Events & Things To Do

Google’s Window Wonderland lets you tour Fifth Avenue holiday window displays from your home
December 9, 2016

Google’s Window Wonderland lets you tour Fifth Avenue holiday window displays from your home

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Google Maps introduced a street-view look at NYC's holiday windows a couple years ago, but their Shopping app has now completely revamped the feature, launching this year as Window Wonderland. The interactive tool lets users take a high-resolution digital tour of 18 stores, including audio tours from their creative directors and real-life background street noise. See the 34 hand-sculpted animals in Lord & Taylor's "Enchanted Forest," explore the candy and couture at Saks Fifth Avenue's "Land of 1000 Delights," or see the gang from South Park at Barney's.
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Art Nerd New York’s top event picks for the week- 12/8-12/14
December 8, 2016

Art Nerd New York’s top event picks for the week- 12/8-12/14

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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! Before the delving into the hectic holidays, have a rare bucolic moment in Times Square through Tal Yarden’s "Counting Sheep" as it takes over the screens of the Midtown hub. Then get into the spirit season and make a wish at Luminaries at Brookfield Place, or hop over to Madison Square Park to wander through the life-sized gingerbread village which went up just this week. Tonight, Julia Sinelnikova, a.k.a. the Oracle, invites viewers to a clandestine celebration of performance and light art, and Michelle Grabner rethinks the afghan at James Cohan. The gorgeous, sensual ceramics of Serra Victoria Bothwell Fels open at Catinca Tabacaru, and Brooklyn gallery Brilliant Champions showcases their roster in a winter group show. Finally, shake off all of your aggression from the last few weeks at the arty dance party by CHERYL at C’mon Everybody in Greenpoint.
More on all the best events this way
10 modern menorah designs for Hanukkah 2016
December 7, 2016

10 modern menorah designs for Hanukkah 2016

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Our ongoing series Apartment Living 101 is aimed at helping New Yorkers navigate the challenges of creating a happy home in the big city. In anticipation of Hanukkah, we’ve rounded up ten modern menorahs for the design-minded.  For thousands of years, people all over the globe have been celebrating Hanukkah (a.k.a. Festival of Lights), and this year's festivities are just around the corner. While the holiday invites participants to join in on a variety of joyful traditions like playing dreidel and eating potato pancakes, the eight-night event is centered around the lighting of the menorah. From emojis and dinosaurs, to elegant branches and minimal blocks, you can find a menorah in almost any style these days—so why not give the ancient nine-tiered a contemporary update? To help you find the right menorah design for your living space, we've rounded up ten of our favorite modern takes on the centerpiece.
have a look at all 10 here
New documentary ‘Tree Man’ explores the lives of NYC’s Christmas tree sellers
December 6, 2016

New documentary ‘Tree Man’ explores the lives of NYC’s Christmas tree sellers

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One of the many signs that it's Christmastime in the city is the sight, sound and scent of the city's sidewalk tree vendors. The annual arrival of the (mostly) jovial tree purveyors reminds us that bell-ringing Santas, office secret Santas, and bar-crawling Santas aren't far behind. Each year thousands of trees are sold to New Yorkers to help them deck the halls for the season. But what about the people who sell those trees? A new documentary film, “Tree Man,” gives us a peek at the lives of the city's tree sellers, many of whom leave families behind to camp out in sometimes harsh living conditions for the sake of their business.
Watch a trailer for 'Tree Man'
Arsenal Gallery invites New Yorkers to submit wreath designs that shed light on social issues
December 6, 2016

Arsenal Gallery invites New Yorkers to submit wreath designs that shed light on social issues

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The department store windows of Midtown aren’t the only place to see holiday masterpieces. This Tuesday is the opening reception for Wreath Interpretations, the Arsenal Gallery’s long-running show that invites anyone from the community to submit designs for their own take on the traditional holiday symbol. In its 34th year, the exhibit will feature more […]

21-inch replica of the Astor Place Cube selling for $30,000 on ebay
December 6, 2016

21-inch replica of the Astor Place Cube selling for $30,000 on ebay

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The Astor Place Cube returned to its longtime East Village home just a month ago, after a nearly two-year absence while the intersection was under construction and it underwent a restoration. Sculptor Tony Rosenthal erected the 15-foot public art piece known officially as "Alamo" in 1967, and over the years he created around 10 mini replicas of it. One of them, measuring 21 inches and weighing 30 pounds, is up for sale on eBay for a staggering $30,000, which, as Bedford & Bowery points out, is not that much more than the $180,000 it cost to restore the actual cube.
Get more details
5 places to buy affordable modern art in New York City
December 6, 2016

5 places to buy affordable modern art in New York City

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Our ongoing series Apartment Living 101 is aimed at helping New Yorkers navigate the challenges of creating a happy home in the big city. This week Art Nerd New York founder Lori Zimmer shares her top five shops for scoring affordable art in trendy Manhattan. Manhattan is a treasure trove of fine art. The gallery districts have shifted from Soho to Chelsea down to the Lower East Side, populating each neighborhood with clean white walls and a rotating collection of pieces from a roster of painters, sculptors, and mixed media artists. Although viewing the art the city has to offer is free, taking a piece home can be a major hit to the wallet. I've rounded up a list of great places in Manhattan to not only see art, but to also buy art affordably. Kickstart your burgeoning collection, or find a unique gift, at one of my picks below.
5 spots to score great art here
Iconic JFK Terminal begins its life as the ‘TWA Hotel’ with new signage
December 6, 2016

Iconic JFK Terminal begins its life as the ‘TWA Hotel’ with new signage

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After sitting vacant at JFK Airport for 14 years as a vestige of jet-age architecture, Eero Saarinen's iconic 1962 TWA Flight Terminal received a new life in the summer of 2015 when it was announced that the neo-futurist structure would be reborn as a high-end hotel. MCR Development teamed up with JetBlue and the Port Authority to develop a "505-room LEED-certified hotel with restaurants, 40,000 square feet of meeting space and a 10,000-square-foot observation deck," as 6sqft previously described. Initial reports referred to the project as the "TWA Flight Center Hotel," but the Times now confirms that it'll simply be the "TWA Hotel." And with construction four months in, Curbed noticed that signage for the hotel has gone up, preserving the airline's logo and font.
See the sign ahead
There’s an ‘exotic’ Christmas tree selling for $1,000 in the Village
December 5, 2016

There’s an ‘exotic’ Christmas tree selling for $1,000 in the Village

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$1,000, as the Post notes, could pay for more than 600 meals for the homeless at the Bowery Mission, or 25 holiday gifts for in-need New Yorkers through the Winter Wishes program. It could also get you an "exotic" white fir Christmas tree off the street in Greenwich Village. Sixteen-year tree saleswoman Heather Neville, who runs a stand at Seventh Avenue and 11th Street, is charging $77 per foot for a 13-foot tree, which equals $750. Add to that a $200 stand, $25 delivery and setup fee, and $20 for the three men doing the job, and you've got yourself a four-figure Christmas tree.
If you think this is bad, just wait
A guide to tipping building staff during the holidays

Doorman at the Sherry-Netherland Hotel. Image Steven Pisano/flickr

December 5, 2016

A guide to tipping building staff during the holidays

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Every December, building staff across the city leave seasonal cards under residents’ doors. If you’re new to life in a full-service building, don’t be fooled—this card is not simply a chance for staff to extend holiday cheer to you and your family. These cards, which usually arrive in the first week of December and list […]

How 100 years of zoning has shaped New York City
December 2, 2016

How 100 years of zoning has shaped New York City

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In October, city officials unveiled plans to rezone a large swath of East Harlem. The major thrust of the rezoning initiative is to bring more high-rise buildings to a corridor running several blocks along Park, Second, and Third avenues. By building up, city officials hope the neighborhood will increase its housing stock, including its affordable […]

The Urban Lens: Inside the Christmas wonderland that is Rolf’s German Restaurant
December 2, 2016

The Urban Lens: Inside the Christmas wonderland that is Rolf’s German Restaurant

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6sqft’s ongoing series The Urban Lens invites photographers to share work exploring a theme or a place within New York City. In this installment, award-winning photographers James and Karla Murray return with a look inside Rolf's German Restaurant, known for its over-the-top Christmas decorations. Are you a photographer who’d like to see your work featured on The Urban Lens? Get in touch with us at [email protected]. Beginning the last week of September, a six-man team starts the process of adorning Rolf's German Restaurant with 15,000 Christmas ornaments, 10,000 lights, and thousands of icicles. By the first of November, the process of turning this historic Murray Hill restaurant into a holiday wonderland is complete, attracting both locals and tourists who are eager to see the one-of-a-kind display of Victorian-style decorations. We recently paid a visit to Rolf's, capturing everything from dolls found in New England antique shops to 19th century German ball ornaments worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. And we've shared an interview with owner Bob Maisano where he talks about the building's past life as a speakeasy during Prohibition, German history in NYC, and what makes Rolf's a unique holiday destination.
All the photos and the interview with Bob
Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week- 12/1-12/7

Image © Luigi Rocca/Arnott Gallery

December 2, 2016

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week- 12/1-12/7

By
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! If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to compose a Wikipedia entry, do it in style this week at the Guggenheim’s #guggathon while helping beef up the entries on Chinese artists. If you’re feeling down on the current state of affairs, indulge in Luigi Rocca’s hyperrealistic acrylic paintings that honor the honest beauty of roadside Americana, or check out the fresh works from the artists in residence at the New York Studio Residency Program. Celebrate the beauty of the beard (yes, seriously) at Atlantic Gallery, and take a look at wearable art at Tee Time by Choice Royce. If lectures are your thing, head to the historic Loews Theater for a day of TEDx Jersey City, or pop over to the Mid-Manhattan Library for an artist talk with Paul Sunday. Finally, experience the media mogul Kippy Winston, in his talk-show style lecture that looks at current issues through an artistic lens.
More on all the best events this way
On World AIDS Day, NYC AIDS Memorial is dedicated in Greenwich Village
December 1, 2016

On World AIDS Day, NYC AIDS Memorial is dedicated in Greenwich Village

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When the AIDS epidemic struck in the 1980s, New York City was the first place in the country to report a case, and in the years following, the area around Greenwich Village had more cases and deaths than anywhere in the city. The now-shuttered St. Vincent's Hospital at 11th Street and Seventh Avenue South became known as the "ground zero" of the epidemic; it was the nation's second institution to treat HIV, and its staff of Catholic nuns refused to turn away any patient. To commemorate this effort and honor those who were lost, the city has today, on World AIDS Day, dedicated the new $6 million NYC AIDS Memorial, located in St. Vincent's Triangle, across from the old hospital site (h/t Curbed). Designed by architecture firm Studio a + i, the 18-foot geometric steel canopy hovers above granite pavers by visual artist Jenny Holzer that feature selections from Walt Whitman’s "Song of Myself."
See images of the new memorial and today's dedication
NYC’s first ever piece of sidewalk art appeared in December 1969

Image Archives of the Century

December 1, 2016

NYC’s first ever piece of sidewalk art appeared in December 1969

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Sidewalks and street art are pretty much synonymous in modern day New York City, but have you ever stopped to question when it all started? In the winter of 1969, New York City saw the birth of the sidewalk sculpture. While public art in an outdoor setting was not necessarily a new concept, this was the very first time it was situated immediately on the sidewalk. The work was a marble sculpture made by artist Gonzalo Fonseca, commissioned by the Twentieth Century Fund. Upon completion, it stood six feet outside of the organization's headquarters and weighed a whopping two tons.
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10 eco-friendly Christmas tree alternatives for small spaces and apartments
November 30, 2016

10 eco-friendly Christmas tree alternatives for small spaces and apartments

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Our ongoing 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 rounded up some alternative holiday tree ideas for those living in tight spaces. While you could buy a Charlie Brown tree, or try ask to have a few feet knocked off that pine when you hit the register, if you're a small space dweller who wants a more eco-friendly holiday arbol this year, there are plenty of options for you beyond the classic artificial fir (which fyi is even more environmentally unsound than chopping down an evergreen thanks to the carcinogens produced during manufacturing and disposal). From edible trees to LED pines to DIY options that smell just as good as the real thing, 6sqft has searched high and low for 10 different types of sustainable Christmas tree alternatives to jazz your apartment up with this year—and years to come.
ten alternative ideas here
The 15 best NYC holiday markets and indie pop-up shops
November 30, 2016

The 15 best NYC holiday markets and indie pop-up shops

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December's first days bring a dazzling parade of holiday gift markets all vying for the opportunity to find new homes for a bounty of goodies and crafty gifts. We're all familiar with the big NYC markets at Bryant Park and Union Square, but some of the best finds—and the most fun—can be found at smaller, cooler pop-ups and neighborhood markets. Some are only around for a weekend, others for the whole month or longer. In addition to locally-made jewelry and crafts, vintage finds, artfully curated fashions, home items and other things we didn't know we needed, these hip retail outposts sparkle with drinks, food, workshops, tarot readings, nail art, music, and family fun to keep shoppers' spirits bright.
Find out where to get the goods
Designers at ArX Solutions offer their own take on a Waldorf Astoria interior renovation
November 30, 2016

Designers at ArX Solutions offer their own take on a Waldorf Astoria interior renovation

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The final checkout for hotel guests at the iconic Waldorf Astoria is March 1st, after which its new owner, Chinese insurer Anbang Insurance Group, will begin converting the 1,413 hotel rooms into 840 renovated hotel rooms and 321 luxury condos to the tune of $1 billion. Earlier this month, the developer filed these plans with the Department of Buildings, which also call for adding retail space, a restaurant, and a fitness center on the ground floors. They'll retain the historic ballrooms, exhibition space, dining rooms, and banquet rooms, but will still need approvals from the Landmarks Preservation Commission for any work on these public spaces; the building has long been an exterior landmark, but the LPC recently calendared a request to landmark the Art Deco interiors. Though no designs have been approved or confirmed, CityRealty dug up renderings from architectural visualization firm ArX Solutions that show their vision of space*.
More renderings and details
Rafael Esquer uses 600 hand-drawn metallic icons to map Manhattan at night
November 29, 2016

Rafael Esquer uses 600 hand-drawn metallic icons to map Manhattan at night

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Artist Rafael Esquer, founder of Soho’s Alfalfa Studio, previously created a wonderfully whimsical depiction of Manhattan named Iconic New York. Made up of more than 400 hand-drawn city icons, the map took him two-and-a-half year to complete. Forging ahead, Esquer has now released a new version of the map that features an additional 200 icons. Called Iconic New York Illuminated, its drawings are shimmering metallics that represent the lights, noise, and pulse of the island after dark.
More on the map
VIDEO: Watch the Frenzy of New York Holiday Shoppers in 1930
November 25, 2016

VIDEO: Watch the Frenzy of New York Holiday Shoppers in 1930

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Before the days of Amazon, last-minute holiday shopping actually required putting clothes on and interacting with other human beings. To fully understand just how far we've come (and really appreciate the ability to "add to cart"), take a look at this HD stock footage from Critical Past that shows the rush of New York holiday shoppers in 1930. The sidewalks are a sea of black trench coats, with shoppers trying to squeeze their way into stores on 34th Street and buy wares from vendors on what looks like it may be Orchard Street, once the hub of discount shopping.
Watch the full video
Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week- 11/24-12/1
November 23, 2016

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week- 11/24-12/1

By
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 holiday weekend is the perfect time to over eat, over drink, over nap, and catch up on the museum shows that you haven’t had time for. A great many survey exhibitions are going on; Pipilotti Rist at New Museum, Francis Picabia at MoMA, Anges Martin at the Guggenheim and Marilyn Minter at the Brooklyn Museum of Art--each exhibiting a span of early to contemporary art from each artist. Experience a history of the moving image at the Whitney and the glamour of Klimt’s portraits of women during the Viennese Golden Age at Neue Galerie. The rich history of the LGBTQ culture in New York is the subject of an exhibition at the Museum of the City of New York, and finally- although not a museum, be sure to check out the four Ai Weiwei shows going on, our favorite at Deitch Projects.
More on all the best events this way

Felix the Cat 1927 – first balloon in Macy’s Parade

November 22, 2016

Felix the Cat, Macy’s first Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon, returns after 90 years

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Felix the Cat 1927 – first balloon in Macy’s Parade In 1927, three years after its first incarnation, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade replaced its live animals with balloons designed by marionette maker Anthony Frederick Sarg and made by the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company (more on that here). The first such animal-shaped balloon was Felix the Cat, and after a nearly 90-year hiatus, the Times reports that he's returning to the parade this year.
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