All articles by Aaron Ginsburg

Three-day music festival in support of the climate movement heads to Forest Hills next month

Photo by Pat at Juno on Flickr

August 4, 2022

Three-day music festival in support of the climate movement heads to Forest Hills next month

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A three-day music festival that aims to raise awareness about the current climate crisis will take place in Queens next month. From September 16-18, the inaugural Big Climate Thing festival will be held at Forest Hills Stadium, the nearly century-old tennis stadium-turned-venue, with performances by world-class acts, including Haim, The Roots, The War on Drugs, Sheryl Crow, Courtney Barnett, and The Flaming Lips, among others.
See the lineup
You can browse and borrow vinyl records at the Brooklyn Public Library

Photo credit to Gregg Richards, courtesy of Brooklyn Public Library

August 4, 2022

You can browse and borrow vinyl records at the Brooklyn Public Library

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The Brooklyn Public Library is launching a new pilot program this month for music lovers. Starting on August 9, BPL patrons can visit the Central Library branch in Park Slope and browse, listen to, and borrow a diverse collection of nearly 400 records. The vinyl collection and listening stations will be in the New & Noteworthy room on the first floor of the recently-renovated Central Library. Teen and adult cardholders can take out up to three records for three weeks.
Learn more here
Apply for 23 mixed-income units at new luxury rental in Sunnyside, from $1,197/month

All images courtesy of Modern Spaces

August 4, 2022

Apply for 23 mixed-income units at new luxury rental in Sunnyside, from $1,197/month

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Applications are now being accepted for 23 mixed-income units at a new luxury rental in Queens. Located at 50-11 Queens Boulevard in Sunnyside, Fifty11 is a nine-story mixed-use building with 75 units, comprised of a mix of studios, one-, and two-bedroom apartments. New Yorkers earning 80 and 130 percent of the area median income, or between $43,612 for a single person and $187,330 for a household of five, can apply for the apartments, priced between $1,197/month for studios and $2,850/month for two bedrooms.
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MTA unveils new 18-foot ceilings at Penn Station’s LIRR concourse

Photo courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

August 3, 2022

MTA unveils new 18-foot ceilings at Penn Station’s LIRR concourse

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Let there be light! The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Tuesday unveiled the first section of new 18-foot ceilings at Penn Station's Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) concourse. Installed by Skanska/AECOM, the new soaring ceilings consist of lighted panels supported by an inventive structural framing system that allowed work crews to remove "head knockers," aging structural beams that limited the height of passageways within Penn Station, earlier this year.
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Cara Delevingne buys Jimmy Fallon’s Gramercy penthouse for $10.8M

Photo by Yale Wagner for Sotheby’s International Realty

August 3, 2022

Cara Delevingne buys Jimmy Fallon’s Gramercy penthouse for $10.8M

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Supermodel Cara Delevingne purchased Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon's Gramercy Park penthouse for $10,800,000 in an off-market deal, according to CityRealty and confirmed by property records. Located at 34 Gramercy Park East, the four-unit triplex combo penthouse was last listed for $15,000,000. The colorfully-decorated home has six bedrooms, five bathrooms, and office space, in addition to a number of unique features. Measuring 5,000 square feet across three floors, the residence has a custom staircase that connects all three levels, and even secret passageways, as 6sqft previously reported.
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New York will invest $70M to ‘decarbonize’ NYCHA

Gov. Kathy Hochul made the announcement to install 30,000 new heat pumps at NYCHA buildings at the Woodside Houses in Queens; Photo courtesy of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office on Flickr

August 3, 2022

New York will invest $70M to ‘decarbonize’ NYCHA

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A new investment by the state aims to make New York City public housing more environmentally friendly and effective for tenants. Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday announced an initial investment of $70 million in a clean energy initiative to install 30,000 new heat pumps, considered more eco-friendly than traditional units, at New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) buildings across the city. The investment is part of the state's Clean Heat for All Challenge, which launched in 2021 to spur ideas on how to revamp the way NYCHA units are heated and cooled.
Get the details
English manor-style Yonkers home designed by noted architect hits market for $2.2M

All images courtesy of Douglas Elliman

August 2, 2022

English manor-style Yonkers home designed by noted architect hits market for $2.2M

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The only known Westchester house designed by famed American architect Wilson Eyre is for sale. Asking $2,225,000, the home at 573 North Broadway was modeled after country homes seen by Eyre during an 1895 trip to England. Built in 1910, the single-family brick home was nearly demolished in 2007, but a design-savvy couple bought the home and completed a restoration of the historic property.
See inside
NYC speed cameras now operate 24/7

Image courtesy of Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

August 2, 2022

NYC speed cameras now operate 24/7

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As of Monday, New York City's system of 2,000 speed cameras is now operating 24 hours a day for the first time. Previously the cameras were authorized by the state to operate only on weekdays between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., missing "59 percent of traffic fatalities" that occurred when the cameras were inactive, according to Mayor Eric Adams' office. The activation of the round-the-clock cameras aims to reduce speeding and prevent dangerous driving. Drivers going more than 10 miles per hour over the posted speed limit will be fined $50.
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Here are Manhattan’s 10 best-selling residential buildings in Q2 2022
August 2, 2022

Here are Manhattan’s 10 best-selling residential buildings in Q2 2022

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The second quarter of 2022 is expected to be Manhattan's strongest on record due to a surge in the borough's ultraluxury market, according to a market report from CityRealty. While transaction volume decreased 11 percent year-over-year, an increased demand, low inventory, and a small number of new residential developments have caused prices to rise. Between April and June, the average sales price for a residential unit in Manhattan was $2.19 million, up 9 percent from its $2 million average in Q2 of 2021. Ahead, find a round-up of the top 10 residential buildings by aggregate sales in Manhattan during the second quarter of 2022.
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New York officials declare monkeypox a public health emergency

Image courtesy of Kevin P. Coughlin / Office of Governor Kathy Hochul on Flickr

August 1, 2022

New York officials declare monkeypox a public health emergency

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New York City officials declared monkeypox a public health emergency on Saturday, a move that will open up more resources to fight the spread of the disease. Mayor Eric Adams and Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan called New York City the "epicenter" of the outbreak, with the total cases reaching more than 1,400 as of August 1, roughly 25 percent of cases reported nationally, according to the city's health department. Gov. Kathy Hochul this weekend also issued an executive order declaring a state disaster emergency in response to the monkeypox outbreak, which makes more public health workers eligible to administer monkeypox vaccines and requires providers to send vaccine data to the state.
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Citywide scavenger hunt tests your knowledge of NYC’s public libraries

The Adams Street Library in Dumbo; Photo Credit: Gregg Richards

July 22, 2022

Citywide scavenger hunt tests your knowledge of NYC’s public libraries

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Think you know the library? Prove it during a citywide scavenger hunt next month. Hosted by Open House New York, "Library Love: Five Borough Scavenger Hunt" is a challenging "urban adventure" that will have participants racing across the city, deciphering clues, and deepening their knowledge about the city's public libraries. If you have a library card, it's free to compete.
Details this way
Central Park’s Loeb Boathouse to close permanently

Image courtesy of ajay_suresh on Flickr

July 21, 2022

Central Park’s Loeb Boathouse to close permanently

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Loeb Boathouse, Central Park's iconic lakeside restaurant which has operated for nearly 70 years, will be closing permanently on October 16. According to a notice filed with the New York State Department of Labor (DOL) by the venue's owner, the establishment will be closing its doors and laying off all of its 163 employees due to what owner Dean Poll calls, "rising labor and costs of goods."
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Apply for 160 affordable units at Bedford Union Armory complex in Crown Heights, from $465/month

Image courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

July 21, 2022

Apply for 160 affordable units at Bedford Union Armory complex in Crown Heights, from $465/month

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Applications are now being accepted for 160 affordable units at a new rental in the Bedford Union Armory redevelopment in Brooklyn. Located at 1101 President Street in Crown Heights, the building offers residents brand new units and a prime location near Prospect Park. New Yorkers earning 30, 40, 50, and 60 percent of the area median income, or between $18,515 for a single person and $99,300 for a household of seven, are eligible to apply for the apartments, which range from $465/month studios to $1,841/month three bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify
Asking $14.8M, 200-acre Catskills compound hits the market for the first time in nearly 200 years

All images courtesy of Santiago Jehovy from Empire Optix

July 21, 2022

Asking $14.8M, 200-acre Catskills compound hits the market for the first time in nearly 200 years

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A sprawling estate tucked into the Catskill Mountains is for sale for the first time in nearly 200 years. Passed down in the same family since 1839, the Fishs Eddy compound currently includes two vacation rentals across 200 acres along the East Branch Delaware River. Asking $14,800,000, the property at 1650 Bodit Road includes four modern main buildings with the capacity to host up to 72 guests at once, surrounded by 1,000 acres of conservation land.
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NYC approves renaming Lower East Side intersection ‘Beastie Boys Square’

The intersection of Ludlow and Rivington Streets on the LEs; Photo courtesy of Simon O’Brien on Flickr

July 20, 2022

NYC approves renaming Lower East Side intersection ‘Beastie Boys Square’

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The New York City Council last week voted to rename the intersection of Ludlow and Rivington Streets on the Lower East Side to "Beastie Boys Square," an ode to the NYC hip-hop trio who immortalized the corner of the two streets on the cover of their 1989 album, Paul's Boutique. The bill is currently awaiting the signature of Mayor Eric Adams.
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Rockaway Beach reopens after shark sightings prompted temporary closure

Image courtesy of Lars Plougmann on Flickr

July 20, 2022

Rockaway Beach reopens after shark sightings prompted temporary closure

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New Yorkers trying to escape the heat on Tuesday were disappointed when the city closed all of Rockaway's beaches to swimming due to a number of shark sightings. A city lifeguard told Gothamist there were at least two reports of shark sightings: a surfer who reported that a shark had collided with his surfboard at Beach 67th Street and a lifeguard who reported seeing a shark off of 102nd Street. By Tuesday evening, city officials reopened the beaches.
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10 iconic hot dog joints in New York City

Image courtesy of ajay_suresh on Flickr

July 19, 2022

10 iconic hot dog joints in New York City

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On July 20, the country celebrates National Hot Dog Day, the commemoration of a delicacy synonymous with New York City and summer. The origins of the hot dog can be traced to German immigrant Charles Feltman, who sold frankfurter sausages on a long bun as a convenient snack for hungry beachgoers during the late 1860s. More than 150 years later, New Yorkers still love hot dogs as a quick and affordable meal and there is no shortage of great spots throughout the city to grab a frank. From internationally-known Nathan's Famous to local favorites like Papaya King, here are 10 iconic hot dog joints in NYC.
See the full list
New affordable housing building in the Bronx has a rooftop greenhouse and aquaponic farm

All images courtesy of Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office

July 18, 2022

New affordable housing building in the Bronx has a rooftop greenhouse and aquaponic farm

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A new housing development with more than 100 deeply affordable and supportive apartments, a rooftop greenhouse, and an aquaponic urban farming system officially opened last week. Located at 2865 Creston Avenue in Bedford Park, the project was developed by homeless services nonprofit Project Renewal. Bedford Green House includes social services for residents and amenities that center around healing through nature.
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Carmelo Anthony relists Chelsea condo for $12.5M after revamp

All images courtesy of DDReps

July 18, 2022

Carmelo Anthony relists Chelsea condo for $12.5M after revamp

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Professional basketball player Carmelo Anthony is taking another shot at selling his full-floor condo in Chelsea. After it was first listed in 2020 for $12,850,000, the sprawling High Line-adjacent five-bedroom at 508 West 24th Street is back on the market for $12,500,000 following a complete redesign. The apartment, which Anthony bought with his ex-wife La La for $11,000,000 million in 2015, features private outdoor space, a flexible layout, and designer finishes.
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NYPL’s historic Jefferson Market branch in Greenwich Village reopens after $10M overhaul

All images courtesy of The New York Public Library

July 15, 2022

NYPL’s historic Jefferson Market branch in Greenwich Village reopens after $10M overhaul

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The New York Public Library on Thursday reopened its Jefferson Market branch in Greenwich Village following a three-year renovation of the historic building. The $10 million project included installing much-needed accessibility features, renovating public and staff spaces, reconstructing ADA-compliant bathrooms, and improving electronic services for the communities tech needs.
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NYC increases ferry fare, but offers discounted rides for low-income New Yorkers

Image courtesy of NYC Ferry

July 15, 2022

NYC increases ferry fare, but offers discounted rides for low-income New Yorkers

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New York City's ferry system will soon be cheaper to ride for some New Yorkers, but more expensive for less frequent riders. Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday revealed phase one of the city's new "NYC Ferry Forward" plan—a new fare system aimed at making the ferry more equitable and reducing the system's huge public subsidy. Beginning in September, low-income New Yorkers, seniors, and people with disabilities can purchase a single ferry ride for $1.35. The price of a single trip will increase from $2.75 to $4.
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Next phase of Broad Channel’s Sunset Cove Park includes new boardwalk and outdoor classroom

Photos courtesy of NYC Parks / Daniel Avila

July 14, 2022

Next phase of Broad Channel’s Sunset Cove Park includes new boardwalk and outdoor classroom

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Construction kicked off on the second phase of Sunset Cove Park, a Jamaica Bay-facing city park in the Queens neighborhood of Broad Channel, NYC Parks announced on Wednesday. After partially opening in 2019, the park's $4.2 million second phase includes a new covered outdoor classroom and a boardwalk made up of reclaimed wood from the Rockaway Boardwalk, which was destroyed during Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
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20+ NYC art galleries will open to the public for free as part of annual Chelsea Gallery Walk

Installation of Les Lalanne: Au Grand Air in the Kasmin Sculpture Garden. Artwork © 2022 Les Lalanne/Artist Rights Society (ARS), New York/ADAGP, Paris. Photograph: Diego Flores

July 14, 2022

20+ NYC art galleries will open to the public for free as part of annual Chelsea Gallery Walk

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For one night next week, more than 20 New York City art galleries will open their doors to the public as part of the annual Chelsea Gallery Walk. Hosted by the Art Dealers Association of America (ADAA), the free self-guided walk takes place on July 20 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 22 member galleries throughout Chelsea, providing a unique opportunity to see world-class art after-hours. In addition to enjoying the latest exhibitions on display, there will also be a selection of special programming.
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NYC parks, pools, and rec centers will distribute free at-home Covid tests

Image courtesy of Gerardo Romo/NYC Council Media Unit on Flickr

July 13, 2022

NYC parks, pools, and rec centers will distribute free at-home Covid tests

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As New York City faces a sixth Covid wave, Mayor Eric Adams is expanding the city's network of at-home test distribution sites. Starting Wednesday, New Yorkers will be able to pick up a free rapid Covid test from 57 NYC Parks locations, including parks, pools, nature centers, and recreation centers. With these new NYC Parks distribution sites, the city's at-home test distribution program includes 1,220 sites.
Get the details
Bed-Stuy residents urge city to landmark 120-year-old mansion facing demolition

Streetview of the Jacob Dangler House © Google 2022

July 13, 2022

Bed-Stuy residents urge city to landmark 120-year-old mansion facing demolition

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Bed-Stuy residents and public officials are urging the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) to designate a historic mansion as a city landmark to save it from demolition. Known as the Jacob Dangler House, the property, located at 441 Willoughby Avenue, was built at the turn of the 20th century and features a striking French Gothic architectural style. After a developer filed demolition permits, the LPC added the property to its agenda last minute and voted last month to calendar the property, temporarily protecting the mansion. During a hearing on Tuesday, a majority of public testimony was in favor of designation.
See more here
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