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New York's largest Pride Month flag is back and better than ever this year. Found in Roosevelt Island's Four Freedoms Park, the 2022 Progress Pride Flag measures more than 100 feet long by 30 feet wide and features added colors to be more inclusive of the LGBTQIA+ community. The installation, which will be featured on the park's monumental staircase throughout the month of June, first debuted in 2019, the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, and is back for Pride Month 2022.
See it here

Events & Things To Do

57 affordable units available at new South Bronx rental, from $522/month

Photo courtesy of Comunilife

June 7, 2022

57 affordable units available at new South Bronx rental, from $522/month

A housing lottery opened this week for 57 low-income units at a new residential building in the Bronx. Located at 3401 Third Avenue in Morrisania, the 10-story building, known as El Borinquen, is being developed by Comunilife, a non-profit that provides housing and health services to vulnerable residents. New Yorkers earning 40 and 60 percent of the area median income, or between $17,898 for a single person and $72,060 for a household of three, can apply for the apartments, which range from $522/month studios to $1,065 one-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

421-a tax break will continue to cost NYC revenue for decades after it expires, report finds

Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash

June 7, 2022

421-a tax break will continue to cost NYC revenue for decades after it expires, report finds

The 421-a tax abatement program, which gives real estate developers who construct new residential buildings a property tax exemption in exchange for designating a portion of the homes affordable, will expire on June 15 after state lawmakers last week did not renew it during the final day of this year's legislative session. Even with it set to lapse, the controversial program will continue to cost the city revenue for decades, according to a new report. According to findings published Monday by the Independent Budget Office of New York City, the tax abatement program will cost the city over $1 billion annually until 2034, with total costs not ceasing until the fiscal year 2056.
Details here

L.E.A.F. festival blooms again this year with a three-day flower-filled affair in the Meatpacking District

Flower Flashes by Lewis Miller Design / Photo credit: Leatal Cohen, Pic and Petal for L.E.A.F

June 7, 2022

L.E.A.F. festival blooms again this year with a three-day flower-filled affair in the Meatpacking District

L.E.A.F, New York's budding contemporary flower show, returns to Manhattan’s Meatpacking District for its second year this month, inviting all to celebrate the renewal of New York City and its continued resilience. The three-day festival highlighting world-class floral design will feature a European-style flower market, large-scale floral installations and displays, and retail and hospitality events around the neighborhood.
Find out where the blooms are

Events & Things To Do

The former Brooklyn Heights home of American Express founder Henry Wells asks $6.6M

Photo courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

June 7, 2022

The former Brooklyn Heights home of American Express founder Henry Wells asks $6.6M

This Greek Revival townhouse at 158 Clinton Street in historic Brooklyn Heights, once home to American Express and Wells Fargo founder Henry Wells, is now on the market for $6,595,000. Built in 1847, the 25.5-foot-by-42-foot home presents a facade of red brick with brownstone sills and lintels, with five bedrooms, a parlor-floor deck and backyard, and a separate garden apartment.
Take the tour

Distinctive Homes

State lawmakers approve new public trust that could fund repairs at 25,000 NYCHA apartments

photo via Wikimedia

June 6, 2022

State lawmakers approve new public trust that could fund repairs at 25,000 NYCHA apartments

New York state legislators last week passed legislation that would allow the New York City Housing Authority to raise billions of dollars for desperately needed repairs at 25,000 apartments in the system. Championed by Mayor Eric Adams and proposed by public housing authority chair Gregory Russ, the Public Housing Preservation Trust is seen as a rescue measure for funding needed for the NYCHA system–by far the nation's largest public housing authority. The new public trust could raise billions of dollars to upgrade thousands of units, The City reports.
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This $2.87M upstate ‘floating farmhouse’ is an 1800s home with walls of glass, overlooking a waterfall

Photos by Gabriel Zimmer of Catskill Image for Sotheby’s International Realty

June 3, 2022

This $2.87M upstate ‘floating farmhouse’ is an 1800s home with walls of glass, overlooking a waterfall

Set on nearly nine verdant acres in Sullivan County, this unique circa 1820 farmhouse incorporates its history with elements of modern design so beautifully that it has been featured in Architectural Digest and Dwell magazine, the latter of which called it "a living laboratory for how to bring the vernacular past into the present." Known as Floating Farmhouse, the 3,400-square-foot Catskills home and barn sit at the edge of a swimming creek with a waterfall. Among its star features is a covered porch that appears to hover above the water. Asking $2,875,000, the home is available for the first time since a four-year rebuilding process by acclaimed designer Tom Givone created its current stunning form.
Tour this unique Catskills property

Distinctive Homes

Lottery launches for 53 affordable studios for seniors at former illegal Upper West Side hotel

Rendering courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

June 3, 2022

Lottery launches for 53 affordable studios for seniors at former illegal Upper West Side hotel

A building that once operated as an illegal hotel and has been converted into affordable housing for seniors opened a lottery on Friday for 53 apartments. Located at 117 West 79th Street, Park 79 Apartments is a 100 percent affordable housing development with 77 rent-stabilized studio apartments for seniors earning at or below 50 percent of the area median income (AMI), including 24 homes for formerly homeless New Yorkers. Residents, who must be aged 62 years or older to qualify, will pay only 30 percent of their income in rent.
Find out more

Affordable Housing

Distinctive Homes

Asking $4.25M, this five-story Crown Heights mansion is filled with gorgeous historic details

This $7M Gilded-Age mansion on the Upper West Side has a private garage and a theatrical history

Asking $1.3M, this historic Newburgh home has designer interiors and dramatic Hudson River views

Once a parking garage, this $85M Village penthouse is now in line to break neighborhood sales records

This $3M Williamsburg home is the rare condo with all of its loft charm intact

This $1.5M Woodstock compound was a recording studio for rock icons from Ozzy Osbourne to R.E.M.

Steve Madden's former Trump Palace pad lists for $11.5M

Filmmaker John Sayles' former Hoboken townhouse lists for $2.5M

This $3.7M Greenwich Village co-op puts the 'classic' in classic seven

Park Slope 'pink house,' now in a more muted hue, asks $5M

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All photos courtesy of Chris Lee

June 3, 2022

See NYC’s largest outdoor dance floor and its 10-foot disco ball at Lincoln Center

New York City's largest outdoor dance floor is now open. As part of Lincoln Center's three-month-long festival Summer for the City, "The Oasis" opened this week with a 10-foot, 1,300-pound disco ball hovering above the institution's iconic fountain. Designed by costume and set designer Clint Ramos, The Oasis has transformed Josie Robertson Plaza into a dance floor that will host silent discos, live music, dance lessons, and more free events all summer. Summer for the City, which kicked off last month, will feature over 1,000 artists across 10 stages at the famed campus.
See more here

Events & Things To Do

NYC pols introduce legislation that would temporarily suspend commercial rent tax

Photo by Jason Tester on Flickr

June 2, 2022

NYC pols introduce legislation that would temporarily suspend commercial rent tax

The Covid-19 pandemic, among its many impacts, has drastically underscored the need for ways to mitigate steep commercial rents, such as rent regulation and temporary rent relief. Several local politicians have suggested solutions, including the temporary suspension of commercial rent tax. This week, New York City Council Majority Leader Keith Powers, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, and Council Member Gale Brewer introduced legislation that would accomplish the latter.
Find out more

Policy

Mayor Adams proposes changes to city zoning rules to create more housing

Image courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

June 2, 2022

Mayor Adams proposes changes to city zoning rules to create more housing

Mayor Eric Adams wants to turn New York into a city of "Yes in my backyard." During an event hosted by the Association for a Better New York (ABNY) on Wednesday, the mayor introduced three citywide zoning amendments that would spur affordable housing creation, support small businesses, and reduce the city's carbon footprint. Under Adam's "City of Yes" plan, the Zoning for Housing Opportunity amendment would allow for a variety of housing types, make it easier to convert office space into housing, and reduce "unnecessary parking requirements" at developments.
Find out more

Enjoy unlimited food and rich history at Brooklyn’s landmarked Lott House

Photo courtesy of Friends of the Lott House, Alyssa Loorya

June 2, 2022

Enjoy unlimited food and rich history at Brooklyn’s landmarked Lott House

Come enjoy unlimited dining from food trucks at the longest continually owned and occupied single-family home in New York City. Located in Marine Park, Brooklyn, the historic Hendrick I. Lott House is a rare surviving Dutch-American farmhouse situated on a parcel of land first purchased in 1719. The non-profit organization that preserves the grounds, Friends of the Lott House, this month will host "Taste the Neighborhood," a special ticketed event that includes unlimited food from local food trucks and encourages exploration of the historic site. The event will be held on June 12 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at 1940 East 36th Street.
Details here

Delta’s $4B Terminal C opens this weekend at an all-new LaGuardia Airport

Photo courtesy of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

June 2, 2022

Delta’s $4B Terminal C opens this weekend at an all-new LaGuardia Airport

Gov. Kathy Hochul and The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced Wednesday that the $4 billion Delta Air Lines Terminal C will open at LaGuardia Airport on June 4. The opening means the all-new $8 billion LaGuardia Airport, the nation's first new major airport in a quarter-century, is nearly complete. At nearly twice the size of the one it replaces, Delta's new terminal boasts up-to-the-minute technology, New York-centric concessions–and an impressive collection of new public artworks by well-known local artists referencing the Queens neighborhood's rich immigrant history and cultural diversity.
This way for takeoff

Stunning Soho penthouse has three private outdoor spaces and pre-war loft charm for $3.7M

Photos by Travis Mark and Eitan Gamliely for Sotheby’s International Realty

June 1, 2022

Stunning Soho penthouse has three private outdoor spaces and pre-war loft charm for $3.7M

In the heart of Soho, a historic loft penthouse effortlessly blends original prewar details with modern upgrades, including three enviable separate private outdoor spaces. From the double-height great room and exposed brick to the arched windows and the skylight hanging more than 23 feet above it all, the sprawling two-bedroom home at 477 Broome Street is quintessentially Soho, but with a twist. It's now available for $3,765,000.
See inside

Distinctive Homes

Developers behind Harlem’s One45 withdraw plan after opposition from local council member

Rendering courtesy of SHoP Architects

June 1, 2022

Developers behind Harlem’s One45 withdraw plan after opposition from local council member

A proposal to bring two new residential towers with hundreds of affordable housing units to a largely vacant lot in Harlem was scrapped by developers this week. Late on Monday, the developer withdrew the project, known as One45, a few hours before it was set to be voted on by a City Council committee, as Patch first reported. The plan involved two mixed-use towers on the corner of West 145th Street and Lenox Avenue with a total of 915 apartments. The proposal faced fierce opposition from local Council Member Kristin Richardson Jordan, who argued that the new development would displace Harlem's Black residents and contribute to gentrification. Without the zoning changes needed to build One45, the developers could construct a condo building with no affordable housing, a self-storage facility, and a community facility.
Get the details here

Affordable Housing

MTA’s East Side Access project renamed ‘Grand Central Madison’

Photo by Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

June 1, 2022

MTA’s East Side Access project renamed ‘Grand Central Madison’

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday announced that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's long-awaited 700,000-square-foot East Side Access Project will be renamed "Grand Central Madison." The project, which brings Long Island Rail Road service to Grand Central Terminal, will increase LIRR service systemwide by 40 percent during morning peak service and significantly increase reverse peak service. Grand Central Madison is expected to open in December.
See more here

$1.6M upstate Dutch Colonial home is summer-ready with a saltwater pool, pergola, and outdoor kitchen

Images courtesy of Douglas Elliman

June 1, 2022

$1.6M upstate Dutch Colonial home is summer-ready with a saltwater pool, pergola, and outdoor kitchen

Situated on over two acres in Orangetown, NY, the Sickles-Tallman House at 231 Sickletown Road, built in 1770, greets the 21st century as a red stone Dutch Colonial home. With amenities you'd expect in a contemporary mansion–a saltwater pool and jacuzzi, pergola, pool house, and outdoor kitchen, to name a few–this 3,300 square-foot, five-bedroom historic Rockland County homestead is asking $1,598,000.
Take a stroll around the grounds

Manhattan’s oldest home, a 1795 East Village house built by the Stuyvesant family, asks $8.9M

Old house lovers will want to note this sale: Manhattan's oldest home, built in 1795 for Nicholas Stuyvesant, a great great grandson of city founder Peter Stuyvesant, is on the market for $8,900,000. The East Village townhouse at 44 Stuyvesant Street in the St. Marks Place Historic District has retained most of its original layout, according to Mansion Global. The 5,500-square-foot, 24-foot-wide home is the oldest building in Manhattan that has been used continuously as a single-family dwelling.
Discover the secrets of this historic East Village gem

New street mural promoting peace has been installed on 14th Street in Union Square

All photos courtesy of Jane Kratochvil

May 31, 2022

New street mural promoting peace has been installed on 14th Street in Union Square

A new street mural was unveiled last week along the 14th Street Busway in Union Square. Designed by Brooklyn-based artist Ji Yong Kim, Ripples of Peace and Calm is inspired by traditional East Asian paintings, depicting lotus flowers, floating leaves, and swimming koi fish. The mural's serene qualities are meant to represent the "antithesis of hate" and promote peace and calm, particularly at a time when the city continues to see a spike in violence against Asian New Yorkers. Presented by the city's Department of Transportation and the Union Square Partnership, the mural was installed over the course of five days last week with help from Brooklyn-based urban planning and design firm Street Plans, community groups, and volunteers.
Details this way

Events & Things To Do

Lottery opens for 23 middle-income units next to Van Cortlandt Park in Riverdale, from $1,800/month

All renderings courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

May 31, 2022

Lottery opens for 23 middle-income units next to Van Cortlandt Park in Riverdale, from $1,800/month

Applications are being accepted for 23 middle-income units at a new residential development in the Bronx. Located at 6375 Broadway in North Riverdale, the seven-story building sits across the street from Van Cortlandt Park, the city's third-largest park at more than a thousand acres. New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income–or between $61,715 annually for a single person and $187,330 for a family of five–are eligible to apply for the apartments, which range from $1,800/month studios to $2,350/month two bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

First permanent museum dedicated to hip hop tops off on the South Bronx waterfront

Rendering: S9 Architecture

May 31, 2022

First permanent museum dedicated to hip hop tops off on the South Bronx waterfront

The country's first permanent museum dedicated to hip hop hit a major construction milestone last week. The Universal Hip Hop Museum (UHHM) topped out in the South Bronx last week as part of the huge mixed-use project Bronx Point. The museum, located at Exterior Street and East 150th Street, aims to serve as a "living document" that will chronicle the history of the music genre in the borough where it was invented 50 years ago.
Get the details

Construction begins on massive $100M affordable complex in Far Rockaway

All renderings by Aufgang Architects

May 27, 2022

Construction begins on massive $100M affordable complex in Far Rockaway

Construction officially kicked off on a huge housing development that will rise on a former hospital site in Far Rockaway. Edgemere Commons is an 11-building complex with more than 2,000 affordable homes, retail, community space, medical facilities, and outdoor public space planned. The first phase involves the construction of a 17-story building with 194 homes.
Find out more

Apply for 268 mixed-income apartments at new 19-story East Harlem tower, from $625/month

Rendering courtesy of S9 Architecture

May 27, 2022

Apply for 268 mixed-income apartments at new 19-story East Harlem tower, from $625/month

About three years since breaking ground, One East Harlem has launched a housing lottery for 268 affordable apartments. Designed by S9 Architecture, the 19-story tower is located at 201 East 125th Street and contains over 400 units of housing, an affordable grocery store, and a new home for the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 40, 50, 100, and 165 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, priced from a $625/month studio to a $3,142/month three-bedroom.
Do you qualify?

Affordable Housing

See the new stucco sculpture by Jan Hooss on display in the Upper East Side’s tallest tower

Photo courtesy of Alex Stein

May 26, 2022

See the new stucco sculpture by Jan Hooss on display in the Upper East Side’s tallest tower

World-renowned plaster artist Jan Hooss has installed a custom stucco art installation in the lobby of 180 East 88th Street, a new condo tower designed by Joe McMillan's DDG. Inspired by an architectural style widely used on the Upper East Side at the beginning of the 20th century, the art piece "fuses a rococo design with a whimsically modern aesthetic," according to a press release. The stucco sculpture sits above the vaulted lobby's fireplace, contrasting its flowing, water-like quality with the fire below.
Find out more

Contemporary artist Rashid Johnson lists Kips Bay townhouse for $5M

All photos courtesy of Evan Joseph / Sotheby’s International Realty

May 26, 2022

Contemporary artist Rashid Johnson lists Kips Bay townhouse for $5M

Artist Rashid Johnson and his wife, fellow artist Sheree Hovsepian, are selling their brick townhouse in Kips Bay for $4,995,000. Located at 139 Lexington Avenue, the turn-of-the-century four-bedroom property measures more than 4,100 square feet across five floors. Every level boasts original details--like mantles, plaster crown moldings, and ceiling medallions--and, of course, tall ceilings and walls perfect for hanging artwork.
See inside

Distinctive Homes

Subway ridership almost at 90% of pre-pandemic levels in NYC’s working-class neighborhoods

Photo by Jenna Day on Unsplash

May 26, 2022

Subway ridership almost at 90% of pre-pandemic levels in NYC’s working-class neighborhoods

Snag the Greenest Seat in Town: Gufram's 1972 Pratone Chair is Shaped Like a Patch of Grass

Subway ridership has nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels in New York City's working-class neighborhoods. During the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's monthly board meeting on Wednesday, MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said in most working-class neighborhoods throughout the five boroughs, subway ridership has climbed back up to 70, 80, and for some, 90 percent of pre-pandemic ridership levels. But in the city's major business districts, subway ridership remains way below pre-Covid-19 levels.
Find out more

THE 6SQFT SHOP

The 6 best furniture rental companies in NYC

8 best places in NYC to thrift for home goods

The best websites for buying and selling used furniture in NYC

Everything you need to know about using a guarantor in NYC

15 quintessential NYC gifts for the New Yorker in your life

Raising chickens in NYC: Laws, tips, and everything else you need to know

Everything you need to know about affordable housing: applying, getting in, and staying put

10 best plants for apartment dwellers

New York City's best holiday markets of 2023

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May 25, 2022

25 ideas for your New York City bucket list

New York City is one of the most visited cities in the world, and for good reason. There is no shortage of attention-worthy landmarks, buildings, and activities to spend time exploring. Ahead, find 25 fun ideas deserving a spot on your NYC bucket list, from secret waterfalls and iconic roller coasters to sky-high observation decks and covert speakeasies. This list is by no means comprehensive but should be a good starting point.
See the full list here

Lottery opens for six income-restricted co-ops in Hamilton Heights, available to buy from $236K

Photo courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

May 25, 2022

Lottery opens for six income-restricted co-ops in Hamilton Heights, available to buy from $236K

Applications are now open for six income-restricted co-ops available for purchase in Hamilton Heights. The apartments, located at 601 West 148th Street, are available to New Yorkers who earn 95 percent of the area median income, or between $63,288 annually for a single household and $136,895 for a family of five. The units include a single one-bedroom for $235,856 and five two-bedroom apartments, priced at $283,192.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka sell Harlem townhouse listed for $7.3M

All photos courtesy of Will Ellis / DDreps

May 25, 2022

Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka sell Harlem townhouse listed for $7.3M

Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka found a buyer this month for their five-story Harlem townhouse, which first hit the market last August for $7,325,000. As first reported by the New York Post, the home at 2036 Fifth Avenue is in contract for more than $7,100,000, likely setting a new record for a townhouse sale in the Upper Manhattan neighborhood. The home, constructed in 1908 as a bed-and-breakfast, measures 8,000 square feet and 20 feet wide.
Find out more

This furnished $5.75M Midtown townhouse has been designed for modern living, framed by a rich history

Photo courtesy of The Corcoran Group

May 25, 2022

This furnished $5.75M Midtown townhouse has been designed for modern living, framed by a rich history

Just off Park Avenue on a tree-lined street just four blocks from Grand Central Station, this landmarked townhouse at 130 East 38th Street is both historic and a modern design masterpiece. Built in 1869 as a Second Empire-style brownstone, the four-story home's facade was altered in 1919 by the popular Ziegfeld actress Ida Adams. Its rounded oak front door originated in a Detroit mansion. More recently, the three-bedroom home, listed for $5,750,000, has been reimagined for the 21st century, from its finished lower-level suite to its landscaped roof terrace with panoramic skyline views.
Take the townhouse tour

Distinctive Homes

Giant ‘No Quit in New York’ letters pop up across NYC to show support for Rangers playoff run

All photos courtesy of MSG Sports

May 24, 2022

Giant ‘No Quit in New York’ letters pop up across NYC to show support for Rangers playoff run

The New York Rangers are on the hunt for the team's fifth Stanley Cup, facing off this week against the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round. To keep fans excited about the playoff run, the hockey team is painting New York City blue with viewing parties, prizes, giveaways, appearances by alumni, and photo experiences. Giant letters spelling the Rangers' appropriate motto for the season, "No Quit in New York," have popped up across Manhattan, perfect for a pre-game photo op.
Get the details

You can pick your own tulips on Park Avenue

Photo courtesy of East Midtown Partnership on Flickr

May 24, 2022

You can pick your own tulips on Park Avenue

Get your trowels ready! The Park Avenue Tulip Dig is back, giving New Yorkers the opportunity to dig up and take home tulip bulbs planted along the famed thoroughfare between the north side of East 54th Street and the south side of East 86th Street. Approximately 60,000 tulips are planted every year in a new color by the non-profit Fund for Park Avenue, as reported by Patch. This year's flowers are a pink tulip known as "Darwin Hybrid Apricot Pride."
Learn more

Group of NYC building owners sue city over greenhouse gas emissions cap

Looking north towards Billionaires’ Row © 6sqft

May 24, 2022

Group of NYC building owners sue city over greenhouse gas emissions cap

A group of New York City building owners is suing the city in an effort to block a 2019 law that requires large buildings to lower greenhouse gas emissions. Local Law 97 mandates owners of buildings more than 25,000 square feet to cap their property's greenhouse gas emissions or face fines. The lawsuit, filed on Thursday by two co-ops in Queens and a mixed-use building owner in Manhattan, claims the new law is "excessive and disproportionate to the purported offense," as first reported by Crain's New York. Under the law, owners have until 2024 to ensure their property's compliance, with the ultimate goal of reducing the emissions produced by the city’s largest buildings 40 percent by 2030 and 80 percent by 2050.
Find out more

Policy

Rare four-family brownstone in downtown Jersey City asks $2.75M

Photo credit: Rich Weinberger

May 24, 2022

Rare four-family brownstone in downtown Jersey City asks $2.75M

Downtown Jersey City may not be the first place you'd think to look for a 6,000-square-foot townhouse on a brick-and-brownstone block, but this five-story classic at 94 Wayne Street, asking $2,750,000, is exactly that. The four-family home consists of a lower duplex (with a BBQ-ready paradise for a backyard) and three identical units above. Inside there are high ceilings, large rooms, and historic details as well as updated appliances, central AC, and ten bedrooms in all. It's a perfect opportunity for townhouse living with lots of rental income–or to create a multi-floor family home. An extension allows for plenty of space on all floors.
See more of this unusual JC townhouse

Distinctive Homes

MTA and James Beard Foundation partner to bring New Yorkers to local restaurants

Photo by Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

May 23, 2022

MTA and James Beard Foundation partner to bring New Yorkers to local restaurants

New Yorkers may seem to need no encouragement to visit the city's bounty of local restaurants, but independent eateries could use a boost after Covid restrictions kept everyone at home. DineAWAY is a joint effort by the MTA and the James Beard Foundation to get residents and visitors to explore New York City's local restaurants and neighborhoods via subways, buses, and commuter rails. DineAWAY sweepstakes offer fabulous foodie prizes like dinner at favorite restaurants and VIP tickets to food festivals.
Delicious details, this way

This $2.9M Sutton Place co-op has finishes–and furniture–courtesy of an AD100 designer

Photo credit: Stephen Kent Johnson

May 23, 2022

This $2.9M Sutton Place co-op has finishes–and furniture–courtesy of an AD100 designer

This two-bedroom, 1,400-square-foot Sutton Place co-op at 435 East 57th Street is the home of Caleb Anderson, partner in the AD top 100 interior design firm Drake/Anderson. Anderson has listed the home for $2,895,000, furniture included, so the next owner can instantly benefit from an impeccable NYC design pedigree. The elegant pre-war apartment underwent a thorough renovation, with top-tier materials and craftsmanship–from Venetian plaster walls and custom hardware to hand-painted wall coverings–evident at every turn.
Take the tour

Distinctive Homes

May 23, 2022

New exhibit at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden features dozens of birdhouses made by artists and architects

An outdoor exhibition featuring dozens of artist-made birdhouses will open at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden next month. Debuting on June 11, "For the Birds" highlights the connection between birds, plants, and the importance of protecting plant ecosystems. The installation coincides with the release of "For the Birds: The Birdsong Project," a multi-album collection of original songs and readings inspired by birds compiled by music supervisor Randall Poster.
Get the details

NYC public libraries want you to read these 10 commonly banned books

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

May 23, 2022

NYC public libraries want you to read these 10 commonly banned books

Public libraries in New York City are calling on New Yorkers to take a stand against book banning. The New York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library, and Queens Public Library on Monday launched the citywide "Banned Books Challenge," urging New Yorkers to read 10 books that explore issues of race, sexuality, religion, and history, subjects that have been targeted for censorship in recent months. To kick off the challenge, the libraries made Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo, available for free with no waits on e-reader apps until June 26.
See the list

City Living

The Sill’s 10th birthday sale includes up to 30% off best-selling houseplants

All photos courtesy of The Sill

May 20, 2022

The Sill’s 10th birthday sale includes up to 30% off best-selling houseplants

In celebration of its 10th birthday, The Sill, the direct-to-consumer houseplant company, is hosting a major sale event on some of its best-selling plants and planters. The company got its start in New York in 2012 with the idea that "plants make people happy," and has since expanded to several other cities, including Los Angeles, Boston, and Chicago. During the month of May, use the code BIRTHDAY to take 10 percent off one item, 20 percent off two items, and 30 percent off three or more items in the birthday sale collection, which includes favorites like the fiddle leaf fig, snake plant, and philodendron.
It's house plant season

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May 20, 2022

Judge rules artists’ work won’t stop Manhattan jail demolition

On Wednesday, a judge ruled against halting the demolition of the Manhattan Detention Complex at 124-125 White Street at a hearing in a lawsuit brought by two artists whose works at the site may be moved or destroyed, the New York Times reports. The plaintiffs had requested a preliminary injunction; Judge Lewis A. Kaplan of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York denied the request, citing a lack of proof that preserving the artworks outweighed the community value of a newly-constructed jail planned for the site. The artists–with support from Neighbors United Below Canal, a neighborhood group opposed to the new Chinatown jail–had invoked the Visual Artists Rights Act of 1990 as grounds for the lawsuit.
Find out more

People’s Theatre Project will run NYC’s first immigrant research and performing arts center

Photo by kathryn on Flickr

May 20, 2022

People’s Theatre Project will run NYC’s first immigrant research and performing arts center

The Upper Manhattan-based People's Theatre Project (PTP) will run the city's first research and arts center dedicated to immigrants and the immigrant experience in New York. On Thursday, Mayor Eric Adams announced the selection of the PTP Company, an immigrant and women-led nonprofit, to own and manage the Immigrant Research and Performing Arts Center (IRPAC), which is expected to open in Inwood in 2027. The city will grant the company $15 million to put towards the creation of the new 17,000-square-foot center, which will be developed by LMXD, MSquared, and Taconic Partners.
Details here

Events & Things To Do

Amy Schumer lists her Upper West Side ‘secret garden’ penthouse for $15M

Photo credit: Edward Menashy for Evan Joseph Studio

May 20, 2022

Amy Schumer lists her Upper West Side ‘secret garden’ penthouse for $15M

Actress and comedian Amy Schumer is selling her Upper West Side penthouse at 190 Riverside Drive, the Wall Street Journal reports. Asking $15,000,000, Schumer purchased what she calls her "Manhattan dream apartment" for $12,150,000 in 2016. Surrounded on every side and on the roof above by 3,000 square feet of verdant planted terraces, and centered around a glass-wrapped solarium living room, the five-bedroom, 4,500-square-foot condominium is indeed a New York City dream home–even if it's no longer a secret. Schumer told the Journal she and her husband, chef Chris Fischer, are moving–likely to Brooklyn–to be closer to their son's school.
Step inside Amy Schumer's dreamy sky garden

Teens take over the Met Museum with free art-making, silent dance parties, selfies, and more

Epic Theatre performs in the Velez Blanco Patio at The Met. Teens Take The Met! Fall 2019. Photo credit: Filip Wolak.

May 19, 2022

Teens take over the Met Museum with free art-making, silent dance parties, selfies, and more

Teens will take over the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Friday for an evening full of free creative and educational events. "Teens Take the Met!" takes place at the Upper East Side museum on May 20 and offers a jam-packed schedule of art-making, music and dance, theater, and more, including a silent dance party in the Temple of Dendur and dance lessons from Ballet Hispánico. Welcoming teens aged 13 to 18, the event returns as an on-site experience for the first time since 2019.
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Events & Things To Do

Century 21 to reopen flagship store in the Financial District

Photo by ajay_suresh on Wikimedia

May 19, 2022

Century 21 to reopen flagship store in the Financial District

A favorite shopping destination of New Yorkers is coming back home. After undergoing a major renovation, and filing for bankruptcy in 2020, the famed department store Century 21 will return to its flagship location at 22 Cortlandt Street in the Financial District next spring. The new store will encompass four main floors, offering men's, women's, and children's apparel, including footwear, outerwear, handbags, accessories, and fragrances, according to a press release. And to emphasize its connection to the city, Century 21 is adding "NYC" to its logo.
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Real Estate Trends

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Upper East Side condos with Central Park views

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Interior designer Muriel Brandolini lists attractive UES townhouse for $9.5M

All photos by Yoo Jean Han for Sotheby’s International Realty

May 19, 2022

Interior designer Muriel Brandolini lists attractive UES townhouse for $9.5M

Celebrated interior designer and decorator Muriel Brandolini is selling her four-story brownstone on the Upper East Side for $9,500,000. Brandolini, known for her "modernist-tropical" style reflective of her French-Vietnamese upbringing, decorated her home at 167 East 80th Street with art, patterns, and statement lighting, creating highly-livable spaces on every floor. Outside, a long private rear garden surrounded by bamboo gives the home a vacation vibe.
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Distinctive Homes

New survey highlights NYC’s rental housing crisis, showing few affordable apartments available

Photo by Dimitry Anikin on Unsplash

May 18, 2022

New survey highlights NYC’s rental housing crisis, showing few affordable apartments available

The city's Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) released a report this week revealing the first findings from the 2021 New York City Housing and Vacancy Survey (NYCHVS). The report illuminates a trove of information on the city's housing realities since the pandemic began. The survey shows that the city’s overall median household income would have to double in order to cover the median asking rent of $2,750/month. It also reveals an extreme shortage of vacant units among the city's low-cost housing: The vacancy rate for homes listed below $1,500/month was less than 1 percent, the lowest in 30 years. And New York City saw a substantial net loss of low-cost units–and a net increase of higher-cost units–since 1991.
More on the state of NYC's rental housing, this way

May 18, 2022

Architect Bjarke Ingels buys Brooklyn Heights penthouse for $2.16M

One of the world's most famous architects has closed on a Brooklyn penthouse he's eyed for years. Denmark-born architect Bjarke Ingels has purchased a penthouse in the St. George Tower in Brooklyn Heights for $2,163,525, as reported by the New York Post and confirmed by property records. The apartment, located on the 29th and 30th floors at 111 Hicks Street, has been on the market since 2010 when it was listed for $2,490,000.
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NYC to celebrate Biggie Smalls’ 50th birthday with Empire State Building tribute, special MetroCards

Image courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

May 18, 2022

NYC to celebrate Biggie Smalls’ 50th birthday with Empire State Building tribute, special MetroCards