NYC’s iconic Strand Bookstore says it’s struggling to survive because of COVID-19

Photo by Brianne Sperber on Wikimedia

October 23, 2020

NYC’s iconic Strand Bookstore says it’s struggling to survive because of COVID-19

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One of New York City's largest and most beloved independent bookstores is asking for help. Citing a decline in foot traffic, a lack of tourists, and zero in-store events because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Strand Bookstore's revenue has dropped nearly 70 percent compared to last year, owner Nancy Bass Wyden said on Friday. According to Bass Wyden, the business, one of the last bookstores of Union Square's former "Book Row," is not currently sustainable.
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Riverside Park opens new section with playgrounds, volleyball, lawns, and more

Photo courtesy of the Riverside Park Conservancy

October 23, 2020

Riverside Park opens new section with playgrounds, volleyball, lawns, and more

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Yesterday, the fifth phase of Riverside Park South opened to the public. The 4.6-acre area stretches from West 65th to 68th Streets and includes new paths, stairs, and plazas; a playground and swings; lawns; sand volleyball courts; and a dog run. As West Side Rag tells us, the $21.1 million project--which was completed with federal, state, and private funds--was originally planned to open in 2018.
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Explore the 200 craft breweries found along New York’s Empire State Trail
October 23, 2020

Explore the 200 craft breweries found along New York’s Empire State Trail

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Home to more than 460 breweries statewide, New York knows beer. To make it easier to find a beer near you, the New York State Brewers Association in 2017 launched an app that allows users to find breweries across the state, check-in digitally, and earn stamps on their "tasting passport." To encourage support of local beer makers and the use of the under-construction 750-mile Empire State Trail, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Friday a new passport program specifically targeting 200 craft breweries found along the trail.
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Just 20 miles outside NYC, this 18th-century New Jersey home and barn asks $4M

Photo credit: Jump Visual

October 23, 2020

Just 20 miles outside NYC, this 18th-century New Jersey home and barn asks $4M

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Earlier this year, the New York Times called Wyckoff, New Jersey "a peaceful suburb with a sense of community," and noted that the Bergen County town has been seeing "an influx of young families, who value its small-town atmosphere and relatively low taxes." This Wyckoff property may not be a starter home, but its $3,950,000 price tag gets you a piece of history set on four acres. The main residence, formerly known as the Halstead House, was built in 1779 and has been perfectly preserved over the years. There's also a renovated barn, a guest cottage, and a pool, all set against a beautiful pond.
See the whole place here
On October 23, 1915, tens of thousands of NYC women marched for the right to vote

Pre-election parade for suffrage in NYC, in which 20,000 women marched. 1915. [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress

October 23, 2020

On October 23, 1915, tens of thousands of NYC women marched for the right to vote

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This August marked the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment, which gave some women the right to vote. In New York, a hotbed of suffragist activity in the mid 19th- and early 20th-century, women won the vote a few years earlier in 1917. While New York women were on the frontlines of the suffrage movement early on, one event served as a major turning point in winning the vote. On October 23, 1915, tens of thousands of New Yorkers dressed in all white took to Fifth Avenue, marching roughly three miles from Washington Square to 59th Street. It was the largest suffrage parade to date, with city officials at the time estimating between 25,000 and 60,000 participants.
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$16M Chelsea penthouse has 3 outdoor spaces with incredible Hudson Yards views

Photos by Evan Joseph

October 23, 2020

$16M Chelsea penthouse has 3 outdoor spaces with incredible Hudson Yards views

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The Emerson is the latest boutique condo in Chelsea to abut the High Line. Located at 500 West 25th Street, the 10-story building has just eight full-floor units, including the duplex penthouse, which has just hit the market for $16 million. The incredible four-bedroom home has 5,100 square feet of interior space along with nearly 2,600 square feet of outdoor space spread over two terraces and a roof deck with views of the High Line, Hudson River, Empire State Building, and Hudson Yards.
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$1.4B South Street Seaport proposal includes two mixed-use towers with affordable units

All renderings courtesy of The Howard Hughes Corporation/SOM

October 22, 2020

$1.4B South Street Seaport proposal includes two mixed-use towers with affordable units

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The Howard Hughes Corporation on Thursday unveiled its latest effort to redevelop the South Street Seaport neighborhood. The $1.4 billion proposal includes the construction of two 470-foot towers which would contain rentals, condos, and office space on a parking lot at 250 Water Street. Initial plans from the developer called for a single tower that would rise nearly 1,000 feet, but local residents and Community Board 1 opposed it. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the two towers would include 360 units, with at least 100 apartments set aside for families earning 40 percent of the area median income. It would be the first affordable housing built in the community under the city's Mandatory Inclusionary Housing program.
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Midtown condo of the late ‘Odd Couple’ actress Carole Shelley lists for $1.35M

Photos courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

October 22, 2020

Midtown condo of the late ‘Odd Couple’ actress Carole Shelley lists for $1.35M

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Tony Award-winning actress Carole Shelley, who is best known for her roles as Gwendolyn Pigeon in The Odd Couple and Madame Morrible in the original Broadway cast of Wicked, passed away in 2018 at the age of 79, leaving behind her NYC pied-à-terre at 340 West 57th Street. The Midtown West condo is located in the elegant, pre-war Parc Vendome, which is just a few blocks from Central Park South. The spacious one-bedroom home is listed for $1,350,000.
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New ‘Virtual Village’ platform offers 36 free history tours of Union Square South
October 22, 2020

New ‘Virtual Village’ platform offers 36 free history tours of Union Square South

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Non-profit Village Preservation has launched a new online platform called Virtual Village, which is part of their larger efforts seeking landmarks protections for the "South of Union Square" area, where Greenwich Village meets the East Village. The interactive online tool offers 36 free, guided walking tours of the neighborhood, ranging from architectural topics like the Cast Iron Tour to cultural topics like the German History Tour to social topics like the Women's History and LGBTQ Tours.
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7 NYC apartments with fireplaces for under $1M
October 22, 2020

7 NYC apartments with fireplaces for under $1M

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Make staying home this winter more enjoyable with your very own working fireplace. While the city's stock of apartments with wood-burning fireplaces won't be getting larger after the city banned the construction of them a few years ago, there are still plenty of apartments that offer a cozy fireside amenity. Despite being somewhat of a rarity, owning a home with a fireplace doesn't have to break the bank. We've found seven apartments with working fireplaces currently on the market for under $1 million.
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Cuomo eases some restrictions in Brooklyn and Queens COVID-19 clusters

New “yellow zone” maps for Queens’ clusters; Courtesy of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office

October 21, 2020

Cuomo eases some restrictions in Brooklyn and Queens COVID-19 clusters

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The state will loosen some restrictions in coronavirus clusters in parts of Brooklyn and Queens after positive infection rates decreased, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Wednesday. As a way to contain the spread of the virus in hot spots across New York, the state earlier this month divided the clusters into three categories depending on positivity rates, with red, orange, and yellow zones determining the level of restrictions. According to Cuomo, all clusters in Queens can exit the red zone and enter yellow, meaning businesses and schools can reopen and houses of worship can increase capacity to 50 percent. But in Brooklyn, the red zone will remain red, with orange and yellow zones now both yellow.
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Susan Sarandon sells her Chelsea duplex for $7.9M asking price

Photos: Eitan Gamliely for Sotheby’s International Realty

October 21, 2020

Susan Sarandon sells her Chelsea duplex for $7.9M asking price

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Just three months after listing her massive Chelsea duplex for $7.9 million, Academy Award-winning actress Susan Sarandon has sold her long-time home for its full asking price. Located at 147 West 15th Street, the 6,000-square-foot co-op is spread over two floors and has six bedrooms, four exposures including views of the World Trade Center and Empire State Building, and an outdoor terrace and balcony. Over the summer, Queens-native Sarandon told the Wall Street Journal that she isn't leaving the city just downsizing to a smaller apartment in the area. "I’ve always been a New Yorker and I’ll continue to be a New Yorker," she said.
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24 percent of NYC subway and bus workers have had COVID-19, survey says

Photo: Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit on Flickr

October 21, 2020

24 percent of NYC subway and bus workers have had COVID-19, survey says

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Nearly a quarter of New York City subway and bus workers reported contracting the coronavirus, according to a survey released on Tuesday. Of the roughly 650 Transport Workers Union Local 100 members surveyed as part of a pilot study led by New York University, 24 percent said they had the virus at some point since the start of the pandemic. The new report suggests more transit workers had the virus than previously thought. In May, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said about 14 percent of transit workers tested positive for antibodies.
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New Target stores in Columbus Circle and Hell’s Kitchen are now open

New Target store at 1863 Broadway on the UWS. Photo credit: AP Images for Target.

October 21, 2020

New Target stores in Columbus Circle and Hell’s Kitchen are now open

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After construction and COVID-related delays, Target has officially opened three new small-format stores on the Upper West Side, Hell's Kitchen, and Staten Island. The store at 61st and Broadway at Columbus Circle was first announced two years ago and was planned to open in 2019. Likewise, the store on 10th Avenue and 45th Street was first announced four years ago and was also planned to open in 2019. The store in the North Shore section of Staten Island is only delayed by six months.
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$12.75M Cobble Hill townhouse has gated parking and a vineyard-like garden

Listing photos courtesy of Compass

October 21, 2020

$12.75M Cobble Hill townhouse has gated parking and a vineyard-like garden

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If townhouses were students, this Cobble Hill home would definitely be the teacher's pet. Unlike most townhouses anywhere in New York City, it has a 25-foot wide adjacent lot that's used as gated parking, as well as 3,500 square feet of outdoor space that looks like it could be right out of a Napa Valley vineyard. The $12,750,000 house is currently configured as an owner's triplex and an income-generating garden-level apartment, though it could easily be transformed into a grand, single-family residence.
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Archtober’s annual gourd-carving Pumpkitecture event is virtual and open to everyone

BIG Architects designing their masterpiece; Photo by Daniel Cole for Center for Architecture

October 20, 2020

Archtober’s annual gourd-carving Pumpkitecture event is virtual and open to everyone

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Every year, New York City-based architecture firms face off in a spirited pumpkin carving competition in quest of the PritzkerPumpkin prize. This year, because of the coronavirus pandemic and restrictions on gatherings, Pumpkitecture will take place virtually. And the contest won't be limited to just architects and designers, but anyone with an "eerie eye for design" can enter.
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$1.5M Connecticut estate of 60 Minutes’ Morley Safer has a stone cottage, writer’s studio, and more

All photos by Caryn B. Davis Photography

October 20, 2020

$1.5M Connecticut estate of 60 Minutes’ Morley Safer has a stone cottage, writer’s studio, and more

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Legendary 60 Minutes news correspondent Morley Safer was on the show for more than four decades, and during most of that time, he split his time between NYC and this gorgeous, seven-acre estate in Chester, Connecticut. The property includes the main stone house built in 1908, a cozy writer's studio, a heated pool and gazebo, and a 19th-century barn. Safer passed away in 2016, and his wife Jane Fearer is now selling the estate for the first time in 30 years. It's asking $1,450,000.
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Lovely Tribeca loft of the late Toni Morrison lists for $4.75M

Listing images courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

October 20, 2020

Lovely Tribeca loft of the late Toni Morrison lists for $4.75M

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The estate of the late Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison has just listed the novelist's former home. The Tribeca loft at 66 Leonard Street is asking $4,750,000. Morrison bought the three-bedroom condo for $3,800,000 in 2014, before passing away last year. Unsurprisingly, the home has lots of built-in shelves, filled with books, moments, and art.
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MTA launches first real-time digital subway map

Courtesy of the MTA

October 20, 2020

MTA launches first real-time digital subway map

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The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Tuesday released a new digital map of the New York City subway system that provides service updates to riders in real-time. As first reported by Curbed, this map uses data from the MTA to update as service changes are happening, allowing users to click on stations and individual train lines to see the actual wait time for the next train. When zoomed in on the map, little gray blocks move along the colored lines, depicting the train's actual movement from station to station. Created by design and technology firm Work & Co., the map modernizes both Massimo Vignelli's iconic 1972 map and the current map designed by Michael Hertz, combining the geometric and graphic design-friendly Vignelli map with the geographical elements of Hertz. The new live map is the first major redesign of the NYC subway map in 40 years.
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The backyard at this $2.6M Park Slope condo has designer cachet

Photo credit: Melanie Greene

October 20, 2020

The backyard at this $2.6M Park Slope condo has designer cachet

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This three-bedroom condo has much of what you'd expect from a home within a Park Slope brownstone, but it's also got a couple of tricks up its sleeve. First, the lower level on the garden floor retains the home's original brick arches, which run the entire length of the space. And then, the gorgeous rear garden was designed by Future Green Studio, who also worked on projects at The Met, Nowadays, and the Brooklyn Children's Museum. Located at 134 Berkeley Place, the home is asking $2,575,000.
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Dyckman Farmhouse Museum opens new art exhibit exploring untold history of NYC’s Black communities

Photo Credit: Dyckman Farmhouse Museum Alliance

October 19, 2020

Dyckman Farmhouse Museum opens new art exhibit exploring untold history of NYC’s Black communities

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The last remaining farmhouse in Manhattan will explore a new side of its over 200-year history with an art exhibit. Inwood's landmarked Dyckman Farmhouse Museum on Tuesday will open the exhibition Unspoken Voices: Honoring the Legacy of Black America, which will highlight the history of the enslaved and free Black residents that lived and worked at the farm. Unspoken Voices, which coincides with the museum's reopening, includes work by five local artists who hope to bring these previously untold stories to light.
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New York outlines initial strategy for prioritizing COVID vaccine distribution

Photo by Gustavo Fring from Pexels

October 19, 2020

New York outlines initial strategy for prioritizing COVID vaccine distribution

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Given the many unknowns surrounding a COVID-19 vaccine, as well as skepticism that certain vaccine trials could be politically motivated, Governor Cuomo announced last month that the state would put together a Clinical Advisory Task Force to advise New Yorkers on the vaccine's safety and effectiveness. In addition, over the weekend, the NYS Department of Health released a draft COVID-19 Vaccination Administration Program "that serves as an initial framework for ensuring the safe and effective distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine in New York." According to the preliminary plan, the vaccine would be distributed in five phases, with high-risk populations and essential workers prioritized. 
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Here’s what you need to know about New York’s plastic bag ban

Image: Michael Kowalczyk via Flickr.

October 19, 2020

Here’s what you need to know about New York’s plastic bag ban

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The ban on single-use plastic bags will go into effect on Monday, more than seven months after enforcement was set to begin. Gov. Andrew Cuomo's statewide ban on plastic bags was approved by state lawmakers last year with plans to begin enforcement on March 1, 2020. But a lawsuit from the Bodega and Small Business Association and a delay in a court decision on the lawsuit because of the coronavirus pandemic pushed enforcement of the new law back multiple times until a state judge ruled in August that the ban can begin on October 19. Starting Monday, grocery and retail stores that collect state taxes from customers will no longer be permitted to use plastic bags to contain purchases at checkout. Ahead, learn more about the Bag Waste Reduction Law, the exceptions to the law, and alternatives to single-use plastic.
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Ice skating rink and holiday market to open at Bryant Park’s Winter Village this month

Photo by Colin Miller

October 19, 2020

Ice skating rink and holiday market to open at Bryant Park’s Winter Village this month

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When the ice skating rink and holiday market opens at Bryant Park this month, things will look a little different than usual because of the coronavirus pandemic. This year, the Bank of America Winter Village will require face coverings, reservations for the rink, and will debut a new layout of shops for optimal distancing. Now in its 19th year, the winter village will open on October 30 and run through March 7, 2021.
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For $15M, this three-story UES penthouse is topped with a glass solarium

Listing photos courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

October 19, 2020

For $15M, this three-story UES penthouse is topped with a glass solarium

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How's this for a work-from-home setup? The top floor of this triplex penthouse at 1158 Fifth Avenue is a "jewel box" solarium with a glass-enclosed arched atrium and five picture windows overlooking Central Park. Listed for $15 million, the four-bedroom home is classic Upper East Side with oversized living spaces, two landscaped terraces, and even a separate one-bedroom guest residence within the building.
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After 50 years, Dangerfield’s comedy club closes from COVID burdens

Map data © 2020 Google

October 16, 2020

After 50 years, Dangerfield’s comedy club closes from COVID burdens

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"I don't get no respect," goes the famous line by Rodney Dangerfield that would often echo through the Upper East Side comedy club in his namesake. And after the larger NYC comedy world has claimed that the state is showing them no respect in the wake of the pandemic, Dangerfield's will be closing after a 50-year run. First reported by Vulture, the club announced this week that the coronavirus "placed a severe financial burden" on them, "making operations in New York City untenable."
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THE 6SQFT SHOP

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You can help beautify dozens of NYC parks this weekend

Photo by Tim Krause on Flickr

October 16, 2020

You can help beautify dozens of NYC parks this weekend

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More than 60 parks organizations and community groups are leading cleanups at green spaces across the city this weekend, in response to a growing trash problem at parks. Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in March, park use in New York soared, as it was one of the safest activities available to residents during the peak of the crisis. But the increase in visitors put additional strain on park management, which is struggling to keep up because of COVID-19 related budget cuts. On October 17, New Yorkers for Parks, City Parks Foundation, Partnership for Parks, and NYC Parks are encouraging New Yorkers to volunteer for a day of cleaning and beautifying the city's parks in every borough.
How to participate
For $2M, a 25-acre Catskills property with an 1835 farmhouse and a newly built log cabin

Photos by Tyler Blodgett for Heather Croner Real Estate Sotheby’s International Realty

October 16, 2020

For $2M, a 25-acre Catskills property with an 1835 farmhouse and a newly built log cabin

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If you're like so many city residents looking for an upstate getaway these days, this incredible 25-acre property in Shawangunk, New York might definitely check a lot of your boxes. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Catskills residence is asking just $2,025,000 (the price of a pretty average NYC condo) and that includes a beautiful 1835 Greek Revival farmhouse, as well as a new log house built from salvaged, antique 1850s barns. All of this is surrounded by landscaped lawns and outdoor event spaces.
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NYC makes outdoor dining permanent, lifts ban on propane heaters at restaurants

Photo by Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

October 16, 2020

NYC makes outdoor dining permanent, lifts ban on propane heaters at restaurants

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The New York City Council on Thursday voted to make outdoor dining permanent and year-round and lifted the ban on portable propane heaters. The legislation approved by the Council extends the city's current Open Restaurants program, in which more than 10,500 restaurants have enrolled since June, until September 30, 2021, and requires it to be replaced with a permanent program. Under the program, restaurants will also be able to use portable propane heaters, which were previously banned.
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Classic Beaux-Arts details abound at this $3.2M Upper West Side three-bedroom

Photo Credit: Empire Optix for Sotheby’s International Realty

October 16, 2020

Classic Beaux-Arts details abound at this $3.2M Upper West Side three-bedroom

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This three-bedroom co-op is located in a row of combined 1899 Beaux-Arts townhouses at 329 West 108th Street, just off Riverside Drive. The $3,200,000 million home is about as grand and classic Upper West Side as they come. From the bay windows and stained glass to the elaborate moldings, coffered ceilings, and ornate mantles, there are gorgeously preserved architectural details in every room.
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See inside the carefully-curated residences at Brooklyn’s tallest tower
October 16, 2020

See inside the carefully-curated residences at Brooklyn’s tallest tower

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From its sky-high outdoor infinity pool to the chic interior finishes designed by Katherine Newman, no details were overlooked at Brooklyn Point, the 720-foot residential tower in Downtown Brooklyn. After topping out last spring, officially becoming the borough's tallest tower, and commencing closings and first move-ins this summer, new photos of the building's model unit were released in September, which show off the eclectic interiors by designer Charlie Ferrer.
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Lower East Side’s glassy new condo 150 Rivington has a rooftop with a fireplace and city views

Photo by Gluck+

October 15, 2020

Lower East Side’s glassy new condo 150 Rivington has a rooftop with a fireplace and city views

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Once an enclave for immigrants and the working class, and later a haven for artists, the Lower East Side's evolution continues into the 21st century as a destination for luxury developments. While major projects like the Essex Crossing mega-development and One Manhattan Square have hogged the spotlight, more modest new buildings are also making their mark on the neighborhood, including 150 Rivington. The approachable seven-story apartment building boasts a modern glassy facade, contains 45 condo units, and a cozy landscaped rooftop with an outdoor kitchen, fireplace, and endless city views.
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$11.5M Greek Revival townhouse overlooks the best of the West Village

Photo Credit: Warburg Realty

October 15, 2020

$11.5M Greek Revival townhouse overlooks the best of the West Village

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This townhouse at 42 Jane Street is the best of both West Village worlds. From the street, it's classic Greek Revival (it was built in 1846), but inside it's been transformed into a contemporary oasis, with amenities such as a roof terrace with an outdoor fireplace, a basement-level media room, and a luxurious full-floor master suite. Plus, it's directly adjacent to the lovely Jane Street Garden, of which it has perfect views.
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85 NYC restaurants with heaters for outdoor dining

Photo of Bubby’s Tribeca, courtesy of Bubby’s

October 15, 2020

85 NYC restaurants with heaters for outdoor dining

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Though indoor dining is permitted at 25-percent capacity in New York City, a lot of people still don't feel 100-percent comfortable with the idea. Luckily, the city made its outdoor dining program permanent and year-round and gave restaurants the go-ahead to install outdoor heat lamps. If you're looking for one of these spots to dine al fresco without shivering, we've begun a running list throughout the city. Know of another spot? Let us know in the comments!
Check out the full list here
Adorable studio on the Upper West Side’s hidden Pomander Walk asks $395K

Photo credit: Hayley Ellen Day

October 14, 2020

Adorable studio on the Upper West Side’s hidden Pomander Walk asks $395K

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You might be surprised to learn that there's a hidden "English village" tucked away on the Upper West Side, and you may be even more shocked that you can live there for under $400,000. Built in 1921, Pomander Walk is a collection of quaint Tudor-style homes tucked behind a private cast-iron gate off West 94th and 95th Streets. This 326-square-foot alcove studio at the address 266 West 95th Street retains lots of the home's historic charm but has gotten a stylish, contemporary makeover.
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The best ways to celebrate Halloween 2020 in NYC

Photo of pumpkin-headed scarecrows courtesy of NYBG

October 14, 2020

The best ways to celebrate Halloween 2020 in NYC

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Although it's already been a scary year, there are still ways to have some old-school spooky fun in New York City this Halloween. Sadly, popular events like the Village Halloween Parade and the Tompkins Square Dog Halloween Parade have been canceled and traditional trick-or-treating has been deemed a high-risk activity because of the coronavirus pandemic. But there are a number of fall-friendly, socially distanced events still taking place across the city, like a Día de Los Muertos celebration at Green-Wood Cemetery, virtual ghost story readings from the Merchant's House Museum (considered Manhattan's most haunted house), and eerie hayrides and pumpkin picking at the Queens County Farm Museum.
Get the spooky scoop
$1.5M mid-century hideaway in Dobbs Ferry has a salt-water pool and loads of greenery

Photo credit: Modern Angles

October 14, 2020

$1.5M mid-century hideaway in Dobbs Ferry has a salt-water pool and loads of greenery

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At first glance, the backyard of this house looks like an island resort tucked away in the jungle. But it's actually located just 45 minutes outside NYC in Dobbs Ferry. The mid-century-modern home was built in 1961 by architect Ferdinand Gottlieb (best known for his work on the interior of the original Rizzoli Bookstore on Fifth Avenue) as his personal residence. Now listed for $1,450,000, the four-bedroom home has 12-foot arched glass windows that overlook the Hudson River and the Palisades, as well as a salt-water pool and landscaped patio.
See the whole place here
$950K Bed-Stuy cottage has a New Orleans-style balcony and doors from the Domino Sugar Factory

Photos courtesy of The Corcoran Group

October 14, 2020

$950K Bed-Stuy cottage has a New Orleans-style balcony and doors from the Domino Sugar Factory

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This unique Bed-Stuy cottage is full of surprises right from the start. The cast-iron railings lend way to a New Orleans-style balcony, made even more inviting with flower boxes and hanging planters. The large metal double doors on the first floor were salvaged from the Domino Sugar Factory, and there are historic cast-iron supports and wooden ceiling beams inside. And with the efficient two-story layout, the $950,000 asking price is just right.
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Rachel Maddow lists her West Village apartment for $2.4M

Listing photos courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

October 13, 2020

Rachel Maddow lists her West Village apartment for $2.4M

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As the Post first reported, Rachel Maddow has put her West Village apartment on the market for $2,349,000. The MSNBC political commentator and her partner Susan Mikula bought the two-bedroom co-op for $1,250,000 in 2010 from REM frontman Michael Stipe. The home is located on a cobblestone street at 130 Jane Street, a former paper warehouse that still retains its original wooden beams.
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$875,000 lake-front home in Westchester was designed by a Frank Lloyd Wright student

Listing photos courtesy of Houlihan Lawrence

October 13, 2020

$875,000 lake-front home in Westchester was designed by a Frank Lloyd Wright student

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Architect Roy S. Johnson was a disciple of Frank Lloyd Wright who designed many a mid-century home around the Hudson Valley area. One unique example is this rustic, lake-front home in the Westchester town of Bedford, which is now listed for $875,000. The home is located on "Old Wagon Road," and though we can't be certain, it seems as though Johnson may have taken inspiration from this locale, as the shape of the house somewhat resembles a covered wagon.
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City Winery to open flagship venue at Pier 57 this week

Photo of dining room by Adam Pass

October 13, 2020

City Winery to open flagship venue at Pier 57 this week

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The massive new flagship of entertainment venue and restaurant City Winery will open this week at Hudson River Park's Pier 57. Starting October 15, the restaurant will accept reservations for limited capacity indoor and outdoor dining, with 200 seats available inside and 70 seats outside. City Winery was forced to move from its longtime Varick Street location last year after the Walt Disney Company purchased the property with plans to open new production space and offices there.
Get the details
NYC’s landmarked Roosevelt Hotel will close after 96 years due to pandemic

Photo by Billy Hathorn via Wikimedia Commons

October 13, 2020

NYC’s landmarked Roosevelt Hotel will close after 96 years due to pandemic

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When the Roosevelt Hotel opened on East 45th Street in 1924, it was connected to Grand Central via an underground tunnel, signaling its prominence among New York's Jazz Age society. But nearly 100 years later, the Midtown hotel will shut it doors for good on October 31. As CNN first reported, owner Pakistan International Airlines said in a statement that the decision stems from "the current, unprecedented environment and the continued uncertain impact from COVID-19."
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For $750K, an adorable Ridgewood carriage house with major farmhouse-chic style

Photos courtesy of Douglas Elliman

October 13, 2020

For $750K, an adorable Ridgewood carriage house with major farmhouse-chic style

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Located where Ridgewood, Maspeth, and Bushwick all meet is this completely adorable carriage house that's been listed for $749,000. Built as a back house in 1901, the two-story, two-bedroom home has completely nailed the farmhouse-chic look, with reclaimed hardwood floors and beams, original tin ceilings, and carefully curated decor.
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Mother Cabrini statue unveiled in Battery Park City

Photo credit: Kevin P. Coughlin / Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo on Flickr

October 13, 2020

Mother Cabrini statue unveiled in Battery Park City

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Gov. Andrew Cuomo unveiled a statue honoring Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini, the first U.S. citizen to be canonized by the Catholic Church and patron saint of immigrants, in Battery Park City on Monday. Created by Jill and Giancarlo Biagi, the bronze memorial depicts Mother Cabrini on a boat with two children and faces Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, a symbol of hope for immigrants coming to New York. The governor formed a state commission last year to lead the creation of the memorial after the city's She Built NYC program passed over Mother Cabrini as their next monument, even though she received the most nominations in a public poll.
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Grand Central’s historic Oyster Bar closes again

Photo by Jazz Guy on Flickr

October 12, 2020

Grand Central’s historic Oyster Bar closes again

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Less than two weeks after reopening for the first time in over six months, Grand Central Oyster Bar has temporarily closed again. The Midtown East restaurant resumed indoor service at its iconic dining room on September 30, the day indoor dining was permitted again in New York City. But with indoor dining capped at 25 percent capacity in the city, the Oyster Bar, which normally relies on commuters and tourists, could not do enough business to stay open.
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New bus-only lanes in the South Bronx will speed up city’s slowest routes

Photo credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit on Flickr

October 12, 2020

New bus-only lanes in the South Bronx will speed up city’s slowest routes

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Nearly three miles of dedicated bus lanes equipped with transit signal priority technology and enforcement cameras opened in the South Bronx last week, part of the city's plan to speed up the system's notoriously slow travel times. The new lanes run along East 149th Street between Southern Boulevard and River Avenue and are used by four heavily-used bus routes, the Bx2, Bx4, Bx17, and the Bx19. The bus improvement project is the fourth to be completed since Mayor Bill de Blasio announced his Better Buses Restart plan in June amid the city's coronavirus pandemic recovery.
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This whimsical Brooklyn Heights townhouse is full of fun surprises for $6.25M

Photo credit: Shannon Dupre/DDReps, courtesy of The Corcoran Group

October 12, 2020

This whimsical Brooklyn Heights townhouse is full of fun surprises for $6.25M

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A velour reading nook built into the side of a cabinet, candy-colored accents everywhere, an abstract mural on the backyard fence--these are just some of the funky, whimsical touches you'll find throughout this Brooklyn Heights townhouse. Located at 286 Hicks Street and asking $6,250,000, the five-bedroom home "encourages you to really live and play your best life," as the listing says. Originally a two-family, it's been converted back to a single-family residence, including a rear extension on the first two floors, so there's plenty of space for everyone and all your needs.
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First look at New York City’s largest private outdoor garden at One Manhattan Square

All photos courtesy of Evan Joseph

October 9, 2020

First look at New York City’s largest private outdoor garden at One Manhattan Square

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New photos of the sprawling outdoor space at condo tower One Manhattan Square were released this week, providing a first peek at what developers say is the largest private garden in New York City. Designed by landscape architecture firm West 8, the green space measures 45,000 square feet, sits on an incline, and boasts unique features like a furnished adult treehouse and a Japanese-inspired tea pavilion.
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Industry leaders discuss future of post-pandemic NYC during two-day ‘City of Tomorrow’ summit

Credit: Thomas Heatherwick Studio

October 9, 2020

Industry leaders discuss future of post-pandemic NYC during two-day ‘City of Tomorrow’ summit

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The past seven months fighting the coronavirus in New York City have laid bare the inequalities that exist in housing, infrastructure, open space access, and wellness. How can the largest city in the United States sustainably recover after COVID-19 while prioritizing the health of all of its residents? Industry leaders will explore this topic and the future of the city during a two-day virtual summit this month hosted by 92nd Street Y and Hundred Stories. The fourth annual "City of Tomorrow: Building a Better Future" summit will take place virtually on October 13 and October 14, with all talks free for the public to view.
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