All articles by Aaron Ginsburg

Williamsburg’s first waterfront ice skating rink opens in Domino Square

All photos courtesy of Two Trees Management

December 4, 2024

Williamsburg’s first waterfront ice skating rink opens in Domino Square

The first ice skating rink on the Williamsburg waterfront is now open. Located within the newly-completed public plaza Domino Square, the 7,000-square-foot rink offers skaters stunning views of the Manhattan skyline and East River. The rink offers public skating, themed events, and private rentals, with holiday-themed skate nights and live DJ sessions throughout the season.
LET'S SKATE

Events & Things To Do

New Year’s Eve fireworks in Central Park and Prospect Park canceled this year because of drought

Fireworks at Grand Army Plaza in Prospect Park. Photo courtesy of Andrew Gardner

December 4, 2024

New Year’s Eve fireworks in Central Park and Prospect Park canceled this year because of drought

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's parks will be unusually quiet this New Year's Eve. Due to the ongoing drought, firework shows will not take place in Central Park or Prospect Park this year, as first reported by the New York Times. Running non-profit New York Road Runners said City Hall and the Parks Department instructed them to forgo this year's fireworks display during the annual New Year's Eve race in Central Park. In Prospect Park, the traditional fireworks show has been swapped for a drone light show, featuring images of iconic NYC landmarks like the Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty.
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Policy

December 3, 2024

The best Christmas trees in New York City

By Aaron Ginsburg

With holiday festivities ramping up in New York City, neighborhoods across the five boroughs are coming alive with dazzling displays of festive cheer. The city's Christmas and holiday trees, whose allure brings visitors from all corners of the world during the holiday season, all come with their own festive flare. Discover some of the city's most stunning holiday trees, from Rockefeller Center's world-famous tree to lesser-known—but just as elegant—trees at the South Street Seaport and Luna Park.
Find the holiday magic

Events & Things To Do

Conversion of Bushwick’s 19th-century William Ulmer Brewery into a mixed-use development begins

Renderings courtesy of DXA Studio

December 3, 2024

Conversion of Bushwick’s 19th-century William Ulmer Brewery into a mixed-use development begins

By Aaron Ginsburg

Work has begun to transform Bushwick's landmarked William Ulmer Brewery into a mixed-use development. Developed by Rivington Company and designed by DXA Studio, the two-phase project restores the 19th-century building's ground floor and three cellar levels for commercial use, while converting the second, third, fourth, and penthouse levels into apartments. The project will also breathe new life into the building's exterior, with a rehabilitation of its masonry and a new roof.
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MTA rolls out first-ever festive ‘holiday train’ on Metro-North

Credit: MTA / Emily Moser on Flickr

December 2, 2024

MTA rolls out first-ever festive ‘holiday train’ on Metro-North

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is spreading holiday cheer across the tri-state region, offering commuters a festive way to ride the rails. The transit agency on Friday introduced the first-ever Holiday Lights Train on the Metro-North, operating on random rotation on the Hudson Line, Harlem Line, and New Haven Line at all times through the New Year. The festive trains are decked out with colorful exterior lights and play special holiday-themed safety messages at select stations.
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December 2, 2024

Apple leases additional 61K square feet at 11 Penn Plaza

By Aaron Ginsburg

Apple has expanded its footprint in Vornado's Penn 11 office tower in Midtown, acquiring an additional 61,000 square feet. As reported by The Real Deal, the tech giant has signed a new lease that brings its total space in the building to 460,000 square feet and extends its occupancy through the expiration of Macy's lease in 2035. The company now spans the fourth through 14th floors of the 26-story tower, located at 11 Penn Plaza between West 31st and 32nd Streets on Seventh Avenue.
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Real Estate Trends

The 23 best NYC holiday markets this year

FAD Holiday Market at Dumbo Empire Stores. Photo courtesy of FAD Market.

November 27, 2024

The 23 best NYC holiday markets this year

By Aaron Ginsburg

The holiday season has officially arrived in New York City, bringing with it the quest for the perfect gift. Whether you're searching for one-of-a-kind jewelry or artwork, or are craving a festive treat, the city's holiday markets will have something special for everyone. Ahead, find some of the best spots to find unique and meaningful gifts for loved ones this holiday season, from long-standing markets at Bryant Park, Union Square, and Columbus Circle to exciting newcomers like Macy's Holiday Square.
your gift hunt starts here

Last of NYC’s outdoor dining sheds must come down by Friday

Photo by Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

November 27, 2024

Last of NYC’s outdoor dining sheds must come down by Friday

By Aaron Ginsburg

The last of New York City's street dining sheds must be removed by Friday under the city's new seasonal guidelines. Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez on Tuesday reminded restaurants that November 29 is the last day to remove outdoor roadway dining sheds; businesses that fail to comply face fines of up to $1,000. While sidewalk dining setups that abide by the program's rules can operate year-round, roadway dining will return with the new season, starting April 1, 2025.
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Macy’s Herald Square reveals 2024 holiday windows

All photos courtesy of Macy’s, Inc. unless noted otherwise

November 26, 2024

Macy’s Herald Square reveals 2024 holiday windows

By Aaron Ginsburg

Macy's Herald Square unveiled its iconic holiday window displays last week, continuing a cherished tradition that has enchanted New Yorkers for generations. Macy's was the first department store to feature Christmas window displays in 1874, and this year's delightful creations will capture onlookers and invite them indoors to explore the store's cheerful celebrations.
Find out more

Events & Things To Do

‘Snowscape’ will turn Hudson Yards’ Edge into a winter wonderland with real snow

Credit: Edge

November 26, 2024

‘Snowscape’ will turn Hudson Yards’ Edge into a winter wonderland with real snow

By Aaron Ginsburg

No matter the temperature in New York City, there will be snow. Hudson Yards next month will unveil "Snowscape," a new experience that will make it snow at Edge, the city's highest outdoor sky deck. Starting December 2, snow will fall at the observation deck from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. On Sundays, guests can pose with an installation of real snow and snowmen.
let it snow

Events & Things To Do

Make a wish at a new public art installation in the Financial District

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new public art installation shines bright in the Financial District. Created by design studio Hou de Sousa, "Star Light Star Bright" draws inspiration from the cultural tradition of wish trees, where people attach wishes in writing, artwork, ribbons, and cloth, hoping they come true. Located at the plaza in front of 140 Broadway, the immersive installation invites New Yorkers to tie colorful "wish ribbons" to the chain links, growing into a Chia Pet-esque artwork full of hopes and dreams.
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Architecture And Design

NYC’s first pro soccer stadium in Queens to be called ‘Etihad Park’

All renderings courtesy of New York City FC

November 25, 2024

NYC’s first pro soccer stadium in Queens to be called ‘Etihad Park’

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's first professional soccer stadium will be called Etihad Park, named after the airline of the United Arab Emirates. New York City FC on Thursday announced a 20-year agreement with Etihad Airways, granting the airline exclusive naming rights for the 25,000-seat soccer stadium currently under construction in Willets Point, Queens. Set to open in time for the 2027 season, the stadium will become a "cathedral of soccer in the United States," according to NYCFC. The news came ahead of the team's loss to the New York Red Bulls during the MLS Cup Eastern Conference semifinal match on Saturday.
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New Greenpoint rental opens lottery for 59 apartments, from $1,869/month

Renderings courtesy of Madison Realty Capital

November 22, 2024

New Greenpoint rental opens lottery for 59 apartments, from $1,869/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

Applications are currently being accepted for the first phase of a new luxury development in Greenpoint. A lottery launched for 59 apartments at Greenpoint Central, an eight-story, two-building complex located at 65 and 75 Dupont Street. New Yorkers earning 80 and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, priced from $1,869/month for studios to $4,376/month for two bedrooms.
Find OUT if you qualify

Affordable Housing

‘City of Yes’ gets key Council approval after $5B deal reached

Credit: Tommy Kwak on Unsplash

November 22, 2024

‘City of Yes’ gets key Council approval after $5B deal reached

By Aaron Ginsburg

The City Council moved Mayor Eric Adams' "City of Yes" housing proposal forward on Thursday after securing $5 billion in funding and making several changes to the original plan. The Council's zoning subcommittee and land use committee voted in favor of the text amendment with modifications to keep some parking requirements and restrict accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in some neighborhoods. The latest version keeps the mayor's plan largely intact but will reduce the number of projected new homes from 109,000 over the next 15 years to 80,000.
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NYC’s first Passive House public schools open in Downtown Brooklyn

Credit: James Ewing / JBSA

November 21, 2024

NYC’s first Passive House public schools open in Downtown Brooklyn

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's first Passive House-certified public schools have opened in Downtown Brooklyn, setting the bar for sustainable education. Designed by Architecture Research Office (ARO), the ultra-low-energy-use building houses two schools: the Khalil Gibran International Academy, the nation’s first English-Arabic public high school, and the Elizabeth Jennings School for Bold Explorers (aka P.S. 456). Part of the mixed-use development Alloy Block, the facility consumes less than a third of the energy of a typical NYC public school.
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Architecture And Design

Live next to the Staten Island Ferry at this new waterfront rental, from $903/month

Images courtesy of Triangle Equities

November 19, 2024

Live next to the Staten Island Ferry at this new waterfront rental, from $903/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

A housing lottery launched this week for 30 mixed-income apartments at a new luxury rental on the North Shore of Staten Island. Located across from the street from the Staten Island Ferry, the Residences at Lighthouse Point is part of a mixed-use development rising on the Stapleton waterfront, as well as the broader ongoing effort to revitalize the neighborhood. New Yorkers earning 40, 60, and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, priced from $903/month studios to $4,001/month two bedrooms.
find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

Andy Warhol’s Trump Tower painting, which Trump never paid for, sells at auction

Left: Trump Tower via WikiCommons. Right: Andy Warhol’s “New York Skyscrapers,” courtesy of Phillips.

November 19, 2024

Andy Warhol’s Trump Tower painting, which Trump never paid for, sells at auction

By Aaron Ginsburg

An Andy Warhol painting of Trump Tower commissioned by Donald Trump—but never paid for—has sold at auction. Requested in 1981 by the then up-and-coming real estate developer to hang in the lobby of his new Fifth Avenue skyscraper, the artwork is one of eight portraits from Warhol's "New York Skyscrapers" series depicting Trump’s first namesake development. The auction, first reported by Artnet, took place on November 19 at 5 p.m., and sold for $952,000, well beyond its originally projected $500,000 to $700,000 price range.
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Architecture And Design

American Museum of Natural History’s origami holiday tree features 1,000 pouncing paper animals

D. Finnin / ©AMNH

November 18, 2024

American Museum of Natural History’s origami holiday tree features 1,000 pouncing paper animals

By Aaron Ginsburg

The American Museum of Natural History’s beloved Origami Holiday Tree returns this year, featuring over 1,000 hand-folded paper models inspired by the world’s leaping critters. In honor of the leap year's end, this year's theme is "Jumping for Joy," celebrating animals that hop, from rabbits, grasshoppers, and kangaroos to frogs, squirrels, and the newly-discovered leaping leech. The 13-foot tree will be on display in the Ellen V. Futter Gallery on the first floor starting November 25 through mid-January.
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More public space opens under the Brooklyn Bridge in Manhattan

Images courtesy of the NYC Department of Transportation

November 18, 2024

More public space opens under the Brooklyn Bridge in Manhattan

By Aaron Ginsburg

New Yorkers can now enjoy more public space under the Brooklyn Bridge in Manhattan. The latest phase of "The Arches" opened on Monday, adding 15,000 square feet of park space to an area closed to the public for more than a decade, the city's Department of Transportation announced. The space, now with lush greenery and new seating, had been closed for nearly 15 years while serving as a staging site for several bridge restoration projects. The Arches sits next to the Brooklyn Banks, a haven for skateboarders that partially reopened last year.
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Upper West Side’s Metro Theater may finally reopen

Photo by london road on Flickr

November 15, 2024

Upper West Side’s Metro Theater may finally reopen

By Aaron Ginsburg

A landmarked Upper West Side movie theater that has been vacant for nearly two decades may soon be returned to its former glory—as long as its buyers can raise $7 million by the end of the year. As reported by the New York Times, the nonprofit Upper West Side Cinema Center on Friday announced it reached a deal with the current owners of the Metro Theater, located on Broadway near 99th Street, to purchase the theater, contingent on securing the required funds.
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City Living

MTA to offer free shuttle buses, discounted LIRR rides during Rockaway A line shutdown

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

November 15, 2024

MTA to offer free shuttle buses, discounted LIRR rides during Rockaway A line shutdown

By Aaron Ginsburg

Rockaway residents won't be left stranded this winter while the A and S subway lines undergo rehabilitation. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday announced a substitute service plan to ensure reliable transit options for Rockaway residents while the MTA conducts vital resilience upgrades to the A and S lines. The plan includes two free shuttle buses, heavily discounted Long Island Rail Road fares, and a free Rockaway subway shuttle train serving all stations on the peninsula between Far Rockaway and Rockaway Park.
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The tallest building in Queens tops out over 800 feet

Images courtesy of Binyan unless otherwise noted

November 14, 2024

The tallest building in Queens tops out over 800 feet

By Aaron Ginsburg

The tallest building in Queens topped out this week at over 823 feet. Developed by BLDG Management Company and designed by Perkins Eastman, the Orchard is a 70-story rental in Long Island City with 824 studio to three-bedroom apartments, 248 of which are designated as affordable. Located at Orchard Street and Jackson Avenue in the Court Square section of the neighborhood, the rental boasts over 100,000 square feet of amenities, including a huge backyard with a swimming pool, three pickleball courts, an outdoor movie theater, and more.
Find out more

Architecture And Design

Congestion pricing to start in January with $9 toll, Hochul announces

Photo by Pranay Pareek on Unsplash

November 14, 2024

Congestion pricing to start in January with $9 toll, Hochul announces

By Aaron Ginsburg

Congestion pricing will resume by early January with a lower toll of $9, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday, in an attempt to save the program before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. The new plan, which cuts the toll by 40 percent from the original $15 fee, is fast-tracked for implementation and has been approved by the MTA board. Hochul abruptly paused the program in June, weeks before it was scheduled to begin, citing inflation and economic conditions. The fee will go into effect starting the morning of Sunday, January 5.
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NYC Council votes to end forced broker fees

Council Member Chi Ossé held a press conference before the City Council voted on the FARE Act. Photo credit: Gerardo Romo / NYC Council Media Unit on Flickr

November 13, 2024

NYC Council votes to end forced broker fees

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City renters may soon no longer have to pay a broker fee when leasing an apartment. The Council on Wednesday voted to approve the Fairness in Apartment Rental Expenses (FARE) Act, which shifts the payment of broker fees to the party who hired the broker, typically landlords or the management company. The bill was passed with a veto-proof majority of 42-8.
learn more

NYBG’s Holiday Train Show is a tribute to NYC’s architectural heritage

A model train passing by the NYC skyline. Courtesy of the New York Botanical Garden

November 13, 2024

NYBG’s Holiday Train Show is a tribute to NYC’s architectural heritage

By Aaron Ginsburg

A quintessential New York City holiday tradition is back for its 33rd year. The New York Botanical Garden's beloved Holiday Train Show enchants guests with G-scale miniature trains that zip through nearly 200 plant-based models of iconic city landmarks, displayed inside the historic Enid A. Haupt Conservatory and outdoors. For the first time, guests can experience the show in a new light with Holiday Train Nights, where the trains and displays twinkle under the night sky. The show runs from November 16 through January 20, 2025.
Find out more

All articles by Aaron Ginsburg

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