City Living

November 18, 2024

More public space opens under the Brooklyn Bridge in Manhattan

New Yorkers can now enjoy more public space under the Brooklyn Bridge in Manhattan. The latest phase of "The Arches" opened on Monday, adding 15,000 square feet of park space to an area closed to the public for more than a decade, the city's Department of Transportation announced. The space, now with lush greenery and new seating, had been closed for nearly 15 years while serving as a staging site for several bridge restoration projects. The Arches sits next to the Brooklyn Banks, a haven for skateboarders that partially reopened last year.
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November 15, 2024

Upper West Side’s Metro Theater may finally reopen

A landmarked Upper West Side movie theater that has been vacant for nearly two decades may soon be returned to its former glory—as long as its buyers can raise $7 million by the end of the year. As reported by the New York Times, the nonprofit Upper West Side Cinema Center on Friday announced it reached a deal with the current owners of the Metro Theater, located on Broadway near 99th Street, to purchase the theater, contingent on securing the required funds.
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November 7, 2024

20 places to volunteer in NYC this holiday season

As the holiday season rolls around and we enjoy time with loved ones, it's easy to overlook New Yorkers facing hunger, unemployment, homelessness, or health challenges. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to lend a hand across the five boroughs—whether it's serving at food pantries or helping deliver meals to seniors. Ahead, discover volunteer opportunities in NYC where you can make a meaningful difference this holiday season and beyond.
give back
October 25, 2024

Boroughs of the Dead ghost tours dive into the real-life macabre history of NYC

Spooky season is in full swing, and if you’re a history nerd who wants to learn about the "macabre, strange, spooky, weird, spectral history of the city," there’s a tour group for that. Boroughs of the Dead: Macabre New York City Walking Tours, founded by Andrea Janes, brings groups through the spookiest, most "haunted" areas of New York City, creating a "ghost map" of the city by overlaying scary stories over the “terrain of the real,” Janes describes.
discover the spooky side of NYC
October 8, 2024

The ‘great trees’ of NYC: Parks updates list for the first time in 40 years

Of New York City's seven million trees, these 120 rise above the rest. NYC Parks on Tuesday released its first update to the "Great Trees of New York City" list since 1985, adding 61 new trees across the five boroughs that stand out for their unique size, shape, species, and historical significance. The newcomers were selected from over 270 public submissions made between April 2023 and March 2024 and chosen by a committee of experts from colleges, civic institutions, authors, and arborists.
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September 26, 2024

15 of New York City’s most atmospheric outdoor dining spots

New York City's outdoor dining scene is once again about to change: Restaurants that did not apply for the city’s new outdoor dining program by the August 3 deadline will need to remove the by-now-familiar "dining sheds" that have occupied city streets and sidewalks since 2020. Largely as a result of recently approved new program guidelines and regulations, only about 15 percent of the 13,000 or so establishments with outdoor dining structures have applied to keep them, as 6sqft previously reported. Though many sidewalk sheds may soon be gone, there will be no shortage of enchanting al fresco dining opportunities. Keep reading for a short list of some of the city's loveliest outdoor dining establishments with no plans to disappear.
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September 10, 2024

NYC pied-Ă -terre guide: Top condos for buying a second home

Translating from French meaning "foot on the ground," pied-Ă -terre is an apartment in New York City used as a secondary residence. It is only occupied part-time and is not the owner's primary home. These part-time apartments can range from modest studios to luxurious condos, often used by people who regularly visit the city for business or leisure. We take a look at the most popular buildings in NYC for second homes, from newer condos like One High Line in Chelsea and the Ritz-Carlton Residences, New York, NoMad to more established buildings like the Plaza on Central Park South.
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September 6, 2024

Explore the Queens homes of over 100 famous Jazz musicians

Explore the vibrant history of jazz in Queens with a new interactive digital map. Flushing Town Hall on Thursday released the Digital Queens Jazz Trail Map, putting 125 jazz legends who once called Queens home on the map. The digital map is the first phase of a larger database that will include more figures, locations, and details, allowing users to contribute comments and additional content to be approved by Flushing Town Hall.
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September 6, 2024

Hotel Chelsea’s iconic neon sign headed to auction

Here's a chance to own an iconic part of New York City. The original neon letters from the Hotel Chelsea will be coming to auction this month as part of Guernsey's "Downtown Auction," celebrating the culture of downtown Manhattan over the last 60 years. Before its first sale in 2011, the hotel at 222 West 23rd Street was known for its celebrity and creative-minded residents, like Jimi Hendrix, Andy Warhol, Madonna, and many others.
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August 28, 2024

The 15 best parks in NYC for outdoor grilling

While our tiny apartments and fire escapes may not always be the greatest spots to host a barbecue, the city's parks provide some of the best places to dine on hamburgers and hot dogs this holiday. Ahead, 6sqft rounded up 15 of the best NYC parks to host outdoor barbecues, from old standby Prospect Park to less-known locales like Staten Island's Clove Lakes Park.
Fin the best BBQ spots in your neighborhood
August 27, 2024

Babe Ruth’s ‘called-shot’ Yankees jersey sells for $24M at auction

The New York Yankees jersey worn by Babe Ruth when he "called his shot" during the 1932 World Series sold in an auction for $24.12 million, a new record for the most expensive sports collectible. After a bidding war that lasted over six hours, the jersey, which Ruth wore when he pointed to the outfield and proceeded to hit a home run to deep center field, sold on Sunday at Heritage Auctions. The jersey was recently photo-matched by multiple third parties using images from Getty Images and the Chicago Daily News, which show Ruth wearing it in the Wrigley Field dugout on October 1, 1932.
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August 15, 2024

Inside the world of NYC birding: City wildlife is more than ‘just pigeons and cockroaches’

Angie Co’s favorite spots for birding in New York City are Prospect Park, Greenwood Cemetery, and Jamaica Bay, a wildlife refuge and National Park that’s host to over 325 species of birds, mostly migratory waterfowl. But it was in a community garden a few blocks from her Brooklyn home that her husband, also an avid birder (and one gifted in recognizing bird songs), spotted a bright yellow Kentucky warbler. Within minutes, birders descended on the park with cameras; they had gotten a rare bird alert on eBird. Co prefers not to sign up for alerts. "I like to be surprised and find birds myself," she said. "I don’t like to chase birds."
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August 13, 2024

8 iconic NYC venues still hosting live music

Live music has always been an integral part of New York City's identity, with many of the last century's cultural movements taking root in the basements and stages of iconic music venues. While a lot of these historic spots have disappeared, a few continue to host live performances today. Ahead, we dive into the best music venues in NYC that are still rocking, from the recently restored Brooklyn Paramount to iconic places like Cafe Wha? and the Bitter End in Greenwich Village, where legendary performers like Bob Dylan made their start.
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August 8, 2024

Grand Central Terminal joins ‘Summer Streets’ for the first time

Grand Central Terminal is participating in New York City's "Summer Streets" program for the first time ever. The annual event closes several miles of streets to cars to make space for outdoor recreation and activities. On August 10 and 17, the iconic train hall will host "The Grand Lawn," at 40th Street and Park Avenue, offering free outdoor lawn games and food and drink provided by Grand Central eateries.
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August 6, 2024

Brooklyn’s greenest block is in Crown Heights

The greenest block in Brooklyn is in Crown Heights. And so is the second-greenest block. The Brooklyn Botanic Garden on Tuesday crowned Lincoln Place between New York and Nostrand Avenues as the winner of its Greenest Block competition, an annual contest open to all blocks and community gardens in the borough. Another win for the neighborhood, the garden awarded Eastern Parkway between Bedford and Franklin Avenues second place.
and the winners are
August 2, 2024

Buying an apartment in NYC: Condo or co-op?

Choosing between a co-op and a condo is a significant decision for potential homebuyers in New York City, with each option offering unique benefits and challenges. Co-ops, where buyers purchase shares in a corporation that owns the building, often provide a more affordable and community-focused living experience but come with strict board approval processes and resale restrictions. Condos offer full property ownership with greater flexibility in renting and selling, although they typically come at a higher cost and with increased closing expenses. And condops, which provide features of both property types, allow for more flexibility but possibly higher closing costs. Ahead, learn about the key differences among these property types in New York City to find which one best aligns with your lifestyle and financial goals.
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July 25, 2024

Where to find–or learn–your favorite Olympic sport in NYC

Tuning in to the Olympics can inspire us to run, sail, leap, or roll back into our favorite athletic pastimes–or discover new ones. The 2024 Summer Olympics, hosted in Paris from Friday, July 26 through Sunday, August 11, will feature 329 events in 32 sports, from traditional sports like tennis and track to newcomers like skateboarding, sport climbing, and surfing (breaking will make its Olympic debut this year). If you'd like to get into archery, find a soccer team, or learn to surf, New York City can help you get moving. From programs run by the city's parks to private clubs and organizations, the list below will get you started–or ready for the 2028 games!
join the fun
July 24, 2024

13 places to go hiking in New York City

Forget the rental car or Metro-North trip, all you need to go hiking is subway or bus fare. Home to over 30,000 acres of parkland, New York City offers hundreds of nature trails to explore in parks across the five boroughs. New Yorkers do not have to travel very far to connect with the great outdoors, from the Staten Island Greenbelt, which is three times the size of Central Park, to ecologically diverse forests in Van Cortlandt Park, to the salt marshes of Marine Park Preserve. Ahead, discover some of the best trails to hike in every borough.
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June 25, 2024

NYC ‘Summer Streets’ to return with longer hours for more car-free fun

New York City's "Summer Streets" program is returning next month with more time to enjoy car-free streets. The annual event closes several miles of street, allowing for fun outdoor recreation and activities on certain Saturdays. Previously only hosted in Manhattan, in 2023, the program was expanded to every borough. Not only will Summer Streets once again hit all five boroughs, but this year's event will also last longer, with streets closed for an extra two hours, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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June 4, 2024

How to apply for NYC’s Section 8 voucher waitlist

The New York City Housing Authority's Section 8 housing voucher waitlist reopened on Monday for the first time in 15 years, allowing low-income families to apply for rental subsidies. The waitlist's reopening comes as New Yorkers struggle to afford the cost of living amid skyrocketing rent prices due to the city's housing crisis. Once the application period closes on June 9, NYCHA will randomly place 200,000 applications on the waitlist. As of Tuesday morning, nearly 313,000 applications were already submitted. Ahead, find out what you should know about applying for the Section 8 housing voucher waitlist, including eligibility requirements, deadlines, and waitlist preferences.
how to apply
May 31, 2024

NYC Pride 2024: The best ways to celebrate

Pride Month has arrived in New York City, and with it, an endless number of ways to celebrate and support the LGBTQIA+ community. As the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement, kickstarted by the Stonewall Uprising of 1969, the five boroughs can be counted on to advocate for a future without discrimination and celebrate our diverse communities. Heritage of Pride, the nonprofit organization that plans and produces NYC's official Pride celebrations every year, offers a calendar to help you find different events. Ahead, 6sqft put together a guide to Pride in New York City, with parades, parties, performances, and more, happening throughout June.
happy pride, nyc
May 23, 2024

Manhattanhenge 2024: NYC’s stunning sunset returns

New York City's most photographed sunset is back. Manhattanhenge, the cosmic phenomenon when the sun aligns perfectly with the Manhattan street grid and creates a magical, glowing spectacle among skyscrapers, takes place twice every year. This year, a full sun will be visible on the grid on May 29 and July 12, and a half sun seen on May 28 and July 13.
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May 17, 2024

The best real estate websites for New York City homebuyers

In a city as large, diverse, and fast-paced as New York City, buying an apartment here can be an overwhelming experience. These days, the process often starts online, with several websites offering an extensive list of the latest available apartments on the market, sales history, and neighborhood details. Some websites are better to use than others, though, whether it's the amount of property information provided, a user-friendly interface, or up-to-date figures. Ahead, we've rounded up the five best real estate websites for New York City homebuyers.
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April 26, 2024

NYC to install ‘bee hotels’ in 7 public plazas to protect at-risk pollinators

"Bee hotels" are coming soon to a public plaza near you. The city's Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez on Thursday announced the Pollinator Port Project, which will install habitats for at-risk native bee populations at seven public plazas and open streets, giving them a place for nourishment and allowing researchers from Rutgers University to analyze their use of the "bee bunkers" and how they travel across the city.
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