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Taking place in one of the world's most innovative design capitals, New York City's largest design festival will be celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. NYCxDESIGN: The Festival is a showcase of the newest and most creative offerings in furniture, lighting, textiles, and accessories–many of which you'll be seeing for the next several years in magazines, blogs, and showrooms–with festival attendees from points far and near converging on the city’s five boroughs from May 10–20. Design theory, urbanism, and big-picture issues like the environment and inequality inform brainy panel discussions and workshops. And if modern objects are your thing, you'll be in design heaven with popular programs like Apartment Therapy's Small / Cool providing a serious opportunity to get ideas for your own urban living space. Read on for a handful of highlights.
NYC X Design Festival 2022 highlights, this way

NYC’s first-ever Japan Parade takes place this weekend

Image courtesy of Geoff Livingston on Flickr

May 9, 2022

NYC’s first-ever Japan Parade takes place this weekend

New York City is hosting a parade dedicated to Japanese people and their culture for the first time ever this weekend. On Saturday, May 14, the Japan Parade kicks off at Central Park and West 81st Street and moves south towards 68th Street. The parade will showcase a variety of Japanese performing arts and Japanese organizations, like Anime NYC, the International Karate Organization Kyokushin, and the Japanese Folk Dance of NY, according to Thrillist.
Get the details

Events & Things To Do

Alexander Skarsgård lists his top-floor East Village co-op for $2.6M

All photos courtesy of Yale Wagner

May 9, 2022

Alexander Skarsgård lists his top-floor East Village co-op for $2.6M

Actor Alexander Skarsgård has just listed his top-floor townhouse co-op at 119 East 10th Street for $2,599,000, roughly $300,000 more than he paid in 2017 for the East Village apartment, which once belonged to actress Parker Posey (Chloe Sevigny also lived in the same building before heading to Brooklyn in 2013). The Emmy-nominated star of “Big Little Lies” and “True Blood" oversaw a thorough renovation of the loft-like one-bedroom home, giving its pre-war details and wood-beamed ceilings a careful upgrade, a renovated kitchen, and more (h/t Architectural Digest).
Tour the new, improved version of this top floor co-op, this way

$500M One Times Square revamp includes outdoor viewing deck, museum, and even more ads

All renderings courtesy of Jamestown

May 6, 2022

$500M One Times Square revamp includes outdoor viewing deck, museum, and even more ads

One of the most valuable advertising locations in the world will cash in on its prime location even further. One Times Square, home of the New Year's Eve ball drop, will undergo a $500 million redevelopment to become a new visitor center with a viewing deck, museum, and 12 floors of interactive "branded" experiences, developer Jamestown announced on Friday. While the 26-story building, located at 42nd Street and 7th Avenue, has been vacant for years, its exterior is covered in giant billboards. As part of the half-a-billion-dollar project, advertisers will be able to reach more consumers through immersive "digital, virtual, and augmented reality integrations" inside One Times Square.
Details here

Rent Guidelines Board set to approve biggest rent hike for NYC’s stabilized apartments in a decade

Photo by Emiliano Bar on Unsplash

May 6, 2022

Rent Guidelines Board set to approve biggest rent hike for NYC’s stabilized apartments in a decade

Millions of New Yorkers could soon be hit with the biggest rent hike in a decade. In a preliminary 5-4 vote on Thursday, the city's Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) voted to increase rents on stabilized apartments between 2 and 4 percent for one-year leases and between 4 and 6 percent for two-year leases. If approved, the rent hikes would be the largest since 2013 when there was a 4 percent increase for one-year leases and a 7.75 percent increase for two-year leases. A final decision by the board is expected in June.
Learn more

Policy

Arts-and-Crafts style and Mid-Century Modern meet seamlessly in this unusual $9M Park Slope home

Photos courtesy of The Corcoran Group

May 6, 2022

Arts-and-Crafts style and Mid-Century Modern meet seamlessly in this unusual $9M Park Slope home

Amid the grand Victorian brownstones and elegant front gardens leading up to Prospect Park, the 1909 brick facade of this unique townhouse at 612 Third Street fits right in. But there's much more to this $8,995,000 Park Slope townhouse. Its rear facade and interior architecture reflect an authentic Mid-Century Modern design history from a later era, with both aesthetics mixing beautifully throughout the 4,000-square-foot home. With decks, terraces, and patio spaces offering the promise of outdoor living, the five-story residence is a wonder from all angles and in all seasons, from its finished basement playroom to a glass-wrapped fifth-floor penthouse study.
See more of this unusual modern-historic townhouse

Distinctive Homes

Lottery opens for 80 units at Morris Adjmi’s new Clinton Hill tower, from $1,320/month

Renderings courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

May 5, 2022

Lottery opens for 80 units at Morris Adjmi’s new Clinton Hill tower, from $1,320/month

A 29-story mixed-use tower in Brooklyn designed by Morris Adjmi Architects is now accepting applications for 80 affordable apartments. Located on the corner of Atlantic and Clinton Avenues in Clinton Hill, 539 Vanderbilt Avenue (also known as 550 Clinton Avenue), contains 284 total apartments and 60,000 square feet of commercial space. New Yorkers earning 70, 80, and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, priced from $1,320/month studios to $3,897/month three-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

Historic Palace Theatre finishes 30-foot lift above Times Square

Images courtesy of TSX Broadway

May 5, 2022

Historic Palace Theatre finishes 30-foot lift above Times Square

The redevelopment of a historic Times Square theater hit a major milestone this week. L&L Holding Company on Wednesday announced the 30-foot lift of the Palace Theatre is completed after seven weeks. The project is part of TSX Broadway, a 46-story $2.5 billion mixed-use development set to open next year with a performance venue, 660-key hotel, retail, and a restored theater on the third floor. Using techniques that defied traditional engineering, the theater's lifting unlocks 100,000 square feet of retail and entertainment space.
Details here

Distinctive Homes

Minetta Lane townhouse with an 83-foot rock climbing wall asks $20M

For $1.5M, get (way) off the grid in Gilded Age style on your own private island in Alexandria Bay

A Victoria's Secret model's angelic East Village flat with a solarium and terrace asks $2.9M

$7.2M penthouse is most expensive sponsor sale in Williamsburg

SHOP THE LISTING: Claire Danes and Hugh Dancy's $9.75M West Village townhouse is an all-season urban refuge

Color, texture, and pre-war details define this decorator's dream of a $4.85M Village co-op

This $3.6M Spuyten Duyvil home is a tranquil refuge indoors and out, within New York City limits

For $17M, this eco-friendly Brooklyn Heights Passive House went from beige to bold

Keke Palmer lists her Williamsburg penthouse for $3M

For $995K, this two-bedroom Park Slope condo is a breath of fresh air

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$12M Flatiron penthouse has two levels of outstanding year-round outdoor space

Photos provided by Sotheby’s International Realty

May 5, 2022

$12M Flatiron penthouse has two levels of outstanding year-round outdoor space

This luxury penthouse in the Flatiron District takes urban outdoor living to new heights. The three-bedroom duplex at 21 West 20th Street boasts nearly 1,000 square feet of private outdoor space that stretches across two levels and includes a six-person hot tub, built-in kitchen, outdoor shower, and unobstructed city views. Thanks to heated floors, heat lamps, and a gas fireplace, the space can be enjoyed year-round. The penthouse is now asking $11,995,000.
Take the tour

Distinctive Homes

Blue lamp posts in Battery Park City illustrate height of potential flooding from next severe storm

Photos courtesy of the Battery Park City Authority

May 5, 2022

Blue lamp posts in Battery Park City illustrate height of potential flooding from next severe storm

A new project along Battery Park City's waterfront illustrates the alarming implications of climate change and the urgent need to protect the city's coastlines. The Battery Park City Authority (BCPA) painted 11 light poles situated along the length of the esplanade to indicate the levels water could rise to during a storm surge in a future severe weather event. The blue paint on the poles ranges in height from 18 to 23.5 feet above sea level, and informative banners have been installed to keep visitors educated and engaged.
Find out more

Uncategorized

All the free outdoor concerts happening in NYC this summer

Photo of Bryant Park’s Picnic Performances by Ryan Muir

May 4, 2022

All the free outdoor concerts happening in NYC this summer

New York City once again will be full of exciting opportunities to see live music for free. From old standbys like SummerStage in Central Park and BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! fest in Prospect Park to the newly announced Summer for the City festival at Lincoln Center, music lovers can enjoy a wide variety of performances spanning all genres, in all five boroughs, all for free.
See the list

From NYC’s first gated community to Woody Guthrie: A history of Sea Gate

Photo via Flickr cc

May 4, 2022

From NYC’s first gated community to Woody Guthrie: A history of Sea Gate

By Lucie Levine

What do Woody Guthrie, Isaac Bashevis Singer, and Frank Schubert (the nation’s last civilian lighthouse keeper) have in common? They all lived in Sea Gate, a private community at the westernmost tip of Coney Island. Sea Gate began as a 19th-century playground for the rich, turned into a hotbed of Yiddish literature and Socialist labor activism in the 1930s, and sported at least one commune in the early ‘70s. Today, Sea Gate is home to about 8,000 residents who enjoy private beaches and expansive views of the Verrazano Bridge. If you want to “get in the Gate,” as the locals say, but aren’t ready to relocate west of the Wonder Wheel, you can snag a summer membership at the Brooklyn Beach Club, where even non-residents can while away the hours under a cabana. Or, you can read on for the history of a Coney Island beach town you’ve probably never visited.
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History

Jay Manuel’s former Chelsea loft is back on the market for $3.25M

Photo credit: Eytan Stern Webber and Spotless Agency

May 4, 2022

Jay Manuel’s former Chelsea loft is back on the market for $3.25M

The two-bedroom loft condo formerly owned by "America's Next Top Model" creative director Jay Manuel has just resurfaced on the market for $3,250,000. The Canadian TV presenter and author, who was also a host of "Canada's Next Top Model," bought the 2,269-square-foot home in the Chelsea Mercantile at 252 Seventh Avenue with his partner, Alton Johnson, in 2000; the couple sold the condo in 2011.
Take a peek

Cabana-style ‘mini lawns’ return to scenic Pier 17 rooftop, along with new dining options

Photo courtesy of Howard Hughes Corp and Keeyahtay Lewis

May 3, 2022

Cabana-style ‘mini lawns’ return to scenic Pier 17 rooftop, along with new dining options

A popular outdoor dining spot born as a result of social distancing measures is returning to New York City for a third summer. The Greens on The Rooftop at Pier 17 officially opened this month with three unique social spaces for visitors to enjoy. Located in the South Street Seaport, the rooftop venue now boasts a three-in-one concept with "The Lawns," "The Restaurant," and "The Patrón Patio."
Find out more

Food & Dining

NYC gives billionaire Bill Ackman green light to build rooftop penthouse on Central Park West

All renderings designed by Foster+ Partners, courtesy of the Landmarks Preservation Commission

May 3, 2022

NYC gives billionaire Bill Ackman green light to build rooftop penthouse on Central Park West

Billionaire Bill Ackman is getting his Central Park-facing rooftop glass penthouse designed by Norman Foster after all. The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday approved plans from the hedge fund founder to build a glass penthouse addition on top of a 100-year-old Upper West Side co-op building where he owns an apartment. First presented last November as a two-level glass box on the roof of 6-16 West 77th Street, the approved proposal includes a scaled-down design and more muted materials.
Find out more

May 3, 2022

City nixes plan for second Chinatown homeless shelter amid community opposition

In the second such move in less than a week, New York City has canceled plans for one of a handful of new homeless shelters in Chinatown, the New York Times reports. The planned "safe haven" shelter was to be located in the former Best Western Hotel at the corner of Grand Street and Bowery. The move follows months of vocal opposition to three planned shelters by community members who cite an increase in crimes targeting Asians and a similar announcement last Friday regarding the rollback of plans for a shelter nearby at 47 Madison Street.
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Policy

For $6M, this Greenwich Village classic six combines pre-war charm with condo convenience

All photos courtesy of Fox Residential

May 3, 2022

For $6M, this Greenwich Village classic six combines pre-war charm with condo convenience

This three-bedroom pre-war condominium at 59 West 12th Street in Greenwich Village starts with the cachet of being in a sought-after building known as The Governor, built by celebrated 20th-century developers Bing and Bing and designed by noted architect Emery Roth. Asking $5,990,000, this renovated residence has quietly elegant architectural details, gracious proportions, thoughtfully-designed updates–and enough closets to suit a diva with red carpet ambitions and a lifetime of Met Gala costumes.
Take the tour

NYC’s Covid alert level moves to ‘medium’ risk

New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan on Monday announced the rate of new Covid-19 cases had reached 200 per 100,000 people, moving the city to a medium-risk alert level. The number of new cases recorded daily citywide on a seven-day average jumped from around 600 in March to 2,600 by the end of April, according to the health department. Officials say the latest surge in Covid cases stems from the Omicron subvariant, BA.2.
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Policy

Plan to convert vacant hotels into affordable housing backed by Mayor Adams

Photo by Dimitry Anikin on Unsplash

May 2, 2022

Plan to convert vacant hotels into affordable housing backed by Mayor Adams

Mayor Eric Adams on Sunday called on Albany to pass legislation that makes it easier for New York City to convert vacant and underused hotels into affordable housing. Introduced earlier this year by Assembly Member Steven Cymbrowitz and State Sen. Brian Kavanagh, the bill creates an exemption to zoning rules that require developers to undergo the city's lengthy land use review process or complete major renovations for hotels to become permanent housing. While the idea of converting hotels into housing has been floated by lawmakers for years without getting off the ground, the city's growing housing and homelessness crises have renewed a push from officials.
More here

This $13M slender UES townhouse has been occupied by the same family since 1907

Photo credit: David DuPuy for Sotheby’s International Realty

May 2, 2022

This $13M slender UES townhouse has been occupied by the same family since 1907

The five-story Italianate brownstone at 38 East 70th Street may only be 16 feet wide, but what it lacks in width, it makes up for with over 5,000 square feet of preserved original details and modern updates. Asking $13,000,000, the circa-1884 home, designed by architect Charles Graham, currently offers six bedrooms and an original formal layout of rooms for sitting, dining, and display. Just two blocks from Central Park within the Upper East Side Historic District, the home has been occupied by the same family since 1907.
More details this way

Distinctive Homes

NYC lawmakers call for mandatory citywide compost program at residential buildings

Photo courtesy of the Department of Sanitation

April 29, 2022

NYC lawmakers call for mandatory citywide compost program at residential buildings

A bill introduced in the New York City Council on Thursday calls for the creation of a mandatory citywide composting program at residential buildings. Under the legislation, sponsored by Council Member Shahana Hanif, New Yorkers would be required to separate organic waste from other waste for curbside collection. Pickup of organic waste from residential buildings would begin by the middle of 2023.
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Elegance and space to spare define this $4.35M condo in the iconic Parc Vendome

Photo credit: Coldwell Banker Warburg

April 29, 2022

Elegance and space to spare define this $4.35M condo in the iconic Parc Vendome

Situated on the 18th floor of the iconic Parc Vendome at 340 West 57th Street, this three-bedroom residence has been featured in Architectural Digest, and we can see why. Asking $4,350,000, the 2,600-square-foot Manhattan apartment has understated pre-war details, graciously proportioned rooms, and closets galore. Owned for 25 years by philanthropist, educator, and humanitarian Vartan Gregorian, the home's layout puts everything right where you'd want it, with space to spare.
Tour this magnificent Midtown residence

Green-Wood Cemetery’s first-ever artist in residence to open sculpture installation in the catacombs

Photo by Rhododendrites on Wikimedia

April 28, 2022

Green-Wood Cemetery’s first-ever artist in residence to open sculpture installation in the catacombs

Brooklyn's Green-Wood Cemetery announced on Thursday the opening of a new art installation created by the 184-year-old institution's first-ever artist in residence. Located within the property's catacombs, a portion of the cemetery that is usually off-limits to the public, Heidi Lau's Gardens as Cosmic Terrains consists of sculptures that hang from skylights. The installation opens to the public on Saturday, May 7, and will be on view through July 3.
Details this way

Events & Things To Do

Enjoy your own private Adirondack Great Camp-style compound in the Catskills for $5M

Photo by Tim Lee for Houlihan Lawrence

April 28, 2022

Enjoy your own private Adirondack Great Camp-style compound in the Catskills for $5M

Asking $4,950,000, this unique country estate at 411 Hutchin Hill Road in Bearsville, NY, was inspired by the Adirondack Great Camps in their Gilded Age heyday. Occupying almost 72 acres, this secluded compound nearly 2,000 feet above sea level in the Catskill mountains is anchored by a 5,590-square-foot five-bedroom home.
Tour the grounds of this private resort

Distinctive Homes

Here are NYC’s new Open Street locations for the 2022 season

Queens’ 34th Avenue was recognized as one of the best Open Streets last year; Courtesy of Alfresco NYC

April 28, 2022

Here are NYC’s new Open Street locations for the 2022 season

More than 300 blocks will be closed to cars for pedestrian use as part of the city's 2022 Open Streets program, the Department of Transportation announced last week. This year's program--considered the largest of its kind in the country--has expanded to include 21 new locations, with a total of 156 locations throughout the five boroughs. All of the open streets will be active by the summer of 2022.
Find out more

Janet Jackson lists her Upper West Side apartment for $9M

Photo courtesy of Yoo Jean Han for Sotheby’s International Realty

April 28, 2022

Janet Jackson lists her Upper West Side apartment for $9M

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

Janet Jackson has decided to part ways with her Upper West Side apartment, which she recently listed for $8,995,000, as the Wall Street Journal first reported. The younger Jackson sibling has owned the three-bedroom condo in the Trump International Hotel and Tower at 1 Central Park West for almost 25 years; she purchased the 34th-floor unit in the gleaming tower overlooking Central Park for $2.8 million in 1998.
Find out more

THE 6SQFT SHOP

The best websites for buying and selling used furniture in NYC

The 6 best furniture rental companies in NYC

8 best places in NYC to thrift for home goods

Everything you need to know about using a guarantor in NYC

15 quintessential NYC gifts for the New Yorker in your life

New York City's best holiday markets of 2023

Raising chickens in NYC: Laws, tips, and everything else you need to know

10 best plants for apartment dwellers

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

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City Winery to open a new location in Grand Central

Photo courtesy of Stephen H on Unsplash

April 27, 2022

City Winery to open a new location in Grand Central

Performance venue and restaurant chain City Winery will open a new location at one of the city's busiest transit hubs. As first reported by Gothamist, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Monday approved a license for a restaurant and bar to take up nearly 16,000 square feet of space in Grand Central Terminal, at the western end of Vanderbilt Hall.
Learn more

Food & Dining

The Q70 bus to LaGuardia Airport will now be free year-round

Photo by Tdorante10 on Wikimedia

April 27, 2022

The Q70 bus to LaGuardia Airport will now be free year-round

While getting to LaGuardia Airport via mass transit won't get easier any time soon, at least it won't cost anything for some travelers. During a Metropolitan Transportation Authority board meeting on Wednesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the Q70 bus, known as the LaGuardia Link, will be free year-round to travelers starting May 1.
Get the details

Transit

Adams adds record $171M in budget to fund 1,400 shelter beds for homeless New Yorkers

Photo by Filip Mishevski on Flickr

April 27, 2022

Adams adds record $171M in budget to fund 1,400 shelter beds for homeless New Yorkers

Mayor Eric Adams on Sunday announced an additional $171 million for homeless services in his proposed executive budget for the fiscal year 2023. The mayor says the investment will pay for 1,400 Safe Haven and stabilization beds, small-scale alternatives to traditional shelter settings, the creation of three drop-in centers, and improving ongoing outreach efforts. The investment, which City Hall says would be the largest of its kind to be made by the city, will be allocated every year beginning next fiscal year.
See more here

10 of the best running spots in New York City

Photo via PxHere

April 27, 2022

10 of the best running spots in New York City

By Alexandra Alexa

For avid runners and beginners alike, New York City offers a wide range of places to hit the pavement, from its iconic bridges to green trails nestled in the city's parks. The scenic routes provide unbeatable views of the river and skyline that can keep you motivated to keep going when you're ready to give up. Ahead, we round up the 10 most iconic spots to go for a run in the city, fit for regular marathoners, treadmill-devotees looking for a change of scenery, and total newbies.
Lace up those sneakers...

You can rock on the front porch of this $2.5M Windsor Terrace townhouse all summer long

Photo credit: Melanie Greene, Greenehouse NYC

April 27, 2022

You can rock on the front porch of this $2.5M Windsor Terrace townhouse all summer long

Situated between South Slope and Windsor Terrace, with Prospect Park just two blocks away, this lovely little brick townhouse at 23 Fuller Place is one of a picturesque row of homes with Doric-columned front porches that have remained virtually unchanged since the 1910s. The 2,430-square-foot home, on the market for $2,500,000, spans three floors and boasts a finished basement, a charming back terrace, and a rare front porch.
Get a closer view

Distinctive Homes

Sustainable waterfront office tower 555 Greenwich Street tops out in Hudson Square

All renderings courtesy of Vocon

April 26, 2022

Sustainable waterfront office tower 555 Greenwich Street tops out in Hudson Square

Hudson Square Properties, a joint venture of Trinity Church Wall Street and Norges Bank Investment Management with Hines, on Tuesday announced the topping out of their new office tower in Hudson Square. Located at 555 Greenwich Street, the 270,000 square-foot, 16-story office tower will eventually connect with the adjacent 345 Hudson to form a single, full-block building. Designed by COOKFOX Architects, the new building will utilize state-of-the-art wellness and sustainability-focused features to reach and exceed New York City's 2030 climate targets for office buildings by more than 45 percent.
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New Developments

30 Rock’s new ‘skylift’ observation platform and rooftop ride approved by Landmarks

All renderings courtesy of Tishman Speyer

April 26, 2022

30 Rock’s new ‘skylift’ observation platform and rooftop ride approved by Landmarks

A popular New York City observation deck will soon offer a new point of view. The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday unanimously approved plans for several upgrades to the Top of the Rock at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, including a rotating ride, a rooftop beacon, and a new "skylift" viewing platform that takes visitors above the 70th floor and offers uninterrupted 360-degree views.
See it here

Policy

Lottery opens for 225 mixed-income units at massive development near Yankee Stadium, from $375/month

Rendering courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

April 26, 2022

Lottery opens for 225 mixed-income units at massive development near Yankee Stadium, from $375/month

A housing lottery opened this week for 225 mixed-income units at a new residential development just a few blocks from Yankee Stadium. Located at 1164 River Avenue in the South Bronx, the 17-story building is part of a larger residential project known as River Crest Apartments, which will bring nearly 750 units of affordable housing to the block. New Yorkers earning 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 percent of the area median income, or between $15,429 for a single person and $132,400 for a household of seven people, are eligible to apply for the apartments, which range from $375/month studios to $2,059/month three-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualfify

Affordable Housing

Jennifer Connelly’s former Tribeca penthouse loft with a sunroom and roof terrace asks $12M

Photo credit: Evan Joseph/Scott Wintrow for Sotheby’s International Realty

April 26, 2022

Jennifer Connelly’s former Tribeca penthouse loft with a sunroom and roof terrace asks $12M

From the library to the rooftop sunroom and private terrace with dazzling Hudson River views, loft lovers won't want to change a thing in this perfect penthouse at 288 West Street. As 6sqft previously reported, actress Jennifer Connelly and British actor Paul Bettany bought the four-bedroom penthouse in celebrity-magnet Tribeca for just under $7,000,000 in 2008. Four years later the couple reportedly sold the home in an off-market sale for $8,495,000 when they decamped for the brownstones of Brooklyn. The 4,000-square-foot penthouse loft is back on the market, asking $12,000,000.
Loft living meets penthouse perfection, this way

Adams announces nearly $1B investment for NYC Streets Plan

Image courtesy of Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

April 25, 2022

Adams announces nearly $1B investment for NYC Streets Plan

City officials are continuing their efforts to ensure the safety of New Yorkers traveling the streets. Mayor Eric Adams on Saturday announced a historic $904 million investment to help fund the NYC Streets Plan and address the city's traffic violence problem by creating a safer and more environmentally friendly transportation infrastructure. Over the next five years, the investment will be used to expand bike lanes and bus lanes throughout the city and will be put towards the creation of new pedestrian spaces.
See more here

NYC’s oldest gay bar honored with historic plaque

All images courtesy of the Village Preservation

April 25, 2022

NYC’s oldest gay bar honored with historic plaque

The site of a monumental event in the LGBTQ community's fight against anti-gay discrimination was honored last week with a historic plaque. The Village Preservation and the NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project on Thursday unveiled the plaque at Julius' Bar at 159 West 10th Street. The bar was the site of the first "Sip-In," an act of defiance in which members of gay rights groups entered the bar and asked to be served drinks while announcing they were homosexuals, going against the discriminatory regulations of the New York State Liquor Authority which at the time prohibited bars from serving gay or lesbian patrons.
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This $4.65M Brooklyn Heights co-op was designed for loft-style living in a landmarked tower

Photo credit: Joel Pitra at DDReps

April 25, 2022

This $4.65M Brooklyn Heights co-op was designed for loft-style living in a landmarked tower

The Deco-era residential tower at 75 Livingston Street anchors a tree-lined, historic block of the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood, known for its well-preserved townhouses and apartment buildings. But the bold, custom-designed interiors in this $4,650,000 co-op–a combination of two units designed by architect Henry Smith-Miller–look more like what you'd find in a Manhattan loft. The 3,000-square-foot, three-bedroom apartment may have a few quirks, but its wrap-around terraces and stunning skyline, bridge and river views are definitely the good kind of extraordinary.
Take the grand tour

Distinctive Homes

44 units available at new Williamsburg building designed for seniors, from $1,041/month

Rendering courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

April 22, 2022

44 units available at new Williamsburg building designed for seniors, from $1,041/month

Applications are currently being accepted for 44 low-income units at a new senior-housing development in Brooklyn. Located at 64 Scholes Street in Williamsburg, the 8-story building is dedicated to providing senior residents with affordable housing. New Yorkers earning 60 percent of the area median income, or between $38,263 annually for a single person and $57,300 for a household of two, are eligible to apply for the apartments, which cost $1,041 per month.
Find out more

Affordable Housing

For $495K, this bright Hudson View Gardens co-op comes with amenities and a river view

Photo courtesy of Tina Gallo for The Corcoran Group

April 22, 2022

For $495K, this bright Hudson View Gardens co-op comes with amenities and a river view

On the fifth floor of the historic Hudson View Gardens co-op at 116 Pinehurst Avenue in Washington Heights, this one-bedroom home reflects the pre-war charm of the 1924 Tudor Revival building. Asking $495,000, the unit has been stylishly renovated with bright white walls and lots of color and charm.
See more this charming apartment

Distinctive Homes

April 22, 2022

An art lover’s guide to NYC: Where to get your culture fix in Harlem

By Emilie Murphy

Located at the northern end of Manhattan, Harlem has long been an important hub of culture and creativity. From the Harlem Renaissance to today, the area holds a critical place as a historic center of African American culture. It has been home to famous residents such as Zora Neale Hudson and Langston Hughes, brought together iconic artists including Josephine Baker and Duke Ellington, and remains at the heart of New York’s artistic community. Though Harlem has changed as gentrification creeps north, there are still many cultural anchors that retain the historic soul of the neighborhood. From dance and jazz to museums large and small, here is an art lover’s guide to Harlem.
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Events & Things To Do

NYC finally launches containerized trash bin pilot

Image courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

April 21, 2022

NYC finally launches containerized trash bin pilot

Mayor Eric Adams and Department of Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch on Wednesday unveiled a new containerized waste bin that the city will eventually deploy across all five boroughs in hopes of thwarting rats, making more room on the sidewalks, and improving the overall quality of life for residents. The new bins are part of the city's Clean Curbs Pilot program, which was announced two years ago. The first bins were installed in Times Square on Wednesday.
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Lincoln Center to host summer festival with outdoor dance floor, film screenings, and a speakeasy

The Oasis dance floor, designed by Clint Ramos. Rendering courtesy of Ali Kashfi

April 21, 2022

Lincoln Center to host summer festival with outdoor dance floor, film screenings, and a speakeasy

A three-month-long festival that aims to bring New Yorkers together through art will take place at Lincoln Center this summer. The first-ever "Summer for the City" will feature 300 events with more than 1,000 artists across 10 outdoor stages. Running between May and August, the festival includes the city's largest outdoor dance floor, film screenings, and a "speakeasy," a pop-up bar and performance space in the center's underground driveway.
See more here

Events & Things To Do

Bring your racquet and swimsuit to this $5M ’90s contemporary style NJ home by Gwathmey Siegel

Photo credit: Jump Visual for Prominent Properties Sotheby’s International Realty

April 21, 2022

Bring your racquet and swimsuit to this $5M ’90s contemporary style NJ home by Gwathmey Siegel

This seven-bedroom home on 16-acres in Harding Township, NJ, doesn't look much like the typical country estate. Asking $4,975,000, the 14,000-square-foot home was designed by Gwathmey Siegel, the renowned architecture firm behind the renovation of the Guggenheim Museum. The firm is known for the late 20th-century modern style showcased in the curves and colors of this striking residence at 75 Sand Spring Road. When you're finished marveling at the house, you'll find plenty to do within, where there's a full recreation room, a well-appointed gym, and a half-court basketball court. Also on the property: a guest cottage, a pool, and a lighted tennis court.
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Distinctive Homes

Spring + Thompson

83 Thompson Street

Soho

Loft-like residences in Soho designed by Selldorf Architects

2 beds starting at $4,975,000
4 beds starting at $14,850,000

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Chef Daniel Boulud to open casual French restaurant Le Gratin at The Beekman

Courtesy of The Beekman Hotel

April 21, 2022

Chef Daniel Boulud to open casual French restaurant Le Gratin at The Beekman

Michelin-starred Chef Daniel Boulud is opening a new restaurant in one of New York City's most iconic spaces. Located on the ground floor of the Beekman Hotel in the Financial District, Le Gratin will offer a casual dining experience inspired by the bistros of Boulud's hometown, Lyon, France. The menu will feature classic French and Lyonnais specialties and an extensive wine list with over 100 selections. Guillaume Ginther, former chef of New York's Le Coq Rico Bistro and Boulud's Restaurant Daniel, will take up executive chef duties. Boulud's new restaurant is set to open its doors on May 6; reservations will open on Resy on Thursday.
Details this way

Food & Dining

Photo courtesy of The Corcoran Group

April 20, 2022

In the middle of Midtown, this $3.2M co-op feels like a house with a yard

Tucked into the garden floor of a classic Midtown East co-op at 240 East 55th Street, this four-bedroom home has more space than you'd usually find in a Manhattan apartment, with a lower level rec room, a den, and that covetable urban dream: a beautiful, landscaped private back yard. Asking $3,195,000, the spacious residence is freshly renovated with luxury details and high-tech amenities like wire-brushed wide plank oak floors, a Lutron lighting system, and a zoned A/C system.
More East Midtown co-op, this way

Distinctive Homes

The history of New York City’s original rooftop bars

Casino Roof Garden, 1899 via NYPL Digital Collections

April 20, 2022

The history of New York City’s original rooftop bars

By Lucie Levine

How many summer evenings have you spent at a rooftop bar? While the rooftop bar was indeed born and bred in New York City, it’s nothing new. Even before New York was a city of skyscrapers, denizens of Gotham liked to take their experiences to vertical extremes. And when it comes to partying, New Yorkers have been conquering new heights, drink in hand, since 1883. That year, impresario Rudolf Aronson debuted a roof garden on the top of his newly built Casino Theater on 39th Street and Broadway. The rooftop garden was soon a Gilded Age phenomenon, mixing vaudeville and vice, pleasure and performance, for well-heeled Bon-Vivants who liked to spend their summers high above the sweltering streets.
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History

NYC doormen union, building owners reach historic deal to avoid strike

Image courtesy of Jamie Grafton on Flickr

April 20, 2022

NYC doormen union, building owners reach historic deal to avoid strike

After a massive rally and a threat of a strike, building service workers and landlords have reached a historic agreement. 32BJ SEIU and the Realty Advisory Board (RAB) on April 19 reached a tentative agreement that secures significant wins for building workers, including a nearly 12.6 percent wage increase over the next four years, the highest pay raise in the history of the union. Other victories include a $3,000 bonus for essential workers to counter inflation, 100 percent employer-paid healthcare, and protection of sick leave and paid vacation time. The deal must still be approved by 32BJ members, but the agreement guarantees workers will show up to work as usual on April 21.
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Policy

John Legend and Chrissy Teigen’s $18M Nolita home finds buyer

All photos courtesy of Tina Gallo

April 20, 2022

John Legend and Chrissy Teigen’s $18M Nolita home finds buyer