December 3, 2018

In the market for a palace? This massive FiDi landmark is 50% off

A FiDi landmark with a storied past is back on the market with a significant price drop. The American Bank Note building was built in 1908 by architects Kirby, Petit & Green to serve as the company’s headquarters, then later bought by a foundation of the late Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and used as a meditation retreat. The landmarked building at 70 Broad Street was last sold to a Chinese construction firm in 2010 for $18 million. The new owners renovated the opulent Neo-Classical structure in 2015 and put it on the market for a whopping $88 million in 2016. On Friday, the listing hit the market again, this time with a slightly more moderate $43 million price tag.
Take a look
December 3, 2018

Nomad’s One Madison Avenue is getting an 18-floor addition designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox

The Nomad office tower that neighbors the Met Life Tower is getting a major makeover, SL Green announced Monday. The 13-story building at One Madison Avenue will undergo a redevelopment, including an addition designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox and a modernization of the building's existing podium. The real estate company said it will reduce the building to its ninth floor and create 18 additional column-free floors above. A rendering released on Monday shows off the planned glassy addition, as well as wraparound and rooftop outdoor terraces that will measure over one acre.
Get the details
December 3, 2018

Ikea’s first Manhattan store will open this spring on East 59th Street

After teasing us last week with news that they were in the "preliminary" planning stages of opening a city-center store in New York City, Ikea has today announced, that they will, in fact, open their first Manhattan store in spring 2019. The IKEA Planning Studio--a delivery-only store concept that focuses on "smart solutions for urban living and small spaces"--will open at 999 Third Avenue, right across the street from Bloomingdales at 59th Street and just over the Queensboro Bridge from Long Island City where Amazon is readying to bring 25,000 employees.
All the details
December 3, 2018

This $8M Chelsea townhouse has a soap opera past, a new renovation, and a flexible future

Back in 2015, 6sqft featured this charm-filled brick townhouse for sale at 426 West 22nd Street; the 19-foot-wide beauty, built in 1843, was listed for $9.5 million by Emmy-winning soap opera actress Ellen Parker, best known for a long run as Maureen Reardon Bauer on “Guiding Light.” The West Chelsea home on a tree-lined block near Clement Clarke Moore Park was divided into three residences for lots of options. The home has been renovated since then, still-charming but updated and restored, with modern finishes and fixtures. It's back on the market for $7.995 million–possibilities intact.
Take a look
December 1, 2018

FREE RENT: This week’s roundup of NYC rental news

Vernon Tower: Astoria waterfront rentals across from Socrates Sculpture Park from $2,300/month [LINK] Otto Greenpoint: Brooklyn rentals at 211 McGuinness Boulevard from $2,317/month [LINK] 181 Front Street: New rentals in DUMBO offer 1 month free on 13-month lease [LINK] Estuary Weehawken: Luxury waterfront rentals with skyline views from $2,363/month [LINK] 111 Murray Street: Michael Cohen’s […]

November 30, 2018

Madonna loses three-year legal battle with Upper West Side co-op board

Madonna lost an almost three-year legal battle with her Upper West Side co-op board after a judge this week tossed her complaints, Page Six reported. The pop star had first sued her building, Harperley Hall, in April of 2016 after the board attempted to enforce a rule that prohibited her family or staff to be in the home without her being physically present.
More here
November 30, 2018

A monument honoring Shirley Chisholm will be built near Prospect Park

Chipping away at the lack of women represented among New York City statues, the city announced on Friday it is commissioning a permanent statue of Shirley Chisholm to be built in Brooklyn. Chisholm, who lived in Bed-Stuy, became in 1968 the first black woman to serve in the House of Representatives. The statue, expected to be completed in 2020, will be placed outside of the Parkside entrance to Prospect Park.
More on the new statue here
November 30, 2018

Lillian Wald’s Lower East Side: From the Visiting Nurse Service to the Henry Street Settlement

In 1893, the 26-year-old nurse Lillian Wald founded the Lower East Side’s Henry Street Settlement, and what would become the Visiting Nurse Service of New York. Two years of nursing school had given her the “inspiration to be of use some way or somehow,” and she identified “four branches of usefulness” where she could be of service. Those four branches, “visiting nursing, social work, country work and civic work,” helped guide the Settlement’s programming, and turned Wald’s home at 265 Henry Street into a center of progressive advocacy, and community support, that attracted neighbors from around the corner, and reformers from around the world.
Learn about Lillian
November 30, 2018

NYC Council to grill city leaders on Amazon deal

Citing concerns about the closed-door deal that drove Amazon to choose Long Island City as home for its second headquarters, the New York City Council announced it will host three hearings to question both city leaders and company exeuctives. Council Speaker Corey Johnson said the first hearing will take place on Dec. 12 to look at how the deal happened, as the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday. "One of the major perversions of this is that was all done behind closed doors, with nondisclosure agreements, and without the public or elected officials who weren't including feeling like they had any say," Johnson told the WSJ.
Get the details
November 30, 2018

Lyft will invest $100M to triple the size of Citi Bike to 40,000 bikes

Just in time for the L train shutdown, the city is getting more bike-friendly. Lyft, the car-sharing company that bought the Citi Bike's operator Motivate, will invest $100 million to dramatically expand the program, according to an announcement from Mayor Bill de Blasio. The fleet of Citi Bikes will triple from 12,000 now to 40,000 over the next five years and cover an area more than twice its current size. The investment will also add more electric bikes, which Citi Bike began to roll out in the summer, boost the $5 discount membership program for NYCHA residents and SNAP recipients, and help repair existing bikes and infrastructure.
Find out more
November 30, 2018

The L train is back! Don’t get used to it.

The L train will be back for weekend service from December until late in January, a relief from the weekend dress rehearsal it's been staging since this summer. The bad news is that the J and M trains won't be running between Manhattan and Brooklyn on weekends until late in January. Free shuttle buses, should you choose them, can get you from Hewes Street to Essex Street and between Essex and Metropolitan Avenue. Before you head out this weekend, check the rest of the planned service changes ahead.
It's still warm enough for the bike
November 29, 2018

After a price chop to $18,500/month, Michael Cohen’s Tribeca condo goes into contract

After dropping its price from $25,000 to $18,500 a month on November 12th, Michael Cohen's ill-fated Tribeca condo went into contract on Tuesday, 6sqft uncovered. The timing could not be more perfect for Trump's former personal lawyer, who pled guilty today in federal court to lying about previous dealings with Russia. Cohen bought the condo at 111 Murray Street for $6.7 million in July but promptly put it on the rental market in August. Apparently, he bought the apartment as an "investment" when he faced pressure to defer the taxes on the $3.3 million sale he made last year on his Trump World Tower apartment. As we explained. "by closing on a new unit, he was able to take part in the 1031 exchange that allows investors to roll proceeds from one transaction over to another."
All the dirt
November 29, 2018

LaGuardia Airport’s first new gates and concourse are open

The first new gates in LaGuardia Airport's Terminal B will open this Saturday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced earlier today. The opening will inaugurate the first of two concourses and 11 of the 35 total gates that will service Air Canada, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines. This is the first phase of Cuomo's larger $8 billion overhaul to create "a whole new LaGuardia." The new concourse will feature retail space, a "food hall," complete with local mini-chains like Shake Shack, Irving Farm coffee, and La Chula taqueria, as well as an indoor park (a design feature Cuomo is also implementing at JFK).
Find out more
November 29, 2018

Most expensive condo listing in Queens gets price cut despite Amazon announcement

While real estate prices are expected to rise in Long Island City and the surrounding area due to Amazon's impending move to the neighborhood, one listing has lowered its price. The most expensive apartment in the borough of Queens, located at 46-30 Center Boulevard, is on the market again, the New York Post reported. The penthouse, which sits just north of the Pepsi-Cola sign, is asking $3.65 million, less than the $4.25 million it was listed for in 2017. Soon after Amazon announced their move to Long Island City, interest in the neighborhood surged. As 6sqft previously reported, searches for residential apartments in the neighborhood are up 281 percent compared to the daily averages prior to the Amazon news.
Take a tour
November 29, 2018

Design studio Snarkitecture brings Snark Park to Hudson Yards with treats and ‘childlike wonder’

If hanging out at 900 feet in the air isn't your thing, NYC's newest neighborhood, Hudson Yards, promises plenty of fun things to do with your feet on the ground.  As the first phase of the megaproject prepares to open this spring, New York-based design studio Snarkitecture will be introducing Snark Park, its first permanent exhibition space in Hudson Yards. Known for their clever reinterpretations of the familiar, Snarkitecture’s Snark Park will be a site for immersive installations housing design environments for all ages to explore, discover and enjoy.
Find out more
November 29, 2018

After more than 20 years, Coney Island brings back holiday lights along Mermaid Avenue

For the first time in more than 20 years, Coney Island's Mermaid Avenue, its main retail corridor, will light up for the holidays. Alexandra Silversmith, the Alliance for Coney Island's executive director, told us that the snowflake-themed display "invites shoppers to visit Mermaid Avenue and support our local merchants while simultaneously welcoming residents home."
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November 29, 2018

Where I Work: See how Stickbulb’s first-ever showroom is lighting up Long Island City

Before opening their first showroom, sustainable lighting brand Stickbulb had just one wire rack of shelving and one workbench, with their supplies spilling out into the communal areas of their building. They desperately needed more space. The company found it this year in a 10,000-square-foot former steel factory in Long Island City. With its terracotta walls and wooden floors, not only does the new space aptly complement Stickbulb’s modern LED light fixtures, but the former factory gives them enough room to show off how their products are made and the people who make them. Sustainability remains a core mission for Stickbulb, which was founded six years ago by Russell Greenberg and Chris Beardsley, the creative team behind RUX Design. Using salvaged wood from demolished buildings and dismantled water towers, Stickbulb products always have a story to tell. "The idea is that the customer can trace back the wood that they have in their light fixture back to the original building it was a part of," Russell told us during a recent visit to the company's showroom. Ahead, take a tour of Stickbulb's new space and hear from Russell and Chris on starting the studio, the process behind finding reclaimed wood, and the bright future of the growing company.
See inside
November 29, 2018

City scraps controversial plan for a new 40-story jail on top of the Manhattan marriage bureau

On Wednesday, city officials announced that plans to build a 40-floor high-rise detention center at 80 Centre Street will not be moving forward, reports the Daily News. The site had been proposed earlier this year as part of a plan to close the jail at Rikers Island and relocate the inmate population to four local jails spread throughout the boroughs. The de Blasio administration cited logistical challenges associated with moving the current tenants, which include the Manhattan Marriage Bureau and offices of the Manhattan District Attorney, as reason for the decision.
More details
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November 29, 2018

Trump ‘receptive’ to Gateway project, but still no funding agreement reached

Gov. Andrew Cuomo called his meeting with President Donald Trump "productive," despite not reaching an agreement about the funding of a new rail tunnel under the Hudson River. The two Queens natives met for lunch at the White House on Wednesday to discuss the Gateway project, a plan to fix an existing train tunnel and build a new one, construct two new bridges, and expand Penn Station, estimated to cost $30 billion. "I think it's fair to say the president was receptive to what we were talking about," Cuomo said. But there is no timeline for the project, as the governor noted. "So we are nowhere right now," Cuomo told reporters. "There is no clock ticking because there is no clock."
More this way
November 29, 2018

Playwright Edward Albee’s Montauk home is on the market for the first time in 50 years asking $20M

Sited on 2.8 acres, with 200 feet of Atlantic Ocean frontage, the estate at 320 Old Montauk Highway in Montauk was purchased in the 1960s by the renowned “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf” playwright, who died in 2016. The property is now for sale asking $20 million. Albee's Tribeca loft is also on the market for $9 million. The legendary stage actress Uta Hagen reportedly convinced Albee to buy the Montauk property, which he proceeded to populate with a collection of native plants and trees. This is the first time it’s been on the market in more than 50 years.
Get a closer look
November 28, 2018

The $600K pricetag is just as charming as the design at this Chelsea co-op

Perhaps the Homepolish-designed interiors were not enough to entice buyers, as the price of this Chelsea co-op at 221 West 21st Street has dropped to $599,000 since it was first listed for $665,000 in August. Last year, we featured the unit below, which was then owned by BuzzFeed coder & investment banker Will Nathan, who became a partner in the interior design startup after they redid his place. Looks like word spread around the building, because the interiors at this unit are just as chic and charming, with colorful accents popping against exposed brick walls and bold statement pieces. Like the look? These furnishings are available for purchase, too.
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November 28, 2018

Enter to win a pair of tickets to 6sqft & Untapped Cities’ tour of COOKFOX’s architecture studio

6sqft and our friends at Untapped Cities recently announced a new joint event series where we'll offer behind-the-scenes tours of some of the city’s top architectural and design firms’ studios. First up is COOKFOX, who will open up their Midtown office space this coming Monday evening. Guests will be treated to a tour of the space's biophilic tools, wellness technology, and functional outdoor spaces, as well as a discussion with the firm about some of their most notable projects past and present. Interested in attended? Enter our raffle for a chance to win a pair of tickets!
Enter here
November 28, 2018

‘Fearless Girl’ statue begins her move to permanent Stock Exchange home

The four-foot bronze "Fearless Girl" statue was removed from her spot across from the iconic “Charging Bull” in Bowling Green Tuesday night, AMNew York reports, and is on her way to a more pedestrian friendly spot in front of the New York Stock Exchange. Since its appearance in 2017 a day before International Women’s Day, sending a message to Wall Street for the need of gender equality in the financial world, the diminuitive statue has become a major attraction, drawing millions of tourists and locals. State Street Global Advisors, the investment company that owns the statue, said she'd be installed in her new home by December 31.
Find out more
November 28, 2018

Cuomo to meet with Trump over funding for Gateway Tunnel project

Gov. Andrew Cuomo will meet with President Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday to discuss funding for the Gateway Tunnel Project, a plan which would fix an existing rail tunnel and build a new one under the Hudson River between New Jersey and New York City. In October, Cuomo sent the president a video of the severely damaged, century-old tunnel and called on the Trump administration to fund their share of the project, which is estimated to cost $30 billion. "The Federal Government poses many challenges for the State of New York but one of the top priorities is to replace the Gateway tunnels," Cuomo said in a statement. "These tunnels are Federally owned by the Amtrak Corporation and must be replaced."
More here
November 28, 2018

Spend a winter weekend in this boho-chic Hudson Valley cabin for $200/night

Located in the quaint-but-cool town of Tivoli, NY, about 100 miles from New York City in the Hudson River Valley near Bard College, this two-bedroom cabin, listed on Airbnb for $200 a night, has a Scandi-modern vibe, decor that reflects the hosts' travels and eclectic past and plenty of creature comforts. The home's friendly hosts call it a "cozy den," which sounds about right–perfect for families, friends or couples.
More cabin coolness, this way
November 28, 2018

See Central Park reimagined after being devastated by a fictional eco-terrorist attack

The University of Pennsylvania announced this week five winners of its ICONOCLAST competition, a design contest that asked participants to reimagine Central Park following a hypothetical eco-terrorist attack (h/t NY Times). The contest attracted 382 entries from 30 countries, all competing for $20,000 and the chance to be published in LA+ Journal. Richard Weller, a jury chair for the contest, said, "From megastructures to new ecologies and radical ideas for democratizing public space, the LA+ICONOCLAST winning entries can move beyond the status quo of picturesque large parks and embrace the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century." Ahead, check out the designs of a recreated 21st-century Central Park from the five finalists.
See the designs
November 28, 2018

Tribeca loft where Edward Albee wrote his famous plays lists for $9M

Located in what was once a cheese warehouse at 14 Harrison Street in Tribeca, this 4,500-square-foot loft has been the home of American playwright Edward Albee since 1977. According to Mansion Global, Albee held his famed annual Christmas party here, with luminaries like Lauren Bacall and Kathleen Turner in attendance. The duplex co-op spanning the building's fifth and sixth floors is a fascinating home even without the literary connection; the classic loft, with an elevator that opens on each floor, is currently for sale asking $8.995 million.
Take the tour, this way
November 27, 2018

Frida Khalo exhibit coming to Brooklyn Museum; Iconic East Village bar Continental sets closing date

Frida Kahlo self portrait via Wiki Commmons (L); Google Street View of Continental Bar (R) Check out this year’s holiday window displays. [Untapped Cities] Meet the man who provides picture-perfect avocados to 120+ NYC restaurants. [Eater] A huge Frida Kahlo exhibit will open at the Brooklyn Museum in February. [WSJ] And a retrospective on New Yorker cartoonist […]

November 27, 2018

Ikea reveals ‘preliminary’ plans to open Manhattan store

Amazon, Target, and Trader Joe's have all cemented their Manhattan presence in recent years, and it looks like Ikea does not want to be left out of the action. In a Wall Street Journal story today that discusses the Swedish furniture company's larger restructuring plans (which includes slashing 7,500 jobs in an attempt to focus on delivery and digital efforts), it was revealed that Ikea will open 30 new stores in city centers over the next two years. There is currently a store in central London, and the next foray into major urban hubs will be its largest yet, a 5,000-square-foot space in Paris. After that, they'll open a city-center store in NYC, which we assume will be somewhere between FiDi and the 80s.
More details
November 27, 2018

How to get around Midtown during tomorrow’s Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting

Driving in Midtown is never advised, but really must be avoided this Wednesday. The 86th annual lighting ceremony of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree kicks off tomorrow, bringing with it more than 100,000 spirited visitors and blocks of street closures. The city's Department of Transportation designated Wednesday a "Gridlock Alert Day" for the celebration, meaning drivers can expect travel throughout the area to take twice as long as usual.
Plan ahead
November 27, 2018

Lena Dunham is so over Brooklyn, she’s willing to forego a profit on her Williamsburg pad

The celebrity many New Yorkers love to hate really wants you to know she is so over Brooklyn. In a recent interview with The Cut, Lena Dunham talks (or shall we say rants?) about relocating from Williamsburg to the West Village in the wake of her recent hysterectomy: "My whole identity was, like, Brooklyn, and now I’m like, Thank you, Lord. I’m back amongst my tribe, which is like old people puttering around the health-food store... … I just wanna live around old people who are not reminding me every day of my infertility and loneliness." And to drive the point home, Variety has now gotten the scoop on the official listing for her former pad at 60 Broadway, which is on the market for $3 million, just a hair over the $2.9 million she paid for it back in April.
Get a look around
November 27, 2018

Permits filed for 22-story Union Square tech hub with plans for major digital training center

The New York Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) has filed permits to construct a 22-floor tech hub at 114 East 14th Street near Union Square, CityRealty reports. Officially known as the Union Square Tech Training Center, the 254,000-square-foot, $250 million, facility has big plans to ramp up NYC's high-tech firepower: In addition to affordable office space for startups, market-rate office space for tech companies, and a retail and market area run by Urbanspace, the nonprofit Civic Hall will be running a new digital skills training center at the midblock site once occupied by a PC Richard & Son electronics store.
Find out more
November 27, 2018

New signals on the 7 line fail on first day system goes live

After seven years of installing modern signals on the 7 line, the system failed on the first day it went live. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Monday announced on Twitter that "modern signaling tech" went live on the entire line. Less than an hour later, the authority tweeted that 7 trains were delayed in both directions due to a "network communication problem." Upgrading the line with the new system, called communications-based train control, originally was scheduled to finish by late 2016.
7-train problems continue
November 27, 2018

On Long Island, Santa’s Christmas Tree Farm is for sale for $2.5M (lights included)

No, really. Santa's Christmas Tree Farm spans 28 acres in Long Island's North Fork, and this cool Cutchogue property [h/t Curbed] is the perfect gift for that special someone on your list who has everything, provided you have the $2.5 million required to close the deal, which incudes 23 planted acres, an 1,800-square-foot farmhouse, an 8,000-square-foot commercial Morton building (lights and trimming, of course) and four irrigation wells.
20,000 Christmas trees, this way
November 27, 2018

Explore 10 of Andy Warhol’s lesser-known NYC haunts

The Whitney’s new Andy Warhol retrospective, “Andy Warhol – From A to B and Back Again," is the first major presentation of the artist’s work in the United States since 1989. The show covers the museum’s entire fifth floor, as well as smaller galleries on the first and third floors. It traces Warhol’s career from his early days as a commercial illustrator, to his role as the world’s most iconic pop artist, and through his resurgence in the 1970s and ‘80s. If Warhol’s work is as famous as a can of Coca-Cola, so too is his relationship with New York City. High profile haunts like the Factory, Studio 54, and Max’s Kansas City are as closely associated with Warhol as any of his artwork. But Andy Warhol lived, worked, and played all over New York. Since Andy’s having his moment, give these 10 lesser-known Warhol haunts their 15 minutes.
These places pop!
November 26, 2018

5 of the best suburbs outside of New York City

There was a time when New Yorkers, even those with the means to live in some of the city’s wealthiest neighborhoods, willingly packed up their homes and fled to the suburbs. While it may be difficult to imagine now, at different points in history, moving to the suburbs has been considered desirable and even a sign of one’s upward mobility. After all, why cram into a walkup with your family of six when you could spread out in a rambling suburban bungalow with a two-car garage? Today, many aging members of Gen-X and their younger millennial counterparts—who often came of age in the suburbs—are stubbornly toughing it out in the small urban apartments for the entire life cycle, but this doesn’t mean that the suburbs don’t have a lot to offer.
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November 26, 2018

For $900K, this Yorkville co-op offers two floors, a clever layout, and a private backyard

Unless we're talking about a "sleeping loft," it's not that easy to find a true one-bedroom on the Upper East Side for under $1 million, but this charmer at 335 East 90th Street offers that and so much more. The completely renovated duplex not only has a large open living/dining area on the upper level, but below, it boasts a bedroom, bonus room, and 660-square-foot landscaped backyard. Pre-war touches such as exposed brick and a wood-burning fireplace remain but are complemented by modern built-in storage, a sleek kitchen, and contemporary spiral staircase.
There are even more surprises
November 26, 2018

Carnegie Deli returns as a pop-up for one week in Nolita, serving up 99-cent sandwiches

New York City's beloved Carnegie Deli makes an eight-day return next month with a pop-up experience in Nolita. From Dec. 1 through Dec. 8, the former Midtown deli, which closed in 2016 after serving its famous 1-pound sandwiches for nearly 80 years, will be revived at a storefront at 201 Lafayette Street. The pop-up pastrami shop comes from Amazon Prime in celebration of its new season of "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," a comedy-drama set in 1950s Manhattan (h/t NBC 4).
Get the deli details
November 26, 2018

New Long Island camping cabins bring modern, affordable design to state parks

Photos by Albert Vecerka/Esto for WXY Aimed at bringing new visitors to the state's parks, the NY Parks 2020 initiative funded a $9 million project that created the first vacation cabins and cottages to offer accommodations in Long Island's Wildwood and Heckscher State Parks. The architecture firm WXY, headed by Claire Weisz, was chosen to design the new cabins. The first of these, 10 cabins ranging in size from 670 to 784 square feet, became available to rent on Memorial Day weekend. They represent an unusual attempt to introduce modern creative design where we traditionally find rudimentary and rustic construction while providing high quality, affordable accommodations for park visitors.
Take a look inside
November 26, 2018

Long Island City advocates want to obtain a city-owned building before Amazon takes over

Long Island City advocates are requesting ownership of a city-owned building that sits on land soon to be developed by Amazon for its second headquarters, as the Wall Street Journal first reported. The sprawling, block-long structure at 44-36 Vernon Boulevard currently houses offices related to the city's Department of Education along with over 1,000 staff members. For the past three years, local residents have asked for the building to be turned into a community facility. With all eyes on Long Island City due to Amazon's impending move there, advocates believe this is their last chance for the community to take over the property.
More this way
November 26, 2018

Join 6sqft and Untapped Cities for a new tour series of NYC architecture studios

It's pretty simple to get a look at renderings and photos of NYC's latest architecture projects, and oftentimes just as easy to get inside the buildings. But what about the firms behind the buildings? To offer a fresh take on the architectural landscape of New York, 6sqft has teamed up with Untapped Cities to offer a brand new behind-the-scenes tour series of some of the city's top architectural and design firms' studios. Our first event will take place next Monday, December 3rd, at the Midtown offices of COOKFOX. Not only will you have the chance to explore the space, which has been outfitted with biophilic tools, wellness technology, and functional outdoor spaces, but you'll hear from Jared Gilbert, COOKFOX's Director of Communications, about designing the studio and how some of the firm's biggest projects (the proposed St. John’s Terminal addition where Google is rumored to be headed, a mixed-use tower at the Domino Sugar site that will be Williamsburg’s tallest, and the Bank of America Tower, NYC's first LEED Platinum skyscraper) have come to fruition.
Sign up for a spot on the tour!
November 26, 2018

The best offbeat holiday events, exhibits, and outings in NYC this year

The winter holiday season is as much about tradition as it is about twinkling lights and shopping, from the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree and the Rockettes to The Nutcracker and as many versions of Handel's Messiah as there are ways to count 'em–plus a full menu of classics on TV and at the movies. If you're craving a break from the old chestnuts, these less-traditional alternatives to the holiday hit parade might be just the kind of merry you're looking to make.
No SantaCon, we promise
November 26, 2018

300-year-old New Jersey home that once hosted George Washington asks $795K

This circa 1731 home located 10 minutes from downtown Princeton, New Jersey, in Rocky Hill's Historic District, was once a 100-acre working farm. JerseyDigs tells us the home, known as the Murphy Voorhees House in honor of its previous owner, Abraham O. Voorhees, is recognized as a local and national treasure. The property’s biggest claim to fame, however, is that it hosted George Washington in 1783 while he waited to hear news about the Treaty of Paris. In addition to having a place in history, the four-bedroom home has received a thorough renovation with an eye to both restoration and modernization.
Tour the home and grounds
November 25, 2018

Rental Offers: This week’s roundup of NYC rental news

Newly-Built Rentals at The Lewis Leasing Serene Midtown West Rentals from $2,825/Month=[LINK] The Rollins at Essex Crossing: New Lower East Side Rentals Leasing with Special Offers[LINK] Carnegie Hill Luxury Rentals from $2,995/Month at 1510 Lexington Avenue[LINK] Newly-Constructed, No Fee Rentals at 46 Cook Street in Williamsburg; 2-Beds for $2,999/Month[LINK] SEE MORE RENTAL NEWS AND OFFERS […]

November 21, 2018

Local brewery honors Grand Central’s constellation ceiling with new beer

Of all Grand Central's amazing architectural feats and quirky secrets, nothing is more iconic than its famously backward celestial ceiling. So when Sunset Park-based Five Boroughs Brewing Co. started thinking about their next brew, they decided to pay homage to this work of art. "We may be biased, but to us, New York City is the Center of the Universe," Five Boroughs told 6sqft. "This beer pays homage to the beautiful ceiling at Grand Central Terminal and this amazing city we are lucky to call home."
Find out more
November 21, 2018

Starting in January, it will cost $5.80 just to sit in a yellow cab in parts of Manhattan

Under the state's new congestion pricing measure, starting in January it will cost $5.80 to get into a yellow cab in the most congested sections of Manhattan. Approved by state lawmakers earlier this year, the surcharge on for-hire vehicles affects all rides between Lower Manhattan and 96th Street during the busiest times of the day. But drivers of yellow cabs worry the fee will affect them more than app-based ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft, which can mask the surcharge by tweaking trip costs (h/t WSJ).
Learn more
November 21, 2018

MAP: Where to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

There are 2.5 miles of public viewing along the parade route in NYC; this interactive map can help you find a great spot instead of getting lost in the crowd. The map, from the fine folks behind the parade, outlines when the parade will pass by, which streets have the best public views (6th Avenue from West 59th to West 38th Streets gets the thumbs-up) and which ones are restricted, such as Central Park South at Columbus Circle. Also marked are all-important things like coffee, food, and restrooms.
More info, this way
November 21, 2018

The backstory on backhouses: How NYC’s hidden rear residences came to be

New York City is full of hidden surprises that even the most dyed-in-the-wool New Yorker may not know about. One such example is the elusive "backhouse" or rear house. There are literally scores of these hidden structures throughout the older neighborhoods of Lower Manhattan like Greenwich Village and the East Village. But because they are generally invisible from the street, they’re typically virtually unknown to anyone other than their residents and immediate neighbors. But these oft-romanticized structures have a complicated and surprising history, one which belies their almost mythical place in the psyche of New Yorkers.
Get the scoop
November 21, 2018

For just $450K, this Bronx co-op is cute, roomy, and three blocks from Yankee Stadium

The hipster-taxidermy theme may be a bit strange, but that aside, everything about this Bronx co-op at 860 Grand Concourse is perfect--especially the $450,000 price tag. As the listing says, the spacious, two-bedroom spread is "contemporary, classic and sophisticated," with an infusion of colorful, quirky decor. And if moving to our northernmost borough seems like a hike, think again. With a location in the Grand Concourse Historic District just three blocks from Yankee Stadium, that means the building is equally close to the 4, B, and D trains, as well as right next to the shops at Concourse Village.
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November 20, 2018

Industry City’s 20,000-square-foot Japanese food hall opens this weekend

When you can't stand to eat any more Thanksgiving leftovers, head to Sunset Park on Saturday for the grand opening of Japan Village, a massive Japanese-themed marketplace. Measuring 20,000 square feet, the market is located within Industry City, the 16-building complex of creative office space along the Brooklyn waterfront. Japan Village includes food stalls with 11 tasty vendors, a restaurant and cocktail bar, a Japanese liquor store, and the largest Japanese grocery store in New York City.
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