All articles by Aaron Ginsburg

Three major public art installations explore sustainability, social justice as part of NYC’s annual Design Pavilion

All images courtesy of Jennifer Trahan unless otherwise noted

October 12, 2023

Three major public art installations explore sustainability, social justice as part of NYC’s annual Design Pavilion

Three new massive public art installations have been unveiled in Manhattan as part of NYCxDESIGN's annual public design exhibition Design Pavilion and the monthlong Archtober festival. The three thought-provoking artworks center around themes of social justice and sustainability. The installations, on view at One World Trade Center and Gansevoort Plaza, are open and free to the public through October 18.
details this way

Events & Things To Do

Last year’s holiday open streets in Midtown drove $3M in spending at local businesses

Image courtesy of Violet Mendelsund/Mayoral Photo Office on Flickr

October 12, 2023

Last year’s holiday open streets in Midtown drove $3M in spending at local businesses

By Aaron Ginsburg

Banning cars on blocks around holiday hotspots in Midtown last year led to an additional $3 million in spending at businesses on the pedestrianized streets, according to a new report. Mayor Eric Adams this week announced the 2022 holiday-specific Open Street program, which opened 11 blocks to pedestrians during the busiest time of the year, created more foot traffic and led to an increase of 13.9 percent in transactions at local businesses along open streets. The study conducted by Mastercard found merchants on pedestrianized streets saw an average of $90,000 in additional spending per day. The success of the car-free holiday streets program laid the groundwork for a permanent redesign of Fifth Avenue, said Adams, who has selected a team for the design process.
READ MORE ABOUT THE FUTURE OF FIFTH AVE

Policy

Bed bugs in NYC: What renters need to know

Photo by Masaaki Komori on Unsplash

October 11, 2023

Bed bugs in NYC: What renters need to know

By Aaron Ginsburg

Everyone's social media feeds have been flooded with startling images and videos of Paris streets filled with discarded mattresses amid a citywide bed bug infestation. New York City is no stranger to bed bugs, which faced a major outbreak a decade ago and currently ranks second on this year's Orkin's Top 50 Bed Bug Cities List. And now with reports that the infestation could spread throughout Europe and land in the Big Apple, New York apartment dwellers should know the best way to deal with the blood-sucking insects, from how to prevent an infestation and your rights as a tenant to the legal responsibility of property owners.
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Nearly all New York City residential buildings will have to containerize trash

Image courtesy of Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

October 11, 2023

Nearly all New York City residential buildings will have to containerize trash

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's ambitious plan to prevent garbage from piling up on streets and sidewalks has a new target: residential properties. Mayor Eric Adams and Department of Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch on Wednesday announced all buildings with nine or fewer apartments will be required to place their garbage in a secure container starting in 2024. This covers 765,000 buildings in the city, or 95 percent of all residential properties across the five boroughs.
more trash talk

Policy

Live in NYC’s first all-electric skyscraper in Downtown Brooklyn, from $763/month

Photos courtesy of Pavel Bendov Photos

October 10, 2023

Live in NYC’s first all-electric skyscraper in Downtown Brooklyn, from $763/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's first all-electric skyscraper launched a housing lottery on Tuesday for 45 mixed-income apartments. The 44-story residential tower in Downtown Brooklyn, previously 100 Flatbush Avenue and now called 505 State Street, will run totally off electricity instead of natural gas and apartments will have sustainable features. New Yorkers earning 40, 60, and 100 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, which include studios ranging from $763 to $2,017/month, one-bedrooms from $812 to $2,155/month, two-bedrooms from $965 to $1,502/month, and three-bedrooms from $1,105 to 1,725/month.
LEARN MORE

Affordable Housing

30 middle-income luxury apartments available in Morris Heights, from $2,980/month

Rendering courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

October 9, 2023

30 middle-income luxury apartments available in Morris Heights, from $2,980/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

A housing lottery opened this week for 30 brand-new apartments at a residential building in the Bronx. Located at 1739 Grand Avenue in Morris Heights, the seven-story building offers residents brand-new luxury units with spacious layouts. New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income, or between $99,086 for a single person and $198,250 for a household of five, can apply for the apartments, priced at $2,890/month studios, $3,059/month one-bedrooms, and $3,599/month two-bedrooms.
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Affordable Housing

Metro-North ‘Leaf Peeper’ train service returns for fall foliage lovers

Views along the Hudson Line on Metro-North Railroad in Beacon. Photo courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

October 9, 2023

Metro-North ‘Leaf Peeper’ train service returns for fall foliage lovers

By Aaron Ginsburg

Take a train ride up through the Hudson Valley and witness the breathtaking beauty of New York State's fall foliage. The Metro-North Railroad last weekend kicked off its annual "Leaf Peeper" train service, boosting service on the Hudson River line, which provides scenic views of upstate's changing foliage and stops in charming autumnal towns like Peekskill, Cold Spring, and Beacon. Five extra trains on Saturdays and four trains on Sundays have been added from October 7 through November 5.
learn more about the leaf peeper rides

High-end Korean restaurant now open in the Herald Square subway station

All photos by Brynne Levy Photography unless stated otherwise

October 6, 2023

High-end Korean restaurant now open in the Herald Square subway station

By Aaron Ginsburg

Midtown's latest fine dining establishment has opened inside the 34th Street-Herald Square subway station. Located in what was a former barbershop and newsstand at the 32nd Street entrance of the station, Nōksu is a 13-seat Korean tasting counter with a carefully crafted 12-course tasting menu served in a sleek dining room. Nōksu is owned by Bobby Kwak and Joseph Ko and run by Chef Dae Kim.
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Food & Dining

NYC ends credit checks for families with housing vouchers

Photo courtesy of Maxim Pierre on Flickr

October 6, 2023

NYC ends credit checks for families with housing vouchers

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City is making it easier for New Yorkers to get into affordable homes. Mayor Eric Adams and the Department of Housing Preservation and Development on Thursday announced households with CityFHEPS housing vouchers will no longer have to undergo credit checks when selected for affordable housing, speeding up the process of finding housing for more than 4,000 families a year. According to the city, vouchers guarantee a family can afford the rent, making credit checks unnecessary in the process.
LEARN MORE

Step into the art of Marc Chagall at Tribeca’s Hall des Lumières

All photos courtesy of the Hall des Lumières

October 6, 2023

Step into the art of Marc Chagall at Tribeca’s Hall des Lumières

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new exhibition at the immersive art museum Hall des Lumières in Tribeca allows guests to step into the vibrant artwork of famous Russian painter Marc Chagall. Produced by Culturespaces, "Chagall, Paris - New York" showcases Chagall's art-- paintings, theater, costumes, sculpture, ceramics, stained glass, mosaics, and collage--projected onto the ornate walls of the former Emigrant Industrial Savings Bank. "Chagall, Paris - New York" is on view at the Hall des Lumières through 2024.
how to get ticktes

Events & Things To Do

Intrepid Museum gets a branding makeover with updated name and logo

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum has received a branding makeover for the modern era. The museum, which opened its doors in 1982 aboard the decommissioned U.S.S. Intrepid aircraft carrier at Manhattan's Pier 86, has been officially renamed the Intrepid Museum. The new name is part of a rebranding with the goal of maintaining the museum's relevance for future generations of visitors. In addition to its new shortened name, the museum has also received a new logo and updated website.
Details this way

Events & Things To Do

Red Hook’s most expensive condo on the market is this $3.15M penthouse

All images courtesy of Evan Joseph Photography for Douglas Elliman unless noted otherwise

October 5, 2023

Red Hook’s most expensive condo on the market is this $3.15M penthouse

By Aaron Ginsburg

The evolution of Red Hook continues, as developers target the creative waterfront enclave for new high-end condo buildings and modern townhouses. At one building, The Conover at 199 Conover Street designed by FAB 314 architects, a new penthouse is asking $3,150,000, the priciest listing in the neighborhood. The three-bedroom, two-and-a-half bathroom condo unit boasts 1,990 square feet of living space and a spacious private rooftop terrace with sweeping views of the waterfront and Manhattan skyline.
see inside

Distinctive Homes

Explore public art across the NYC subway system with this new digital guide

Photo courtesy of the MTA on Flickr

October 5, 2023

Explore public art across the NYC subway system with this new digital guide

By Aaron Ginsburg

Some of New York City's best art can be found underground. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority Arts & Design this week launched a new digital guide featuring more than 400 permanent artworks located across the subway system and commuter rails. Found on the Bloomberg Connects app, the guide allows travelers to explore the extensive collection, including permanent art, like Roy Lichtenstein's mural at Times Square, William Wegman‘s famous Weimaraners mosaic at 23rd Street, Yoko Ono-designed artwork at 72nd Street, and Yayoi Kusama's work in Grand Central Madison.
explore art, underground

An ice skating rink is opening under the Brooklyn Bridge

Rendering courtesy of Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy

October 4, 2023

An ice skating rink is opening under the Brooklyn Bridge

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's newest ice skating rink will open under the Brooklyn Bridge. Located at the Emily Warren Roebling Plaza in Brooklyn Bridge Park, Glide at Brooklyn Bridge will offer skating for guests of all ages, as well as rinkside food and beverages, with breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline as a backdrop. The ice rink, the first to ever open in the scenic waterfront park, debuts for the season on November 15 and will remain open through March 1, 2024.
learn more about the rink

Events & Things To Do

Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade is back on and bigger than before

Photo by editrixie on Flickr

October 4, 2023

Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade is back on and bigger than before

By Aaron Ginsburg

Get back to designing those canine costumes, New Yorkers: this year's Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade is back on. After being canceled last week, the 33rd annual dog parade will proceed with support from Mayor Eric Adams and financial backing from dog wellness company Get Joy. Taking place on October 21, this year's event is set to be the largest ever and will feature a formal parade procession instead of just a gathering inside the East Village park, according to the New York Times.
paw-some parade news, this way

Events & Things To Do

Katz’s Deli and Magnolia Bakery team up on New York classics package

Photos courtesy of Katz’s Deli

October 4, 2023

Katz’s Deli and Magnolia Bakery team up on New York classics package

By Aaron Ginsburg

What's a better pairing than pudding and pastrami? New York City icons Katz's Delicatessen and Magnolia Bakery this week announced a collaboration on a meal package that includes beloved menu items from both institutions. Now available to ship nationwide for a limited time, the "New York Classics" bundle includes two pints of Magnolia's banana pudding and enough Katz's hand-carved pastrami, corned beef, and sandwich fixings for up to six people.
READ MORE

Food & Dining

Paul Rudolph’s modernist Modulightor Building may become NYC landmark

Photo © Joe Polowczuk, Archives of the Paul Rudolph Heritage Foundation

October 3, 2023

Paul Rudolph’s modernist Modulightor Building may become NYC landmark

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday voted to calendar an iconic building in Midtown East designed by renowned modernist architect Paul Rudolph. Located at 246 East 58th Street, the Modulightor Building was built between 1989 and 1993 to house the lighting company of the same name Rudolph founded with German physicist Ernst Wagner. Rudolph designed the duplex apartment on floors three and four, which is the only Rudolph-designed space regularly open to the public.
read more about the modulightor building

Architecture And Design

Work begins on 188-unit, mixed-income Chelsea building designed by COOKFOX

Rendering courtesy of MAG Partners

October 3, 2023

Work begins on 188-unit, mixed-income Chelsea building designed by COOKFOX

By Aaron Ginsburg

Work has begun on a 188-unit residential project in Chelsea. MAG Partners and affordable housing cooperative Penn South on Tuesday broke ground on a seven-story residential building at 335 Eighth Avenue. Developed under the Affordable NY Program, the building will set aside 30 percent of units for low- and middle-income New Yorkers. The development, situated on the corner of West 26th Street and 8th Avenue, will contain ground-floor commercial space, including a 23,000-square-foot Lidl grocery store.
LEARN MORE

NYC’s curbside compost program expands to Brooklyn

Photo credit: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

October 3, 2023

NYC’s curbside compost program expands to Brooklyn

By Aaron Ginsburg

Brooklynites, it's time to get your compost on! On Monday, curbside compost collection began in New York City's most populous borough. Brooklyn is the second borough to join the city's universal composting program after Queens, which rolled out a permanent, year-round program in March after a successful pilot last year. Between Queens and Brooklyn, the program will serve nearly 5 million residents, making it the nation's largest composting program.
find out more

Policy

October 2, 2023

Fall in NYC: The best of autumn in the Big Apple

By Aaron Ginsburg

As the summer's heat and humidity gradually give way to the cool breeze of autumn, New York City undergoes a stunning transformation. New Yorkers put away their shorts and t-shirts until next year, and pull on their cozy sweaters as they venture out underneath a breathtaking canopy of red, yellow, orange, and brown. Ahead, find our guide to the best of fall in NYC and beyond, from corn mazes and hay rides at farms across the tri-state to mug-holding competitions and oompah music at one of the city's many Oktoberfest celebrations.
the best of fall in nyc

Events & Things To Do

Bryant Park’s Winter Village to open this month

Photos courtesy of Colin Miller

September 29, 2023

Bryant Park’s Winter Village to open this month

By Aaron Ginsburg

Bryant Park's beloved Bank of America Winter Village will return for its 22nd season next month. Starting October 27, enjoy New York City's only free admission ice-skating rink, the park's famous open-air holiday market, and the rinkside festive Lodge. The Winter Village runs through March 3, 2024.
learn more about this year's winter village

Events & Things To Do

See the Meatpacking District’s new public plaza with street mural curated by the Whitney Museum

Photo: Meatpacking BID/ Cherry Orchard

September 28, 2023

See the Meatpacking District’s new public plaza with street mural curated by the Whitney Museum

By Aaron Ginsburg

City officials on Thursday celebrated the opening of a new public plaza and street mural in the Meatpacking District. Located on Tenth Avenue between Gansevoort and Horatio Streets, Gansevoort Landing serves as a connection between the Meatpacking District and the highly-anticipated Gansevoort Peninsula, a soon-to-open public park within Hudson River Park. Gansevoort Landing includes a wider pedestrian plaza and crosswalk to ensure quicker and safer access to the park, as well as a stunning street mural commissioned by the Whitney Museum.
read more about gansevoort landing

Architecture And Design

This year’s Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade has been canceled

Jack Russel terrier, Roman, dressed as Ramen Noodles during the 2019 parade. Photo @ James and Karla Murray

September 28, 2023

This year’s Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade has been canceled

By Aaron Ginsburg

Dog lovers, we have some ruff news. The Tompkins Square Park Halloween Dog Parade has been canceled indefinitely. The event's website homepage reads, "Parade has been canceled for the foreseeable future" in bold. The dog parade, which would have been returning for its 33rd year, was canceled due to overwhelming complications with permits and logistics, parade organizers told Gothamist.
ruff news

Events & Things To Do

Vietnam Veterans Memorial replica coming to Queens park

Photo courtesy of Marsha Miller for LBJ Library on Flickr (public domain)

September 27, 2023

Vietnam Veterans Memorial replica coming to Queens park

By Aaron Ginsburg

A replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial will be on display in Queens in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the end of the war. "The Wall That Heals," a traveling three-quarter-scale version of the memorial in Washington D.C., arrives in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park on Thursday, a way for New Yorkers to remember the lives lost during the conflict. The memorial is free and open to the public from September 28 through October 1.
read more about the memorial

September 27, 2023

New York seeks proposals transforming Chelsea prison into affordable housing

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York State is moving forward with a plan to transform a former prison in Chelsea into affordable housing. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday announced a request for proposals (RFP) to redevelop the Bayview Correctional Facility at 550 West 20th Street into a residential development with affordable and supportive housing. The proposals for the 100,000-square-foot site near the High Line must have a minimum of 60 supportive housing units and 15 short-term transitional residences, according to the RFP.
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