East Village

Before moving to a very classic Greenwich Village co-op (which she sold last summer for $1.45 million), actress Parker Posey lived in a much more trendy space in the East Village. In fact, she lived in the same building, 119 East 10th Street, as fellow indie darling Chloe Sevigny who sold her pad in 2013. Posey made the move much earlier, in 2008, when she offloaded the loft-like apartment for $1.3 million. It's now back on the market for $2 million, sporting a loft-like vibe (open layout, exposed brick and ceilings beams) and an eclectic collection of hip furniture and art.
Get a look around

May 4, 2017

After a bidding war, Diane Kruger unloads super-stylish East Village pad for $1.1M

Actress, model, and fashionista Diane Kruger sold her unsurprisingly stylish East Village pad for $1.1 million, higher than the $985,000 listing price. The Post tells us that a 12-offer bidding war ensued, likely due to the myriad of charming features--expansive exposed brick walls, a renovated modern kitchen, and lovely outdoor terrace--and the prime location at 315 East 12th Street, between booming 1st and 2nd Avenues.
Take a look around

May 3, 2017

EVENT: Two food-centric tours explore the history and culture of the East Village

By 6sqft

When we point the finger at gentrifying neighborhoods, the East Village often gets a lot of heat thanks to its quickly climbing rents, shift from a more diverse population (today, roughly 40 percent of the ‘hood is between the ages of 20 and 34), and loss of small businesses. And though this final fact is certainly true, especially as it pertains to eateries (just this past year we said goodbye to Angelica Kitchen, The Redhead, and Lanza's), the East Vill still has a wealth of independent restaurants that pay homage to its rich immigrant history as well as a crop of new establishments that are sensitive to the community and represent the new wave of foodie culture. This weekend, two events will explore the past and future of the East Village through its food establishments--a walking tour led by 6sqft's Senior Editor Dana Schulz for GVSHP will take you through the Italian, Ukrainian/Eastern European, and Indian history and A Taste of 7th Street will offer a self-guided chance to taste samplings from 10 local favorites.
more details here

My 850sqft: DJ and influencer Isaac Hindin-Miller opts for Mid-Century modern in his Alphabet City home

6sqft’s ongoing series “My sqft” checks out the homes of New Yorkers across all the boroughs. Our latest interior adventure brings us to the Alphabet City apartment of style blogger and DJ Isaac Hindin-Miller. Want to see your home featured here? Get in touch!

May 2, 2017

My 850sqft: DJ and influencer Isaac Hindin-Miller opts for Mid-Century modern in his Alphabet City home

By Diane Pham

For DJ and influencer Isaac Hindin-Miller, style comes easy. The native New Zealander has been a fixture in the fashion world for nearly a decade, working for top menswear brands and writing for publications like the Business of Fashion, Man Repeller, and GQ. Unsurprisingly, his success has brought him to every corner of the world, and his day-to-day is one that most of us can only dream of. But while Isaac's life has revolved around all that is beautiful, it wasn't until a couple of years ago that his style started to carry over into his home. In 2015, Isaac's roommate left their apartment in Alphabet City, and instead of hunting for another body to fill the space, he jumped on the opportunity to turn the two-bedroom into an Instagram-ready home. Ahead, tour his once uninspiring 850-square-foot apartment, now a bright and airy top-floor escape outfitted with soft-hued Mid-century modern furniture, framed art, and lots of plants!
more inside Isaac's apartment here

April 27, 2017

Olympic gold medalist Shaun White lists his East Village penthouse for $2.79M

Snowboarder, skateboarder, and Olympic gold medalist Shaun White is looking to leave his East Village penthouse. The Post reports that the red-headed wonder has just listed his apartment at 425 East 13th Street for $2.79 million—though he also appears to be open to renters, asking $9,500 a month. The glassy pad is a sleek and modern with 1,174 square feet and some nice downtown views, but we can't say it's as extreme as we'd expect from a guy who does back flips on icy halfpipes.
more inside

April 14, 2017

$625K boho duplex is a cave-like East Village hideaway

The listing for this quirky little bohemian bolthole at 121 East 10th Street, near the iconic St. Marks Church in-the-Bowery, uses words like "special," "handpicked" and "salvaged," and there's a reason beyond salesmanship. Looking at this enchanted mini-loft does, in fact, make us feel "transported to another time and place." Another time, at least: The place is the old East Village of legend. Who knows, this could even be the apartment that invented exposed brick.
Have a look around this creative little pad

April 13, 2017

David Schwimmer checks out a $3.3M boutique condo in the East Village as a potential investment

Newly single David Schwimmer was seen checking out a $3.3 million apartment in the East Village's boutique condo building 64 East 1st Street. While bachelor pad initially comes to mind, a spokesperson for the actor told the Post, "He is always looking at interesting investment opportunities in New York." Schwimmer is not necessarily a welcome neighbor, however; in 2010 he bought a 19th-century townhouse on Tompkins Square Park (one of the oldest on the block) for $4.1 million, but the following year he destroyed it after the Landmarks Preservation Commission told him it was headed for landmark designation.
READ MORE

April 4, 2017

This $499K East Village co-op serves up modern rustic and cozy chic

Though it shares a neighborhood with celebrities and models, this charming East Village flat at 633 East 11th Street may not break the bank at $499,000. The sunny one-bedroom home boasts historic details like stained glass pocket doors, exposed brick, original moldings and high ceilings, with custom contemporary updates in the kitchen and bath. Its classic railroad layout—the bath is at one end of the apartment, behind the bedroom—is definitely best for one or a cozy couple.
C'mon in

Distinctive Homes

March 31, 2017

Flexible pad with plenty of exposed brick and a terrace asks $985K in the East Village

This prewar co-op at 315 East 12th Street, in the East Village, has no shortage of charming apartments: here's a one bedroom with an outdoor terrace perfect for a barbecue, and here's another, cozier one-bedroom apartment that hit the market for $535,000 a few months ago. The latest apartment from the building to hit the market is this unit currently configured as a one bedroom with enough space for a second. With a wall of exposed brick and massive windows, it's up for grabs asking $985,000.
Take a look

Distinctive Homes

March 27, 2017

Gem of a two-bedroom in the East Village is both cute and cozy

We're guessing it's probably just coincidence, that there are so many charming, pre-war co-ops on this tranquil and lovely East Village street, but whatever the reason, here's another gem at 226 East 12th Street, with two bedrooms and space for a home office, now on the market for $1.2 million. Three exposures, high beamed ceilings, parquet floors and a cool dining alcove with a window to the neighborhood below definitely make this home "unique in today's plain vanilla box inventory."
Take a look

Distinctive Homes

March 22, 2017

Dreamy furnished studio with lots of greenery asks $3,200/month in the East Village

This furnished rental at 527 East 12th Street in the East Village is downright dreamy. The exposed brick has been painted white and the walls are lined with greenery. It's a studio but has enough space to fit a large bed, couch and office nook. And if you like the decor you're in luck--this apartment comes fully furnished and it's now asking $3,200 a month.
See more of the studio space

Distinctive Homes

March 16, 2017

Marisa Tomei’s former East Village townhouse is back on the market for $6.85M

For $6.85 million, you can buy the home where actress Marisa Tomei, producer Hal Willner, and musician Charles Mingus have all rented over the years (h/t NY Post). Overlooking Tompkins Square Park in the heart of the East Village, the five-story, 6,400-square-foot building at 153 Avenue B dates back to 1900 and is currently set up as five, floor-through units.
See the listing here

March 15, 2017

This $4,250/month sublet is the perfect spot to get acquainted with the East Village

In the heart of it all at 50 Avenue A, this fully-furnished sublet is a walk-up on the third floor of a building known as Hearth House. Built in 1929, its quirky architecture fits right in with mid-century gems like the Burger Klein building just up the street; the building's terraces add a rare and fun way to survey the neighborhood from above. Unlike many East Village apartments, this one has two real bedrooms, two full baths and plenty of room for living.
Take a look around

Distinctive Homes

March 13, 2017

Anonymous commercial space in the East Village transformed into mod-inspired apartment

By Rebecca Paul

This modern and unique home has been designed by James Wagman Architects. Located in the East Village, Wagman's team were given a generous 2,000-square-foot space to flex their creative muscles. But there was one rule: the home had to feel warm and private. Sick of living in an open space, their clients, a young couple, had been in the apartment for four years and wanted nothing more to do with the open-space trend. Keen on leaving their loft life behind, they asked for defined quarters, good light, framed views, and the vibe of a peaceful retreat far away from the urban jungle.
READ MORE

Distinctive Homes

March 12, 2017

$825K East Village co-op boasts a blend of prewar and modern charm

There's nothing to hate about this prewar co-op at 199 East 7th Street, a stately brick building in the East Village. Now on the market for $825,000, it holds one bedroom and one bathroom over 750 square feet. Original details like oak floors and high ceilings are coupled with newer upgrades like recessed lighting and a modern kitchen. All together, the mix of finishes makes for one very cute apartment.
Take a look

Distinctive Homes

March 10, 2017

The Urban Lens: Inside McSorley’s Old Ale House, NYC’s oldest bar

By James and Karla Murray

6sqft’s ongoing series The Urban Lens invites photographers to share work exploring a theme or a place within New York City. In this installment, award-winning photographers James and Karla Murray return for Saint Patrick's Day with a look inside McSorley's Old Ale House. Are you a photographer who’d like to see your work featured on The Urban Lens? Get in touch with us at [email protected]. With Saint Patrick's Day just around the corner, McSorley's Old Ale House--located in the East Village on East 7th Street by Cooper Square--is readying to welcome a crowd of beer-loving New Yorkers and out-of-towners alike. What sets this watering hole apart, aside from its limited "dark or light" menu, is that it's the oldest bar in the city, a distinction proven after extensive research by the bar's official historian Bill Wander. We recently paid the Irish tavern a visit to capture its historic details such as the original wooden bar and pot-bellied stove; iconic tchotchkes adorning the walls, which run the gamut from shackles worn by a prisoner of war from the Civil War to a horseshoe that legend says came from one of the horses that pulled Abraham Lincoln’s hearse; and the fun-loving crowd that can be seen there on a typical day. We also chatted with Teresa Maher, the very first woman to work behind the bar in 1994.
See all the photos and hear from Teresa

Places

February 22, 2017

Inside New York’s little-known graphic design gem, The Herb Lubalin Study Center

By Diane Pham

Icy, metallic, and unabashedly serious is how one might describe The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art building in the East Village. But deep within its mash of raw concrete, steel beams, and metal screens is an unlikely 800-square-foot treasure chest filled with tens of thousands of design and typographical ephemera spanning multiple decades. Known as The Herb Lubalin Study Center of Design and Typography, the quaint and cozy space opened in 1985 as an archive dedicated to the work of Herb Lubalin, an American graphic designer best known for his playful art direction at Avant Garde, Eros and Fact magazines, as well as his groundbreaking design work completed between 1950 and 1980 (including the original World Trade Center logo). As one would expect, the center is filled with one-of-a-kind Lubalin works that range from posters, journals, magazines, sketches, and packaging, most of which came from his studio, his employees, or via donation by Lubalin enthusiasts. However, what many will be surprised to know is that Lubalin's materials make up just 20 percent of the center’s entire collection. Indeed, about 80 percent of what's tucked away comes from other influential designers. And those flat files not dedicated to Lubalin are filled with rare works from icons that include Push Pin Studios, Seymour Chwast, Milton Glaser, Lou Dorfsman, and Massimo Vignelli.
go inside here

Architecture And Design

February 10, 2017

Brazilian supermodel Caroline Trentini lists her East Village duplex for $2.65M

Brazilian supermodel Caroline Trentini is hoping to unload her East Village condo, a 1,355-square-foot, two-bedroom duplex, for $2.65 million. She purchased the pad, which is located at 311 East 11th Street, in 2010 for $1.715 million, according to LLNYC. For a glamorous supermodel the interior is pretty tame, although the garden-floor apartment does boast an enviable 750-square-foot private backyard.
Take a look

February 2, 2017

Historic Calvert Vaux-designed co-op that was once a refuge for girls, now asks $1.35M as a cozy duplex

Time hasn’t erased the historic feel of this unusual one-bedroom-plus-sleeping loft co-op, diminutive as it is elegant. It has the look of a renovated townhouse in one of the city’s most creative neighborhoods. At $1.35 million this petite pad may be an expensive refuge, but in its earliest days it was a refuge of a different sort with a history as interesting as its architecture–especially at a time when the ability to offer shelter to those in need is firmly in the spotlight. Landmarked in 2008, the subtly ornate red-brick facade of 307 East 12th Street was designed in 1892 by the firm of Calvert Vaux, who co-designed Central and Prospect Park among other enduring landmarks. Built for the Children’s Aid Society, the building was known as the Elizabeth Home for Girls; the New York Times tells us that it housed "several dozen young women rescued from abusive homes, offering them safe lodging, job training and healthy communal activities.”
Find out more about the building's early residents

January 27, 2017

Inside the Village East Cinema, one of NY’s last surviving ‘Yiddish Rialto’ theaters

By James and Karla Murray

Moviegoers at the Village East Cinema may be surprised to learn that they are visiting a recently restored New York City designated landmark. The Village East Cinema has a fascinating history as one of the last surviving “Yiddish Rialto” theaters along Second Avenue in the East Village. Today, the cinema is known for premiering many independent films and an eclectic mix of art and commercial releases. The theater’s most significant visual aspect, however, is its main auditorium’s ornate and colorful ceiling, which is regarded as having one of the most remarkable works of plaster craftsmanship in New York City.
explore the spectacular space here

January 27, 2017

Daughter of rock legend Peter Gabriel lists sunny East Village co-op for $1.65M

Rocker Peter Gabriel's daughter, Anna Gabriel, is unloading her East Village pad for $1.65 million. Gabriel, who has shot music videos that include notably Beyonce’s “Countdown” and “Sweet Dreams,” purchased the apartment at 303 East 8th Street in 2006 for $1.05 million, according to public records. (You can see some photos of her living space here.) Now the two-bedroom unit--which boasts 17 windows across four exposures--is looking to find a new owner.
Take a look

Distinctive Homes

December 23, 2016

This darling prewar apartment asks $535K in the East Village

This one-bedroom apartment is being marketed as both charming and quiet, located at the prewar cooperative 315 East 12th Street in the East Village. You're not getting tons of square feet but it's just enough for a first-time buyer who can afford the price tag of $535,000. This unit's asking price has been creeping up over the years: it was asking $249,000 back in 2006 and then $449,999 in 2008.
Look around

Distinctive Homes

December 23, 2016

‘True Blood’ star Alexander Skarsgård eyes East Village synagogue penthouse

Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgård, of "True Blood" and "Tarzan" fame, may be sinking his teeth into a swanky new East Village pad. The Post reports that he was seen checking out the duplex penthouse at 415 East 6th Street, the Meseritz Synagogue condo conversion. The apartment isn't publicly on the market, but it's still vacant and was last listed for $4.39 million.
See the pad

December 23, 2016

Rent the East Village party pad where Bret Easton Ellis wrote ‘American Psycho’

The East Village loft owned by novelist and literary bad boy Bret Easton Ellis is available for rent for $5,900 per month. Ellis has been renting out the studio apartment since he decamped for Los Angeles a decade ago; he told the Observer he's been holding on to the 950-square-foot, second-floor condo in the American Felt Building at 114 East 13th Street as a back-up plan, "if Los Angeles just doesn’t work out." The "American Psycho" scribe says he spent the late '80s living in the lofty studio–in his early 20s at the time–writing the iconic 1991 novel of late 20th century privilege, materialism and delusion and throwing massive Holly Golightly-esque bashes packed with his contemporaries back in the day in an East Village very different from today's.
Check it out

December 13, 2016

Historic districts and landmarking: What they mean and how they could affect you

In New York City, where buying and selling real estate is a high-stakes endeavor, the topic of historic and landmark designation is frequently raised. There are heated discussions on the subject of listing neighborhoods or buildings on the State and National Register of Historic Places or having them designated by the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission. It's important to know what those organizations do and the distinctions between them. You could even be eligible for significant financial aid for your renovations if you own property in an historic district.
Find out what these designations mean, how you could benefit from them and why they're sometimes controversial.

December 2, 2016

Rent an eclectic, fully furnished East Village loft overlooking Tompkins Square for $6,500/month