Events & Things To Do

What’s the Meaning Behind Those Peculiar Red Frames Found in Union Square Station?

Images by This Hidden City

June 19, 2015

What’s the Meaning Behind Those Peculiar Red Frames Found in Union Square Station?

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You've surely walked past these bright red frames beneath 14th Street-Union Square numerous times, but probably haven't given much thought to why they are there—or if you have, you've likely just assumed they were another one of the city's unfinished construction projects. But as it turns out, these seemingly simplistic outlines hold great significance, each piece pointing to a very special time in New York's transportation history.
Find out more here
Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week, 6/18-6/24

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 which start tonight!

June 18, 2015

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week, 6/18-6/24

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The summer sun means the vibrant River to River Festival is back again, bringing 60 free events to landmarks, venues and performance spaces around Lower Manhattan (see the top two images for a sampling). You're in store for eclectic art experiences this week. Finish off your new Mark John Smith obsession at his large scale exhibition, "TOTALSMIT," or explore the changing Lower East Side through the work of Clayton Patterson. Go outside the box for your art fix and enter a seedy Japanese nightclub in the basement of Castor Gallery tonight, a faux-gift shop at Redbull Studios, or an actual abandoned bank in the Bronx. Finish it off with two great museums—a dance performance by the Merce Cunningham Company at the new Whitney, or a film program at the Guggenheim!
All the best events here
This Poster Displays All 468 Subway Station Signs
June 18, 2015

This Poster Displays All 468 Subway Station Signs

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For all intents and purposes, we do not want any visual of the subway hanging in our apartments. The grimy stations don't really complement our decor, and we'd prefer not to be reminded of the daily bloodbath that is trying to squeeze onto the 6 train. But this poster is the exception to our no-MTA-in-the-house rule. Printed using 11 Pantone® spot colors, this snappy piece of wall art displays all 468 subway station signs throughout the city, arranged in alphabetical order. It was designed by Hamish Smyth, one member of the duo who reprinted Massimo Vignelli's iconic Standards Manual last year. Once again inspired by Vignelli's graphic visual approach, Smyth created the new poster because he feels "this is an iconic design that should be remembered and celebrated, and we think a beautifully printed poster is a great way to get it into many people's hands."
Find out how to get your own copy and watch a video from the design team
5Pointz Artists Sue Developer for Whitewashing Iconic Graffiti Facade

Photo via Garrett Ziegler/Flickr

June 15, 2015

5Pointz Artists Sue Developer for Whitewashing Iconic Graffiti Facade

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Photo via Garrett Ziegler/Flickr It's been 19 months since the 5Pointz graffiti mecca was secretly whitewashed overnight by the developers who have since razed the site to make way for the two residential towers that will replace it. Then, to pour salt in the wound, this past November G&M Realty announced that they planned to use the iconic 5Pointz name for their new project, infuriating the artists whose work adorned the building and leading them to launch a petition to stop the title. Now, the plot has thickened. Nine graffiti artists filed a lawsuit on Friday "seeking unspecified damages from the owner who whitewashed away their artwork," reports the Daily News. The plaintiffs claim they're owed financial compensation as they were not given the opportunity to retrieve their work, much of which could have ended up in museums or the artists' personal collections. The lost collection amounts to more than 350 graffiti pieces.
More details here
New Yorker Spotlight: Al Diaz on NYC Street Art and Working with Jean-Michel Basquiat
June 12, 2015

New Yorker Spotlight: Al Diaz on NYC Street Art and Working with Jean-Michel Basquiat

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Artist Al Diaz is often asked to speak at panel discussions about Jean-Michel Basquiat or to lend his expertise for new exhibits about the world-famous artist. But Diaz was just as much a part of the downtown street art movement as his buddy Basquiat; in fact, the two got involved with the art form together. They met in high school and created the tag SAMO©, which appeared throughout lower Manhattan between 1977 and 1979 and put them on the map. They were first-generation NYC subway graffiti artists, and Diaz later became a text-oriented street artist. Today, you'll see his hand in the subway again with his WET PAINT series, which uses individually-cut-out letters to create "clever, surreal and sometimes poignant anagrams." We recently chatted with Al Diaz to get the inside scoop on street art history in New York City, what it was like to work with Basquiat, and how he and his art work are much more than a shadow of his famous friend.
Read the full interview here
Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week, 6/11-6/17

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!

June 11, 2015

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week, 6/11-6/17

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This week I invite you to enjoy a free glass of wine while getting to know my curatorial side at the Roger Smith Hotel in Midtown. A shameless self-promotion, I'm excited to bring the work of Mark John Smith before the eyes of 47th Street. If you don't feel like meeting me, you can still catch Smith's work along with his colleagues on Rivington Street, or sample an interactive experience at the Park Avenue Armory. This week you can also catch a sample of short films about street dancing (What time is it? IT'S SHOW TIME!), or gear up on the joys of tech and design at the Hudson 3D fest in Lower Manhattan. Saturday, get outside and celebrate street art in Astoria, or take Van Alen-led tours of Central Park.
All the best events here
Luxury Parisian Hotel May Be Coming to Chetrit’s Sony Building Conversion
June 9, 2015

Luxury Parisian Hotel May Be Coming to Chetrit’s Sony Building Conversion

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It's definitely been a big number game at Chetrit's Sony Building conversion–from the 96 luxury condos they'll add to floors 14 to 33 of the 37-story tower, to the planned $1.8 billion sellout, to the $150 million triplex penthouse, which, if sold, would be both the city's priciest unit in history (if not eclipsed by the $175 million unit at 220 Central Park South) as well as the largest at 21,504 square feet. And now the Post reports that Chetrit is going to up the ante at 550 Madison Avenue by turning part of the commercial space on the lower floors into a luxury Parisian hotel.
Get the scoop
Inventor D.H. Burrell’s Little Falls Mansion Will Transport You Back to the Victorian Age
June 5, 2015

Inventor D.H. Burrell’s Little Falls Mansion Will Transport You Back to the Victorian Age

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Comfortably nestled within the Mohawk Valley in upstate New York, the Burrell Overlook Mansion is seemingly untouched by time. This former farmstead built between 1886-1889 was the home of inventor and engineer D.H. Burrell. Burrell, a quirky genius in his own right, paired the Victorian mansion with a self-sustaining hydroelectric power generator that amazingly remains functional to this day. But while the mansion once served as a playground for madcap ideas, today it operates as a peaceful bed and breakfast and historical hideaway for those passing through the valley. And now, for a mere $725,000, you can make this beauty your very own personal retreat.
Read more about this historic home
Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week, 6/4-6/10

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!

June 4, 2015

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week, 6/4-6/10

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Kim Gordon, the unstoppable, inspirational Jane-of-all-trades leads the week with the opening of her latest fine art exhibition—as if playing in two bands and penning a best-selling memoir were not enough already. Novice art collectors can have their day at Cotton Candy for their very popular annual Tiny Trifecta, where all works by renowned artists are just $100. And being thrifty is in the air with the Museum Mile Festival which is offering free admission to nine museums along 5th Avenue. But if art isn't your thing, there's still lots more to do: get cultured with a French flick in Washington Square Park, or schooled at Lost Lectures as it returns to a secret, former ship-building warehouse somewhere in the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
All the best events here
Ai Weiwei and HHF’s Artfarm Displays Contemporary Chinese Art Inside an Agricultural Building
June 4, 2015

Ai Weiwei and HHF’s Artfarm Displays Contemporary Chinese Art Inside an Agricultural Building

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HHF Architects and Ai Weiwei have come up with a super cool, ready-made and affordable solution for an art gallery in a rural environment. They blended art and a farm, resulting in Artfarm. Using a pre-engineered agricultural structure commonly used in the area, they created a versatile and expansive display for the public exhibition of Chinese art from private collections worldwide.
Learn more about this rural art gallery in upstate NY
Fantasy Floorplans Bring to Life Your Favorite TV Show Homes from ‘Friends’ to ‘Mad Men’

Monica and Rachel’s apartment from “Friends” © Brandi Roberts/Fantasy Floorplans

May 29, 2015

Fantasy Floorplans Bring to Life Your Favorite TV Show Homes from ‘Friends’ to ‘Mad Men’

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Do you get distracted watching your favorite television shows because you're too busy trying to figure out Don Draper's address or how the heck Monica and Rachel afford that massive Greenwich Village apartment? If so, we've got the perfect piece of wall art for you. Fantasy Floorplans (h/t Bezar) are hand-drawn blueprints of the apartments and homes in your favorite TV shows. From "Friends" to "Mad Men" to "Sex and the City" to "The Jeffersons," tons of popular NYC-based television shows are included. And for our friends outside the big apple, the floorplans cover locations throughout the country from shows that aired as far back as the 1950s.
Find out more ahead
Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week, 5/28-6/3

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!

May 28, 2015

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week, 5/28-6/3

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This weekend, one of my favorite all-encompassing events is hitting the Bowery area: IDEAS CITY. There are so many things to do, you can fill up your weekend and then some! Hear about the intersection of television and art at the Jewish Museum, get inspired by creative ladies at Tedx, or party for a good cause and benefit sustainability initiatives in Panama. Investigate old New York at Paul Zone's exhibition, zoom to the future and sample cuisine fit for Mars at The Boiler, or settle into the wonderful weird of today at Michael Alan's latest living installation. End the weekend by being incredibly jealous of artist Brigitte Bouquet's gorgeous home-gallery and amazing art work.
All the best events here
EVENT: Hear Five Brilliant Ideas Vying to Improve Urban Life at ‘Pitching the City’
May 28, 2015

EVENT: Hear Five Brilliant Ideas Vying to Improve Urban Life at ‘Pitching the City’

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New urban development and redevelopment proposals get thrown around on a daily basis, but very few ever come to fruition. With an overload of ideas floating around, it's hard to keep track of what's worth giving a second thought to—let alone cash. Enter Pitching the City, a biennial gathering that pits the creators of five genius plans to improve the contemporary city against one another. This year's summit will bring an array of innovative urban strategies from across the globe under one roof for a high-octane pitching session happening in Nolita on Friday, May 29th (that's tomorrow!), and you're invited.
Find out how to attend here
190 Bowery Art Show Was Closed to the Public to ‘Protect the Space and the Art’
May 28, 2015

190 Bowery Art Show Was Closed to the Public to ‘Protect the Space and the Art’

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The art opening at 190 Bowery took social media by storm a couple weekends ago when hundreds of people (who were likely more eager to get a look inside the iconic building than to peruse the art) lined up outside and were then promptly turned away when the event was changed from public to private. As The Lo-Down notes, curator and art dealer Vito Schnabel, who hosted the event with the building's developer Aby Rosen, has now spoken out in the New York Times about the last-minute change of plans, saying that his main concern was "protecting the space and the art."
Find out more here
Yayoi Kusama’s Polka Dot-Covered ‘Obliteration Room’ Shows for the First Time in the U.S.
May 26, 2015

Yayoi Kusama’s Polka Dot-Covered ‘Obliteration Room’ Shows for the First Time in the U.S.

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This picture may look familiar to you, as the installation at the David Zwirner Gallery has been making the rounds on Instagram. The work of artist Yayoi Kasuma, "The Obliteration Room" is part of the larger exhibit "Give Me Love." It's the first time the wildly popular polka dot-covered room has been shown in the U.S., and New Yorkers are excited to be part of the interactive experience. The backdrop for "The Obliteration Room" is an all-white, familiar domestic setting located within a prefabricated suburban home. As guests enter the room they're handed stickers, round dots in various sizes and bright colors, and asked to place them anywhere they'd like.
More on the colorful installation
YOU’RE INVITED: Come Celebrate Our 1st Birthday with Us!
May 22, 2015

YOU’RE INVITED: Come Celebrate Our 1st Birthday with Us!

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6sqft is officially one year old and to celebrate we’re throwing a party in Manhattan—and you’re invited! Join us on Tuesday, June 2nd for a night of trivia, prizes, photobooth fun, grub and booze. It’s the perfect opportunity to take a break from your weekly grind and party hardy with your fellow New Yorkers. See you soon! When: Tuesday, June […]

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week, 5/21-5/27
May 21, 2015

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week, 5/21-5/27

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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, beginning tonight! It's almost Memorial Day, which means your weekend is probably already chock full of picnics, barbecues and outdoor drinking activities. But in case it isn't, we've rounded up some arty- and some Memorial Day-themed activities to keep the long weekend packed full of fun. Cool off with some public art in Brooklyn Bridge Park, be the first to hop over to Governors Island this season, or see Tom Cruise on the deck of the Intrepid. You can also get outside of your borough comfort zone and head to Far Rockaway to celebrate surf and photography, hear from some women in downtown rock, or try out your best dance moves at a hip hop party sponsored by the Museum of the City of New York. Then round out the weekend with the serenity—and opulence—of Buddhist art from Kashmir. There, weekend sorted.
All the best events here
studioMET Architects Turn a Brooklyn Parking Garage into a LEGO Art Studio
May 21, 2015

studioMET Architects Turn a Brooklyn Parking Garage into a LEGO Art Studio

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For most creatives, waking up and building things with LEGOs every day sounds like a dream. For artist Sean Kenney, it's a reality. Self-described as a "professional kid" who builds everything from lamps to portraits to entire rooms with the colorful bricks, Kenney needed a studio where he and his team could construct the fanciful works. He employed studioMET Architects to transform an old Brooklyn parking garage into his dream work space. With a project budget of less than $250,000, the firm designed a 4,000-square-foot artist studio with just as much personality as its owner's sculptures. The bright white, open space allows the fun creations and bins of colorful bricks (4 tons of them to be exact!) to stand out while still maintaining a logical, functional layout.
Find out more about this fun and functional artist studio
6sqft Turns a Year Old Today!
May 15, 2015

6sqft Turns a Year Old Today!

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Most of you probably won’t know this, but it was exactly one year ago that 6sqft was launched (time flies when you’re reporting on real estate and architecture!). It’s been a wonderful 12 months for us with more than 2,700 stories and a growing audience that’s amazingly extended beyond the borders of New York City. We’d like […]

Place a Bid to Ride in Norman Foster’s Helicopter or Smoke Up with Bjarke Ingels in Copenhagen
May 14, 2015

Place a Bid to Ride in Norman Foster’s Helicopter or Smoke Up with Bjarke Ingels in Copenhagen

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Want to get some one-on-one time with the world's most prolific architects? Well here's your chance to pick the brains of the world's leading creatives—and go on an adventure while you're at it! The Van Alen Institute's annual Auction of Art + Design Experiences is in full swing and they've got some great outings for you to lift your paddle for. A ride in Norman Foster's private helicopter, birdwatching with Jeanne Gang, and a private tour of Bjarke Ingels's ski mountain/smoke-ring blowing power plant are just some of amazing excursions being offered—although there are far more relaxed options as well. For lovers of leisure: How does soaking in a hot tub with Charles Renfro of Diller Scofidio + Renfro, cocktails and three of your best buds sound?
info this way, including how to bid
Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week, 5/14-5/20

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, beginning tonight!

May 14, 2015

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week, 5/14-5/20

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The way-too-hecticness of an art fair week is upon us. If skipping around from Harlem to Randall's Island to the Lower Lower East Side isn't your jam, you can still get an art fix in the comfy confines of your usual spots. Rediscover Central Park with an art walk, or your old post office as it becomes a gallery. Check out architect-designed 3D-printed shoes while picking up new pumps, or discover a new street artist while checking out boutique jewelry. Whether you hit Frieze and the satellite fairs or not, there is an overabundance of art and design this week.
All the best events here
Go Inside 190 Bowery This Saturday for an Art Opening
May 12, 2015

Go Inside 190 Bowery This Saturday for an Art Opening

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More good news from 190 Bowery! After finding out last week that the Landmarks Preservation Commission-approved plans for the building include keeping its iconic graffiti, we've now gotten word that the storied structure will open its doors to the public this Saturday evening, May 16, for an art opening. The Lo-Down reports that Aby Rosen, the developer who bought the building for $55 million last fall and who is also an avid art collector, is hosting an art opening on the ground-floor in collaboration with curator and art dealer Vito Schnabel. The event runs from 5 to 8pm, plenty of time to take a look around the historic former Germania Bank Building.
More details ahead
May Design Agenda: 6sqft’s Guide to Navigating NYCxDesign Week
May 9, 2015

May Design Agenda: 6sqft’s Guide to Navigating NYCxDesign Week

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NYCxDESIGN, New York City’s official celebration of all things design, hits town from May 8–19, 2015. Home to more designers than any other US metro area, NYC is one of the world’s design capitals. Now in its third year, NYCxDESIGN spotlights the city’s diverse design community and its contributions to our economy and everyday life and increases awareness of and appreciation for design with a collaborative mix of cultural and commercial offerings. The seemingly endless program lineup offers exhibitions, installations, trade shows, talks, launches, open studios and receptions all across the city to celebrate the efforts of everyone from students to stars of the local and international design community. This year will see hundreds of events covering topics from graphic design to architecture, technology and urban design to fashion and product design, interiors to landscape, furniture to design thinking and more. It will be hard to head in any direction and not stumble into a design-related event, but we've compiled a guide to a few of the top collaborative efforts and highlighted some of our picks.
Check out our Design Week picks, this way
Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week, 5/7-5/13

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, beginning tonight.

May 7, 2015

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week, 5/7-5/13

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This week is a bit heavy on the arty side, kicking off with an opening on the Lower East Side with a ridiculously long name, or one involving smashing plates in Chelsea. Hunt for new talent at Parsons' MFA Thesis exhibition, school yourself with a gallery talk with Rivane Neuenschwander, or support a great cause (and see some great art) at Swoon's Heliotrope Foundation benefit. To satisfy your design tooth, this weekend is all about Brooklyn, as BKYLN DESIGNS hits the Brooklyn Expo Center in Greenpoint. But you can travel back in time at the week's end by celebrating the Van Alen Institute at a Beaux Arts gem, the Surrogate's Courthouse.
All the best events here
House Tours Galore: Where to Get a Look Inside the Area’s Most Fabulous Homes and Gardens
May 5, 2015

House Tours Galore: Where to Get a Look Inside the Area’s Most Fabulous Homes and Gardens

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Temperatures have finally hit the high 70s mean, and that can only mean one thing–it's house tour season. Architecture buffs, history lovers, and die-hard New Yorkers look forward to these events all year. It's a time to see how the other half lives; get some design inspiration; and just enjoy a nice day out looking at beautiful homes and gardens. From Harlem brownstones to Hamptons estates to the gardens of Jackson Heights, we've rounded up this season's hottest tours.
See our full list of tours here
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