All articles by Alexandra Alexa

10 of the best running spots in New York City

Photo via PxHere

April 27, 2022

10 of the best running spots in New York City

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For avid runners and beginners alike, New York City offers a wide range of places to hit the pavement, from its iconic bridges to green trails nestled in the city's parks. The scenic routes provide unbeatable views of the river and skyline that can keep you motivated to keep going when you're ready to give up. Ahead, we round up the 10 most iconic spots to go for a run in the city, fit for regular marathoners, treadmill-devotees looking for a change of scenery, and total newbies.
Lace up those sneakers...
Where to find New York City’s secret waterfalls
March 22, 2021

Where to find New York City’s secret waterfalls

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New York state is home to many spectacular waterfalls that are worthy of any bucket list, but if you know where to look, there are a surprising number of waterfalls to discover right here in the concrete jungle of New York City. They're not all "secrets," but they do tend to exist well off the beaten path, tucked into the more remote parts of Central Park or in small Midtown plazas. Once you've found one, you'll likely have a new favorite spot perfect for escaping the city's unrelenting noise—if only for a short while.
Drown out the city at one of these 6 spots
Lighting of ‘world’s largest’ menorahs mark the first night of Hanukkah in NYC

Manhattan’s Menorah being lit by Danny Danon, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, in 2016. Credit: Credit: Chaim Perl / Chabad.org/ Chabad Lubavitch/Flickr.

December 10, 2020

Lighting of ‘world’s largest’ menorahs mark the first night of Hanukkah in NYC

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In the mid-1970s, former Chabad Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson encouraged his emissaries to build public menorahs in major cities and organize nightly lightings to increase public awareness about Hanukkah and inspire fellow Jews to light menorahs in their homes. Decades later, Chabad rabbis continue the effort in cities worldwide, but in New York, the practice hasn’t always been friendly. The tradition ended up creating a fun competition between rival menorahs in Brooklyn and Manhattan, both claiming to be "The World’s Largest." To mark the first night of Hanukkah on Thursday, both of New York City's 32-foot-tall menorahs will be lighted.
Find out the story and learn about this year's lightings
Calvin Klein co-founder’s $100M equestrian estate is Westchester’s priciest listing

Images courtesy of Christie’s International Real Estate

March 17, 2020

Calvin Klein co-founder’s $100M equestrian estate is Westchester’s priciest listing

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Westchester's largest privately owned property is now also the county's most expensive listing. Stonewall Farm, an equestrian estate situated on 740 acres, has just hit the market for $100 million. The property—which is located in Granite Springs, about an hour from the Belmont Park racetrack—is owned by Calvin Klein co-founder Barry Schwartz and his wife Sheryl, who purchased the first 673 acres for $3.25 million in 1979. The sprawling estate has a 40-stall barn, two 24-stall barns, hayfields, apple orchards, professional racing facilities, and riding trails.
Lots more to see here
Amid coronavirus fears, subway ridership falls 20% while Citi Bike sees a 70% increase

Photo credit: Billie Grace Ward via Flickr

March 13, 2020

Amid coronavirus fears, subway ridership falls 20% while Citi Bike sees a 70% increase

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In the face of growing coronavirus concerns, many New Yorkers are avoiding public transportation and heeding advice to walk or bike whenever possible. As the Daily News reported, ridership on Wednesday was down nearly 20 percent on subways and 15 percent on buses compared to March 2019. A similar comparison on Thursday morning showed Metro-North ridership was down by 48 percent and Long Island Rail Road ridership down 31 percent. According to the New York Times, the number of cyclists crossing the East River bridges has doubled since the beginning of March and Citi Bike has seen a 70 percent increase in trips so far this month.
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Amazon will buy former Lord & Taylor flagship from WeWork for over $1B

Photo courtesy of Lord & Taylor

March 13, 2020

Amazon will buy former Lord & Taylor flagship from WeWork for over $1B

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After The Real Deal first learned of the possible deal in late February, the Post is now reporting that Amazon is doling out $1.15 billion to acquire Midtown's Lord & Taylor building from WeWork. Rumors that Amazon would potentially lease the building circulated last summer ahead of WeWork's planned IPO. The sale will have big implications for both companies, giving WeWork much-needed capital and representing Amazon's largest real estate acquisition to date. According to the Post, the landmark building will become Amazon's NYC headquarters and home to "several thousand employees in the coming years."
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‘Bach in the Subways’ will spread the German composer’s music throughout the city this month

Cellist Dale Henderson, photo by Phillip Guye, courtesy of Bach in the Subways 

March 10, 2020

‘Bach in the Subways’ will spread the German composer’s music throughout the city this month

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Classical music lovers, mark your calendars: Johann Sebastian Bach's 335th birthday on March 21 will be honored with a whole week of spontaneous, free performances of his music throughout the city. From March 19th to 25th, Bach in the Subways will bring hundreds of performers to the city to share the German composer's work. The name suggests you'll have to ride underground for a chance to see them play, but you can expect performers to spring up in public spaces above ground as well.
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To offset Coronavirus-related dips in attendance, tickets for six Broadway hits will be only $50

Photo credit: Mihai Bojin via Flickr

March 10, 2020

To offset Coronavirus-related dips in attendance, tickets for six Broadway hits will be only $50

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As Coronavirus fears begin impacting Broadway attendance, producer Scott Rudin is slashing ticket prices to keep theatres full, Deadline reports. Starting this Thursday at noon, all remaining March tickets for Rudin's popular productions—To Kill a Mockingbird, West Side Story, The Lehman Trilogy, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, and The Book of Mormon—will be available for only $50.
This could be the deal you've been waiting for
$595K Morningside Heights pad is a flexible two-bedroom near Columbia and Riverside Park

Listing images by VHT; courtesy of The Corcoran Group

March 10, 2020

$595K Morningside Heights pad is a flexible two-bedroom near Columbia and Riverside Park

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Conveniently located near Columbia University and only one block from Riverside Park, this two-bedroom in Morningside Heights is sunny, flexible, and recently upgraded. It’s in an HDFC co-op building at 175 Claremont Avenue so income restrictions will apply, but if you qualify, the apartment is a sound investment at $595,000.
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This incredibly detailed 3D replica of Manhattan took 1,000 hours to complete

Photos courtesy of Empire State Realty Trust

March 6, 2020

This incredibly detailed 3D replica of Manhattan took 1,000 hours to complete

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French artist Johann Perathoner has created a panoramic 3D replica of Manhattan that is currently on view in the Empire State Building’s lobby. Though compact in scale, the composition is ambitious in scope and captures an incredible amount of detail in its small size. Made up of vibrant colors and 100 different textures that include rhinestones and fake diamonds, the piece took Perathoner more than 1,000 hours to complete.
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Four permanent artworks will transform LaGuardia Airport

Rendering of Terminal B courtesy of the Governor’s Office

March 6, 2020

Four permanent artworks will transform LaGuardia Airport

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The ongoing $8 billion transformation of LaGuardia Airport has focused on bringing the airport's functionality into the 21st century, but a series of major art commissions will also enhance how travelers experience the overhauled spaces. On Thursday Governor Cuomo announced a partnership with the nonprofit Public Art Fund that will bring site-specific works by four renowned artists —Jeppe Hein, Sabine Hornig, Laura Owens, and Sarah Sze—to the new Arrivals and Departures Hall opening later this year at Terminal B.
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Tenants at Stuy Town sue Blackstone in anticipation of rent increases this summer

Photo by Kelly on Wiki Commons

March 5, 2020

Tenants at Stuy Town sue Blackstone in anticipation of rent increases this summer

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When Blackstone and Ivanhoé Cambridge bought Stuy Town for $5.3 billion in 2015, they reached a deal with the city that would allow them to deregulate and raise rents on 6,200 rent-regulated units beginning in July 2020. On Wednesday, tenants filed a lawsuit to block Blackstone from going forward with the rent hikes, The Real Deal reports. As part of the original agreement, the city allowed Blackstone to cap rent increases at 5 percent each year, which is considerably more than the 1.5 percent outlined in last year's new rent laws. The lawsuit argues that this conflict should require Blackstone to adjust the agreement in accordance with the new law.
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The American Museum of Natural History’s most vibrant new exhibit is an in-depth exploration of color

Photo credit: R. Mickens/© AMNH

March 5, 2020

The American Museum of Natural History’s most vibrant new exhibit is an in-depth exploration of color

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For most of us, color is such a seamless part of how we experience the world that we don’t think to stop and question it. But color is more than just a visual phenomenon, it carries symbolic and cultural meanings, has the ability to impact our mood, and in the natural world, it plays a critical role in the survival of many species. The many dimensions of color will be explored in The Nature of Color, a new exhibition opening at the American Museum of Natural History on March 9th.
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This $2.55M Westchester home has Arts & Crafts interiors and its own waterfall

Listing images courtesy of Houlihan Lawrence

March 4, 2020

This $2.55M Westchester home has Arts & Crafts interiors and its own waterfall

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In the quiet Westchester county village of Larchmont, this five-bedroom home sits on nearly two scenic acres and boasts a cascading waterfall on the property which inspired its nickname: The Waterfall House. Originally built in 1910, the residence was redesigned and renovated by architect Imrey Culbert in collaboration with the current owner, the listing tells us. On the inside, natural materials and architectural elements echo the nature outdoors while large windows throughout amplify the views. It’s now on the market seeking $2.55 million.
Get the full tour
Cultural diversity and nature informed this Brooklyn photo series by two longtime residents

Alex Webb, Park Slope, 2018. Chromogenic development print. Courtesy of the artist

March 3, 2020

Cultural diversity and nature informed this Brooklyn photo series by two longtime residents

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Photographer couple Alex Webb and Rebecca Norris Webb have lived in Park Slope for some 20 years and for just as long, they've been documenting the borough they call home. In 2014, the duo embarked on a collaborative series of photographs that show typically unseen corners of Brooklyn and tell the layered stories of its multicultural neighborhoods. A collection of 30 images from that series will be on view at the Museum of the City of New York beginning on March 11 in an exhibition titled The City Within.
More images, this way
Parades, trivia, and live music: 20 ways to celebrate St. Patricks Day in NYC

Image by David Mark from Pixabay

March 3, 2020

Parades, trivia, and live music: 20 ways to celebrate St. Patricks Day in NYC

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St. Patrick's Day takes place on Tuesday, March 17 this year but in NYC, it's much bigger than just the official holiday. Celebrations get an early start and run throughout the month with a whopping nine parades dedicated to the holiday (some have already taken place but you still have plenty to choose from). Of course, many of the festivities are known for being raucous and alcohol-fueled, but there are many other ways you can celebrate: from taking a walking tour in the former "Little Ireland" area of the Lower East Side, to learning how to bake Irish soda bread and shamrock macaroons, to getting competitive in an Irish-themed trivia night. Ahead, we rounded up 20 options and none of them involve waking up early to snag a seat at McSorley's.
Start your planning now!
New energy code gets tougher on NYC construction

Image by Robert Jones from Pixabay

March 2, 2020

New energy code gets tougher on NYC construction

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Beginning in May, construction in NYC is going to have to meet stricter sustainability and energy efficiency standards now that the 2020 NYC Energy Conservation Code passed into law last week. Part of the city's version of the Green New Deal, the new code is just one of several construction regulations that the Department of Buildings is revising, with further updates expected to roll out later in the year.
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Marc Jacobs slashed $4M off his West Village townhouse and found a buyer the next day

Listing images by Rich Caplan; courtesy of the Ryan Serhant Team at Nest Seekers International

March 2, 2020

Marc Jacobs slashed $4M off his West Village townhouse and found a buyer the next day

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Marc Jacobs' West Village townhouse had been on the market for almost a year when he relisted the property at 68 Bethune Street with a new agency and a price chop last week. The New York Post reports the property went into contract the very next day, proving that sometimes a price cut makes all the difference. The fashion designer first listed the four-story, nearly 4,800-square-foot home last April for $15.9 million after having purchased it for $10.5 million in 2009. The new listing hit the market at $12 million but the final sale price is still unknown.
Get the full tour
See the Waldorf Astoria’s glamorous, residents-only pool

Image credit: Noe & Associates/The Boundary

March 2, 2020

See the Waldorf Astoria’s glamorous, residents-only pool

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The Waldorf Astoria is still closed for a major renovation, but it appears on track to becoming more luxurious than ever. The latest rendering to be released (which we spotted over on The Post) shows the skylit pool that will be available to residents of the recently branded Towers of the Waldorf Astoria, where 375 condos will be sold for the first time in the history of the storied property.
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The Brooklyn Public Library is joining forces with the Brooklyn Historical Society

Photo of the Brooklyn Public Library flagship by Ajay Suresh via Flickr

February 28, 2020

The Brooklyn Public Library is joining forces with the Brooklyn Historical Society

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Two Brooklyn institutions are joining forces to broaden their impact and create “the premiere collection” of archival materials related to the history of the borough. The Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) and Brooklyn Historical Society (BHS) have announced a plan to unify their resources, which was approved by the boards of both organizations this week. The library will serve as the parent institution and the partnership is expected to bring greater financial stability to both while expanding the historical society’s reach through the library’s 59 branches. 
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Common brings modern co-living to historic Strivers’ Row in Harlem, from $1,600/month

Photos by Seth Caplan for Common

February 28, 2020

Common brings modern co-living to historic Strivers’ Row in Harlem, from $1,600/month

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Co-living startup Common has opened its third Harlem location in the St. Nicholas Historic District, better known as Strivers’ Row for the long list of African American luminaries who lived along the two-block stretch. Common brings its modern approach to the area, with a handful of private bedrooms now available at 267 West 139th Street from $1,600 to $2,200 a month.
Take a look around
Massive Lenox Terrace redevelopment has been rejected by the City Council Zoning Committee

Rendering credit: Davis Brody Bond

February 27, 2020

Massive Lenox Terrace redevelopment has been rejected by the City Council Zoning Committee

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The City Council's Zoning Committee voted unanimously to reject a proposed redevelopment of Harlem's Lenox Terrace housing complex on Wednesday. The site's owner, the Olnick Organization, has been seeking approval for a mixed-use development with five 28-story towers to be constructed at the complex. This week's decision is expected to be a sign of what's to come when the project comes to a vote before the full City Council next month. But Olnick has already signaled that they have a scaled-down backup plan for the site that won't require a rezoning.
More info
F train service changes coming next year as work on the city’s last Sandy-damaged tunnel begins

Photo by Patrick Cashin courtesy of MTA via Flick

February 27, 2020

F train service changes coming next year as work on the city’s last Sandy-damaged tunnel begins

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With L train repairs finally winding down in the Canarsie Tube, the MTA will soon shift its attention to the Rutgers Tube, the last of nine subway tunnels to be renovated after Superstorm Sandy took its toll on the structure nearly eight years ago. As THE CITY reported, the repairs will impact the F line this time around but won't be anywhere near as disruptive as the L train shutdown-turned-partial-slowdown.
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Why did the Trump administration abruptly suspend a critical study of NYC storm protections?

Photo by David Shankbone via Wikimedia Commons

February 26, 2020

Why did the Trump administration abruptly suspend a critical study of NYC storm protections?

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Six weeks after President Trump derided a potential NYC sea wall on Twitter, his administration abruptly ended the study that was looking into the idea. Launched in 2017, the NY & NJ Harbor and Tributaries feasibility study was evaluating five measures that could "address severe coastal storm risks" and the sea wall was one of them. On Tuesday, the Army Corps of Engineers announced that the critical study had been shelved due to a lack of funding and a report that was due to come out this summer would be "indefinitely postponed," the New York Times reported. The curious timing relative to Trump's tweet has led many to speculate about the political underpinnings behind the decision. “This is dangerous,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said. “It’s another of Donald Trump’s blatant political hits on New York City.”
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The Met reveals new commissions for summer roof garden and facade niches

Photo (cropped) by Alex Proimos via Wikimedia Commons

February 26, 2020

The Met reveals new commissions for summer roof garden and facade niches

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The Metropolitan Museum of Art has announced two new sculpture commissions to be installed in the museum's facade niches and the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Roof Garden later this year. Mexican artist Héctor Zamora will create a site-specific intervention on the roof titled Lattice Detour that's set to open on April 21. On September 9, American artist Carol Bove will unveil new sculptures in the building's Fifth Avenue facade niches, becoming only the second artist to activate the building's exterior in this way. The works are still in progress but Sheena Wagstaff, the Met's Leonard A. Lauder Chairman of Modern and Contemporary Art, hinted that Zamora's piece will "invite us to reconsider the panoramic view of the city skyline" and Bove's installation will feature "colorful stylized abstractions."
More details
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