September 19, 2019

Just listed for $4.7M, Kanye West’s former Soho home wears ego-soothing neutral hues

This sleek and civilized condo at 25 West Houston Street was the long-time Soho residence of musician and fashion powerhouse Kanye West and his wife, Kim Kardashian. Designed by Italian minimalist architect and designer Claudio Silvestrin, the home is a study in tobacco and beige, guaranteed not to upstage the personality of its owners. And like its (former) owners, it has been showcased in the pages of Vogue and Elle Décor. The 2,427-square-foot Soho one-bedroom  (easily convertible to two) just hit the market for $4.7 million.
Soft lighting, ample closets, this way
September 19, 2019

City expands benefits of rent freeze programs for seniors and New Yorkers with disabilities

The city has released updated guidelines for its rent freeze programs that help senior citizens (aged 62 and over) and tenants with qualifying disabilities (aged 18 and over) stay in affordable housing by freezing their rent. Eligible tenants living in rent-controlled apartments can now freeze their rent at the preferential level, instead of the legal rent. “The City’s rent freeze programs have given tens of thousands of New Yorkers peace of mind and housing stability,” said Mayor de Blasio. “Now that we can freeze preferential rents, the program will bring even more relief.” 
More details
September 18, 2019

The final Vendy Awards are coming to Governors Island this Saturday

This weekend is your last chance to enjoy New York City's famous annual street food showdown. The competition between New York City's finest street vendors, known as the Vendy Awards, is ending on Saturday, Sept. 21 after 15 years. The last event ever will be held on Governors Island, providing one last chance to enjoy one of the city's most anticipated food events. Organized by the Street Vendor Project at the Urban Justice Center, the contest began with only four vendors in 2005. It has since expanded to feature vendors from across the city, serving nearly two thousand food-loving attendees annually and providing a career boost for vendors. The highlight of the event will be the 15 nominees who will compete for the top award, the Vendy Cup.
Check out the finalists, this way
September 18, 2019

$8M Village townhouse has an underground tunnel that connects to its carriage house

For those who are up for a significant project, this unique Greenwich Village property has a lot of potential and some unusual features, starting with its configuration. The 1830 townhouse at 10 Bedford Street—now on the market for just shy of $8 million—sits on a 101-foot deep lot along with a separate carriage house that can be accessed via a tunnel or an elevated walkway in the garden. For the right buyer, this unusual setup could be a big enough draw by itself, despite the renovation work required inside.
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September 18, 2019

REVEALED: $150M renovation of Central Park North includes new pool, skating rink, and more

The north end of Central Park around the Harlem Meer is one of its most beautiful vistas, but because of the large, obtrusive Lasker Rink and Pool, it is currently disconnected from the North Woods below it, as well as the rest of the park. To better connect the area, the Central Park Conservancy and the City of New York today revealed a $150 million project to build a new pool and rink that will bring year-round recreation, as well as integrate into the surrounding landscape and restore lost pedestrian connections.
See all the renderings and plans
September 18, 2019

Review of mechanical space use continues at Extell’s Upper West Side tower

Extell's Snøhetta-designed Upper West Side tower at 50 West 66th Street has cleared one set of legal challenges but the building's contested use of mechanical spaces remains an issue. As Crain’s reported on Tuesday, the city’s Board of Standards and Appeals voted down challenges to the building’s split zoning lots—upholding the Department of Buildings permits for the project—but voted to further scrutinize the tower’s use of mechanical floor spaces by initiating a review of whether Extell is “appropriately occupying” those spaces.
Get the scoop
September 18, 2019

Sublime interiors and two terraces make this $1.9M Brooklyn Heights brownstone duplex extraordinary

Asking $1.895 million, this circa 1844 brownstone duplex at 44 Remsen Street sits on one of the most sought after blocks in Brooklyn Heights. Situated on two floors of what was once a single-family home, the co-op's crown jewel is also what may have been the original home's grandest room: A 15-foot-by-20-foot great room is framed by a 12-foot-high coffered ceiling, paneled walls, intricately detailed oak trim and a southern elliptical wall featuring stained glass windows that depict the four seasons.
More brownstone beauty, this way
September 18, 2019

Get free tickets to 1,500 museums nationwide on Smithsonian’s Museum Day

Smithsonian Magazine's Museum Day is drawing near–this year it's on Saturday, Sept. 21. It's a chance to get free admission to museums across the country, including more than 30 New York City options. Tickets became available on August 15 on Smithsonian's website, where you can download two free tickets to museums, galleries, and cultural institutions like the Cooper Hewitt Design Museum, the Museum of Arts and Design, the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum and many more.
Choose from over 1,500 museums throughout the US
September 18, 2019

Robert A. M. Stern’s 220 Central Park South passes $1B in sales

Since its first closing nearly a year ago, Robert A.M. Stern's 220 Central Park South has now surpassed the $1 billion mark in sales according to data compiled by CityRealty. The milestone is definitely not surprising considering this is the same building where Billionaire Ken Griffin bought the country's most expensive home ever sold for $239,958,219. And with an average sales price of $6,934 per square foot for its 39 total closings, 220 is also the city's most expensive condo building.
More info ahead
September 17, 2019

Take a food tour of Little Italy’s Feast of San Gennaro

Food, faith, family, and more food. The Feast of San Gennaro is in full swing, bringing the best of Italian cuisine and culture to a few blocks of Little Italy for 11 straight days. In its 93rd year, the Feast has evolved from its early 20th-century roots, as has the former immigrant enclave. Despite these changes, the Feast of San Gennaro remains one of the largest and most popular street fairs in New York City, as well as a way to preserve Italian American culture. Ahead, photographers and New Yorkers James and Karla Murray take us on a whirlwind food tour of the Feast of San Gennaro, from powdered sugar zeppoles and fried Oreos to Italian sausage and calzones.
Dig in
September 17, 2019

One Vanderbilt tops out at 1,401 feet, becomes tallest office building in Midtown

The Grand Central Terminal-adjacent supertall One Vanderbilt officially topped out this week, reaching its full 1,401-foot height. Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox, the tower is now Midtown's tallest office building and the fourth-tallest skyscraper in New York City. One Vanderbilt, developed by SL Green, measures 1.7 million square feet and boasts a unique terra cotta facade as well as the fourth-highest observation deck in the city.
Another supertall makes its mark
September 17, 2019

You can now take a private helicopter to brunch at JFK’s TWA Hotel

It'll cost you a pretty penny—$340 per person, to be exact—but you can now take a private helicopter to brunch at JFK's buzzy new TWA Hotel. Helicopter service Blade and the Gerber Group have partnered on the limited-edition offering, which is open for reservations on Sundays only through November 3rd.
More info
September 17, 2019

Trump’s childhood home heads back to the auction block after failing to find a $2.9M buyer

President Donald Trump’s boyhood home in Jamacia Estates is headed to auction after spending 19 days on the market last February for $2.9 million, the New York Times reports. The home is no longer owned by Trump or his organization; the current owner bought the property in 2017 for $2.14 million anonymously via Trump Birth House LLC. The unassuming five-bedroom Tudor has since been used as an Airbnb rental, and it was briefly rented by refugees via anti-poverty organization Oxfam to bring attention to the refugee crisis during the 2017 UN General Assembly.
It's not about real estate
September 17, 2019

The world’s tallest residential building, Central Park Tower, tops out at 1,550 feet

Central Park Tower officially topped out on Tuesday, breaking the record set by nearby 432 Park Avenue for the tallest residential building in the world. Reaching 1,550 feet high, the skyscraper at 217 West 57th Street would be the tallest building in New York City if not for the 400-foot spire of One World Trade, as New York Magazine reported. Developed by supertall-specialists Extell, Central Park Tower includes a seven-story Nordstrom flagship store and 179 luxury condos.
Get the details
September 17, 2019

New design revealed for Central Park women’s suffrage statue, but objections delay vote

Last year’s unveiling of designs for the first statue in Central Park’s 165-year history that depicts real historic women–a sculpture of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, set to be dedicated in August of 2020 to mark the 100th anniversary of nationwide women’s suffrage–was met with the criticism that it didn't adequately represent the many African-American women who aided in the cause. As 6sqft previously reported, a redesigned statue honoring women’s rights advocates will now include Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and escaped slave and abolitionist Sojourner Truth, who aided in the fight for women’s rights. The updated design has been revealed. But, as AM New York reports, The city's Public Design Commission has said the statue still falls short, and has postponed the vote to confirm the new design–possibly jeopardizing an August 26, 2020 unveiling.
Critics weigh in
September 17, 2019

Gorgeously grand 11-room residence at the Dakota asks $11M

A new listing has just come on the market at NYC’s iconic Central Park West cooperative The Dakota, and it’s just as grand as you’d expect. The 11-room residence—now on the market for $11 million—sprawls out across 4,500 square-feet and features 12-foot ceilings, restored original details, and some contemporary flourishes by designer Peter Marino, including ash black wood floors and handpainted walls.
Take a look inside
September 16, 2019

Enter to win tickets to 6sqft & Untapped Cities’ tour of CetraRuddy’s architecture studio

It's your chance to get a behind-the-scenes look at one of New York City's most impressive architecture firms. 6sqft and Untapped Cities are joining forces to offer tours of studios of the city's top architectural and design firms. In the most recent installment, you can tour the Financial District studio of CetraRuddy, the firm behind the tower One Madison, Tribeca's 443 Greenwich Street, and the Lincoln Square Synagogue. Led by principals at the firm, the tour takes participants through the office, explaining their sustainable interiors and usage of technology. For a chance to win a pair of tickets, enter our raffle below!
How to enter
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September 16, 2019

New Brooklyn Museum exhibit will explore the legacy of Studio 54 for the first time

An exhibition opening at the Brooklyn Museum next year will explore for the first time the enduring impact of Studio 54. Opening in March, Studio 54: Night Magic examines the influence that the disco-era nightclub continues to have on design, cinema, and fashion today. Iconic photography and roughly 650 objects, including drawings, paintings, music, and decor, will be on display.
Get the details
September 16, 2019

Application fee for New York rentals officially capped at $20

New York officially capped the cost of applying for an apartment at $20, clearing up confusion over a key part of rent reform legislation passed earlier this summer. The Department of State announced on Friday that licensed real estate brokers and salespeople cannot charge more than $20 for a rental application, as Gothamist first reported. The DOS released a set of guidelines to help real estate professionals understand the new rent laws.
More here
September 16, 2019

Express service on the F train beings today

As of today, the MTA has added four express trains to the F line during morning and evening rush hours. Two F trains will run express between the Church Avenue and Jay Street-MetroTech stations, stopping only at Seventh Avenue, during the morning and evening rush hours. Additionally, two Manhattan-bound trains will run express from Church Avenue between 7 and 7:30 a.m. and two Coney Island-bound trains will run the express route between 5 and 5:40 p.m. Previously, as the Daily News reports, the F train's route was the longest in the whole subway system without an express option.
Find out more
September 16, 2019

Fall art roundup: Highlights of the season’s new crop of exhibitions, openings and events

When autumn rolls into New York City, the fall arts season heats up with museum exhibits, gallery openings, art fairs and more to keep us culturally fulfilled through shorter days and colder nights. Below are our top picks and suggestions for the season’s art whirl, from an all new MoMA to open studios in Bushwick.
Inspirational art, this way
September 13, 2019

Turn up your green thumb with The Sill’s new virtual care appointments

The indoor gardening trend shows no signs of slowing down, and for good reason--adding more green to your space has a multitude of benefits. But for many people, bringing a new friend home from the nursery and actually knowing what to do with it are two very different things. To help you reach your full potential, The Sill has launched a convenient service to boost your green thumb: virtual plant care appointments. If you don't know what to do about your plant's declining health, need tips on staving off a dreaded pest infestation, or just want to learn more about its specific needs, you can now book a 15- or 30-minute consultation with one of The Sill's plant experts from the comfort of your own home.
Get your plants to thrive, not just survive
September 13, 2019

Williamsburg’s tallest building opens in Domino complex with an outdoor pool and rooftop cabanas

Two Trees Management announced yesterday the opening of the second building to rise at Williamsburg's Domino Sugar Factory site at the corner of Grand Street and Kent Avenue. Designed by COOKFOX Architects, One South First is a mixed-use 45-story building within the newly-created six-acre Domino Park that includes 330 rental apartments, office space, and retail. Unique features include a distinct facade inspired by the structure of sugar crystals in honor of the site's history as a sugar manufacturing plant. The building is now the neighborhood's tallest tower at 435 feet, and it makes use of every inch of that height with dazzling amenities that include an outdoor granite pool overlooking the East River and City skyline.
New views, this way
September 13, 2019

Join the cash mob to help save St. Mark’s bodega Gem Spa

The East Village's Gem Spa first opened in the 1920s on the corner of St. Mark's Place and 2nd Avenue and received its current moniker in the 1950s. The shop became famous when it was frequented by Beat writers such as Allen Ginsberg and featured in a painting by Jean-Michelle Basquiat and then later as an all-night punk hangout and tourist stop for egg creams. Today, however, the store is struggling to stay afloat due to the ever-increasing gentrification of the neighborhood and losing its cigarette and lottery licenses in the spring. In an effort to save the icon, small business advocacy group #SaveNYC is hosting a cash mob this Saturday. In preparation, a faux storefront was installed that reads "Schitibank coming soon," in reference to rumors that Citibank is trying to take over the storefront.
All the details
September 13, 2019

Long Island City’s Skyline Tower is now the tallest outer-borough building

A tower on the rise in Queens just became the tallest building in New York City outside of Manhattan. Hitting the 63rd floor, Skyline Tower has officially surpassed in height its neighbor and previous record-holder, the 673-foot-tall Citigroup Building. Located at 23-15 44th Drive, the new Long Island City tower offers studio to four-bedroom homes, priced between $500,000 and $4 million. Upon its completion, Skyline Tower will reach 762 feet and contain roughly 800 condos.
Learn more
September 13, 2019

$18M Brooklyn Heights townhouse is the borough’s most expensive listing

Brooklyn Heights is an expensive neighborhood to be sure, but the five-story townhouse at 88 Remsen Street, asking $18 million, takes the top spot for the entire borough, where the most expensive sale to date was around $15.5 million (h/t Curbed). For that price, you're certainly getting your money's worth. The five-story home offers a separate apartment on the ground floor, with an owners' quadraplex above, complete with decks and harbor views. The historic home has lots of restored original details. But the most unique part of this pricey property is the carriage house that's included in the sale; across a quiet alley, this quaint structure is thoroughly renovated and includes a garage, a full kitchen, and a skylit recreation room.
Tour this Brooklyn Heights compound
September 13, 2019

For $1.5M, this Carroll Gardens co-op comes with a lovely garden and a woodshop

With a working woodshop in the basement, this garden level duplex in prime Carroll Gardens would be a perfect fit for an artist or designer. The one-and-a-half bedroom also boasts a deep front yard—characteristic of the neighborhood—private access to the back garden, and sweet details on the inside, including two fireplaces. After last selling in 2013 for $1.3 million, the residence at 86 2nd Place was recently listed for $1.495 million.
Get the full tour
September 13, 2019

NYC’s subway is finally starting to improve, MTA says

After an abysmal couple of summers, New York City's subway system finally saw significant improvement in service this year, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced Thursday. According to data from the agency set to release in full next week, the on-time performance rate reached 84 percent on weekdays last month, up from just over 68 percent last August. That is the highest on-time performance, which measures the percentage of trains that reach their terminal location within five minutes of their planned arrival, recorded in roughly six years.
More this way
September 12, 2019

Condo board at Trump’s Central Park West building votes to keep president’s name on signage

The condo board of the glass tower at One Central Park West on Tuesday voted unanimously to retain the Trump name on the signage at the front of the building, the New York Post reports. However, the word “tower” will be removed from the marquee over the front entrance, to be replaced with the building's address. As 6sqft previously reported, as part of a larger renovation of the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Columbus Circle, the Trump Organization was reconsidering its heavily-branded signage, and some building owners say Trump’s polarizing presidency is depreciating the value of their investments.
A compromise of sorts
September 12, 2019

VIDEO: See two years of work on Brooklyn Point’s recently completed facade

Earlier this Spring construction of Brooklyn’s tallest residential tower, Brooklyn Point, topped out at 720 feet. Now, the 68-story skyscraper has reached another construction milestone and is fully enclosed. A new video released by Extell compresses two years of work on the facade into mere seconds, as the Kohn Pedersen Fox-designed building nears completion.
Watch the video
September 12, 2019

‘Friends’ in NYC: How plausible were the Greenwich Village apartments depicted in the hit ’90s series?

On September 22, 1994, the TV show Friends premiered on NBC. Airing 10 seasons, it was consistently one of the most popular shows on television, and after decades of syndication, one of the most popular in history. And for a generation of young 20-somethings, it shaped their views of, and in many ways reflected their experience of, what their lives were supposed to be like. While the show was shot in Burbank, California, almost all it was supposed to take place in Greenwich Village, where the apartments of all of its main characters were located. Thus it also shaped a generation’s views of what living in Greenwich Village, even if your job was a joke and you were broke, was like. In honor of the show's 25th anniversary, we take a look at the places where Ross, Rachel, Phoebe, Joey, Monica, and Chandler were supposed to have lived, and how the TV world Friends created lined up (or didn't) with reality.
Get the scoop
September 12, 2019

Rent this Novogratz-designed Little Italy townhouse for $40K/month

Millionaire private investor and man-about-town Bradley Zipper purchased this Little Italy townhouse in 2004 to use as a massive bachelor pad where he could host celebrity soirees and lavish business events for up to 400 guests. After dropping $3.385 million on the property, he hired Cortney and Robert Novogratz, the famous husband-and-wife design team, to deck it out. The result definitely fit the bill, rocking a 900-bottle wine cellar that’s a replica of one in a Meatpacking District club, a 14-foot mahogany and pewter bar imported from Paris, and a vintage 1940s pool table surrounded by graphite walls. Zipper started trying to unload the house in 2013, first for $15 million, then $13 million, next as a $35,000/month rental, and again in 2015 for $15.5 million. Now the six-story 5,000-square-foot townhouse with six outdoor spaces is for rent once again asking an adjusted-for-inflation $40,000/month.
Get a closer look
September 12, 2019

James Baldwin’s former Upper West Side home receives national landmark status

In June, the city's Landmarks Preservation Commission designated six sites significant to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community, including the former home of James Baldwin on the Upper West Side. Now, the NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project tells us that the Baldwin residence at 137 West 71st Street has been added to the National Register of Historic Places, which recognizes his role nationally as relates to LGBT and civil rights history.
Find out more
September 12, 2019

This $3.45M Park Slope brownstone has tons of original details and sits steps from Prospect Park

Just one block away from Prospect Park West in the Park Slope Historic District, the Renaissance Revival brownstone at 495 13th Street was built around 1895 by prolific Brooklyn architect Robert Dixon. Last sold in 2015 for $3.25 million, the historic property has since undergone a restoration of many of the original wood details, including the parlor mantels and wood floors. Most recently lived in as a one-family with five bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths, there's also an opportunity to utilize the income-generating rental on the garden level. The brownstone is now on the market, seeking $3.45 million.
Take a look around
September 11, 2019

A classic Soho loft with an industrial-chic renovation and expansive rooftop terrace asks $4M

This 1,800 square-foot loft at 55 Prince Street has all the elements of a classic Soho loft with the benefits of a fresh, gut renovation. All the original details—wood beams and columns, exposed brick walls, oak floors, and arched windows—were restored while industrial-chic elements were added, including a floating staircase and steel doors. A rooftop terrace adds 1,800 square feet of private outdoor space and the unit also comes with air rights to build up an additional 2,000 square feet. The modern pad is now listed at $4 million.
Take a look inside
September 11, 2019

COLORS restaurant, founded by 9/11 survivors, to reopen on the Lower East Side

COLORS restaurant in downtown Manhattan was originally founded by employees of the Windows on the World restaurant on the 107th floor of the World Trade Center, and employed many restaurant workers who lost their jobs on the day of the terrorist attacks. COLORS closed in 2017, closing the door on an establishment that had helped survivors to thrive. Now, am New York reports, on the 18th anniversary of the attacks, that the restaurant is re-opening in October.
More good news, this way
September 11, 2019

Asking $1.925M, this Williamsburg home offers a modern perspective on townhouse living

Brooklyn townhouse living meets Williamsburg modernism in this 1,700-square-foot townhouse at 338 Humboldt Street. Asking $1.925 million, this compact home has all the elements of a classic renovated brownstone–three or four bedrooms, generous outdoor living space, a basement playroom and a separate guest suite–with the sharp good looks of a modern house.
Take the tour
September 11, 2019

Sales launch at disputed 200 Amsterdam Avenue, with one-bedrooms starting at $2.625M

Less than a month after construction at 200 Amsterdam Avenue topped out—and despite a pending Article 78 challenge filed by opponents of the contested Upper West Side tower in July—sales have officially launched and the developers debuted a new website with all the listings and a new batch of renderings. Designed by Elkus Manfredi Architects with interiors by CetraRuddy, the tower will rise 668 feet and consist of 112 condos over its 52 stories. Current pricing starts at 2.625 million for a one-bedroom and goes up to $7.975 for a five-bedroom. As 6sqft previously reported, there will be two duplex penthouses available for about $40 million each.
More details
September 10, 2019

For $10K/month this Cobble Hill townhouse rental has a private roof deck and a country house vibe

This three-bedroom duplex at 9 Wyckoff Street is the upper of two units in a 24-foot-wide Cobble Hill two-family townhouse. Topped by a private garden-ready finished roof deck, the charming Brooklyn home, asking $10,000 a month, is getting a brand-new kitchen and updated baths in time for a late October move-in date. Rustic interiors and details like wood-beamed ceilings make the spacious townhouse look just right for autumn days and evenings.
Take a look inside
September 10, 2019

Renovated 19th-century Greenpoint townhouse with California style seeks $5M

It took fashion stylist Katie Mossman five years to complete the renovation of her 19th-century townhouse in Greenpoint. Once a sea captain’s home in the 1850s, Mossman transformed the residence into an open, light-filled space with a double-height living room and indoor-outdoor concept. The two-family home at 76 Green Street is now on the market for just under $5 million, one of the neighborhood’s priciest listings. For those who aren’t looking to spend that much but love the idea of California vibes in NYC, the property is also available to rent for $13,500 per month.
Take a tour
September 10, 2019

See renderings of The Wing’s new Williamsburg location for design inspiration

Renderings were released this morning showing the gorgeously on-trend interiors at the much-anticipated Williamsburg location of The Wing–the women-centric community and work space's first location in that neighborhood and second in Brooklyn. The Williamsburg opening is part of a greater New York City expansion, which will bring the total number of locations in The Wing's home city to five by the end of 2019. Since launching less than three years ago, The Wing has opened eight locations across six U.S cities and raised $117.5 million in venture funding.
More renderings this way
September 10, 2019

MTA capital plan under scrutiny as Cuomo, transit watchdogs weigh in on top priorities

The MTA's five-year capital spending plan for major system-wide repairs from 2020 to 2024 has been under increasing scrutiny from public transportation watchdog groups, who have asked the MTA to provide more detailed priorities and policy goals for the project. The organizations–including the newly-formed Build Trust Campaign made up of TransitCenter, the Riders Alliance, the Tri-State Transportation Campaign and Reinvent Albany, released a report Monday asking that the MTA and Gov. Andrew Cuomo significantly improve transparency in planning the project and provide a fiscal roadmap to outline the plans for major repairs to the subway, Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North, and the bridges and tunnels that fall under MTA management, Curbed reports. Cuomo also issued a letter to the MTA board Monday outlining his own list of priorities for the Capital Plan.
Find out more
September 10, 2019

My 400sqft: How a lifestyle blogger and her husband make small-space living work for them

A lot of couples in NYC count down the days until they can pack up their studio for more spacious digs, but for Raechel and Ryan Lambert, they have no plans to upsize. The couple has been living in studio apartments for the past seven years--first in San Francisco, now in Hell's Kitchen--and they're doing it to maximize in other areas of their lives, such as travel and saving. Rae, a product marketer for tech companies, also runs the blog Small Space, Big Taste, where she embraces her minimalist mindset and shares with readers her tips on finance, cooking, traveling, and interiors. From packing for an eight-day trip in one backpack to sharing everything one needs to know about Murphy beds, Rae's articles are best exemplified in her and Ryan's 400-square-foot apartment. When Rae invited us into her home, we were welcomed into an airy, comfortable apartment that was so well organized it had space for cooking, dining, lounging, sleeping, and even playing the piano. Thanks to a less-is-more philosophy and a great collection of multi-purpose and moveable furniture, this couple's savvy design may have you rethinking that one-bedroom listing.
Take a tour of Rae's apartment and get some first-hand tips
September 10, 2019

Restoration of Philip Johnson’s 1964 New York State Pavilion will begin this month

Plans to restore the Philip Johnson-designed New York State Pavilion at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park have been inching along slowly over the past five years. Now, the project finally has a construction start date, Untapped Cities reported. Work will begin by the end of the month and is expected to be completed in March 2021. As 6sqft previously reported, the project has acquired just over $24 million in funding from the Mayor's office, Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, City Council, and a FEMA grant for Hurricane Sandy repairs.
More details
September 9, 2019

New exhibit from photographers James and Karla Murray celebrates mom-and-pop storefronts of NYC

A free photography exhibition highlighting mom-and-pop shops of New York City opens in the East Village next week. Photographers and award-winning authors James and Karla Murray hosted two workshops earlier this year on using photography and oral history to "raise public awareness, build community, and encourage advocacy." The free exhibition, "Capturing the Faces & Voices of Mom-And-Pop Storefronts," shows off the photos and interviews from the workshop's participants, as well as large-scale photos of now-shuttered East Village shops, taken by James and Karla.
More here
September 9, 2019

A history of Book Row, NYC’s long-time downtown haven for bibliophiles

The slogan of beloved NYC bookstore the Strand boasts the store's "18 miles of books," a number that seems incredibly vast yet was once just a small fraction of what book lovers could expect to find in the neighborhood. For almost eight decades, from the 1890s to the 1960s, the seven blocks of Fourth Avenue between Union Square and Astor Place were home to a thriving bibliophiles’ paradise known as Book Row. Here, book lovers and secondhand vendors gathered, and the pace of the city slowed down as they browsed the miles of stacks available. Speaking to the New York Times, collector Paul A. Solano—who went on to open his own used book shop in Morningside Heights—said it took him a week to stroll through all the stores on the seven-block stretch. In its heyday, Book Row was home to 48 bookstores and millions of volumes. Now, the recently landmarked Strand bookstore is the only remaining vestige of that era.
Find out about the history and what happened

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