Events &amp; Things To Do

This weekend, celebrate Johann Sebastian Bach's 331st birthday by listening to musicians play all the Baroque hits in subway stations across the city. From Saturday to Monday, Bach in the Subways will bring hundreds of performers underground and above, sharing the German composer's work with New Yorkers for free as part of the MTA's Music Under New York program.
Find out how it all started

Events & Things To Do

March 16, 2017

Bid on a VIP tour of Yale with Robert A.M. Stern and other starchitect experiences

The Van Alen Institute announces their fourth annual Auction of Art + Design Experiences, offering a rare international sampling of curated events with leading names in the creative world. Like an omakase of "distinctive experiences" with some of today's most notable innovators in the architecture, design and culture spheres, the benefit auction, available via Paddle8, offers a Robert A.M. Stern-led VIP preview of the architect’s addition to the Yale University campus, an afternoon in the archives of Lina Bo Bardi’s Casa de Vidro outside São Paulo, a workout at Medellín Sports Coliseum with its architect, Giancarlo Mazzanti, a visit to a collection of stilted Miami beach houses with architect Terry Riley, meditation studio time with Winka Dubbeldam and a tour of John Lautner-designed horror story homes in the Hollywood hills, to name just a few.
More cool experiences to bid on, ahead

March 16, 2017

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week- 3/16-3/22

In a city where hundreds of interesting events occur each week, it can be hard to pick and choose your way to a fulfilling life. Ahead Art Nerd founder Lori Zimmer shares her top picks for 6sqft readers! Break out after the blizzard cabin fever, and get into an evening at MoMA for their yearly Members Party (yes, that means you need to become a member if you aren’t already!) If architecture is more your thing, celebrate the Van Alen Institute at The Tunnel, or if you’re just not into parties, get cultural at the opera in Bushwick. BBQ joint/gallery Fort Gansevoort welcomes guest curator Hank Willis Thomas for a new show, and Creative Time stages a Shirin Neshat talk at the beautiful Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Enjoy historic postcards of synagogues of the past at Museum at Eldridge Street, then appreciate the surreal illustrations of You Jung Byun. Finally, get an insider’s tour of Grand Central Terminal, including a jaunt across its catwalk to get your very own aerial pictures of the beautiful concourse.
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Events & Things To Do

March 14, 2017

Fewer young foreigners traveling to NYC because of Trump

New York City expected tourism from foreigners to fall after President Trump’s chaotic announcement of his first executive order in January which banned travel from seven majority-Muslim countries because it was unclear which travelers would be allowed into the country. However, as reported by Crain’s, it’s not just money-spending travelers that have avoided the Big Apple; it’s student and youth groups that are canceling trips to the city.
Learn more here

March 13, 2017

Studio Tack transforms an old motor lodge into a minimalist boutique hotel in Upstate New York

By Rebecca Paul

This 1960s guesthouse in upstate New York was recently transformed into a charming boutique hotel by the Brooklyn-based design firm Studio Tack. The Scribner's Catskill Lodge boasts a modern yet rustic aesthetic, highlighting both good design and the property's expansive mountain views. The hotel is located close to Hunter Mountain's popular ski slopes, which are all visible from inside the cozy hotel.
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March 13, 2017

A pavilion created from 300,000 recycled cans is coming to Governors Island this summer

"Cast & Place" is the winner of FIGMENT’s 2017 City of Dreams competition, an annual design contest that challenges architecture and design firms to build a pavilion out of recycled materials to be assembled on Governors Island and displayed during the summer. This year, it will be made out of more than 300,000 aluminum cans (the number of cans used in NYC in an hour), melted down and cast into cracked clay. According to the group’s Kickstarter page, the material will be soil excavated from the East River, recycled cans, and reclaimed wood, which will form lightweight, strong panels to provide structure and shade.
See their design here

March 10, 2017

At $31B, Airbnb now second most valuable private company behind Uber

After raising an additional $1 billion in a financing round that began last summer, Airbnb, the short-term stay rental company, is now listed as the second most valuable private company in the United States, following Uber, the ride-hailing business, as the New York Times reported. Airbnb, based in San Francisco, has raised more than $3 billion and secured a $1 billion line of credit since the company was founded in 2008. It is now worth nearly $31 billion dollars.
Find out more here

Art Nerd New York’s top event picks for the week – 3/9-3/15

In a city where hundreds of interesting events occur each week, it can be hard to pick and choose your way to a fulfilling life. Ahead Art Nerd founder Lori Zimmer shares her top picks for 6sqft readers! A new month means a new art film across the screens in Times Square, with March inviting folks to jump into Matteo Zamagni’s "nature abstractions." Graffiti kings Crash, Bio and Nick Walker host an exclusive exhibition in the West Village, while Donna Ruff’s lace-like paper pieces are taking over Rick Wester in Chelsea. Artist Dionisios Fragias does a familial collaboration with his wife at Emmanuel Fremin, and Dexter Wimberly guest curates at Ground Floor Gallery presenting Tammy Nguyen. Spend the day fusing art and activism at MoMA’s Wikipedia edit-a-thon, then head to the French Consulate’s gorgeous bookstore, Albertine, for a talk with famed designer Agnes B. Finally, check out the Brooklyn Bazaar, at the former Polonaise Terrace, and pick up medical history ephemera, taxidermy, and other oddities at their special annual flea market.
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Events & Things To Do

March 8, 2017

Exciting new details emerge for the TWA Terminal hotel

The excitement was palpable yesterday evening as New Yorkers packed into the SVA Theatre for a special presentation on one of the city's most important rehabilitation projects: the redevelopment of Eero Saarinen’s iconic TWA flight center into a hotel. Taking the stage were the development and architecture teams who divulged a slew of new details regarding the design, the hotel's offer, and even the pricing of the rooms.
more details from the night's event here

March 8, 2017

Kristen Visbal’s ‘Fearless Girl’ statue defies Wall Street’s bull to promote women in business

A post shared by Melanie Hunt (@melaniehunt1331) on Mar 7, 2017 at 4:50am PST Early Tuesday morning a bronze statue of a young girl in high tops, face defiant, hands firmly on her hips, was placed in front of the iconic charging bull statue in lower Manhattan’s Bowling Green park. The statue, created by artist Kristen Visbal, was installed by international asset management company State Street Global Advisors (SSGA) to bring attention to the need for more women on corporate boards–and for more female business leaders in general.
What's behind the girl

Events & Things To Do

Herzog & de Meuron will turn Gowanus’ graffiti-covered ‘Batcave’ into an art production factory

Rendering of Powerhouse Workshop via Herzog & de Meuron

March 7, 2017

Herzog & de Meuron will turn Gowanus’ graffiti-covered ‘Batcave’ into an art production factory

By Dana Schulz

Despite its Superfund status, the Gowanus Canal has ushered in a Whole Foods, an artisanal ice cream factory, and more than one high-end residential development, but one vestige of its gritty, industrial days has remained--the so-called Batcave. Build in 1904 as the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company's Central Power Station, the warehouse was taken out of service in the '50s, becoming in the 2000s a home for squatters, venue for impromptu dance parties, and unofficial street art display. But it looks like the former warehouse will now join the ranks of its Brooklyn-esque neighbors, as the Times reports that Pritzker Prize-winning Swiss architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron will transform the space into an art production factory and exhibition space to be called the Powerhouse Workshop, though it will preserve the iconic graffiti
Get the whole scoop

March 6, 2017

ARTech opens a free pop-up playground for brainy kids in Meatpacking

By Metro New York

When art meets science and technology, kids do more than just learn—they’re inspired to think in new ways. That’s the premise of ARTech, a free indoor science and technology-themed playground open now through April 29 at 451-459 West 14th Street. Created in partnership with the Children’s Museum of the Arts and New York Hall of […]

Events & Things To Do

The best design museums in New York City

Lead Image: © Leong Leong Architects for their installation Past Futures, Present, Futures

March 6, 2017

The best design museums in New York City

New York is an international center for design. World-famous architects and designers have learned here, lived here, and worked here. And New York shows off the immense talent in the city and elsewhere with some of the world's greatest design museums. Here is a small sample of some of the best places to see the latest and greatest works, as well as where to dig when you're looking for inspiration from the past.
See our top picks here

March 3, 2017

‘Show-stopping’ Hamilton collection includes love letters and a lock of hair

Historic collections expert Seth Kaller throws his hat into the Hamilton ring for this year’s Antiquarian Book Fair, happening March 9-12 at the Park Avenue Armory. The Alexander Hamilton Collection (part of a larger collection titled “The Genius, Passions, Foibles and Flaws of our Founding Fathers” ) promises to be a unique collection of original letters, documents and imprints relating to the life and times of the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and founder of the New York Post, shown for the first time and offered for sale at the book fair.
See what's in the collection

March 2, 2017

Art Nerd New York’s top event picks for Armory Arts Week 2017

In a city where hundreds of interesting events occur each week, it can be hard to pick and choose your way to a fulfilling life. Ahead Art Nerd founder Lori Zimmer shares her top picks for 6sqft readers! Armory Arts Week has come to New York again, bringing a hustle and bustle of artists, galleries, art buyers, and art lovers from around the world. The main event is joined by a myriad of satellite fairs that could keep you busy for days, including a new location of the SCOPE Art Show, a fair dedicated solely to paper, and VOLTA’s focus on solo exhibitions. To pair with the fair excitement, the Public Art Fund is installing an open-air mansion just outside Central Park, and MoMA PS1 opens its galleries for a food- and booze-infused party. Head to Brooklyn to see Chad Hasegawa transform ordinary house paint into Abstract paintings, or, if historic art is more your thing, check out a 9th-century shipwreck at the Asia Society.
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Events & Things To Do

March 2, 2017

Gracie Mansion’s new exhibit tells the story of NYC during World War II

By Dana Schulz

In honor of the residence's 75th anniversary, the Gracie Mansion Conservancy has announced a new art installation titled "New York 1942," a collection of World War II-era objects that tell the story of New York City during this time, as well as of the period when Gracie Mansion became the official mayoral residence under Fiorello La Guardia. The exhibit will display more than 50 artifacts, documents, and pieces of art, including a signed World Series Yankees baseball, the Jacob Lawrence painting "The Migrants Arrived in Great Numbers," a photo from Weegee, ration tokens, and a first-edition print of "The Little Prince."
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Events & Things To Do

The history of tattooing in NYC – and its 36-year ban

Charlie Wagner tattooing Millie Hull, 1939; Image courtesy of the New-York Historical Society.

March 2, 2017

The history of tattooing in NYC – and its 36-year ban

We think of 1960s, '70s and '80s New York City as a freewheeling island of individuality and an alternative lifestyle haven, but the practice of body tattooing–more popular throughout history than many realize–was banned from 1961 until 1997. The ban was blamed on a Hepatitis B outbreak but could have had its origins in a number of things from a pre-World's Fair crackdown to a health inspector's personal vendetta. "Tattooed New York," a current exhibition at the New-York Historical Society traces the practice of tattooing from its use among Native American tribes through its history with sailors, trendy victorian ladies and more recent ink aficionados. One of the more fascinating detours of that history tells of how the scene changed with the ban, when NYC's tattoo artists set up private shops in their apartments.
Find out more

February 27, 2017

9 artsy and inexpensive DIY ideas for decorating a rental

By Hannah Frishberg

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've got some artistic ways you can update your rental without spending a lot of money. No matter how ephemeral a rental unit may feel, refusing to put any love into your space will ensure a feeling that your lease is taking forever to end. But it doesn't take a professional or a full-scale renovation to make a shoebox of an apartment go from a depressing Craigslist find to a lively and stylish pad. Ahead are some creative DIY ways to decorate your space that can be done inexpensively—and without putting your security deposit at risk.
Smashing a mirror can be good for decoration

February 27, 2017

Upstate waterfront hotel/restaurant with a quirky owner’s apartment asks less than $1M

By Emily Nonko

Now here's an opportunity to own something really unique, if you're willing to decamp New York City to run a historic hotel upstate. The Pleasant Beach Hotel, at 14477 Fancher Avenue in Fairhaven, has hit the market for $975,000. Less than $1 million will get you a nine-room hotel, as well as a bar, restaurant, private pier, and an attached owner's apartment. With incredible views out toward Lake Ontario, this hotel has been in business since 1910... and is looking for its tenth owner to carry on the traditions of the charming waterfront getaway.
Take the grand tour

Art Nerd New York’s top event picks for the week – 2/23-3/1

Toilet Paper Paradise by Plamen Pletkov

February 23, 2017

Art Nerd New York’s top event picks for the week – 2/23-3/1

In a city where hundreds of interesting events occur each week, it can be hard to pick and choose your way to a fulfilling life. Ahead Art Nerd founder Lori Zimmer shares her top picks for 6sqft readers! If you haven’t been to the Cadillac House--the cultural venue by the car company--now is the time to check it out, as two artists take over the space with room-sized installations perfect for Instragramming. Mo Scarpelli’s compelling documentary about journalists in Afghanistan plays at St. Bartholomew’s Church, and Amelie plays at Videology. Get an insider's tour of the historic New Yorker Hotel, then stay after hours at the gorgeous New York Public Library. The famed Salmagundi Club will stay open all night for a draw-a-thon, and the Bronx Museum of the Arts hosts another great Gala at the Conrad. Finally, Beau Stanton transforms his artwork into a special stop-motion film at Brilliant Champions.
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Events & Things To Do

February 23, 2017

Sunday will be your last chance to brunch at the Waldorf Astoria’s Peacock Alley

Come March 1st the Waldorf Astoria will close its doors to the public in preparation for what's likely to be a lengthy conversion, as the New York icon transforms from luxury hotel to a hybrid of opulent condos and hotel rooms. While we can all rest assured that the Waldorf's stunning interiors will remain intact—from the historic ballrooms to exhibition space, dining rooms and banquet rooms—what will likely disappear for good (at least in their current form) are the lavish brunches held at Peacock Alley. As Metro NY reports, this Sunday, February 26th, will be your last opportunity to indulge in the hotel's utterly decadent weekend offering.
more details here

Events & Things To Do

February 20, 2017

Anish Kapoor will bring a spiraling funnel of black water to Brooklyn Bridge Park