Search Results for: brooklyn history

September 12, 2016

So+So Studio reimagines an abandoned Jersey City railroad as an elevated public park

Architecture firm So+So Studio has proposed a new vision for New Jersey's Bergen Arches, an abandoned four-track cut of the Erie Railroad that runs one mile through the Palisides. The site has remained unused, overgrown, and forgotten since the last train ran in 1959. So+So, however, sees a much more lively vision for the tracks, and they've teamed up with Green Villain, a Jersey City place-making organization, and local residents to turn the unused space into a locale for artistic and leisure activity. Dubbed "The Cut," the project is both architectural and landscape-based, calling for an elevated system of ramps and walkways that will take participants under canopies, through sculpture gardens, and into graffiti-tunnels more than 60 feet below ground. With the public park, So+So hopes to promote contemporary local artists as well as expose decades of preserved graffiti and art that line the forgotten landscape.
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Architecture And Design

September 10, 2016

Weekly highlights: Top picks from the 6sqft staff

By Dana Schulz

Port Authority plans to sell One World Trade Center for up to $5B Trevor Noah renting a $15,000/month Hell’s Kitchen bachelor pad in Ralph Walker’s Stella Tower Live in ODA’s stacked Long Island City rental for $850/month, lottery opens for 35 units Video: The first of 300 new R179 subway cars has (finally) arrived at […]

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September 10, 2016

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week- 9/8-9/14

By Lori Zimmer

In a city where hundreds of interesting happenings occur each week, it can be hard to pick and choose your way to a fulfilling life. Art Nerd‘s philosophy is a combination of observation, participation, education and of course a party to create the ultimate well-rounded week. Jump ahead for Art Nerd founder Lori Zimmer’s top picks for 6sqft readers! The art world is back in full swing this week. Head to Chelsea this Thursday and meander around the countless openings (and enjoy the cheap, swill chardonnay). Be sure to stop by Joseph Gross Gallery for their opener with Jesse Draxler and Chad Wys. Takashi Murakami's protege opens a show of her gorgeous embroidery, and performance artist Jill Sigman explores the world of plants and weeds through dance. A group of artists pay tribute to 9/11 with an immersive exhibition called Loft in the Red Zone, and downtown artists and performer Kembra Pfahler joins Howl for their Writer's Block series. Central Park is getting a brand new giant sculpture inspired by a shopping list thanks to the Public Art Fund, and Bloomingdale's semi-secret train car restaurant stays open for a special chef's tasting dinner. Speaking of food, sample all that Greenwich Village has to offer at Washington Square Park's Taste of the Village event. Finally, gather some patience and wait in the long lines to experience Refinery29's epic 29Rooms, which transforms 80,000 square feet of warehouse space into 29 experiential art installations.
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Events & Things To Do

September 9, 2016

Back to school with C.B.J. Snyder: A look at the architect’s educational design

By Dana Schulz

Now that school is back in session, 6sqft decided to take a look at the public school buildings of C.B.J. Snyder. An architect and mechanical engineer, he served as Superintendent of School Buildings for the New York City Board of Education between 1891 and 1923. It was this work that Snyder is known for, having transformed the construction process, design, and quality of the city's school buildings. He oversaw the creation of more than 140 elementary schools, ten junior high schools, and 20 high schools, incorporating his innovative H-shaped layout, three-tiered windows, and mid-block locations. Working mainly in the styles of Renaissance Revival and Beaux-Arts, Snyder created structures that not only revolutionized the way school design was approached, but that were beautiful works of design.
Take a look at some of our favorite C.B.J. Snyder schools and see how they're being used today

Miss Manhattan: The famous artist’s model who sits in iron and marble throughout the city

The Isidor and Ida Straus Memorial at Straus Park, modeled after Audrey Munson. Via Wiki Commons.

September 6, 2016

Miss Manhattan: The famous artist’s model who sits in iron and marble throughout the city

By Dana Schulz

Audrey Marie Munson. The name may not ring a bell, but you've undoubtedly seen her likeness around town. From the New York Public Library to the Brooklyn Bridge, this woman in various states of undress was once the most famous artist's model in the country. The story of Munson began in 1906, when she was 15 years old and was spotted window shopping on Fifth Avenue by photographer Felix Benedict Herzog. After he took a series of portraits of her, she was introduced to well-known sculptor Isadore Konti, who began her career as "Miss Manhattan," immortalizing her in iron and stone. But a short-lived hiatus as a film actress, followed by a murder scandal, changed things for the model.
The full history this way

September 1, 2016

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week- 9/1-9/7

By Lori Zimmer

In a city where hundreds of interesting happenings occur each week, it can be hard to pick and choose your way to a fulfilling life. Art Nerd‘s philosophy is a combination of observation, participation, education and of course a party to create the ultimate well-rounded week. Jump ahead for Art Nerd founder Lori Zimmer’s top picks for 6sqft readers! Summer's over, but you can alleviate some of the pain with a slew of arts events this weekend. Times Square Arts brings it with their September #Midnightmoment partnership with the Met Opera, and the Met Museum's gorgeous Manus X Machina comes to a close. Head over to Governors Island before it closes for the season to check out the Center for Holographic Arts, and head out to the Hamptons to enjoy Dita Von Teese while supporting Housing Works. Revisit the '70s with a Paradise Garage Reunion, or honor Captain James T Kirk with a group show inspired by Star Trek. Experience the hype that is the Japanese pop band Perfume, then educate yourself on the sprawl and settlement of the Bronx.
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Events & Things To Do

This never-built Washington monument would have been the city’s tallest structure

View of the proposed monument from the New York Herald in 1847 (L); Cornerstone ceremony procession by James S. Baillie, via Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

August 31, 2016

This never-built Washington monument would have been the city’s tallest structure

By Dana Schulz

When most people think of George Washington and New York City they envision the Washington Square Arch, not only one of the city's most notable landmarks, but one that clearly pays homage to our nation's first president. Real history buffs may also recall the Equestrian Statue of Washington in Union Square. But before both of these sites were erected (in 1895 and 1865, respectively), there was a plan in 1847 to honor him on the Upper East Side by building a 425-foot monument that would've dwarfed Trinity Church, the tallest building in the city at the time.
So what happened?

History

August 26, 2016

Art Nerd New York’s top event picks for the week- 8/25-8/31

By Lori Zimmer

In a city where hundreds of interesting happenings occur each week, it can be hard to pick and choose your way to a fulfilling life. Art Nerd‘s philosophy is a combination of observation, participation, education and of course a party to create the ultimate well-rounded week. Jump ahead for Art Nerd founder Lori Zimmer’s top picks for 6sqft readers! Summer is winding down, but we're not ready to move back indoors. Jump a ferry and celebrate the season's end on Governors Island with an old fashioned oyster shuck. Get down (silently) outside at the Coney Island Art walls at the Quiet Clubbing Festival, or join artist Santhori in making a giant mural at the park on East 1st Street. Stretch out and appreciate Times Square on Jurgen Mayer H's XXX easy chairs, then head to the Bowery Wall to find your friends in Logan Hicks' giant new mural. Finally, the gallery prince of darkness JJ Brine is bringing his Vector Gallery back to New York, and two artists are turning Brooklyn's Ground Floor Gallery into a giant loom installation.
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Events & Things To Do

August 24, 2016

163 years ago, an upstate chef accidentally invented potato chips

By Dana Schulz

It was July, 1853, and George Crum was working as a chef at Cary Moon's Lakehouse, an upscale restaurant in Saratoga Springs that catered to wealthy Manhattan families building summer escapes upstate. One of his customers sent back his French fries because they were thick and soggy (h/t NYT). After the man (who is rumored to have been Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt, though this can't be confirmed) sent back a second batch of the fried potatoes, Crum decided to get even, a decision that would land him a place in culinary history.
Find out how the potato chip was invented

History

August 10, 2016

Six Affordable Units Up For Grabs Near the Bronx Zoo, Starting at $956/Month

By Dana Schulz

The Bronx is booming when it comes to affordable housing. In fact, as 6sqft recently reported, more than 43 percent of the units under Mayor de Blasio's affordable housing plan that began construction this year were in the borough. The latest is located at 12907 Southern Boulevard in the East Tremont neighborhood, just a short walk to the Bronx Zoo. Starting tomorrow, qualified New Yorkers can apply for three $956/month one-bedrooms and three $1,080 two-bedrooms. Developed through the city's 421-a program, the eight-story building has an elevator, laundry room, and bicycle parking.
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Affordable Housing

My 700sqft: Tour Two Photographers’ Bed-Stuy Brownstone Home, Complete With Shower in Kitchen

Our ongoing series “My sqft” checks out the homes of 6sqft’s friends, family and fellow New Yorkers across all the boroughs. Our latest interior adventure brings us to two photographers’ Bedford-Stuyvesant brownstone apartment. Want to see your home featured here? Get in touch!

August 8, 2016

My 700sqft: Tour Two Photographers’ Bed-Stuy Brownstone Home, Complete With Shower in Kitchen

By Diane Pham

As photographers, Michael DePasquale and Martina Maffini have traveled the world, shooting everything from India’s middle class to the last remaining Jewish cowboys in Argentina to the polished interiors of artists and designers across Europe. While this pair's subjects are wide-ranging, their personal style is far more restrained. In their Bed-Stuy brownstone they let the building's historic details define their space, complementing these features with the artwork of friends and personal relics. Have a look inside their home ahead, and be sure to pay special attention to one defining attribute: the shower in the kitchen.
Go inside their apartment here

August 4, 2016

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week- 8/4-8/10

By Lori Zimmer

In a city where hundreds of interesting happenings occur each week, it can be hard to pick and choose your way to a fulfilling life. Art Nerd‘s philosophy is a combination of observation, participation, education and of course a party to create the ultimate well-rounded week. Jump ahead for Art Nerd founder Lori Zimmer’s top picks for 6sqft readers! The amazing experience that is Summer Streets has returned- walk car-free and carefree each Saturday along Park Avenue for the next three weeks. Grab a blanket to catch American Graffiti with a view at Brooklyn Bridge Park, or take in some literary genius outdoors at a community garden in Alphabet City. Get weird on Governors Island for a Klezmer workout, then celebrate the book release of Governors Island's famous FIGMENT Festival with its founder. Head upstate to check out artwork made from VHS tapes or to Brooklyn to witness the artwork of Naomi Campbell (no, not that one). Finally, spend every night in August experiencing Jherek Bischoff's Cistern in Times Square.
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Events & Things To Do

Uncovering the Past of Staten Island’s South Beach

South Beach in 1899 © NYPL Digital Gallery

August 1, 2016

Uncovering the Past of Staten Island’s South Beach

By Dana Schulz

6sqft recently brought you the history of Bowery Bay Beach, once referred to as the "Coney Island of Queens." But over on Staten Island, there was another amusement destination that rivaled its Brooklyn counterpart. South Beach is a waterfront community on the eastern shore behind the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. The hidden gem is currently an up-and-coming neighborhood for families, with an array of small businesses, ethnic restaurants, and quaint streets. And in the summer months, the two-mile stretch of beaches comes alive. But aside from its current livability, South Beach has a rich history. In the early 20th century, the neighborhood was full of summer bungalows thanks to a beachfront lined with amusements, theaters, arcade games, and rides. Families came from Manhattan, Sandy Hook, and elsewhere to enjoy the festive resort community and the Franklin D. Roosevelt Boardwalk, known as the "Riviera of New York City."
Discover more of South Beach's History

History

July 25, 2016

MTA Announces Details on L Train Shutdown To Begin in 2019

By Michelle Cohen

The MTA plans to announce today that the long-dreaded L train shutdown for repairs needed on the Canarsie tunnel that runs beneath the East River will commence in 2019 and take the line out of service from Manhattan to the Bedford Avenue station in Brooklyn for 18 months, as reported by the New York Times. The 18-month option was the expected choice, the alternative being a partial three-year shutdown that would give about one in five passengers service to Manhattan (20 percent of current service). The agency needs to do major repairs on damage done by the 2012 superstorm Sandy, and while the tunnel is “not in grave danger of collapse,” according to the MTA, it can’t go untreated. As 6sqft previously reported, night and weekend service is off the table because of the amount of work that needs to be done, and building a third tube would be time- and cost-prohibitive.
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Transit

July 22, 2016

Grand Mansion on Michelle Williams’ Street With a Huge Ballroom Asks $3M

By Michelle Cohen

Actress Michelle Williams' exquisite taste in real estate has had us swooning over each of the extraordinary properties she's bought and/or transformed–and renovation plans for the pixie-haired star's historic 18-room Colonial Revival-style mansion on Albemarle Road were recently approved. In quiet Prospect Park South, her fame has paved the way for a new level of exposure for historic homes like this one at 1305 Albemarle, which hit the market yesterday for a neighborhood record-setting $2.98 million. The unusual and somewhat haunting (though hopefully not haunted) 10,000-plus-square-foot, 23-room mansion would turn a few heads on its own, but a celebrity neighbor certainly doesn't hurt. The impressive home has 10 bedrooms, six full baths and floors of pine, cherry, mahogany and oak. There’s a two-car garage and decks galore, including one with a six-person hot tub. But the Oscar for cool house features definitely goes to the unbelievably massive and dramatic third floor ballroom, complete with wet bar.
Is this antebellum manse cool, or creepy? You decide.

July 22, 2016

Spotlight: John D’Agostino Wants You to Go Wild for the Staten Island Yankees

By Susan Cohen

New York is fortunate to not only have two Major League Baseball teams, but two Minor League teams—the Mets-affiliated Brooklyn Cyclones and the Yankees-affiliated Staten Island Yankees. The latter is based right near the Staten Island Ferry in St. George, and for 15 years, it's been a team for Yankees players who are tuning up after rehab or future Major League players to get their start. Unlike the Major Leagues, the SI team has a shorter season that runs from mid-June until September, and the focus at games is all about the entertainment factor. This is where John D'Agostino comes in. John grew up a Staten Island Yankees fan, but now serves as the team’s Director of Entertainment, where he's responsible for making sure every game has a range of fun programming that gets fans laughing and cheering. 6sqft recently spoke with John to learn all about baseball on Staten Island and why more New Yorkers should hop on the ferry and head to a game!
Read the interview here

July 21, 2016

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week- 7/21-7/27

By Lori Zimmer

In a city where hundreds of interesting happenings occur each week, it can be hard to pick and choose your way to a fulfilling life. Art Nerd‘s philosophy is a combination of observation, participation, education and of course a party to create the ultimate well-rounded week. Jump ahead for Art Nerd founder Lori Zimmer’s top picks for 6sqft readers! The wall made famous by Keith Haring, now known as the Bowery Wall, gets a fresh coat of paint this week- head down to check out the process of photorealist stencil artist Logan Hicks. The Gallery@Spring opens its doors for a rare look at New York Fashion from the Time LIFE archives, and the irrepressible No Wave performance artists host a night of seedy New York storytelling at the Django. The High Line finally lets visitors stay late to experience a night of illuminated art works, and do-gooders Beauty For Freedom are hosting an art party to benefit young women in India. Be sure to catch a pop up exhibition and book release by Iranian brothers and stencil artists Icy & Sot, and take in a powerful show by female artists at the Untitled Space.
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Events & Things To Do

July 18, 2016

Where I Work: Inside prop stylist Courtney Dawley’s quirky, colorful Greenpoint workspace

By Rebecca Paul

For some New Yorkers, bargain hunting is a fun weekend hobby, but stylist, designer and creator of Found By a Prop Stylist Courtney Dawley has taken the casual pastime and transformed it into her career. Courtney's keen eye for a deal and her ability to curate the unlikely into cohesive collections of modern nostalgia were the seeds for her thriving online shop and style website. Courtney also transforms many of her vintage finds into stylish and functional pieces for the home, ranging from antique painted planters to vintage mugs up-cycled into stylish candles. 6sqft recently visited Courtney at her Greenpoint studio and home, and, in addition to photographing the fun and eclectic space, we learned about how she got into collecting vintage objects, her personal design aesthetic and new collection, and the best spots nearby for vintage finds.
Get it all right here

July 16, 2016

Weekly Highlights: Top Picks From the 6sqft Staff

By Dana Schulz

Get a Peek at the Modernist Treasures Headed for the Four Seasons Restaurant Auction Lottery Opens Tomorrow for 300 Affordable Rentals at Pacific Park Brooklyn Mark Cuban Opening Upscale Movie Theater at Bjarke Ingels’ Via 57 West VIDEO: Drone Footage Shows Rare Views of North Brother Island’s Abandoned Buildings 151 Affordable Apartments Up For Grabs […]

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July 15, 2016

The World’s First Escalator Was Installed in Coney Island 120 Years Ago

By Diane Pham

When you think of Coney Island, cutting edge technology probably doesn't come to mind. But more than a century ago, this little enclave of amusement and thrills was where the world's very first working escalator was installed. In 1896, engineer Jesse W. Reno brought his patented "Endless Conveyor Elevator" (though he called it the "inclined elevator") to the Old Iron Pier at Coney Island. Reno's invention stretched a mere seven feet angled at 25-degrees, and instead of steps, the escalator used a conveyor-like belt fashioned with cast-iron cleats for traction. The Coney Island installation is said to have carried over 75,000 patrons over its two-week residency.
FInd out more here

History

July 14, 2016

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week- 7/14-7/20

By Lori Zimmer

In a city where hundreds of interesting happenings occur each week, it can be hard to pick and choose your way to a fulfilling life. Art Nerd‘s philosophy is a combination of observation, participation, education and of course a party to create the ultimate well-rounded week. Jump ahead for Art Nerd founder Lori Zimmer’s top picks for 6sqft readers! This week, Joseph Gross Gallery's Lynzy Blair presents a two-faced show featuring transformative works that light up at night. The Quin Hotel continues their artist series with Berlin-based ABOVE, and LES's LMAK Gallery offers three floors of art experiences for an afternoon of arty fun. The Rubin Museum's annual block party shuts down 17th street and celebrates the monsoon this year, while the Museum of the Native American explores the variety of native dance with multi-talented performer Ty Defoe. Causey Contemporary's summer show explores the notion of "copy and pasting" in art, and Pippa Zornoza explores the horror of the voice at Grace Exhibition space. Finally, kick off your shoes and frolic in the grass for Bryant Park's Barefoot Ball with Questlove.
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Events & Things To Do

July 9, 2016

Weekly Highlights: Top Picks From the 6sqft Staff

By Dana Schulz

Competition Reimagines New York State Pavilion As a Cheeseburger Museum, Hanging Meadow Lottery Opens for 259 Affordable Units in East New York, Starting at $494/Month NYC May Get a Big Ugly Wall Instead of Bjarke Ingels’ Storm Protection System New Jersey’s Oldest and Largest Frank Lloyd Wright House Listed for $2.2M Rare Opportunity to Apply […]

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July 7, 2016

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week- 7/7-7/13

By Lori Zimmer

Events & Things To Do

Where to Find the Most Incredible Staircases in New York City

Images courtesy of Steven Holl Architects

July 5, 2016

Where to Find the Most Incredible Staircases in New York City

By Jason Carpenter

Stairs let interior designers show off their best combination of form and function. The flagship stores, public works, and designer condos of New York make for the perfect opportunities to test the boundaries of practicality and beauty in design. Here are seven of the most beautiful and interesting staircase designs to be found in New York City.
See our staircase gallery here

Search Results for: brooklyn history

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Your Daily Doseof NYC Life!

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