Manhattan

This one-bedroom co-op in the Osborne at 205 West 57th Street is situated on what's now known as Billionaires' Row, and for well under $1 million you can include bragging rights to one of the New York City's finest historic residential buildings. Built in 1883 and designated an official city landmark in 1991, the Osborne also boasts one of the city's most sumptuous and dazzling lobbies.
Take a look

Distinctive Homes

DeKalb Market founder tapped to create new food hall in Midtown’s Citigroup building

Rendering of the Market Building from 2017 LPC presentation materials by Gensler

August 22, 2019

DeKalb Market founder tapped to create new food hall in Midtown’s Citigroup building

By Andrew Berman of Village Preservation

The creator behind City Point's DeKalb Market Hall has signed a 15-year lease to open a 10,000-square-foot food hall at the retail annex of the landmarked Citigroup tower at 601 Lexington Avenue. As The Real Deal reported, Anna Castellani's company, Local Culture Management, opened the popular Downtown Brooklyn market in 2017 with 40 vendors. She's expected to bring a similar vibe to Midtown with her latest creation, which will be called "The Hugh" and is scheduled to open in just three to four months.
More details ahead

Food & Dining

August 22, 2019

Elevated rails, rooftops, and McSorley’s: How painter John Sloan captured 20th-century Manhattan

Many artists have been inspired by the scenes of life in New York City, particularly Lower Manhattan. But perhaps no artist captures the feeling of New York during the hot, heavy days of August like the painter John Sloan. Sloan was one of the leading figures of the "Ashcan School" of artists of the early 20th century, a loosely-defined movement which took its name from a derisive reference to the supposed lowbrow quality and themes of their work, and the smudgy, impressionistic brushstrokes they utilized. His workaday subjects and hazy images of city life capture the heaviness of the air of New York during its dog days. Here’s a look at some of those paintings of life in our city 100 years ago.
See NYC through the eyes of Sloan

Events & Things To Do

Rendering courtesy of Museum of Ice Cream

August 22, 2019

The future of retail: Museum of Ice Cream to launch 25,000-square-foot NYC Soho flagship

After a celebrity-sprinkled Meatpacking District pop-up three-years ago drew raves and Instagram likes from Beyonce and Kim Kardashian, The Museum of Ice Cream (MOIC) will open a 25,000-square-foot "flagship" location at 558 Broadway in Soho. The three-story permanent paean to frozen dessert will feature 13 installations devoted to creating "IRL experiences" in New York; the museum calls it "the future of retail" in a press release–and given the number of vacant storefronts in the neighborhood, they could well be right.
MMore MOIC this way

City Living

NYC’s newest Whole Foods will open in Nomad office tower

Whole Foods on the Upper East Side via Flickr

August 20, 2019

NYC’s newest Whole Foods will open in Nomad office tower

New York City is getting another Whole Foods Market. The specialty supermarket chain will open a new location on the ground floor of 63 Madison Avenue, an office tower in Nomad. The lease includes 50,000 square feet on the second level and 10,000 square feet at street level, as the New York Post first reported.
More details here

Uncategorized

August 16, 2019

‘American Gigolo’ director Paul Schrader lists West Chelsea condo for $3.25M

Oscar-nominated film director, screenwriter ("Taxi Driver," "Raging Bull," “American Gigolo” and “The Last Temptation of Christ”) and Martin Scorsese collaborator and pal Paul Schrader just put his three-bedroom Chelsea condo on the market for $3.25 million. The sleek, contemporary home in the building known as Modern 23 at 350 West 23rd Street is just a block from the High Line and near the Hudson River Park and the recently-opened Hudson Yards.
Get a closer look

City sues landlords for listing rent-stabilized Hell’s Kitchen apartments on Airbnb

412 West 46th Street. Image via Google Street View.

August 16, 2019

City sues landlords for listing rent-stabilized Hell’s Kitchen apartments on Airbnb

. The city has named the owners of three Hell's Kitchen buildings in a lawsuit filed this week in Manhattan Supreme Court for operating illegal short-term rentals in rent-stabilized apartments, the New York Observer reports. The city says the owners of 410 and 412 West 46th Street and 452 West 36th Street have neglected their buildings, harassed tenants to get them to move out, deregulated units and kept units vacant to rent out on a short-term basis. Tenants of one building were left without gas or a roof for six months in 2015 due to a fire; the other two are awash in building code violations.
Find out more

Policy

Photo courtesy of the DOT via Flickr

August 16, 2019

This Saturday is your final chance to enjoy Summer Streets

By Nicole Mondrus

Now in its 12th year, Summer Streets returns this Saturday for its third and final hurrah, where New Yorkers can experience over seven miles of car-free streets. Park Avenue will be closed from Chambers Street all the way to 72nd, and the path will be open to cyclists and pedestrians alike. Five “rest stops” will be set up along the route, each with different activities, performances, and free snacks.
Car-free fun this way

Columbia’s Manhattanville campus will get a new food hall next year

Image © Frank Oudeman; courtesy of Columbia University

August 15, 2019

Columbia’s Manhattanville campus will get a new food hall next year

Image © Frank Oudeman; courtesy of Columbia University A new food hall is slated to open at Columbia University’s Manhattanville campus next year. It doesn’t have a name yet but it will be helmed by chef Franklin Becker—known for his fast-casual lunch chain, Little Beet—and will service Columbia students as well as the general public. Food options may include everything from Southern cuisine to Sicilian-style pizza to Spanish tapas, according to early reports from the Wall Street Journal. Speaking to the Journal, Becker said that bringing in a range of independent vendors—versus national food chains—will raise the bar for campus food.
Here's what we know so far

Food & Dining

Over 275,000 sign petition to rename stretch of Fifth Ave in front of Trump Tower after Obama

Via Flickr

August 15, 2019

Over 275,000 sign petition to rename stretch of Fifth Ave in front of Trump Tower after Obama

An online petition to rename a stretch of Fifth Avenue in front of Trump Tower after former President Barack Obama has taken off in the last week, garnering over 275,000 signatures as of Thursday morning. The appeal, written by Elizabeth Rowin from Los Angeles, asks city officials to change the name of Fifth Avenue between 56th and 57th Avenues to "President Barack H. Obama Avenue."
A new address for Trump Tower?

Uncategorized

August 13, 2019

Where I Work: Shelly Fireman’s Redeye Grill has been serving the Carnegie Hall crowd for 25 years

By Dana Schulz

When Sheldon “Shelly” Fireman opened Redeye Grill across from Carnegie Hall 25 years ago, the term "restauranteur" didn't exist. But by that point, he'd already gained local celebrity status for Greenwich Village's all-night Hip Bagel and had the foresight to open Cafe Fiorello near recently completed Lincoln Center. Today, Shelly is the CEO of Fireman Hospitality Group, which operates six restaurants in NYC as well as two on the Potomac River in Maryland. And though he can most definitely be called a restauranteur now, Shelly stands out amongst the myriad food influencers in the city. Though his establishments exude an old-school New York charm and certain nostalgia, he has found the formula to withstand the test of time. After a 2018 kitchen fire, the iconic Redeye Grill reopened in July. We recently sat down to lunch with Shelly to hear more about his story and take a tour of this classic Midtown restaurant.
Have a look around and meet Shelly

Image via Wiki Commons

August 13, 2019

Birdbath in Soho’s iconic green Vesuvio Bakery has closed

City Bakery announced Friday that Birdbath bakery in the Vesuvio storefront at 160 Prince Street has closed for good, Gothamist reports. City Bakery founder Maury Rubin moved into the familiar green storefront in 2009 after the death of Anthony Dapolito, whose family created Vesuvio in 1920. Now, neighbors are wondering if new owners will alter the familiar face of the iconic Soho landmark.
Find out more

City Living

Exclusive supper club for the ultra-wealthy will open at 35 Hudson Yards this fall

Photo by Timothy Schenck for Related-Oxford

August 13, 2019

Exclusive supper club for the ultra-wealthy will open at 35 Hudson Yards this fall

One of the city's most elite supper clubs is set to open this October at 35 Hudson Yards—and early reports say it's so exclusive that even residents of the luxury building (where apartments start at $5.1 million) won't be able to afford a membership. “It’s not for residents,” a source familiar with the project told the New York Post. “It’s for the developer’s super-rich buddies and CEO friends.” Details about the luxe club, which will be called WS New York, are being kept on the down-low but its website boasts "unparalleled access to the finest wine and spirits, world-class dining, and one-of-a-kind cultural events" offering guests an "insider perspective on rarified worlds."
More info

Food & Dining

Thousands of Lower Manhattan tenants may be owed six years’ worth of back rent

Via Flickr

August 12, 2019

Thousands of Lower Manhattan tenants may be owed six years’ worth of back rent

In June, the state's Court of Appeals found that apartments at two Lower Manhattan buildings had been unlawfully deregulated by landlords who had collected millions of dollars in benefits under a 1995 tax program. Now, as The City reports, thousands of former or current tenants in the area may be owed up to six years in back rent from landlords who received the tax breaks for years.
Find out more

Keith Haring’s iconic ‘Crack is Wack’ mural in East Harlem is getting restored

Image via Flickr

August 12, 2019

Keith Haring’s iconic ‘Crack is Wack’ mural in East Harlem is getting restored

It's been 33 years since Keith Haring painted his "Crack is Wack" mural on a handball court near the Harlem River Drive in East Harlem, and now the iconic work is getting a much-needed restoration, as amNY reported. Inspired by his studio assistant Benny—who was struggling with addiction but later recovered—Haring painted the 16-foot by 26-foot mural on June 27, 1986, at the height of the crack cocaine epidemic and intended the piece to function as a warning to young users. Celebrated as one of Haring's most important works, the mural has been shielded by protective coverings in recent years during reconstruction work on the Harlem River Drive.
More details

Iconic New York Public Library lions to get a laser cleaning as part of conservation effort

Photo credit: Jonathan Blanc / NYPL.

August 12, 2019

Iconic New York Public Library lions to get a laser cleaning as part of conservation effort

The iconic lions standing guard outside the The New York Public Library’s 42nd Street location are getting some much-needed grooming this fall. The majestic pair–named Patience and Fortitude–have been in place since 1911 as international symbols for access to knowledge and information. As part of a conservation effort that happens every 7 to 10 years, the stone sentries will receive repairs to cracks and chips and laser cleanings.
A bit of history, this way

City Living

Interactive ‘Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’ arrives at the Paley Center

Photo via Marion Curtis/Starpix for the Paley Center for Media

August 9, 2019

Interactive ‘Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’ arrives at the Paley Center

By Nicole Mondrus

This Saturday, step back in time to 1950s New York City. The Emmy Award-winning comedy "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" is coming to life at the Paley Center for Media’s newest exhibit, "Making Mrs. Maisel." From August 10th to September 6th, visitors can see the iconic costumes featured on the show, watch episodes from season two on the big screen, and even try their hand at stand-up comedy.
Read more

Events & Things To Do

City seeks proposals to develop two East Harlem sites with 350 affordable units and community space

Park Avenue between East 118th and East 119th Streets (top); image via East Harlem Neighborhood Plan.

August 9, 2019

City seeks proposals to develop two East Harlem sites with 350 affordable units and community space

The city's Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) on Thursday issued a request for proposals to develop two city-owned East Harlem sites. The new developments are to include 350 units of affordable housing as well as retail and cultural and community space. The RFPs are part of the East Harlem Housing Plan, which was created with community input received through the East Harlem Neighborhood Planning Process.
Find out more

August 9, 2019

Live on top of the American Copper Buildings’ eye-catching sky bridge for $12K/month

One of the city’s most architecturally significant projects to rise in recent years are the two copper-clad towers at 626 First Avenue in Murray Hill known as the American Copper Buildings. Designed by SHoP Architects and developed by JDS, the twisted towers boast a rare and distinctive feature: an amenity-filled sky bridge linking the two buildings more than 300 feet in the air. According to JDS, the three-story steel truss structure is Manhattan’s first new sky bridge in 80 years. There are only a handful of residences that boast private outdoor space right on the eye-catching sky bridge—and one of them is now on the rental market seeking $12,000 per month.
Take the full tour

Everything you need to know about Sunday’s Dominican Day Parade

Image via Flickr

August 9, 2019

Everything you need to know about Sunday’s Dominican Day Parade

The 37th annual Dominican Day Parade is set to hit Midtown this Sunday, August 11. Described as a "joyful celebration of all things Dominican" on the event website, the tradition started in 1982 as a small event series in Washington Heights but has since become a full-fledged citywide affair, with turnout reaching as high as half of a million people. The event takes place on the second Sunday of August every year, to commemorate the start of the Dominican Restoration War, or La Guerra de la Restauración, which began in 1863 and ended in 1865 with their victory over Spain.
Street closures, transportation options, and more details

August 8, 2019

Jeanne Gang completes ‘solar-carving’ tower on the High Line, her firm’s first NYC building

By Andrew Berman of Village Preservation

The Meatpacking District gained a new architectural landmark this week. Construction of Studio Gang's 40 Tenth Avenue is officially complete, making it Jeanne Gang and her firm's first New York City building. Nicknamed the Solar Carve Tower because the way its facade seems to have been "sculpted by the angles of the sun," the 10-story, High Line-facing office tower is designed to allow for lots of sunlight without casting shadows on the neighboring green space.
Details this way

August 8, 2019

Uncovering the stories behind downtown’s overlooked synagogues

On August 8, 2008, Village Preservation and the East Village Community Coalition (EVCC) submitted a request to the LPC to landmark a little-known but remarkable survivor– Congregation Mezritch Synagogue at 515 East 6th Street between 1st Avenue and Avenue A. The building was the last operating “tenement synagogue” in the East Village. A young, little-known developer named Jared Kushner was planning to tear it down and replace it with condos and a new space for the tiny congregation, which had operated out of the building since 1910. The story has a (relatively) happy ending – the synagogue and much of its surroundings were landmarked in 2012, and the demolition plan was dropped. But unlike the deservedly beloved and celebrated Eldridge Street Synagogue, now a National Historic Landmark, Mezritch is one of several unique but in many cases overlooked historic synagogues still standing in and around Greenwich Village, the East Village, and the Lower East Side, which in the early 20th century contained what was by many accounts the largest Jewish community in the world. Ahead, we take a look at the history of seven of them and what makes them so unique.
Learn about the history

History

August 8, 2019

Karlie Kloss and Josh Kushner’s Nolita pad sells for $6.6M