Events &amp; Things To Do

Ten bronze statues of inspiring women will be installed in New York City this summer as part of a project that hopes to address the lack of monuments of women in the city. Artists Gillie and Marc, the couple behind Astor Place's 17-foot-tall rhino sculpture, on Thursday launched "Statues for Equality," which aims to increase the number of statues of women in NYC by 200 percent. Currently, only five of the city's 150 statues depict nonfictional women.
More here

Events & Things To Do

MoMA will be closed all summer as it wraps up the final phase of its $400M expansion

Exterior view of The Museum of Modern Art on 53rd Street. Rendering by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, courtesy of MoMA.

February 5, 2019

MoMA will be closed all summer as it wraps up the final phase of its $400M expansion

The Museum of Modern Art will be closed throughout the summer as it prepares to open its expanded campus on October 21st. The $400 million expansion, developed by MoMA with architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro in collaboration with Gensler, will add more than 40,000 square feet of gallery spaces and allow the Museum to exhibit more art in new, interdisciplinary ways. The final phase of construction will expand into Jean Nouvel’s new residential tower 53W53 and into the site of the demolished American Folk Art Museum. It will add innovative performance and education spaces, expand the MoMA Design and Bookstore, and add free street-level galleries on the ground floor that will make art more accessible for all.
Get all the details

Memorial honoring those stricken by illness after 9/11 to open May 30

Rendering by Moso Studio.

February 4, 2019

Memorial honoring those stricken by illness after 9/11 to open May 30

As 6sqft previously reported, after the rescue and recovery effort for the September 11th attacks ended, an estimated 400,000 people were exposed to life-threatening toxins, and since then, nearly 70,000 first responders and more than 14,000 survivors enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Program. Last May, 9/11 Memorial & Museum president Alice Greenwald revealed the official design for Memorial Glade, a monument to all those who have lost their lives or are sick due to these related illnesses. The New York Post now reports that work is underway at Liberty and West streets.
Find out more about Memorial Glade

The 15 best places in NYC to ring in the Lunar New Year

Via Wikimedia

February 1, 2019

The 15 best places in NYC to ring in the Lunar New Year

One of New York City's most spirited events kicks off next Tuesday: the Lunar New Year. With multiple Chinatowns and Asian communities across the five boroughs, there is no shortage of events to celebrate the nearly two-week-long holiday, which is said to have originated more than 4,000 years ago. While the most well-known festivity is the colorful parade in Lower Manhattan's Chinatown, other Lunar New Year events in Flushing, Sunset Park, and Staten Island should not be overlooked. Embrace the Year of the Pig, the 12th zodiac animal said to signal good fortune, with lantern decorating events, dumpling and noodle-making classes, traditional dance and song, and sparkling firecracker ceremonies.
See the full list

Events & Things To Do

14 fun and offbeat ways to spend Valentine’s Day 2019 in New York City

Image courtesy of Dumbo.is

February 1, 2019

14 fun and offbeat ways to spend Valentine’s Day 2019 in New York City

Like Mother's Day, there's something to be said for the idea that every day ought to be Valentine’s Day, candy and flowers included. But if February's second week has you scrambling for a worthy celebration, it might be the perfect time to try something a little bit different. Take a look below for some Valentine-focused events–from skating and shopping to science and sewage–and lots of other ways to get heart-shaped this V-Day.
Details, this way

Events & Things To Do

Rendering of “Lost and Found” via Snark Park

January 31, 2019

Hudson Yards exhibit space Snark Park puts tickets on sale for its first show

When Hudson Yards opens on March 15th, one of the many places New Yorkers will get to check out for the first time will be Snark Park, a permanent exhibition space for immersive installations. The space will reimagine "everyday objects and familiar settings," according to a press release from designers Snarkitecture, "creating unexpected and memorable moments that challenge the mind to reassess visual cues and investigate the commonplace with a fresh curiosity." If this sounds a little out-there to you, tickets to the first exhibit have just gone on sale, along with some more info. The inaugural showcase titled "Lost and Found" will be a modern interpretation of an enchanted forest, providing "audible, visual, and tactile experiences" within a series of "massive, inhabitable cylinders."
All the details

Events & Things To Do

January 31, 2019

For artists by artists: Inside the landmarked studios of the 144-year-old Art Students League of New York

6sqft’s series “Where I Work” takes us into the studios, offices, and businesses of New Yorkers across the city. In this installment, we’re going inside the landmarked building of the Art Students League of New York in Midtown. Want to see your business featured here? Get in touch! In 1875, a group of young students broke away from the National Academy of Design and founded the Art Students League of New York to pursue a new and more modern method of art education. What started as a small group of rebellious artists in a 20-foot by 30-foot space, turned into an internationally-recognized, landmarked institution, which continues to set the standard for art training today. In its 144th year, the Art Students League’s mission has remained unchanged since its founding: to spread the language of art to anyone interested in learning. The nonprofit has been located in the American Fine Arts Society Building at 215 West 57th Street since 1892. A designated New York City landmark, the French Renaissance-style building was designed by Henry J. Hardenbergh, the architect behind the Plaza Hotel and the Dakota. Ken Park, the director of marketing and communication for the League, recently gave 6sqft a behind-the-scenes tour of the historic building and shared some insight into this storied establishment.
See inside

Enter to win a pair of tickets to 6sqft & Untapped Cities’ tour of FXCollaborative’s architecture studio

Photo courtesy of FXCollaborative

January 30, 2019

Enter to win a pair of tickets to 6sqft & Untapped Cities’ tour of FXCollaborative’s architecture studio

Join 6sqft and our friends at Untapped Cities for the second installment of our new joint event series where we'll offer behind-the-scenes tours of some of the city’s top architectural and design firms’ studios. This month, we'll be visiting architecture firm FXCollaborative, who will open up their Flatiron office space the evening of Wednesday, February 13th. Guests will be treated to a tour of the creative space and a conversation with Senior Partners Dan Kaplan and Sylvia Smith, along with Partner Nicholas Garrison, Principal Gustavo Rodriguez, and Principal/Design Director of Interiors Angie Lee. Learn about the firm's holistic approach through current projects such as Downtown Brooklyn's 1 Willoughby Square, 77 Greenwich Street, and the new Statue of Liberty Museum. Interested in attending? Enter our raffle for a chance to win a pair of tickets!
Learn how to enter

Events & Things To Do

All of the places in NYC offering perks to furloughed federal employees

New York City is stepping up to help furloughed federal employees who have been affected by the government shutdown, now on its 35th day. Federal workers who have missed paychecks due to the shutdown, the longest ever in history, qualify for perks at various spots across the five boroughs. With a valid government ID, federal workers can enjoy complimentary goodies, including free admission to museums, a free Broadway show, free food, and even free hotel rooms. And after filling up on freebies, join federal employees and their supporters at a rally to end the shutdown on Friday in Lower Manhattan.
See the list

Hudson Yards unveils new contemporary art by Jaume Plensa, Frank Stella, and Joel Shapiro

Unnamed by Frank Stella at 50 Hudson Yards; Rendering courtesy of Related-Oxford

January 24, 2019

Hudson Yards unveils new contemporary art by Jaume Plensa, Frank Stella, and Joel Shapiro

Just yesterday Hudson Yards announced that it would officially open on March 15th, and when visitors first visit the mega-development, they'll now have even more art to peruse. According to a press release from developer Related, the complex has unveiled large-scale contemporary art installations by three renowned artists--Jaume Plensa, Frank Stella, and Joel Shapiro. "I have always been passionate about the impact art, sculpture and design can have on our lives – the memorable experiences they create and the warmth they bring to the places we live and visit," said Related chairman Stephen Ross.
See all the artworks and hear from the artists

Events & Things To Do

VIDEO: See a time-lapse of the TWA Hotel being constructed at JFK

Photo by Max Touhey

January 23, 2019

VIDEO: See a time-lapse of the TWA Hotel being constructed at JFK

Officially in its final months of construction, the TWA Hotel is nearing touchdown at John F. Kennedy Airport. Led by MCR and Morse Development, the repurposing of Eero Saarinen's TWA Flight Center into a 512-room hotel and event space is set to wrap up this spring. And while 6sqft has followed the exciting project's progress since it broke ground in 2016, a time-lapse video recently released by the developers show how the two, six-story hotel wings have taken shape behind Saarinen's iconic TWA Flight Center over the last two years.
Watch the time-lapse

Bronx icons radiate light in Rico Gatson’s murals at reopened 167th Street station

Beacons (2018) © Rico Gaston, NYCT 167th Street Station. Commissioned by MTA Arts & Design. Audre Lorde portrait derived from a photo by Jack Mitchell

January 22, 2019

Bronx icons radiate light in Rico Gatson’s murals at reopened 167th Street station

A series of bright mosaic murals created by artist Rico Gatson was revealed last week at the 167th Street B, D station in the Bronx, which recently reopened after months of repair work. The artwork, "Beacons," features eight portraits of figures who have contributed to culture and society and who also have a special connection to the broader New York City community. Figures honored include Gil Scott-Heron, Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Audre Lorde, James Baldwin, Maya Angelou, Reggie Jackson, and Sonia Sotomayor.
See the artwork

Is the first statue of a woman in Central Park a racist representation or a good start?

Photo by Tia Richards for 6sqft

January 22, 2019

Is the first statue of a woman in Central Park a racist representation or a good start?

The official design of the first statue of non-fictional women in Central Park was unveiled last summer. The statue, a sculpture of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, is set to be dedicated on August 18, 2020, marking the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote nationwide. Terrific, right? Not completely. Because, as the New York Times informs us, some women’s rights advocates feel the statue doesn’t show the whole story. One complaint: Stanton and Anthony were white. Included in the statue's design, a list of women who aided in the cause contains a significant number of African-American women. Why weren’t any of them chosen to be the face of women’s contributions to social equality?
Gloria Steinem weighs in, this way

Harlem exhibit shows an intimate side of MLK on the civil rights hero’s 90th birthday

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his wife Coretta being greeted by Rev. Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. (left) and labor leader A. Philip Randolph (right) at the Pan American World Airways terminal, in New York City: Image: Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Photographs and Prints Division, The New York Public Library. (1950 – 1959).

January 18, 2019

Harlem exhibit shows an intimate side of MLK on the civil rights hero’s 90th birthday

Open as of January 15, a new photography exhibit titled, "Crusader: Martin Luther King Jr." at the New York Public Library's Schomburg Center considers Reverend King as man, traveler and friend. The show offers an intimate travelogue of the civil rights leader’s visits to India, Nobel Peace Prize acceptance in Oslo, Norway, and work as a crusader for non-violent civil rights action, captured by noted photographers of the day.
Find out more

Make way for the Women’s March on NYC: Street closings, maps and more

2017 Women’s March on NYC; image: mathiaswasik via Flickr.

January 17, 2019

Make way for the Women’s March on NYC: Street closings, maps and more

The streets of NYC will fill once again this Saturday, January 19 for the third annual Women's March on New York City. The first march took place in 2017, as a demonstration in support of women's rights and in resistance to a growing list of gender-related injustices during the inauguration of President Donald Trump. Last year's march drew an estimated 200,000 participants. As with any jubilant mass display of human resilience, there will be street closings. Read on for info on where to march, how to avoid traffic snarls and what makes this year's march different.
Find out more

Events & Things To Do

Stuff you should know: What’s really in your water tower and what to expect when it’s replaced

Photo via Flickr cc

January 14, 2019

Stuff you should know: What’s really in your water tower and what to expect when it’s replaced

By Cait Etherington

One of the most distinctive architectural features of New York City buildings is their water towers. Many New Yorkers assume these towers are a relic of another era—a time when people did store water in wooden barrels. In fact, nearly all of the city’s wooden water towers are still in use, and many are newer than one might expect. If a building is actually following city guidelines, their water tower should be no more than three decades old. Unfortunately, compliance is an ongoing problem when it comes to water tower inspections and maintenance. In fact, many of the city’s charming water towers aren’t so charming when you take a look inside the barrel.
Everything you need to know

Illuminated Garment District installation ‘Iceberg’ wants you to think about climate change

Photos courtesy of Alex Ayer/Diversity Pics

January 11, 2019

Illuminated Garment District installation ‘Iceberg’ wants you to think about climate change

Earlier this week The Garment District Alliance unveiled "Iceberg," an immersive art installation on the Broadway pedestrian plazas along Broadway from West 37th to 38th Streets. Created by ATOMIC3 & Appareil Architecture, in collaboration with Jean-Sébastien Côté and Philippe Jean, the installation allows the public to generate a light and sound show as they pass through the metal arches of the installation, which react to the pace of each participant by turning different colors. But there’s more to it than pretty lights—the installation also carries an environmental message.
See the lights

Events & Things To Do

January 9, 2019

NYC’s 10 best offbeat and hidden museums

By Rebecca Fishbein

New York is home to world-class institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the American Museum of Natural History, the Guggenheim, and MoMA. But this city’s museum scene has more to offer than just the Temple of Dendur—in fact, it’s full of smaller, way funkier spots serving up found art, oddities, and history, including the history of this ever-odd city itself. Here are 10 of our favorites.
Start exploring

Events & Things To Do

Hudson Yards arts center The Shed sets an opening date and reveals additions to inaugural lineup

Photo: Brett Beyer

January 9, 2019

Hudson Yards arts center The Shed sets an opening date and reveals additions to inaugural lineup

The Shed, New York City’s first arts center dedicated to presenting new performing arts, visual arts, and popular culture works, has set an opening date of April 5, 2019, the organization's Artistic Director and CEO Alex Poots announced today. The city's newest arts center on Manhattan’s west side has also announced four additional opening season commissions and the honorary naming of its building and two major spaces in recognition of visionary supporters of the project in addition to information about operating hours and tickets.
Find out more

Events & Things To Do

SNL comic Michael Che plans benefit comedy show to raise funds for NYCHA residents

Photo via Pexels

January 8, 2019

SNL comic Michael Che plans benefit comedy show to raise funds for NYCHA residents

Stand-up comic and SNL’s Weekend Update co-anchor Michael Che is organizing a benefit show for New York City public housing residents this week. There are still a few tickets left for "A Night for NYCHA" on January 11, as amNY reported earlier today. Che is the headliner, “Roastmaster General” Jeff Ross will be hosting, and Michelle Wolf will feature in a “top secret lineup” of comics. “It's gonna be a fun show and a GREAT cause," Che posted on his Instagram stories earlier this month. "A lot of residents don't have heat this winter. This money could really help. I grew up in a building like that, and it's really tough."
Get all the details

December 28, 2018

Celebrate Kwanzaa in NYC with a live-drawing event, music and dancing, and an artisan market

The American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) is hosting its annual Kwanzaa festival on Saturday, celebrating African-American heritage with programs that focus on community, culture, and creativity. Free with admission, the event takes place on Dec. 29 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the museum's Milstein Hall of Ocean Life.
Get more info

Events & Things To Do

Image courtesy of the Times Square Alliance

December 28, 2018

Say ‘good riddance’ to everything you hated about 2018 in Times Square today

Let’s face it: a lot of us are more than happy to say goodbye to 2018 and turn over a new leaf. If you’re ready for some cathartic collective destruction, use your lunch break on Friday to join others in Times Square for the 12th annual "Good Riddance Day" and say goodbye to the worst of this year. The event, hosted by the Times Square Alliance, is inspired by a tradition in some parts of Latin America in which New Year’s revelers stuff dolls with objects representing bad memories and burn them in order to make room for the new.
Details on the shred, ahead

Events & Things To Do

December 24, 2018

‘Remake the Holidays’ by turning your used wrapping paper into garland and other crafts