All articles by Aaron Ginsburg

September 26, 2023

Veselka opens new outpost in Grand Central Terminal

The East Village's legendary Veselka restaurant is now serving up its signature Ukrainian delicacies in Grand Central Terminal. Located in the dining concourse in the historic terminal, the kiosk offers Veselka classics to-go, like borscht, cabbage rolls, and, of course, pierogi. Perfect for the commuter crowd, the outpost also sells coffee and breakfast items, including bacon, egg, and cheese pierogi, a fried egg sandwich on a challah knot, bagels, and muffins.
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September 25, 2023

Lottery opens for 230 luxury apartments at huge Greenpoint rental, from $848/month

A two-tower rental development on the Greenpoint waterfront opened a lottery this week for 230 luxury apartments. Designed by CetraRuddy, Tower 77 sits on a former industrial area facing Newton Creek at the northern tip of the Brooklyn neighborhood. New Yorkers earning between 40 and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, priced from $848/month for studios to $4,173/month for three bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify
September 25, 2023

NYPD ‘robocop’ now patrols Times Square subway station

Late-night commuters fear not! A 420-pound, 5-foot-2-inch-tall robot is now patrolling the Times Square subway station overnight. During a press conference held at the 42nd Street subway station last Friday, Mayor Eric Adams announced a two-month pilot program to test the robocop, officially known as the Knightscope K5 Autonomous Security Robot. The robot will patrol the 42nd Street station from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m., recording video to be viewed in case of an emergency or crime, according to the mayor.
READ MORe on the ROBOCOP
September 22, 2023

NYC dedicates 220-year-old tombstone of Irish immigrant in Washington Square Park

A 220-year-old tombstone uncovered in Washington Square Park over a decade ago will now be honored and put on display. The New York City Parks Department on Friday dedicated the headstone of James Jackson, an Irish immigrant who died in 1799 and was buried in Washington Square Park, a potter's field from 1797 to 1825. The headstone was discovered during a renovation project at the park's Sullivan Street entrance in 2009. The relic is now being presented in one of the windows of the Park House close to where it was discovered, accompanied by an informative sign where visitors can learn more.
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September 21, 2023

Tenement Museum reopens historic building after $7M restoration

A 160-year-old tenement on the Lower East Side that was home to thousands of immigrants from 1863 to 1935 will reopen to the public following a major restoration. After a year-long renovation project, the Tenement Museum on Thursday will unveil work done on 97 Orchard Street, one of two historic tenements owned by the museum that offers an immersive look at the lives of immigrants during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The comprehensive renovation project reinforced and protected original features and finishes, preparing it for future generations of visitors.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE RESTORATION PROJECT
September 20, 2023

High Line-style pedestrian bridge to link Newark Penn Station and Prudential Center

Work began this week on a High Line-esque pedestrian bridge in Newark a decade in the making. Gov. Phil Murphy and Mayor J. Baraka on Tuesday broke ground on the Mulberry Commons Pedestrian Bridge, a walkable pathway above McCarter Highway that will link Newark Penn Station and the Prudential Center. The bridge is the second phase of the Mulberry Commons development, a 22-acre project aimed at revitalizing the area between downtown Newark and the Ironbound neighborhood, with Mulberry Commons Park at the center. Officials say the bridge will support economic growth, make Newark more walkable, and enhance the pedestrian experience in and around Newark Penn Station.
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September 19, 2023

Major South Bronx development Bankside opens lottery for 132 apartments, from $2,525/month

The sprawling South Bronx mixed-use development Bankside released another housing lottery this week. Applications are now being accepted for 132 middle-income apartments at Lincoln at Bankside, a four-tower development with 921 apartments and a new public waterfront park. New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income, or between $86,572 for a single person annually and $198,250 for a household of five, can apply for the units, priced from $2,525/month studios to $3,400/month two bedrooms.
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September 19, 2023

The Met’s ‘Manet/Degas’ exhibit includes U.S. debut of ‘Olympia’

The Metropolitan Museum of Art will host a major exhibition analyzing the friendship and rivalry of two revolutionary French artists. Debuting on September 24, "Manet/Degas" examines the artistic dialogue between renowned painters Édouard Manet and Edgar Degas, pioneers of modernist painting in France. Through a collection of 160 artworks, the exhibition sheds light on the friendships, family relationships, social circles, and historical circumstances that influenced the creative and professional journeys of the two artists. Manet's famous "Olympia" painting, considered one of the most controversial artworks of the 19th century, will travel from Paris to the United States for the first time for the exhibition.
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September 18, 2023

Central Park Tower penthouse gets $55M price cut

The highest residence in the world just got a lower price tag. The triplex penthouse at Central Park Tower was listed for $250 million last September, considered the most expensive home in the country if it found a buyer. But after a year on the market, the apartment is now asking $195 million, a price cut of $55 million, or 22 percent, as Bloomberg first reported. The discounted ask means the penthouse is no longer in the running for the priciest home sale in the United States.
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September 18, 2023

An illuminated steel whale has surfaced on Broadway

A massive, illuminated steel whale has arrived on the streets of the Garment District. Located on the Broadway pedestrian plazas between 38th and 39th Streets, "Echoes – A Voice from Unchartered Waters" is a 55-foot-long interactive art and sound installation meant to inspire deeper thought about the ways our daily routines affect the environment. Created by artist, designer, and researcher Mathias Gmachl, "Echoes" is free and open to the public through November 13. The installation is the latest public artwork sponsored by the Garment District Alliance.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SCULPTURE
September 15, 2023

Forest Hills rental with new Trader Joe’s opens lottery for 50 middle-income apartments, from $2,750/month

A housing lottery opened this week for 50 middle-income luxury apartments at a new residential development under construction in Forest Hills. Located at 73-65 Yellowstone Boulevard, The Yellowstone offers residents spacious units, indoor and outdoor amenities, and easy access to a new Trader Joe's opening on the building's ground floor. New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income, or between $96,000 for a single person and $198,250 for a household of five, can apply for the apartments, priced between $2,750/month for one-bedrooms and $3,599/month for two-bedrooms.
do you qualify?
September 15, 2023

Center for Brooklyn History reopens in Brooklyn Heights after renovation

The world's largest collection of Brooklyn history is once again accessible to the public. Located at 128 Pierrepont Street in Brooklyn Heights, the Center for Brooklyn History reopened this week following an extensive renovation of its first floor, which includes space for visitors to read, study, and enjoy exhibitions. As part of the reopening, the Center debuted "Brooklyn is...," an exhibition celebrating the borough through the photos, artworks, and words of Brooklyn residents, who are invited to submit their personal memories to be featured.
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September 14, 2023

Plan to revitalize Staten Island’s North Shore includes 2,400 homes and waterfront esplanade

After several failed projects, Staten Island's North Shore could finally see a long-promised revitalization. Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday announced a $400 million investment and released a new roadmap to redevelop a stretch of the borough's waterfront with 20 acres of continuous open space, 2,400 units of housing, and new commercial space. Construction will resume this fall on a two-mile waterfront esplanade that will be "on par with Brooklyn Bridge Park and Hudson River Park," according to Adams.
More on the north shore plan, herE
September 14, 2023

NYC unveils new trash can that will replace ‘iconic’ green mesh bins

Say goodbye to New York City's old green wire mesh trash cans and say hello to a new, shiny litter bin ready for a rat-free future. The city's Department of Sanitation this week started replacing the iconic green bins with modernized cans made up of three parts: a concrete base to prevent it from falling over, a hinged metal lid, and a removable, lightweight plastic basket for sanitation workers to empty, according to the New York Times. The new bins fix a fundamental flaw in the dated wire mesh design: holes for rats to get inside.
READ MORE ABOUT NYC'S NEW TRASH BINS
September 13, 2023

Robert Indiana’s ‘LOVE’ sculpture installed at Rockefeller Center

Robert Indiana's iconic "Love" sculpture has returned to New York City with a fresh paint job. Starting Wednesday, the 12-foot-high sculpture with its distinct slanted "O" will sit at the head of the Channel Gardens at Rockefeller Center for six weeks. The sculpture is one part of a larger installation featuring Indiana's work now on view, including his "One Through Zero" sculpture series on Center Plaza and images from his Peace Painting series on the 193 flags surrounding the Rink. The works will be on display through October 23.
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September 13, 2023

Adams proposes giving building owners more time to comply with Local Law 97

With the enforcement of a law capping carbon emissions quickly approaching, Mayor Eric Adams is proposing giving property owners more time to comply. The mayor on Tuesday announced the "Getting 97 Done" plan to facilitate compliance with Local Law 97, which requires buildings 25,000 square feet or bigger to meet new greenhouse gas emissions limits by 2024. Adams' proposed rules allow owners to miss the deadline to retrofit their buildings if they make a "good faith effort" to comply with the law.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MAYOR'S PLAN
September 12, 2023

Work on Hudson River rail tunnel project could begin next month

Work is finally moving forward on a project that will replace a dilapidated, century-old rail tunnel connecting New York City and New Jersey. The Gateway Development Commission on Monday awarded the first contracts for construction on the New Jersey side of the $16.1 billion two-track Hudson Tunnel Project (HTP), with the first phase of the transformative plan expected to break ground as soon as October. The tunnel project is the main component of the $30 billion plan, the country's largest public works project currently underway.
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September 12, 2023

City Planning approves zoning changes to make it easier for NYC to go green

New York City is taking steps to accelerate climate-friendly projects. The City Planning Commission on Monday voted to approve the City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality, a set of 17 citywide zoning changes that will help the five boroughs reach carbon neutrality goals by removing barriers to greener energy, transportation, buildings, and water and waste systems. The changes will help NYC reach its target of reducing carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2050.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ZONING CHANGES
September 11, 2023

Ivana Trump’s Lenox Hill townhouse gets $4M price cut after year on market

Ivana Trump's five-story limestone townhouse on the Upper East Side just got a big price cut after being on the market for nearly a year. The estate of the late businesswoman, who was found dead in the home last July, listed the property at 10 East 64th Street last November for $26,500,000. Last week, as CityRealty notes, the Lenox Hill home listed for $22,500,000, a price cut of $4 million. Ivana purchased the townhouse in the early 1990s for around $2,500,000 following her divorce from Donald Trump, as 6sqft previously reported.
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September 11, 2023

Trump name to be removed from Bronx golf course following deal with casino operator

Donald Trump's name will no longer be associated with a Bronx golf course after the multi-million-dollar lease held by the former president's company was sold to a group looking to secure one of New York City's three casino licenses. As first reported by the New York Post, casino giant Bally's Corporation purchased the operating license to Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point for an undisclosed amount, securing control of the property after the city tried and failed to take over the golf course from the Trump Organization.
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September 8, 2023

Fred Eversley’s first public artwork in NYC explores new dimensions in Central Park

A new art installation in Central Park invites New Yorkers to perceive the environment, others, and themselves through the lens of artist Fred Eversley. Titled "Parabolic Light," Eversley's first-ever public artwork in New York City is a 12-foot-tall sculpture made of polyurethane that prompts viewers to question the way visual and physical perceptions influence connections to the world around us. The sculpture is on view in Central Park's Doris C. Freedman Plaza through August 25, 2024.
more on the captivating sculpture here
September 8, 2023

‘QueensLink’ proposal to extend M train picks up steam

A proposal to reactivate an abandoned railway and create the first north-to-south subway line in Queens is picking up steam. A coalition of New York City public officials and transit advocacy groups rallied in front of City Hall on Wednesday in favor of QueensLink, a plan to extend the M train from Rego Park to the Rockaways as a way to reduce travel time for borough residents who face some of the longest commutes in the country. While the plan has attracted more supporters in recent months, Mayor Eric Adams last year came out in favor of a competing plan to turn the defunct tracks into a public park.
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September 7, 2023

‘Beastie Boys Square’ to be unveiled at LES block party with Ad-Rock and Mike D

A Lower East Side intersection is being renamed "Beastie Boys Square" this weekend, with members of the famed hip-hop trio expected to make appearances during the celebration. On Saturday, September 9 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz and Michael "Mike D" Diamond will join Council Member Christopher Marte and fellow New Yorkers for a block party celebrating the co-naming of the corner of Ludlow and Rivington Streets. The now-iconic intersection was featured in the art for the group's second studio album "Paul's Boutique."
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September 7, 2023

See the Met Museum’s new science and art play space for children

A new play space at the Metropolitan Museum of Art will open its doors to young visitors this weekend. The 81st Street Studio is a 3,500-square-foot art and science playroom located in the museum's Ruth and Harold D. Uris Center for Education that lets children discover the Met's collections through immersive games and experiences. Debuting on September 9, the space is open during museum hours and is free to children and their caregivers.
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