All articles by Devin Gannon

‘Arts Revival’ program to include 300+ outdoor pop-up performances and events around New York

Photo of The Shed by Ajay Suresh on Flickr

February 8, 2021

‘Arts Revival’ program to include 300+ outdoor pop-up performances and events around New York

Starting this month, more than 300 outdoor pop-up events and performances will take place across New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Monday. "NY PopsUp" kicks off on February 20 at the Javits Center with a special performance dedicated to healthcare workers and runs over the course of 100 days. The effort is part of the governor's "Arts Revival" initiative aimed at bringing back art and culture to the state and as part of its recovery from the coronavirus.
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Events & Things To Do

NYC restaurants can expand indoor dining capacity to 35% next week

Photo by Marcus Herzberg from Pexels

February 8, 2021

NYC restaurants can expand indoor dining capacity to 35% next week

By Devin Gannon

New York City restaurants can expand indoor dining capacity from 25 to 35 percent starting February 26, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Friday. "That will be consistent with New Jersey," the governor said during a press conference, referring to the 35 percent capacity. After closing indoor dining in December, Cuomo said city restaurants could serve customers inside again on February 12, citing the end of the "post-holiday" surge of coronavirus cases. The governor last week also extended the closing times for bars, restaurants, and other businesses from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m.
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Three mixed-use buildings on historic Stone Street in FiDi ask $20.8M

All photos courtesy of Anthony Puopolo for Douglas Elliman

February 8, 2021

Three mixed-use buildings on historic Stone Street in FiDi ask $20.8M

By Devin Gannon

Here's an opportunity to influence the future of one of New York City's oldest streets. Goldman Properties is selling three of its mixed-use buildings located on Stone Street in the Financial District for $20.75 million. As the city's first paved street in New York, Stone Street's history dates back to the middle of the 1600s and today remains a car-free cobblestone-lined walkway with an outdoor dining scene that predates the pandemic. The portfolio includes three buildings with a total of ten free-market two-bedroom and three-bedroom loft rentals and three operating restaurants.
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See the mass vaccination site now open at Yankee Stadium for Bronx residents

Photo by Daniel Vargas on Unsplash

February 5, 2021

See the mass vaccination site now open at Yankee Stadium for Bronx residents

By Devin Gannon

As of today, the mass coronavirus vaccination site is open at Yankee Stadium. Appointments are reserved for Bronx residents only who meet phase 1a and 1b eligibility requirements, and the site will operate every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Gov. Mayor Bill de Blasio, wearing a Yankees cap (he's a vocal Red Sox fan), was at the stadium and spoke with Yankees president Randy Levine, manager Aaron Boone, and legendary player Mariano Rivera, all of whom encouraged people to sign up for vaccines. As of today, 13,000 of the 15,000 available appointments through next week had been filled.
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Policy

NYC seeks new operators for Central Park ice rink and carousel after canceling Trump contracts

Photo of The Wollman Rink by Shinya Suzuki on Flickr

February 5, 2021

NYC seeks new operators for Central Park ice rink and carousel after canceling Trump contracts

By Devin Gannon

New York City on Friday issued two requests for proposals to operate an ice rink and carousel in Central Park formerly run by the Trump Organization. Following the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the city would terminate agreements with former President Donald Trump's company for the operation of the Wollman and Lasker Rinks, the Central Park Carousel, and the Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point. The city's Parks Department this week announced it is looking for new companies to operate and manage the Wollman Rink and the Carousel.
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Policy

For $5.7M, this residence in Sag Harbor is a private oasis near the bay

All photos courtesy of Sotheby’s International Realty

February 5, 2021

For $5.7M, this residence in Sag Harbor is a private oasis near the bay

By Devin Gannon

A 7,000-square-foot home steps from the Peconic Bay in Sag Harbor is asking $5.699 million. Found down a long private driveway on over an acre of land, the South Fork mansion at 2244 Noyac Road contains five bedrooms, six full and two partial baths, and enough flexible space to make any dream home possible. Set back from the road and surrounded by trees, the property is private and not far from Sag Harbor Village’s historic downtown.
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Distinctive Homes

$70M plan to build Manhattan’s first public beach moves forward

Credit: James Corner Field Operations, courtesy of the Hudson River Park Trust

February 5, 2021

$70M plan to build Manhattan’s first public beach moves forward

By Devin Gannon

What at first appeared a lofty dream is now closer to reality. The Hudson River Park Trust on Thursday announced three requests for proposals for the construction of Manhattan's first public beach. The project includes a 5.5-acre public park on the Gansevoort Peninsula in the Meatpacking District that would be home to a resilient "beach" with kayak access, a sports field, scenic lounge spots, and a large public art installation.
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Architecture And Design

Nomad’s glassy Virgin Hotel will have a rooftop pool and bar

All renderings courtesy of Virgin Hotels

February 4, 2021

Nomad’s glassy Virgin Hotel will have a rooftop pool and bar

By Devin Gannon

As the New York City hospitality industry continues to reel from the effects the coronavirus pandemic has had on tourism and business travel, plans are moving forward for a massive new hotel in Nomad. Fresh renderings of the 510-foot Virgin Hotel at 1225 Broadway, the first in the city, were recently released, showing off the hotel's resort-like rooftop pool and bar.
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Events & Things To Do

The best ways to celebrate Black History Month 2021 in NYC

“Alphas Hold the Line.” Photo by Michael Young.

February 4, 2021

The best ways to celebrate Black History Month 2021 in NYC

By Devin Gannon

During the month of February, the nation observes Black History Month as a way to celebrate and honor African American history and culture. While this year's commemoration will be different because of the pandemic, many New York City organizations and institutions are hosting virtual events, lectures, and exhibitions. Learn about the achievements and influence of Black Americans with an online walking tour featuring Black artists of Greenwich Village, a concert honoring composers of the Harlem Renaissance, a class on Black archaeology in New York City, and much more.
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NJ loosens COVID-19 restrictions on indoor gatherings, lifts restaurant curfew

Photo of Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten by cogito ergo imago on Flickr

February 3, 2021

NJ loosens COVID-19 restrictions on indoor gatherings, lifts restaurant curfew

By Devin Gannon

Starting Friday, New Jersey restaurants and bars can serve more customers and stay open later. Gov. Phil Murphy on Wednesday signed an executive order relaxing some coronavirus restrictions for indoor gatherings, pointing to a decrease in new daily cases and hospitalizations across the state. Under the order, which goes into effect ahead of Super Bowl Sunday, indoor dining capacity can increase from 25 percent to 35 percent and the 10 p.m. curfew at restaurants will be lifted.
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Artist Swoon transformed a box truck into a diorama-style outdoor sculpture that will travel around NYC

By Devin Gannon

A roving public art installation that explores the American experience has hit the streets of New York City. As part of the "American Portrait" initiative from PBS, Brooklyn-based artist Caledonia Curry, also known as Swoon, has designed a diorama-inspired sculpture on top of a 14-foot box truck. The installation, titled The House Our Families Built, features paintings and cutouts portraying domestic life. The sculpture debuted at Brooklyn Bridge Park last weekend and will travel to Prospect Park on February 6-7, Flushing Meadows Corona Park on February 13-14, and Union Square on February 21.
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Events & Things To Do

February 2, 2021

19th-century abolitionist home in Downtown Brooklyn is now a city landmark

By Devin Gannon

The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday voted to designate a Brooklyn property that was home to known abolitionists, likely saving it from demolition. Harriet and Thomas Truesdell, members of the anti-slavery movement before the Civil War, lived at the Greek-Revival row house at 227 Duffield Street from 1851 to 1863. The commission recommended 227 Duffield for designation because it represents a rare surviving home to known abolitionists and marks Brooklyn's pre-Civil War abolitionist movement. The push for landmarking the site was accelerated in 2019 when a developer filed permits to raze the three-story structure and replace it with a much taller mixed-use building.
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NYC vaccination data shows ‘profound’ racial gaps

Vaccination center at NYCHA Van Dyke Houses in Brownsville, Brooklyn on Tuesday, January 19, 2021. Photo credit: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

February 1, 2021

NYC vaccination data shows ‘profound’ racial gaps

By Devin Gannon

Black and Latino residents in New York City have received far fewer doses of the coronavirus vaccine than white New Yorkers, according to preliminary data released by the city on Sunday. Of the roughly 300,000 city residents vaccinated with at least one dose, 48 percent of them were white, 15 percent Asian, 15 percent Latino, and 11 percent Black. Mayor Bill de Blasio called the racial disparities "profound," since Latino and Black residents make up 29 and 24 percent of the city's population, respectively.
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Policy

Bike lanes to replace car lanes on the Brooklyn and Queensboro bridges

Photo courtesy of alihasadd25 on Pixabay

January 29, 2021

Bike lanes to replace car lanes on the Brooklyn and Queensboro bridges

By Devin Gannon

New York City plans to ban cars from part of two major East River bridges and reserve them for cyclists. Mayor Bill de Blasio on Thursday unveiled a proposal to transform the innermost lane of the Brooklyn Bridge into a two-way protected bike lane and convert the north outer roadway of the Queensboro Bridge into a two-way bike-only lane. The "Bridges for the People" plan was announced as part of the mayor's final State of the City address, "A Recovery for All of Us."
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Transit

Offshore park Little Island announces resident artists ahead of spring opening

Photo of Little Island under construction in October 2020; Photo: © CityRealty

January 28, 2021

Offshore park Little Island announces resident artists ahead of spring opening

By Devin Gannon

Developers of the new public park under construction in the Hudson River announced on Wednesday the participants of its first-ever artists-in-residence program. Artists Ayodele Casel, Tina Landeau, Michael McElroy, and PigPen Theatre Co., will perform, direct, and/or curate cultural events for Little Island, the two-acre offshore park at Hudson River Park's Pier 55 expected to open this spring.
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Events & Things To Do

Bjarke Ingels’ 66-story Spiral tower tops out at Hudson Yards

The Spiral as of October 2020, © CityRealty

January 28, 2021

Bjarke Ingels’ 66-story Spiral tower tops out at Hudson Yards

By Devin Gannon

Bjarke Ingels' new office tower with twisting terraces officially topped out at Hudson Yards this week. Aptly named The Spiral, the 66-story skyscraper reached its 1,031-foot pinnacle, developer Tishman Speyer announced on Tuesday. Upon its completion in 2022, the tower at 66 Hudson Boulevard will stretch a full block between West 34th and 35th Streets and contain 2.8 million square feet of office space and ground-floor retail.
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Historic cast-iron building in Soho once owned by William Waldorf Astor asks $17M

All photos courtesy of Douglas Elliman

January 27, 2021

Historic cast-iron building in Soho once owned by William Waldorf Astor asks $17M

By Devin Gannon

A 19th-century custom-designed Soho building once owned by William Waldorf Astor is on the market for $17 million. Located at 435 Broome Street, the Victorian Gothic building was built in 1873 by famed architect William Appleton Potter and features five tall loft stories framed by exterior cast-iron colonnettes and capitals. As the listing describes, the property, located between Broadway and Crosby Street, is the "perfect multi-functioning property for retail, office, or residential mixed-use."
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42-story Jersey City tower will have public park, community center, and 900 rental units

Renderings courtesy of HAP Investments

January 27, 2021

42-story Jersey City tower will have public park, community center, and 900 rental units

By Devin Gannon

Another residential high-rise tower has been proposed for Jersey City's Journal Square neighborhood. New York-based developer HAP Investments unveiled this week updated plans for a 42-story mixed-use tower at 500 Summit Avenue that would contain over 900 apartments, a community center, and a public park.
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Uncategorized

A former artists’ compound in exclusive Snedens Landing asks $3M

All photos credit: Jump Visuals for Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty

January 26, 2021

A former artists’ compound in exclusive Snedens Landing asks $3M

By Devin Gannon

A Palisades estate owned by the late artist Grace Knowlton is now on the market for $2.99 million. The property was transformed into a compound for artists by Knowlton, who was known for her spherical sculptures and lived at the site for nearly 50 years. Located in the secluded enclave of Snedens Landing, the four-acre estate includes a restored barn that serves as the main residence, a cottage, an industrial machine shop, and a pottery studio, all across the landscaped gardens.
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Distinctive Homes

Plans for abolitionist memorial in Downtown Brooklyn park delayed again

Renderings by Hargreaves Jones, courtesy of NYCEDC

January 26, 2021

Plans for abolitionist memorial in Downtown Brooklyn park delayed again

By Devin Gannon

After being in the works for nearly two decades, plans to build a public park in Downtown Brooklyn with a memorial to the neighborhood's abolitionist history are delayed once again. The Public Design Commission last week tabled a conceptual proposal from artist Kameelah Janan Rasheed after preservationists and community members during an intense public hearing criticized both the design for missing details and the city's lack of transparency.
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Events & Things To Do

MTA unveils digital memorial honoring over 100 transit workers lost to COVID-19

Photos courtesy of Marc A. Hermann/ MTA unless otherwise noted

January 25, 2021

MTA unveils digital memorial honoring over 100 transit workers lost to COVID-19

By Devin Gannon

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Monday unveiled a memorial dedicated to the 136 employees who have died from the coronavirus since March. The tribute, named "Travels Far: A Memorial Honoring Our Colleagues Lost to COVID-19" after a poem by Tracy K. Smith commissioned for the project, includes an eight-minute video featuring photographs of the frontline MTA workers who lost their lives to the virus. The video will run on 138 three-panel digital screens at 107 subway stations across the city starting Monday.
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For $398K, this Cold Spring cottage is full of cozy character

All photos courtesy of Houlihan Lawrence

January 25, 2021

For $398K, this Cold Spring cottage is full of cozy character

By Devin Gannon

A charming cottage on the edge of Cold Spring can be yours for $397,500. What the two-bedroom, one-bath home at 337 Main Street lacks in space it makes up in character. Constructed in 1890, the saltbox home features wide-planked floorboards, built-in shelves, and a reading nook. Plus, the property includes a large fenced-in backyard with a fire pit, outdoor deck, and a unique barrel sauna.
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Distinctive Homes

Preservationists, pols fight to save Washington Heights home with Underground Railroad ties

The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Photography Collection, The New York Public Library. (1937). Riverside Drive, no. 857, at 159th Street, Manhattan, courtesy of the New York Public Library.

January 25, 2021

Preservationists, pols fight to save Washington Heights home with Underground Railroad ties

By Devin Gannon

Preservationists and local politicians are pushing the city to reverse their decision to not landmark a historic home with abolitionist history in Washington Heights. The two-story wood-frame home at 857 Riverside Drive in Upper Manhattan was owned by anti-slavery activist Dennis Harris who may have also been an Underground Railroad conductor. Despite a demolition permit filed by the current owner, the Landmarks Preservation Commission last November still rejected landmark status for the home because of the architectural alterations made to the original structure.
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NYC Restaurant Week returns with 570 local restaurants and to-go options

Photo by Samantha Box, courtesy of NYC & Company

January 22, 2021

NYC Restaurant Week returns with 570 local restaurants and to-go options

By Devin Gannon

New York City Restaurant Week is now Restaurant Month. Due to popular demand, NYC Restaurant Week To Go, which launched on Monday, will run through February 28 instead of on Sunday as originally planned. During the month, diners can buy one bargain meal for delivery or takeout for $20.21, which includes an entree and at least one side, from each restaurant. According to NYC & Company, the city's tourism agency behind the program, a record 570 restaurants in over 100 neighborhoods are participating this year.
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Port Authority reveals plan to raze and replace Midtown bus terminal

Photo by Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

January 22, 2021

Port Authority reveals plan to raze and replace Midtown bus terminal

By Devin Gannon

Nearly ten years and 30 proposals later, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey on Thursday unveiled a plan to replace the dilapidated Midtown bus terminal. The agency on Thursday presented its final scoping report for the project, which involves demolishing the existing bus station to make way for a larger, state-of-the-art terminal. According to the Port Authority, the new plan would increase the capacity for commuter and intercity buses at the world's busiest bus terminal by nearly 40 percent.
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Transit

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