All articles by Dana Schulz

Contemporary Bed-Stuy townhouse has an income-generating rental for $2.7M

Images courtesy of Douglas Elliman

November 10, 2020

Contemporary Bed-Stuy townhouse has an income-generating rental for $2.7M

Built in 1890, this townhouse at 639 Macon Street in Bed-Stuy has done a nice job of preserving some historic details while also completing a full designer renovation. Contemporary finishes and bright, open rooms now highlight both the three-bedroom owner's residence that occupies the home's top three floors, as well as the two-bedroom, income-generating rental on the garden level. For all this, the house is asking $2,695,000.
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New Jersey adds new COVID restrictions as infection rate climbs

View of Jersey City, photo by Gautam Krishnan on Unsplash

November 9, 2020

New Jersey adds new COVID restrictions as infection rate climbs

With infection rates throughout the Garden State continuing to climb, Governor Phil Murphy has been hinting for the past week at new restrictions, and today they came. Aside from prohibiting all indoor interstate games for youth and high school sports, the rules focus on indoor dining, including stopping restaurants, bars, and casinos from serving food or drink between 10pm and 5am and prohibiting barside seating. Murphy's announcement came as New Jersey saw its fifth-straight day of 2,000+ cases, with 3,207 cases reported on Saturday, the highest since the height of the pandemic on April 27.
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Policy

The Rockefeller Center ice skating rink will only be open for two months this year

Photo by Shinya Suzuki via Flickr cc

November 9, 2020

The Rockefeller Center ice skating rink will only be open for two months this year

Photo by Shinya Suzuki via Flickr cc As was first reported by the New York Times, the famous ice skating rink at Rockefeller Center will be be open for the holidays this year, but it will be a much abbreviated season. The rink will open a month later to give more time to restaurants currently using the plaza for outdoor dining, and it will close several months early on January 17 to begin work on a major revamp that was approved by the Landmarks Preservation Commission in April.
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Real Estate Trends

Leonard Bernstein’s one-time Upper East Side penthouse hits the market for $29.5M

Photo Credit: Warburg Realty

November 9, 2020

Leonard Bernstein’s one-time Upper East Side penthouse hits the market for $29.5M

Just by appearance, this Upper East Side penthouse is brag-worthy. Located at the Art Deco co-op 895 Park Avenue, the 14-room apartment is spread across two floors and has multiple wood-burning fireplaces, wrap-around terraces with views in every direction, and a gorgeous solarium. But what really sets it apart is that it used to be home to famous composer and cultural icon Leonard Bernstein, and it's even where he hosted his "radical chic" party as a fundraiser for the Black Panthers. And it can now be yours for $29,500,000.
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Here’s what New Yorkers can expect from Joe Biden’s COVID-19 plan

Photo by Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons

November 9, 2020

Here’s what New Yorkers can expect from Joe Biden’s COVID-19 plan

Even before he was officially declared President-elect, Joe Biden began briefings about the pandemic, and since Saturday's celebrations, his comprehensive, federally led strategy to combat COVID-19 finally feels within reach. Today, President-elect Biden announced the 13 members of his COVID-19 advisory board, made up of public health experts, scientists, and doctors. This group will help Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and him carry out their plan to not only beat the virus, but to prepare for future global health threats. Ahead, we take a closer look at the intricacies of the strategy and how it will benefit the entire nation, as well as New Yorkers, from a nation-wide mask mandate to an increase in testing centers to the establishment of a Racial and Ethnic Disparities Task Force.
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New York will deploy additional National Guard and NYPD to enforce COVID rules at airports

Photo by Kevin Dellandrea on Unsplash

November 6, 2020

New York will deploy additional National Guard and NYPD to enforce COVID rules at airports

With the pandemic roaring around the nation and in nearby New Jersey and Connecticut, Governor Cuomo today announced that he'd be deploying additional National Guard and NYPD members to state airports to enforce the state's COVID entry requirements as the holidays approach. In a conference call this morning with reporters, the governor said, "You should not land if you do not have proof of a negative test," referring to the new travel rule that he announced on Monday, which says that most travelers who were in another state for more than 24 hours must obtain a test within three days of departure from that state.
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This $1.7M Park Slope condo is indoor-outdoor living at its finest

Listing photos courtesy of Douglas Elliman

November 6, 2020

This $1.7M Park Slope condo is indoor-outdoor living at its finest

Every single room in this Park Slope duplex opens to outdoor space, a rare find anywhere in NYC. The condo at 580 Carroll Street has a 1,175-square-foot garden, as well as a huge upper terrace that spans the length of the building. In addition, the interiors of the two-bedroom home are impeccably designed in a cool, contemporary style. It's asking $1,700,000.
Go outside

Distinctive Homes

Jersey City will mail masks to all 120,000 of its households

Photo by Vera Davidova on Unsplash

November 5, 2020

Jersey City will mail masks to all 120,000 of its households

Jersey City Mayor Steven M. Fulop joined the Health and Human Services Department and the Office of Innovation today to announce the city's #MaskUpJC campaign, which includes mailing masks to all 120,000 households throughout the city. The masks feature five city-branded designs and will arrive in a larger package that includes a letter from Mayor Fulop and a poster.
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Uncategorized

Yankees great Mariano Rivera puts Westchester mansion on the market for $4M

Listing photos courtesy of Compass

November 5, 2020

Yankees great Mariano Rivera puts Westchester mansion on the market for $4M

From 1995 to 2013, Mariano Rivera was a pitching legend for the New York Yankees, ultimately becoming in 2019 the first player ever elected unanimously to the Baseball Hall of Fame. When he and his family moved from Panama in 2000, they relocated to Westchester, not far from the Bronx Bombers' stadium. Now that his three sons are grown, he and his wife Clara have decided to sell their home in Rye, listing it for $3,995,000. The 13,050-square-foot mansion has nine bedrooms and eight-and-a-half bathrooms, as well as perks like a home theater, gym, rec room, massive pool deck, and a gated motor court and four-car garage.
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After 17 years, Caracas Arepa Bar is closing in the East Village

Caracas Arepa Bar in the East Village in June 2019. Map data © 2020 Google

November 5, 2020

After 17 years, Caracas Arepa Bar is closing in the East Village

Before the entire East Village was a hub of hip food, the stretch of East 7th Street between 1st Avenue and Avenue was somewhat of a pioneer in the new guard of restaurants, and one of the first places to set up here was Caracas Arepa Bar. In 2003, the Venezuelan restaurant was opened by owners Maribel Araujo and Aristides Barrios, who met at another arepa bar in the city of Caracas and often get credit for popularizing arepas in the city. But, sadly, after 17 years, the restaurant is the latest to fall victim to the pandemic and announced on Instagram that the last day for their East Village location will be November 8.
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Popular Articles

$13.8M carriage house feels like a mini palazzo right in Chelsea

Listing photos courtesy of Douglas Elliman

November 5, 2020

$13.8M carriage house feels like a mini palazzo right in Chelsea

This two-family Chelsea carriage house has the feeling of an Italian palazzo. But despite its old-world feel, the home is full of modern perks such as a rare private garage, three outdoor spaces including a roof deck, and multiple skylights. The six-bedroom owner's residence occupies four floors plus a finished basement, while the two-bedroom rental unit sits on the top floor. The new owner definitely has the option to transform the home into one 9,200-square-foot private townhouse. It's asking $13,800,000.
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Distinctive Homes

Where to order takeout Thanksgiving meals this year in NYC

Photo courtesy of Estuary

November 4, 2020

Where to order takeout Thanksgiving meals this year in NYC

Let's face it--this year's Thanksgiving is not going to be what we're used to. Many of us won't be able to travel to be with our families or don't feel comfortable dining in a restaurant. But if cooking's not your thing (or you're just too damn exhausted from 2020), there are plenty of local restaurants offering to-go holiday meals. From classic turkey dinners at Bubby's and The Smith to an affordable, family-friendly option from Sarabeth's to something a little more avant-garde like Cote's Korean prime rib meal or Aquavit's Nordic-inspired menu, we've rounded up the best takeout Turkey Day options in NYC.
Hope you're hungry

Contemporary Murray Hill penthouse with an incredible terrace asks $3.25M

Photo Credit: Gamut Photos for Sotheby’s International Realty

November 3, 2020

Contemporary Murray Hill penthouse with an incredible terrace asks $3.25M

The listing for this $3,250,000 three-bedroom co-op in Murray Hill touts the property as a "true penthouse," explaining that it "sits on top of the building proper and is accessed through a private entrance at rooftop level." That location (which sounds pretty darn good to us!) also affords the home at 244 Madison Avenue an incredible rooftop terrace, complete with cozy built-in seating and dining, as well as views of the Empire State Building and Midtown skylines.
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Distinctive Homes

Mist garden from 1964 World’s Fair restored at Flushing Meadows Corona Park

Photos by Daniel Avila/NYC Parks

November 2, 2020

Mist garden from 1964 World’s Fair restored at Flushing Meadows Corona Park

When the World's Fair descended upon Flushing Meadows Corona Park in 1964-1965, one of the big attractions was the Unisphere. And leading up to this 140-foot-tall stainless steel globe was the Fountain of the Fairs, a large reflecting pool that acted as an interactive mist garden. Though they were renovated in 2000, the fountains were seriously damaged during Hurricane Sandy and stopped working. However, after a recent $6.8 million upgrade, they are back up and running.
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Ralph Lauren exec lists Upper West Side co-op full of industrial-chic style for $3.5M

Photo credit: Evan Joseph

November 2, 2020

Ralph Lauren exec lists Upper West Side co-op full of industrial-chic style for $3.5M

For the past 30 years, John Wrazej has been an executive at Ralph Lauren, and for just as long, he's lived at this four-bedroom co-op on the Upper West Side. The home at 107 West 82nd Street has all the fashionable flair you'd expect, with tons of industrial details, lots of plaid fabric, and an overall masculine-yet-comfortable vibe. John said he and his wife, Patti Trainor-Wrazej, approached their home with the same sensibility as the Ralph Lauren brand--"like wearing a tuxedo jacket with jeans and a pair of cowboy boots." The couple has now decided to sell, listing the apartment for $3,495,000.
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Distinctive Homes

A bit of Provence comes to Long Island with this $7.9M estate

Photos courtesy of Douglas Elliman

October 30, 2020

A bit of Provence comes to Long Island with this $7.9M estate

It sure does look like the French countryside, but this gorgeous estate is actually in Huntington, New York. Called Escapade a la Campagne ("getaway in the countryside"), the home was built in 2017 by its current owners and comes complete with everything you need to feel like you've escaped to Provence--a greenhouse, bocci court, a saltwater pool, and the nearly 10,000-square-foot main house with its soaring beamed ceilings and country details. The 5.4-acre property also includes an entire solar farm and is adjacent to a protected nature preserve. It's currently asking $7,900,000.
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$3.2M Ditmas Park beauty is a modern and stylish take on the classic Victorian home

Photos courtesy of Douglas Elliman

October 30, 2020

$3.2M Ditmas Park beauty is a modern and stylish take on the classic Victorian home

We always get excited when we see a Ditmas Park Victorian hit the market, but this home really took our breath away. The five-bedroom home at 554 East 18th Street has been completely reimagined by its owners, "husband/wife design enthusiasts," according to the listing. The eclectic mix includes industrial elements like exposed beams and pipes, playful wall coverings, Scandi-chic decor, and an open floorplan. There's a rare atrium extension, and the third floor has been transformed into a heavenly master suite. The home is asking $3,200,000.
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Distinctive Homes

How to plan a safe COVID Thanksgiving

Photo by ?? Claudio Schwarz | @purzlbaum on Unsplash

October 29, 2020

How to plan a safe COVID Thanksgiving

Here in NYC, Mayor de Blasio and Governor Cuomo have both advised against traveling for Thanksgiving, but that doesn't mean you can't celebrate. One option is to host a virtual holiday. It won't be the same, but it's got its selling points (i.e. no squabbling with your mother-in-law in the kitchen or having dad refuse to turn the game off during dinner); it'll just take some extra planning in advance. If you have family and friends local, you may want to consider a safe, outdoor meal. But we recommend buying a heater now and figuring out how you'll keep the food warm. Ahead, we've put together a guide to planning a COVID Thanksgiving, no matter how you plan to enjoy the day.
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$4.65M Park Slope carriage house is big on ‘Southern Charm’

Photos by Allyson Lubow, courtesy of The Lesley Semmelhack Team at The Corcoran Group

October 29, 2020

$4.65M Park Slope carriage house is big on ‘Southern Charm’

Fans of Bravo's Southern Charm might confuse this home with one of the stylish Charleston pads featured in the show, but it's actually right here in Park Slope. Another surprising fact is that the two-family carriage house at 396 15th Street was built in 2014, however, it still has plenty of character including the elegant moldings, country-chic kitchens, and beautiful built-ins. Consisting of two, three-bedroom duplexes, the property also has a shared garage, garden, two terraces, and a roof deck. It's asking $4,650,000.
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Distinctive Homes

$2M for a West Village duplex with historic charm, modern updates, and a roof deck

Photo credit: Compass

October 28, 2020

$2M for a West Village duplex with historic charm, modern updates, and a roof deck

This $1,995,000, two-bedroom co-op in the West Village has major historic bones, but it's also seen some clever, contemporary additions over the years that make it a comfortable family home. Located at 92 Horatio Street, the duplex is laid out with both bedrooms on the second floor, and it has a nearly 300-square-foot roof terrace.
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For $4.9M, own a private New York island with a 100-year-old Mediterranean-style mansion

Photo by Framework Home

October 28, 2020

For $4.9M, own a private New York island with a 100-year-old Mediterranean-style mansion

We'd be lying if we said we haven't dreamt of throwing in the 2020 towel and escaping to a secluded island. And while this private island that's up for sale is just 45 minutes from NYC, it still manages to feel like a magical oasis removed from the rest of the world. Asking $4,900,000, Oak Island is more than half an acre on Premium Mill Pond, overlooking the Long Island Sound. The main residence is a Mediterranean-style mansion built in 1917, and you'll also get a pool/hot tub, separate two-car garage/pool house, and gorgeous lush landscaping.
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Rare townhouse in the Manhattan Avenue Historic District comes to the market for $2.5M

Photo credit: Compass

October 27, 2020

Rare townhouse in the Manhattan Avenue Historic District comes to the market for $2.5M

The Manhattan Avenue Historic District is a group of 40 buildings that encompasses barely two blocks in the Manhattan Valley section of the Upper West Side. Stretching from West 104th to 106th Streets, the majority of the district's structures are picturesque townhouses designed in the then-popular Queen Anne and Romanesque Revival styles and built between 1885 and 1890. One of these homes, at 127 Manhattan Avenue, has just come to the market for the first time in 50 years. The five-bedroom townhouse is asking $2,495,000.
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Live in your very own 19th-century castle above the Hudson River for $3.5M

Listing photos courtesy of Houlihan Lawrence

October 26, 2020

Live in your very own 19th-century castle above the Hudson River for $3.5M

First spotted by Brownstoner, one of the most unique and recognizable properties in the Hudson Valley has come to the market. The gilded-age landmark known as Castle Rock was built in 1881 in Garrison, New York as a summer home for William H. Osborn, president of the Illinois Central Railroad. Sitting atop the hill of the same name, the stone castle is 620 feet above the Hudson River, with incredible panoramic views. The 10,500-square-foot home is now asking $3,450,000, for sale for the first time in 45 years.
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Did you know the world’s oldest pet cemetery is in Westchester, New York?

Photo by Anthony22 via Wikimedia Commons

October 26, 2020

Did you know the world’s oldest pet cemetery is in Westchester, New York?

Did you know the country's first pet cemetery opened right here in New York, and still to this day is the world's largest such burial ground? Hartsdale Pet Cemetery was established in 1896 by NYC veterinarian Samuel Johnson (an early promoter of the ASPCA), who provided part of the apple orchard at his Westchester retreat to serve as a burial spot for a client's dog. Nearly 125 years later, this area is the resting place for more than 80,000 pets, from dogs and cats to reptiles to a lion cub who called the Plaza Hotel home. Known as "The Peaceable Kingdom," the grounds are also home to a 50-ton above-ground mausoleum for a pair of spaniels and the War Dog Memorial, a post-WWI tribute to military canines that was the first of its kind. Even Diana Ross, George Raft, and Mariah Carey have buried their four-legged friends here.
Find out more about this historic pet cemetery

History

Tiny West Village studio is big on Victorian style for $525K

Photo credit: Eitan Gamliely

October 26, 2020

Tiny West Village studio is big on Victorian style for $525K

This West Village studio may be petite, but it's got loads of Victorian-style charm and optimized storage space to make up for its small footprint. Asking $525,000, the co-op at 77 Perry Street has exposed brick walls, original tin ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling cherry wood built-ins that ensure every modern convenience is met.
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