Search Results for: car culture nyc

December 12, 2014

New Yorker Spotlight: Tony Muia Brings Us a Slice of NYC’s Largest Holiday Light Display in Dyker Heights

Each December, New York transforms itself into a metropolitan holiday wonderland. From window displays to the Rockefeller Center tree to the Rockettes, the city is brimming with cheer. But there's one thing missing. Aside from the occasional decorated townhouse, New York lacks the light displays and decked-out front yards that are typically associated with the suburbs. But there is one place where New Yorkers can get their fill of small-town nostalgia, and it's just a quick trip away in Dyker Heights thanks to Tony Muia's bus tour of the "undisputed capital of Christmas pageantry." Inspired by the hospitality he experienced traveling abroad, Tony started giving guided pizza tours of Brooklyn in 2005. He later expanded A Slice of Brooklyn Bus Tours to include neighborhood tours and his famous Christmas Lights & Cannoli Tour, which was featured in a PBS documentary and on TLC. We recently spoke with Tony, the ultimate Brooklynite, about his passion for the borough, A Slice of Brooklyn Bus Tours, and the magic of Dyker Heights.
Read our full interview with Tony
November 27, 2014

What About NYC Are You Most Thankful For? We Ask 10 New Yorkers

That's the question that we've been asking 6sqft's friends and Twitter followers leading up to Thanksgiving. It's easy to get pulled into the NYC complaining vortex (The 6 train is delayed again?! You're raising my rent how much?!), but the reality is that we live in the greatest city in the entire world, and there's plenty here to be thankful for, whether it's something as small as seeing a cute dog on the street or as large as visiting famous museums.
Read the responses we got here
November 18, 2014

Accidental Placemakers: Grand Architecture That’s Given Way to Micro-Enclaves of Culture

Lots of clout is given to the grand scheme design of buildings and parks, and for good reason; but every so often a singular design element or function can unexpectedly emerge from a work to create something even more extraordinary. Destinations in their own right, these "accidental placemakers" turn run-of-the-mill architectural features into dynamic public spaces that create memorable connections to their immediate sites and improve the quality of everyday life. Here we take a look at five examples found in New York City showing how great architecture, in the details, can give way to something more impactful than just a pretty building.
See some of the city's unexpected placemakers
October 29, 2014

Bike Activists Demonstrate the Absurd Size of Cars for Single Drivers

In New York, where a parking spot can cost up to $1 million, it's important to realize just how much space one single car really takes up. As part of the 2014 edition of European Mobility Week, a group of Latvian activists got this message across with some truly out-of-the-box methods. The activists are part of the advocacy group Let's Bike It, and the goal for their recent project was to create a visual commentary about the space taken up by cars on a typical road. In doing so, the group fabricated bamboo structures that resembled the shape of a car and mounted them to their bicycle frames. They then road their cycle-monstrosities through the streets to demonstrate the absurdity of operating large cars to transport a single person.
More on the activism here
September 29, 2014

The Top 15 Family-Friendly Buildings in NYC

Last week, we talked to five families currently raising children in New York City’s many diverse and multifaceted neighborhoods about why they pick city living over the suburbs, and most of our readers agreed that they prefer an urban upbringing to the more "traditional" suburban childhood. But once you've decided to raise your children in the Big Apple, it can be tough deciding which neighborhood is best for your family. Many factors come into play: What are the best schools in the area? What amenities does the building offer? Are there playgrounds nearby? How secure is the building? And the list goes on. But to make the process a little easier, we've rounded up 15 of the best family-friendly buildings in New York City.
Check out our list here
September 17, 2014

Carlo Sampietro Brings the Iconic NYC Street Barrier Indoors with the Police Table

Have a teenager who you're looking to keep out of trouble? This piece of furniture may be just the daily reminder he or she needs to stay on the straight and narrow. The custom-made Police Table Masterpiece by Carlo Sampietro is an elegant reinterpretation of the iconic and unique New York City police barrier. It also doubles as an ambient lamp.
More on the table here
September 15, 2014

INTERVIEW: Karim Rashid on His Move into Architecture and Designing Colorful NYC Condos

You may not recognize Karim Rashid immediately, but odds are you have at least one of his designs in your home. A staunch believer that everyone deserves access to great design no matter what their budget (it's what he calls "designocrasy"), Karim has become one of the world's most celebrated designers having brought thousands of new ideas and innovations to the widest-possible audience. As such, Karim has won hundreds of international awards, including the prestigious Red Dot, and his work can be found in more than 20 permanent collections including those of the MoMA, Centre Pompidou, and SFMOMA. Karim also calls everyone from Umbra to Giorgio Armani, Kenzo, Alessi, Artemide and Veuve Clicquot as his clients, and Time magazine once described him as the "most famous industrial designer in all the Americas". Clearly having conquered the industrial design realm, Karim recently turned his creative eye to architecture. We recently caught up with the designer cum architect to talk about the evolution of his career and the three eye-popping HAP condos he's now got under construction for New York City. Hear what he has to say about his grand new endeavors—color, controversy and all.
Read our interview with Karim Rashid here
September 3, 2014

Coffee Culture: Are Neighborhood Cafes the First Sign of Gentrification?

From “coffices” to lab-like minimalist gourmet coffee meccas to cozy neighborhood hangouts, neighborhood cafes are a fine example of the essential “third place” mentioned in discussions of community dynamics: that place, neither work nor home, where regulars gather and everyone’s welcome. Along with yoga studios, art galleries, community gardens, vintage clothing shops, restaurants with pedigreed owners and adventurous menus and, some say, a change in the offerings on local grocery shelves, cafes are often the earliest sign of neighborhood change. The neighborhood cafe serves as a testing ground for community cohesiveness while adventurous entrepreneurs test the still-unfamiliar waters around them. Beyond the literal gesture of offering sustenance, cafes provide a place where you can actually see who your neighbors are and appreciate the fact that at least some of them are willing to make an investment locally.
Get a fleeting glimpse of old New York City cafe culture in the West Village, meet the future of coffee distribution in Red Hook.
July 23, 2014

INTERVIEW: Renowned Architect Piet Boon on Bringing Dutch Design to NYC

Architect Piet Boon may hail from the Netherlands, but his status as a NYC starchitect is on the rise. Piet, who started his career as a builder, has over the years turned his practice to architecture and interiors, and today is a top choice amongst developers who want more than just a glass tower, but a building that promotes well-being through great design (oh-so-very Dutch). Piet recently sat down with us for an interview where he discussed everything from the differences he sees in Dutch and American design sensibilities, to his high profile Huys Penthouses project (which is almost sold out), to his new Oosten development for Williamsburg, to his definitively international style, which to our surprise he refers to as "barefoot chic."
Read our interview with Piet here
May 5, 2014

Irony in Carroll Gardens (Alanis Morissette Style)

David Foster Wallace is credited with predicting way back in the mid-90s that excessive irony would lead to the ruin of our culture. Around that same time, Alanis Morissette had her own far less erudite and flawed take on irony, which went a little something like this: “It’s like rain on your wedding day A free ride when you already paid Some good advice that you just didn’t take...” With all due respect to the prescience of DFW, life for me — at least these days in my Brooklyn neighborhood of Carroll Gardens — far more resembles Alanis Morissette’s screwy version of irony. 6sqft’s Andrew Cotto — an author of two novels and a journalist whose work has appeared in The New York Times, Men’s Journal, and Salon.com — will be sharing his experiences as he makes his way around New York City. This week, he describes life in Carroll Gardens.
Carroll Gardens. Isn't it Ironic?
January 30, 2026

Shuttered Downtown Brooklyn Macy’s becomes pulsing light installation

The shuttered Macy’s in Downtown Brooklyn now hosts an interactive light installation that pulses along to the soundtrack of Fulton Street. Unveiled on Friday, "In Every Transition, A Pattern" illuminates the windows of the former department store with rhythmic patterns and kaleidoscopic displays that respond to the energy of the streetscape. On view through March 16, the installation brings new life to the now-empty Macy's, which closed along with four other NYC locations in January 2025.
see it here
January 23, 2026

Colorful mural added behind Richmond Barthé’s Kingsborough Houses frieze

A colorful mural now adorns the backside of the recently restored Richmond Barthé frieze at the Kingsborough Houses in Crown Heights. On Thursday, the Public Housing Community Fund (PHCF), the city's Housing Authority (NYCHA), and local artists Gerard Pefung and Greg Roberson unveiled "From Weeksville to Kingsborough: Still We Rise," a vibrant tribute to the two neighborhoods’ histories and the enduring legacies of their residents. The piece sits directly behind Harlem Renaissance sculptor Richmond Barthé’s "Exodus and Dance" frieze, which was restored in August after 80 years on display.
Discover more
December 24, 2025

New transit-oriented Cypress Hills project has 200+ affordable units

A mixed-use residential project in Cypress Hills, set to deliver more than 200 affordable apartments just steps from the subway, moved ahead this week. On Tuesday, a joint venture of Slate Property Group, Thorobird Companies, and Bangladeshi American Community Development & Youth Services (BACDYS) closed on 570 Eldert Lane, a transit-oriented development that will add 213 homes adjacent to the A train at Grant Avenue. The property will also include 10,000 square feet of community space operated by BACDYS, along with on-site supportive services from the non-profit Urban Pathways.
details here
December 4, 2025

New Washington Heights pedestrian plaza opens with mural honoring Dominican community

A new pedestrian plaza and mural in Washington Heights opened this week, setting a city record for the most temporary public art installations on city land. On Thursday, Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez celebrated the opening of a new pedestrian plaza on Audubon Avenue between 165th and 166th Streets, adding 10,890 square feet of car-free space, and unveiled “De Lo Mio,” a vibrant asphalt mural honoring Dominican culture by artist Talisa Almonte. The artwork marks a record 151 temporary public art pieces installed across DOT property.
details here
November 25, 2025

11 classic New York songs that capture the spirit of the city

Type "New York" into a Spotify search, and you’ll get a list of hundreds and hundreds of titles (and those are just the ones with the city name in their title). Of course, the greatest city on Earth has inspired countless songs. After all, it’s the birthplace of hip-hop, punk rock, and disco, and was the launching pad of Billy Joel, Lady Gaga, and Jay-Z, to name just a few. But some tunes have made a more indelible mark on city life than others, which is why we’ve put together this list of 11 classic New York songs that capture the spirit of the city.
listen to them here
November 25, 2025

Victorian Flatbush gains two new historic districts

New York City's newest historic districts are two well-preserved areas of homes in suburban Flatbush. On Tuesday, the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to designate the Beverley Square West and Ditmas Park West Historic Districts, which together include 247 freestanding homes built between 1894 and 1910, showcasing early 20th-century suburban architecture in the Queen Anne and Colonial Revival styles, or a mixture of the two. The most recent iteration of the districts includes minor boundary adjustments that exclude homes that do not share the same historic integrity as the rest of the district.
Learn more
November 17, 2025

Studio Museum in Harlem unveils new home

In the United States, 1968 was a year of political unrest and cultural change. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, the Vietnam War was protested, the Fair Housing Act was passed, and President Richard Nixon was elected. In its list of major, shifting events that year, a much quieter moment: the founding of the Studio Museum in Harlem. The museum was founded by a group of artists, community activists, and philanthropists to foster the work of artists of African descent.
inside the studio museum
October 29, 2025

New York sues Trump administration to resume SNAP payments

New York Attorney General Letitia James is suing the Trump administration to block its plan to halt SNAP payments during the federal government shutdown. On Tuesday, James announced plans to sue the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for its intentions to cease SNAP benefits starting Saturday, arguing that the move violates federal law. James says the USDA is legally obligated to continue distributing assistance as long as it has funding, and that billions in contingency funds approved by Congress are available to sustain payments during the lapse.
Learn more
October 27, 2025

Major public art program unveiled for JFK Airport’s $9.5B Terminal One

JFK Airport's new $9.5 billion terminal wants to reflect New York’s identity as a capital of creativity and culture. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and New Terminal One announced on Monday the seven artists who will create large-scale, site-specific works anchoring Terminal One's cultural program, which celebrates the history, culture, and diversity of New York City and Queens. The installations, ranging from sculptures and mosaics to murals, will complement the broader arts initiative that also features filmmaking and immersive digital experiences.
Find out more
October 27, 2025

This year’s Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree hails from upstate NY

The towering spruce that will serve as this year’s Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, standing at the heart of New York City's holiday celebrations, has been revealed. Found upstate in East Greenbush, the 75-foot-tall tree will be cut down on Thursday, November 6, and make its journey to Manhattan, arriving on Saturday, November 8. After it’s adorned with tens of thousands of twinkling lights and crowned with its iconic Swarovski star, the annual tree lighting ceremony will take place on Wednesday, December 3.
details here
September 16, 2025

Park Slope townhouse sells for $13.9M, a new neighborhood record

A Park Slope townhouse has sold for $13.9 million, marking the neighborhood’s priciest sale ever. As first reported by the Wall Street Journal, the five-story property at 535 1st Street, designed by architecture and design firm Leroy Street Studio, hit the market for $18 million in May 2024, as 6sqft previously reported.
Find out more
September 8, 2025

Inside an Inwood rental with lush green space and a performing arts center

A huge mixed-use development in Upper Manhattan brings together mixed-income housing, a new performing arts space, and lots of green space to a single project. Taking up a full block on West 206th Street in Inwood, the Miramar is home to nearly 700 apartments, 85,000 square feet of amenities, and the future permanent home for the immigrant-centered People's Theatre. As leasing continues for the building's 417 market-rate apartments, 6sqft got an exclusive peek at Miramar's beautiful amenities, which include two landscaped courtyards, a meditation garden, terraces, and a rooftop with skyline views.
take a look around
August 8, 2025

Kool & the Gang founder’s Montclair home hits the market for $7.5M

The former New Jersey home of late musician and founding member of the Kool & the Gang, Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas, is for sale. Located at 82-84 Watchung Avenue in Montclair, the property consists of two seemingly identical four-story townhomes, allowing for multi-generational living or a smart investment. The two-family residence is on the market for $7,500,000; each townhouse is also available to rent for $18,000/month.
a 'Kool' deal
August 5, 2025

The rise of the next Williamsburg: How Gowanus went from eyesore to eye-popping prices

It’s been 20 years since The New York Times reported that city officials voted "to let developers turn the decaying north Brooklyn waterfront, with its relics of Brooklyn's industrial past, into a neighborhood of residential towers with a parklike esplanade along the East River." In the two decades since, this version of Williamsburg was replaced by the first generation of "hipsters," glassy condo towers with Manhattan views, and throngs of Manhattanites crowding the L train to hit up Union Pool and Maison Premiere. Now, a new rezoning is putting another Brooklyn neighborhood on the same path. This time, the waterfront is the once-toxic Superfund-designated Gowanus Canal.
there goes gowanus?