June 4, 2014

Market Snapshot: The Week of June 4, 2014

NYC's first family is bidding adieu to Brooklyn. After six months in office, Mayor DeBlasio and his brood are moving into Gracie Mansion. Chirlane McCray, DeBlasio's wife, made it official on Monday by announcing the move on her Tumblr. A six-bedroom space at One Beacon Court is the city’s most expensive new listing of the week, asking for $32.5 million. But if that's too steep for you, you can always move into this one-of-a-kind, three-bedroom penthouse at 30 Bond, currently up for $5.5 million. During May 5th-11th, 79 condos sold for an average price of $2.3 million; while 103 co-ops changed hands for an average of a million. The market it quiet for this time of year, but a unit in One57 managed to sell for $20.4 million — the most expensive of the week. And what the heck is NoMad? You know your neighborhood has "arrived" once it's christened with a new name — particularly an acronym. We take a closer look at what's happening north of Mad.   For market trends, the latest real estate listings, and an inside scoop on the city’s coolest buildings, we turn to CityRealty‘s Weekly Market Snapshot for the scoop.
the full details this way
June 4, 2014

Join Us on a Tour of Battery Park City’s Brand New Mega Food Hall Hudson Eats

If you haven't been downtown recently, you might want to make the trek. Hudson Eats — the just-opened food hall at 200 Vesey Street — is turning a once sleepy corner of Battery Park City into a culinary destination. Located on the second floor of Brookfield Place (formerly World Financial Center), the gleaming, white-tiled emporium is one of many new additions helping to revitalize Lower Manhattan. Along with the trendy restaurants that now call the neighborhood home — like Danny Meyer's North End Grill and Stephen Starr's new El Vez — there's also the recent debut of the 9/11 Memorial Museum and eventual moves from media powerhouses Condé Nast and Time Inc.
See more pictures of the stunning food court
June 4, 2014

Art Collector Sells Massive SoHo Simplex for $4.5 Million to Reportedly Pesky Neighbors

It's New York. We live in close proximity and have all had those annoying neighbors — the man that moves his furniture around in the middle of the night, the college students that blast electronic music, and the couple with the dog that never stops howling. It's not every day, though, that you get neighbors operating a full-on filming studio out of their home, but that's exactly what Chelsea residents accused interior designer Betsy Morgan and her husband Jonathan Cary of, according to the New York Post. It was reported that Morgan was illegally advertising her $6 million West 21st Street townhouse on numerous websites for film locations and photography shoots at the rate of $850 per day, the ruckus from which did not make neighbors happy. The couple is now making headlines again by purchasing the city's largest available simplex at 84 Mercer Street. The $4.5 million, 9,000-square-foot loft is definitely camera worthy with its original wooden beams and columns, huge open layout, and remarkable potential for displaying art, but let's hope Ms. Morgan will not be bringing any outside cameras into her new pad.
More about the artsy past owners and the gorgeous digs this way
June 4, 2014

A Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On: Is the City’s Development Leading to Its Destruction?

I sat under a canopy of blue sky on the elevated platform of the Sutter Avenue stop in Brownsville, Brooklyn. I like elevated subway stations because they’re, you know, elevated as opposed to that subterranean scene that transpires underground. What I wasn’t liking so much that particular day, high above the busy avenue, was the way the platform slightly vibrated with each passing vehicle below. It was somewhat unsettling. And then the ground really started to shake, so much so that I looked to the distance to see if Godzilla bore down on Brooklyn, smashing cars and pounding through buildings, breathing fire and squawking that awful squawk. But it was only the 3 Train rattling in from East New York. The platform continued to shake more and more until the train, thankfully, came to a stop. I got on board, but I wasn’t all that happy about it. And then I started to think about my dog.
Andrew, on cue from his dog, questions the physical stability of NYC
June 4, 2014

Annie Liebovitz Purchases Central Park Pad Next Door to Robert De Niro

Robert De Niro just got a new neighbor, and it’s esteemed photographer Annie Liebovitz. Liebovitz nabbed the Brentmore co-op for $11.25 million, a bit lower than the $14.5 million asking price from a year and a half ago. However, the celebrity photographer will be gaining more than an A-list neighbor. After a long day of work she’ll have a gorgeous 3BR/3.5 bath duplex to return to. The apartment has its own appreciation for the picturesque, with large windows framing Central Park and delivering front row views to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Take a glimpse inside the photographer's new home here
June 4, 2014

Dwell’s Editor-in-Chief Amanda Dameron Shares Her Favorite Designs with 6sqft

Enter the home of any design enthusiast and you're almost guaranteed to find a copy the latest month's Dwell magazine sitting on their coffee table. While a number of design publications have disappeared into the abyss over the last few years, Dwell has stuck around as a power player and source of inspiration for creatives across the globe. And it's no wonder — the mag's glossy pages are brimming with cutting edge architecture, lots of industrial design eye-candy, and fascinating stories of those who dare to live differently. Amanda Dameron is Dwell's Editor-in-Chief, and she's the brains behind the content across all of the media company's platforms. As one of the most influential voices in the world of modern design, it was only fitting that last year she launched the Dwell Store, an e-shop offering up many of the incredible things featured in the magazine each month. Though there are thousands of designs to be had at the site, here Amanda shares with us a curated list of her favorite items from the store.
Amanda's favorite things this way
June 3, 2014

The Results Are In: Rebuild By Design Announces Winning Proposals for Post-Sandy Flood Protection

Over a year after Hurricane Sandy tore through the metro New York area, destroying lives and homes, some areas are still in the process of rebuilding. In an effort to ensure New York City is never caught off guard from a natural disaster like we were in the fall of 2012, the Department of Housing and Urban Development launched Rebuild By Design, a contest to develop ways to rebuild the city’s most vulnerable areas in such a way that they’ll be better prepared for nature’s unpredictability. 140 proposals were submitted over a year ago, coming from 15 different countries. Last June, 10 finalists were chosen to refine their plans, developing protective strategies for all of the vulnerable areas that were struck, and will likely be struck again. After nearly a year, the Department of Housing and Development has just announced six winners that will receive a piece of the federal government's $4 billion disaster-recovery fund.
Take a look at the winning designs here
June 3, 2014

SNL Darling Kristen Wiig Sells Soho Loft for $2.675 Million

Former SNL star Kristen Wiig has just sold her Soho Loft for $2.675 million. 476 Broadway Apt. 10-M sits on the 10th floor of a pre-war building in the coveted Soho/Nolita area. Resting a good 4 or 5 floors above its surrounding buildings, this apartment gets tons of light, and its large windows provide unobstructed city views, including One World Trade Center and City Hall. The kitchen features top of the line appliances with a Sub-Zero refrigerator and a Waterstone Filtration System.
Take a glimpse inside the comedienne's former home here
June 3, 2014

Lighting Designer David D’Imperio Captures Mother Nature in His Hanging Lamps

A lighting artist who typically helps spruce up the homes we live in is looking to Mother Nature for inspiration. From his studio in rural Pennsylvania, award-winning designer David D'Imperio creates one-of-a-kind fixtures that pull from natural structures. Among the wild objects you may spot in his works? Moth wings, orchids and bluebirds.
There's a light for every style
June 3, 2014

Two Northside Piers: Every Side of This Williamsburg Duplex Penthouse Is Its Good One

Once upon a time there was a scrappy little warehouse district in Brooklyn that birthed some of the largest industrial firms in the nation: Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Astral Oil (later Standard Oil), Brooklyn Flint Glass (later Corning Ware) and the Havemeyer and Elder sugar refinery (later Amstar and Domino), to name a few. And along the waterfront, among the docks, shipyards, mills and refineries, breweries such as Schaefer, Rheingold and Schlitz dotted the landscape. While many of the factories still stand, most have been converted to luxury residential buildings, with Northside Piers being the very first residential development at the waterfront of Williamsburg. Toll Brothers’s full-service condominium takes full advantage of its location, offering residents a 400-foot-long recreation pier and stunning views of the New York City skyline. And this rare-to-the-market Two Northside Piers 4-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom duplex penthouse at 47 North 4th Street, with two large balconies, is just as dazzling.
Right this way to see the many sides of this exquisite penthouse….
June 3, 2014

Perfectly Picturesque Tribeca Penthouse is Off the Market

Finding your perfect apartment is much like selecting a significant other--it needs to be comforting, make you feel happy and safe, jive with your lifestyle, and, most importantly, be so attractive you can't keep your hands off it. We'd bet that the new owners of the penthouse at 47 Murray Street are currently in the honeymoon phase with their new digs.  They snatched up the 3BR/3BA home for $4.76 million through a listing with Douglas Elliman, and what they received is a 2,825-square-foot duplex loft with two terraces, 13-foot ceilings, 9.5-foot windows, modern finishes, and plenty of wall space for an art display.
The love story continues here
June 2, 2014

Penthouse Loft at Piano Factory Goes on the Market for $3.995 Million

Imagine sitting in this living room. This would be only one of the perks of living at 454 West 46th Street #PH-6BS. The stunning penthouse rests at the top of  the Piano Factory, and it’s currently on the market for $3.995 million with Town Residential’s Glenn Connolly. If this penthouse is the crowning jewel of the historic loft conversion complex, then that living room is the crowning jewel of the penthouse. No, you’re not going blind. The living room is really that light-flooded, thanks to a vaulted glass ceiling above. And it doesn’t stop there. The radiant room leads to a gorgeous terrace – just one of the unit’s two, to be exact. The other one is off of the spacious, eat-in chef’s kitchen, which rests in a corner of the apartment, offering top-of-the-line appliances and exposures from windows on two walls. But if the stunning southern views from the kitchen’s terrace, or the main terrace’s skyline views that stretch from Hell’s Kitchen to the edge of Central Park aren’t enough, you can always build another deck on the roof with board approval because you have roof rights. Is there anything these people haven’t thought of?
Take a look inside here
June 2, 2014

Your Daily Link Fix: Bed Stuy Says Goodbye to Lenny Kravitz’s Childhood Home; Rocket Joe’s Pizza Closes

7 Galleries Amping Up The Art World: Galleries are slowly moving from a blank canvas that showcases art to a work of art themselves. Architizer explores some galleries that are enhancing their art through intriguing architecture. Bed Stuy Says Goodbye to Lenny Kravitz’s Childhood Home: The Brownstoner mourns with Bed Stuy locals as the musician’s grandparents home […]

June 2, 2014

Woolworth Penthouse to be Priced at a Record-breaking $110 Million

According to Bloomberg News, the penthouse at the Woolworth building will ask for a jaw-dropping $110 million when units hit the market this Fall. This is the highest-ever ask for an apartment in downtown Manhattan, and one sure to send the market into a frenzy. Jonathan Miller, president of appraiser Miller Samuel Inc., told Bloomberg that the price is indicative of the prestige and unique history of the landmarked building, rather than the location or its status as a luxury apartment. “We’ve seen rapid absorption downtown," he told Bloomberg, "but this project is unlike anything that’s come online.”
More about the penthouse this way
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June 2, 2014

Massive Soho Loft With Wraparound Terrace Sells for $14.5 Million

When you look at these New York buildings, it’s hard to imagine there’s space for a 7,000-square-foot loft inside. Well, the former home of Justin and Nicole Ehrlich is one of those spaces. 20 Greene Street #6A is definitely deserving of an Academy award with its dramatic tall ceilings and oversized windows. And it just sold to the tune of $14.5 million. This Soho loft, listed by Douglas Elliman, doesn’t do anything halfway. Its giant living room is large enough to be its own apartment, for starters.
Take a closer look at this glamorous loft here
June 2, 2014

“Grand” 27 Wooster Street Penthouse Finally on the Market – Asks for $28.5M

An empty corner lot in one of the most sought after neighborhoods in the city? Now that doesn’t come along every day. When presented with this rare blank slate in 2012, the architects at Kohn Pederson Fox went to work creating an elegant, contemporary building that blends seamlessly with its SoHo-Cast Iron Historic District environs. The result: a luxurious, window-filled residential condominium at 27 Wooster Street in Soho, complete with Thomas Juul-Hansen-designed interiors, a host of upscale amenities, and — wait for it — parking.
Get a first glimpse inside this gorgeous penthouse
June 2, 2014

Set Designer for Saturday Night Live Buys Artsy SoHo Loft

Leo Yoshimura, a set designer and art director for late night television shows like Saturday Night Live and the Late Show with Conan O'Brien, has purchased unit 5W at SoHo's 565 Broadway for $4.2 million through a listing held by Keller Williams.  This is a D2 class/artist in residence building, meaning it's a former industrial site that was converted to residential and now its apartments must be inhabited by a certified artist. The artistically designed loft seamlessly blends historic character with sleek modernism.  Original columns punctuate the 2,740-square-foot 3BR/3BA space, which retains its large windows and high ceilings.  The interior window cutouts let natural light traverse the entire unit, as does the contemporary frosted glass divider that leads into the boldly painted red den.
More details this way
May 31, 2014

Lower East Side Rental Oozes Rustic Charm

One look at this delightful apartment at 141 Attorney Street and you will be hooked. The bright sunshine flowing in from the north, south and west exposures perfectly showcases distinctive details like the exposed brick walls, gorgeous hardwood floors, custom built-ins, a wide-plank wooden wall, and even a fun over-sized “barn door” (yes, it’s red!).
See more charm!
May 30, 2014

Take a Peek Inside Resolution: 4 Architecture’s Stunning Loft High Above Union Square

Closet space isn’t easy to come by in New York City, so when the owners of this stunning Union Square loft remodeled their apartment a few years back, storage was on the top of their to-do list. With help from Robert Luntz and Joseph Tanney of Resolution: 4 Architecture, the family transformed their newly-expanded apartment into a sleek, modern home with plenty of cabinets and shelves.
See more of the impressive, storage-friendly apartment
May 30, 2014

Your Daily Link Fix: Starchitects Wear Their Buildings as Hats; NASA Prepares for More Mars Exploration

NASA Prepares For More Mars Exploration: Just 2 years after Curiosity touched down on the red planet’s surface, NASA is working on a way to get bigger vehicles there. FastCo. has the inside info. Starchitects Wearing Their Buildings: Architizer has prints from Brooklyn illustrator Paul Stuller, depicting some of the world’s most famous architects wearing […]

May 30, 2014

This Upper East Side Duplex is So Big You Might Need a GPS

Bigger is better so the saying goes, and you’ll get no argument from this nearly 8,000-square-foot duplex at 28 East 70th Street. Luckily, you have us to navigate the way through the 20+ rooms that make this home a truly remarkable residence. The most difficult part of our journey? Where to start! So grab your key (for the elevator) and step right into this stunning condo’s marble-floored reception foyer and spacious entry gallery, ensuring complete privacy for the rest of the home’s wings. Yes, wing is a totally appropriate description to use with a residence of this size.
Enter your destination and away we go
May 30, 2014

One Vanderbilt: New 65-Story Tower Near Grand Central to Stand Taller Than the Chrysler Building

It looks like the Chrysler Building is about to get a new neighbor. According to the New York Times, SL Green has reportedly proposed the development of a 1,200-foot, 65-story tower that would occupy the block between 42nd and 43rd Streets, and Vanderbilt and Madison Avenues. This proposal will have to undergo a review process as part of a new de Blasio administration plan to rezone an area of Vanderbilt Avenue for larger buildings. De Blasio’s proposal is a 2.0 version of a failed bid by Michael Bloomberg that would rezone an area around Grand Central Terminal. Bloomberg’s proposal – which would affect a 73-block area around the terminal - concerned officials and preservationists, who were concerned that the plan would add to the congestion in the area. Fulfilling one of his campaign promises, de Blasio has devised a plan to mitigate those issues as well as keep the city competitive for decades to come, by creating more office space in the prime business location.
Learn more about the iconic tower's new neighbor
May 30, 2014

New Yorker Spotlight: Photographer Barry Rosenthal on Living in the Financial District and Finding Inspiration in Nature

Photographer and artist Barry Rosenthal is inspired by nature. His latest series, Found in Nature, is a response to what he was seeing and feeling while out on beaches. Barry, whose pieces can be found in the permanent collection of the MoMA in New York City and the Springfield Museum of Fine Art in Springfield, Massachusetts, is himself being found through Found in Nature. The series was recently featured in Brazil's National Geographic Magazine. Although Barry works in nature, he has lived in the caverns of the Financial District since 1987. Long before the neighborhood would become popular with young professionals and families, Barry and his wife, Elyn, found that the area — then made up primarily of office buildings — had just what they were looking for: space. Over the last 25 years, they and their daughter Macie, now 18, made the Financial District their home. The family was certainly ahead of the curve. As a New Yorker, I was curious to learn more about Barry. What was it like living in this neighborhood back in the '80s, especially from the perspective of a photographer and artist with a keen eye for observing the world? Why did he decide to head out of his studio and work in nature?
READ THE INTERVIEW WITH BARRY ROSENTHAL HERE
May 30, 2014

The Great Outdoors: 6 Luxurious NYC Penthouses with Envy-Inducing Outdoor Spaces to Boot

Warmer temperatures are finally here, and New Yorkers are well on their way to planning their summer trips — to the Hamptons, Berkshires, Jersey Shore, and any other location where they can relax and soak up the sun. The one problem with all of these destinations, though, is the travel. No one wants to wait in traffic on the Jersey Turnpike or sit on a crowded Jitney bus. So wouldn't it be nice if you could enjoy the nice weather without leaving home? At these six stunning penthouses you can, thanks to their beautiful outdoor spaces.
All the urban oases right this way
May 29, 2014

Market Snapshot: The Week of May 29, 2014

An anonymous buyer snagged an 18th - and 19th-floor apartment at 15 Central Park West for $48 million. This purchase is the second most expensive sale in the building, falling "just" $40 million short of former Citigroup CEO Sany Weil's penthouse buy. Most Manhattan apartments don't come with an inch of green space, but the six listings highlighted in our report sure do! Guess which addresses have green escapes hidden from prying eyes... 116 condos sold for an average of $2.4 million; and 137 co-ops sold for an average of $1.2 million during the week of April 28th-May 4th. With summer just around the corner, it looks like buyers are clamoring to close.   For market trends, the latest real estate listings, and an inside scoop on the city's coolest buildings, we turn to CityRealty‘s Weekly Market Snapshot for the scoop.
Get the report here
May 29, 2014

Green City: Eight of the Biggest Eco-Friendly Developments Happening Right Now in NYC

While going green has more or less become the norm in most modern day construction in New York, some projects have really outdone themselves from the ingenuity of design to the sheer scale of size. This is a city where the new police academy will harness the power of re-usable rainwater, and where the Barclays Center's arena roof is being covered with 130,000 square feet of new garden space. New York is placing itself at the forefront of green design and green construction, and here are just eight of the biggest green projects happening right now.
The top green developments in the city this way
May 29, 2014

A Unique $3.2 Million Tribeca Loft to Bring Out Your Inner Artist

On the road again… I can’t wait to get on the road again… Yes, one glance at 466 Washington Street #3W is going to have you feeling like you just got off a bumpy bus ride in Tijuana and stopped in for a beer at a local tavern. That’s part of the charm of this 3,500-square-foot, one-of-a-kind loft. It’s perfectly suited for the artist who was “born to run” or just born to work, embracing a live/work atmosphere. The apartment’s trendy personality, combined with its original hand sewn beams and exposed brick walls produces a blend of old and new, making it a perfect haven for creative inspiration.
Check out more photos of this unique loft here
May 29, 2014

Straus Park Stunner with Striking Balcony Asks $4.65 Million

One of the most sought after units in the exclusive Straus Park condominium is back on the market. The Opus'#18B has changed hands a lot over the past few years but like many others, she has learned that you have to kiss a few frogs to meet your prince. Well, she’s ready to meet her prince - or princess - and she's enlisted Corcoran agent Greg Kammerer to help. The 2,241-square-foot condo may sit at the top of a 22-story building but her giant windows bring the city to her fingertips. And that might be all you need of the Big Apple, because with all that this 4BR/3BA condo has to offer you could find yourself vacationing in your own home.
Take a look inside this pretty penthouse here
May 29, 2014

Ensoleillé! Soleado! Soleggiato! Yes, This Chelsea Condo at 520 West 19th Street is Sunny

No matter how you say it there’s no denying the bright and airy appeal of this sun-filled home at 520 West 19th Street courtesy of floor-to-ceiling windows in just about every room and its very own 48-foot long landscaped terrace. But if you’re looking to soak up your Vitamin D another way, you’re in luck because this Annabelle Selldorf-designed building is perfectly situated between the High Line and the 550 acre Hudson River Park. So whether you’re in the mood to stretch your legs, picnic, sail, kayak, or paddle-board, you’re covered.
See how sunny living here can be!
May 29, 2014

Billionaire Pier Luigi Loro Piana Buys a Glamourous Carnegie Hill Apartment for $11.3 Million

When you've got billions what's $11.3 million spent on some prime NYC real estate? According to city records filed this morning, Italian billionaire (the 1,067th in the world, and the 22nd in Italy) Pier Luigi Loro Piana just purchased a stunning Carnegie Hill co-op at 980 Fifth Avenue through a listing held by Sotheby's. The Italian fashion magnate crossed the billionaire's mark just last July when he and his brother sold an 80% stake in the Loro Piana fashion line to French billionaire Bernard Arnault's LVMH for $2.6 billion. With plenty of closets in this 3BR/3.5BA, including a 100-square-foot dressing room, the Pianas will have lots of room to store some of the luxurious cashmere and wool suits and sweaters that brought their family such great wealth today. The beautiful home also boasts stunning views of Central Park, and the building itself sparked quite a bit of controversy back in 1966 when it was constructed.
More details this way
May 29, 2014

Fifth Avenue Apartment with Views of the Met Changes Hands from One Financial Pro to Another

Crunching numbers all day as one of the leading financial advisors at USB can't be an easy task, so it makes perfect sense why Louise F. Gunderson chose to make this tranquil, inviting apartment her new home. The crystal-clear views of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Central Park Reservoir probably don't hurt either. Ms. Gunderson purchased a unit at 1035 Fifth Avenue for $4.75 million through a listing held by Lisa K. Lippman and Scott Moore at Brown Harris Stevens. The seller, Sylvan Schefler, head of the Investment Banking Department at Drexel Burnham Lambert Inc., likely had the same idea when he acquired the co-op in 1999. The large single-pane tilt and turn windows of this 2BR/3BA home let in tons of natural light and perfectly frame the uniquely Upper East Side views. High ceilings and hardwood flooring throughout are two of the lovely prewar details, while updated touches like custom built-in shelving and charming window seats create a modern, urban feel.
More on the apartment right this way
May 28, 2014

Bec Brittain’s Beautiful Maxhedron Pendant Lamp Creates Stunning Light Constellations

Bec Brittain may be Brooklyn-based, but this lighting designer isn't falling into her Bushwick neighborhood's predilection for rough-edges and unfinished wood. With its calculated geometry, elegant mirrored glass, and a constellation of lights held within, Brittian's beautiful Maxhedron offers the perfect amount of luminance while creating an out of this world refraction that can transform any room.
More images of the incredible lamp this way
May 28, 2014

Thorndale: Turn of the 20th Century Carriage House Becomes Perfect 21st Century Home

At the turn of the 20th century, the first Model T Ford was still almost a decade from leaving the assembly line at the Ford Motor Company’s Piquette Plant in Detroit, Michigan and horse-drawn carriages were the primary mode of transportation. Carriage houses, like the one at 406 West 45th Street, built in 1905 for Oakleigh Thorne, owner of Thorndale Farms in Dutchess County, were necessary to properly store the carriages and associated equipment, such as saddles, stirrups, bridles, halters, reins, bits, harnesses, etc. By 1927, over 15 million Model T-Fords had been produced and the horse and buggy was on its way to being a novelty from a simpler time, and carriage houses were eventually given second lives as garages, offices, workshops, restaurants and, as in the case of the aptly named Thorndale, beautiful residences.
Take a look at the gorgeous conversion
May 28, 2014

Field Trip to the American Dream (Via the Bronx)

My English composition class at a CUNY school resembles a Benetton ad minus the posing and singular fashion aesthetic. I could run the numbers, but I don’t need to make like Nate Silver to prove my class is almost entirely of immigrants or first generation Americans from a wide range of backgrounds. This makes things particularly interesting when we study the 'American Dream', for it’s far more relevant to my students than it is to, say, me — all snug and secure in my status as a second-generation American not living with the hope for citizenship nor the fear of deportation of myself or my loved ones. One of the materials I use when teaching the American Dream is an article from September of 2013 in The Times about Marco Saavedra, a young man brought here illegally as a toddler in the early ‘90s by his Mexican parents who own and operate a restaurant in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx. Under the auspices of his parents’ emphasis on education, Marco was able to thrive in the public schools’ of NYC and secure full scholarships to Deerfield Academy and then Kenyon College, from where he graduated in 2011. Impressive.
But then it all went south. Literally. More of Andrew's Story here
May 28, 2014

Wall Street Banker Buys Premier Park Avenue Duplex for $8.495 Million

Wall Street banker Brian Kelly and his wife Robin Foley have just purchased a gorgeous Upper East Side duplex at 830 Park Avenue for $8.495 million. Apartment 9/10B is reminiscent of a home in an Edith Wharton novel, which is appropriate because it’s managed to maintain much of its early 20th century charm even as it boasts some of the most modern finishes.
Check out this beautiful duplex here
May 28, 2014

The Hidden City in Manhattan’s “Other” Skyline

As any fan of Spiderman knows, the “corridors” created by Manhattan’s tall buildings are a perfect way to beat traffic through a little web-swinging. But look more closely and Spiderman’s transportation of choice reveals a secret city like none other. One of the most famous and ubiquitous skylines in the world has seen its share of changes — most recently the rise of the Freedom Tower in place of the twin towers of the original World Trade Center — but has remained one of the most recognizable. Yet hidden among New York's tallest buildings is another skyline as unique as the city itself created by the negative air space formed between the granite and steel structures reaching for the sky on each side of the street.
READ MORE
May 28, 2014

New Yorker Spotlight: Minton’s Chef Alexander Smalls Breathes New Life into Legendary Harlem Jazz Club

It was dinner party cocktail chatter that led long-time pals chef Alexander Smalls and former Time Warner CEO Richard Parsons to launch a set of Harlem restaurants. Last fall, five years after that initial talk, the duo re-opened Minton’s, bringing the legendary jazz club back to its former glory, complete with Sunday jazz suppers. Around the same time, they also launched a brand new restaurant down the block called the Cecil, which boasts a cross-cultural menu inspired by Africa’s wide-spreading culinary influence. We sat down with Smalls, an opera-singer-turned chef and longtime Harlem resident, to get his thoughts on the changing neighborhood and what business owners can do to give back.
Read our interview with the culinary legend
May 28, 2014

Loft in Former Celeb Haven at 30 Crosby Street Finds a Buyer for $7.8 Million

Alicia Keys hired a crane when she moved out; Lenny Kravitz reportedly liked to show off his abs to his neighbors; Courtney Love allegedly had a little too much fun in the lobby — this is just some of the gossip from the former rich-and-famous tenants of 30 Crosby Street. In recent years, though, the residents have shifted from A-list celebrities to "everyday millionaires", and instead of Grammy-winning singers and hard-partying actresses, the Nolita building is now home to rich guys like the recent buyer of unit 3B, Justin Leverenz, Director of Emerging Market Equities at Oppenheimer, who purchased the apartment for $7.8 million, according to city records filed yesterday afternoon. The seller was music industry executive Daniel Pelson who paid $2.55 million for the home in 2001. Mr. Pelson listed the property through Town Residential’s Tinnie Sassano. What Mr. Leverenz acquired is a 4,164-square-foot, 3BR/3BA loft full of original historic details, including 19th century rough-hewn wooden columns, pinewood flooring, and exposed brick walls, mixed with contemporary additions like an Italian limestone wood-burning fireplace and a sleek, retro kitchen complete with stainless steel appliances and slab marble countertops.
Check out the rest of the digs this way
May 27, 2014

One-of-a-Kind TriBeCa Loft at 474 Greenwich Street Is Waiting for One-of-a-Kind Owner

Situated in an 1880s factory building, this intriguing 1-bedroom, 2-bath home at 474 Greenwich Street offers surprises at every turn. From its adorable checkered kitchen floor to the exposed beam ceilings, every room is a conversation starter. We aren’t sure what the exposed brick walls would say if they could talk (that’s over 100 years of secrets hidden away!) but we certainly have a lot to tell.
See what there is to talk about!
May 27, 2014

Giza: Itai Bar-On’s Unique Modern Lighting Solution Using Industrial Materials

Israeli industrial designer Itai Bar-On's favorite material is concrete — a love that stems from his family’s multi-generational construction business. But when the designer decided to test the limits of aluminum, he managed to create a stunning lighting fixture that emphasizes the natural qualities of a material that's often blasted to a sheen or bathed in a candy-colored powder paint finish.
Check out this sweet lamp here
May 27, 2014

Your Art and Design Events Agenda, For the Week of May 27, 2014

Boo! The long Memorial Day weekend and its endless picnics are over. But you can still celebrate the short work week with all things arty! Indulge in your love of film — from the silent era to tomorrow's documentary stars — or channel your inner entrepreneur at a panel on how to price your own designs. Also be sure to rest up for the weekend as artist studios open up across Brooklyn with Bushwick Open Studios and NARS Foundation. Just be sure to leave some time on your schedule to check out Bushwick's first art fair, the NEWD Art Fair!
All the best events here

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