8 best spots for holiday lights in NYC

Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Botanic Garden

December 5, 2024

8 best spots for holiday lights in NYC

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With Christmas trees illuminated, festive bars and restaurants decked out in tinsel, and seasonal markets in full swing, the holiday season has officially landed in New York City. In addition to gift-giving and Santa selfies, an easy way to get into the holiday spirit is by experiencing one of the city's many holiday light installations, whether it be in gardens, zoos, or on the Hudson River.
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Designer gift picks: 15 NYC creatives share their favorite finds for this holiday season
December 4, 2024

Designer gift picks: 15 NYC creatives share their favorite finds for this holiday season

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6sqft asked New York City designers, architects, and artists for their favorite gift ideas this year–cool stuff they’d love to give (or get). Read on for a curated mix of unexpected items selected by a few of the city’s most talented creatives. We hope you’ll find some inspiration in your quest for the perfect gift.
NYC creatives' gift picks, this way
One High Line penthouse sells for $47M

Photo by Nicole Franzen

December 4, 2024

One High Line penthouse sells for $47M

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The most expensive Downtown deal of the year belongs to One High Line in Chelsea. According to public records, a penthouse at the Bjarke Ingels-designed condominium on West 18th Street sold for $47 million last month. Last June, the apartment entered contract after asking $52 million. According to CityRealty, Penthouse 36 is the most expensive apartment to sell at One High Line to date; another penthouse at the building asking $49 million entered contract in January but has not closed yet.
details this way
Williamsburg’s first waterfront ice skating rink opens in Domino Square

All photos courtesy of Two Trees Management

December 4, 2024

Williamsburg’s first waterfront ice skating rink opens in Domino Square

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The first ice skating rink on the Williamsburg waterfront is now open. Located within the newly-completed public plaza Domino Square, the 7,000-square-foot rink offers skaters stunning views of the Manhattan skyline and East River. The rink offers public skating, themed events, and private rentals, with holiday-themed skate nights and live DJ sessions throughout the season.
LET'S SKATE
New Year’s Eve fireworks in Central Park and Prospect Park canceled this year because of drought

Fireworks at Grand Army Plaza in Prospect Park. Photo courtesy of Andrew Gardner

December 4, 2024

New Year’s Eve fireworks in Central Park and Prospect Park canceled this year because of drought

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New York City's parks will be unusually quiet this New Year's Eve. Due to the ongoing drought, firework shows will not take place in Central Park or Prospect Park this year, as first reported by the New York Times. Running non-profit New York Road Runners said City Hall and the Parks Department instructed them to forgo this year's fireworks display during the annual New Year's Eve race in Central Park. In Prospect Park, the traditional fireworks show has been swapped for a drone light show, featuring images of iconic NYC landmarks like the Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty.
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The best Christmas trees in New York City
December 3, 2024

The best Christmas trees in New York City

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With holiday festivities ramping up in New York City, neighborhoods across the five boroughs are coming alive with dazzling displays of festive cheer. The city's Christmas and holiday trees, whose allure brings visitors from all corners of the world during the holiday season, all come with their own festive flare. Discover some of the city's most stunning holiday trees, from Rockefeller Center's world-famous tree to lesser-known—but just as elegant—trees at the South Street Seaport and Luna Park.
Find the holiday magic
New York Public Library announces the best books of 2024

Photo by Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash

December 3, 2024

New York Public Library announces the best books of 2024

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The New York Public Library has released its annual list of the best books of the year. The list, selected by committees and librarians who read hundreds of books across several genres, chose the best books of 2024 for kids, teens, and adults. This year, the library staff also released books about, or set in, New York City. The lists build on NYPL's century-old tradition of recommending the most-loved titles to New Yorkers of all ages, choosing books that reflect the city's diverse readership.
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Conversion of Bushwick’s 19th-century William Ulmer Brewery into a mixed-use development begins

Renderings courtesy of DXA Studio

December 3, 2024

Conversion of Bushwick’s 19th-century William Ulmer Brewery into a mixed-use development begins

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Work has begun to transform Bushwick's landmarked William Ulmer Brewery into a mixed-use development. Developed by Rivington Company and designed by DXA Studio, the two-phase project restores the 19th-century building's ground floor and three cellar levels for commercial use, while converting the second, third, fourth, and penthouse levels into apartments. The project will also breathe new life into the building's exterior, with a rehabilitation of its masonry and a new roof.
Learn more
MTA rolls out first-ever festive ‘holiday train’ on Metro-North

Credit: MTA / Emily Moser on Flickr

December 2, 2024

MTA rolls out first-ever festive ‘holiday train’ on Metro-North

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The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is spreading holiday cheer across the tri-state region, offering commuters a festive way to ride the rails. The transit agency on Friday introduced the first-ever Holiday Lights Train on the Metro-North, operating on random rotation on the Hudson Line, Harlem Line, and New Haven Line at all times through the New Year. The festive trains are decked out with colorful exterior lights and play special holiday-themed safety messages at select stations.
Find out more

Distinctive Homes

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For $3.3M, this historic Brooklyn Heights home comes with condo convenience

Photos courtesy of Interiors by Kat

December 2, 2024

For $3.3M, this historic Brooklyn Heights home comes with condo convenience

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Instead of having to choose between a historic, pre-war home in Brooklyn Heights and the convenience of condominium living, this three-bedroom apartment at 170 Hicks Street allows you to enjoy a combination of the two lifestyles, with an elevator and space to spare. Asking $3,300,000, this 1,940-square-foot condo occupies a full floor in a historic townhouse in the heart of the Heights. Elegant interiors–think antique chandeliers and crown moldings–recall the building's history and a private terrace provides enviable views of the surrounding neighborhood.
take the tour
How an UWS dry cleaner brings joy to the community through elaborate Barbie window displays

All photos courtesy of  Debra Kravet unless otherwise noted.

December 2, 2024

How an UWS dry cleaner brings joy to the community through elaborate Barbie window displays

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There’s a splash of hot pink on Amsterdam Avenue — well, Barbie pink. Since the "Barbie" movie came out in the summer of 2023, a dream house scene with doll versions of characters from the movie, including Margot Robbie’s Barbie and Ryan Gosling’s Ken, has been on display (and still growing) in the window of Apthorp Cleaners. But Barbie has a much longer history with this Upper West Side dry cleaner. Since owner Debra Kravet and her husband Joel moved into the space at 383 Amsterdam Avenue in 2009, Debra has been creating elaborate Barbie window displays in keeping with pop culture, the seasons, and timely events. Right now, a "Wicked" display with doll versions of Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo as Glinda and Elphaba complement the “Barbie” movie window.
details here
Apple leases additional 61K square feet at 11 Penn Plaza

Streetview of 11 Penn Plaza, Map data © 2022 Google

 

December 2, 2024

Apple leases additional 61K square feet at 11 Penn Plaza

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Apple has expanded its footprint in Vornado's Penn 11 office tower in Midtown, acquiring an additional 61,000 square feet. As reported by The Real Deal, the tech giant has signed a new lease that brings its total space in the building to 460,000 square feet and extends its occupancy through the expiration of Macy's lease in 2035. The company now spans the fourth through 14th floors of the 26-story tower, located at 11 Penn Plaza between West 31st and 32nd Streets on Seventh Avenue.
Find out more
For $17M, this eco-friendly Brooklyn Heights Passive House went from beige to bold

Photos courtesy of Evan Joseph for The Corcoran Group

November 27, 2024

For $17M, this eco-friendly Brooklyn Heights Passive House went from beige to bold

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This 1846 Greek Revival townhouse at 37 Sidney Place in historic Brooklyn Heights was listed back in 2021, after a stem-to-stern renovation following Passive House standards. Since then, the six-story, 7,040-square-foot townhouse received a dramatic interior redesign courtesy of Sasha Bikoff, bringing jewel tones and luxe finishes to the work of Passive House pros Ingui Architecture. Asking $17,000,000, the stately brick home brought convenience on board in the form of an elevator that serves all floors, from the basement gym to the skylit top-floor "treehouse room." The inside-and-out renovation even upped the drama quotient in the home's multiple outdoor spaces, including two terraces and a landscaped back garden on an extra-long lot.
Explore all six floors
The 23 best NYC holiday markets this year

FAD Holiday Market at Dumbo Empire Stores. Photo courtesy of FAD Market.

November 27, 2024

The 23 best NYC holiday markets this year

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The holiday season has officially arrived in New York City, bringing with it the quest for the perfect gift. Whether you're searching for one-of-a-kind jewelry or artwork, or are craving a festive treat, the city's holiday markets will have something special for everyone. Ahead, find some of the best spots to find unique and meaningful gifts for loved ones this holiday season, from long-standing markets at Bryant Park, Union Square, and Columbus Circle to exciting newcomers like Macy's Holiday Square.
your gift hunt starts here
Last of NYC’s outdoor dining sheds must come down by Friday

Photo by Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

November 27, 2024

Last of NYC’s outdoor dining sheds must come down by Friday

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The last of New York City's street dining sheds must be removed by Friday under the city's new seasonal guidelines. Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez on Tuesday reminded restaurants that November 29 is the last day to remove outdoor roadway dining sheds; businesses that fail to comply face fines of up to $1,000. While sidewalk dining setups that abide by the program's rules can operate year-round, roadway dining will return with the new season, starting April 1, 2025.
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Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade by the numbers: Fun facts and figures

The 2023 parade. Photo courtesy of Macy’s, Inc.

November 26, 2024

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade by the numbers: Fun facts and figures

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One of New York City's most cherished traditions returns on Thursday. The annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will hit the streets of Manhattan for the 98th time on Thursday, November 28. As one of the city's biggest events (30 million people watch from home and 3.5 million in person), the parade kicks off the holiday season with giant character balloons, intricately designed floats, marching bands, and musical performances. Ahead of the big event, learn some fun facts and figures about the parade, from the number of volunteers (5,000) and the hours of work by the Macy's team (8,000+) to the number of new balloons (6).
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Macy’s Herald Square reveals 2024 holiday windows

All photos courtesy of Macy’s, Inc. unless noted otherwise

November 26, 2024

Macy’s Herald Square reveals 2024 holiday windows

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Macy's Herald Square unveiled its iconic holiday window displays last week, continuing a cherished tradition that has enchanted New Yorkers for generations. Macy's was the first department store to feature Christmas window displays in 1874, and this year's delightful creations will capture onlookers and invite them indoors to explore the store's cheerful celebrations.
Find out more
‘Snowscape’ will turn Hudson Yards’ Edge into a winter wonderland with real snow

Credit: Edge

November 26, 2024

‘Snowscape’ will turn Hudson Yards’ Edge into a winter wonderland with real snow

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No matter the temperature in New York City, there will be snow. Hudson Yards next month will unveil "Snowscape," a new experience that will make it snow at Edge, the city's highest outdoor sky deck. Starting December 2, snow will fall at the observation deck from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. On Sundays, guests can pose with an installation of real snow and snowmen.
let it snow
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Make a wish at a new public art installation in the Financial District

All photos courtesy of Juliet Mueller

November 25, 2024

Make a wish at a new public art installation in the Financial District

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A new public art installation shines bright in the Financial District. Created by design studio Hou de Sousa, "Star Light Star Bright" draws inspiration from the cultural tradition of wish trees, where people attach wishes in writing, artwork, ribbons, and cloth, hoping they come true. Located at the plaza in front of 140 Broadway, the immersive installation invites New Yorkers to tie colorful "wish ribbons" to the chain links, growing into a Chia Pet-esque artwork full of hopes and dreams.
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NYC’s first pro soccer stadium in Queens to be called ‘Etihad Park’

All renderings courtesy of New York City FC

November 25, 2024

NYC’s first pro soccer stadium in Queens to be called ‘Etihad Park’

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New York City's first professional soccer stadium will be called Etihad Park, named after the airline of the United Arab Emirates. New York City FC on Thursday announced a 20-year agreement with Etihad Airways, granting the airline exclusive naming rights for the 25,000-seat soccer stadium currently under construction in Willets Point, Queens. Set to open in time for the 2027 season, the stadium will become a "cathedral of soccer in the United States," according to NYCFC. The news came ahead of the team's loss to the New York Red Bulls during the MLS Cup Eastern Conference semifinal match on Saturday.
Find out more
Fifth Ave celebrates 200th anniversary with car-free birthday bash

View of Fifth Avenue looking north from 45th Street, Dec. 1919. Photo courtesy of Fifth Avenue Association.

November 22, 2024

Fifth Ave celebrates 200th anniversary with car-free birthday bash

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One of the world's most famous streets turns 200 this year. In 1824, the first section of Fifth Avenue opened, marking the start of its transformation from a country road to an iconic thoroughfare known for its upscale retail and residences and cultural clout. In celebration of this milestone, the Fifth Avenue Association and the City of New York announced plans to throw the Avenue a 200th birthday party on December 8, kicking off a year-long series of anniversary programming.
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New Greenpoint rental opens lottery for 59 apartments, from $1,869/month

Renderings courtesy of Madison Realty Capital

November 22, 2024

New Greenpoint rental opens lottery for 59 apartments, from $1,869/month

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Applications are currently being accepted for the first phase of a new luxury development in Greenpoint. A lottery launched for 59 apartments at Greenpoint Central, an eight-story, two-building complex located at 65 and 75 Dupont Street. New Yorkers earning 80 and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, priced from $1,869/month for studios to $4,376/month for two bedrooms.
Find OUT if you qualify
‘City of Yes’ gets key Council approval after $5B deal reached

Credit: Tommy Kwak on Unsplash

November 22, 2024

‘City of Yes’ gets key Council approval after $5B deal reached

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The City Council moved Mayor Eric Adams' "City of Yes" housing proposal forward on Thursday after securing $5 billion in funding and making several changes to the original plan. The Council's zoning subcommittee and land use committee voted in favor of the text amendment with modifications to keep some parking requirements and restrict accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in some neighborhoods. The latest version keeps the mayor's plan largely intact but will reduce the number of projected new homes from 109,000 over the next 15 years to 80,000.
Find out more
NYC’s first Passive House public schools open in Downtown Brooklyn

Credit: James Ewing / JBSA

November 21, 2024

NYC’s first Passive House public schools open in Downtown Brooklyn

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New York City's first Passive House-certified public schools have opened in Downtown Brooklyn, setting the bar for sustainable education. Designed by Architecture Research Office (ARO), the ultra-low-energy-use building houses two schools: the Khalil Gibran International Academy, the nation’s first English-Arabic public high school, and the Elizabeth Jennings School for Bold Explorers (aka P.S. 456). Part of the mixed-use development Alloy Block, the facility consumes less than a third of the energy of a typical NYC public school.
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Keke Palmer lists her Williamsburg penthouse for $3M

Photo credit: Krisztina Crane of Evan Joseph Images

November 21, 2024

Keke Palmer lists her Williamsburg penthouse for $3M

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Multi-hyphenate actress Keke Palmer is selling her twin-terraced, top-floor Williamsburg apartment at 308 North 7th Street in the heart of Williamsburg. Asking $2,999,999, the North Brooklyn condo has three bedrooms and almost as many terraces, making it a perfect launch pad for an up-and-coming star.
Step outside for the view
46 affordable co-ops in Bed-Stuy for sale, from 206K

37 Rochester. All renderings courtesy of NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

November 20, 2024

46 affordable co-ops in Bed-Stuy for sale, from 206K

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First-time homebuyers can apply to own an affordable co-op in Bed-Stuy through a new housing lottery. The Belle Gardens cooperative includes 46 newly constructed one- and two-bedroom apartments at four buildings in the neighborhood, including 37 Rochester Avenue, 20 Suydam Place, and 331-335 Ralph Avenue. New Yorkers earning 90, 110, and 130 percent of the area median income, and who have 10 percent of the purchase price available for the down payment, can apply for the apartments, priced from $205,827 for a one-bedroom.
how to apply
This $839K co-op in an Upper West Side mansion has a presidential connection

Photo courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

November 20, 2024

This $839K co-op in an Upper West Side mansion has a presidential connection

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If you'd like to live in a grand Upper West Side mansion for less than $1 million, this four-room co-op at 280 West End Avenue rises to the occasion. Built in 1887, the stately Romanesque Revival mansion–once the home of the son and widow of President Ulysses S. Grant, according to the listing–holds the $839,000 key to Manhattan mansion living in the form of a one-bedroom home with an elegantly rounded bay window.
have a look a-round

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NYC’s best spots for Thanksgiving takeout

Courtesy of Bubby’s

November 19, 2024

NYC’s best spots for Thanksgiving takeout

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Life is stressful enough without having to also prepare an elaborate meal in a tiny New York City kitchen. Instead, order from one of the many restaurants offering special Thanksgiving takeout dinners and desserts. A few classic, comforting choices, like the Turkey Day feast with all the fixings from Bubby's and an Italian spread from Tino's Deli to less traditional options, including Kubeh's Middle Eastern-inspired meal and spicy fried chicken from Pecking House. Don't skip dessert, be it a jumbo chocolate turkey or a chocolate babka pie.
where to order
Live next to the Staten Island Ferry at this new waterfront rental, from $903/month

Images courtesy of Triangle Equities

November 19, 2024

Live next to the Staten Island Ferry at this new waterfront rental, from $903/month

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A housing lottery launched this week for 30 mixed-income apartments at a new luxury rental on the North Shore of Staten Island. Located across from the street from the Staten Island Ferry, the Residences at Lighthouse Point is part of a mixed-use development rising on the Stapleton waterfront, as well as the broader ongoing effort to revitalize the neighborhood. New Yorkers earning 40, 60, and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, priced from $903/month studios to $4,001/month two bedrooms.
find out if you qualify
$2.35M Gramercy co-op wraps classic pre-war style with vintage opulence–plus a key to the park

Photo credit: Alejandro Leon / DD-reps

November 19, 2024

$2.35M Gramercy co-op wraps classic pre-war style with vintage opulence–plus a key to the park

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This unique apartment within the city's first co-op at 34 Gramercy Park East was formerly two separate units, the combination of which resulted in a large–if unconventional–space with lots of options. The co-op's covetable location across from Gramercy Park affords it a rare New York City perk: a key to the private park. The renovated apartment, asking $2,350,000, is a winding, detail-rich journey through time, enhanced by color, pattern, and architectural detail.
get a closer look
Andy Warhol’s Trump Tower painting, which Trump never paid for, sells at auction

Left: Trump Tower via WikiCommons. Right: Andy Warhol’s “New York Skyscrapers,” courtesy of Phillips.

November 19, 2024

Andy Warhol’s Trump Tower painting, which Trump never paid for, sells at auction

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An Andy Warhol painting of Trump Tower commissioned by Donald Trump—but never paid for—has sold at auction. Requested in 1981 by the then up-and-coming real estate developer to hang in the lobby of his new Fifth Avenue skyscraper, the artwork is one of eight portraits from Warhol's "New York Skyscrapers" series depicting Trump’s first namesake development. The auction, first reported by Artnet, took place on November 19 at 5 p.m., and sold for $952,000, well beyond its originally projected $500,000 to $700,000 price range.
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American Museum of Natural History’s origami holiday tree features 1,000 pouncing paper animals

D. Finnin / ©AMNH

November 18, 2024

American Museum of Natural History’s origami holiday tree features 1,000 pouncing paper animals

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The American Museum of Natural History’s beloved Origami Holiday Tree returns this year, featuring over 1,000 hand-folded paper models inspired by the world’s leaping critters. In honor of the leap year's end, this year's theme is "Jumping for Joy," celebrating animals that hop, from rabbits, grasshoppers, and kangaroos to frogs, squirrels, and the newly-discovered leaping leech. The 13-foot tree will be on display in the Ellen V. Futter Gallery on the first floor starting November 25 through mid-January.
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This $3.75M Lefferts Manor townhouse has well-preserved historic details and every modern luxury

Photo credit: Hayley Ellen Day / DD-reps

November 18, 2024

This $3.75M Lefferts Manor townhouse has well-preserved historic details and every modern luxury

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Sometimes a listing has so much going for it, we wonder how anyone could leave it behind. This four-story Brooklyn townhouse at 49 Rutland Road embodies that "has it all" status. Asking $3,750,000, the neo-Renaissance townhouse–one in a row of five built in 1897 in the Lefferts Manor Historic District section of Prospect-Lefferts Gardens–offers turn-key living within a beautifully restored historic home.
take the tour
More public space opens under the Brooklyn Bridge in Manhattan

Images courtesy of the NYC Department of Transportation

November 18, 2024

More public space opens under the Brooklyn Bridge in Manhattan

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New Yorkers can now enjoy more public space under the Brooklyn Bridge in Manhattan. The latest phase of "The Arches" opened on Monday, adding 15,000 square feet of park space to an area closed to the public for more than a decade, the city's Department of Transportation announced. The space, now with lush greenery and new seating, had been closed for nearly 15 years while serving as a staging site for several bridge restoration projects. The Arches sits next to the Brooklyn Banks, a haven for skateboarders that partially reopened last year.
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Upper West Side’s Metro Theater may finally reopen

Photo by london road on Flickr

November 15, 2024

Upper West Side’s Metro Theater may finally reopen

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A landmarked Upper West Side movie theater that has been vacant for nearly two decades may soon be returned to its former glory—as long as its buyers can raise $7 million by the end of the year. As reported by the New York Times, the nonprofit Upper West Side Cinema Center on Friday announced it reached a deal with the current owners of the Metro Theater, located on Broadway near 99th Street, to purchase the theater, contingent on securing the required funds.
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MTA to offer free shuttle buses, discounted LIRR rides during Rockaway A line shutdown

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

November 15, 2024

MTA to offer free shuttle buses, discounted LIRR rides during Rockaway A line shutdown

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Rockaway residents won't be left stranded this winter while the A and S subway lines undergo rehabilitation. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday announced a substitute service plan to ensure reliable transit options for Rockaway residents while the MTA conducts vital resilience upgrades to the A and S lines. The plan includes two free shuttle buses, heavily discounted Long Island Rail Road fares, and a free Rockaway subway shuttle train serving all stations on the peninsula between Far Rockaway and Rockaway Park.
Learn more
This $8.75M Village townhouse is a downtown dream home with an elevator, three terraces, and a rooftop office suite

Photo credit: DD-reps

November 15, 2024

This $8.75M Village townhouse is a downtown dream home with an elevator, three terraces, and a rooftop office suite

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If your idea of the perfect home is a historic townhouse in the West Village, you're definitely not alone. This two-family home at 12 Leroy Street embodies the dream with 4,300 square feet of tranquil interior space in the endlessly charming vicinity of Bleecker and Bedford Streets. Asking $8,750,000, the 20-foot-wide property consists of a garden apartment and four renovated upper floors accessible via private elevator, several terraces, and a suitably enchanting landscaped garden in the rear.
Village townhouse tour, this way
The tallest building in Queens tops out over 800 feet

Images courtesy of Binyan unless otherwise noted

November 14, 2024

The tallest building in Queens tops out over 800 feet

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The tallest building in Queens topped out this week at over 823 feet. Developed by BLDG Management Company and designed by Perkins Eastman, the Orchard is a 70-story rental in Long Island City with 824 studio to three-bedroom apartments, 248 of which are designated as affordable. Located at Orchard Street and Jackson Avenue in the Court Square section of the neighborhood, the rental boasts over 100,000 square feet of amenities, including a huge backyard with a swimming pool, three pickleball courts, an outdoor movie theater, and more.
Find out more
For $5.8M, this Fifth Avenue co-op has ‘Mad Men’-era vibes and Central Park views

Photo credit: Celeste Godoy Photography

November 14, 2024

For $5.8M, this Fifth Avenue co-op has ‘Mad Men’-era vibes and Central Park views

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With its mid-20th-century sophistication and sleek design, this one-bedroom co-op at 825 Fifth Avenue, currently owned by an art collector, offers the classic Manhattan elegance of a bygone age, but the Central Park views from this covetable Upper East Side address are timeless. The apartment, asking $5,795,000, is set up as a showcase of art and design for a busy city lifestyle.
take the tour
Congestion pricing to start in January with $9 toll, Hochul announces

Photo by Pranay Pareek on Unsplash

November 14, 2024

Congestion pricing to start in January with $9 toll, Hochul announces

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Congestion pricing will resume by early January with a lower toll of $9, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday, in an attempt to save the program before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. The new plan, which cuts the toll by 40 percent from the original $15 fee, is fast-tracked for implementation and has been approved by the MTA board. Hochul abruptly paused the program in June, weeks before it was scheduled to begin, citing inflation and economic conditions. The fee will go into effect starting the morning of Sunday, January 5.
learn more
The world’s first streetcar began operation in Lower Manhattan in 1832

Horse-drawn streetcar no. 148 of a New York City system. Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress 

November 14, 2024

The world’s first streetcar began operation in Lower Manhattan in 1832

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On November 14, 1832, the John Mason, a horse-drawn streetcar, began its route between Prince and 14th Streets. Named for the railroad magnate who commissioned it, the new transportation addition was the first of its kind and a vast improvement over the horse-drawn omnibus that was currently in use. Built in 1827, the omnibus was little more than a boxy stagecoach, with riders packed into it like "sardines in a box with perspiration for oil. Passengers hang from the straps like smoked hams in a corner grocery." Fares were only 15 cents, and though cars were only supposed to hold 15 people, riders even clambered onto the roof, holding on for dear life.
Not perfect, but an improvement
NYC Council votes to end forced broker fees

Council Member Chi Ossé held a press conference before the City Council voted on the FARE Act. Photo credit: Gerardo Romo / NYC Council Media Unit on Flickr

November 13, 2024

NYC Council votes to end forced broker fees

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New York City renters may soon no longer have to pay a broker fee when leasing an apartment. The Council on Wednesday voted to approve the Fairness in Apartment Rental Expenses (FARE) Act, which shifts the payment of broker fees to the party who hired the broker, typically landlords or the management company. The bill was passed with a veto-proof majority of 42-8.
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NYBG’s Holiday Train Show is a tribute to NYC’s architectural heritage

A model train passing by the NYC skyline. Courtesy of the New York Botanical Garden

November 13, 2024

NYBG’s Holiday Train Show is a tribute to NYC’s architectural heritage

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A quintessential New York City holiday tradition is back for its 33rd year. The New York Botanical Garden's beloved Holiday Train Show enchants guests with G-scale miniature trains that zip through nearly 200 plant-based models of iconic city landmarks, displayed inside the historic Enid A. Haupt Conservatory and outdoors. For the first time, guests can experience the show in a new light with Holiday Train Nights, where the trains and displays twinkle under the night sky. The show runs from November 16 through January 20, 2025.
Find out more
Luxury rental in Astoria launches lottery for 90 apartments, from $828/month

Rendering courtesy of MNS

November 13, 2024

Luxury rental in Astoria launches lottery for 90 apartments, from $828/month

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Applications are now being accepted for 90 mixed-income apartments in a new luxury rental building in Astoria. Located at 34-35 44th Street on the border of Long Island City, the 13-story Hearthstone offers residents thoughtfully designed units with top-tier amenities, blocks from bustling Steinway Street. New Yorkers earning 40, 60, 100, and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, with one bedrooms ranging from $828/month to 3,298/month and two bedrooms from $967/month to $2,768/month.
learn if you qualify
For $25M, a Flatiron penthouse in a golden cupola, with Manhattan at your feet

Photo credit: Eitan Gamliely for Sotheby’s International Realty

November 13, 2024

For $25M, a Flatiron penthouse in a golden cupola, with Manhattan at your feet

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If you're asking $25 million for a Manhattan condo, even if it's a mansion-sized penthouse with Empire State Building views and a Fifth Avenue address, it had better occupy a gilded sky dome atop a neighborhood landmark. With that qualification met, this extravagant duplex atop the Sohmer Piano Building at 170 Fifth Avenue–the listing calls it a "Renaissance rocket ship"–has more grand gestures to offer: The seller, entrepreneur Greg Carr, has pledged the home's sale proceeds toward his highly-regarded philanthropic project, the rebuilding of a decimated national wildlife park in Mozambique.
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Deal reached to build 355-unit development across from Brooklyn Botanic Garden

962-972 Franklin Avenue. Streetview © 2024 Google.

November 12, 2024

Deal reached to build 355-unit development across from Brooklyn Botanic Garden

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Several years and project iterations later, a new mixed-use building will rise across from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Developer Continuum Company and Council Member Crystal Hudson reached a deal to develop a 10-story project with 355 apartments, 30 percent of which will be income-restricted, at 962-972 Franklin Avenue in Crown Heights. The revised rezoning proposal, approved by the City Council's subcommission on zoning on Tuesday, features additional changes to the roof slope to minimize shadows on the garden's rare plant collection.
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A Victoria’s Secret model’s angelic East Village flat with a solarium and terrace asks $2.9M

Photo credit: Oleg Davidoff Photographer Co.

November 12, 2024

A Victoria’s Secret model’s angelic East Village flat with a solarium and terrace asks $2.9M

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This three-bedroom "condop" in the East Village at 50 Avenue A would be a heavenly home even without the added cachet of being home to former Victoria's Secret model Shannan Click. Asking $2,900,000, the light-filled flat is an all-weather oasis, with an 880-square-foot terrace and a glass-clad solarium for basking in the sunlight.
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Saks Fifth Avenue cancels holiday light show

Credit: Matt Kieffer on Flickr

November 12, 2024

Saks Fifth Avenue cancels holiday light show

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For the first time in nearly two decades, Saks Fifth Avenue's holiday light show—a beloved New York City tradition—will go dark this year. As first reported by the New York Post, the festive experience, which attracts hordes of holiday shoppers and tourists to Midtown, has been canceled this year to save money during what has been a "challenging year" for luxury stores, according to the company.
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Prospect Park wildfire scorches two acres amid record-breaking dry spell

Images courtesy of the Prospect Park Alliance

November 11, 2024

Prospect Park wildfire scorches two acres amid record-breaking dry spell

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More than 100 firefighters battled a brush fire in Prospect Park on Friday night that charred two acres of greenery, occurring during one of the longest dry spells in New York City's history. The blaze, which broke out in the Nethermead near the Prospect Park Boathouse, was reported around 6:40 p.m., according to AMNY. After the fire, Mayor Eric Adams banned grilling in city parks as the five boroughs remain under a drought watch.
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Hochul considers resuming congestion pricing after Trump win

Credit: Susan Watts/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul on Flickr

November 11, 2024

Hochul considers resuming congestion pricing after Trump win

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Gov. Kathy Hochul is reportedly exploring ways to revive congestion pricing before President-elect Donald Trump, who has pledged to eliminate the plan, takes office. As first reported by Politico, the governor's office has asked the U.S. Department of Transportation about potentially lowering the proposed toll from $15 to $9 and whether this change would require another lengthy environmental review process.
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