Manhattan

Eight years and several price cuts later, celebrity hairstylist Frédéric Fekkai has sold his Upper East Side apartment. Fekkai first purchased the four-bedroom duplex at 953 Fifth Avenue for $7.4 million in 2006 and later listed it in 2015 for $12 million, following a revamp by interior designer Robert Couturier. After coming on and off the market many times since then, the co-op finally sold this month for $4.5 million, according to city records.
Learn more here

Visit NYC’s finest museums for free during annual Museum Mile Festival

Image courtesy of Brian Lauer on Flickr

June 12, 2023

Visit NYC’s finest museums for free during annual Museum Mile Festival

This week "New York City's biggest block party" is returning to a 28-block stretch of Fifth Avenue for the 45th year. During the Museum Mile Festival, attendees can walk along Fifth Avenue between 82nd Street and 110th Street and visit eight of the city's finest institutions for free. Participating museums include the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Museum of the City of New York, the Jewish Museum, Neue Galerie New York, El Museo del Barrio, the Africa Center, and Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. The iconic thoroughfare will close to cars during the festival, which takes place on June 13 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., allowing the museums to host art activities, musical performances, and other attractions outdoors.
Find out more

Events & Things To Do

This elegant $1.6M Upper East Side co-op has hand-painted murals and classic pre-war details

Photo credit: Travis Mark for Sotheby’s International Realty

June 9, 2023

This elegant $1.6M Upper East Side co-op has hand-painted murals and classic pre-war details

Live the timeless, classic Upper East Side life in this corner co-op at 901 Lexington Avenue. In addition to retaining the grandeur of its original 1907 design, interiors by renowned designer Suzanne Rheinstein render its elegance unique. Hand-painted hardwood floors and murals by Bob Christian are just a few of the timeless details that elevate this $1,600,000 home.
Take the tour

Distinctive Homes

Lincoln Center to reimagine Amsterdam Avenue side of campus

Corner of 65th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, facing corner stairway to Lincoln Center plaza level. Photo by Lawrence Sumulong.

June 8, 2023

Lincoln Center to reimagine Amsterdam Avenue side of campus

The Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts wants to break down barriers, both literally and figuratively. The cultural institution on Tuesday announced plans for a major renovation of the western edge of its campus to make it more welcoming and accessible, calling on local community members and stakeholders to help reimagine the Amsterdam Avenue-facing side, which currently has no direct access to the campus. The renovation is one way the center has worked to become more equitable and inclusive in recent years, including a new pay-what-you-wish ticketing model, diverse programming, the new David Geffen Hall, and partnerships with blood drives, food banks, and other charitable events.
See more here

Events & Things To Do

A public art installation in Lower Manhattan reimagines Earth using plastic waste

Photos courtesy of Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for B.N. Barkat Holdings and Studio

June 7, 2023

A public art installation in Lower Manhattan reimagines Earth using plastic waste

A timely new public art installation in Lower Manhattan depicts the devastating impact of pollution on Earth. Created by Israeli artist Beverly Barkat, "Earth Poetica" uses a mixture of plastic materials collected from the world's oceans, waterways, and forests to create a globe that appears beautiful on the outside but is in fact just trash on the inside. Located in the lobby of 3 World Trade Center, the 13-foot-tall sculpture is made up of 180 colorful panels and highlights areas of the world suffering from increasing plastic pollution.
See the artwork

Events & Things To Do

NYC’s free Shakespeare in the Park program returns this week

The Delacorte Theater. Photo credit: Joseph Moran

June 6, 2023

NYC’s free Shakespeare in the Park program returns this week

Shakespeare in the Park, the Public Theater's beloved free program in Central Park, returns to the Delacorte Theater this week. Directed by Tony Award winner Kenny Leon, the Public will present one performance of "Hamlet" for an extended nine-week run from Thursday, June 8 until Sunday, August 6. A production of "The Tempest" will be presented from Sunday, August 27 through Sunday, September 3 before the Delacorte Theater closes for renovations.
See more here

Lottery opens at new Passive House rental in Gramercy, from $836/month

All renderings courtesy of Redundant Pixel

June 5, 2023

Lottery opens at new Passive House rental in Gramercy, from $836/month

A sustainable rental in one of Manhattan's most sought-after neighborhoods launched a housing lottery last week. Designed by Hill West Architects to meet Passive House standards, Gemma Gramercy is a 20-story building, located at 200 East 23rd Street, that will use 85 percent less energy than traditional buildings. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 40, 60, and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the available apartments, priced from $836/month studios to $3,490/month for two-bedroom units.
Do you qualify?

Affordable Housing

Skyy Vodka founder’s Upper East Side mansion with major art ties asks $25M

Photos courtesy of DDReps

June 2, 2023

Skyy Vodka founder’s Upper East Side mansion with major art ties asks $25M

A historic New York City mansion that once hosted some of the biggest artists of the 20th century is available for $25,000,000. Owned by Maurice Kanbar, an inventor and philanthropist who founded Skyy Vodka, the five-story neo-Renaissance building at 4 East 77th Street on the Upper East Side served as the first location of Leo Castelli Gallery, which is credited with launching the careers of Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, Roy Lichtenstein, and Andy Warhol, among others. Currently home to the Michael Werner Gallery on the first two floors, the mixed-use property could become a grand single-family home again, as it was when originally constructed over a century ago.
The sky's the limit

Distinctive Homes

Sotheby’s buys the Breuer Building from Whitney Museum

Photo by Glenda Altarejos on Wikimedia

June 2, 2023

Sotheby’s buys the Breuer Building from Whitney Museum

The Whitney Museum of Art has sold the Upper East Side's iconic Breuer Building to the auction house Sotheby's. Designed by renowned architect Marcel Breuer in 1966, the five-story building at 945 Madison Avenue is known for its striking Brutalist architecture. While the exact price of the transaction remains unknown, sources close to the deal suggest it was around $100 million, according to the New York Times. Sotheby's will take over the building next September from the Frick Collection, which has operated there temporarily since 2021, and relocate its headquarters from York Avenue to the Breuer in 2025.
Details here

Events & Things To Do

New mural on 14th Street in Union Square celebrates human connection to nature

All photos courtesy of Jane Kratochvil

May 31, 2023

New mural on 14th Street in Union Square celebrates human connection to nature

A new street mural along the 14th Street Busway in Union Square celebrates the intricate connection between humans and nature. Designed by Brooklyn-based artist Vanesa Álvarez, "Union with the Universe" uses serene designs and shades of color, inviting observers to slow down and take a moment to connect with the world around them. Unveiled on Wednesday, the mural was installed over a period of five days with the help of Street Plans, a Brooklyn-based urban planning and design firm, and other community groups.
See the mural

Events & Things To Do

$1B office complex revamp of Chelsea’s historic Terminal Warehouse tops out

Rendering by COOKFOX

May 31, 2023

$1B office complex revamp of Chelsea’s historic Terminal Warehouse tops out

Terminal Warehouse, the newest reimagined workplace destination in the West Chelsea historic district, is nearing completion; a six-story addition atop the 130-year-old landmarked building recently topped out, as the New York Post first reported. The historic building, once home to the iconic 1980s and '90s nightclub Tunnel, is slated to become 1.3 million square feet of wellness-focused office and retail space, with an investment of over $1 billion. The project's developers, L&L Holding Company and Columbia Property Trust, along with architectural firm COOKFOX and New Line Structures, have made every effort to maintain the building's character as New York City's first major industrial facility with direct access to the Hudson River, streets, and rail lines.
Find out more, this way

British actor Kunal Nayyar just listed his Nomad penthouse for $2.8M

Photos by Eitan Gamliely for Sotheby’s International Realty unless otherwise noted

May 30, 2023

British actor Kunal Nayyar just listed his Nomad penthouse for $2.8M

The duplex penthouse owned by actor Kunal Nayyar–you may know him as Raj on "The Big Bang Theory," is now on the market asking $2,800,000. The one-bedroom condo in Nomad's Grand Madison at 225 Fifth Avenue has 11-foot ceilings for plenty of light indoors, and the covetable existence of a large patio and roof deck, high above Manhattan.
Get a closer look

‘Cornelia Street’ townhouse once rented by Taylor Swift asks $17.9M

All photos courtesy of Al Siedman/VHT for The Corcoran Group

May 30, 2023

‘Cornelia Street’ townhouse once rented by Taylor Swift asks $17.9M

Taylor Swift's former Greenwich Village home has hit the market for $17,995,000. The pop-star rented the 5,500-square-foot, five-story home at 23 Cornelia Street in 2016. The former carriage house served as an inspiration for her 2019 song "Cornelia Street," which references the home's windows and creaky floors. The four-bedroom, five-bathroom house stands out for its drive-right-in garage, 30-foot indoor pool, rooftop terrace, and prime location in the heart of the Village. The townhouse is also available as a $45,000/month rental.
Any Swifties with $18M?

This exhibit celebrates 100 years of art and pop culture in NYC

Richard Estes. M Train on Route to Manhattan Approaches the Williamsburg Bridge. 1995. Copyright Richard Estes, courtesy Louis K. Meisel Gallery

May 25, 2023

This exhibit celebrates 100 years of art and pop culture in NYC

A new exhibition shares more than a century's worth of creativity inspired by New York City. The Museum of the City of New York's "This is New York: 100 Years of the City in Art and Pop Culture" highlights what NYC has meant to generations of artists, musicians, writers, storytellers, and filmmakers who have captured the essence of the five boroughs through their work. The exhibition, which celebrates the museum's centennial is on view at the museum at 1220 Fifth Avenue from Wednesday, May 26 through June 21, 2024.
Find out more

Events & Things To Do

NYC’s best rooftop hotel pools offering day passes

Photo courtesy of The Williamsburg Hotel

May 24, 2023

NYC’s best rooftop hotel pools offering day passes

Coming soon: Full-time sun and swimsuit season. Some lucky apartment dwellers count a private pool among their building’s amenities. Otherwise, your local options include public pools or pricey pool clubs and gyms. One way to hack summer in NYC is to snag a day pass to a pool atop one of the city’s trendy hotels. Usually reserved for hotel guests, some hotels allow visitors to pay by the day–often with poolside restaurant and bar privileges. Some venues host events like pool parties with DJs, live music, and drink specials. Read on for cool pools with day rates. Many hotel pools will open on Memorial Day weekend. Pools may be reserved for private events, or rates and access information may change; be sure to check in with the venue before finalizing your plans.
Everyone in the pool

Events & Things To Do

Flatiron Building sells for $161M at second auction in two months

Photo courtesy of d26b73 on Flickr

May 24, 2023

Flatiron Building sells for $161M at second auction in two months

After being put up for auction for the second time since March after the previous buyer failed to make the down payment, the Flatiron Building has sold for $161 million. During the auction hosted on the front steps of a Lower Manhattan courthouse Tuesday, a group led by Jeff Gural of GFP Real Estate, one of the landmarked building's previous owners, placed the winning bid over four other contenders. After winning, Gural said he plans to convert the upper part of the building into residential units, while keeping office space below, according to Crain's New York.
See more here

Real Estate Trends

Manhattan’s only surviving ‘colored’ school is now a city landmark

Mayor Eric Adams visits former Colored School No. 4 in Chelsea. Photo courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

May 23, 2023

Manhattan’s only surviving ‘colored’ school is now a city landmark

The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday designated a building in Manhattan that serves as a reminder of racially segregated education in New York City. The former Colored School No 4. was a public school open to only Black students and teachers from 1860 to 1884. The remarkably-intact three-story building at 128 West 17th Street in Chelsea is the borough's only surviving school building that exclusively served African Americans. Not only does the new landmark represent the history of the Black community who lived in this part of Manhattan, but it also recognizes the many notable figures associated with the school.
Learn more here

Policy

MSG should stay above Penn Station, says Manhattan borough president

Rendering: ASTM North America

May 22, 2023

MSG should stay above Penn Station, says Manhattan borough president

Madison Square Garden should be granted a new operating permit and be allowed to stay put, as long as it gives up some of its space for the expansion of Penn Station, Manhattan Borough Mark Levine said on Monday. As first reported by Crain's New York, Levine's recommendation includes demolishing MSG's theater and replacing it with a new grand entrance facing Eighth Avenue, a new mid-block entrance, and a double-height concourse. To do this, Levine advises giving MSG a new five-year special permit, if the Garden works with the city, state, and railroads to redevelop Penn Station and the surrounding area.
Details here

Kate Moss and Johnny Depp’s former Greenwich Village apartment asks $15.5M

All images courtesy of The Corcoran Group

May 18, 2023

Kate Moss and Johnny Depp’s former Greenwich Village apartment asks $15.5M

A Greenwich Village townhouse with a carriage house that Kate Moss and Johnny Depp called home during the 1990s is for sale. The nearly 200-year-old Federal-style brick townhouse at 112 Waverly Place is currently configured as four rentals, each with private outdoor space and wood-burning fireplaces. The 90s power couple lived in the quirky complex's 1,800-square-foot carriage house from 1994 to 1998. The entire property is now available for $15,500,000, as first spotted by the New York Post.
See inside

Architecture critic Paul Goldberger lists Central Park-facing Beresford co-op for $8.95M

All photos courtesy of Yoo Jean Han for Sotheby’s International Realty

May 17, 2023

Architecture critic Paul Goldberger lists Central Park-facing Beresford co-op for $8.95M

An architecture critic is selling his apartment in one of New York City's most beloved buildings. Paul Goldberger, who won a Pulitzer Prize for his architecture criticism in the New York Times and has authored several books, has put his nine-room co-op at 211 Central Park West on the market for $8,950,000. The spacious apartment at The Beresford benefits from pre-war proportions and character, a recently renovated chef's kitchen, Central Park views, and an iconic address.
Take the tour

Distinctive Homes

Noho’s Bleecker Street Bar reopens after nearly three years

The original location of the Bleecker Street Bar. Photo by Village Preservation on Flickr

May 17, 2023

Noho’s Bleecker Street Bar reopens after nearly three years

Noho's beloved Bleecker Street Bar reopened its doors on Wednesday after closing two-and-a-half years ago due to the pandemic. The bar, which has served Noho residents for more than 30 years, joined an extensive list of neighborhood bars and restaurants that were forced to close their doors due to the financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Bleecker Street Bar's new location is 648 Broadway.
Details here

Food & Dining

Your guide to Morningside Heights: A college town in a city neighborhood

Tom’s Restaurant is a landmark in Morningside Heights thanks to Seinfeld. Photo by Scarlet Sappho on Flickr

May 17, 2023

Your guide to Morningside Heights: A college town in a city neighborhood

Bookended by Morningside and Riverside Parks on a high plateau in Upper Manhattan, Morningside Heights is tucked between the neighborhoods of Manhattanville to the north and Manhattan Valley to the south. The neighborhood's street boundaries are Morningside Drive to the east, 125th Street to the north, 110th Street to the south, and Riverside Drive to the west, with Broadway as its main commercial thoroughfare. Morningside Heights is also considered to be part of Harlem–with the Upper West Side just below. To use a bookend analogy is fitting: Morningside Heights is the largest student neighborhood in New York City; it is this distinction that provides the city neighborhood with its college town vibe.
What to do and see, and where to live in Morningside Heights

Century 21 reopens in the Financial District

Photo courtesy of Century 21

May 17, 2023

Century 21 reopens in the Financial District

New York City's favorite discount department store is back. Century 21 on Tuesday officially reopened its flagship at 22 Cortlandt Street in the Financial District three years after filing for bankruptcy and closing all of its locations. The renovated store has four floors with men's, women's, and children's apparel, including footwear, outerwear, handbags, accessories, and fragrances. To honor its connection to the city, the famed store has added "NYC" to its logo.
See more here

Uncategorized

A section of NYC skateboarding ‘mecca’ Brooklyn Banks reopens in Chinatown

Public space under the Brooklyn Bridge. Wednesday, May 3, 2023. Images courtesy of Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office

May 16, 2023

A section of NYC skateboarding ‘mecca’ Brooklyn Banks reopens in Chinatown

Parts of a long-neglected public space under the Brooklyn Bridge once known as the "mecca" of New York City skateboarding will reopen this month. On Wednesday, May 24, "The Arches," a one-acre public space with basketball, pickleball, shuffleboard, and seating under the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge, will officially open after being shuttered for over a decade, Mayor Eric Adams announced last week. The new park sits next to Brooklyn Banks, a haven for skateboarders and BMX riders starting in the 1980s before closing in 2010.
Find out more

NYC’s historic Roosevelt Hotel becomes arrival center for asylum seekers

Photo by Billy Hathorn via Wikimedia Commons

May 15, 2023

NYC’s historic Roosevelt Hotel becomes arrival center for asylum seekers

A historic hotel in Midtown that has been closed since the start of the pandemic will become the city’s first arrival center for migrants, Mayor Eric Adams announced on Saturday. Located at 45 East 45th Street, The Roosevelt Hotel will serve as a “centralized intake center” for all arriving asylum seekers, providing them with legal, medical, and reconnection services and up to 175 rooms for children and families starting later this week. The new shelter is the ninth Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center opened by the city; more migrants are expected to arrive in New York after the end of the pandemic-era rule Title 42, which let the U.S. quickly expel migrants without documentation.
Learn more

Rosie O’Donnell’s ritzy Midtown East penthouse hits the market for $8.3M

Photos courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

May 15, 2023

Rosie O’Donnell’s ritzy Midtown East penthouse hits the market for $8.3M