Manhattan

December 7, 2021

How to steer clear of NYC SantaCon 2021

The idea behind the annual cosplay event is solid: A "charitable, non-political, nonsensical Santa Claus convention that happens once a year to spread absurdist joy." With booze, of course. But after entering the mainstream and picking up steam for a full 25 years (the event took a year off in 2020, because, you know), the annual pub crawl seems better suited to a 1980s frat house than the streets of NYC. And we're pretty sure there are better ways to spend a day of drunken debauchery than yelling across Midtown bars over a horde of sloshed Santa clones. This year's SantaCon details are here, so you can figure out where not to bring a first date on Saturday, December 11. A few more suggestions, ahead.
Ho, ho, no
December 7, 2021

Turtle Bay two-bedroom with pair of enclosed terraces asks $1.9M

Next to the East River and just blocks to the United Nations, a recently renovated two-bedroom condo at 345 East 50th Street is available for $1,895,000. The Turtle Bay digs has a comfortable layout, with the two largest rooms, the living area and the primary bedroom, each benefiting from unique glass-enclosed terraces that stretch into balconies. While the building was constructed in 1900, the home, outfitted with modern conveniences like a built-in espresso machine and central air conditioning, very much meets a 21st-century standard of living.
Get the details
December 6, 2021

New immersive experience will make you feel like you’re flying high over NYC

If you love the vertigo-inducing excitement of SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, Midtown's high-in-the-sky observation deck, you can look forward to RiseNY's pairing of aerial adventure and cultural museum exhibit, powered by the city’s first flight simulation ride. Opening December 17 at 160 West 45th Street, the new immersive attraction combines the ultimate feeling of flight with the inspiration of the city's most famous sites and moments.
Up, up and away
December 6, 2021

$5M penthouse is a Manhattan classic with 360-degree views and wraparound terraces

This 5,000-square-foot penthouse at 303 East 57th Street in the Excelsior co-op tower is the sort of apartment you see in your favorite 20th-century New York City films. Asking $4,995,000, the duplex is wrapped by 2,500 square feet of terrace and offers 360-degree views from four exposures including Central Park and the East River.
Take the grand tour
December 2, 2021

‘Fearless Girl’ statue faces possible eviction as permit expires

In 2018, 6sqft reported that artist Kristen Visbal's "Fearless Girl" statue was on the move to her current spot across from the New York Stock Exchange. Now, the diminutive statue is in the news once again, as her time there may be drawing to a close. The statue's permit with the Landmarks Preservation Commission expired on November 29, and with a city hearing scheduled for December (or even later), the fate of "Fearless Girl" is not a sure thing.
Find out more
December 2, 2021

Ice skating, sledding, fire pits, and more coming to new winter village on Governors Island

For its first winter season ever, Governors Island is pulling out all of the stops. The Trust for Governors Island on Thursday announced it will transform its historic Colonels Row into a winter village with an ice skating rink, fire pits, sled rentals, games, festive food and drinks, and more. Dubbed Governors Island Winter Village, the seasonal destination will open on December 17.
Get the details
December 2, 2021

$865K Greenwich Village studio is small in size, but big in style

Not all New York City studios are created equal, and this one in Greenwich Village, with its functional layout and exposed beams and brick, feels like a cut above the rest. Located at 43 East 10th Street, the co-op has been smartly renovated to include all of the essentials, including a surprisingly large kitchen with a dishwasher, a Sonos home sound system, and access to the shared roof deck. It's asking $865,000.
More here
December 1, 2021

The history of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, a NYC holiday tradition

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, considered the "worldwide symbol of Christmas," will be lit on Wednesday, marking the 89th tree lighting ceremony. After last year's event was closed to spectators because of the pandemic, the tree lighting will once again welcome the public to kick off the holiday season. Ahead of the event, learn about the history of the iconic spruce, from its start as a modest Depression-era pick-me-up for Rockefeller Center construction workers to World War regulations to its current 900-pound Swarovski star.
More on the history here
December 1, 2021

In Murray Hill, $4.5M townhouse has two gracious apartments and a romantic Broadway history

Built in 1857, the 4,000-square-foot townhouse at 113 East 35th Street on a tree-lined Murray Hill block is a fine example of Italianate brownstone style. Inside, a thorough renovation of the home's five floors has resulted in two spacious apartments–a two-bedroom lower duplex and four-bed upper triplex–that offer the best of Manhattan living. Asking $4,500,000, the home has kept its historic details while adding modern style and convenience. It has also been blessed with well-deserved fame of the best New York City kind: Former residents include film and stage stars Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy, who lived here in the 1940s and 1950s, during the heady days of their legendary romance.
Have a look inside
November 30, 2021

New interactive installation in Flatiron asks New Yorkers to dream together

A new public art installation opened in the Flatiron Public Plaza as part of the neighborhood's yearly "23 Days of Flatiron Cheer" event. This year's artwork, called Interwoven, comes from design firm Atelier Cho Thompson and features colorful interactive archways. When two or more people pass through sensors of the same color, corresponding lights and musical compositions by local artists are activated. Interwoven, selected by the Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership and Van Alen Institute as the winner of the eighth annual Flatiron Public Plaza Holiday Design Competition, also has a story wall that invites New Yorkers to share responses to the prompt: "I dream of a world where together we can…"
Learn more
November 29, 2021

For $4.5M, a palatial four-bedroom in prime Lincoln Square

Here's a rare opportunity to own a four-bedroom on the Upper West Side for under $5 million. A sprawling condo located at 155 West 70th Street, within the cultural hub of Lincoln Square, is now available for $4,500,000. Mixing classic design with modern upgrades, the home boasts coffered ceilings and handcrafted moldings, along with a new home automation system and motorized shades.
See inside
November 29, 2021

Lottery opens for 26 luxury middle-income units on the Upper West Side, from $2,135/month

Applications are now being accepted for 26 below-market-rate apartments at a luxury rental building on the Upper West Side. Located at 101 West End Avenue in the Lincoln Square neighborhood, the recently renovated towers contain over 500 apartments and nearly 15,000 square feet of amenities. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the available units, priced at $2,135/month for studios, $2,485/month for one-bedrooms, and $2,760/month for two-bedrooms.
Do you qualify?
November 24, 2021

NYC Council approves sweeping Gowanus rezoning

The New York City Council on Tuesday approved the biggest rezoning of Mayor Bill de Blasio's administration just weeks before his term ends. In a near-unanimous vote, the Council approved plans to upzone 82 blocks of Gowanus, a former industrial hub turned affluent residential neighborhood. As the first rezoning of de Blasio's administration in a predominantly white and wealthy neighborhood, the decision could pave the way for upzoning in similar communities, including the proposal to rezone Soho and Noho, scheduled for a vote next month.
Find out more
November 22, 2021

AMNH’s problematic Theodore Roosevelt statue will relocate to presidential library in North Dakota

After standing on the steps of the American Museum of Natural History for more than 80 years, the statue of Theodore Roosevelt will be removed and relocated to North Dakota. The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, set to open in Medora, N.D. in 2026, announced on Friday it entered into an agreement for a long-term loan of the statue with New York City.
Find out more
November 22, 2021

This $3M West Village co-op has old-world charm at a 21st-century price

This two-bedroom, two-bath co-op at 67 Perry Street is tucked into a landmarked 19th-century row house on one of the loveliest blocks in the coveted West Village. The familiar collection of sweet details–exposed brick, a working fireplace, bay windows, and high ceilings–is enhanced by a considered custom renovation that adds colorful design and modern comfort. The compact floor-through walk-up has been cleverly carved out of a railroad layout, and though it's the embodiment of a romantic Village flat, the $2,995,000 asking price may seem more alarming than charming.
See more of this charming Village flat
November 19, 2021

This bright, cozy $6.5M Upper East Side townhouse was home to Broadway royalty

On the outside, the tidy black-shuttered single-family townhouse at 248 East 68th Street in Lenox Hill is one in a cheerful historic row, built in 1881 by a developer who sought charm instead of monotony. The home is being sold for $6.5 million by the estate of the late Broadway producer Isobel Robins Konecky and her husband, entertainment attorney Ronald Konecky. The couple lived in the house since the 1970s, renovated it in 2006, and created a home with every modern comfort. In doing so they added even more charm to the four-story, four-bedroom home, where they hosted family, friends, and clients, including Walter Cronkite, Roone Arledge, Barbara Walters, and Frank Gifford.
Take the townhouse tour
November 18, 2021

This unique $7M Dakota penthouse has an octagonal cupola and floating glass staircase

This duplex penthouse in the historic Dakota at 1 West 72nd Street on the Upper West Side is architecturally unique and visually stunning. From the octagonal cupola on the main floor that conceals a media room to the glass staircase, window-walled upper-level sunroom, and 500-square-foot terrace, the $6,950,000 co-op is well beyond the ordinary. There's even a private basement studio included, complete with a photo studio and darkroom.
Tour this unusual Dakota aerie
November 18, 2021

At this $6M Soho penthouse, lift and slide glass doors make indoor-outdoor living a breeze

With access to outdoor space and fresh air at residential spaces more desirable than ever, this penthouse on Soho hit the market at the right time. Located on the top of a landmarked condo building at 43 Wooster Street, the duplex loft features a massive set of lift and slide doors that allow the top floor to seamlessly connect to the expansive landscaped terrace. The stunning one-bedroom, two-bath home is now on the market for $6,000,000.
More here
November 18, 2021

The 15 best NYC holiday markets of 2021

Even a pandemic can't keep a New York City shopper down. The city's retail landscape may look different now, but that hasn't dimmed the sparkle of beautiful baubles, clever crafts, and the company of fellow shoppers. While most of the city's holiday markets went virtual last year, many of our favorites have returned in their fabulous original form. The big Manhattan markets at Union Square, Bryant Park, and Columbus Circle are still impressive, but smaller, more intimate neighborhood gems shine brightly on their own. They're all great places to find seasonal delights like ice skating, live music, drinks, food, and family fun designed to keep shoppers' spirits bright.
Find out where the goods are
November 17, 2021

See billionaire Bill Ackman’s plan for a glass house atop a historic UWS building

A plan funded by one of the world's wealthiest people and designed by one of the world's most famous architects still can't get approved in New York City. Billionaire Bill Ackman on Tuesday presented to the Landmarks Preservation Commission his plan to construct a new glass penthouse addition designed by Norman Foster on top of a 100-year-old Upper West Side co-op building where he owns an apartment. After hours-long public testimony, LPC Chair Sarah Carroll sent Ackman and his team back to the drawing board, calling for a scaled-down design.
See it here
November 17, 2021

16-foot-tall ‘Flyboy’ sculpture from artist Hebru Brantley unveiled at The Battery

A 16-foot-tall steel and fiberglass sculpture of a superhero has been installed at The Battery in Lower Manhattan. Designed by artist Hebru Brantley, the artwork, called The Great Debate, is part of a series featuring the character Flyboy, an aviator goggle-wearing, crime-fighter. The sculpture will be on display through November 13, 2022.
Get the details
November 17, 2021

New report shows NYC’s wealthiest neighborhoods saw the highest pandemic exodus

New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer's office released a report this week revealing the impact the Covid-19 pandemic had on the city's population. The numbers show that net residential migration out of NYC tripled during 2020–and residents of the city's wealthiest neighborhoods were the ones most likely to move out. But those numbers appear to be reversing to a pre-pandemic level: Since July 2021, the city has gained an estimated 6,332 residents, and outward-bound migration has actually been lower than it was in 2019.
Who left, and where did they go?
November 17, 2021

Asking $6.6M, this duplex loft in Chelsea has a solarium and a rooftop with panoramic views

Just listed for $6,600,000, this top-floor duplex loft in Chelsea feels like a sanctuary in the sky. Located at 147 West 15th Street, the two-bedroom penthouse has a solarium that opens onto a sprawling landscaped rooftop terrace. Offering 360-degree views, the rooftop has a pergola, lounge area, a garden with a water feature, and an outdoor shower.
See more
November 15, 2021

The 2021 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree has arrived in NYC

With the arrival of this year's Rockefeller Christmas Tree in Midtown, the holiday season in New York City has officially begun. Donated by a family in Elkton, Maryland, the 79-foot-tall Norway spruce was cut down last week, hoisted by a crane, and arrived in Manhattan this weekend following a roughly 140-mile journey via flatbed truck. Considered one of the world's most famous holiday trees, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree will be decorated with thousands of multi-colored lights and a sparkling star topper. The official lighting ceremony is planned for Wednesday, December 1.
More here
November 15, 2021

This $9.9M UWS duplex in the landmarked Apthorp is a house-sized condo with a perfect layout

Asking $9,888,000, this mint-condition 4,200-square foot-duplex in the Apthorp at 390 West End Avenue is a classic luxury Upper West Side condominium with the size and layout of a house. With four upstairs bedrooms and three and a half baths, the layout is perfect for families, guests, and entertaining. The landmarked 1908 building is a Manhattan icon, with Riverside Park a block away.
Take the grand tour
November 10, 2021

New employer survey shows 54 percent of Manhattan workers remain fully remote

In March, 6sqft reported that only 10 percent of Manhattan's office employees had returned to the workplace full-time. Since then, a recent survey shows, only 28 percent are back in the office on an average weekday. According to a survey of major employers between October 19 and October 29 by The Partnership for New York City, only 8 percent of employees are in the office five days a week and 54 percent are only working remotely. A third of employers surveyed said their need for office space will go down over the next five years, and 13 percent expect a reduction of jobs physically located in NYC, especially in the financial services industry.
-More on who's not heading back to the office->