Hang on to your hats, because we’re coming to New York!

How does powering the City That Never Sleeps take a toll on health and the environment? We present “Fast, Cool, and Convenient” — a three-part lecture series that explores the hidden costs of city living, brought to you by Grist, The New York Academy of Medicine, and The Museum of the City of New York. Listen to experts delve into our long and complex relationship with cars, air-conditioning, and plastic.

Admission is free, but advance registration is required. That means you should reserve your spot, pronto!

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Fast, Cool, Convenient

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FAST: Reimagining traffic in New York City

In a hurry to get somewhere across New York City’s bustling streets? Not so fast! But in the future, you can turn that into a “yes so fast.” The NYC transit landscape is undergoing a complete transformation — one that will speed up traffic and make the Big Apple healthier for everyone. Join former NYC Traffic Commissioner Samuel Schwartz, author of Street Smart: The Rise of Cities and The Fall of Cars, as he lays the roadmap to reduce harmful congestion and smog.

Attend the event on Thursday, July 21, at 6:30 p.m. at the Museum of the City of New York (1220 Fifth Avenue, at 103rd Street.) A brief discussion and Q&A featuring Grist Executive Editor Scott Dodd will follow.

COOL: Uncomfortable truths about our air‑conditioned city

In the middle of a steamy summer, A/C may seem like a life-saver. But there are other ways of keeping cool. There’s no one better to tell you about them than environmentalist Stan Cox, author of Losing Our Cool: Uncomfortable Truths About Our Air-Conditioned World (and Finding New Ways to Get Through the Summer).

Hear him speak on Thursday, Aug. 11, at 6:30 p.m. at the New York Academy of Medicine (1216 Fifth Avenue, at 103rd Street.)

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CONVENIENT: New York’s love affair with plastics

Plastic is everywhere. How can we learn to live with it? Susan Freinkel, author of Plastic: A Toxic Love Story — named the best book of 2011 by The Boston Globe — has plenty of advice on that front. Join her on Thursday Sept. 15, at 6:30 p.m. at the Museum of the City of New York (1220 Fifth Avenue, at 103rd Street).

Here’s to a future that’s cool, convenient, and sustainable — and hopefully, one that is fast-approaching.