November 14, 2019

A first look inside the Waldorf Astoria’s historic conversion

We now have a sneak peek inside the historic condo conversion currently underway at the Waldorf Astoria, now called The Towers of the Waldorf Astoria. Beijing-based Anbang Insurance Group Co. has released an updated teaser website and new renderings of the project, which will bring 375 private residences and 350 renovated hotel rooms to the storied building. Condo sales were initially expected to launch this fall, but are now slated to hit the market in early 2020 with the project wrapping up by 2021.
More details
November 14, 2019

Facebook snags 1.5 million square feet across three buildings at Hudson Yards

Facebook this week has signed a lease for 1.5 million square feet of office space across three buildings at Hudson Yards. Starting next year, the tech company will expand to 30 Hudson Yards, 55 Hudson Yards, and 50 Hudson Yards, the latter which will not be open until 2022 and will consist of the bulk of the lease at 1.2 million square feet.
Get more details here
November 14, 2019

For $2.4M, this classic pre-war condo in Midtown is dressed to impress

Located in the massive four-building Parc Vendome condominium complex that spans nearly a full city block in Midtown West, this designer-renovated home at 340 West 57th Street is worthy of any hyperbole bestowed upon it. On the 14th floor, with the pre-war building's highest ceilings (according to the listing) that reach 16 feet, this 1,165-square-foot, one-bedroom home is dressed to impress and asking $2,395,000.
More impressive interior goodness, this way
November 14, 2019

SOM reveals designs for new Disney HQ in Hudson Square

Last July, Disney purchased the rights to develop the property at 4 Hudson Square from Trinity Church for $650 million under a 99-year agreement and earlier this year tapped Skidmore, Owings & Merrill to design a new HQ for the media giant. SOM and developer Silverstein Properties have just revealed the first renderings of the project, which will occupy an entire city block and span across 1.2 billion square feet—including retail on the ground floor—and house up to 5,000 employees.
More details
November 13, 2019

Live on two glorious floors of an Upper East Side French Gothic mansion for $4M

This rare condo conversion in a Gilded Age mansion on the Upper East Side sits just across from Central Park and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Designed by C.P.H. Gilbert, 3 East 78th Street was built in 1899 as a six-story, 35-foot-wide private residence and converted to condominiums in 1964, keeping its ornate French Gothic limestone looks intact. The lush apartment within, asking $3,995,000, is a grande dame of a duplex spanning the mansion's fourth and fifth floors, with an elevator to get you there.
Tour this elegant Upper East Side home
November 13, 2019

Barry Diller’s $250M offshore Pier 55 park dubbed ‘Little Island’

The offshore park currently under construction in the Hudson River has been officially christened "Little Island," the Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation announced Wednesday. The Pier 55 project, which is being funded by billionaire Barry Diller and overseen by the Hudson River Park Trust, includes over two acres of public green space across a wave-shaped structure near West 13th Street in the Meatpacking District. First proposed in 2014 for $35 million, Little Island is expected to cost $250 million and open in the spring of 2021.
Get the details
November 13, 2019

Staten Island officials revive call for the borough to secede NYC

Staten Island officials this week said they will push forward plans for the borough to leave New York City, reviving a fight partially won over 25 years ago. As first reported by the Staten Island Advance, Republican Council Members Joe Borelli and Steven Matteo, who represent the borough, plan to introduce two pieces of legislation that would create a committee to determine the logistics and costs of the secession, as well as a commission a study to look at the feasibility of designating county governments within the city. In 1993, Staten Island residents voted to leave the Big Apple, but the measure never went further after failing to pass in Albany.
Sayonara, Staten Island?
November 13, 2019

Midtown’s Drama Book Shop gets a new location and a 2020 opening date

Midtown's 100-year-old Drama Book Shop has a new home and an opening date after being revived by Lin-Manuel Miranda and three “Hamilton” collaborators, the New York Times reports. Earlier this year, the garment district mainstay was forced to close due to rising rents. With investment help from the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment, Miranda's team bought the store from owner Rozanne Seelen and packed up the storefront at 250 West 40th Street, where it had been located since 2001. Since then, they've found a new location just one block south at 266 West 39th Street, which is expected to open in March.
More details
November 13, 2019

10 things you didn’t know about the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Since New York City invented the Holiday Season as we know it, it’s only fitting that this city kicks things off in fine form. Thankfully, the good folks at Macy’s have been doing just that since 1924, when they sent the very first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade sauntering down Broadway. The Parade has been synonymous with Thanksgiving for more than 90 years, and it has more secrets up its sleeve than it has balloons in the air. From “balloonatics” and “falloons” to the only time in history the parade was canceled, here are 10 things you might not know about the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Float on!
November 13, 2019

48 more subway stations, including Penn Station, will get the MTA’s tap-to-pay system next month

At the end of May, the MTA rolled out its new tap-to-pay fare system, called OMNY (One Metro New York), at 16 subway stations on the 4, 5, and 6 lines between Grand Central-42nd Street and Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center, in addition to all Staten Island buses. After a successful pilot--OMNY surpassed three million taps last week--the agency has now announced that it will add the contactless payment system at 48 more subway stations next month, including Penn Station, Whitehall Street, and all stops on the 1 train between Rector Street and 59th Street-Columbus Circle.
See the full list of additions
November 13, 2019

$52M supportive housing complex with health-focused amenities opens in the South Bronx

An affordable housing complex with health and wellness perks officially opened in the South Bronx on Tuesday, after breaking ground more than two years ago. The $52 million building at 111 East 172nd Street in the neighborhood of Mount Eden contains 126 apartments, with 60 of them set aside for those living with mental illness. The units are affordable for households earning 60 percent of the area median income.
More here
November 12, 2019

Norah Jones is selling her 19th-century Cobble Hill townhouse for $8M

Grammy Award winner Norah Jones has listed her four-story townhouse in Cobble Hill for $8 million, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday. The Brooklyn home sits 25 feet wide at 166 Amity Street and contains five bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a backyard with a disappearing heated pool and hot tub. The singer-songwriter first picked up the 19th-century pad in 2009 for $4.9 million. Unfortunately, the vintage Krakauer piano found by the back door is not included in the sale.
Take the tour
November 12, 2019

$1.1M Noho duplex is a futuristic white box

Located in Noho's nondescript-modernist Bleecker Court at 77 Bleecker Street, this unique home was designed in 2003 by architect and educator Diane Lewis for an art-world client who wanted, according to the listing, "a cross between Mies van der Rohe and Barbarella." She definitely achieved that goal, creating a downtown apartment that's perfect for anyone with collections to archive and display or who is seeking a sleek, pristine home that does a lot in a small space. It's asking $1,075,000.
More views of this modern architectural wonder
November 12, 2019

Where to go out for Thanksgiving dinner in NYC

The city that never sleeps also doesn't take a rest for the holidays. Though we tend to assume most businesses are closed on Thanksgiving, in New York City, there are plenty of restaurants keeping their doors open and their ovens full of turkeys. Ahead, we've rounded up 40+ places where you can enjoy a holiday meal if you don't plan on spending the day in the kitchen. From New York classics like Tavern on the Green and the ridiculously cozy Freemans to splurge-worthy picks like Gramercy Tavern and Union Square Cafe to affordable options like Veselka and The Smith to something with a little twist on the traditional like Ginny's Supper Club's jazz buffet and pizza spot Emily's Turbo Turkey Sandwich.
Check out all your options
November 12, 2019

More businesses to shutter in LIRR concourse amid Penn Station renovations

Beginning next April, at least 17 additional businesses in Penn Station's LIRR concourse will shutter to make way for the station's $600 million revamp. As the New York Post reports, the closings will impact the north-side of the concourse, which is operated by real estate developer Vornado. Commuter-favorites like Shake Shack, Pret a Manger, and two Starbucks locations are among the merchants who will close shop, leaving commuters with significantly fewer fast-food options. Papyrus, Godiva, and Le Bon Cafe are also on the list.
More info
November 12, 2019

Zagat New York City restaurant guide returns to print after three years

The iconic pocket-sized guide to New York City restaurants has released its first print edition since 2016. Zagat's 2020 New York City Restaurants guidebook, available on Tuesday, includes more than 1,400 new reviews and a compilation of reports from the past 40 years of the beloved "burgundy bibles." Google purchased Zagat, which first launched in 1980, from its founders in 2011, expanded its digital presence over the next seven years, and then sold it last year to The Infatuation, which plans to rebuild the guide's online platform.
More here
November 12, 2019

Prime Park Slope duplex with a lovely private garden asks $6,500/month

Right around the corner from Park Slope's bustling 5th Avenue, this two-bedroom duplex at 695 Degraw Street is convenient, cozy, and comes with a private, well-maintained garden. Located in a three-unit building dating back to 1899, the home still has some of its classic pre-war details alongside all of the modern conveniences that are on your list: central AC, a laundry room, and more. For the asking rent of $6,500 a month, the apartment can come partially furnished or vacant.
Look inside
November 11, 2019

For $807K, light, pattern, and color wake up this two-bedroom Morningside Heights co-op

Situated within the amenity-filled Morningside Gardens co-operative complex, this two-bedroom home at 70 La Salle Street in Morningside Heights was renovated less than a year ago. The result is a cheerful and chic mix of color, pattern, and well-configured space that's highlighted by an abundance of natural light. With ceilings of over nine feet tall and floor-to-ceiling windows, this corner unit, asking $807,000, maximizes space with plenty of closets in addition to large and livable rooms.
Take the tour
Pitch a story icon Know of something cool happening in New York? Let us know:
November 11, 2019

The 9/11 Tribute Museum might be closing its doors

Google Street View of the 9/11 Tribute Museum in October 2017; Map data © Google The 9/11 Tribute Museum—perhaps “overshadowed” by the better-known Memorial Museum just a few blocks away—might be closing its 92 Greenwich Street location, as Crain’s reports. Real estate investment firm Thor Equities has placed the museum's three-story space on the market for $30 million. It’s not yet clear whether the museum will close down completely or be able to relocate.
READ MORE
November 11, 2019

$90/night Chelsea listing on Airbnb turns the spotlight on NYCHA housing

The New York Times recently told of a pair of visitors from Boston who signed up for a sweet Airbnb deal on a Chelsea pad for $90 a night–and were surprised to have it turn out to be a seventh-floor unit in the neighborhood's 11-building NYCHA Fulton Houses complex. The would-be guests noticed that "something seemed off," starting with the roach trap next to the bed. The travelers tipped off the company, who refunded their money, and their story quickly became internet history as yet another way homestay platforms are being taken advantage of and another log on the fire of the debate that rages over what to do about it.
Airb-n-beware?
November 11, 2019

With a new ‘Arid Room’ focused on rare cacti and succulents, Tula is growing its roots in Greenpoint

Less than a year after opening their new flagship in Greenpoint, Tula Plants & Design has expanded its lush storefront with a dedicated space for cacti and succulents. Owners Christan Summers and Ivan Martinez recently completed a 400-square-foot expansion in the nearly 100-year-old warehouse at 59 Meserole Avenue, adding a desert plant oasis to complement their tropical plant offerings. The “Arid Room” is packed with varieties young and old and specializes in sourcing rare, hard-to-find species.
READ MORE
November 11, 2019

13 places to volunteer in NYC this holiday season

The winter holiday season is a time of overflowing bounty for so many. While giving thanks and exchanging gifts, it's a fine opportunity to share the wealth, good cheer–and extra time off–with fellow New Yorkers in need. There are hundreds of ways to volunteer from now through the New Year (and beyond), and we've rounded up 13 ways to help this year, from meal delivery to serving Thanksgiving dinner to preparing your own putlock dish.
The list, this way
November 11, 2019

The city introduces a new branding initiative to unite NYC’s public markets

The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) last week unveiled a new brand strategy for the city's network of six public markets, which includes a multilingual ad campaign, a dynamic new website and social media presence, direct mail campaigns and more, all of which are designed to consolidate a network of historic markets under one city-wide brand. It's all part of the organization's comprehensive initiative to promote NYC's public markets--including Essex Market, the Bronx's Arthur Avenue Market, and Williamsburg's historic Moore Street Market--as "world class destinations for both local residents and tourists."
See what's in store
November 11, 2019

NYC Parks breaks ground on $24M project to restore Philip Johnson’s 1964 World’s Fair Pavilion

After five years of halting progress, NYC Parks officially broke ground last week on a $24 million project that will preserve the Philip Johnson-designed New York State Pavilion Observation Towers in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. The current project represents the first major effort to preserve the Pavilion's structures since their construction for the 1964 World’s Fair.
Find out more
November 11, 2019

Essex Crossing’s Market Line food hall will open to the public before the end of the month

A few months after it was initially expected, Essex Crossing’s expansive and bazaar-like food hall, The Market Line, finally has an opening date. Phase one of the rollout is set to open its doors to the public on November 22, offering an initial mix of 30+ local vendors and restaurants, including NYC institutions like Ukrainian diner Veselka, family-run German butcher shop and Grocer Schaller & Weber, and 1920s tea parlor and bakery turned hip dim sum eatery Nom Wah.
READ MORE
November 8, 2019

Win tickets to a 6sqft and Untapped Cities’ tour of Woods Bagot’s architecture studio

When designing new workspace in the Financial District, architecture firm Woods Bagot knew they wanted to incorporate a sense of New York City grit. The studio's raw interiors, which look convincingly original, black and white palette, exposed pipes and cracked concrete floors help pull off this aesthetic, while the use of technology and communal space keep things modern. As part of a partnership between 6sqft and Untapped Cities, you can take a behind-the-scenes tour of Woods Bagot studios, the firm behind Union Crossing in the South Bronx and mixed-use tower The Amberly in Downtown Brooklyn. Led by architect Sorrel Anderson, the tour offers lovers of architecture and city planning a chance to learn about the studio's design, test out a virtual reality experience, and ask questions at the end of the evening. Below, enter our raffle for a chance to win two tickets to the tour.
Find out how to enter
November 8, 2019

A 15th-floor Gilded-Age classic in the San Remo’s north tower asks $25M

This combined two-unit co-op in the architectural gem that is the Emery Roth-designed San Remo at 145 Central Park West (where Demi Moore's former pad just hit the market for $50M), asking $25 million, has the Central Park and Manhattan skyline views you'd expect from the iconic building's north tower. Inside, the over-5,500-square-foot corner residence is just as impressive, with an architect-led renovation and interiors by renowned designer Bunny Williams that has preserved the home's Art Deco character while sparing no expense on modern convenience. The 14-room home, currently owned by money manager Peter W. May and his wife, Leni May (h/t New York Times), is configured as three bedrooms and a library with an additional study and a media room.
Sky mansion tour, this way
November 8, 2019

Penthouse inside 111 West 57th Street’s landmarked Steinway Building hits the market for $21M

Once home to the Steinway & Sons piano company, the landmarked building at 111 West 57th Street was acquired by developers JDS Development, Property Markets Group, and Spruce Capital Partners in 2013 for $217.5 million and has since become incorporated into SHoP Architects’ super-slender supertall tower rising next to it. Originally built in 1925, the Beaux-Arts building will house the lobby for the luxury tower and a small number of apartments, including this 5,200+ square-foot duplex penthouse that just listed for $21 million.
READ MORE
November 8, 2019

See inside Domino Sugar Factory site’s first commercial building

The first commercial building at the Domino Sugar Factory site in Williamsburg officially launched leasing this week. Ten Grand Street sits within the 45-story mixed-use tower One South First, which opened in September with 330 rental units. Designed by COOKFOX Architects and developed by Two Trees Management, the towers interlock, a sustainable component that allows extra heat from the office building to be preserved and reused at the residential property. Offering tenants between 5,000 and 6,000-square-foot floor plates and floor-to-ceiling windows, Ten Grand boasts sweeping views of Manhattan, faces the six-acre Domino Park, and will be home to several Brooklyn-based retailers, including Roberta's and Other Half Brewing.
Take the tour
November 8, 2019

Manhattan community board says no to Central Harlem developer’s rezoning plan

Manhattan Community Board 10 voted Wednesday night against a developer’s plan that would substantially rezone the Lenox Terrace neighborhood in Central Harlem and pave the way for construction of five new 28-story luxury towers and big-box retail stores. The rezoning application, filed by the Olnick Organization, asked the city to rezone Lenox Terrace from its current residential status to the C6-2 designation found in "the central business district and regional commercial centers,” according to the city’s zoning resolution. The community board’s vote sided with the Lenox Terrace Association of Concerned Tenants (LT-ACT), which opposes the rezoning and has demanded the developer withdraw the application.
More on the resolution this way
November 8, 2019

TV host Regis Philbin lists Connecticut mansion for a significant loss at $4.6M

88-year-old veteran television talk show host Regis Philbin (“Live! With Regis and Kathie Lee/Kelly,” “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” “America’s Got Talent”) and his wife, Joy, have put their Greenwich, Connecticut home on the market for $4.595 million (h/t WSJ). The ask is a significant drop from the home's purchase price a decade ago when the couple moved in. The 13,661-square-foot residence was built in the style of an English Manor, complete with a pool, tennis court, and a garage that holds five cars. The Philbins are selling in order to spend more time with family in California; Ms. Philbin said in a statement that “this house will always be our favorite...There was always room for everyone.”
Tour the manor
November 8, 2019

Everything you need to know about NYC’s Veterans Day Parade: Route, street closings, & more

This year's Veterans Day Parade—hosted by the United Way Veterans Council—will celebrate its centennial as more than 30,000 people march up Fifth Avenue on Monday, November 11 to honor veterans of the United States military during the annual holiday. While the organizers stress that the parade is a non-partisan and non-political event, President Donald Trump will make history this year as the first sitting president to attend the celebration. The president will not be marching in the parade but he will be giving an opening address at Madison Square Park.
Read on for more details and the full list of street closures
November 7, 2019

Is Essex Crossing the ‘anti-Hudson Yards’?

The New York Times recently suggested that the boxy, ordinary-looking Essex Crossing, with its Trader Joe's, Target, movieplex, historic Essex Street Market and subsidized affordable housing was the "anti-Hudson Yards," a convincing foil to the buzzy midtown tourist magnet. The obvious contrast between the glittering far-west-side megaproject that in the right light resembles Dubai on the Hudson and the six-acre $1.9 billion development abutting the Williamsburg Bridge speaks to each one's intended audience, of course. But a diversity of options for both locals and visitors and a broad offering of affordable housing could make Essex Crossing more than just Liverpool on the Lower East Side.
Read on
November 7, 2019

For $3.85M, get perfectly framed views of the Empire State Building at this Nomad condo

This two-bedroom condo at 225 Fifth Avenue features an efficient layout and comes in mint condition, but what really sets it apart is its central Nomad location and the enviable views that come with it. Across the street from Madison Square Park, the corner living room overlooks Fifth Avenue with direct views of the Empire State Building and the vibrant new “Gilded Lady” mural painted by artist Tristan Eaton as an homage to the neighborhood’s history. The unit last sold in 2011 for $2.4 million and is now on the market seeking $3.85 million.
Get the full tour
November 7, 2019

10 NYC residential buildings with the best amenities for dogs

There's no arguing that New York is a city of dog lovers, but when most of us don't have the convenience of letting our four-legged friends into the backyard, it can be a challenge. Thankfully, many of the city's newest residential developments have realized how important it is to keep both pets and their owners happy and are incorporating amenities like dog runs, pet grooming, training services, and even "yappy hours." Ahead, 6sqft has rounded up the top 10 buildings with the best amenities for dogs so that your pooch may always be tired and clean at the end of each day.
NYC's most paw-fect pads
November 7, 2019

Sprawling residence inside Central Park West’s historic ‘castle’ seeks $6.5M

This 120-year-old turreted brick-and-brownstone castle has a fascinating (and somewhat grim) history as the city’s first cancer hospital. Designed by Charles C. Haight in 1887 in the French Renaissance style, it later became a nursing home before it was converted to a very unique residential condominium in 2005. Units don’t often come on the market but when they do, they offer a scale that’s hard to match in the city, with 13-foot ceilings throughout, massive interior spaces, and Central Park a stone’s throw away. This three-bedroom residence at 445 Central Park West is now on the market for a relatively cool $6.445 million, considering the living room alone is larger than most NYC apartments.
Take a look around
November 7, 2019

Brooklyn official to introduce commercial rent control bill next week

With rents on the rise and the e-commerce industry showing no signs of slowing, the livelihood of small businesses in New York City remains under threat. Council Member Stephen Levin, who represents parts of Brooklyn, hopes to address the high rate of retail vacancies across the city with legislation to regulate commercial rents, as Gothamist first reported. "It's a complex problem," Levin, who will introduce a bill to the City Council next week, told the website. "We think it's time to introduce this into the conversation."
More details here
November 7, 2019

10 events in NYC that celebrate Native American Heritage Month

It’s impossible to truly know the history of New York City without understanding the experience of the Native Americans who first inhabited the five boroughs long before Dutch settlers arrived. In November, we celebrate Native American Heritage Month as both a way to learn about the culture and contributions of indigenous people and to reacquaint ourselves with the often distorted history surrounding Thanksgiving. From live performances from Ojibwe artist Kelsey Pyro to enjoying a Lenape Harvest in the city's largest concentration of forest, these events, festivals, and exhibits help New Yorkers understand just how significantly Native Americans shaped our city.
See the full list
November 7, 2019

$6.2M Boerum Hill townhouse corners the market on luxury, from the roof deck to the wine cellar

This late 19th-century Italianate brownstone has the good fortune of occupying a corner lot at 471 State Street in Boerum Hill. That means the four-story, single-family home is filled with light all year 'round from northern, southern, and eastern exposures. Currently asking $6.195 million, the 20-foot-by-50-foot residence sits on a 100-foot-deep lot, with 14 rooms–including four bedrooms–within; those rooms are filled with as many pristine historic details, state-of-the-art contemporary finishes, and high-tech comforts as it's possible to put under one smart-looking ebony-corniced roof.
Take the grand tour
November 6, 2019

First major exhibition to highlight African American culinary history coming to Harlem next year

Next February the Museum of Food and Drink (MOFAD) will bring together the country’s first exhibition celebrating the countless ways in which African Americans have shaped American cuisine. Curated by Dr. Jessica B. Harris, a leading expert on the foods of the African Diaspora, African/American: Making the Nation’s Table will take place at The Africa Center in Harlem and feature musical selections by Questlove, tastings by Chef Carla Hall, and a restoration of the historic Ebony Magazine Test Kitchen.
More details
November 6, 2019

This holiday season, you can book a toy-filled FAO Schwarz hotel suite for $3,000/night

A new hotel in Midtown is offering the ultimate New York City holiday experience. Conrad New York Midtown has partnered with iconic toy store FAO Schwarz to bring a 1,800-square-foot one-bedroom suite full of toys, including 10-foot stuffed animals, train sets, and of course, the famous dance-on piano. The playful stay does not come cheap; the holiday suite package starts at $3,000 per night.
How to book
November 6, 2019

Where to see pieces of the Berlin Wall in NYC

This Saturday, November 9th, marks the 30th anniversary of the Berlin Wall coming down. Many people might know of pieces of the wall on display in various museums such as the Newseum in DC and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in southern California, but did you know there are four places in NYC to see segments of the Berlin Wall? One is in a touristy Times Square museum, another at the United Nations, a third at a public plaza in Battery Park City, and the last inside a public office building lobby in Midtown (though recent reports say this piece has been moved to storage).
Learn more about these four spots
November 6, 2019

Plan to expand Hudson River Park at Pier 76 tow pound site moves forward

The waterfront park on Manhattan's West Side is set to grow again. City officials are in talks with the New York Police Department to relocate a tow pound at Pier 76 to make way for a new section of Hudson River Park. THE CITY reported on Wednesday that while nothing has been approved yet for the site, which sits adjacent to the Javits Center, officials last month presented a preliminary proposal to Manhattan Community Board 4, signaling the beginning of the long-awaited plan to incorporate the pier into the park.
More here
November 6, 2019

On-trend hues, a stylish renovation, and handy storage define this $429K Hell’s Kitchen studio

On midtown Manhattan's west side, next door to the Theater District and near Hudson Yards, this compact, stylish, cozy co-op in the heart of Hell's Kitchen at 349 West 44th Street would make a charming and convenient pied-a-terre. At a (relatively) compact asking price of $429,000, all the basics are present in a pristine renovation, with enough artfully created closet and storage space to keep things as elegant and tidy as they look in the listing.
Get a closer look
November 6, 2019

Jersey City vote to curb short-term rentals could mean trouble for Airbnb

The Jersey City waterfront, via Pixabay A big-money battle between Airbnb and the hotel industry may leave small hosts stranded after a decisive vote in Jersey City Tuesday. Voters in New Jersey's second-largest city faced a referendum on new, beefed-up regulations on short-term rentals intended to limit the reach of Airbnb and other home-stay companies. According to the New York Times, voters overwhelmingly decided in favor of a law that will require owners of short-term rental properties to get a permit from the city, put a cap on the size and number of units that can be used for short term rental purposes, and limit short-stay rentals to a maximum of 60 days a year if the owner is not physically on-site. The ordinance also bars all renters from using their units as short-term rentals.
Find out more
November 5, 2019

Starbucks opens its first pickup-only store in Midtown

Last year, Starbucks opened a massive roastery in Chelsea with two coffee bars, a cocktail bar, and a bakery, inviting java drinkers to stay awhile. On Tuesday, the company will offer a different option for on-the-go customers in Manhattan with a new store that primarily accepts to-go orders from the Starbucks mobile app. Located in Penn Plaza at 242 West 34th Street above the busy transit hub, the Starbucks "pickup" store is the first of its kind.
More here
November 5, 2019

Urbanspace will open two new Midtown food halls

Though most New Yorkers know the company Urbanspace for its food halls, it actually started out when founder Eldon Scott set up the Grand Central and Union Square holiday markets in 1993. Now, the company has holiday markets in Columbus Circle and Bryant Park, runs seasonal pop-up food markets like those at Madison Square and the Garment District, and has expanded to DC and Chicago. Scott smartly opened his first permanent food market, Urbanspace Vanderbilt, in 2015 adjacent to Grand Central, and in 2017, opened another at Lexington Avenue and 51st Street. Back in January, Urbanspace announced another Midtown location on 52nd Street between 6th and 7th Avenues, and just yesterday, Commercial Observer reported that they'd open their fourth location just two blocks away on 50th Street.
READ MORE
November 5, 2019

Best of the Bronx: What to do and see in the northernmost borough now

You're probably familiar with the big attractions in the Bronx: Yankee Stadium, the New York Botanical Garden, and the Bronx Zoo. But the borough has a lot more going on, from historic and cultural treats and treasures to new breweries and restaurants and acres of beaches, parks, trails, and gardens. Read on for a collection of destinations in the city's northernmost, greenest, and most diverse borough that are worth the trip, wherever you’re coming from.
More to do in the Bronx, this way
November 5, 2019

Cap on street vendor permits would be nixed under proposed state law

A state lawmaker wants to allow more street vendors to legally set up shop across New York by lifting the cap on the number of permits issued statewide. The legislation put forth by State Sen. Jessica Ramos, who represents parts of Queens, would let municipalities decide where sidewalk vendors could operate. "The idea is to decriminalize street vending and do away with caps so that every vendor goes through the appropriate inspections," Ramos told Gothamist.
Learn about it
November 5, 2019

This $950K Westchester home is part schoolhouse, part general store, part carriage house

You wouldn’t be able to tell from looking at this unassuming Tarrytown home that it’s actually a mash-up of historical structures, though the remaining steeple provides a little clue about its past. The current kitchen and dining area was once a carriage house, the living room once served as the town’s general store and post office, and the parlor room was a one-room schoolhouse in the 1700s. The three structures were fused together in 1900 to create what is now 13 Heritage Hill Road. Spanning nearly 2,500 square feet, the three-bedroom residence is on the market for $950,000.
Take a look around

Our Mission

More than just current events, here you'll learn about the places, people, and ideas that are shaping your city.