Knicks play the Bulls in the Windy City, 8PM

WEATHER

A bit chillier, still sunny, 47/33 [full forecast].

ON STAGE TONIGHT

• Billy Joel @ Madison Square Garden

• Thievery Corporation @ Webster Hall

• Real Estate, Shorts @ Music Hall of Williamsburg

• Chris Isaak Holiday Tour @ The Paramount

• Rufus and Martha Wainwright’s Noel Nights @ The Town Hall

• Johnnyswim @ The Bowery Ballroom

• Big Bad Voodoo Daddy @ Ridgefield Playhouse

TODAY IN HISTORY

On this day in 1787, New Jersey becomes the third state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.

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