All photos courtesy of Torch & Crown Brewing Company

A massive new brewery and restaurant opened in Soho last week, becoming the only production brewery in Manhattan. Located at 12 Vandam Street, Torch & Crown Brewing Company measures 9,000 square feet over three levels and boasts soaring ceilings, ivy-covered walls, and enough seating for 250 people inside and 180 people in their heated outdoor space. Although the brewery’s original May opening date was delayed because of the coronavirus, the team managed to stay afloat by launching a direct beer delivery service in the city.

Details this way

Photo by Vlada Karpovich from Pexels

The plan to rezone two affluent Manhattan neighborhoods will enter the public land use review process, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Wednesday. The proposed rezoning of Soho and Noho includes replacing 1970s-era zoning rules and incentivizing the creation of about 800 permanently affordable homes, part of an effort to bring affordable housing to all New York City neighborhoods, even upscale ones.

Details here

Photo Credit: Douglas Elliman

Hotelier Andre Balazs, best known for LA’s Chateau Marmont, the Mercer Hotel in NYC, and the string of trendy Standard Hotels, unsurprisingly lives a life as lavish as the destination he creates. His personal condo in Soho, taking up the entire top floor at 158 Mercer Street, is no exception. Balazs added plenty of his own panache to the 4,200-square-foot loft, including massive stretches of built-in bookshelves, a custom “wall of light,” and a 13th-century Florentine fresco. He also added hotel-quality rooms like a nearly 275-square-foot closet, a personal gym, and a steam room. As the Wall Street Journal first reported, Balazs has decided to list the home for $12 million as he spends much of his time now in Europe.

Check it all out

Even celebrities are facing a new real estate reality in New York City as inventory rises and demand falls. Singer-songwriter Vanessa Carlton recently dropped the price of her Soho rental to $15,500 per month, from around $17,500 per month, the price she had been asking for the apartment since first putting it on the market in 2014.

Make your way Downtown

Photo credit: DDReps. Styled by Jason Saft, Staged to Sell Home.

It’s not easy to find an affordable one-bedroom in Soho, but this apartment at 101 Thompson Street is priced just right at $645,000. Though the bedroom is more of an alcove, the place feels open and bright, and the location is ideal, right next to Vesuvio Playground, two blocks from the C and E trains at Spring Street, and in the middle of all the best shops and restaurants (like Dominique Ansel Bakery just around the corner!).

See more of this stylish pad

Photo credit: Nick Glimenakis for Yesim Ak, Compass

Norwegian model and entrepreneur Sophia Lie stayed true to her roots when outfitting her NYC residence. Located at the co-op 110 Thompson Street and recently listed for 625,000, the alcove studio is described as a “Scandinavian sanctuary in Soho,” and we can’t disagree. From the pale color scheme to the simple built-ins to the minimalist furniture, everything about the fifth-floor mini-loft screams hygge-chic, and if you’re feeling this vibe, it’s available fully furnished.

Have a look

Photo by Beyond My Ken via Wiki Commons

Keeping in mind that the city’s new restaurant policy will likely affect it, Gothamist has reported that a new bakery has opened in the former Vesuvio Bakery storefront at 160 Prince Street. They’ve called themselves Vesuvio Bakery and intend on preserving as much of the iconic, 100-year-old establishment’s physical look and simple community aesthetic.

Read more

German film writer and director Tom Tykwer, known for his work on Netflix’s Sense8 and Run Lola Run, is selling his lovely one-bedroom apartment in Soho for $800,000. Located at 105 Thompson Street, the co-op sits on the fifth floor of a pre-war building and successfully mixes old-school charm with modern upgrades.

See inside

Photo credit: Rise Media courtesy of The Corcoran Group

This former photographer’s studio and residence at 49 Howard Street is the kind of classic Soho loft that we don’t see too often these days. Comprised of 1,800 square feet of open space, the loft checks all the boxes: 11-foot tin ceilings, hardwood floors, oversized windows , exposed brick and industrial pipe shelving frame the third floor walk-up condominium unit, available to rent for $6,500 a month. You don’t have to be an artist to live here, but your art will look right at home if you happen to be one. And unique interior features–like a bronze soaking tub and stone infinity sink–keep things interesting.

Eyeful of industrial loft goodness, this way

Photo credit: Michael Weinstein Studio courtesy of The Corcoran Group

For a mere $14,500 a month, you can rent the style, space, and service of a bygone era in this princely pad in downtown Manhattan’s iconic Police Building at 240 Centre Street, complete with fancy furnishings, two bedrooms, two baths and 1,400 square feet of space. The landmarked Beaux-Arts cooperative at the confluence of Soho, Nolita, and Little Italy is known for its history, its opulent architectural flourishes, and for the impeccable level of service provided for residents.

Chandeliers and Chinoiserie, this way