Manhattan

Set within the covetable enclave of Turtle Bay Gardens, the stately turn-of-the-19th-century townhouse at 244 East 49th Street has a historic cachet beyond its location and provenance. For many decades, the four-story, single-family property was the New York City home of actress Katharine Hepburn, whose elegant mirrored vanity still graces its primary bedroom suite. The 4,600-square-foot townhouse, asking $7,200,00, offers a mix of elegant interiors and architectural beauty in a private East Side enclave whose residents have included Bob Dylan, Stephen Sondheim, and E. B. White. The property includes a 1,000-square-foot rear garden for a true Manhattan oasis.
Have a look inside and outside

COOKFOX-designed 188-unit tower tops out at Chelsea’s Penn South co-op

Rendering courtesy of COOKFOX

June 3, 2024

COOKFOX-designed 188-unit tower tops out at Chelsea’s Penn South co-op

The seven-story apartment building that replaced an aging commercial building at Chelsea's sprawling Penn South co-op topped out last week. Designed by COOKFOX, 335 Eighth Avenue is an 188-unit mixed-use development with a 23,000-square-foot Lidl grocery store on the ground floor. Penn South, a limited equity co-op made up of 10 buildings between West 23rd and West 29th Streets, tapped MAG Partners in 2021 to raze and redevelop the run-down corner building. Developed under the state's Affordable NY Program, the project will set aside 30 percent of units for low- and middle-income New Yorkers.
learn more

For $5.4M, this Park Avenue duplex has modern architectural appeal and two terraces

Photos courtesy of Joel Pitra/ DD-Reps

May 31, 2024

For $5.4M, this Park Avenue duplex has modern architectural appeal and two terraces

On streets lined with historic buildings, glamorous historic hotels, and stately townhouses, modern architecture on the Upper East Side is rare, making the neighborhood's notable modernist buildings all the more desirable. Behind a sleek limestone and glass facade, this two-bedroom condo at 949 Park Avenue, asking $5,350,000, is a fine example. The light-filled duplex has massive windows offering iconic Upper East Side views from within and from the home's two terraces, one on each level.
park avenue modern, this way

Distinctive Homes

First look inside Thomas Juul-Hansen’s 850-foot-tall condo Sutton Tower

Exterior photos courtesy of Astra Studios. Interior Photos courtesy of Kate Glicksberg.

May 30, 2024

First look inside Thomas Juul-Hansen’s 850-foot-tall condo Sutton Tower

Skyline altering condo Sutton Tower is now complete. New images released this week provide a look inside the Thomas Juul-Hansen-designed 850-foot-tall tower, the tallest in the east-side enclave of Sutton Place. The first skyscraper designed by the Danish designer, Sutton Tower features striking Art Deco-inspired architecture and a facade of Bavarian limestone. For the first time, we're seeing inside the residences, with model units curated by three design teams, Vesta, Urban Casa, and Eichholtz, each to reflect the diversity of lifestyles possible at the building.
see more

Jessica Chastain’s lavish Osborne co-op lists for $7.45M

Photo credit: Evan Joseph / Sotheby’s International Realty

May 30, 2024

Jessica Chastain’s lavish Osborne co-op lists for $7.45M

In 2015, actress Jessica Chastain made celebrity real estate news when she purchased a sprawling, opulent home in the venerable Osborne building at 205 West 57th Street for just over $5 million. Since then, the stunning four-bedroom, 3,200-square-foot home that once belonged to Leonard Bernstein has been impressively renovated and is back on the market, asking $7.45 million, the Wall Street Journal reports. The iconic Midtown apartment has been featured in Architectural Digest and other design publications; historic architectural details like Tiffany glass and oak parquet floors have stood the test of time to frame a thoroughly star-worthy home.
take the tour

Distinctive Homes

Upper East Side pre-war elegance in a compact co-op package asks $1.75M

Photo credit: Celeste Godoy for The Corcoran Group

May 29, 2024

Upper East Side pre-war elegance in a compact co-op package asks $1.75M

This one-bedroom co-op at 14 East 75th Street on Manhattan's Upper East Side embodies the elegance and drama of the neighborhood's sought-after pre-war residences. It may not be palatial in size, but glamorous details like a sunken living room, 14-foot ceilings, iron-framed casement windows, and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves have all been scaled to fit within its compact frame. Asking $1,750,000, the home's interiors offer a sophisticated take on classic Gothic style. Open views across the neighborhood's townhouses and gardens–and the Carlyle Hotel–complete the picture of New York City living.
Step down into the living room

Distinctive Homes

On ‘secret’ Sylvan Terrace in Washington Heights, a renovated wood frame townhouse asks $1.8M

Photos courtesy of Gloria Kilbourne | DD-Reps

May 29, 2024

On ‘secret’ Sylvan Terrace in Washington Heights, a renovated wood frame townhouse asks $1.8M

One of New York City's best "secret" streets, Sylvan Terrace is a cobblestone block between 160th and 162nd Streets in Washington Heights. Originally the carriage drive for the adjacent Morris Jumel Mansion, the street has two rows of 20 wooden homes that were constructed in the 1880s for working-class locals and later restored in the 1970s and 80s. The home at 11 Sylvan Terrace recently hit the market for $1,800,000, offering a rare opportunity to own a home on one of the city's most unique and historic streets.
READ MORE

Distinctive Homes

Photo via WikiCommons

May 28, 2024

NYC’s Fotografiska museum to close and relocate, historic Park Ave South building to hit market

Swedish photography museum Fotografiska New York will close its New York City location with plans to relocate to a larger spot, the museum announced last week. Fotografiska opened at the historic Gramercy building at 281 Park Avenue South in 2019 and later was joined by the restaurant Verōnika and the Chapel Bar. The museum's last day in the current building will be September 29 and the restaurant and bar will close in June. As Crain's reported, 281 Park Avenue South owner, Aby Rosen's RFR Holding, will put the architecturally stunning building on the market this week for an undisclosed amount.
find out more

This $5M co-op at The Osborne has old-world glamour, Tiffany glass, and a bonus studio

Photo credit: REPN for Sotheby’s International Realty

May 22, 2024

This $5M co-op at The Osborne has old-world glamour, Tiffany glass, and a bonus studio

This beautifully preserved co-op in The Osborne at 205 West 57th Street is a prime example of Billionaires' Row the way it used to be. Gilded Age grandeur is present in architectural details like carved mahogany moldings, leaded-glass windows, and Tiffany glass transoms, and rooms are large and gracious, with plenty of built-in storage. Asking $4,950,000, the three-bedroom property has the unique option of an adjacent studio unit, perfect for office space, guest or staff quarters, or to add to the main space as an additional bedroom.
osborne elegance, this way

Distinctive Homes

Whitney Museum’s new project pairs art from 1932 with present-day scenes of NYC

George C. Ault, “Hudson Street” (northwest view of Hudson and Gansevoort Streets). Image courtesy of the Whitney Museum of American Art

May 22, 2024

Whitney Museum’s new project pairs art from 1932 with present-day scenes of NYC

The Whitney Museum on Wednesday launched "Putting Artists On The Map," a new project celebrating the museum's landmark Biennial exhibition that has been held regularly since 1932. The interactive digital map pairs paintings depicting New York City from the very first Biennial with photos of the same scenes in the present day. The map also provides a snapshot of Whitney Biennial moments across the city, including the locations where artists from past exhibitions had studios and the subway stations where works by Biennial artists were installed.
find out more

400-unit rental at 250 Water Street in South Street Seaport can move forward

Images courtesy of The Howard Hughes Corporation/SOM

May 22, 2024

400-unit rental at 250 Water Street in South Street Seaport can move forward

A 400-unit rental planned for a parking lot in the South Street Seaport historic district can officially move forward, ending a multi-year legal saga over the site. The New York Court of Appeals on Tuesday rejected a challenge from preservationists who opposed the Howard Hughes Corporation's $850 million project at 250 Water Street. With the ruling, and the extension of the 421-a tax break, the developer can proceed with constructing the 27-story mixed-use development.
READ MORE

Photo credit: Jane Kratochvil

May 21, 2024

Colorful street mural depicts the vibrancy of Union Square

After five days, 100 volunteers, and 85 gallons of paint, a new mural on 14th Street is now complete. The Union Square Partnership this week unveiled "Flowing Together," a colorful 7,500-square-foot mural on the pedestrian areas of the 14th Street Busway, between Broadway and University Place. Designed by Queens-based artist Talisa Almonte, the bold street art reflects Union Square as a spot to pass through and historically, a place rooted in social movements.
see it here

Pulitzer Mansion penthouse where real-life Indiana Jones lived lists for $7M

Photos courtesy of Yale Wagner for Sotheby’s International Realty

May 20, 2024

Pulitzer Mansion penthouse where real-life Indiana Jones lived lists for $7M

A penthouse on the Upper East Side owned by the explorer and naturalist who inspired the character "Indiana Jones" hit the market this month. Taking up the top two floors of the Pulitzer Mansion, a Venetian palace-inspired home built for Joseph Pulitzer and converted into co-ops in the 1950s, the penthouse was first owned by Roy Chapman Andrews, an explorer and director of the American Museum of Natural History who is said to have been the model for the adventurous film hero. Asking $6,975,000, the unique duplex at 11 East 73rd Street features oversized living spaces, three bedrooms, and a 750-square-foot private terrace.
see inside

Distinctive Homes

NYC’s gilded Crown Building is landmarked

Photo credit: Landmarks Preservation Commission

May 16, 2024

NYC’s gilded Crown Building is landmarked

One of Midtown Manhattan's crown jewels is finally a city landmark. The Landmarks Preservation Commission this week designated the Heckscher Building at 730 Fifth Avenue as an individual landmark, officially recognizing the tower's ornate French Renaissance style, influence on Midtown's iconic commercial corridor, and overall impact on the New York City skyline. The tower, built 100 years ago and renamed the Crown Building in the 1980s for its gilded appearance, is now home to Aman New York, a luxe hotel-condo with 83 hotel rooms and 22 residences.
details here

Bryant Park to host 30+ free yoga classes this summer

Photos courtesy of Angelito Jusay

May 15, 2024

Bryant Park to host 30+ free yoga classes this summer

Free yoga classes are returning to the lawn at Bryant Park this summer. Presented by performance apparel brand Calia, the classes kick off on May 29, with sessions hosted on Tuesday mornings at 10 a.m. on the park's upper terrace and on Wednesday evenings at 6 p.m. on the lawn. Running through September 25, the classes will be led by some of the city's most sought-after yoga instructors and open to participants of all experience levels.
NAMASTE THIS WAY

Events & Things To Do

50 West 66th Street is officially the Upper West Side’s tallest tower

All renderings courtesy of Recent Spaces

May 15, 2024

50 West 66th Street is officially the Upper West Side’s tallest tower

The Upper West Side has a new tallest tower. This week the residential skyscraper 50 West 66th Street reached its pinnacle height of 775 feet, officially taking the title from its 52-story tower neighbor 200 Amsterdam. Developed by Extell Development Company, the building includes 127 condominium units and 50,000 square feet of amenities.
more this way

Photo credit: Evan Joseph

May 15, 2024

Asking $6.7M, the Gimbel apartment is the picture of classic Upper East Side elegance

This three-bedroom Upper East Side co-op at 66 East 79th Street was the longtime home of the late philanthropists Bruce and Barbara Gimbel. Bruce was chairman and chief executive of Gimbels, the iconic New York City department store founded in 1842 by his great-grandfather. Asking $6,700,000, this nine-room apartment is both a grand Manhattan residence and a cozy, well-appointed home. Pre-war details like high ceilings, tall windows, and polished herringbone floors frame generously proportioned rooms, updated for gracious 21st-century living.
see more, this way

Distinctive Homes

MTA releases Ice Spice MetroCards to celebrate Bronx rapper’s debut album

Image courtesy of the MTA on Flickr

May 13, 2024

MTA releases Ice Spice MetroCards to celebrate Bronx rapper’s debut album

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has released a limited-edition MetroCard featuring rapper, and Bronx-native, Ice Spice to celebrate her debut album "Y2K." In collaboration with Capital Records, the MTA has loaded MetroCard machines at four select stations in the Bronx and Manhattan with 50,000 limited edition cards featuring the "Munch" artist.
learn more

Central Park installs new pizza box recycling bins

All photos courtesy of the Central Park Conservancy

May 13, 2024

Central Park installs new pizza box recycling bins

Central Park has a solution to a very New York problem. As first reported by NY1, the Central Park Conservancy introduced a clever recycling bin designed specifically to fit pizza boxes to address the pileup from picnics and parties. Located in the busy East Pinetum section of the park, near the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the bin can store up to 50 pizza boxes. Conservancy staff will check the bin up to three times a day.
check it out

Policy

Photo credit: Edward Menashy with Evan Joseph Photography

May 13, 2024

An international artist couple asks $37.75M for their art-filled UES townhouse–Rolls Royce included

Israeli artist Ilana Goor and her husband, Leonard Lowengrub, have put their Upper East Side townhouse at 178 East 75th Street on the market, as Curbed reported. Even among the neighborhood's opulent and expensive townhouses with celebrity histories and Gilded Age glamour, this six-story brick property is poised to grab attention–and not just for its $37,750,000 price tag. The house is among a handful of carriage houses in New York City with a drive-in garage–and every surface of the turn-of-the-century townhouse displays artwork collected and created by the owners. Built around 1903, the renovated home is move-in ready and the art, furniture, and the Rolls Royce in the garage will be included in the sale.
it's a townhouse. It's a museum. take a look.

Distinctive Homes

Luxury spa on Governors Island to undergo major expansion in July

Panoramic of QC New York’s Building 111 (left), which will opening in mid-July 2024, and Building 112 (right), which opened in 2022. All images courtesy of QC New York

May 10, 2024

Luxury spa on Governors Island to undergo major expansion in July

The luxurious Italian wellness spa on Governors Island, QC New York, is gearing up for a major expansion this summer. QC NY on Thursday announced plans to open a 15,000-square-foot addition in July, featuring sensory saunas, waterfalls, a salt room, a lavender room, an ice room, a relaxation room with waterbeds, and a 142-seat restaurant. The new multi-million dollar expansion will be located in Building 111.
SEE IT HERE

Events & Things To Do

Japan Parade returns to NYC this weekend

Photo courtesy of 7beachbum on Flickr

May 9, 2024

Japan Parade returns to NYC this weekend

A parade dedicated to Japanese culture is returning to New York City for its third year. On Saturday, May 11, the Japan Parade kicks off at 1 p.m. on Central Park West and West 81st Street and heads south to 68th Street. The parade will feature live music, martial arts, traditional dance and drum performances, appearances by prominent Japanese organizations, and more.
MORE HERE

Events & Things To Do

A ‘portal’ to Dublin opens in New York City

All photos courtesy of the Flatiron NoMad Partnership

May 9, 2024

A ‘portal’ to Dublin opens in New York City

The cultural bond between Ireland and New York got a little stronger this week. A new public art installation "The Portal" debuted in Dublin and Manhattan on Wednesday, with a 24/7 live stream connecting the two cities. The sculpture, on view in New York City's Flatiron District and on Dublin's O'Connell Street, allows residents and visitors of both places to interact in real-time, bringing together people on either side of the Atlantic Ocean.
see it here

Events & Things To Do

May 8, 2024

A giant, confetti-shooting hot dog is now on view in Times Square

A confetti-shooting, 65-foot-long hot dog now sits in the heart of Times Square. Created by artists Jen Carton and Paul Outlaw, the animatronic sausage sculpture "Hot Dog in the City" seeks to celebrate the American hot dog while delving into the interconnected themes of consumption, capitalism, class, and culture within the context of the iconic New York City fast food. Located in Duffy Square, the installation, accompanied by programs and talks, is on view to the public through June 13.
find out more

Events & Things To Do

A new grocery store for Two Bridges: Brooklyn Fare opens at One Manhattan Square

Photos courtesy of One Manhattan Square

May 8, 2024

A new grocery store for Two Bridges: Brooklyn Fare opens at One Manhattan Square

Over a decade after the longstanding Pathmark store closed, residents of Two Bridges this week celebrated the opening of a new grocery store in the neighborhood. Brooklyn Fare Kitchen & Market has opened at the base of luxury condominium One Manhattan Square at 227 Cherry Street. The new store measures 25,500 square feet, features an all-glass storefront and 20-foot ceilings, and offers a variety of fresh produce, prepared foods, and more, at an affordable price.
learn more

Food & Dining

NYC breaks ground on $200M project to rebuild and elevate The Battery

Image courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

May 7, 2024

NYC breaks ground on $200M project to rebuild and elevate The Battery