2 Charlton Street, Unit 15H

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2 Charlton Street, Unit 15H

DOWNTOWN, MANHATTAN

$1,200,000

1 Bed  |  1 Bath | Co-op

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Wake up to huge views that skim across the historic SoHo rooftops in this spacious, convertible two-bedroom, one-bathroom home in a full-service Hudson Square cooperative.

This high-floor residence welcomes you with expansive living spaces featuring hardwood floors, tall ceilings and wide-open eastern views. Stretching nearly 27 feet long, the living room offers a generous footprint for living and dining areas bordered by delightful views. The adjacent dining alcove is ideal for entertaining or conversion to an additional bedroom or home office space. Inside the galley kitchen, enjoy excellent cabinet space and full-size appliances.

Wake up with the morning sun in the extra-large bedroom, where you'll find plenty of room for a king-size bed and additional furniture, a fitness area or desk space. An extra-large walk-in closet here, plus three more closets throughout the home, means storage will never be a concern. The home's full bathroom is finished with a large tub/shower and contemporary vanity, and through-the-wall air-conditioning ensures year-round comfort. Move right into this Hudson Square haven or put your personal stamp on this fantastic sun-splashed Downtown residence.

Welcome to Charlton House, a stunning postwar brick cooperative where residents enjoy 24-hour doorman and live-in superintendent service, laundry, a common garden and a parking garage accessible from the elevator. Pets, co-purchasing, parents buying for employed children, gifting and 75 percent financing are permitted with board approval. Subletting, pieds-à-terre, guarantors, LLCs and diplomats/HB1 visa holders are not allowed.

This wonderful Hudson Square location offers direct access to the city's media and tech hub, with Tribeca, SoHo and Greenwich Village minutes away. Enjoy outstanding shopping, dining, nightlife, galleries and museums, including Trader Joe's, the Film Forum and Children's Museum of the Arts. Hudson River Park offers 500 acres of waterfront outdoor space and recreation, and The High Line, Whitney and Little Island are all within reach. Transportation from this central district is a breeze with 1, A/C/E, B/D/F/M and R/W trains, excellent bus service, CitiBikes and the Holland Tunnel nearby.

Bryant Park’s Winter Village Returns For Its 21st Season

Bryant Park’s famous Bank of America Winter Village is set to return for its 21st season, offering New Yorkers the city’s only free admission ice-skating rink, a renowned open-air holiday market, and the cozy rinkside Lodge with its seasonal cocktails and food. The Winter Village will be open daily starting October 28 through March 5.

At the center of the village is the 17,000-square-foot ice skating rink, which is open daily throughout the holiday season. Skate rental tickets can be reserved online.

The Lodge provides a “rinkside, après skate escape” where visitors can enjoy festive cocktails and food, and watch as ice skaters round the rink.

Urbanspace’s European-inspired holiday market will open to the public through January 2. The open-air market will feature over 170 new and returning vendors. Four NYC minority-owned businesses with yearly revenues of $1 million or less will be given a rent-free booth, as part of Bank of America’s “Small Business Spotlight.”

Over the coming days, the Village will announce a more detailed list of holiday market merchants, dining options, and seasonal programming.

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Bryant Park’s Winter Village returns for 21st season next month

POSTED TODAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2022BY AARON GINSBURG

Photo courtesy of Colin Miller

201 East 17th Street, Unit 20A

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201 East 17th Street, Unit 20A

GRAMERCY PARK, MANHATTAN

$925,000

1 Bed  |  1 Bath | Co-op

 

Limitless open-sky views and sleek modern interiors await in this stunning one-bedroom, one-bathroom showplace nestled within a contemporary Gramercy Park co-op.

From the moment you arrive in this 656-square-foot high-floor home, you'll be swept away by magnificent light and unimpeded views to the south and east. A long entry gallery with a convenient coat closet opens to a spacious living room that stretches more than 23 feet long. Enjoy a generous footprint for seating, dining and home office areas featuring wide-plank hardwood floors and massive corner windows finished with Roman shades. Here, postcard vistas of Stuyvesant Square Park and the Williamsburg and Manhattan bridges come into focus, while chic interior glass doors allow natural light to roam throughout. In the chef's kitchen, custom cabinetry and soapstone countertops surround upscale stainless steel appliances, including a six-burner Viking range, Sub-Zero refrigerator and Fisher & Paykel dishwasher drawers. Head to the beautiful bedroom to discover a wall of closets and sleek built-in cabinetry. The adjacent oversized full bathroom completes this move-in ready home with handsome tile, a beautiful vanity and a large frameless glass tub/rain shower with a handheld sprayer.

Park Towers is a high-rise cooperative where residents enjoy full-time doorman service, a live-in superintendent, updated common areas, a fitness center, laundry, storage, bike room, an on-site parking garage and a glorious roof deck with simply breathtaking skyline views. Pets, pieds-à-terre, co-purchases, guarantors, and parents buying for children are permitted with board approval.

Bordering the Stuyvesant Square Historic District, this neighborhood encapsulates the best of New York City's past and present. Enjoy immediate access to the city's buzziest neighborhoods, including Union Square, the Flatiron District and the East Village. Iconic parks surround the area, and fantastic restaurants, greenmarkets, entertainment venues and shops, including Trader Joe's and Whole Foods, fill the local streets. Nearby N/Q/R/W, 4/5/6 and L trains, excellent bus service and CitiBike stations put the rest of the city within easy reach.

MTA To rRemove All MetroCard Vending Machines For OMNY By 2023

After 23 years of service, the New York City subway system’s iconic MetroCard vending machines will be replaced. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority will start swapping out the classic machines for OMNY (“One Metro New York”) vending machines during the first half of 2023 after finalizing hardware and software testing, as NY1 reported. The entire MetroCard system is expected to be replaced by the end of 2023.

The city began the gradual replacement of the MetroCard with OMNY in 2019, launching a pilot program of the contactless payment system that allowed riders to tap their credit cards, debit cards, and smartphones to pay fares.

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

Both OMNY and the MetroCard will remain usable until the entire MetroCard system is officially put to rest. Customers are now able to purchase an OMNY card in preparation for the system’s replacement of the MetroCard at 2,000 locations throughout the city.

Photo by Arun D on Flickr

Riders can tap and pay through a digital wallet on smartphones or watches, with a credit or debit card with microchips, and the reloadable OMNY card. The contactless payment system has been stalled at every subway station and bus.

The MetroCard machine as we know it was first developed in 1996 by industrial designers Masamichi Udagawa and Sigi Moeslinger who were tasked with revamping a vending machine the MTA had already purchased for their new ticketing system.

Designed by Cubic, the same manufactures as the OMNY system, the machines purchased by the MTA ended up being hated by the majority of users due to their confusing interface, according to Curbed. Udagawa, Moeslinger, and a team of interaction designers worked together to revitalize the machine and give it its iconic appearance that all New Yorkers are familiar with today.

The designers implemented a unique coloring system that divided each function of the machine into a distinct color, giving it what Curbed calls a “splashy aesthetic.” They also made the user’s experience as straightforward as possible, displaying one simple question or action per screen in large, easily-readable text.

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MTA to replace all MetroCard vending machines with OMNY by end of next year

POSTED ON TUE, SEPTEMBER 6, 2022BY AARON GINSBURG

Photo by Arun D on Flickr & courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit on Flickr

201 West 70th Street, Unit 6G

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201 West 70th Street, Unit 6G

UPPER WEST SIDE, MANHATTAN

$985,000

1 Bed  |  1 Bath | Co-op

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Fall in love with this impeccably renovated one-bedroom, one-bathroom home with private outdoor space overlooking beautiful Sherman Square in the heart of the Upper West Side.

This 725-square-foot home boasts hardwood floors, excellent closet space, custom doors, trim and molding throughout. The entry foyer has two large hall closets and leads to a spacious, open living area and a dining nook featuring custom built-in bench seating with storage. The living room is surrounded by custom HVAC enclosures with storage and added overhead lighting. A double-paned picture window and glass door lets in beautiful morning light and opens to the 71.5-square-foot, east-facing tiled balcony, the perfect spot for morning coffee in the sun or after-dinner drinks overlooking Sherman Square.

Chefs will love the enlarged gourmet kitchen featuring an extended counter, custom glass-front cabinets and soft-close drawers finished with granite countertops and backsplashes. The upscale stainless steel appliances include a Bertazzoni range and microwave, a Samsung French door refrigerator with ice maker and a Bosch quiet dishwasher.

The large bedroom, which can accommodate a King-size bed, features double-paned windows, a roomy walk-in closet and a custom built-in workstation with cabinet storage, shelves, extra electrical outlets, a marble counter, overhead lighting and open views of Broadway. The marble bathroom features a walk-in shower, a custom vanity, Porcelanosa fixtures and double mirrored medicine cabinets.

One Sherman Square is a commanding postwar cooperative featuring a welcoming circular driveway and gardens. Residents of the pet-friendly building enjoy a contemporary lobby, 24-hour doorman and concierge service, a live-in resident manager, fitness center, laundry, an onsite parking garage and a glorious landscaped roof deck with spectacular views. Subletting, pieds-à-terre, co-purchasing and gifting are permitted with board approval.

Located in prime Lincoln Square, this home is at the epicenter of Upper West Side excitement surrounded by lush outdoor space at Central Park, Riverside Park and the Hudson River waterfront. Foodies will love the easy access to Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Zabar's, Citarella, the original Fairway Market and renowned Café Luxembourg. Enjoy fantastic shopping along Broadway, or take in world-class entertainment at Lincoln Center or the Beacon Theater. The 1, B and C trains, excellent bus service and CitiBikes put the rest of the city within easy reach.

Ride On Vintage NYC Subway Trains This Month

Here’s a rare opportunity to ride on some of New York City’s oldest subway trains spanning over a century of the city’s transportation history. The New York Transit Museum’s Parade of Trains returns this month, offering transit buffs a chance to travel on four historic trains from the museum’s collection of vintage fleets. The rides will run continuously from Brooklyn’s Brighton Beach B and Q express train platforms from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on September 17 and September 18. Admission is free with subway fare.

Photo courtesy of Ron Yee

Riders will get to experience what it was like to ride the subway a century ago, witnessing firsthand the drastic differences between the modernized trains of today and those of the past.

“The New York Transit Museum is delighted to announce the return of the Parade of Trains! We are extremely fortunate to have some of the oldest rolling stock in the U.S. that still rolls and what better way to ensure that remains the case than to bring our beloved vintage fleet to the rails in Brighton Beach,” a spokesperson for the museum said in a press release.

“The Parade of Trains, one of our favorite events, is such a special opportunity for people from every generation to travel back in time by traveling on one of the museum trains, and all for a swipe of your MetroCard or an OMNY tap!”

The museum’s vintage cars have no air conditioning, bright lighting, or automated voice announcements. Riders will be able to hold onto the vintage straps and handles and read advertisements from a bygone age.

Roundtrip rides will run continuously from Brighton Beach to Kings Highway and back, with each ride taking around 20 minutes and an expected wait time of no more than 15 minutes. Passengers will only be able to board and get off of the trains at the Brighton Beach station.

The Parade of Trains is part of the Nostalgia Train rides, which the Transit Museum has run since 1976. The program launched again this summer after a two-year break because of Covid.

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Travel back in time on vintage NYC subway trains this month

POSTED TODAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2022BY AARON GINSBURG

Photo courtesy of Ron Yee

175 West 73rd Street, Unit 6F

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175 West 73rd Street, Unit 6F

UPPER WEST SIDE, MANHATTAN

$899,000

1 Bed  |  1 Bath | Co-op

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You'll want to move right into this spacious one-bedroom, one-bathroom residence featuring an updated gourmet kitchen, glorious natural light and prewar charm in a desirable Lincoln Square cooperative.

This bright and airy home makes a wonderful first impression with gorgeous herringbone hardwood floors, tall beamed ceilings, picture-frame molding and sunny southern and eastern exposures. From the gracious foyer, you're invited into a large living room with views over 73rd Street. The adjacent open kitchen impresses with abundant floor-to-ceiling cabinetry, crisp white countertops and tile backsplashes. Elevate your culinary experience with stainless steel appliances, including a gas range, French door refrigerator, drawer microwave and dishwasher. Sleep soundly in the corner king-size bedroom and enjoy a spacious windowed bathroom. Excellent closet space completes this elegant Upper West Side haven.

The Verdi is a handsome 1925 cooperative built in the Neo-Renaissance style and situated within the Upper West Side/Central Park West Historic District. Residents enjoy 24-hour doorman service, a live-in superintendent, updated common areas, laundry, storage, bike room and a lovely landscaped roof deck. Pets, pieds-à-terre, parents buying for children and guarantors are permitted.

This prime Lincoln Square neighborhood is surrounded by the Upper West Side's best amenities and lush outdoor space at Central Park, Riverside Park and the Hudson River waterfront. Foodies will love the easy access to Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Zabar's, Citarella and the original Fairway Market, while Lincoln Center and the Beacon Theater will satisfy those with a thirst for world-class entertainment. Transportation is effortless with 1, B and C trains, excellent bus service and CitiBikes all nearby.

The Monthly Update - September 2022

Snap Back! 

I just returned from an annual Real Estate Summit meeting hosted by TomFerry, held in Dallas and attended by over 5,800 of my fellow agents and Realtors from all over the United States. It was an incredible three days filled with discussions about how to serve our clients better! New platforms, apps and tools to help deliver super guidance! Mindset, knowledge and local real estate data analysis so that we can combat the hyped newsreel “data” from MSNBC and FOX News. In short, we are ready to offer better, trusted service and a renewed sense of purpose. 

But we also talked about the state of real estate right now. I was astounded to see many agents were experiencing the same trends that our Manhattan/Brooklyn market is. And what they all reported was not a dead, crashing or apocalyptic situation but a snapback to what was quite normal just a few years ago. That blew my mind because that’s usually not the case at all! New York City generally goes it alone. We tend to march to our own rhythm and report drastically different numbers than the rest of the good ol’ USA, most of the time. 

We all remember March 2020 and the direction of the real estate market — straight down — followed by the subsequent rebound, which was straight up. And presently, the snapback. Just like a rubber band when you snap it. First, a low, then a high, and now back to the straight line. Many agents from all over the country are reporting the same rebound to a normal market. The type of market we regularly saw back in 2019 and before. A market that just feels slow compared to the high transactional rates we saw a few months ago. 

I reviewed the past four years of closed sales data from The Hoffman Team, from January 1 to September 1. I found that in 2019, we had 51 closed sales. In 2020, the number was 58. In 2021, during the same period, there were 118 closed sales. This year, there were 82. And, I would argue that 20-30 of those closings were actually left over from ultra-hot 2021. 

It’s funny that interest rates in September 2019 were hovering at about 4%. Today, we’re just over 5%. But just a few weeks ago, it was 4.7%. So that’s a bit of a snapback, as well. Yes, the market has changed. Yes, you’re not going to see the increased numbers (both prices and transactions) that we saw nationally or in Manhattan/Brooklyn, but there are buyers out there. Buyers are putting property into contract/escrow at a more normal level. And we welcome that. We welcome the normal. At The Hoffman Team, we’re excited to bring you the new normal! :-)

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Local Happenings:

2022 U.S. Open

The U.S. Open—New York’s exhilarating summer sports event—is one of the most exciting things to do each year and finally, it’s back. The 2022 U.S. Open will take place from Monday, August 29 through Sunday, September 11. Tickets are now available to the general public for purchase! 

Click HERE to purchase tickets and learn more about the 2022 U.S. Open.

The Feasts of all Feasts!

The Feast of San Gennaro is back and will be running in Little Italy, NYC from Thursday September 15 through Sunday September 25! The annual event includes the best spots in Little Italy - eat at some of the best Italian restaurants in the city, watch colorful parades, catch free concerts and of course, see the world-famous cannoli eating competition. 

Click HERE to learn more!

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Listing Spotlight:

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Lifestyle Tips & Tricks:

Redefining Luxury Through Countertops

While one might be well advised not to go chasing waterfalls, the design world is all over it; because nothing captures our marble-loving hearts like waterfall countertops. With an edge that cascades seamlessly to the floor, this expanse of stone can be a decadent focal point that links floor design with cabinetry. Courtesy of Elle Decor

30 No-Cook Appetizers for Super-Easy Entertaining

On really warm days spent cooking over a hot grill, it's nice to have a few fuss-free options that skip the heat but keep the flavor. Enter these no-cook appetizers.

Courtesy of Martha Stewart Magazine

Valspar Unveils Its 2023 Colors of the Year

The right paint color brushed on the wall doesn't just change how a room looks, but also how it feels. This year, for its 2023 Colors of the Year, Valspar is tapping into color psychology.

Courtesy of Real Simple

U.S. News Ranks the Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2022-2023

U.S. News & World Report revealed the 2022-2023 Best Places to Live in the U.S. rankings, which compares the 150 most populous metro areas in the U.S. based on affordability, quality of life, desirability, job market and net migration.

Courtesy of U.S. News

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NYC’s Narrowest House Is Now On The Market For Just Over $4M

Listing photos by Rich Caplan

The townhouse at 75 1/2 Bedford Street has long been known as the narrowest home in all of New York City. The Greenwich Village house is just 9-feet-6-inches wide, and though some accounts say there are actually a couple skinnier buildings, this is the one that’s become famous. It’s also in part because Edna St. Vincent Millay lived here in the 1920s. Now, this truly unique home, which was built in 1873 in the Dutch style, has hit the market for $4,190,000. And despite its slender frame, it offers three bedrooms, two balconies, a rear patio, and a finished basement.

Millay lived at several different Greenwich Village addresses starting in 1917. Though she only lived at 75 1/2 Bedford Street from 1923 to 1924 (along with her husband Eugen Jan Boissevain), it’s the location most closely associated with her, and there’s even a plaque on the facade. Prior to that, the home was leased by a group of actors from the nearby Cherry Lane Theater (of which Millay was a co-founder), which included Cary Grant and John Barrymore. Local history tells us that Margaret Mead and cartoonist William Steig also spent some time here.

According to Village Preservation, the site “was originally an alley where delivery carts and the like passed through often.” In 1873, it “was constructed for Horatio Gomez, trustee of the Hettie Hendricks-Gomez Estate,” which included the 1799 house next door at 77 Bedford Street. The Dutch architectural style is unique for the neighborhood and includes an asymmetrical stepped gable and large casement windows.

Reports have said the interior of the house measures just about eight feet wide, and city records note the total square footage at 999. The first floor has a street-facing living room and a rear kitchen with custom millwork and Italian marble countertops that opens through French doors to the shared backyard.

The second floor is entirely devoted to the primary suite. The bedroom is in the front and has a fireplace and built-in closets. The en-suite bathroom opens to a rear terrace. On the upper two levels, the original ceiling beams are a beautiful addition.

There are two more bedrooms on the third floor, both with fireplaces and built-ins and one that opens to the second rear terrace. A skylight adds extra light to the top level. Not pictured is the finished basement, which has a bathroom and laundry room.

In 2013, the home was purchased for $3.25 million by real estate investor George Gund IV. In a profile in the Wall Street Journal at the time, he said he was intrigued by the house’s history and also noted that his bed took up almost the entire width of the bedroom.

Listing photos by Rich Caplan

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NYC’s famous skinny house hits the market for $5M in Greenwich Village

POSTED ON THU, AUGUST 26, 2021BY DANA SCHULZ

Listing photos by Rich Caplan

Hudson Valley’s Storm King Art Center Unveils $45M Redesign

The Storm King Art Center in the Hudson Valley will undergo a $45 million revamp this fall to enhance the visitor experience and better serve its growing community, the 500-acre outdoor museum announced last week. As first reported by The Art Newspaper, the project includes a new welcome area, improved parking and accessibility, and a new facility to support grand-scale works. Construction will begin later this year and the redesign is expected to be completed in 2024.

Rendering of the new South Meadow, to be reclaimed from a former parking lot. ©Storm King Art Center

he museum’s expansion follows rapid growth in its popularity, with the number of visitors a year increasing from 80,000 in 2012 to 222,000 in 2021. The art center is expected to accommodate up to 240,000 visitors this year, according to The Art Newspaper.

“Storm King is unlike anywhere else. Large-scale sculpture, trees, mountains—the combination is stunning. For people seeing it for the first time, that feeling of joy from a new experience can be life-changing,” John Stern, president of Storm King, said.

“This ambitious capital project enriches the absolute best things about Storm King while helping chart our path to a more sustainable future. It allows us to advance all areas of our work and mission; to support our growing community of visitors, artists, and staff; and to preserve our extraordinary site and collection for future generations.”

Rendering of new outdoor lobby and ticketing pavilion. ©Storm King Art Center

Led by heneghan peng architects and WXY architecture + urban design, the project’s first major improvement to the grounds is the 4,700-square-foot outdoor lobby and welcome center, known as the “Welcome Sequence.”

The new entry area will feature a series of accessible pavilions with several amenities, including orientation, restrooms, storage lockers, and covered gathering spaces. Surrounded by natural landscaping, the new entry area will allow for more visitors while consolidating vehicles to a secluded part of the grounds, reducing encounters with cars, according to a press release.

Designed by Gustafson Porter + Bowman and Reed Hilderbrand, the new landscape features will include the welcoming area’s pathways to guide visitors through the park, which will feature native plantings, according to an official press release.

To further consolidate the park’s different regions, more than four acres of former parking space will be converted into landscaped areas for art and related programming. Roughly 330 feet of culverted streams will be removed and a new, connected wetland system will be constructed.

“Anyone who has visited Storm King understands the importance of the relationship between landscape and art. This project places orientation and the visitor experience at the forefront of Storm King’s ambitions,” Neil Porter, founding partner of Gustafson Porter + Bowman, said.

Rendering of the new Conservation, Fabrication, and Maintenance Building ©Storm King Art Center

“By consolidating the car parks from the meadows to the woodland fringe, we minimize the impact of vehicles on the landscape and vistas. The restored ground will provide opportunities for the reintroduction of plant communities and more space for art in Storm King’s sublime landscape setting.”

The 7,200-square-foot purpose-built Conservation, Fabrication, and Maintenance Building will greatly the facility’s ability to produce new art, providing a larger space for creators to collaborate. The building will feature 22-foot ceilings, a 1,000-square-foot wood shop, an 800-square-foot paint booth, and an “Energy Recovery workspace ventilation system.”

The project will enhance the art center’s sustainability features, including a LEED Gold certification for the new Welcome Sequence, efficient all-electric heating and cooling technology, sustainable and durable materials, mobility options that will reduce carbon and promote staff wellness, and the planting of over 650 new trees.

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Hudson Valley’s Storm King Art Center unveils $45M redesign

POSTED ON MON, AUGUST 8, 2022BY AARON GINSBURG

Target Opens New Store in Soho

Target this week will open a new location in Soho, the company’s 95th store in the greater New York City area. The store, which will be tailored for the surrounding community, will offer an assortment of Target’s top-owned and national brands, as well as a contactless pickup order and same-delivery system. Located at 600 Broadway, the new store will open on Sunday, August 14.

All photos courtesy of Target

The Soho store will offer order pickup and same-day delivery through Shipt, a contactless order service with no membership requirement. Customers can expect to find the same assortment of beauty, personal care, food and beverage, home goods, and essential products that the retail chain offers.

“We’re excited to bring the joy of Target to new guests and help them discover a unique shopping experience tailored to the needs of the SoHo community,” Evan Praster, Soho Target store director, said.

“We offer a wide assortment of Target’s top owned and national brands spanning across essentials, beauty, personal care, food and beverage, home goods, and much more. Guests can also shop on their own terms with our easy, contactless and industry-leading Order Pickup and same-day delivery with Shipt services – ready within a couple of hours with no membership required for the easiest shopping experience in retail.”

All photos courtesy of Target

The Soho branch is Target’s 95th store in the New York City area. In March, the retail giant opened a new store on 42nd Street in the heart of Times Square. The new Downtown Manhattan store will create approximately 105 new jobs. Target plans to open nearly 30 more new stores by the end of the year, according to a press release.

The Soho store will be open Sunday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

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Target opens new store in Soho

POSTED TODAY, AUGUST 10, 2022BY AARON GINSBURG

You Can Now Borrow Vinyl Records at the Brooklyn Public Library

The Brooklyn Public Library is launching a new pilot program this month for music lovers. Starting on August 9, BPL patrons can visit the Central Library branch in Park Slope and browse, listen to, and borrow a diverse collection of nearly 400 records. The vinyl collection and listening stations will be in the New & Noteworthy room on the first floor of the recently-renovated Central Library. Teen and adult cardholders can take out up to three records for three weeks.

Photo of BPL’s Central Library courtesy of Gregg Richards

Holds cannot be placed on any of the vinyl; records must be borrowed and returned in person at the Central Library. When returning the record, drop them off with a staff member at the Returns Desk, not the returns box, which could damage the record.

For those who are interested in taking out records, but don’t know how to operate a record player, there will be user guides available found at the in-library listening stations.

As a pilot project, BPL hopes to grow its vinyl collection and look for ways to improve the program as they get feedback from library patrons.

You can browse through the entire list of available records here, including a featured list that only includes artists from New York City. If you don’t know where to begin, BPL’s music librarian has some suggestions: Jay-Z’s The Black Album, Gustav Mahler’s Symphonie No. 1, The Rolling Stones’ Hot Rocks, Sarah Vaughn sings George Gershwin, and West Side Story: Original Edition.

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You can browse and borrow vinyl records at the Brooklyn Public Library

POSTED TODAY, AUGUST 4, 2022BY AARON GINSBURG

Photo of BPL’s Central Library courtesy of Gregg Richards

Photo of BPL’s Central Library courtesy of Gregg Richards

Bike Lane on the West Side Highway?

Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine wants to turn one lane of car traffic on the West Side Highway into a two-way protected bike lane. The proposal aims to reduce pedestrian and cyclist congestion on the Hudson River Greenway, the busiest bikeway in the nation, by repurposing one of the highway lanes into a four-mile bike lane between Chambers Street and 57th Street.

All images courtesy of Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine’s Office unless otherwise noted

In a letter to state and city transportation department heads, Levine requested the agencies study the feasibility of the new bike lane in a two-phased approach. The first would run between 57th Street and Chambers Street and be implemented immediately, followed by the second section north of 57th Street.

“The Hudson River Greenway is one of the most heavily used greenways in the country, but it is overcrowded – bicyclists have to weave around people, pedestrians have to steel themselves for two-way bike traffic, and e-bikes are forced into the highway. It doesn’t have to be this way, and we could do much better,” Levine said.

“Taking a lane of traffic on the highway and turning that into a dedicated, protected space for cyclists and e-bike users, including delivery workers, so that they all have a safer space to get around the city must be a key component of the city’s work to reduce congestion, reduce emissions, and create safer streets for all New Yorkers.”

All images courtesy of Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine’s Office unless otherwise noted

Since the West Side Highway, officially known as Route 9A, is a state highway, the proposal must be approved by the state’s Department of Transportation.

In 2020, several community boards and a group of local elected officials penned a letter to the state’s transportation department asking for one lane of traffic, which was significantly reduced during the pandemic, to be converted into a bike lane. The letter was ignored by DOT and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Streetsblog reported.

Turning a vehicular lane of traffic into a bike lane has been a success in New York City already. Last September, a two-way protected bike lane opened on Brooklyn Bridge, where a boom in foot and bike traffic in recent years led to overcrowding and dangerous conditions. The bridge’s new path replaced the innermost car lane of the Manhattan-bound lane side and leaves the existing elevated promenade for pedestrians.

Levine also believes that the bike lane’s opening could coincide with the start of congestion pricing–a plan to charge drivers entering certain parts of Manhattan–making it easier to choose to ride a bike to work instead of driving.

“We are timing this with the implementation of Congestion Pricing and the need to begin to create the infrastructure that can support and encourage the increased use of non-vehicular modes of travel by New Yorkers,” Levine said. “We expect the decrease in traffic to Manhattan to make this project feasible, and it would be a huge win for everyone traveling on foot and bikes.”

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Manhattan pol wants to turn lane of traffic on West Side Highway into a two-way bike lane

POSTED ON TUE, AUGUST 2, 2022BY DEVIN GANNON

All images courtesy of Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine’s Office unless otherwise noted

The Monthly Update - August 2022

How to Attack the Current Market

There are different ways to get the most out of today’s adjusting market, depending on whether you are a buyer or a seller. The Fed just raised the interest rate another 0.75 percentage points last week. That means a reduction in purchasing power, so sellers need to acclimate … and so do buyers. 

Here are three great tips for both buyers and sellers to attack today’s real estate market.

Buyers:

1) Get Pre-approved: Call great bankers and mortgage brokers and find out how much purchasing power you have and what rates they can give you! The increased interbank rate doesn’t mean you can’t cut a good deal with your local bank, mortgage broker or national lender. One way to get your rate reduced is through the favorable rates lenders give buyers who move money to their institutions. Ask what kind of rate they offer “private client“ buyers, and see if they can’t buy down your rate for you. Don’t forget to negotiate those buydown terms. If they’re stubborn, tell them that XYZ bank is doing it. They might match what other banks are pledging to you. Shop the banks! Banks that want to increase market share will be aggressive with their lending terms and cut great deals! 

2) Look for property far and wide: Working with a great real estate broker will help you cover every listing out there. Be sure to look closely at “stale listings.” Sellers who’ve been on the market for 200 or more days can either have their heels dug in or are now desperate to cut deals! Doing a reverse search to see older listings is a great way to change it up and find a bargain.

3) Negotiate points other than price: Yes, you can now get a better closing price than 6-12 months ago, but there are other items you can negotiate that many people don’t think of. Closing costs, mansion tax, and even furniture and closing credits for small renovations/updates, such as a paint or appliance credit, are all on the table now!

Sellers:

1) Price it right: Even though the housing market is adjusting, there are buyers out there ready to purchase your home! The correct market listing price is the No. 1 strategy to get buyers into your home in big numbers. Because there is still relatively high demand and relatively low/housing supply, buyers will react strongly and aggressively to smartly priced properties. If you get more than one or two buyers interested in your home and making offers, go with the flow and let them set market value. Many times it will be higher than your asking price, even today! 

2) Get your house ready: Staging, cleaning, painting and decluttering are all important now. Remember, it’s not your house anymore. You’re shifting your mindset to that of a SELLER, so put in a few thousand dollars to make it look as attractive as possible. If you don’t have the funds to do so, Compass Concierge has you covered (see link below). Think of it as a Broadway show: You want to get ready for your big opening night, and everything has to be perfect! Buyers will give you a standing ovation in the way of offers. 

3) Timing: Listing at the right time of the year is key. I like to list during the right season and even the right day of the week. So, for example, a week before Labor Day? Not a good time to list. Between Christmas and New Year’s? Generally not a good time to list. Think strategically about when you’re going to list your home. There are generally two strong markets: the autumn market and the spring market. Choose one. The spring market is the busiest and is considered the high season for selling real estate in New York City, but you can still get deals done in fall and early summer, too. 

These points can help buyers and sellers in any market, but in a shifting or adjusting market, these suggestions should be followed to a T. It’s not always easy to buy or sell real estate in a market like the one we’re in now, and these steps will ensure you get your deal done! If you have any further questions or want to learn more about how to sell or buy in an adjusting market and – how to attack his current market – feel free to reach out to us anytime at HoffmanTeam@compass.com

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NYC Local Happenings

Sun Sets at The Met

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is hosting a weekly music series that celebrates a diversity of rhythms, perspectives, and countries of origin. Free with Museum admission and no reservations required, the Sun Set series will run this summer on Friday and Saturday evenings through September 3. 

Click HERE for event details and artist lineup!

Portside at Brookfield Place

Portside, Brookfield Place's second seasonal waterfront pop-up, is officially open for business now through September and its on-site schedule of activities and programs looks incredibly fun! 

From 9am - 9pm daily, the free and open-to-the-public outpost will look like a nautical-inspired oasis complete with beautiful views of the New York Harbor.

Click HERE for the full roster of events!

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100 Best Grilling Recipes You Have to Try

Looking for new grilling recipes to try this summer? Check out 100 reasons for you to light the grill and enjoy the great outdoors this summer

Courtesy of Taste of Home

28 Creative Ways to Grow a Garden, Even When You're Short On Space

Flowers and plants bring so much beauty to every space, big or small, inside or outside. Given the benefits of gardening, the practice shouldn't be limited to wide-open outdoor spaces and large greenhouses. Get your green thumbs ready for window-box flowers, hanging plants, tiny veggie gardens, and more.

Courtesy of House Beautiful

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THT Listing Spotlight

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201 West 70th Street, Unit 19G

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201 West 70th Street, Unit 19G

UPPER WEST SIDE, MANHATTAN

$1,050,000

1 Bed  |  1 Bath | Co-op

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This expansive fully renovated smart-home one-bedroom, one-bathroom cooperative ticks every box with private outdoor space, jaw-dropping views, and fantastic storage in a full-service Lincoln Square building.

This high-floor home welcomes you inside with hardwood floors, tall ceilings, and wonderful western sunlight. The foyer features a large coat closet ensuring storage will never be a concern. Ahead, the sprawling living space stretches 20 feet long, providing a generous footprint for seating, dining, and home office areas alongside an oversized balcony. Step outside to take in breathtaking views that stretch east with views of the neighborhood and up Broadway. The kitchen has ample cabinetry for storage, including a gas range, dishwasher, built-in microwave, and washer/dryer combo. The king-sized bedroom features an oversized walk-in closet. The smart-home features internet-enabled controls for climate control, lighting, and motorized shades throughout the home.

One Sherman Square is a commanding postwar co-op tower featuring a welcoming street-level circular driveway ideal for temporary loading and unloading as well as a large common courtyard infront of the main entry. Residents of the pet-friendly building enjoy a contemporary lobby, 24-hour doorman and concierge service, live-in superintendent, gym, laundry, a glorious landscaped roof deck with spectacular views, and an onsite parking garage. Subletting, pieds-à-terre, co-purchasing, and gifting are permitted with board approval.

Located in prime Lincoln Square, this home is at the epicenter of Upper West Side excitement surrounded by lush outdoor space at Central Park, Riverside Park, and the Hudson River waterfront. Foodies will love the easy access to Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Zabar's, Citarella, the original Fairway Market, and the renowned Café Luxembourg. Enjoy fantastic shopping along Broadway, or take in world-class enter

NYPL’s Reopens Historic Greenwich Village Branch After $10M Overhaul

The New York Public Library on Thursday reopened its Jefferson Market branch in Greenwich Village following a three-year renovation of the historic building. The $10 million project included installing much-needed accessibility features, renovating public and staff spaces, reconstructing ADA-compliant bathrooms, and improving electronic services for the communities tech needs.

All images courtesy of The New York Public Library

The branch’s upgrade is part of the library system’s broader effort to “create spaces that meet users’ evolving needs,” according to a press release. Work began on the new Jefferson Market branch in April 2019 as part of the NYPL’s $600 million investment towards improving the system.

Designed by WXY Architecture + Urban Design, the new branch’s upgrades include an accessible exterior ramp with lighted handrails, a reconfigured entrance on 6th Avenue, new elevators that serve all floors, reconstructed ADA-compliant bathrooms, renovated public and staff spaces that increase public space, and improved data and power to support technology needs.

All images courtesy of The New York Public Library

First constructed as a courthouse in 1877 by architects Frederick Clark Withers and Calvert Vaux, the historic building was designed in a Victorian Gothic style along with an adjacent prison and market. The building originally consisted of a civil court on the second floor, which is now the adult reading room, and a police court on the first floor, now the children’s room.

The basement, now the reference room, was originally used as a holding area for prisoners before being put in jail or on trial. The building’s original firewatcher’s tower is still intact and contains the bell that would alert nearby volunteer firemen to assemble.

“This classic building is now ADA compliant and better able to serve all users, with an upgraded lobby, improved access, a larger elevator and modern restrooms,” Thomas Foley, commissioner of the city’s Department of Design and Construction, said.

Foley continued: “Working on a 150-year-old structure that is also a National Historic Landmark is a great responsibility, but our team was very cognizant of the historic nature of the building and the end results enhance usability while highlighting the beauty of the building’s timeless design.”

When it reopens, the Jefferson Market Library will be participating in the NYPL’s “Summer at the Library” program, which gives New Yorkers access to a series of free programs that encourages people to read. Specifically, it helps students maintain their reading skills while away from school on summer break. The program includes a giveaway of 500,000 new books.

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NYPL’s historic Jefferson Market branch in Greenwich Village reopens after $10M overhaul

POSTED ON FRI, JULY 15, 2022BY AARON GINSBURG

All images courtesy of The New York Public Library

610 Warren Street, Unit 4B

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610 Warren Street, Unit 4B

BOERUM HILL, BROOKLYN

$1,995,000

2 Bed  |  2.5 Bath | Condo

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Exquisite designer interiors and two private outdoor spaces await in this breathtaking Boerum Hill two-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bathroom duplex located at the epicenter of Brooklyn's best residential enclaves and exciting amenities.

Designed by Paris Forino, this 1,244-square-foot residence greets you on the sun-splashed main level with 7.5-inch white oak floors and tall ceilings featuring recessed and designer lighting. Relax and entertain in the spacious living/dining room, or head out to the adjacent terrace for seamless indoor-outdoor living. The open chef's kitchen impresses with stunning black and white cabinetry trimmed with brass fixtures, white subway tile, and chic Brazilian Arabescato honed quartzite countertops. Upscale appliances by Gaggenau include a gas cooktop, oven, integrated refrigerator, and microwave drawer, and a Bosch dishwasher and garbage disposal round out the kitchen. A convenient powder room completes this level.

Bedrooms are placed on the upper level for optimal peace and privacy. The owner's suite boasts a king-size layout, a massive walk-in closet and a private balcony perfect for morning coffee. A pocket door reveals an en suite spa bathroom filled with marble tile, white oak vanity and a relaxing walk-in shower with frameless glass doors and a slatted wood floor. The secondary bedroom offers a roomy closet and easy access to a second full bathroom with a soaking tub and handsome tilework. A laundry closet with a Whirlpool washer-dryer completes this beautiful Brooklyn home. This unit conveys with an indoor parking space with a Tesla EV charging station and private storage.

Built in 2016, 610 Warren Street is an amenity-rich condominium featuring a captivating brick and brass façade. Residents enjoy part-time doorman service, a virtual doorman system, package room, resident lounge, fitness center, children's playroom, pet spa room, bike storage, onsite parking, storage and a glorious landscaped roof deck with grills and magnificent skyline views. A 15-year tax abatement is in effect until 2032.

This outstanding location near the intersection of Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Boerum Hill, Downtown and Fort Greene puts the best of Brooklyn living is right outside your door. BAM and Barclays Center provides world-class entertainment, and Prospect Park and Fort Greene Park are minutes away. Atlantic Terminal Mall, City Point BKLYN, artisanal cafés, world-class restaurants, eclectic nightlife venues and vintage boutiques line the adjacent blocks. The rest of the city is within easy reach thanks to B/D, N/Q/R/W, 2/3 and 4/5 subway lines, excellent bus service, LIRR trains and CitiBike stations all nearby.
*Additional monthly common charges: storage closet $58.88 / parking $191.25

The Monthly Update - July 2022

Keeping Everything in Perspective 

Picture this…

We've all been on a highway before. The speed limit is 65 MPH, but everybody else is doing 85/90 MPH. Then there's a slowdown ahead, and everyone slows down to the legal limit. But doesn't it feel like you're standing still? After doing 85/90 miles an hour, 65 feels like a snail's pace. Yet, you're still going the speed limit. That's what today's real estate market feels like.

Coming off the highs of almost 18 months going 85/90 miles an hour in a 65-mile-an-hour zone, downshifting to a normal pace feels like the end of the world! "OMG, why is everyone going so slow!" To extend the metaphor to New York City real estate activity at this particular moment, it feels like the housing market is collapsing. Maybe it even seems like doomsday is approaching. But it's not! 

On the highway of New York real estate, we have a rental market that's 30 percent higher than it was pre-pandemic. Yes, interest rates have climbed 2 percent in the last three months alone, but you can still get a jumbo 30-year fixed for about 4.5 percent if you have a prior relationship with the bank. And under 5 percent if you don't. That's still historically very good. 

In the Manhattan market, you have an industry that's humming along at a very acceptable 65 MPH. In the past 30 days, 1,019 units went into contract. That may be 20 percent less than the previous 30 days, but it's still pretty strong! As for new listings, 1,775 units went on the market in the last 30 days. That's 15 percent lower than the previous month… But it's summer! We always used to have slowdowns in the summer. Don't you remember? 

Let's keep it in perspective. Coming down from 85/90 to 65 MPH is a slowdown, not a catastrophe. We're still doing at or over the speed limit in many of these categories. Interest rates are still within historical lows, and while there aren't 10 bids on an apartment,  even if there are just 3 or 4, that's normal. That's a healthy market. That's going 65 miles an hour in a 65-mile-an-hour zone. 

Now, there certainly are things along the roadside that are not normal: inflation, war, political unrest and a Wall Street correction. These are all hazards that may reduce our speed limit even more, but they won't last forever. Economies come back to normal speeds. Neighborhoods rebound. Markets go up, markets go down. Life goes on. 

A lot is happening along the roadside right now, but the highway of life continues to drive on. Sometimes it speeds up, and sometimes it slows down, but if you keep your loved ones close and are nice to your fellow drivers … We will all endure :-)

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Local Happenings & News

The Hoffman Team:

No. 63 in the Nation

No. 15 in New York State

Thank you to our valued clients for propelling us to this milestone. Your trust in our service encourages us to continually create an exceptional home buying and selling experience.

Compass Debuts on the 

Fortune 500

We are thrilled to announce that Compass has found our home on the Fortune 500 alongside some of the world’s most respected companies like Apple, American Express, and Nike! In less than 10 years, we have become the #1 real estate brokerage in America (RealTrends 500) and one of the youngest companies ever to make the Fortune 500.

Arcadia Earth Exhibit

Come see the reopening of the immersive art exhibit, Arcadia Earth. This exciting exhibit aims to inspire visitors, showcasing the environmental challenges that our planet is facing. Arcadia Earth will leave visitors in awe and help support Oceanic Global, an organization devoted to raising awareness around our aquatic ecosystems. Click HERE to learn more and buy your ticket. For every ticket sold a tree will be planted!

Macy's 4th of July Fireworks

The Macy's 4th of July Fireworks 2022 is back on the East River in New York City! The fireworks are launching from barges spaced along the East River from Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens. The show is planned to last for 25 minutes and will feature jazz r&b, hip hop, rock, and country music. You can learn more about this exciting display HERE!

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12 Places to Watch 4th of July Fireworks in NYC

Image courtesy of Backal Hospitality Group

To most Americans, the Fourth of July means good food, drinks, time spent with family and friends, but most importantly, fireworks. Luckily for New Yorkers, the city has plenty of opportunities to see fireworks with Macy’s annual 4th of July Fireworks show and Jersey City’s own grand fireworks display. For those seeking an unforgettable Independence Day experience, here is a selection of the best ticketed events to enjoy this year’s July 4th fireworks celebration, from waterfront bars lining the East River’s piers to the city’s highest observation decks.

Circle Line July 4th Fireworks Cruise
Pier 83, Manhattan
For the summer season, Circle Line has included a special 4th of July cruise experience. The full experience spans five hours of cruising down the Hudson River and taking in incredible views of NYC before the firework show begins later that night. Early bird tickets start at $229 for adults and $179 for children under 12. Ticket purchases include access to a buffet with summer favorites like hamburgers, hot dogs, fried chicken, mac n’ cheese, and more.

4th of July Cruise New York Waterway
Departs from Port Imperial, Weehawken
NY Waterway is offering guests the opportunity to view July 4th’s fireworks spectacle over the East River from the water. As the boat sails down the Hudson River and around the southern tip of Manhattan, guests will have views of the Statue of Liberty, World Trade Center, and other iconic NYC landmarks. Participants from NYC will receive a voucher for a free ferry ride from Midtown to Port Imperial, where they will then board the July 4th cruise boat. Tickets are priced at $170 for adults, $160 for seniors, and $130 for children ages 4 to 12. Children under the age of 3 can get on for free.

Brooklyn Grange
850 Third Avenue, Sunset Park
Watch the fireworks from the rooftop of Sunset Park’s Brooklyn Grange, with breathtaking views of the show over the East River and New Jersey’s Liberty State Park firework show in the distance. Included with tickets are a wide variety of eats, all-you-can-drink beer and wine, specialty cocktails, live music, tarot card readings, and more. General admission tickets cost $165 each.

Edge at Hudson Yards
30 Hudson Yards, Hudson Yards
The Edge is offering an unparalleled 4th of July experience atop its 1,100-foot-high sky deck, the highest of its kind in NYC. From 7 p.m. to midnight, guests can take in the surrounding city skyline and watch the sky light up at 9 p.m. as the fireworks shows commence. Included with each ticket are two glasses of champagne, or non-alcoholic drinks for guests under 21, as well as a gourmet corn dog and unlimited popcorn. There will also be a live DJ performance to add a soundtrack to the memorable experience.

For those looking for more thrill, the Edge is offering a 4th of July Climb up the building’s peak, the highest open-air building ascent in the world, known as City Climb. For $185 per person, guests will begin their climb at 7:45 p.m. before scaling the ascent and enjoying the fireworks from 1,200 feet at 9 p.m. Tickets to both exclusive events can be purchased here, with the experience from the Edge costing $250 per person and the City Climb experience costing $185 per person.

July 4th Firework Show & Celebration at Riverpark
Riverpark, 450 East 29th Street, Manhattan
Featuring live music, specialty BBQ, and panoramic views of the East River, Backal Hospitality Group’s 4th of July celebration at Riverpark is one of the most exciting locations to spend Independence Day this year. The celebration will feature a selection of specialty BBQ food, including pulled pork sandwiches, ribs, burgers, and much more. General admission tickets start at $250, which includes the open beer, wine, and food stations. VIP packages cost $325 and include the open bar, as well as liquor and champagne for the fireworks show. The VIP package also includes railing access for the best view of the fireworks. Tickets can be purchased here.

Magic Hour Rooftop Bar & Lounge at Moxy Times Square
485 Fashion Avenue, Manhattan
The largest indoor and outdoor all-season hotel rooftop is opening up its space for an unforgettable July 4th fireworks celebration. The rooftop offers guests incredible views of the Empire State Building and city skyline, with views of the fireworks spectacle over the East River. For $160, guests can purchase the Red, White & Views 4th of July package, which includes a reserved table for four guests, three small plates of your choice, a dessert platter, and a bucket of six beers. Tickets can be purchased here.

Jersey City’s 50 Star Fireworks
Exchange Place Plaza, Jersey City
Enjoy one of the largest fireworks displays in the country from Jersey City’s waterfront this July 4th. Food and drink will be available for purchase from a variety of vendors from the Jersey City Midnight Market. 50 Star Fireworks is one of the most renowned fireworks companies in the nation, having created displays for presidential inaugurations and the Olympics. The event will start at 12 p.m. and last until 10 p.m.

GOSPËL Tribe and The William Vale Independence Day Celebration
111 North 12th Street, Williamsburg
Williamsburg’s luxury hotel, The William Vale, is teaming up with popular nightspot the GOSPËL Tribe to create an exciting Independence Day experience. The fireworks celebration will span across the hotel’s top two floors, with seating being distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis. Tickets for entry between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. cost $180, and tickets for entry between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. cost $220. If you don’t want to rush yourself, tickets for entry at any time cost $250.

The Rockaway Hotel + Spa’s 4th of July Celebration
108-10 Rockaway Beach Drive, Rockaway
The Rockaway Hotel + Spa is hosting its own picnic-themed 4th of July celebration this year on The Rooftop, a 6,000-square-foot indoor and outdoor space with panoramic views of Jamaica Bay, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Manhattan skyline. Ticket purchases include food, beer, and wine for two hours. Admission costs $25 for kids and $55 for adults and can be purchased here.

Industry Kitchen
70 South Street at Maiden Lane, Manhattan
Located right next to the East River, Industry Kitchen’s 4th of July celebration offers guests an unparalleled location to view the fireworks show. Industry Kitchen’s chef, Jonathan Haffmans, has created a special menu for Independence Day that includes jumbo shrimp cocktails, braised beef short rib sliders, and farm stand fresh watermelon, in addition to their menu favorites. Walk-ins for the event are welcome, but reservations are encouraged.

Watermark
Pier 15, 78 South Street, Manhattan
Featuring unobstructed views of the Brooklyn skyline and fireworks celebration, Watermark’s waterfront location is an ideal location to spend your July 4th. Food and drink options include fresh, off-the-grill bites, endless rosé, tropical cocktails, and frozen drinks. A rotating lineup of DJs will also be performing throughout the full-day celebration. General admission tickets cost $20 per person for the 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. daytime session, with separate tickets for the 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. session. Private VIP tables and cabanas are also able for reservation.

4th of July at SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
45 E 42nd Street, Manhattan
One of the highest observation decks in NYC is hosting its own Independence Day celebration. Come enjoy food provided by renowned NYC BBQ restaurant Blue Smoke, a premium open bar, and the fireworks spectacle, at over 1,000 feet in the air. Tickets cost $300 for the public and can be purchased here.

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12 spots to watch the 4th of July fireworks in NYC

POSTED TODAY, JUNE 27, 2022BY AARON GINSBURG

Image courtesy of Circle Line

Image courtesy of Backal Hospitality Group

Manhattan Pool Gets a New Mural

Manhattan Park’s annual Pop-Up Pool Party gets a new mural, inspired by an ocean wonderland

POSTED ON WED, JUNE 8, 2022BY MICHELLE COHEN

Photos by Max Touhey

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Photos by Max Touhey

Roosevelt Island luxury rental community Manhattan Park has just unveiled the mural that will highlight its outdoor pool this summer. Now in its eighth year, the art transformation has graced the community’s Pop-Up Pool Party each summer starting on Memorial Day. This year’s mural, created by Syrian-Armenian artist Hratch Arbach, “reflects imaginary scenes inspired by the ocean wonderland.”

Arbach’s design was chosen from several local artists’ submissions to grace the pool deck; for the first time, entries were given a theme–in this case, sustainability. The pool mural is an extension of an existing series, “Letters from the Ocean,” by Arbach, who has a Ph.D. in microbiology and virology. The mural’s precise, intricate hand-drawn lines took two weeks and 75 gallons of paint to complete.

“Manhattan Park’s pool is the perfect place for this piece from my series, given Roosevelt Island’s location in a tidal estuary and its relationship with the Atlantic Ocean,” Arbach explained.

“I am proud of the work and feel privileged that so many will enjoy the mural this summer.”

“We were so intrigued by Hratch Arbach’s approach to his design for the pool deck. This year we wanted to draw attention to the influence of nature on art and artists,” Jodi Stasse, EVP of New Developments at The Corcoran Group, the exclusive marketing agent for the community, said.

Photos by Max Touhey

“Our winning artist highlights this beautifully in this year’s installation from his ongoing series ‘Letters from the Ocean.’ This has now become a Manhattan Park tradition that we look forward to every year, and we’re excited for residents of the community and all of New York City to enjoy this summer.”

The 60-foot pool at the 8.5-acre residential waterfront residential complex boasts a sun deck with dazzling city views and a park-like vibe. The pool is available for Roosevelt Island residents as well as non-residents to join on a seasonal, monthly, or daily time-slot basis.

Manhattan Park has promoted local artists throughout the project’s eight-year run while providing an exciting backdrop for the pool deck. More information on pool memberships and the community itself can be found here.