June 1, 2015

The High and Low: Waterfront Living on Beekman Place

While neighborhoods may seem to become hot-or-not at the drop of a hat, waterfront property retains its mystique through the ages. Open river and bridge views are a rare and covetable amenity that can’t be brought in with high-end consultants or approximated by joining a gym on the next block. These two homes on Beekman Place, an East Side enclave of pre-war apartment buildings and stately townhouses that has long been considered the essence of understated Manhattan elegance, form part of an enviable row of buildings along the East River possessed of waterfront living on one side and Manhattan excitement on the other. The tree-shaded block-long street near the United Nations and Peter Detmold Park, minutes from bustling Midtown, is often overlooked, yet no less magical should you find yourself on it–the New York Times recently called it, "about as far off the beaten path as one can get in Manhattan." On the market now are a $13 million duplex, complete with a raised deck that elevates the view to peerless, and a 12th-floor gem on the same short street asking a more palatable $1.5 million, also with panoramic river views and a smaller, but no less lovable deck from which to watch the ships pass in the night–or day.
Get an eyeful of these waterfront vistas this way
June 1, 2015

Meet the Current Owner of the Spinning Upstate Dome Home; 10 Most Expensive NYC Apartments for Rent

Meet the woman who currently owns this amazing revolving dome home on the market for under $1M. [NYT] Here are the ten priciest apartments up for rent in NYC right now. [Curbed] De Blasio will crack down on unregulated “three-quarter houses” that are cramming addicts, recently released prisoners, and the mentally ill into apartments collecting state money. […]

June 1, 2015

VIDEO: Driving Around NYC in the 1920s Was a Dangerous Task

I didn't. It's a gift. Next time you're holding on for dear life in the back of a taxi, watch a few seconds of this video and you'll likely feel a bit better about your fate. In this 1928 parody of what bad drivers New Yorkers are (some things never change), actor Harold Lloyd, famous for his silent comedy films, assumes the role of a city cab driver who takes passengers on a bumpy ride, dodging street-level trains and weaving in and out of traffic. We then see that the alternative modes of transportation, horse and carriage or bus, are just as dangerous.
Watch the full video here
June 1, 2015

1100 Architect’s Long Island House Features Grassy Sand Dunes on Its Roof

1100 Architect is an architectural firm based in New York City responsible for building luxurious yet curious homes all over the globe. Their stunning Long Island House is located on the eastern shore of the outpost and is one of the finest examples of their work. In addition to big and bright interiors that let the outdoors in, its spectacular exteriors host a deck for sunbathing, an infinity pool for cooling off seaside, and a sloped green roof that mimics the surrounding dunes.
Learn more about this seaside retreat in disguise
June 1, 2015

UWS Co-op of the Late Andy Rooney Lists for $2.4M

We had some celebrity action at 522 West End Avenue just a couple weeks ago when we discovered that "Girls" star Zosia Mamet bought a rather unimpressive apartment in the building. And we've now learned from the Journal that the former home of the late Andy Rooney, legendary "60 Minutes" anchor, has hit the market for $2.385 million. The two-bedroom, ninth-floor co-op is quite lovely, but what's really going to attract potential buyers is the collection of Mr. Rooney's wood art pieces–like the dining room table and headboards–on display throughout the home. He was an avid woodworker in his free time, and the staging and brokerage teams decided to utilize his creations. They've also included photos of Rooney and his typewriter. Unfortunately, none of these mementos come with the apartment.
Take a look around
June 1, 2015

This $6,500/Month Soho Loft Is an Artist’s Perfect Canvas

Artists looking for the perfect Soho loft with a live/work arrangement will be happy to see this blank canvas of a space in the appropriately named Museum Building at 11 Mercer Street. Despite having only two oversized windows on the eastern side of the loft, this open space is flooded with light, and it has plenty of wall space to hang your artwork. The open, airy condo is available for rent in July, asking $6,500 a month.
More pics inside
May 31, 2015

A Trashcan Inspired the Design of Rafael Viñoly’s 432 Park Avenue

Most ideas usually end up in the trash but few ideas are inspired by the basket that holds them. A recent discovery by The Real Deal has revealed that the city's residential tower-of the-moment, 432 Park Avenue, was actually inspired by a Josef Hoffmann-designed wastebasket released in 1905. The revelation came via a talk held last December at the Cornell Center for Real Estate and Finance where Harry Macklowe, the co-developer of the supertall, told the crowd that the repository was an "important touchstone" for the 1,396-foot-high design.
More on the muse here
May 30, 2015

May’s 10 Most-Read Stories and This Week’s Features

May’s 10 Most-Read Stories New York Times Columnist Frank Bruni Nabs a Broadway Corridor Pad for $1.65M New Renzo Piano-Designed Residential Tower to Rise in Soho Go Inside 190 Bowery This Saturday for an Art Opening Bradley Cooper Scopes Out an $8.5M Three-Bedroom in Tribeca’s Hubert Live in Eleanor Roosevelt’s Historic Townhouse for $18M Paul […]

May 29, 2015

New Yorker Spotlight: Peter Kaye Keeps the Turntables Spinning at Bleecker Street Records

In the age of streaming music, it may be surprising to learn that not only are record stores still in existence, but millennials are buying more than their fair share of albums. Perhaps it's because records are tangible and there is a movement for feeling and touching items, or maybe it's a natural progression of hipsterdom, but 20-something New Yorkers are buying the same records their parents listened to as well as current chart toppers—yes, even Taylor Swift releases vinyl. One of the happy observers of this resurgence is Peter Kaye, a manager at Bleecker Street Records in the West Village. For the last 18 years, Bleecker Street Records has been a go-to destination for those looking for records, CDs, and "extracurriculars" as Peter calls the posters, patches, pins, and playbills the store carries. While its address no longer matches its name, the musical mission at Bleecker Street Records remains the same. Peter has a very important hand in how the store runs. As both a manager and the LP guy, he's responsible for finding the records and serving as an in-store historian. He's able to put each record into context and explain why it matters, which helps lesser-known albums have their moment in the spotlight. We recently spoke with Peter to find out what it's like to manage a record store in a digital era.
read the interview with him here
May 29, 2015

The One World Trade Center Observatory Officially Opens Today!

We couldn't have dreamt up a more picturesque day for the opening of One World Trade Center's sky-high observatory. Today visitors will get a new bird's eye view of New York City with panoramic views stretching 50 miles past the Manhattan skyline and the Statue of Liberty from a three-story perch 1,250 feet up in the air.
More details on the experience that awaits you here
May 29, 2015

Sources Say Saudi Billionaire Is Buyer of $95M Penthouse at 432 Park

The Real Deal reports that Saudi billionaire and retail magnate Fawaz Al Hokair is the buyer of the $95 million penthouse at 432 Park, the city's current tallest residential building. The unit went into contract in 2013 for roughly $11,500 per square foot, but sources are just now coming out with his identity. Al Hokair is the founder and chairman of Fawaz Alhokair Group, the most valuable retail and real estate company in Saudi Arabia. Forbes estimates the company is worth $22 billion, and that Al Hokair's net worth is $1.37 billion. When the deal closes it will be the second most expensive condo sale ever in the city, stealing the title from Bill Ackman's $91.5 million buy at One57 and following only behind the $100 million penthouse sale, also at One57.
More details, interior renderings, and a floorplan ahead
May 29, 2015

Fantasy Floorplans Bring to Life Your Favorite TV Show Homes from ‘Friends’ to ‘Mad Men’

Do you get distracted watching your favorite television shows because you're too busy trying to figure out Don Draper's address or how the heck Monica and Rachel afford that massive Greenwich Village apartment? If so, we've got the perfect piece of wall art for you. Fantasy Floorplans (h/t Bezar) are hand-drawn blueprints of the apartments and homes in your favorite TV shows. From "Friends" to "Mad Men" to "Sex and the City" to "The Jeffersons," tons of popular NYC-based television shows are included. And for our friends outside the big apple, the floorplans cover locations throughout the country from shows that aired as far back as the 1950s.
Find out more ahead
May 29, 2015

Wife Builds Her Own ‘She Shed’ in the Catskills Mountains

Men have their man caves, but when it comes to where a woman can find a place for respite, most are quick to point to the kitchen. Well that's all changing TODAY reports, as there seems to be an emergence of a new trend: she sheds. These tiny homes are offering wives, mothers and girlfriends an on-site escape away from the stresses of daily life. And at the forefront of this movement? Meet Sandra Foster, a lovely lady who built herself an equally lovely she shed in the heart of the Catskills mountains.
FInd out more here
May 29, 2015

Living Cube: An All-in-One Storage Solution with a Bed and Hidden Room

Attention apartment dwellers! If you're looking for a practical and elegant way to store all of your belongings, and to stealthily add additional sleeping quarters to your home, look no further than the Living Cube. Envisioned by German designer Till Konneker, this multifunctional design comes complete with a top platform for chilling out or fitting an extra bed, as well as a hidden storage room inside.
Learn more about this hyper-functional design
May 29, 2015

Freestanding Victorian with All the Historic Details Asks $2 Million in Ditmas Park

It's hard not to fall in love with this freestanding Victorian at 770 Rugby Road in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn. The house has had the same owner for more than 50 years, and only a few owners since it was built in 1905. The interior is chock full of well-kept period details, not to mention a grassy lawn and a front porch. Are you falling as hard as we are? It's on the market now for $2.195 million.
See more interior photos
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May 28, 2015

Quirky Cabin-Like Home with Tons of Outdoor Space Is Up for Rent in Williamsburg

This 2,000-square-foot three-bedroom Williamsburg duplex is a lot of things: It's cool, kooky, rustic and a little beachy, too. Some nice interior details have been paired with a fun, smart design. The listing calls this a "city meets country oasis," and with all the exposed wood, we'd have to agree. It all makes for a special pad with a killer outdoor patio and garden. If you fall in love with it, it's now on the market for $7,995 a month.
Go inside here
May 28, 2015

Commissioner of Baseball Robert Manfred Buys $5.6M UES Penthouse

Just in time for the height of MLB season, Robert Manfred, the freshly appointed Commissioner of Baseball who is a known Yankees fan, has scooped up an Upper East Side penthouse condo. He and his wife Colleen paid $5,575,000 for the full-floor, three-bedroom pad, according to city records released today. Located at 303 East 77th Street, the home also boasts 2,559 square feet of interior space and with 809 square feet of outdoor space comprised of three terraces and a balcony.
See the rest of Manfred's new digs here
May 28, 2015

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week, 5/28-6/3

This weekend, one of my favorite all-encompassing events is hitting the Bowery area: IDEAS CITY. There are so many things to do, you can fill up your weekend and then some! Hear about the intersection of television and art at the Jewish Museum, get inspired by creative ladies at Tedx, or party for a good cause and benefit sustainability initiatives in Panama. Investigate old New York at Paul Zone's exhibition, zoom to the future and sample cuisine fit for Mars at The Boiler, or settle into the wonderful weird of today at Michael Alan's latest living installation. End the weekend by being incredibly jealous of artist Brigitte Bouquet's gorgeous home-gallery and amazing art work.
All the best events here
May 28, 2015

$3.7M Loft in Iconic Police Building Boasts Soaring Ceilings and Funky Interior Details

It seems as though each of the units in the iconic Police Building on Centre Street has its own unique flair, and this apartment is no exception. It's being offered for the first time since the building was converted into co-ops back in 1988, and has bragging rights as one of the only true two-bedroom, two-bath residences in the entire building. And it can be yours for $3.65 million.
More pics inside
May 28, 2015

Amarith Fuses a Dining Table and a Pool Table in a Classy Way

If you've wanted a pool table at home but know there's no way one will ever fit in your apartment, here's a playful and innovative table concept designed just for you. Meet the Amarith Fusion pool table, a modern, sleek design combo that lets you enjoy a game of pool after dinner with friends—and doesn't take up any more space than a traditional dining table.
Learn more about this dining/pool table
May 28, 2015

How the Whitney Installed an Invisible Flood Barrier After Hurricane Sandy

For the past few months, all eyes have been on the new Whitney. From architecture reviews of Renzo Piano's modern museum to insider looks at the galleries, New Yorkers can't stop talking about the design of this game-changing structure. It wasn't all sunshine and roses for the building, though. In 2012, halfway through construction, Hurricane Sandy flooded the museum with more than five million gallons of water, causing the architects to rethink the site. The Whitney now boasts a custom flood-mitigation system that was "designed like a submarine," according to engineer Kevin Schorn, one of Piano's assistants. As The Atlantic reports, the system has a 15,500-pound water-tight door that was designed by engineers who work on the U.S. Navy's Destroyers and can protect against a flood level of 16.5 feet (seven feet higher than the waters during Sandy) and withstand an impact from 6,750 pounds of debris. But what's just as amazing as these figures is the fact that this huge system is invisible to the average person.
Find out more here
May 28, 2015

EVENT: Hear Five Brilliant Ideas Vying to Improve Urban Life at ‘Pitching the City’

New urban development and redevelopment proposals get thrown around on a daily basis, but very few ever come to fruition. With an overload of ideas floating around, it's hard to keep track of what's worth giving a second thought to—let alone cash. Enter Pitching the City, a biennial gathering that pits the creators of five genius plans to improve the contemporary city against one another. This year's summit will bring an array of innovative urban strategies from across the globe under one roof for a high-octane pitching session happening in Nolita on Friday, May 29th (that's tomorrow!), and you're invited.
Find out how to attend here
May 28, 2015

Money Mapped: New York Has the Same GDP as Spain

We all have a general idea as to which states contribute the most to the nation's GDP, but this handy map offers a little more food for thought. Created by Mark Perry of the American Enterprise Institute, the map compares the gross domestic product of each U.S. state with the national GDP of economies abroad.
READ MORE
May 28, 2015

190 Bowery Art Show Was Closed to the Public to ‘Protect the Space and the Art’

The art opening at 190 Bowery took social media by storm a couple weekends ago when hundreds of people (who were likely more eager to get a look inside the iconic building than to peruse the art) lined up outside and were then promptly turned away when the event was changed from public to private. As The Lo-Down notes, curator and art dealer Vito Schnabel, who hosted the event with the building's developer Aby Rosen, has now spoken out in the New York Times about the last-minute change of plans, saying that his main concern was "protecting the space and the art."
Find out more here
May 27, 2015

REVEALED: 1 Park Lane Will Be the Next Supertall Central Park South Tower

Just a week after Manhattan's Community Board 5 called for a moratorium on shadow-casting Central Park skyscrapers taller than 600 feet, renderings have been revealed for the next supertall tower coming to the periphery of the park. New York Yimby first spotted the images for 1 Park Lane, the 1,210-foot-tall glassy condo that will replace the Helmsley Park Lane Hotel at 36 Central Park South and become the fourth-tallest residential building in the city.
More details ahead
May 27, 2015

Shhhhh…Secrets of Your Favorite NYC Landmarks

Sure, pretty much everyone living in New York City is familiar with Grand Central Station, Central Park and some of our other more notable landmarks, but these well-known locations still hold secrets that even born-and-bred New Yorkers may be surprised to learn. We’ve gathered together just a few to get you started, but in a city this size, with a history this long, there are many more that await your discovery. How many of these secrets were you aware of?
Find out all about these hidden gems here
May 27, 2015

For Under $1M You Can Buy a Dome Home in New Paltz That Rotates 360 Degrees

Long Island may be home to the the world’s largest geodesic dome house, but just two hours north of NYC in New Paltz is an eco-friendly wooden dome home that can rotate 360 degrees with the push of a button. And, as Curbed reports, it's now up for grabs for $950,000. Built in 1999, the 2,300-square-foot, three-bedroom, UFO-looking residence sits in the middle of a 28-acre forest at the base of the Mohonk Preserve. It spins in order to utilize passive solar energy and to take advantage of the picturesque views.
See what else this geodesic dome home has in store
May 27, 2015

One Vanderbilt Tower Receives Unanimous Approval from City Council

This afternoon, SL Green's One Vanderbilt tower received the ultimate green light from the New York City Council, as members voted unanimously in favor of both the construction of the new 1,501-foot tall office building and the rezoning of a five-block stretch of Vanderbilt Avenue (the Vanderbilt Corridor) that would bring with it significant infrastructural upgrades to the area's public transportation. The vote was the last hurdle for the development and is a critical step in the rezoning of a greater area of Midtown East.
Find out more here
May 27, 2015

What Skyline Is This? Why Investing in Trailer Parks Is a Good Bet

Can you identify all the world’s skylines? Take this quiz. [Washington Post] A handful of city council members are in favor of the Central Park supertall moratorium. [Crain’s] Parents living in cramped quarters are asking friends to forgo giving their kids unnecessary gifts at birthday parties. [NYDN] General Assembly co-founder and entrepreneur Adam Pritzker (whose […]

May 27, 2015

Futuristic Pod Powered by the Wind and Sun–a Viable Housing Solution?

We've featured plenty of live/work and portable prefab spaces on 6sqft in the past, but this tiny house designed by Nice Architects might be one of the most efficient and adaptable housing solutions we've seen. Called the Ecocapsule, the sleek micro-house is a totally off-grid construction that's powered by solar and wind energy. Amazingly, at just 14.6 feet long and 7.4 feet wide, it has the potential to comfortably fit two adults. And on top of that, there's a kitchenette, a toilet, and a shower with hot water.
Find out more here
May 27, 2015

Why a Spanish Monastery Was Left in a Brooklyn Warehouse; ‘Tis the Season for Dumpster Diving

The Spotted Pig owners will officially open a four-story restaurant at the top of 70 Pine Street. [NYP] William Randolph Hearst stored a 12th century Spanish monastery in a Brooklyn warehouse for 26 years. [Untapped] Take a look inside this artist couple’s bright, floral, and fantastical Soho loft. [Curbed] It’s that time of year again… dumpster diving […]

May 27, 2015

A Brick Cottage in Brooklyn Is Up for Sale at the Warren Place Mews

The Warren Place Mews is one of the most charming blocks of Cobble Hill, if not all of Brooklyn. It's a gated street with 34 modest brick cottages that face a private courtyard. The mews dates back to the 1870s, when it was built by wealthy merchant and philanthropist Alfred Tredway White. White advocated for housing for the working class and built affordable housing all around Brooklyn. These homes in particular were used as workman's cottages. But the mews has come a long way since then. This home, at 21 Warren Place, is now on the market for $1.495 million.
See the interior here
May 27, 2015

NYC Households Spend $130 a Month Funding the MTA

Today's dose of disheartening news about the MTA comes via the Daily News, who reports that the debt-ridden city agency collects $4.8 billion a year from city taxpayers through taxes, fees, and the city budget. This comes out to $130 a month for the average New York household, even more than the cost of a monthly Metrocard, according to a new report by Comptroller Scott Stringer. Keep in mind this is in addition to the $5.3 billion they collect from fares and tolls.
Find out more here
May 27, 2015

Shabby Chic Soho Loft Featured in Elle Decor Asks $3M

There's a new two-bedroom Soho loft available at 292 Lafayette Street for $2.95 million. This shabby chic corner unit has been featured in Elle Decor and is surrounded by eight oversized windows, filtering in a ton of light from southern and eastern exposures. It also has rustic details we love, like original timbers and distressed wide plank white oak flooring. The home was purchased in 2010 by its current owners for somewhere around $1.8 million.
More pics inside
May 26, 2015

Own a Mansion with Celebrity History on a Private Island Overlooking NYC for $11M

Considering the fact that New York City townhouses go for tens of millions of dollars and luxury condos are climbing into the hundred million range, $11 million for an entire private island and mansion seems like quite the bargain. Tavern Island is a 3.5-acre piece of land located in the Long Island Sound near Rowayton, Connecticut, overlooking NYC. According to the Daily Mail, in the 1950s and '60s, theater impresario and lyricist Billy Rose owned the island and hosted lavish parties for the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Maureen O'Sullivan, and Barbara Streisand. In addition to these epic bragging rights, the new owner of the island will gain a six-bedroom English Colonial mansion dating to 1900, private beach, swimming pool, and a docking area and boat for access the mainland.
Tour this unique island
May 26, 2015

Musicians of Tribeca: The City’s Hottest ‘Hood for Pop Stars

Though Tribeca has long been considered a haven for artists, this tends to refer to those in the visual arts, thanks to the neighborhood's chill vibes and spacious loft apartments. But over the last two decades, some of the world's most famous pop musicians have been gobbling up real estate on its cobblestone streets. From Katy Perry and Taylor Swift to Chris Martin and Justin Timberlake, the hit makers can't get enough of Tribeca.
Take a celebrity musician tour of Tribeca
May 26, 2015

Lovable Pied-à-terre on Bleecker Street Comes with a Landscaped Garden

Here's a really cool ground-floor pied-à-terre at 175 Bleecker Street with a private garden, available for $849,000. The fully-renovated loft has a crisp, clean feel with tall casement windows, white floors, and whitewashed exposed brick. And the landscaped garden is easy to maintain so it looks beautiful all year long—plus imagine stepping out into your own verdant space with a cup of coffee in hand.
More this way
May 26, 2015

The Future NYC Skyline of 2030; Urban Blight in the West Village?

Why are so many West Village storefronts shuttered? [The New Yorker] Here’s what the NYC skyline will look like in 2030. [Curbed] Russian oligarch Dmitry Rybolovlev’s $88M penthouse has been taken off the market. [NYP] Crown Heights residents saw their rents double last year. [Gothamist] Small biz Brooklyn owners are calling it quits as the borough sees property values […]

May 26, 2015

Report Poorly Parked Cars and Bad Drivers with the ‘TowIt’ App

Few things are as enraging and unnerving as the way New Yorkers drive. And although no one wants to be a tattletale, there's finally a way to help better patrol bad drivers right from our smartphones. Called TowIt, this handy app allows concerned citizens to snap photos of motor violations, geo-tag them, and then send them in real-time for ticketing or towing by law enforcement and city officials.
Find out more and where to download the app
May 26, 2015

Yayoi Kusama’s Polka Dot-Covered ‘Obliteration Room’ Shows for the First Time in the U.S.

This picture may look familiar to you, as the installation at the David Zwirner Gallery has been making the rounds on Instagram. The work of artist Yayoi Kasuma, "The Obliteration Room" is part of the larger exhibit "Give Me Love." It's the first time the wildly popular polka dot-covered room has been shown in the U.S., and New Yorkers are excited to be part of the interactive experience. The backdrop for "The Obliteration Room" is an all-white, familiar domestic setting located within a prefabricated suburban home. As guests enter the room they're handed stickers, round dots in various sizes and bright colors, and asked to place them anywhere they'd like.
More on the colorful installation
May 26, 2015

The Lost Dakota Stables; What Makes NY Bagels So Good?

Looking back at the lost Dakota Stables, built for the use of the Dakota tenants, as well as the UWS neighborhood. [Daytonian in Manhattan] Take a day trip upstate to Kykuit, the 40-room mansion and impressive sculpture garden that were once the Rockefeller family estate. [Curbed] Does NYC have the best bagels because of its soft water? Find […]

May 26, 2015

Starchitect Rafael Vinoly to Design a 10-Story Meatpacking District Building

Look out—not up—because there’s a new low-rise Rafael Vinoly-designed building coming our way. The architect mastermind behind the city’s tallest residential tower, 432 Park Avenue, has just been chosen to design a comparatively demure ten-story office-and-retail building in the Meatpacking District, reports The Real Deal. The new addition is being developed by Vornado Realty Trust and Aurora […]

May 26, 2015

Rich NYC Buyers Now Requesting Luxury Panic Rooms

Call it the problems of 0.002 percent, but the Times reports that wealthy buyers are now requesting that "safe rooms" be installed as part of their multi-million dollar buys. Although when most of us envision these spaces we immediately think of the movie "Panic Room" where Jodie Foster and her on-screen daughter are hunkered down in a dark and cold metal encasement with bad lighting, the wealthy by comparison have no interest of slumming it even when under siege. The paper reports that these individuals are now putting their panic rooms in full view, and they're just as cushy as the rest of their ultra-luxe digs.
More on the trend here

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