By Alyce McFaddenNell Gallogly and Wesley Parnell Just the right spot in Prospect Park, mesmerized by Manhattan and more reader tales of New York City in this week’s Metropolitan Diary.

Hostages freed before Saturday’s exchange have expressed relief and joy, while descriptions of the torment they endured are trickling out. By Isabel Kershner An executive order from President ...

In the same week it was revealed that the slogan would be missing from the field at the Super Bowl, the N.F.L. commissioner defended the league’s diversity efforts. But what’s really at stake ...