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August 12, 2020

NYC ramps up testing in Sunset Park after uptick in COVID cases

The city will intensify test and trace efforts in Sunset Park after health officials identified over 220 cases of the coronavirus in the Brooklyn neighborhood over the last two weeks. Mayor Bill de Blasio on Wednesday announced that members of the Test and Trace Corps will knock on every door, call all 38,000 households, and direct residents to expanded testing in the community. "Our idea is to saturate Sunset Park over the next few days, literally reach every member of the community we possibly can, get as many people tested as possible, as quickly as possible," de Blasio said.
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Policy

Opulent Beekman Place mansion closes for $38M less than original listing price

Photo credit: Rise Media, Courtesy of Compass

August 12, 2020

Opulent Beekman Place mansion closes for $38M less than original listing price

By Dana Schulz

More than six years ago, this opulent, eight-story mansion at 29 Beekman Place listed for $49.9 million. Just one year later, it dropped to $37.5 million, with another major price chop this April to $11.45 million. First spotted by Crain's, city property records show that the controversial home near the UN has finally closed for $11.5 million. Crain's explains that it was owned by the former princess of Iran, and was the center of a legal battle involving her sister since 2016. It also went into contract three times and fell through.
See the whole place

Real Estate Trends

New interactive map tells the story of women’s suffrage in Greenwich Village

Screenshot of the 19th Amendment Centennial StoryMap, courtesy of Village Preservation

August 12, 2020

New interactive map tells the story of women’s suffrage in Greenwich Village

By Dana Schulz

Next week, on August 18th, we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. Though the fight to give women the right to vote was a national effort, much of the movement had roots in New York City. And like most 20th-century advocacy efforts, a lot of that action was centered downtown. To mark this momentous occasion, Village Preservation has created an interactive 19th Amendment Centennial StoryMap that showcases the remarkable number of people and places in Greenwich Village, the East Village, and Noho that played a key role in the women’s suffrage movement.
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History

Target to open at major mixed-use development in Harlem

BRP Companies

August 12, 2020

Target to open at major mixed-use development in Harlem

By Devin Gannon

A deal to bring the National Urban League back to Harlem was reached last month as part of a mixed-use development project planned for 125th Street. In addition to affordable housing, office space for nonprofits, and the city's first museum dedicated to civil rights, the $242 million project, known as the Urban League Empowerment Center, includes a new 44,000-square-foot Target, as the New York Post first reported.
Get the details

Listing images courtesy of Warburg Realty

August 12, 2020

$645K Upper East Side studio got a glam makeover

By Dana Schulz

This 530-square-foot Upper East Side studio may be petite, but it has everything you'd need--tons of closet space, a full kitchen, and space for both a bed area and a seating area. Listed for $645,000 at 165 East 72nd Street, the co-op is also a catch for the glam makeover it received.
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Distinctive Homes

MTV cancels VMAs at Barclays Center, announces outdoor performances throughout NYC

Photo by Ajay Suresh on Flickr

August 11, 2020

MTV cancels VMAs at Barclays Center, announces outdoor performances throughout NYC

By Dana Schulz

Along with most other large events for the rest of the year, MTA has decided to cancel the annual Video Music Awards ceremony that would have been held at Brooklyn's Barclays Center on August 30th. Instead, "The 2020 VMAs will be held on Sunday, August 30th and pay homage to the incredible resiliency of New York with several outdoor performances around the City with limited or no audience, adhering to all state and city guidelines," according to a joint statement from MTV and the Barclays Center.
More details here

Events & Things To Do

August 11, 2020

Brooklyn’s ‘greenest block’ is one step closer to becoming a historic district

By Devin Gannon

The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday calendared a block in Brooklyn's East Flatbush neighborhood for consideration as a new historic district. The proposed strip on East 25th Street between Clarendon Road and Avenue D consists of 56 remarkably cohesive limestone and brownstone buildings built by a single developer between 1909 and 1912. The effort to landmark the block, which has been awarded the "greenest block in Brooklyn" by the Brooklyn Botanic Garden four times, is being led by the community, which asked the LPC to evaluate the area last year.
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Policy

Photo by Eden, Janine and Jim via Flickr cc

August 11, 2020

150 NYC restaurants with outdoor dining

By 6sqft

With outdoor dining in New York City extended through October, there are countless spots to dine al fresco, with restaurants able to set up seating on sidewalks, adjacent parking spots, rooftops, and gardens. To help you decide where to eat first, we've begun compiling a list of some of the best restaurants offering outdoor dining, neighborhood by neighborhood. This is by no means an exhaustive list, so we hope that you, our readers, will share more restaurants with us that we can add to this list.
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August 11, 2020

NYC launches online portal with free eviction help

By Devin Gannon

An online portal launched on Monday to help New York City renters avoid eviction by providing free resources and legal assistance. The new website comes just days after Gov. Andrew Cuomo extended the state's eviction moratorium for at least another month, only hours before it was set to expire. But with housing trials expected to resume in September in most of the city, tenant advocates say that no law currently in place protects the 14,000 households issued eviction warrants prior to the pandemic.
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Policy

Distinctive Homes

Doors of steel and glass make this $3M Soho loft feel like a box of light

For $1.2M, this Park Slope brownstone co-op gets the top-floor perk of a private roof deck

Sky mansion with dramatic curves on Billionaires' Row asks $10M

This $8M Dumbo condo with a private rooftop spa embodies penthouse living

Tribeca's iconic skybridge property is back on the market for $30M

For $825K, a sweet South Slope co-op near Prospect Park

This $3.75M co-op is an architect-designed masterpiece in a classic Village loft

This $3M Williamsburg home is the rare condo with all of its loft charm intact

This $3.5M Noho co-op remembers the origins of loft living

For $5.5M, a gallerist's Soho loft is the perfect backdrop for your art collection

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August 11, 2020

Roosevelt Island’s colorful Manhattan Park Pool Club is back and open to the public

By Devin Gannon

A playful art installation has returned to Manhattan Park, a waterfront rental on Roosevelt Island. Every summer since 2015, an artist is selected to transform the building's pool deck with a dazzling 8,500-square-foot mural. This year, as part of a partnership with Corcoran New Developments, Pliskin Architecture, K&Co, and Manhattan Park, artist Alex Proba from Studio Proba designed the sixth annual pop-up mural, with a mix of colorful shapes and forms spread out across the outdoor space.
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Events & Things To Do

Photos by Allyson Lubow, courtesy of The Corcoran Group

August 11, 2020

Creative touches and a charming patio set this $2.2M Park Slope loft apart

By Dana Schulz

Buildings like this one, Ansonia Court, are full of lofts will all the classic details--beamed ceilings, exposed brick, and cast iron accents. And though this unit is no different, its creative touches and charming little patio give it a bit of extra selling power. Listed for $2,180,000, the three-bedroom Park Slope co-op is spread over two floors and has bright, cheerful rooms.
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Distinctive Homes

There’s a basement basketball court at this $35M Upper West Side brownstone

Listing photos courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

August 10, 2020

There’s a basement basketball court at this $35M Upper West Side brownstone

By Dana Schulz

And that's just the beginning. In addition to a basketball court in the basement, this $35 million Upper West Side brownstone has 21 rooms, four outdoor spaces, a wine cellar, and a personal gym. The home at 32 West 76th Street just came out of a multi-year renovation that left it with and some serious contemporary flair and nearly 11,000 square feet of indoor living space.
See it all here

Distinctive Homes

MTA wants Apple to make it easier for users to unlock iPhones with masks on

Sally Librera, Senior Vice President of Subways, distributing free face masks to transit customers on July 23; Photo: Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit on Flickr

August 10, 2020

MTA wants Apple to make it easier for users to unlock iPhones with masks on

By Devin Gannon

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Sunday asked Apple to develop a more simplistic face-recognition system to prevent riders from removing face coverings to unlock their smartphones while commuting. An update to the company's Face ID feature is currently in the works, but in a letter to CEO Tim Cook, MTA Chair Pat Foye requested the technology be expedited. "We urge Apple to accelerate the deployment of new technologies and solutions that further protect customers in the era of COVID-19," Foye wrote, according to the Associated Press.
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David Chang, Tom Colicchio, and others propose ‘Safe and Just Reopening Plan’ for restaurants

Photo by Marcus Herzberg from Pexels

August 10, 2020

David Chang, Tom Colicchio, and others propose ‘Safe and Just Reopening Plan’ for restaurants

By Dana Schulz

Despite the outward success of outdoor dining, New York City's restaurant industry is struggling. A report from the NYC Hospitality Alliance found that 83 percent of restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and event venues did not pay their full July rent, and last week, unemployed Americans lost the $600 bonus to their unemployment checks. And with indoor dining on hold indefinitely, there seems to be no clear path forward. This is why nearly 50 restaurant owners in the city, including David Chang, Tom Collichio, and Danny Meyer, have penned a letter to Governor Cuomo outlining their four-part "Safe and Just Reopening Plan" that most notably calls for eliminating the tipped minimum wage.
Learn about the whole plan here

Listing photos courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

August 10, 2020

$695K Upper East Side one-bedroom has a terrace twice as large as the apartment

By Dana Schulz

The interior of this one-bedroom Upper East Side condo measures a not-too-shabby 719 square feet, but the amazing terrace is nearly twice that size at 1,100 square feet. It's set up with four separate areas for meditating, lounging, dining, and even playing ping pong. Located at 400 East 90th Street, the apartment was recently listed for $695,000.
Lots more to see

Distinctive Homes

UrbanSpace will open a new food hall at Union Square tech hub

Rendering of Zero Irving courtesy of RAL Development Services

August 7, 2020

UrbanSpace will open a new food hall at Union Square tech hub

By Dana Schulz

Pioneering food hall operator Urbanspace is opening its latest outpost at Union Square reports the NY Post. They've leased 10,000 square feet at Zero Irving, the contested tech hub on 14th Street that will serve as office space, a technology training center and incubator, co-working spaces, and an event space when it opens in the first half of 2021.
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Food & Dining

Schools cleared to open in all New York regions

Via Pixabay

August 7, 2020

Schools cleared to open in all New York regions

By Devin Gannon

Every school district in New York can open in September for-in person instruction, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Friday. Last month, the governor said schools can open in a region if it is in phase four of reopening and if the daily infection rate remains at or below 5 percent over a 14-day average. If the infection rate spikes above 9 percent over a 7-day average, schools will close, Cuomo said.
Get the details

Policy

NYC financed over 30,000 affordable homes this fiscal year

Co-op City’s 15,000 apartments will remain affordable for another three decades; Photo by David L Roush on Wikimedia

August 7, 2020

NYC financed over 30,000 affordable homes this fiscal year

By Devin Gannon

Co-op City's 15,000 apartments will remain affordable for another three decades; Photo by David L Roush on Wikimedia The city has financed 30,023 affordable homes in the fiscal year 2020, with more than half of the homes serving families earning less than $52,000, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Wednesday. Of the homes financed, 23,520 were preserved and 6,503 were new construction. The milestone comes as the mayor's ambitious plan to preserve and build 300,000 affordable homes by 2026 is facing delays thanks to the pandemic, which has forced the city to cut funding for new affordable housing projects.
More here

$3.45M Nomad loft is full of tech and bold design

By Dana Schulz

We hate to use the term millennial, but for that younger generation with the means to buy a luxury condo, this Nomad home has all the stylish design, tech features, and outdoor space that would be on the checklist. Located at 76 Madison Avenue and just listed for $3,450,000, the two-bedroom apartment was renovated by renowned NYC and NOLA firm Brockschmidt & Coleman, and it has everything from hidden televisions to app-controlled lighting and shades.
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Distinctive Homes

Sales launch at new Prospect Park-facing condo tower, from $2.4M

Renderings courtesy of Binyan Studios

August 7, 2020

Sales launch at new Prospect Park-facing condo tower, from $2.4M

By Devin Gannon

A condo building across from Prospect Park in Brooklyn launched sales this week, with two-bedrooms starting at $2.395 million. Located next to landmarked Grand Army Plaza, One Prospect Park West in Park Slope was built in 1925 and once served as a hotel for the Knights of Columbus and later as a senior home. Developer Sugar Hill Capital Partners is converting the historic 10-story building into a luxury condominium with 64 residences with 40 unique floor plans.
Get the details

New York’s eviction moratorium extended by one month

Photo by Goh Rhy Yan on Unsplash

August 6, 2020

New York’s eviction moratorium extended by one month

By Devin Gannon

The statewide moratorium on eviction has been extended another month, offering temporary relief to thousands of New Yorkers at risk of losing their homes. The order was set to expire midnight on Thursday, but Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed an executive order extending the rule to September 4. The New York State Unified Court System is expected to announce on Thursday whether it will follow the mandate and issue new guidance on evictions.
More here

Policy

New downtown Jersey City rental will have a ‘Miami-inspired resort’ on its rooftop

Rendering by Pax Brooklyn

August 6, 2020

New downtown Jersey City rental will have a ‘Miami-inspired resort’ on its rooftop

By Dana Schulz

DVORA 175 is a new 148-unit rental building coming to Jersey City, and just like a lot of the luxury rentals springing up in the area, it has a rooftop pool, this one with a "Miami-inspired resort" vibe, according to a press lease. The 14-story building at 175 Second Street is located in what's known as the Powerhouse Arts District, a section of downtown full of old warehouse buildings. Though pricing has not yet been released, leasing will kick off next month with initial occupancy slated for October.
More on the development here

$5.9M penthouse is Asbury Park’s most expensive home ever sold

Rendering courtesy of Binyan Studios

August 6, 2020

$5.9M penthouse is Asbury Park’s most expensive home ever sold

By Devin Gannon

A penthouse in Asbury Park that was listed for $5.9 million just closed, becoming the most expensive home ever sold in the Jersey Shore town. Located at the 17-story Asbury Ocean Club, the duplex penthouse contains four bedrooms, four bathrooms, and boasts roughly 2,300 square feet of outdoor space, which comes in the form of a wrap-around terrace, sunroom, and outdoor kitchen.
More here

Real Estate Trends

Sunny Chelsea studio has everything you need for $435K

Listing photos courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

August 6, 2020

Sunny Chelsea studio has everything you need for $435K

By Dana Schulz

If you're on a budget but still want to be a homeowner, sometimes a studio is your best bet. And this lovely place at 451 West 22nd Street in Chelsea has just about everything you'd want in a starter home despite its tiny footprint. The sunny south-facing studio feels even brighter thanks to high ceilings, and it maximizes space with a built-in Murphy bed and a full wall of closets.
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Distinctive Homes

August 6, 2020

Krispy Kreme opens in Harlem with NYC’s first doughnut hot light

By Dana Schulz

There are a few things Krispy Kreme is known for--its melt-in-your-mouth glazed doughnuts, paper hats, and its "hot light," which lights up to show customers that doughnuts are hot out of the oven. This week, they opened their latest NYC outpost at 319 West 125th Street in Harlem, and it features the city's very first hot light. The shop will serve these right-off-the-line doughnuts at a production rate of more than 100 per hour.
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Food & Dining

Historic Connecticut estate built by the man behind the Empire State Building lists for $8.3M

All photos courtesy of Houlihan Lawrence

August 5, 2020

Historic Connecticut estate built by the man behind the Empire State Building lists for $8.3M

By Dana Schulz

This sprawling English Manor-style estate in Greenwich, Connecticut was built in 1928 by Paul Starrett, one of the main developers behind the Empire State Building and the Plaza. Set on nearly three acres, the seven-bedroom home has grand interiors, romantic landscaping, and a gorgeous pool. It's just hit the market for $8,295,000.
Have a look around here

NYC is setting up COVID checkpoints at major entry points to enforce 14-day quarantine

Photo by Eepeng Cheong on Unsplash

August 5, 2020

NYC is setting up COVID checkpoints at major entry points to enforce 14-day quarantine

By Devin Gannon

New York City will set up "COVID-19 checkpoints" at key entry points this week to ensure compliance with the state's quarantine requirements, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Wednesday. Travelers to New York from 35 states currently on the travel advisory list, which includes places with 10 infections per 100,000 residents on a seven-day rolling average, must quarantine for 14 days. Starting Wednesday, the Sheriff's Office will be deployed at bridges, tunnels, and busy transit hubs to remind visitors of the mandatory quarantine. The new initiative comes as about 20 percent of new coronavirus cases in New York City are from people traveling in from other states, according to Dr. Ted Long, head of the Test & Trace Corps.
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Policy

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Snag the Greenest Seat in Town: Gufram's 1972 Pratone Chair is Shaped Like a Patch of Grass

Everything you need to know about affordable housing: applying, getting in, and staying put

10 best plants for apartment dwellers

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Brooklyn Laboratory Charter Schools/SITU/WXY

August 5, 2020

This sidewalk ‘front porch’ was designed to help students return to school in COVID times

By Dana Schulz

The list of anxieties surrounding a return to school for students and their parents is seemingly endless, but the architects at SITU and WXY have designed an outdoor lobby that they hope can help alleviate some of this stress. Built upon the work of design-forward scaffolding firm Urban Umbrella, the "Front Porch" concept has been installed at the Brooklyn Laboratory Charter School to "allow students and faculty to be protected from the elements while queuing to enter, while hand sanitizing and having their temperatures taken," according to a press release.
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Architecture And Design

Eataly’s flowery rooftop to reopen with DIY gin drinks and summer dishes

Photo courtesy of Eataly

August 5, 2020

Eataly’s flowery rooftop to reopen with DIY gin drinks and summer dishes

By Devin Gannon

Eataly's 14th-floor rooftop in the Flatiron District has been transformed into a blooming greenhouse. Opening on Friday, Serra Fiorita by Birreria will bring Italian summer to Manhattan with a seasonal menu, build-your-own gin drinks, and a flowery decor inspired by a 3D paper book. Tables will be distanced, capacity will be limited, and reservations can be made on OpenTable to avoid crowding.
More here

Food & Dining

Leasing kicks off at Essex Crossing’s largest building, with rentals from $3,000/month

Renderings courtesy QuallsBenson/ visuals

August 5, 2020

Leasing kicks off at Essex Crossing’s largest building, with rentals from $3,000/month

By Devin Gannon

Leasing launched on Wednesday for 142 apartments at the Lower East Side's Essex Crossing development. The Artisan, located at 180 Broome Street, is the largest building at the nine-site project and contains office and retail space, as well as access to the ground-floor Market Line. Pricing starts at $3,000/month for studios, $4,000/month for one-bedrooms,$6,000/month for two-bedrooms, and $8,000 for three-bedrooms.
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Uncategorized

This $4M modern Seaport loft is actually in an 18th-century building

Listing photos courtesy of Douglas Elliman

August 5, 2020

This $4M modern Seaport loft is actually in an 18th-century building

By Dana Schulz

One of the fun things about New York City's architecture is how hidden its history can be. Take for example 130 Beekman Street in the South Street Seaport Historic District. The five-story building was actually built in 1798, but it's undergone several renovations over the years, and its condo units are completely modern. Just listed for $3,995,000 is the building's crown jewel, a three-bedroom, top-floor loft with two beautiful outdoor spaces.
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Distinctive Homes

Apply for 15 affordable apartments off Williamsburg’s Metropolitan Avenue, from $818/month

Photo: Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit

August 4, 2020

Apply for 15 affordable apartments off Williamsburg’s Metropolitan Avenue, from $818/month

By Devin Gannon

A housing lottery launched this week for 15 affordable apartments in Williamsburg. The rental at 31 Ainslie Street is currently accepting applications from New Yorkers earning 60 percent of the area median income, or an annual household income of between $28,286 and $73,680. Just steps from the Metropolitan G and L trains, the building is near a number of notable bars, restaurants, and vintage shops.
Do you qualify?

Affordable Housing

$1.5M Boerum Hill beauty has a backyard sanctuary and barnyard-chic interiors

Image Credit: Alex Mahgoub/Compass

August 4, 2020

$1.5M Boerum Hill beauty has a backyard sanctuary and barnyard-chic interiors

By Dana Schulz

This duplex at 50 3rd Avenue in Boerum Hill definitely looks like it could've been designed by Chip and Joanna Gaines. Though we're pretty sure they didn't travel to Brooklyn to design this two-bedroom condo, it has plenty of their famous "modern farmhouse" design elements, most notably reclaimed wood on the walls and ceiling. The aesthetic is carried over to the backyard, where twinkly lights and climbing vines set the stage for a true outdoor oasis. The apartment has just listed for $1,474,000.
Take the tour

Distinctive Homes

Radio City cancels the Rockettes this Christmas

Photo by Kevin Poh via Flickr cc

August 4, 2020

Radio City cancels the Rockettes this Christmas

By Dana Schulz

In a not-surprising announcement, Radio City Music Hall says they will not put on their famous Christmas Spectacular featuring the Rockettes this year, the first time since 1933. The decision comes after Broadway said it will stay dark for the rest of the year and other venues like the Met Opera, Lincoln Center, NYC Ballet, and Carnegie Hall cancelled the rest of their 2020 seasons. As NBC New York noted, the Rockettes typically rehearse for more than 200 hours leading up to the show's November debut.
More details here

Events & Things To Do

Since March, thousands of small businesses in NYC have closed for good

Photo by Peter Burka on Flickr

August 4, 2020

Since March, thousands of small businesses in NYC have closed for good

By Devin Gannon

New York City small businesses are barely hanging on. More than 2,800 have closed permanently since March 1, the New York Times reported. And when the pandemic eventually subsides, as many as one-third of the city's 230,000 small businesses may not reopen, according to a report from the Partnership for New York City. Despite the city reaching the final and fourth phase of reopening, the distribution of millions of dollars in aid, and creative measures to help shops survive, thousands of businesses remain at risk.
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Policy

Photo of The Greens courtesy of The Howard Hughes Corporation

August 4, 2020

You can lounge and dine at a rooftop ‘lawn’ at the South Street Seaport

By Dana Schulz

Social distancing guidelines have definitely gotten restaurants to be extra creative, like The Rooftop at Pier 17 which has just opened a new dining experience where guests can book one of 28 "mini-lawns." Called The Greens, the experience has transformed the South Street Seaport rooftop venue into private cabana-style plots, each of which can accommodate eight guests.
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Here’s what Facebook’s huge new office will look like at Midtown’s former Farley Post Office

Rendering courtesy of Vornado Realty Trust

August 4, 2020

Here’s what Facebook’s huge new office will look like at Midtown’s former Farley Post Office

By Devin Gannon

Facebook has signed a lease for 730,000 square feet at the former James A. Farley Post Office, a Midtown landmark currently being converted into a mixed-use building, Vornado Realty Trust announced Monday. Reports of the deal first surfaced last December, but the coronavirus pandemic put into question the need for massive office space with thousands of workers. But Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the deal shows New York's resilience as the city recovers from the crisis. "Vornado's and Facebook's investment in New York and commitment to further putting down roots here - even in the midst of a global pandemic - is a signal to the world that our brightest days are still ahead and we are open for business," Cuomo said in a statement. "This public-private partnership fortifies New York as an international center of innovation."
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Real Estate Trends

Jennifer Lawrence sells Upper East Side penthouse at a $6M loss

All photos courtesy of Compass

August 4, 2020

Jennifer Lawrence sells Upper East Side penthouse at a $6M loss

By Dana Schulz

In 2016, Jennifer Lawrence picked up a $15.6 million penthouse on the Upper East Side. She must have really wanted to offload it, because last summer, she listed it for $15,450,000 and dropped it to $12 million earlier this month. According to city property records, the Oscar-winning actress ultimately sold the home at 400 East 67th Street for $9,900,000, taking a nearly $6 million loss. Listing agent Pamela D'Arc of Compass declined to comment on the sale.
Go inside

After original church was destroyed on 9/11, construction restarts at new St. Nicholas Shrine

All photos courtesy of Governor Andrew Cuomo/Flickr

August 3, 2020

After original church was destroyed on 9/11, construction restarts at new St. Nicholas Shrine

By Dana Schulz

It's been nearly 20 years since St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine was lost in the attacks on 9/11, but today, Governor Cuomo announced the restart of construction on the new Santiago Calatrava-designed church. Work originally began in 2015, but stalled in late 2017 when the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America ran out of funding.
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New Developments

Katz’s Deli launches its own local delivery service

Photo courtesy of Lower East Side Partnership

August 3, 2020

Katz’s Deli launches its own local delivery service

By Devin Gannon

Last month, Katz's Delicatessen opened for outdoor dining for the first time in its 132-year history. And last week, the legendary Lower East Side eatery launched its own local delivery service, dodging the excessive fees charged by third-party companies. As first reported by the Bowery Boogie, diners can order from Katz's classic menu directly from their website, including pastrami and corned beef sandwiches, matzoh ball soup, and square potato knishes.
More details here

Food & Dining

De Blasio says outdoor dining will return to NYC next summer

Outdoor dining on West 71st Street between Central Park West and Columbus. Photo by 6sqft.

August 3, 2020

De Blasio says outdoor dining will return to NYC next summer

By Dana Schulz

In a press conference this morning, Mayor de Blasio announced that the city's popular Open Restaurants program will return on June 1, 2021, if not earlier in the spring. He recently expanded this year's outdoor dining program through October 31 after it was found to be successful and safe and after the state indefinitely postponed indoor dining in New York City. De Blasio said that an estimated 80,000 jobs from more than 9,000 participating businesses have been saved since the program launched on June 22 when the city entered phase two of reopening.
More details ahead

See the 193 new Rockefeller Center flags designed by the public

Courtesy of Tishman Speyer

August 3, 2020

See the 193 new Rockefeller Center flags designed by the public

By Devin Gannon

The iconic flags that surround the Rink at Rockefeller Center got a makeover over the weekend. Public art initiative "The Flag Project" opened on Saturday with 193 new flags designed by the public, as well as a number of well-known artists and designers. Led by Tishman Speyer, the installation aims to celebrate New York City as the city continues its fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
Find out more

Events & Things To Do

NYC’s latest set of outdoor dining open streets includes 13 blocks on the Upper West Side

Open streets outdoor dining along West 47th Street, photo by CityRealty

August 3, 2020

NYC’s latest set of outdoor dining open streets includes 13 blocks on the Upper West Side

By Dana Schulz

Open streets outdoor dining along West 47th Street, photo by CityRealty On Friday, Mayor de Blasio announced that an additional 15 locations would be closing to traffic and opening their streets for outdoor dining through a combination of the city's Open Streets and Open Restaurants programs. This brings the total to 62 participating streets. Some of the latest include 13 blocks along Amsterdam Avenue on the Upper West Side, another stretch in Chinatown, Koreatown, a few in Noho/Soho, and five blocks along Vanderbilt Avenue in Prospect Heights. Since restaurants were first able to open for outdoor dining when phase two began on June 22, more than 9,500 have signed on to participate.
The full list of open streets

Outdoor dining comes to two NYC food halls

The Market Line Patio; Credit: Greater Studio

August 3, 2020

Outdoor dining comes to two NYC food halls

By Devin Gannon

With nearly 10,000 New York City restaurants open for outdoor dining, now even food halls are getting in on the Open Restaurants program. The Market Line at Essex Crossing on Friday opened a spacious outdoor patio and a menu made up of a mix of vendors from the Lower East Side food hall. And Time Out Market will reopen its fifth-floor rooftop and seating along the waterfront in Dumbo this week.
Find out more

Food & Dining

Queens County Farm Museum reopens this weekend with first-ever site-specific art installation

Photo credit: Aaron Asis

July 31, 2020

Queens County Farm Museum reopens this weekend with first-ever site-specific art installation

By Devin Gannon

The Queens County Farm Museum is set to reopen its 47 acres to the public on Sunday after temporarily closing in March because of the coronavirus pandemic. Along with the reopening, Queens Farm will also unveil its first-ever site-specific art installation: Cover Crop by the artist Aaron Asis. The half-acre artwork includes a "planted composition" with crisscrossing paths, letting visitors discover the farm's cover crops, including sweet peas, buckwheat, and rye.
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Events & Things To Do

The Greenwich by Rafael Vinoly

125 Greenwich Street

Financial District

The new altitude of downtown living

studios starting at $1,110,000
1 beds starting at $1,495,000
2 beds starting at $2,785,000
3 beds starting at $3,600,000

Learn More

Lottery opens for 45 affordable units at supportive rental near Crotona Park, from $748/month

Photo via Wikimedia

July 31, 2020

Lottery opens for 45 affordable units at supportive rental near Crotona Park, from $748/month

By Devin Gannon

Applications are now being accepted for 45 affordable apartments at a new supportive residential building in the Claremont Village section of the South Bronx. Located at 3500 Park Avenue a half-mile from Crotona Park, the seven-story development sets aside some studios for homeless veterans with disabilities, chronically homeless adults with mental illness, and homeless seniors with disabilities. The remaining apartments, now available through the housing lottery, are designated for low-income seniors and families that earn 50 and 60 percent of the area median income.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

July 31, 2020

For $5.25M, you can own a modernist ‘House at Sagaponac’ in the Hamptons

By Dana Schulz

Designed by Calvin Tsao and Zack McKown of renowned contemporary firm Tsao & McKown Architects, this residence is one of the original Houses at Sagaponac, a modernist development conceived in the early 2000s by developer Harry "Coco" Brown and architect Richard Meier. The original plan was for 32 homes to be built by different prominent architects, but after Brown's death and the recession, only eight were completed, making them even more special. This five-bedroom home utilizes moveable glass walls and oversized windows to take in views of the surrounding greenery and incredible 60-foot pool and sun deck.
The full tour ahead

Distinctive Homes

For $3M, this Williamsburg townhouse was designed as an airy artist’s home

Photo credit: DDReps

July 31, 2020

For $3M, this Williamsburg townhouse was designed as an airy artist’s home

By Dana Schulz

At first look, you might assume that this townhouse at 580 Driggs Avenue in North Williamsburg is new construction, but it was actually built in 1899 and completely gut renovated inside and out in 2019. The "custom artist's home," as the listing calls it, was designed as "an airy open layout and plenty of room to spread out, work from home, or relax on the roof deck or in the garden." Listed for $2,950,000, it's just over 2,300 square feet and has four bedrooms.
See the whole place

Distinctive Homes

Photograph by Ximena Exhague, @ximena_exhague

July 30, 2020

Powerful photos show the COVID-19 crisis through the eyes of New Yorkers

By Devin Gannon

The Museum of the City of New York will reopen on Saturday with a stunning new outdoor installation. The first phase of the museum's New York Responds project includes a photo exhibit depicting life in New York City in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic and the Black Lives Matter protests that kicked off in May and continue today. On view starting August 1, the powerful photographs have been installed at the Upper East Side museum's terrace and balustrade.
See it here

Events & Things To Do

‘No end in sight’: How NYC is dealing with the growing hunger crisis

City Harvest driver Ramon Vargas, July 17, 2020, in New York. Photo by Jason DeCrow for City Harvest

July 30, 2020

‘No end in sight’: How NYC is dealing with the growing hunger crisis

By Devin Gannon

While the spread of the coronavirus in New York is waning, another crisis shows no signs of slowing. The number of people experiencing food insecurity in New York City continues to grow, with a projected increase of 38 percent this year compared to 2018. In response, nonprofits like City Harvest, the city's largest food rescue organization, have tremendously scaled up their operations to meet demand. The group has rescued more than 42 million pounds of food since March, a 92 percent increase from the same period last year.
Learn more

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