Events &amp; Things To Do

Construction work has begun on Sam Chang's latest endeavor for his McSam Hotel Group, a 12-story, 130-key hotel tower at 111 East 24th Street in Gramercy, a 6,000-square-foot site that was formerly a parking lot operated by Champion Parking. Approved plans filed with the Department of Buildings list Chang's designer of choice, Gene Kaufman, as the architect of record, and the illustration posted on the construction fence depicts a lackluster design comprised of two six-story volumes with differentiating fenestration.
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April 8, 2016

VIDEO: Watch Plants Consume New York in This Beautiful Short Film ‘Wrapped’

"Wrapped," a visual effects-driven short film by Roman Kälin, Falko Paeper and Florian Wittmann, flips on the FX switch and gets to work pumping out one of the wildest visions ever dreamt up for our cityscape. To a soundtrack that progresses from tentative to triumphant, fast-moving foliage gets a foothold and gains ground, starting with an opening shot of a dead street rat getting subsumed by verdant moss. The flora continues its takeover of Manhattan’s man-made infrastructure and concrete canyons, with a conclusion we won’t spoil.
Watch the full video

Events & Things To Do

April 7, 2016

Open Now! Shop and Nosh Your Way Through NYC’s Best Flea and Food Markets

With outdoor weather finally here (more or less) the city's flea and food markets roll out the red carpet and the irresistible goodies, and it's pretty likely there's one happening near you. From the unstoppable fashion-and-foodie mecca Brooklyn Flea (now in its ninth season), to a night market in Queens and a neighborhood favorite in Park Slope to antiquing standbys in Chelsea and Hell's Kitchen and the humble (but fun) stoop sale on your block, the goods may be odd, but they're out there. Check out the list below for some of the city's top food and flea picks. Just don't blame us for the tchotchke overload–or the calories.
Find a market this weekend

Events & Things To Do

April 6, 2016

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week – 4/7-4/12

In a city where hundreds of interesting happenings occur each week, it can be hard to pick and choose your way to a fulfilling life. Art Nerd‘s philosophy is a combination of observation, participation, education and of course a party to create the ultimate well-rounded week. Jump ahead for Art Nerd founder Lori Zimmer’s top picks for 6sqft readers! This Thursday is a busy one in the realm of art openings, so choose wisely! We highly recommend checking out the enigmatic photographs of Eagle Hunters by Lyle Owerko, the immersive animation and the prints behind them at the International Print Center, and Two if By Sea, a group show featuring Johee "Stickymonger" Park at MINY Media Center. This weekend, head uptown to the Heath Gallery for a special exhibition of works by artists using repurposed materials (plus a new sculpture in Marcus Garvey Park) then downtown to check out artists influenced by technology at Guy Hepner Gallery. Sunday, have a bagel and some Jameson to toast John Reed's new novel, then book it to Queens for the new exhibition celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Ramones. Cap off next week by educating your creative self with a grant writing workshop at Powerplnt.
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Events & Things To Do

April 6, 2016

Flower District Getting 35-Story Moxy Hotel With Affordable Rooms for Young Travelers

The remainder of Chelsea's flower district continues to shrink, blossoming new hotels instead of floral shops. This latest stalk will rise mid-block at 105 West 28th Street and will be the largest lodge yet, growing 35 stories and budding 343 rooms, according to recently approved building permits. The tower is anticipated to be among New York's first batch of Moxy hotels, a new Marriott brand focused on affordable three-star accommodations for young travelers. Last year, Bloomberg reported that Lightstone is committing $2 billion to develop and invest in lodging properties over the next few years, and will be building five Moxy hotels in New York. Recently, financing was secured for a 618-room Moxy flagship at 485 Seventh Avenue in the Garment District.
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6 Easy and Inexpensive Ways to Fake a Rustic Interior

6sqft’s series Apartment Living 101 is aimed at helping New Yorkers navigate the challenges of creating a happy home in the big city. This week, Gabrielle Montoute of Fueled, a digital product design and development incubator, shares six ways to create a rustic interior in your apartment without spending a lot of money.

April 5, 2016

6 Easy and Inexpensive Ways to Fake a Rustic Interior

By Gabrielle Montoute

If you haven’t noticed, rustic is all the rage. From restaurants to weddings to clothes, it’s all about taking something old and giving it new life—or taking something new and making it look vintage. While recreating this style at home may seem like an expensive undertaking, it’s only deceptively so. We’ve dissected the trend and determined six simple and inexpensive ideas that will help you achieve this look at home.
All of them here

March 31, 2016

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week – 3/31-4/6

In a city where hundreds of interesting happenings occur each week, it can be hard to pick and choose your way to a fulfilling life. Art Nerd‘s philosophy is a combination of observation, participation, education and of course a party to create the ultimate well-rounded week. Jump ahead for Art Nerd founder Lori Zimmer’s top picks for 6sqft readers! Childhood memories of show and tell are revisited this week at the Roger Smith Hotel's adult rendition that, of course, involves booze from their in-house bar. Times Square's Midnight Moment is all new for April, with JUNGLE-IZED, an Amazon takeover of the advertising screens. Artist Jan Tichy talks about his time-based projections at Fridman Gallery, and Todd Lim explores works inspired by Søren Kierkegaard at Booth Gallery. The Queens Museum of Art celebrates a closing reception Saturday afternoon, while MoMA PS1 opens their doors for Spring, including a performance by Cao Fei and Chinatown rap group Notorious MSG. MTV's Liquid Television star animator Bill Plympton enlivens South Street Seaport, and four artists poke at nature versus nurture at the Royal Society of American Art.
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Events & Things To Do

‘Eloise From Hell’ Spent 35 Years in the Plaza for $500/Month, Until Donald Trump Came Along

Illustration by Hilary Knight, courtesy of Simon and Schuster

March 28, 2016

‘Eloise From Hell’ Spent 35 Years in the Plaza for $500/Month, Until Donald Trump Came Along

Remember the story of Herbert J. Sukenik, the famous Central Park West "hermit holdout?" Developers paid the rent-controlled curmudgeon $17 million and gave him a free massive pad overlooking the park in a legendary buyout. His female counterpart might be one Fannie Lowenstein, whom none other than Donald Trump is said to have ended up bestowing a sprawling suite in the venerable Plaza Hotel at 1 Central Park South, complete with a Steinway grand piano and maid service. For zero dollars a month. For life. Here’s how the story of the woman the hotel staff referred to as “the Eloise from Hell” became yet another Manhattan rent regulation legend, as told by Vice.
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The NYC Easter Parade in 1904, via Wikimedia Commons

March 27, 2016

PHOTOS: The NYC Easter Parade Through Time

By Dana Schulz

As more people break from traditional religious affiliations, certain holidays become less and less significant. Perhaps the best example of that modern-day cultural shift is Easter. Technically the highest holy day of the year for Christians, the holiday has become one of the most overlooked. Up until the 1960s, Easter Sunday was a 40-day ritual, complete with fasting on Fridays, attending Palm Sunday services, and putting together the perfect pastel outfit to go with one's Easter bonnet. In New York City, the tradition hasn't all been lost, as the annual Easter Parade still kicks off at St. Patrick's Cathedral and marches up Fifth Avenue to 55th Street every year. In addition to its traditional affiliations, the parade also welcomes the Bonnet Festival, where participants show off their wackiest head gear. With just a few days left until Easter Sunday, we decided to take a look back at the history of the parade, showcasing some great historic images of the tradition.
Check out all the photos here

Artist Laurence Vallières Builds Giant Chimp from Up-cycled Cardboard

By Rebecca Paul

Armory week here in NYC takes place every March, and as always, this year's festivities brought forth many exiting projects all across the city. Participating in the action was Montreal-based artist Laurence Vallières who was featured in a special exhibition curated by 6sqft's resident expert in the New York art scene, Lori Zimmer (founder of Art Nerd New York) and Lynzy Blair for Joseph Gross Gallery. Vallières' work was featured at the Art on Paper Fair at Pier 36 where she constructed, from scratch, a grandiose chimpanzee made from scrap cardboard found on site.
Details and photos of her at work ahead

Events & Things To Do

March 24, 2016

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week – 3/24-3/30

Events & Things To Do

March 23, 2016

12 Easy and Affordable Ways to Transform Your Apartment With Just Paint

By Kristen Chuber

6sqft’s series Apartment Living 101 is aimed at helping New Yorkers navigate the challenges of creating a happy home in the big city. This week, the pros from Paintzen ("the Uber for painting") share some easy and affordable ways to transform an apartment using just paint. With the countless other tasks on New Yorkers’ agendas, finding time to do some interior upgrading can seem daunting. But thankfully, there are some quick and easy fixes that you can do - in the smallest of apartments and over the busiest of weekends - that require nothing more than paint. From simple accent walls and chalkboard paint to more funky techniques like ombre walls and patterns, here are 12 tips for transforming your space with paint.
All the tips, this way

March 23, 2016

See New Nighttime Renderings of Long Island City’s Upcoming Dream Hotel

Near Long Island City's East River waterfront, work has begun on an eleven-story, 199-room DREAM Hotel conceived through a joint venture between Millhouse Peck Properties, Barone Management and MATT Development. The hotel will rise from a full-block, commercially-zoned lot between 44th Road, 44th Avenue, and 9th and 10th streets, which was previously home to Manhattan Cabinetry's factory building (the company has since relocated those operations to Woodside). Stephen B. Jacobs Group has been tapped as the architect and the studio has designed a Standard Hotel-esque tower where the room floors are pitched above various restaurants, bars and outdoor terraces. New nighttime renderings show windows framed by LED lighting. A previous image suggested the developers were looking to salvage a corner facade of the factory-building, but the facade is no longer depicted in the new set of renderings and the entire factory structure has been cleared from the site.
even more details here

March 17, 2016

POLL: An Irish Castle or a New York Castle – Which Would You Pick?

By Diane Pham

Get out your green, because in honor of St. Patrick's Day we're putting a twist on the classic real estate comparison conundrum pinning some of the coolest Irish castles currently up for sale against a few New York castles (a.k.a. really expensive condos). Hit the jump to see what's available in the $2 to $12 million range, and then cast a vote for whether you'd rather having a sprawling 700-year-old stone castle with 380 acres of land in Ireland, or a comfy four-bedroom penthouse at The Brompton in Yorkville. And if you're not into castles or condos, we've also figured out how many pints of Guinness you can get for the median price of an apartment...
Which would you pick?

March 17, 2016

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week – 3/17-3/23

In a city where hundreds of interesting happenings occur each week, it can be hard to pick and choose your way to a fulfilling life. Art Nerd‘s philosophy is a combination of observation, participation, education and of course a party to create the ultimate well-rounded week. Jump ahead for Art Nerd founder Lori Zimmer’s top picks for 6sqft readers! Combine your love of shopping with art this week and check out Esmeralda Kosmatopoulos' neon installation in the window of Bloomingdale's. Gallery nine5 shares the mystical work of Tatyana Murray, while Orgy Park's Moon and Serpent show brings together three artists pensing on letting the mind wander, and Mira Schor discusses the Feminist artist at Lyle and King. Andrew Thiele takes over One Art Space for an action-packed pop up, while Quiet Lunch's Akeem K. Duncan guest curates at Brooklyn's Brilliant Champions. Learn a thing or two at the US National Committee for UN Women's symposium, then feed your soul with Brian Newman's Old New York at The Django.
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Events & Things To Do

March 17, 2016

The Plaza Reportedly Headed to Foreclosure Auction Next Month

The Plaza, New York City's iconic 109-year-old hotel and residence (formerly known as the Plaza Hotel) at 1 Central Park South will head for the auction block next month, says Bloomberg Business. An unnamed source claims the storied hotel will be offered in a foreclosure auction on April 26 along with the Dream Downtown hotel in Chelsea. The two mortgages total about $500 million, according to the report.
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Events & Things To Do

10 Ways to Decorate an Exposed Brick Wall Without Drilling

6sqft’s series Apartment Living 101 is aimed at helping New Yorkers navigate the challenges of creating a happy home in the big city. This week we offer up ideas for decorating exposed brick walls without drilling.

March 15, 2016

10 Ways to Decorate an Exposed Brick Wall Without Drilling

By Annie Doge

Exposed brick is one of the most common architectural elements in NYC apartments -- even otherwise bland spaces often feature the material. Though it offers tons of character, it can make decorating quite challenging since drilling into brick isn't the easiest task. Renters especially have a tough time, as putting holes in a brick wall can be a big no-no for landlords. But 6sqft has come up with 10 ways to dress up such walls, no drill necessary. Thanks to decor like string lights and ladders, you'll never have to stare at a blank brick wall again.
See all the ideas ahead

March 15, 2016

Demolition Permits Filed To Make Way for 25-Story New Hudson Yards Hotel

Demolition permits were filed yesterday to take down two small structures near the corner of West 31st Street and Dyer Avenue. Situated directly across from Brookfield's Manhattan West residential tower and just east of Hudson Yards, the parcel is owned by Arisa Realty, who purchased the buildings for $11 million in August of 2014. A revised new building application shows that the two- and one-story structures will be replaced by a 107,853-square-foot, 210-room hotel. The project's scale has been revised upward since initial filings, growing an additional 12,000 square feet and rising 25 stories instead of 21.
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March 14, 2016

Interested in a Flex Apartment? Here’s What You Need to Know

By Diane Pham

With rising real estate prices and shrinking spaces, flex apartments are growing in popularity with roommates, couples and families who are looking to add another room but can’t afford to move into a larger space. Flex apartments, for those who are unfamiliar, are typically a studio, one-bedroom or two-bedroom unit large enough to be converted up one level with […]

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week – 3/10-3/16

Jenny Sabin‘s illuminated pavilion

March 10, 2016

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week – 3/10-3/16

In a city where hundreds of interesting happenings occur each week, it can be hard to pick and choose your way to a fulfilling life. Art Nerd‘s philosophy is a combination of observation, participation, education and of course a party to create the ultimate well-rounded week. Jump ahead for Art Nerd founder Lori Zimmer’s top picks for 6sqft readers! Most of us are dead tired from Armory Week, but the show must go on. This week, Times Square Arts delights twice- first with a new #MidnightMoment that invites a moment of relaxation amidst the concert jungle, then a scream fest at the AMC Theater. Herman Bas echoes queer art history at Lehmann Maupin, while Ground Floor Gallery brings ugly and cute side by side. The take of Genesis P'Orridge and Lady Jaye, who spent years getting plastic surgery to look like one another, is told in film at the Rubin Museum, and Jenny Sabin uses 3D technology to weave an epic, illuminated pavilion at the Cooper Hewitt. Experience a massive new installation by Nancy Lupo at the Swiss Institute, then end the week by honing your understanding of color with photographer Bill Armstrong at Aperture.
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Events & Things To Do

March 4, 2016

VOA Architects Design 70-Story Mixed-Use Supertall for the Far West Side

Here's a first idea of what may be coming to a valuable far west side corner owned by former governor Elliot Spitzer. First spotted by the eagle-eyed SkyscraperPage, the scheme was prepared by VOA Architects for Highgate Hotels and shows an approximately 70-story, mixed-use tower stacked with a 1,000-key hotel with condominiums above. The site at 451 Tenth Avenue at 35th Street was picked up by Spitzer for $62 million in 2014 through a 99-year lease from Madd Equities. VOA's blog page states, "the project would have been the first new convention hotel in NY since the Marriott Marquis opened in 1985." Judging by the past-tense nature of the description, it seems this exact vision will not come to fruition.
More renderings ahead

March 3, 2016

Stuff You Should Know: How Air Rights Work

By Diane Pham

“For whoever owns the soil, it is theirs up to Heaven and down to Hell.” Most folks outside the architecture and real estate industries are likely to believe that putting up a new skyscraper is simply about finding an empty lot to build up. However, those in the know understand that it takes much more than a stretch of space and a good […]

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for Armory Arts Week

The Armory Show courtesy of Roberto Chamorro

March 3, 2016

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for Armory Arts Week