All articles by Lidia Ryan

April 3, 2023

5 restaurants with stunning views of NYC bridges

How ironic is it that one of the most-connected cities in the world is made up of islands? New York City is a land of bridges connecting the four outer boroughs to Manhattan. And the bridges themselves are marvels of engineering from the world-famous Brooklyn Bridge, erected in 1883, to the Manhattan and Queensboro bridges constructed in the early 1900s. These iconic landmarks are an integral part of the NYC skyline, and while there are plenty of restaurants with a view of the city, few offer truly spectacular views of the bridges. Here are five to check out.
Dinner with a bridge view

Food & Dining

March 8, 2023

These unique outer borough Airbnbs feel like getaways without leaving NYC

By Lidia Ryan

Kathleen Ruoti is a 73-year-old widow living on Staten Island. She started her Sweet Pea Cottage Airbnb six years ago to serve as supplemental income. "It’s a 100-year-old-old 'Hansel and Gretel' type thing — cute with a garden. I used to use it as an art studio," she said. The cottage is just one of a few short-term rental properties in New York City’s outer boroughs that not only make guests feel miles and miles away from the city but have charming stories and histories of their own. Ahead, take a look inside three unique short-term spots and hear from the owners.
See them here

How to organize your small NYC apartment, according to the experts

Photo by James and Karla Murray exclusively for 6sqft. See more here.

February 27, 2023

How to organize your small NYC apartment, according to the experts

By Lidia Ryan

Living in the Big Apple often means living in a small apartment. Even the grandest townhomes and penthouses tend to be storage-challenged, and this inevitably leads to clutter, disorganization, and even some outside-the-box "hacks." From turning a stack of suitcases into a nightstand to storing clothes in an oven, New Yorkers have to be creative when it comes to staying organized. We asked professional organizers about the best ways to tackle small spaces, the importance of decluttering, and practical renter-friendly tips.
Tips and tricks this way

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NYC’s urban wineries connect the vineyard to the city for date night

Red Hook Winery. Photo credit: Sava Studio

January 31, 2023

NYC’s urban wineries connect the vineyard to the city for date night

By Lidia Ryan

When asked why a couple should spend Valentine’s Day at City Winery, CEO and founder, Michael Dorf responded, "Wine not?" Puns aside, he believes "there's this romantic vibe to wooden barrels — something sexy about a winery." It’s what he attributes to City Winery hosting so many weddings. Plus, he joked, if you get engaged at his winery, you’re guaranteed to stay married. Time might tell whether or not that’s true, but when it comes to planning a date night, urban wineries are like a more romantic version of the ever-popular urban brewery.
Where to wine and dine

Lunar New Year brings celebrations and joy to NYC’s Chinatown

All photos courtesy of Welcome to Chinatown unless otherwise noted

January 18, 2023

Lunar New Year brings celebrations and joy to NYC’s Chinatown

By Lidia Ryan

In early 2020, Vic Lee, who grew up in Manhattan's Chinatown, noticed that there was less foot traffic in her neighborhood. "It was obvious something was going on that Lunar New Year,” Lee said. “We talked to business owners, and it was because of xenophobia and racist rhetoric." During the height of the coronavirus pandemic in March of that year, she co-founded Welcome to Chinatown as a way to amplify small businesses and entrepreneurs in Chinatown via their Longevity Fund. The organization also has a meal donation program for underserved residents and does research and data collection. And this month, for the third year, Welcome to Chinatown will be hosting Lunar New Year celebrations to usher in the Year of the Rabbit, which begins January 22. We spoke to Lee about what to expect and what Lunar New Year means to her, as well as the Chinatown community.
Read more here

January 13, 2023

5 NYC spots to keep you on track this dry January

By Lidia Ryan

The holidays are over and we’ve settled into the long month of January. With the sun setting early and the days cold and blustery, it can be hard to keep up with your healthy resolutions of exercising and eating healthy — sitting on a cozy couch and a glass of red wine is so tempting. But, if you’ve decided to partake in dry January (a month free of alcohol), there are a number of spots around New York City that can make it fun. With mocktails and non-alcoholic spirits becoming more and more popular, you don’t have to stay in on Friday and Saturday nights drinking green juice and water! Here are five bars and "liquor" stores serving up alcohol-free libations to keep your January fun and healthy.
Sober spots here

How to decorate your small NYC apartment for the holidays

Photo by Chad Madden on Unsplash

December 20, 2022

How to decorate your small NYC apartment for the holidays

By Lidia Ryan

Decorating your home is one of the joys of the holidays. But in New York City, most people don’t have room for a 10-foot Christmas tree or an elaborate display of lights. But that shouldn’t stop even studio dwellers from getting into the spirit! We spoke to interior designers to get some expert tips on how to decorate small spaces for the holidays.
Tips this way

December 14, 2022

10 made-in-NYC gifts that support local businesses

By Lidia Ryan

Give your loved one a little piece of NYC this holiday season. Yes, the Big Apple is a shopping mecca with big, luxury brands boasting beautiful flagship stores, but the local creators are with whom you’ll find more meaningful gifts. "The small businesses and local artists are the backbone of community and culture in any given city," Flannery Cronin, founder of Friend Of All, a Brooklyn-based shop selling handmade lamps, told 6sqft. "They are creating beautiful treasures that are made to last, and likely paying a living wage to those involved with its creation. If you choose to shop small this holiday season you will be doing your part to support your neighbors." Plus, there’s usually a great story behind local brands and creators that make the product all the more interesting. From accessories to food and drink, here are 10 made-in-NYC gifts to add to your shopping list.
Shop local, this way

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Inside the NYBG’s Holiday Train Show, a whimsical tribute to NYC

Replicas of the Hell Gate Bridge and George Washington Bridge soar overhead in the Holiday Train Show; Photos courtesy of NYBG unless otherwise noted

December 6, 2022

Inside the NYBG’s Holiday Train Show, a whimsical tribute to NYC

By Lidia Ryan

Since 1992, the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx has held its Holiday Train Show. The magical exhibit recreates 190 of New York City’s landmark buildings in miniature using plant materials like bark, leaves, and seeds. Twenty-five model trains zoom in and out of the cityscape over bridges and under tunnels, just like in the real-life city. The pieces of art are created by the team from Applied Imagination, which was founded by Paul Busse in 1991. The following year, he brought his creations to the NYBG. To learn more about this iconic holiday event, we spoke to Joanna Groarke, vice president for exhibitions and programming at NYBG.
Everything you need to know

City Living

Macy’s Santaland: A 161-year-old tradition that brings holiday magic to NYC’s Herald Square

All photos by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Macy’s Inc

November 29, 2022

Macy’s Santaland: A 161-year-old tradition that brings holiday magic to NYC’s Herald Square

By Lidia Ryan

"He’s so kind and nice and jolly. He’s not like anyone else. He must be Santa." That’s what little Natalie Wood says about the Herald Square Macy’s Santa Claus in the 1947 classic "Miracle on 34th Street." And to this day, the jolly man in red remains at the helm of the iconic department store’s annual Santaland. Since 1861, Macy’s has been inviting children and adults to experience the wonder of Santa Claus (though the Herald Square building was not erected until 1901), but what people may not know is that, much like the spirit of Christmas, Santaland exists all year long behind locked doors. On the day after Thanksgiving, the doors are opened, letting holiday magic spill out once again.
Get the Santaland low-down

Events & Things To Do

10 offbeat holiday events and exhibits to check out in NYC

By Lidia Ryan

The thing about tradition is, it never gets old. And in New York City during the holidays, there are some annual traditions that just make the city magical — the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, lights on 5th Avenue, the Bryant Park holiday market, and Santa at Macy’s to name a few. And while these tried and true mainstays will never go out of style, it is nice to switch it up once in a while. We’ve rounded up some lesser-known holiday events and activities to mix things up this holiday season in NYC.
Check them out

February 3, 2022

10 cozy NYC bars to stay warm at all winter

By Lidia Ryan

Winter in New York City can be tough — bitter winds, slushy sidewalks, walking to the subway in a massive winter parka. But these frigid temps and grey days (will February ever end?!) are the perfect excuses to escape to a cozy bar and warm up with a cocktail. To get you through the rest of winter, we've rounded up some of the coziest bars in the city for the coldest nights.
Check them all out

Photo by Altifarm Enverde on Unsplash

April 22, 2021

13 simple ways to green your apartment

By Lidia Ryan

As climate change and environmental issues continue to be hot topics on a global scale, more and more people are trying to do their small part at home. To get some easy lifestyle tips on how to “green” your apartment right here in New York City, we spoke to an NYC-based zero-waste expert and an eco-conscious interior designer who filled us in on things like eliminating single-use items, saving energy, and composting.
13 easy ways to go green

December 12, 2019

NYC’s 11 best starchitect-designed buildings that you can live in

By Lidia Ryan

The Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, One World Trade Center: all buildings that instantly come to mind when you think of the iconic New York City skyline. But more and more new skyscrapers are beginning to pop up in that classic view. And while it’s likely many an architects' dream to contribute a design to the most famous skyline in the world, only a handful of world-renowned "starchitects" get to do it. Ahead, 6sqft has rounded up 11 starchitect-designed condo buildings that you can actually live in, from veterans like Robert A.M. Stern and Renzo Piano to some more up-and-comers like David Adjaye and Bjarke Ingels.
See the list

All articles by Lidia Ryan

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Your Daily Doseof NYC Life!

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