Photo courtesy of Gillie and Marc Schattner

To raise awareness and funds for the critically endangered gorilla species, public artists Gillie and Marc Schattner have created a massive sculpture of the animal that will be unveiled later this month in Hudson Yards’ Bella Abzug Park. Titled King Nyani, Swahili for gorilla, it’s the world’s largest bronze gorilla sculpture and can fit two to three humans just in its hands.

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There are a few things Krispy Kreme is known for–its melt-in-your-mouth glazed doughnuts, paper hats, and its “hot light,” which lights up to show customers that doughnuts are hot out of the oven. This week, they opened their latest NYC outpost at 319 West 125th Street in Harlem, and it features the city’s very first hot light. The shop will serve these right-off-the-line doughnuts at a production rate of more than 100 per hour.

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Photo courtesy of Eataly

Eataly’s 14th-floor rooftop in the Flatiron District has been transformed into a blooming greenhouse. Opening on Friday, Serra Fiorita by Birreria will bring Italian summer to Manhattan with a seasonal menu, build-your-own gin drinks, and a flowery decor inspired by a 3D paper book. Tables will be distanced, capacity will be limited, and reservations can be made on OpenTable to avoid crowding.

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Renderings courtesy QuallsBenson/ visuals

Leasing launched on Wednesday for 142 apartments at the Lower East Side’s Essex Crossing development. The Artisan, located at 180 Broome Street, is the largest building at the nine-site project and contains office and retail space, as well as access to the ground-floor Market Line. Pricing starts at $3,000/month for studios, $4,000/month for one-bedrooms,$6,000/month for two-bedrooms, and $8,000 for three-bedrooms.

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Listing photos courtesy of Douglas Elliman

One of the fun things about New York City’s architecture is how hidden its history can be. Take for example 130 Beekman Street in the South Street Seaport Historic District. The five-story building was actually built in 1798, but it’s undergone several renovations over the years, and its condo units are completely modern. Just listed for $3,995,000 is the building’s crown jewel, a three-bedroom, top-floor loft with two beautiful outdoor spaces.

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Photo of The Greens courtesy of The Howard Hughes Corporation

Social distancing guidelines have definitely gotten restaurants to be extra creative, like The Rooftop at Pier 17 which has just opened a new dining experience where guests can book one of 28 “mini-lawns.” Called The Greens, the experience has transformed the South Street Seaport rooftop venue into private cabana-style plots, each of which can accommodate eight guests.

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Rendering courtesy of Vornado Realty Trust

Facebook has signed a lease for 730,000 square feet at the former James A. Farley Post Office, a Midtown landmark currently being converted into a mixed-use building, Vornado Realty Trust announced Monday. Reports of the deal first surfaced last December, but the coronavirus pandemic put into question the need for massive office space with thousands of workers. But Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the deal shows New York’s resilience as the city recovers from the crisis. “Vornado’s and Facebook’s investment in New York and commitment to further putting down roots here – even in the midst of a global pandemic – is a signal to the world that our brightest days are still ahead and we are open for business,” Cuomo said in a statement. “This public-private partnership fortifies New York as an international center of innovation.”

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All photos courtesy of Compass

In 2016, Jennifer Lawrence picked up a $15.6 million penthouse on the Upper East Side. She must have really wanted to offload it, because last summer, she listed it for $15,450,000 and dropped it to $12 million earlier this month. According to city property records, the Oscar-winning actress ultimately sold the home at 400 East 67th Street for $9,900,000, taking a nearly $6 million loss. Listing agent Pamela D’Arc of Compass declined to comment on the sale.

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All photos courtesy of Governor Andrew Cuomo/Flickr

It’s been nearly 20 years since St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine was lost in the attacks on 9/11, but today, Governor Cuomo announced the restart of construction on the new Santiago Calatrava-designed church. Work originally began in 2015, but stalled in late 2017 when the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America ran out of funding.

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Photo courtesy of Lower East Side Partnership

Last month, Katz’s Delicatessen opened for outdoor dining for the first time in its 132-year history. And last week, the legendary Lower East Side eatery launched its own local delivery service, dodging the excessive fees charged by third-party companies. As first reported by the Bowery Boogie, diners can order from Katz’s classic menu directly from their website, including pastrami and corned beef sandwiches, matzoh ball soup, and square potato knishes.

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