Manhattan

June 21, 2021

The 18 best places to visit in Washington Heights

A hilly neighborhood with stunning public parks, incredible food, and community pride, Washington Heights is special. Not only is this area full of natural beauty (it has the highest natural point in Manhattan and boasts incredible Hudson River views) and historically important (it served as a strategic defense point during the Revolutionary War), Washington Heights has long been an immigrant enclave. As development hit the largely rural neighborhood in the early 20th century, Irish, Jewish, African American, Cuban, Puerto Rican, and Dominican communities have all called Washington Heights home. Today, a strong Latin American and Caribbean presence remains, with Washington Heights and nearby Inwood considered the most populous Dominican neighborhoods in the U.S. With this month's release of the movie adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda's Broadway musical In The Heights, we've put together a guide of must-visit places in Washington Heights, from Manhattan's oldest home to the city's only underground street, with stops for roasted chicken and chicharrón along the way.
Start planning your visit
June 21, 2021

In the West Village, a rare nearly-freestanding townhouse with a gated courtyard asks $12M

In the West Village, many of the buildings along Seventh Avenue South tend to be oddly shaped, as the avenue was cut diagonally through the neighborhood in the early 1900s to make way for the IRT Broadway subway line. This townhouse at number 54 is one such example. The rare, nearly freestanding building has a trapezoidal footprint, as well as a gated courtyard that has parking for two cars and a beautiful secret garden. The 5,820-square-foot townhouse, on the market for $11,950,000, is currently set up as a commercial space on the ground floor (occupied by the designer Markarian, who designed Jill Biden's Inauguration Day outfit), a two-bedroom apartment on the second floor, and a three-bedroom owner's duplex plus roof terrace on the third and fourth floors.
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June 18, 2021

Get an inside look at Roosevelt Island’s first hotel

Roosevelt Island's first hotel recently opened as part of Cornell University's new tech campus. Graduate Roosevelt Island rises 18 stories, contains 224 rooms, and boasts incredible views of the Manhattan skyline, Queensboro Bridge, and beyond. The hotel aims to offer a "scholastic retreat" for the Cornell community and New York City visitors, with playful touches like a 12-foot statue of artist Hebru Brantley's Flyboy in the lobby and neon light fixtures inspired by a Cornell science project in the guest rooms. There's also a ground-level restaurant and an indoor-outdoor rooftop bar and lounge.
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June 18, 2021

For $8.2M, a historic Harlem mansion with 10 bedrooms and tons of preserved woodwork

Considered one of the most beautiful and historic parts of Harlem, the Mount Morris Park Historic District is mainly comprised of late-19th-century townhouses, ranging in style from Romanesque Revival to Queen Anne. The most stately are along Mount Morris Park West, like this gorgeous mansion at number 12, currently on the market for $8.2 million. It has nearly 8,000 square feet of interior space, 10 bedrooms, seven full bathrooms and two half baths, and loads of preserved woodwork that harken back to the home's construction in 1888.
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June 15, 2021

With ties to the Harlem Renaissance, Dorrance Brooks Square is designated a historic district

The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday voted to designate the Dorrance Brooks Square Historic District, an architecturally intact area of Harlem associated with notable Black Americans. The district is anchored by Dorrance Brooks Square, a small park named for a member of the Harlem Hellfighters who died in active combat during World War I. When it was dedicated by the city in 1925, the square became the first in New York City to honor a Black serviceman. The historic district designated on Tuesday is the first in the city to be named after an African American, according to the LPC.
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June 15, 2021

$90M project to renovate deteriorating docks at 79th Street Boat Basin moves ahead

The city is moving forward on restoring the Upper West Side's 79th Street Boat Basin as a waterfront resource for the community. In December 2019, the Parks Department unveiled a $90 million proposal to reconstruct docks damaged by previous storms, add additional boating berths to increase capacity, make the area more resilient to climate change, and expand ecological research and education. To make this possible, the entire marina will be dredged to enable vessels to navigate it at all tidal cycles. With support from the local Community Board and many residents, the plan is now moving ahead, with construction expected to commence in 2023.
Get details here
June 14, 2021

$1.75M West Village co-op feels like a Provincial farmhouse

This West Village home looks like it came straight off a travel influencer's Instagram page. More Provincial farmhouse than Village co-op, the one-bedroom apartment comes complete with a landscaped garden that adds to the serene, getaway vibes. Located at 92 Horatio Street, it's asking $1,750,000 and was designed by renowned architects Fairfax and Sammons.
Have a look around
June 10, 2021

For $13.75M, this huge Riverside duplex has a private pool overlooking the Hudson

Seven bedrooms, eight-and-half bathrooms, a private elevator, double-height floor-to-ceiling glass windows overlooking the Hudson River--this Upper West Side duplex already sounds incredible, right? What if we told you that it also has a 3,600+ square-foot landscaped terrace complete with a private swimming pool that's larger than many studio apartments? Located at luxury condominium The Aldyn, at 60 Riverside Boulevard between West 62nd and 63rd Streets, the home is on the market for $13,750,000.
See the interior
June 10, 2021

From tow pound to public park, Pier 76 officially opens on Manhattan’s West Side

A former police tow pound on the Hudson River is now a public park. Pier 76 officially opened on Wednesday following a three-month, $31 million construction project that involved stripping the tow pound to its frame and removing the sides and roof. The structure's steel skeleton remains at the 5.6-acre site, with new areas to walk around, benches to sit and enjoy the waterfront views, and panels highlighting the area's history as a major shipping port.
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June 10, 2021

Lower East Side bialy bakery Kossar’s will open a second location in Hudson Yards

Since 1936, Kossar's Bagels & Bialys has served Jewish specialty foods on the Lower East Side. For the first time, the iconic shop, considered the oldest bialy bakery in the United States, will open a second location in New York City. The bakery has signed a 1,200-square-foot lease on the ground floor of Ohm, a mixed-income rental building at 312 11th Avenue in Hudson Yards developed by Douglaston Development.
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June 8, 2021

Dine al fresco at the historic Broad Exchange Building’s massive penthouse balcony

When outdoor dining took on a new life last summer, many restaurant and hospitality companies had to get creative. But Resident, a startup that hosts dinners on balconies and rooftops of luxury apartments, was already ahead of the game. This past fall, they launched a socially distant supper club on the balcony of the Financial District's landmarked Broad Exchange Building, including a rotating chef residency with newcomers who have experience at Michelin-starred restaurants. The supper club is now back, featuring a Venezuelan-inspired tasting menu from Chef Luis Herrera, redefined soul food from Chef Sakari Smithwick, a Filipino-inspired meal from Chef Harold Villarosa, and much more.
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June 8, 2021

On a historic block in Chelsea, an elegant one-bedroom asks $1.6M

An apartment on one of Chelsea's most historic blocks is now on the market. Located at 450 West 20th Street, the residence sits within the campus grounds of the General Theological Seminary, founded by the Episcopal Church in 1817. Asking $1,600,000, the available parlor floor one-bedroom features sophisticated touches throughout, from the 11-foot ceilings to the custom-made Parisian wall panels.
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June 7, 2021

First-ever flower festival will take over the Meatpacking District this weekend

Over a million flowers will blossom across Manhattan this weekend as part of the city's first-ever festival of flowers. Hosted by L.E.A.F in collaboration with the Meatpacking Business Improvement District and TF Cornerstone, the annual festival kicks off on Saturday, June 12, and features a European-style flower market and a series of design installations from 100 different florists that will be displayed across the neighborhood.
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June 4, 2021

After $200M overhaul, NYPL’s central circulating library opens in Midtown with public rooftop terrace

The New York Public Library this week opened a new central circulating library in Midtown following a major $200 million renovation project. Located at 455 Fifth Avenue, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL) was built within the shell and steel frame of the existing building formerly known as the Mid-Manhattan Library. Designed by Dutch architecture firm Mecanoo in collaboration with Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners, the new 180,000 square foot library boasts a dramatic light-filled atrium and an incredible rooftop terrace, which is now the only free and publicly accessible rooftop in Midtown.
Details here
June 4, 2021

Penn South co-op reveals plan to replace Chelsea McDonald’s with 200-unit mixed-income building

A run-down commercial building in Chelsea will be replaced with a 200-unit mixed-income apartment tower. Affordable housing cooperative Penn South announced this week it tapped MAG Partners to redevelop 335 Eighth Avenue as a seven-story residential building with ground-floor commercial space, including a grocery store. The site, located on the corner of West 26th Street and 8th Avenue, is currently home to Gristedes, McDonald's, and a tennis center.
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June 4, 2021

There’s a landscaped outdoor oasis at this $7.5M penthouse loft in Nolita

This penthouse in Nolita offers the best of both worlds, with a massive outdoor space that feels secluded while still being in the heart of lower Manhattan. Located at 136 Baxter Street, a prewar building that once served as a police stable, the duplex unit boasts an incredibly tranquil wraparound terrace, packed with shrubs and flowering trees. The three-bedroom, three-bath is now on the market for $7,495,000.
Take the tour
June 3, 2021

$3.3M South Street Seaport penthouse will also accept bitcoin

To appeal to more buyers, the owner of this South Street Seaport penthouse will accept digital currency as payment. The loft-style three-bedroom home at 130 Beekman Street is currently on the market for $3,295,000 or 88 bitcoin. The apartment is the first time a Compass listing in Manhattan is available for purchase with cryptocurrency, according to the agent marketing the property, Rachel Glazer.
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June 2, 2021

Public art and cultural events planned for elevated terraces at revamped Grand Hyatt

The developers behind the huge tower that will replace the existing Grand Hyatt New York announced last week plans to open up its elevated terraces to the public for events. The Public Art Fund and Lord Cultural Resources will develop a cultural program that will bring art installations, community events, and other programs to 175 Park Avenue, the 83-story mixed-use building proposed by TF Cornerstone and RXR Realty.
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June 1, 2021

For $4.75M, this Harlem penthouse has a rooftop jacuzzi and direct Central Park views

All of the units at this new condo building in Harlem face Central Park, but the available penthouse definitely boasts the best views. Located at 145 Central Park North, a full-service condo building developed by Grid Group Development with designs by GLUCK+, Penthouse B features four bedrooms, three baths, and a private rooftop terrace that overlooks the park and has a jacuzzi. The home is currently asking $4,750,000.
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May 27, 2021

An Italian spa with outdoor thermal pools will open on Governors Island this summer

A luxury European day spa will open on Governors Island this summer. From the same group behind Italy's QC Terme Spa & Resorts, QC NY features outdoor thermal pools facing the Manhattan skyline, relaxation rooms, steam rooms and saunas, and a wellness-focused cafe. An official opening date has not been released but is expected to be announced soon.
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May 27, 2021

The two-level terrace is a private getaway at this $2.1M Greenwich Village co-op

The secluded, bi-level roof terrace at this two-bedroom Greenwich Village co-op is truly magical. Located at 49 East 12th Street, between University and Broadway, the seventh-floor outdoor space overlooks the low-scale neighborhood while still providing views of the larger skyline. The split-level interior is just as cozy, with a wood-burning fireplace, exposed brick walls, and a solarium bedroom. It's asking $2,095,000.
See inside, too
May 26, 2021

Hudson Yards’ Vessel will reopen with a buddy system in place

In January, Hudson Yards' 150-foot climbable sculpture Vessel closed after three people jumped to their deaths from the structure. According to a report in Gothamist, the attraction will reopen this Friday, but with new protocols in place. First, single people will no longer be able to enter Vessel; they will have to visit in groups of two or more. And instead of being free, most time slots will now cost $10 per person.
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May 26, 2021

Asking $2.1M, author E.L. Doctorow’s former Sutton Place home is perfect for any aspiring writer

With a library, built-in bookshelves, and views that could cure writer's block, this Sutton Place home is perfect for any aspiring novelist. It worked for the apartment's former owner, the late author E.L. Doctorow, who penned The March, Homer & Langley, and Andrew's Brain here. Located at 333 East 57th Street, the 3,000-square-foot co-op is now on the market for $2,100,000.
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May 21, 2021

In Hudson Heights, this rare Castle Village cottage is asking $1.65M

Castle Village is not exactly a castle anymore. It's so named because developer Charles V. Paterno built the five-building co-op complex in 1939 on the site of his former castle-like residence, on the highest bluff above the Hudson River. But there is one remnant of the original estate that remains--four townhouse-like cottages that were once the castle's outbuildings. It's very rare that one of these homes hits the market, but here we have number four asking $1,650,000. The charming home has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a finished basement, and a sunroom and patio that overlook the Hudson River and gardens below.
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May 20, 2021

NYC’s newest park Little Island finally opens on the Hudson River

The offshore public park in the Hudson River that almost didn't get built officially opens on Friday. Designed by Heatherwick Studio and MNLA, Little Island at Pier 55 is designed to resemble a leaf floating on water, with an undulating base of tulip-shaped concrete pots ranging in elevation from 15 feet to 62 feet. The two-acre park features a 687-seat amphitheater, a plaza with concessions, a small stage, and incredible views, all surrounded by an abundance of greenery.
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May 20, 2021

Google is opening its first-ever retail store in Chelsea this summer

This summer, New Yorkers will be able to head over to a storefront in Chelsea to buy Fitbits, Pixel phones, and Nest products. Google announced that it will be opening its first-ever physical retail store at the former Port Authority building at 15th Street and 9th Avenue. The company bought the building in 2010 for $1.9 billion, later expanding its Chelsea "campus" with the $2.4 billion purchase of Chelsea Market and a deal to lease space at the new Pier 57. "Google has been in New York for the last 20 years, and we view the store as a natural extension of our longtime commitment to the city," the company said in a blog post.
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