An Italian designer may have invented the ultimate commuter bicycle. The Sada Bike — named after its creator Gianluca Sada — folds up to the size of an umbrella, making it easy to stow away in a backpack.
Daily Link Fix
- Remembering Architect Frederic Schwartz: The Observer remembers the designer of many 9/11 memorials after he lost his battle to cancer this past week.
- The New Must-Have For Luxury Buildings: Graffiti: The New Yorker questions this new trend.
- Real estate apps may lead to segregation: Teke Wiggin asks whether increased knowledge of neighborhood demographics will encourage segregation.
- Google Shopping Launches Same-Day Delivery in NYC and LA: In an effort to become the next Amazon, Google has upped the ante.
- Happy 111th! Upper West Sider Pronounced World’s Oldest Man: Wishing happy birthday to an Upper West Side resident who has been named the world’s oldest man!
Carroll Gardens, City Living, Features
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David Foster Wallace is credited with predicting way back in the mid-90s that excessive irony would lead to the ruin of our culture. Around that same time, Alanis Morissette had her own far less erudite and flawed take on irony, which went a little something like this:
“It’s like rain on your wedding day
A free ride when you already paid
Some good advice that you just didn’t take…”
With all due respect to the prescience of DFW, life for me — at least these days in my Brooklyn neighborhood of Carroll Gardens — far more resembles Alanis Morissette’s screwy version of irony.
6sqft’s Andrew Cotto — an author of two novels and a journalist whose work has appeared in The New York Times, Men’s Journal, and Salon.com — will be sharing his experiences as he makes his way around New York City. This week, he describes life in Carroll Gardens.
Architecture, Construction Update, Manhattan, Starchitecture
East Chelsea’s stunning new landmark, the 35XV, is almost complete!
We recently stopped by the site to survey the work that’s been done over the past few months, and by the looks of things, 35 West 15th Street is just waiting for an outer-skin for its podium. Given the rapid progress that’s been made so far, we think it’s safe to say that we’ll be seeing the transformation very soon.
Cool Listings, Manhattan, Upper West Side
Wouldn’t it be nice to live on top of the world? Well, somebody is in luck because a spacious 3BR/3BA apartment just opened up at the Residences at Mandarin Oriental.
This luxurious Columbus Circle pad rests on the 71st floor, with gigantic windows that overlook Central Park, as well as both the East River and the Hudson. The 3,168-square-foot apartment has ebonized oak floors and black granite accents. It also features a large eat-in kitchen with stainless steel appliances, a sub-zero refrigerator, and a wine cave.
Whoever purchases this impressive, recently renovated home will not only have bragging rights, but access to all of the amenities of the Mandarin Hotel. So yeah, this person will basically be living in a hotel. Jealous yet?
Architecture, Hotels, Williamsburg
For some longtime Williamsburg residents, the neighborhood already exhibits twilight-zone-like traits—the massive gentrification, glass waterfront towers, and skyrocketing rents—but the new Level Hotel planned for 55 Wythe Avenue is a literal translation of these possible feelings with its space-ship-looking design.
Architecture, Flatiron, Urban Design
Rising 720 feet tall from the corner of 11th Avenue and 38th Street, Archilier Architecture’s new, unconventional mixed-use tower from developer Black House will bring 51 luxury apartments and 419 hotel rooms across the street from the newly-renovated Jacob K. Javits Center.
While the ultra high-end skyscraper is one of many new construction projects in the city, it promises to be unlike anything we’ve seen before on the streets of Manhattan.
Art, Design, Events
Looking for something to do in this great city now that the weather has warmed up? We’ve rounded up some of this week’s best art, design and architecture events to kick off the month of May.
Get your art fix in Times Square for Midnight Moment or head to Randalls Island for the third rendition of Frieze Art Fair, browse the latest in cutting edge design at Collective Design Fair, explore Jersey City with Mana Contemporary’s massive open house or get outside and check out the latest installation at Socrates Sculpture Park. It’s going to be a great week!
Recent Sales, Upper East Side
It’s a great market for townhomes. 54 East 64th Street has been sold to designer Reed Krakoff and his wife Delphine for $28 million.
This news is especially remarkable considering the townhouse’s history. Formerly a Kips Bay Decorator Show House and a one-time home of the New York Observer, this Upper East Side gem was transformed into a luxurious home when it was purchased by real estate investor David Quinlan for $18.74 million back in 2005.
After failing to turn the hefty profit he was hoping for, Quinlan sold the townhouse for $20 million in 2011. Last year it was placed back on the market for $20 million; however, broker Dolly Lenz changed that, upping the asking price to $28 million. They don’t call her a superbroker for nothing.
Architecture, Cool Listings, Midtown East
One look and you may never want to leave this exquisite sun-drenched and spacious home, part of The Residences, a gorgeous new Gwathmey Siegel designed masterpiece developed by Bizzi & Partners.
Sitting 60 stories above one of the most desired streets in Manhattan, this 2BR/2.5 bath residence at 400 Fifth Avenue bestows breathtaking panoramic views from just about every room. Every detail, from the hardwood black oak flooring throughout to the ample closet space, ensures no matter where you are in this gracious home, life is better simply by being there. In fact, the residences at 500 Fifth are so beautiful the building even has its own coffee table book, 500 Fifth Avenue: A New Gwathmey Siegel Landmark, coming out this fall!
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