Manhattan

World-renowned artist Yayoi Kusama will unveil new works in New York City this summer at her largest gallery exhibition yet. The exhibition, called "Yayoi Kusama: I Spend Each Day Embracing Flowers," includes new paintings, her signature pumpkin and flower sculptures, and a new edition of Kusama's super popular Infinity Mirror Room. The exhibition, which is free and open to the public, opens on May 12 at David Zwirner's West 19th and West 20th Street galleries in Chelsea.
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Events & Things To Do

NYC looks to ‘beautify’ 191st Street tunnel again

Photo © James and Karla Murray

March 17, 2023

NYC looks to ‘beautify’ 191st Street tunnel again

Two months after painting the mural- and graffiti-covered 191st Street pedestrian tunnel white, New York City announced plans to "beautify" the underground path once again. The Department of Transportation on Thursday issued a request for proposals seeking artists to submit "bold, colorful designs" for the tunnel that reflect the "rich cultural identity of Washington Heights." The request comes after community members criticized the agency for "whitewashing" an iconic piece of the neighborhood, as Gothamist reported.
Details here

Events & Things To Do

Lined with mahogany, onyx and Tiffany glass, this $1.95M studio isn’t your typical Billionaires’ Row pad

Photos courtesy of BK HOME PHOTOS

March 17, 2023

Lined with mahogany, onyx and Tiffany glass, this $1.95M studio isn’t your typical Billionaires’ Row pad

This 1,000-square-foot studio possesses a unique floor plan highlighted by 8-foot corner windows and Carnegie Hall views. The 19th-century co-op building at 205 West 57th Street, known as the Osborne, is located on Billionaires' Row, and the historic building has seen its share of famous residents, including the unit just across the hall. Once owned by Leonard Bernstein, that apartment was purchased by actress Jessica Chastain in 2015. But the apartment's Gilded Age luxury sets it apart from its somewhat generic condo neighbors. Asking $1,950,000, this remarkable studio boasts details like mahogany-clad walls and ceilings, original Tiffany window transoms, a mezzanine library, jade onyx fixtures, and an electric Murphy bed.
Get a closer look here

Distinctive Homes

Photo credit: Evan Joseph Studios

March 16, 2023

Dine and stargaze from a glass atrium in this historic $7.75M Village townhouse

One of a row of historic townhouses in Manhattan's West Village, this four-story townhouse at 122 West Washington Place is asking $7,750,000. The home once belonged to the late British runway model Stella Tennant, who renovated the brick-fronted townhouse and created its glass-roofed atrium above an extension at the south-facing rear facade.
Greenwich Village townhouse tour, this way

Distinctive Homes

Everything you should know about NYC’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Glucksman Ireland House NYU and NYU Pipes and Drums march in the NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade, 2019 Credit: Kate Lord/New York University on Flickr

March 15, 2023

Everything you should know about NYC’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade

One of New York City's longest-standing traditions returns this week. On Friday, March 17, the city's 261st annual St. Patrick's Day Parade will kick off on Fifth Avenue and 44th Street and travel up to 79th Street, with roughly 150,000 marchers in tow and two million onlookers. New York City hosted one of the world's very first St. Patrick's Day parades on March 17, 1762, more than a decade prior to the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Plan your St. Patrick's Day

Events & Things To Do

Photo credit: Mike Tauber for Brown Harris Stevens

March 14, 2023

Asking $7.5M, designer Adrienne Vittadini’s elegant Fifth Avenue co-op lets the views provide the drama

Iconic wearable women's fashion designer Adrienne Vittadini has just listed the Upper East Side apartment she and her husband Gigi (full name Gianluigi) purchased in 1986. Asking $7,500,000, the two-bedroom co-op at 1115 Fifth Avenue has amazing views of Central Park and the Reservoir from four rooms. The home's interiors project a quiet Manhattan elegance, complementing the couple's vast collection of art and furniture. Though a painstaking renovation resulted in peerless finishes like 24-karat gold leaf columns and luxurious textiles, it's the view that gets the most attention, as the retired designer told the New York Times: "I really wanted the outdoors to dominate the indoors. I didn’t want anything to clash with that or impact the view."
Check out those amazing views

Historic McGraw-Hill Building in Hell’s Kitchen to add 224 rentals

Rendering courtesy of MdeAS Architects

March 13, 2023

Historic McGraw-Hill Building in Hell’s Kitchen to add 224 rentals

The 35-story landmarked McGraw-Hill Building in Hell's Kitchen will soon be home to 224 luxury rentals. As first reported by the New York Post, the project includes the redesign of the building's office space, the construction of a second lobby and entrance, and the restoration of the McGraw-Hill name above the residential entrance. Floors 12 through 34 of the Art Deco skyscraper will be converted to residential use, which will cost an estimated $100 million. Work will begin this summer.
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Real Estate Trends

Photo credit: Brown Harris Stevens

March 13, 2023

For $1.5M, a three-bedroom Morningside Heights pre-war co-op with a colorful Mondrian motif

This sprawling co-op in a classic pre-war building at 532 West 111th Street on Manhattan's Upper West Side offers a considerable amount of space for its ask of $1,495,000–if you don't mind navigating the awkward twists and turns often found in pre-war apartments. The co-op's interior design takes its cue from a Mondrian painting, bringing creativity and color to its classic 20th-century architecture.
Take the tour

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NYC’s redesign of Broadway blocks into pedestrian-friendly stretch begins

Rendering of Greeley Square after capital construction work is completed; Courtesy of “New” New York Panel

March 13, 2023

NYC’s redesign of Broadway blocks into pedestrian-friendly stretch begins

New York City will begin its transformation of an iconic stretch of Broadway into a pedestrian-friendly corridor this week, Mayor Eric Adams announced Sunday. The work is part of the first phase of "Broadway Vision," a plan to make the chaotic and crowded streets between Madison Square and Herald Square safer by banning cars on some blocks and creating more space for pedestrians. As part of the first phase, the city will add two new plazas, shared streets, and a two-way bike lane on Broadway from West 25th Street to West 32nd Street.
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A Central Park Tower penthouse asks $175M to live in the world’s tallest residential tower

Photo courtesy of Extell

March 10, 2023

A Central Park Tower penthouse asks $175M to live in the world’s tallest residential tower

Trophy pad alert: A 12,557-square-foot penthouse in Central Park Tower at 217 West 57th Street just hit the market, asking for a skyscraping $175,000,000. The duplex Billionaires' Row condo spans the 107th and 108th floor of what is to date the Western Hemisphere's tallest residential tower. It's a tower filled with superlatives–including the world's highest residence, a $250 million triplex just a few floors above. If this two-story sky mansion gets its asking price, it could be New York City's second-biggest residential sale ever.
Behold this Central Park Tower penthouse in the sky

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Upper West Side rejects proposed rest hub for delivery workers

Photo by Jimmy Baikovicius on Flickr

March 9, 2023

Upper West Side rejects proposed rest hub for delivery workers

The Upper West Side voted against a proposed rest stop for delivery workers on 72nd Street and Broadway, as first reported by Gothamist. During a public hearing Tuesday, Manhattan Community Board 7 voted 27-8 against the transformation of an empty newsstand into a charging station for delivery workers.
More here

For $3M, this light-filled Midtown duplex loft is surrounded by Manhattan skyline views

All photos courtesy of Compass

March 9, 2023

For $3M, this light-filled Midtown duplex loft is surrounded by Manhattan skyline views

This sun-filled penthouse co-op at 241 West 36th Street, asking $3,000,000, has the kind of size and layout that make a classic loft apartment so special. Atop a Schwartz & Gross-designed former button factory completed in 1928, the space has plenty of authenticity, lots of natural light, and panoramic New York City views framed by 22 windows. The same views can be had outdoors on the 2,750-square-foot, three-bedroom apartment's terrace.
Take the penthouse tour

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Artist Ai Weiwei lists Chelsea condo for $2M

All photos courtesy of H5 Property

March 7, 2023

Artist Ai Weiwei lists Chelsea condo for $2M

Artist and human rights activist Ai Weiwei is selling his New York City apartment for $2,000,000. The oversized one-bedroom at 420 West 25th Street measures 1,400 square feet and features a flexible floor plan and an abundance of natural light. As first reported by Bloomberg, the condo has been staged with several of Ai's works, none of which are for sale but highlight the home's gallery-like space.
See inside

$1.75M co-op combines industrial loft vibes with West Village bohemian charm

All photos courtesy of Celeste Godoy for The Corcoran Group

March 7, 2023

$1.75M co-op combines industrial loft vibes with West Village bohemian charm

This maisonette co-op at 92 Horatio Street in the scenic West Village combines classic loft style and pre-war charm, with hidden perks and expansion potential. Asking $1,750,000, the co-op can easily be re-imagined as a two-bedroom. In its present one-bed, two-bath state, the apartment has a "mezzanine" sleeping loft accessed by a spiral stair.
Have a look around

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The Wing’s former HQ at historic East Village building lists for $22.5M

All photos by Tory Williams

March 7, 2023

The Wing’s former HQ at historic East Village building lists for $22.5M

The New York City headquarters of the now-defunct women's-only co-working company The Wing is for sale. As first reported by Curbed, the landmarked brick and terra-cotta building at 137 Second Avenue in the East Village hit the market last week for $22,500,000. The Wing, which shut down last summer as a result of the pandemic, moved into the building in 2019, bringing the company's signature pastel colors and cozy, custom furniture to the 1880s building, which was once home to the Stuyvesant Polyclinic Hospital.
Details here

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Iconic NYC subway busker Ballerina Mime to perform at Lincoln Center

Photos by Lawrence Sumulong, © Lincoln Center

March 6, 2023

Iconic NYC subway busker Ballerina Mime to perform at Lincoln Center

A New York City busking sensation will emerge above ground to perform at Lincoln Center on Wednesday. The famed living statue the Ballerina Mime will perform alongside original chamber music from cellist Titilayo Ayangade and violist Edwin Kaplan, playing together as duo kayo. The event, called Living Statues, Living Music, will take place at the David Geffen Hall's Kenneth C. Griffin Sidewalk Studio on March 8 at 8 p.m.
See more here

Events & Things To Do

Historic Flatiron Building headed to auction to end dispute between owners

Photo by Jermaine Ee on Unsplash

March 3, 2023

Historic Flatiron Building headed to auction to end dispute between owners

New York City's iconic Flatiron Building will be put up for auction to resolve a dispute between its current owners, according to a recent judgment filed in state Supreme Court. As first reported by PincusCo, the decision to sell the vacant landmarked building was made by GFP Real Estate, Newmark, Sorgente Group, and ABS Real Estate Partners, which make up 75 percent of the building's owners. The auction is set to take place on March 22 with Mannion Auctions.
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Real Estate Trends

Little Italy’s Alleva Dairy cheese shop finds new home in New Jersey

Image courtesy of Marcela on Flickr

March 3, 2023

Little Italy’s Alleva Dairy cheese shop finds new home in New Jersey

After falling behind on rent and closing its doors due to the pandemic, Little Italy's historic cheese shop has found a new home in New Jersey. Alleva Dairy, the 130-year-old cheese shop that was forced to close in February, will move to a bigger location in Lyndhurst, New Jersey, as first reported by NBC New York. The new location is currently under construction and is expected to open to customers in August.
Learn more here

In this chic $1.4M Harlem condo, architectural built-ins invite light and banish clutter

Photos courtesy of Compass

March 3, 2023

In this chic $1.4M Harlem condo, architectural built-ins invite light and banish clutter

This two-bedroom home at 258 Saint Nicholas Avenue reveals an architect's eye for both clean lines and convenient living. Asking $1,395,000, the 1,331-square-foot apartment's interior was completely redesigned by the current owners with flexibility and modern design in mind: Two rooms become one via sliding panel; closets, electronics, and shelves recede into sleek white walls, and floor-to-ceiling glass fills spaces with sunlight and city views.
See it here

Distinctive Homes

March 2, 2023

Ex-Good Morning America anchor Amy Robach and husband Andrew Shue sell NYC co-op for $5.1M

Former "Good Morning America" anchor Amy Robach and her husband Andrew Shue have sold their West Village apartment for $5,100,000, according to property records. The estranged couple put their co-op at 59 Barrow Street on the market last September and the property entered contract in November, just before news broke of Robach's relationship with co-anchor T.J. Holmes. Records show the deal closed at the end of February.
Details here

For $7.2M, this designer’s home is quite possibly the perfect Upper East Side apartment

Photo credit: DDreps for Sotheby’s International Realty

February 28, 2023

For $7.2M, this designer’s home is quite possibly the perfect Upper East Side apartment

Published in House Beautiful, and looking every bit the part, this four-bedroom pre-war co-op, owned by interior designer Eliza Dyson, is about as turn-key as it gets. Asking $7,200,000, this Upper East Side refuge at 1160 Park Avenue added a smaller unit, resulting in an impeccably-designed, sophisticated eight-room home with plenty of space to spare.
Tour this perfect Park Avenue pad

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Rupert Murdoch buys $30M Central Park South co-op

The Hampshire House is known for its steeply-pitched copper roof with two tall chimneys; Photo via Wikimedia Commons

February 28, 2023

Rupert Murdoch buys $30M Central Park South co-op

Media giant Rupert Murdoch is in contract to purchase a full-floor co-op on Billionaires' Row. As first reported by the Wall Street Journal, the News Corp founder bought a 6,500-square-foot apartment on the 27th floor of the Hampshire House that was last listed for $30,000,000; the final sales price has not been made public. The seven-bedroom, five-bathroom residence was the longtime home of late hedge-fund magnate Julian H. Robertson Jr. and famed philanthropist Alice Tully.
Details here

Full LIRR service begins at Grand Central Madison

Image courtesy of Marc A. Hermnan / MTA on Flickr

February 27, 2023

Full LIRR service begins at Grand Central Madison

Grand Central Madison finally opened with full Long Island Rail Road service on Monday, with a totally new schedule for commuters and a 41 percent increase in service levels. Starting February 27, an additional 271 LIRR trains per day have been added to the system for a total of up to 936 trains per day; 296 of these trains will be traveling to and from Grand Central Madison, with the remaining to Penn Station. According to officials, the new terminal will make commutes for LIRR riders up to 40 minutes shorter.
More here

Manhattan apartments are bigger now than a decade ago

Photo by Goh Rhy Yan on Unsplash

February 23, 2023

Manhattan apartments are bigger now than a decade ago

Believe it or not, new apartments in Manhattan are getting bigger. Despite being notorious for its small, compact apartments, Manhattan rentals actually gained an average of 19 square feet since 2013, an increase of 3 percent, according to new data released this week by RentCafe. The borough is an outlier when looking at the rest of the country, where newly constructed units continue to shrink in size, and even compared to other parts of New York City. The average space of new rentals in Brooklyn and Queens decreased by seven percent over the last decade, costing renters roughly 45 square feet.
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Real Estate Trends

This $1.3M Upper East Side co-op has a secret powder room tucked behind a library wall

Photos courtesy of The Corcoran Group

February 23, 2023

This $1.3M Upper East Side co-op has a secret powder room tucked behind a library wall

This classic one-bedroom-plus-loft co-op at 71 East 77th Street, asking $1,295,000, has definitely seen the benefits of a designer and architect. Rooms retain their gracious pre-war proportions and high beamed ceilings, plus extras like closets and an entry foyer. The living room offers a wood-burning fireplace and there are one-and-a-half baths–including a secret powder room tucked behind a library bookshelf wall. The comfort factor is up-to-date, with central A/C and a renovated kitchen and bathrooms.
Take the tour

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Michelin-starred Chef Gabriel Kreuther to run two restaurants at Hudson Yards’ Spiral tower

Rendering courtesy of Tishman Speyer

February 22, 2023

Michelin-starred Chef Gabriel Kreuther to run two restaurants at Hudson Yards’ Spiral tower