Staten Island 

#1. The Staten Island Boat Graveyard

The Arthur Kill waterway hides a ghastly secret beneath its waters, and some of those secrets are still worth discovering for visitors to Staten Island’s Tugboat Graveyard. Twisted wood planks and metal spires reach from the waves as the last remnants of more than 200 ships that were “put to rest” here since the 1930s. Part of the ships have sunken, decomposed or even been stripped for their metals and sold, leaving this eerie field of wreckages and a sordid reminder of the environmental results of industry. This “accidental museum” is a bit of a trek though, and as it’s a 13-mile bus ride from the Staten Island Ferry, these murky depths are reserved for only the most determined of dark tourists. 

#2. Staten Island Museum

While the scenic Staten Island Ferry gets plenty of well-deserved love, The Staten Island Museum at Snug Harbor, founded in 1881, is another icon of the Forgotten Borough that shouldn’t be missed. The museum is dedicated to the heritage of Staten Island and features paintings by Marc Changal, work from Asia, Africa, Indigenous America and Europe, as well as over 500,000 insects, if that’s your thing. Welcoming over 200,000 people each year, this former dormitory for retired seamen has been converted into one of the premiere natural history, art and cultural museums in the city. It’s well-worth the bargain as well, tickets start at $2 for Children 2 to 12 up to $8 for adults, (Children under 2 get in free).

#3. Fort Wadsworth

One of the oldest military installations in the nation, tracing its initial foundation back to 1779, midway through the American Revolution. Originally inhabited by the British, it was one of the forts fortified by U.S. forces following the war along with others like Fort Lafayette in Brooklyn, Fort Jay on Governors Island and Fort Gibson on Ellis Island; otherwise known as the Second American System of coastal defense. The Fort also served as a base of operations for soldiers during the Spanish American War, World War I and World war II before being turned into a national park in 1994 by the US Navy. Beyond the fort itself, the park is available for camping, fishing, and hiking in addition to horseback riding, boating and access to sporting facilities. 

Manhattan Destinations

#1. The Cloisters

The Met Cloisters, found in upper Manhattan and situated in Lenapehoking, homeland of the Lenape diaspora, is a medieval-style building that is just under 90 years old. Designed by Charles Collen and funded by none other than John D Rockefeller, the building was built atop and around the original museum built there by George Grey Barnard, a sculpture artist trained in France. The location is built to be reminiscent of medieval European monasteries, churches, castles and other structures into a coherent museum of architecture, horticulture and art. Tapestries, paintings, sculptures, artifacts and several flower gardens make this location an eclectic and exciting visit, with something for everyone just a short walk from the 1 or the A. In addition to their permanent installation, the museum is host to ongoing and rotating exhibits, such as the current Hear Me Now: The Black Potters of Old Edgefield, South Carolina or the upcoming exhibition on Afro-Hispanic Painter Juan de Pareja. Tickets are pay-what-you-want for NY residents and students from New Jersey, and Connecticut as well.

#2. Little Island 

After opening in May 2021, Little Island is a new public park and part of Hudson River Park, built atop an artificial “island” more than two square acres large. Offering an abundance of free programming, including educational, natural, artistic, and community projects, the park saw over 1 million visitors in its opening year, usually filling to capacity before noon, so if you plan a visit, make sure you have a timed-ticket if you plan on visiting later in the day. With two performance venues featuring work by one of their multiple artists-in-residence (such as the fantastic playwright Tina Landau and actor Michael McElroy), and over 350 species of plants, the park is more than worth a visit for nature and entertainment lovers alike. Weather permitting, the park, free to the public, is open 365 days a year from 6am and closes at a different time depending on time of season; so plan your visit accordingly! 

#3. The High Line

A public park located on the West Side of Manhattan, the High Line is also a nonprofit organization that offers tours, art performances, and food along with a one-of-a-kind NYC tourism experience. Built on an elevated rail line and sanctioned as a park in 2006 by Mayor Bloomberg and the City council, the high line is an excellent example of urban refurbishment, taking what had been an eyesore of a defunct rail line and turning it into a cultural center and metropolitan getaway. Take a stroll from Gansevoort Street to 34th street, a 1.45-mile stretch that allows one to view 10th and 12th avenue from a wheelchair-accessible platform above the city. There’s no shortage of activities near and on the high line, including amateur trapeze flying, swimming at the Chelsea pier, and visiting the Whitney Museum of Art.

Year-Round Fun in The Bronx

#1. New York Botanical Garden

An “Advocate for the plant world”, the New York Botanical garden was established in 1891 and takes up more than 250 acres of space, making it the largest in any city in the U.S. A National Historic Landmark, the garden features over 30,000 types of trees and hosts 100 Ph. D-level scientists currently engaged in 250 international collaborations in 49 countries! Committed to preserving and protecting New York and the world’s biodiversity, NYBG is an excellent chance to see a wide diversity of plants and flowers while also learning about the rich history and wide importance of horticulture. Activities include the family-friendly Edible Academy, The Wetland Train and the dining at Hudson Garden Grill.  Tickets for New York City residents start at $7 for students and seniors, while non-member adults will pay $15. Children and members get in free.

#2. Edgar Allan Poe Cottage

Quoth The Raven, the poet and author Edgar Allen Poe, famous for works such as The Tell-Tale Heart, Lenore and The Fall of the House of Usher, lived in The Bronx from 1846 to 1849, when he died under mysterious circumstances. While he wrote “The Raven” at a previous home in Manhattan, Poe, a Boston native, wrote several of his most famous poems while at this location, including The Bells, Annabel Lee and his short story, The Cask of Amontillado. The Poe Cottage is now a historic landmark and is on the National Register of Historic places, owned by NYC and run as a museum, open Friday through Sunday from 9am to 12pm and then from 1pm to 5pm. Just be wary of still-beating hearts beneath the floorboards! 

#3. The Bronx Zoo

Taking up more than 265 acres of space, the Bronx Zoo offers unparalleled opportunities to get up and close with wildlife in New York City, not counting pigeons of course. Opening in 1899, the Bronx Zoo houses over 4000 animals representing more than 650 species. Highlights include The Congo Gorilla Forest, Tiger Mountain, and the Aquatic Bird House & Sea-Bird Aviary. They even offer a seasonal Butterfly Garden experience, from April through October, where one can interact with the butterflies directly and get to know other animals in their biome. Date-Specific tickets are required, and parking can fill to capacity on peak attendance days so an alternate mode of travel is suggested during especially busy periods such as holidays.

Queens Destinations

#1. MoMA PS1

MoMa PS1 (or the Museum of Modern Art) was founded by Alanna Heiss, who now serves as curator, in 1976, and has been a powerhouse of contemporary art and culture in Queens ever since. MoMA PS1 is an artist-centered, community driven organization that hosts a wide variety of programming, such as the ongoing After The Fire mural project, or the upcoming dance / performance art project by London’s Onyeka Igwe, A Repertoire of Protest (No Dance, No Palaver). Best of all, admission is free to all New Yorkers; so be sure to check out the campus from time to time to see some of their ever-changing selection of exhibits and events. 

#2. Astoria Park

Featuring the oldest and largest pool in the city, Astoria park sits on the edge of the East River and takes up nearly 60 acres of land. Originally called William J. Gaynor park after the mayor at the time, and then East River Park, the Board of Alderman officially named the park “Astoria” in 1913. Located beneath the Robert F. Kennedy and Hell Gate Bridges in Queens, the park also features over a dozen tennis courts, several playgrounds, and a skatepark. The pool is, however seasonal, it’s open only whenever the New York City public school season is not in session, so mostly over the summer, although you can check the website for more specific dates yearly.  Also, note you’ll need to bring a combination lock for a locker, and food, glass bottles, electronic devices, and newspapers aren’t allowed in the pool; so you’ll need to leave those at home. 

#3. Louis Armstrong House Museum

After the passing of her husband, famed jazz musician and civil-rights legend Louis Armstrong, the late Lucille Armstrong stayed at their home on 107th Street in Corona, Queens working to preserve his legacy. This effort has resulted in The Louis Armstrong House Museum (LAHM), a National and New York Historic Landmark that holds exclusive archival material, private recordings, and other documentation on the life of the musician, along with live music performances and other programming. The house is open Thursday through Saturday only and has limited hours, so it’s important to schedule ahead to make sure to make the most of your experience, but once there be sure to take part in one of the daily guided tours that walk you through this piece of music history, “frozen in time”. 

Brooklyn Locations To Visit

#1. Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM)

Located in North Brooklyn, the Brooklyn Academy of Music has been a home for performance and art for over 150 years. With programming in theatre, dance, music, film and opera, there’s always something to see or do on the beautiful campus. A quick glance at their extensive calendar of events you’ll see how live installations are often placed alongside current films and live performances, making a day-long visit to BAM well worth the trip. With three separate venues, The Peter Jay Sharp Building, BAM Fisher and BAM Strong, there’s always plenty to see, and membership offers access to even more advantages and art. The work at BAM is often critically acclaimed and world-renowned, cementing it as an underground incubator of important new work and a showroom for the avant-garde. 

#2. Brooklyn Bridge Park

While the Brooklyn Bridge is an obvious choice for tourism when visiting New York City, the crowds and traffic constantly crossing the structure may make viewing it difficult from the walkway. For a different vantage point, another choice may be the Brooklyn Bridge Park which offers a stellar view of the bridge, and is a bit of an open secret amongst locals for its out-of-the way vistas, expansive piers filled with activities and programming, as well as a waterfront park. From the labyrinth on Pier 3, to the famous outdoor Jane’s Carousel, to the glamorous Empire Stores, the park has year-long activities perfect for anyone looking for a quiet stroll, a brisk kayak trip, or a casual throwdown at the ping-pong tables.

#3. Coney Island

The last stop at the bottom of the Q Train will take you to one of the most historic and iconic summer getaways in the city. From the boardwalk and amusement park rides, to the long hot beach, Coney Island is synonymous with New York Summer fun, and has been a staple in the city since 1895 when the first enclosed amusement park opened in the area. Some track the invention of the Roller Coaster back to 1884 Coney Island and LaMarcus Adna Thompson, where he built his gravity-based “Switchback railway” which would become the foundation for our modern rides. Some of Coney Island’s current featured attractions include the Coney Island Circus Sideshow, Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park and the New York Aquarium. Coney Island is also a famous filming location in New York City, with movies such as The Wiz, The Warriors and Requiem for a Dream filming on or near the beach.

The post 15 Cheap and Underrated Ideas For Spring Break in NYC appeared first on CitySignal.

New York City is one of the most expensive housing markets in the United States, fending off challengers from other US cities like Los Angeles and Miami. Not only that, it has recently been locked in a race with Singapore as the most expensive city internationally to buy or rent a home in. Bottom line is, finding an affordable apartment in New York City is difficult depending on a variety of factors, but it’s easier to find when you’re with Friends. 

Friends, the seminal sitcom about six twenty-somethings navigating the world of 90s New York City, is credited with inventing “The Rachel” (which is back in style as of 2022), and of course, who could forget Ross’ iconic plea “we were on a break!”

But the housing market in New York has never gone on break. Since the early 90s, rents around the city began to trend upward noticeably, continuing through the 2000s. In 2022 it’s estimated that a minimum-wage worker would have to work over 100 hours weekly to afford a one-bedroom apartment.

 

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 So were the 90s really that different? How did Rachel, Ross, Chandler, Phoebe, Monica, and Joey afford their places when they were broke, their jobs were jokes, and of course, their love lives were DOA?

What did the Friends do for work?

One of the most important factors when determining the affordability of a housing situation is the jobs the tenants have and how much of their paychecks they’re able to fork over each month. The Friends had an odd array of jobs that, by today’s metrics, make it difficult to believe they could afford to live in New York at all, let alone with the luxuries afforded to them by their admittedly modest apartments. 

Rachel, for instance, worked as a waitress at Central Perk (now a real-life location) from the first season until “The One Where Rachel Quits” in season 3. She eventually entered the fashion industry, landing a position as a fashion executive at Ralph Lauren while courting another offer from Gucci in Paris in the final season; quite the come-up.

 

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Monica was a chef throughout the series, working her way up through the kitchen until reaching head-chef status. She ended the series as a respected food critic and owner of two prestigious NYC eateries. 

Joey Tribbiani is an actor who, more often than not, is out of work, minus a brief stint playing opposite a robot for the sitcom “Mac and C.H.E.E.S.E.”

Phoebe is similarly in the arts, being a musician and songwriter. She’s also a masseuse and has at times, even resorted to mugging to make a quick buck. 

Chandler and Ross represent the corporate and academic spheres, respectively. Chandler worked as a copywriter for an ad company, while Ross found work as a professor of paleontology, a notoriously controversial and boring profession. 

Some of these jobs make it easier to believe their lives in Greenwich Village, where the show is set, were feasible. Professors in the 90s, for example, were earning, on average, anywhere from $42,000 to $50,000 per year in New York. Adjusted for inflation this would see Ross easily raking in more than $120,000 today, more than enough for a single-bedroom apartment where he lived. As a chef, Monica’s pay would’ve received modest increases throughout the series as she worked her way up the chef ladder from line cook to sous chef to executive. But at the beginning of the show, she was likely not making much more than $10,000 (or $23,000 by today’s standards) yearly.

Phoebe, who also doesn’t live with any of the other friends throughout the show, has a uniquely affordable living situation. After living with and taking care of her grandmother, (played by the late Audra Lindley), it can be assumed that Phoebe inherited her apartment, and life insurance possibly afforded her additional funds to continue living there.

How much rent is too much rent?

When deciding the affordability of a living situation, how much rent is too much to pay? Well, it’s entirely based on your job and salary and desires.

There are a couple of rules that make calculating affordability easy, such as the 40x rule or the 30% rule. Many landlords require that your annual gross income be at least 40 times your monthly rent. For example, to afford a $3000 apartment, you’d have to make approximately $120,000 per year. This may sound like a lot of money, but it helps to account for unforeseen expenses and the cost of other amenities such as gyms.

Another similar rule is the 30% rule which is exactly what it sounds like; allowing for 30% of one’s gross annual income to be paid toward rent. For instance, if one makes $90,000 yearly, following this rule, they should be prepared to spend no more than $27,000 a year, or $2,250 monthly. In Friends, Joey Tribiani spent some time starring in “Days of Our Lives” in a recurring role as Dr. Drake Ramorey, where he would’ve been making something close to $400 to $900 an episode, translating to approximately $230,000 at the end of a 260 episode season. If he was making this amount consistently, Joey could’ve narrowed down his options during “The One Where Joey Moves Out” to apartments with rents at or below $5,750 per month. However, tragically, Dr. Drake Ramorey spent most of his time on the show in a coma following an unfortunate tumble down an elevator shaft.

Additional expenses such as utilities, food, and transportation can be a major drain on funds as well. The cast of friends, for instance, spent somewhere close to $2100 on Central Perk coffee alone throughout the course of the show. These additional funds account for up to 20% of one’s annual income on average. This means that between these additional expenses and rent payments, one could see 50% of their paycheck vanish; spent entirely on the necessities of city living. These percentages are subject to change, and things such as inflation and a volatile economy can cause the percentages paid toward such expenses to skyrocket.

These numbers are in many ways themselves less-than-realistic, as currently, over half of New York renters spend more than 30% of their paychecks paying rent.

Where did the Friends Live?

Friends is set in Greenwich Village in downtown Manhattan. Like many television sets, the apartment does not actually exist. In actuality, the show was largely shot in Burbank, California. Monica’s apartment is what fans commonly refer to as the “Friends” apartment, although there was a season 4 stretch where Chandler and Joey temporarily swapped apartments with her after winning a bet in “The one with the Embryos”. Its exterior shots can be traced back to 90 Bedford Street, a common tourist attraction; however, the apartment’s actual address is different. In the episode “The One With The Invitations”, a wedding invitation is shown which reveals the apartment’s in-world address to be 495 Grove Street, Greenwich.

Greenwich is currently a relatively expensive neighborhood to rent in, a 2-bedroom averaging around $5,500 monthly. This is similarly a good guess at what the price of the Friends’ condo would cost today. 

The Friends Apartment Building

The building was a pre-war walkup, meaning there’s no elevator, which would have come in handy in “The One With The Cop” and its pivotal couch-moving sequence. The apartment and its affordability actually come up as issues in the plot of the show in an episode called “The One with the Ballroom Dancing”. In the episode, it is revealed that the apartment actually originally belonged to Monica and Ross’ grandmother, who lived there before rent regulation in the 1940s. The episode’s plot surrounds Monica attempting to trick or otherwise convince her landlord to let her sublet the apartment from her very-much-deceased grandmother, keeping her stabilized rent payments. This resulted in Monica being able to afford the apartment by keeping payments astronomically low. How low were these payments? According to the show, about $200 a month! Adjusted for inflation, this means that she was only paying about $450 a month by today’s standards!

This arrangement means that the Friends apartment, despite its size and location, was uniquely affordable for Monica and the gang, even if it was only possible through some shady backroom dealings (or shady Ballroom dealings if you know the episode.) Rachel, as a recently estranged daughter of a wealthy family, is likely not paying rent for the majority of the time she’s staying with Monica, which wouldn’t be a problem if payments were so low. Chandler and Joey live in a significantly smaller space, which is possibly similarly rent-controlled. However, Chandler’s relatively non-descript corporate job seems capable of paying the bills, even when Joey is enduring one of the (many) dry spells in his acting career. 

Is the Friends Apartment Realistic?

Yes and No. Under the circumstances of the show, Monica’s grandmother dying and the subsequent finessing of their landlord would allow them to live there indefinitely. Chandler and Joey’s apartment is similarly affordable, while Ross and Phoebe’s arrangements are also feasible. But is the apartment is “realistic,” as in, does it exist in real life? In this case, the short answer is no. Even if the apartment existed, it would likely not be as large and spacious as the one featured in the show.

Looking at Greenwich Village now, we can find some similar listings, such as this 2 Bedroom 2 bathroom at 231 Sullivan Street, which is newly renovated and features an open kitchen and floor plan, something similar to Monica’s iconic pad. The floor plan, however is still significantly smaller than the Friends apartment, but a lot of this can be attributed to it being a television set over an actual building. 

 

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 Production designer John Shaffner designed and helped to build the set along with his partner, Joe Stewart. The two sought to create a set that would “feel as comforting to the viewer as their own home.” Greg Grande, another designer of the set, said of the space that he wanted “a whole new kind of eclectic taste with a flea-market, whimsical, anything-goes style”, which resulted in the creative mish-mash of decor which appears on the screen.

The point is the apartments on Friends weren’t built for people to live in, they were designed to be visually and aesthetically pleasing while remaining functional for television filming. Most television and film sets are just that, sets, superficial facsimiles of actual or imagined locations. There’s no ‘fourth wall’ behind where the cameras sat most of the time, and therefore the apartment’s design and dimensions are largely inflated, something that’s more obvious when viewing behind-the-scenes images of the set. But Friends was never about being realistic. In many ways, it’s a fantasy about city living in the same vein as Sex and The City or Seinfeld. So while in some ways, Monica, Joey, Ross, Rachel, Phoebe, and Joey’s lives in the early 90s were absolutely possible, they weren’t realistic by any standards.

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When was the first elevator built in New York City?

As of 2015, there were approximately 76,000 elevators in operation in New York City. The first commercial passenger elevator in New York, though, could be found in the Haughwout Building, a department store in SoHo. The New York Times hailed the 1857 arrival of the United Technologies/Otis Elevator device as “the beginning of the tall-building revolution.” This original elevator’s appearance and position have never been established. However, it was later replaced in 1892 with another elevator, installed by Alonzo B. See and designed by Freeman and William Bloodgood. The original Otis elevator no longer resides at the Haughwout building, although it does feature one of the oldest operating elevators in the city. Elisha Otis remains a big name in elevators and escalators, having invented the elevator safety brake, which helped standardize elevators by making them practical and safe. 

But when it comes to the electric elevator, another name jumps to the forefront of the tall-building revolution, that of Frank Sprague, an inventor with a little-known name but in reality contributed massively to the advancement of infrastructure in America. The 1880s saw the beginning of the Electric Age when Thomas Edison’s central power station opened on Pearl Street in Manhattan in 1882. At the time, the Brooklyn Bridge towered over every other building, the tallest structure for miles. Sprague, who once worked for Edison, opened his own company designing and manufacturing electric motors (now Sprague Devices). This was a massively successful undertaking, and Sprague Motors were commonplace everywhere from textile production to railways such as the Richmond Union Passenger Railway. With his success there, Sprague took his success to Boston and then the rest of the United States, with over 20,000 miles of streetcar tracks crisscrossing cities by 1905.

Were all elevators electric? 

At the time, no.

In 1892, Sprague branched out into civilian transportation and formed the Sprague Electric Elevator Company, taking a contract to install his electric elevators in the Postal Telegraph Cable Company building. The terms were strict; Sprague had to install his electric elevators and prove they were more efficient than the hydraulic elevators that were common at the time, such as those provided by industry-dominating Otis Elevators. If he was unsuccessful, the contract dictated the elevators be removed by Sprague at no extra cost. With the stakes so high, Sprague and his contractors waited with bated breath as the Telegraph building finished construction and finally opened. 

The elevators were a massive success, and Sprague’s elevators not only functioned efficiently, but they also operated at speeds that ensured you’d be traveling “just as fast” as you would on foot at ground level. In cities like New York, speed is the name of the game; studies show that the length of time spent traveling is more important than the distance traveled when it comes to commuters. This principle applies to vertical travel as much as horizontal, making Sprague’s fast elevators the clear choice over the slower and less cost-efficient hydraulic counterparts. These high-speed electric elevators were exactly what New York City needed to build taller, and a growth spurt followed soon after. Sprague was uninterested, however, in continuing in the elevator business, and after securing several more prestigious contracts, he sold his company to Elisha Otis in 1895, effectively giving the Otis Elevator Company a monopoly on the technology for decades to come.

What was the first skyscraper in New York City?

1913 saw the completion of the Woolworth Building, which at 792 feet tall, was the tallest building in the world until 1930. Its height of sixty stories could be attributed to the high-speed electric elevators that climbed along its spine, eliminating the long waits of older models and the daunting stair-climbing of elevatorless buildings. Elevators created new jobs and industries, creating space for larger factories, taller office buildings, and affordable housing. In addition, the widespread adoption of elevators created an entirely new (if now largely defunct) profession of the elevator operator. 

At one point in America, there were tens of thousands of operators, the majority of whom were Black or from other historically marginalized groups. 1917 saw the first elevator operator’s union, offering protections and perks for these highly-skilled workers who oversaw the operation and maintenance of these complex machines. Modern advancements have made elevators easier to use, thus eliminating these positions. However, elevator operation helped lift thousands of workers from poverty and was a very proud profession.

The majority of elevators operating today in New York City top out at the sixth floor, though this may have more to do with water pressure and city fire codes than anything else. New York sits at a relatively low elevation at just 33 feet above sea level and the city’s water is sourced upstate in the Hudson Valley and Catskill Mountains. Gravity works as a natural pump and provides enough pressure to allow the water to be funneled into buildings lower than six stories: above that height, buildings typically require a supplemental water tower or other expensive pump systems. Additionally, newly constructed buildings in the city are required by state law to include an elevator, which means higher prices for potential developers.

Are Elevators Dangerous?

Elevators, while safe, are still subject to many fears and phobias concerning their safety, with over 4% of the world’s population presenting acute anxiety concerning them. That being said, stairs, especially ones with unexpected treads, are actually far more dangerous. The odds of being killed by an elevator are about 1 and 10 million, causing approximately 27 deaths a year in the US. By comparison, falls down stairs account for over 1,600 deaths per year and injure over 1 Million Americans annually. 

Elevators also have multiple failsafes that have been added since Elisha Otis’ automatic safety brake. For instance, depending on the building code’s “factor of safety,” elevator ropes (really woven steel cables) must have duplicates and be able to hold 12 times the mass of a fully-loaded car. There are safety precautions called a “safety chain” that refers to a series of automatic checks modern elevators do to ensure safety each trip, ready to cut power to the motor should an issue occur. Issues can include power outages, which trigger one of several clamping-stopping mechanisms to prevent failure. Couple these with the original safety brakes that are still attached to the underside of the cars, and it’s easy to see how modern elevators are actually incredibly safe. 

With an approximate combined length of over 1500 miles, there are more miles of elevator shafts in New York City than there are miles of subway tracks (approx 840). Over 35 million trips are taken every day on elevators in the city, there’s no doubt that they are responsible for the shape of the skyline today, with over 260 skyscrapers reaching to the horizon, the most of any US city. At an average time of 118 seconds (nearly twice the average of other locations), elevator rides in New York City give you plenty of time to work on a pitch, prepare for the rest of your day, or maybe just stop and appreciate all of the history and innovation you’re riding in. 

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Staten Island Sins

Staten Island, the forgotten borough, has had more than its fair share of fascinating cases of true-crime horror, from The Nimer Murders to the murder spree of Salvatore Perrone. But perhaps no name is as famous or feared as that of convicted kidnapper Andre Rand, who is currently serving several consecutive life sentences for several murders and kidnappings in the city. The borough’s most notorious serial killer, in 2004, he was convicted of abducting Holly Ann Huges from her Port Richmond neighborhood on the East Shore in the early 80s. But his terrible misdeeds stretched back earlier, all the way to 1972 with the disappearance of at least six other people, although he was never formally charged for their disappearance. 

In August 1987, the body of a 12-year-old Westerleigh resident, Jennifer Schweiger, was found in a shallow grave on the grounds of what is now the College of Staten Island; but the jury only convicted him on kidnapping charges, not murder.

It’s unknown how many more victims Rand has, and he shows very little remorse for his actions. Rand is a prolific writer known for sending out several Mother’s Day missives “to all the ladies of Staten Island who supported ‘prosecutorial vincitvness’ against an innocent person.’  In 2001, while in prison, he released a series of letters to The Advance, a newspaper, the earliest of which was written back in 1994. The letters include an argument against nuclear proliferation, autobiographical stories of his youth, and a detailed sketch of a small aircraft. The quiet neighborhood where Rand lived in what is now West Brighton only blocks away from the famous Staten Island Zoo, with listings such as this 3 Bedroom on Marion Street only a few minutes walk away from Rand’s previous home.

Bad Clams in Manhattan

Located at 129 Mulberry Street, Umberto’s Clam House in Little Italy was the location of one of the most sensational assassinations of a mob boss, when Joey “Crazy Joe” Gallo was murdered only weeks after getting married. After celebrating his birthday with his wife, his sister, child, and bodyguard at the Copacabana, Gallo and his entourage were found dining at the Clam House, Joey ordered the shrimp and scungilli salad. While they ate, a quartet of gunmen arrived and open fire at the family, fatally wounding Gallo but not before they were able to turn the butcher table on its side to provide shielding for the rest of his family. Gallo stumbled to the front door, cursing at the gunmen as they fled before collapsing into a puddle of his own blood in the street: a scene straight out of any mafia movie. 

This was a particularly brazen attack as the hit had been conducted while Gallo was celebrating his birthday and was with his family at the time, and was a marked escalation in the conflict between the Five Families of New York. “Crazy Joe” had started a war against his bosses for control of the family and paid for it with his life. His death started another war when his crew broke off from the rest of the Colombo Family, leading to a series of ten gangland slayings before they eventually rejoined, making it one of the bloodiest mafia wars in the city’s history. 

The restaurant had only been open for two months before the 1972 hit, but Umberto’s Clam House is still open, serving as a historical landmark and tourist attraction for true-crime fans, mafia aficionados, and clam lovers alike. Want to live where the mafia used to frequent? Right around the corner is 181 Hester Street, where you can snap up a 1 bedroom apartment and feel like the mob boss that you are.

The Red Circle Slayer of Queens 

The Red Circle Slayer terrorized the quiet community of Hollis Hills in Queens, New York, throughout the late 1920s and early 30s, and although a suspect is currently behind bars, no one is sure if it’s the right man. The popular patch of woods where the first attacks took place was filled with booze, used condoms, and underwear; a popular spot for young lovers at the time. The killer attacked young couples and lovers who found themselves within his unfortunate gaze, often while out “necking” or making out in their cars. His first victims were Lewis Weiss, 20, a clerk at a steel company, and Frances Hajek,19, who worked at her family’s bakery.

Separate similar incidents earlier in the decade were attributed to the 3X Murderer who taunted police and had victims near the site of the Red Circle slayings, although this did nothing but murky the waters of a new, potentially dangerous killer on the loose. 

Due to a number of bad leads, unreliable witnesses, and false admissions of guilt, the killer, who was known for placing a red circle painted in lipstick on the foreheads of victims, has never been confirmed. But in 1938, Walter Wiley, a career criminal with a long rap sheet, could not come up with an alibi for the night of Hajek’s death. While a jury was ultimately unable to indict Wiley on murder charges, he was put behind bars for unrelated robberies and spent 40 years behind bars, effectively ending the Red Circle Slayer’s reign. Locals, although, were less reassured; perhaps there’s a serial killer living amongst the quiet Queens community after all these years. For those amateur sleuths or those who simply want to do a little necking in a picturesque New York neighborhood, this three-bedroom, second-floor apartment is in a beautiful, safe location, but only minutes away from the Red Circle site.

The Hole of Brooklyn

John Gotti, or the Teflon Don, is one of the most famous names in popular media when it comes to the Italian Mafia. Before passing away in prison at the age of 61 while serving a life sentence, he was the leader of one of the most notorious crime families in New York, the Gambinos. After seizing power by ordering the murder of Paul Castellano, who was the head of the family at the time, he became a famous public figure. Gotti was known for his expensive taste and less-than-scrupulous business practices, earning him an additional nickname; the Dapper Don. But the Dapper Don had some dark secrets, not including the bodies that his “operations” would inevitably pile up; and he needed a place to dump them. Enter The Hole.

This ten-block stretch between East New York and Howard Beach is directly on the border of Brooklyn and Queens, and today is almost unrecognizable as “New York City” from a traditional standpoint. The neighborhood is at a lower elevation than the surrounding area, resulting in a noticeable dip, earning it its name. The Hole is also named so for another reason, as it was one of the largest mass graveyards for the mob, and a personal favorite of John Gotti. Residents of The Hole have recovered so many bodies from the area that they can be used as landmarks, and they continue to be found even as recently as 2004 when the bodies of Dominick “Big Trin” Trinchera and Phillip “Philly Lucky” Giaccone were exhumed. THe area now serves as a base for a branch of the Federation of Black Cowboys. While living in The Hole is a bit risky, the area frequently floods due to its low elevation; those who want to live near this grim reminder of mob history will be happy to know there are many listings near the neighborhood, such as this fully furnished 2 bedroom duplex only blocks away from where bodies were found.

The Son of Sam in The Bronx

David Berkowitz, also known as the Son of Sam, lived at 35 Pine St, Yonkers NY after being brought up in the Bronx. After the death of his adoptive mother, he became a loner before joining the army in 1971, distinguishing himself as a marksman. After his return to New York he worked as a security guard, all while being haunted by the voices in his head, demons he would later claim, who were spurning him on toward murder. He took his first victims in 1975 on Christmas Eve, when he attacked a young Michelle Foreman and another unidentified woman with a hunting knife. Foreman was 15 years old at the time. Berkowitz moved to Yonkers in 1976, where the demons in his head took the form of the neighborhood dogs and eventually Sam’s neighbors themselves; it wasn’t long before he continued his spree.

With victims in four of the five boroughs, not including Staten Island, the entirety of New York felt the terror of the .44-caliber killer, so named because of the bullets used to tie the murders to a single killer.

After sending a series of letters out to previous landlords, neighbors, and other affiliates, local police were alerted to a potential candidate for The Son of Sam and reported it to the NYPD’s special Omega Task Force tasked with nabbing the killer, but these tips ultimately went unheeded because of the sheer number of false leads. It wasn’t until an eyewitness came forward to report that she’d seen Berkowitz with a gun only moments before she heard gunshots in Brooklyn that he was finally apprehended by the police.

When his Yonkers apartment was searched, they found satanic graffiti drawn on the walls and diaries detailing over 1,400 arsons he was also allegedly responsible for. Berkowitz ultimately rescinded his claims of demonic influence and stated he instead was lashing out in anger at a world he felt had rejected him. True crime fans who want to see and hear the demons that drove Berkowitz mad can find availabilities at the 42 Pine Street apartments just a few doors down from his Pine St resident, though his building is now privately owned, dark tourists aren’t guaranteed welcome.

The post Where To Live Near NYC True Crime appeared first on CitySignal.

With more than 60,000 licensed real estate agents working in New York state alone, it can be difficult to narrow your options down to the agent most fit for you, and the search process alone can be daunting.

This week I sat down with Chimere Meerschman of The Corcoran Group to discuss what sets her apart and above the rest, as well as some of her best advice and tips for potential home buyers and renters looking to jump into the market.

From Belgium to Ballet: Getting to Know Chimere Meerschman

I’m one of those bold people, you know, when I’m in a situation I really say ‘hey, how am I gonna work this out?’ You know? I get a plan together, and I just do it. I’ve been successfully navigating life with that attitude.

Meerschman and I began our discussion recapping her time in Belgium where she spent several years owning and managing a hotel and cocktail bar, even though at the time, she didn’t speak the language.

It was something that was mine in this, you know, strange country, where I didn’t speak the language. I welcomed guests from all over the country and luckily English was the common language. So that’s how I was able to be successful with a cocktail bar and hotel.

Now fluent in Dutch as well as relatively proficient in French, German, and Danish, Chimere has returned to the States, where she settled back in New York City, her hometown, bringing with her a wealth of sales, hospitality, and business-owning experience. Chimere also had a previous life as a ballet dancer.

I studied dance from 4 to 24. My mother started me in ballet, and I just loved it. So basically danced until I couldn’t dance anymore, had to get to real life. I never planned on it being my career. My mother always told me, ‘it’s fun, it’s great, it’s graceful, it makes you the person you are today.’ But realistically, there’s not a ton of open spots for ballet dancers. Everyone wants to be […] Misty Copeland, but there’s only one Misty Copeland. I was always realistic, I knew it was something I loved to do, and it was fun, but I always wanted to get a “real job.” I enjoyed doing it, I still have my pointe shoes, and whenever I have a free day, which is very rare in real estate, if I need to work out or something, I can put them on and sort of twirl around my apartment as a distraction; do fun stuff. Because I love it, I really do.

On Getting a “Real Job”

I’ve always been in some sort of sales position. So when I left school I was in packaging sales, I graduated from luxury cosmetic packaging sales, which is a niche market in itself. High margins, in beauty offices, in Manhattan which was really nice. And I was in real estate sales in the Hamptons on top of that.

As many know, The Hamptons is one of New York’s most exclusive and expensive housing markets, one of its zip codes landing as the 2nd most expensive zip code in the United States with homes ranging from $5,000,000 to 150,000,000 depending on location.

Real estate for some reason has always been a career choice for me, a lifetime ago as it now, because it’s a combination of something I’m good at, which is sales, customer service and I think I sort of top it off with a concierge or special knack for really taking care of people.

Meerschman understands just how monumental the decision to move is, having done so several times herself, and prioritizes her customers at every turn during the process.

I think moving, divorce, and having a baby [are] the three most stressful things, and moving is one of them. It’s crazy. Not only is it very stressful, it’s one of the most expensive things you’re going to do.

Meerschman is correct of course, starting with moving costs alone which nationally average between $1400 and $2500. But that’s not even scratching the surface.

You’re paying someone a big portion of your salary every month; you’re giving them first month’s rent, security deposit, broker’s fees, just to move in! Then, of course, you’re buying god-knows-what, towels and egg beaters and you know, knives and stuff. So it’s a big purchase as well as a stressful purchase. So I think when you’re doing something like that you really need someone to hold your hand and put you first and I just have that nurturing knack to do it in a really nice way. That’s why that kept becoming my “real job”.

Chimere On What Sets Her Apart From Other Agents

Meerschman’s sales, hospitality, and people skills all coincide to make her a powerhouse of real estate.

So as far as hospitality, you check into the hotel. I want to make sure you have everything you need to make your stay perfect. What time do you need your breakfast? What kind of breakfast do you like to have? When you’re done with what you need to do today, whether you’re coming for business or pleasure, where do you want to eat dinner? What souvenirs do you want to pick up? I feel I made that really accessible for my clients; it was a boutique hotel so I was able to really zero in on each person’s needs. I just somehow translated that to real estate. Where do you need to live? What will work for you as far as #1 where you’re going to live, how much you’re going to pay, what amenities you need. But as well as what kind of search do you need?

Meerschman tailors each sales experience to the client at hand, taking care to meet the needs of each person, but also provides a level that’s a step above what can be a stiff and impersonal transaction.

I’m working with a woman originally from Long Island who now lives in Florida and needs to move to New York for a job. We’re doing everything virtually because that worked for her. We’ve been looking at apartments virtually. We set a time, I send her things virtually, I go in person to the apartment, and I FaceTime her. Not only in the apartment, but in the hallway, you know, what train did I have to take there? What does the street look like? So she can make the best decision on where she wants to live.

Same as what you need as far as amenities and bedrooms and space; where’s the nearest nail salon? Where’s the nearest supermarket? I feel that concierge’s hospitality bleeds into that; I want to give them all of that. Again, this is the biggest purchase they’re making, why not give them everything so they feel really good about this purchase and on top of that just less stressed about it because all of their needs are met?

This kind of “full service” coverage Chimere offers sets her apart from other agents in a very real way, and word of mouth does a lot of work to spread her business.

I often get reviews from clients, ‘thank you so much. I really felt you cared about what I needed, how I needed it, and when I needed it.’ I sort of hold their hand. I think it sort of definitely sets me apart. I’m not really interested in the transaction, I’m interested in the person. Can I help them? Can I find them something and make it work for them? I want them to be happy. I get referrals to this day because I helped someone three, four years ago, and they’re like, ‘wow she was so good.’ Whenever someone needs an agent, I just send them your number. 

I recently reached out in my search for a 2 bedroom apartment downtown. Chimere took the call and from the moment she contacted me, her knowledge of the market and professionalism with follow up was evident. In a very short time she identified the perfect space, a Fidi loft. Her negotiating skills helped me to secure the home at a great price. Additionally she was able to rent my investment apartment with a great income stream. I highly recommend working with Chimere for all of your real estate needs.

Review from RentHop, June 2022

On What She Wishes Clients Knew Before Their NYC Apartment Search

I would want my clients to know ahead of time that because this is New York City and it’s one of the most expensive cities in the world; I think I would like for them to know ahead of time that- and I hate saying this, but they cannot get everything they want; They will have to make a small sacrifice.

So I have a client that comes to me, they want a window in each bedroom, they want a gym, floor to ceiling- they everything: I wish they would know ahead of time that it’s impossible to get everything; best price and all the amenities, it’s just really difficult. I’d like them to come in knowing that ‘I have to sacrifice something and if I do that, I’ll have a very quick and easy and painless, less stressful search because I know that one of those things I want is unrealistic.

Chimere is awesome! It’s difficult to imagine apartment hunting being fun, but Chimere even managed that. Moreso, she was honest and transparent about her recommendations but listened to my requests and showed me even those places she suspected (and was correct) that wouldn’t be the right fit just so that I would feel comfortable with my choice.

Review from RentHop, September 2021

Chimere notes that these expectations come mostly from those less familiar with the nuances of New York City’s housing market, And not because they’re unrealistic or unreasonable people, it’s just a lot of clients who I meet are coming from different cities. Whether it’s Chicago, Florida, or California. Everything is different. California is different from New York. There’s a lot of air and space and light there, we don’t necessarily have that in New York, but we have other things that California doesn’t have. So I’d like them to know that where they’re coming from can’t necessarily dictate where they’re going. It’s just not the same, you know? I think that would make my life and their lives a lot easier knowing that coming in.

On New York City

I mean, New York is, listen, I was born and raised here, so I’m definitely partial. However, I did move to Europe for several years, and I still think New York is the best place. There’s a beautiful combination in New York of class, sophistication, grit, soul, there’s a little bit of everything here. There’s no place more convenient, you can have anything you want whenever you want it, which is amazing. The best food; the best Indian, the best Italian, the best any-type-of-food you want. So, I think when anyone’s moving from another state to New York, it’s likely because they have another job. So your paycheck is larger, and you’re making a lot of money that’s different from a lot of places in the states.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Manhattan’s average weekly wage of just over $4000 ranks #1 in the nation, of course, there is a higher cost of living that follows the higher wages.

For Meerschman, it’s all par for the course.

There’s great opportunity everywhere just to enjoy New York. Amenities in buildings, for example, are amazing; you’ve got roof-top pools and gyms and laundry rooms, work-from-home lounge; you know, you get all dressed up to leave your apartment and go to your rooftop lounge, and that’s a thing in New York City. What other place can say that? You’re not even leaving your building, but you’re still out and about. Plus, not to mention all the great people. There’s people in New York from all over the world, and all over the country, I think it makes this amazing melting pot of knowledge, style, and class. Just a little bit of everything, you know?”

Rentals or Sales?

Obviously, when you’re going to buy something, it’s a lot more permanent. You’re spending more money, and you are making a large commitment. But at the root of everything, it’s very similar, it’s still the most expensive purchase you’re ever going to make. There isn’t a big difference in the process, obviously, technically, you’re buying something, you’re getting a loan- there are other things that are involved, but you’re still proving something to someone.

In rentals, in one case, you’re proving to the landlord, “I can afford to live here.” In sales, you’re proving to the board, “I can afford to live here.” But you need the same documents, you still need the last few paystubs, the last two bank statements, tax returns, your letter of employment, all of that stuff is needed. One’s just a little more, or a lot more expensive than the other, but it’s still a very similar process. I think, and I hate to say this, maybe I like rentals better because I can help more people. There are more people renting in New York City than buying. I feel like I have more opportunities to help in the rental market.

On Trends in NYC Rentals & Sales

I feel like right now you have a lot of people wanting their own space. They’d rather get a studio which they can afford on their own than get a two-bedroom that they have to split with a roommate. I’m also noticing people buying something for themselves, not necessarily for the family unit. ‘My kids are out of school, my kids are gone, they’re done. Let me get an apartment that works for me” I’m seeing a lot of that. I’m also seeing a lot of first-time buyers. They’re saying, ‘I’ve never bought in New York or anywhere, and my rent is so high, let me dip my toe in to see what it would cost to buy because now I’m giving all of my money to a landlord because it’s so expensive, let me see what the cost- I’m doing a lot of rent vs buy situations. I feel like the age to buy is getting younger than it was a few years ago.

I asked Chimere if she thought Covid was to blame for some of these trends, as the housing market experienced a surge in prices as the pandemic raged on.

I think it’s a combination. People’s priorities have changed, you know? Do you want to be in a two-bedroom apartment with someone you don’t necessarily know? Or in a four-bedroom with all these people.

All the prices going down then going back up, it’s just like “Let me take care of myself” That’s what I’m seeing. ‘Let me get something by myself, and I’ll figure it out. Whether it’s gonna be smaller, but at least I know it’s mine, and God forbid something like this happens again, I have my little space.

Chimere’s Favorite Building: An Art Installation As A Building

NYC boasts some of the most jaw-dropping and unique constructions across the world and since real estate agents see many buildings a day, both inside and out, we had to know which of all the gorgeous builds is Chimere’s favorite.

I like 56 Leonard, it’s just beautiful. It’s the Jenga building. The building, by Herzog & de Meuron, located at 56 Leonard Street in Tribeca, was fully sold, shortly after its critically acclaimed opening in 2017.

It’s just beautiful. It has an amazing lobby, it’s right in Tribeca. It’s got a beautiful art installation outside. It’s just gorgeous. The windows in the apartments are all floor-to-ceiling. Most of the apartments have at least one outdoor space. It just looks like when you see one of these movies when you see a successful person in New York, they would live in a building like this, you know? I just love it. All of the amenities. It’s just fabulous. It’s quintessential fabulous New York, if you will. You’re in there, and no one can see in because the next building is so far away, you’re so high in the sky, it’s just beautiful- I really like it, I love it actually.

Any Last Tips?

I think it’s important for people to know that they really should work with a good real estate agent. Real-estate agents are quintessential in helping someone find their place to live, renting or buying or selling; it’s our job. Most successful real estate agents, successful ones that I know, myself included, we work seven days a week. We are really in the market, and we know what’s going on… you do yourself a disservice by trying to figure something out by yourself, [as agents] have all of these inside secrets and tips and tricks. It’s almost like going to court without a lawyer – representing yourself is not a good idea.

We’re helpful. Find a good one, not saying just pick anyone, find a good one that you like and you jibe with and let them help you find something in the right apartment for your price range, all the amenities you need. We also renegotiate for clients, a lot of clients don’t know that, we have relationships with management and landlords and we can say ‘hey, I need a couple of hundred dollars off.’ People don’t know that but I can do that and I do it all the time. I’m bringing multiple clients, they’re only bringing themselves. By bringing multiple clients to the table, agents like Meerschman are sometimes able to negotiate lower prices or other favorable conditions on behalf of buyers and renters.

We’re here to help.

I asked Chimere if she had any recommendations on places to start one’s search for a quality real estate agent.

You know that Corcoran is a reputable real estate firm. You know RentHop is reputable, they’re like the #2 place to find an apartment. A lot of people [agents] are going to respond to you, but sit down and interview them, say, ‘I need this, this, and this, can you help me?’

You’ll know if that real estate agent is a fit, and you’ll know if they’re not. Nothing wrong with talking to a couple of people and saying, ‘Hey I found someone I like, and I want to work with you.’ And you tell them that, tell the real estate agent, ‘I want to work with you exclusively.’ They’ll be happy, you’ll be happy, and it will be a great situation.

The post Chimere Meerschman, NYC Real Estate Agent, On What You Should Get During Your Apartment Search appeared first on CitySignal.

The Apollo Theatre

“The Soul of American Culture”, the Legendary Apollo theatre has been serving as a cultural center in Harlem, and greater Black New York for over 100 years. Founded in 1913 by George Keister, the Apollo has had a large role in the emergence of various musical styles and artists, such as jazz, bebop and blues, with such names as Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, and Luther Vandross gracing its stage. Famous for dance, music and theatre, the theatre is perhaps best known as a comedy venue, with its legendary stand-up Showtime At The Apollo still airing episodes on Fox, hosted by Steve Harvey. The Apollo Theatre also features an Ameteur night for artists and performances of all kinds, and is responsible for the launching of the careers of Lauryn Hill, H.E.R and Ella Fitzgerald.

Breaking and Entering

An up-and-coming theatre collective, Breaking and Entering is a Brooklyn-Based community-oriented production company focusing on work by emerging and pre-emerging artists. Their major programming includes outdoor Rooftop Readings, a series of new plays rehearsed and read by a rotating group of highly talented artists held atop different buildings throughout Brooklyn. Other initiatives include their PEA fest, or Pre-emerging Artists festival, a three-night event featuring three plays by three pre-emerging playwrights at The Chain theatre.

Brooklyn Academy of Music

Centered in Brooklyn, BAM has been a home for theatrical innovation for over 150 years. With programming in dance, theatre, music, opera and film, the Brooklyn Academy of Music features a robust calendar of events that features something to do every single day. Ongoing events include Next Wave, their emerging works incubator, BAMkids, their youth initiative and BAMcafé, which is a home to their cabaret-style works. BAM is also a cultural center for lecturers, guest artists and other organizations, hosting BAM Talk lectures about a bevy of creative interests as well as any number of networking events such as a Young Producer’s Night and artistic panels. 

The Gallery Players

The Gallery Players are “Brooklyn’s Premiere Off-Off-Broadway Theatre” according to their own home page, and they have good reason to claim that title. With the mission to provide opportunities for theatre artists and audiences by providing professional-quality theatre to Brookly audiences at an affordable cost, this Park Slope theatre received the Off-Off Broadway Review’s award for Lifetime Achievement in 2000. Notable productions include the 2008 production of the LGBTQ military musical Yank! or the 2019 production of Duncan Sheik’s hit musical, Spring Awakening for which they were awarded the New York Innovative Theatre Award for outstanding musical.

Hip to Hip Theatre Company 

Hit to Hip is a non-profit focused on serving New York City’s outer boroughs. Since 2007 this company based in the largest borough of NYC has been pumping out annual productions of their “Free Shakespeare in the Park”, “Kids and the Classics,” as well as other free, family-friendly professional productions, almost always in public spaces. Now officially servicing all 5 boroughs of the city, Hip to Hip’s robust performance schedule also serves as a guide of sorts to the best public parks and performance spaces in the city. A completely free alternative to The Public Theatre’s famous “Shakespeare in The Park”, Hip To Hip is a great choice for anyone who can’t make it down to the Delacorte Theatre and still craves high-grade, accessible, community-based classical theatre.

Octopus Theatricals

Eschewing aesthetic, geopolitical and institutional boundaries to create inclusive work that reflects their “roles as global citizens”, Octopus Theatricals LLC produces work like no other. Not necessarily a theater company but a “creative producing and consulting” company, Octopus has its “tentacles” in any number of excellent productions, companies, and groups. A recent, famous production they have a role in is Anaïs Mitchell’s Hadestown, which is still running on broadway. But their off and off-off broadway productions are absolutely worth checking out. Theatre For One for instance, designed by LOT-EK, featured a mobile trailer in which a single actor performs an intimate show for a single audience member, or Arizona State University collaboration Utopian Hotline, an installation with a 30-foot projection screen, headphones and vinyl records.

People’s Theatre Project

Rooted in Washington Heights and Inwood, The People’s Theatre Project is an ensemble-based, multilingual theatre company led by women of color and immigrants. With an ensemble core of immigrant artists of color, this 13-year-old organization brings a refreshing and recognizable voice to theatre for and by people of color. Some of their initiatives include the PTP company, their “multigenerational touring company” and PTP academy, which is described as a “rigorous, multi-year arts and social justice program in Upper Manhattan”. In 2022 the People’s Theatre project was awarded a $15 million investment from NYC, selected by Eric Adams, to own and operate a “first-of-its-kind” Immigrant Research and Performing arts center. Slated to open in 2027, the IRPAC will offer weekly cultural programming to seniors, serve as a performing arts space and home to companies and individual artists, and feature art by immigrant visual artists. 

24 Hour Plays

The 24 Hour Plays is a creative community committed to producing plays, musicals, and other theatre all written, rehearsed, and performed in 24 hours. With several programs, including 24 Hour Plays on Broadway, 24 Hour Musicals, Plays around The World and Viral Monologues, this decade-old institution is a staple of decentralized theatre in and out of New York City. Each Summer, the “main event” of sorts is staged in an Off-Broadway theatre and features up-and-coming playwrights, directors, and actors, as well as some established industry giants. Recently, their Broadway-based programming “On Broadway” was held at Town Hall on West 43rd Street, just blocks away from the Times Square, The Orion and The Birdland Jazz Club. The company also recently partnered with Broadway Licensing to expand the program to other community organizations who want to use the 24 Hour model.

The post 8 NYC Theatre and Entertainment Companies Outside Broadway appeared first on CitySignal.

Falling Ice and Snow

We all see icicles dangling precariously from gutters and shingles, and it’s impossible to stop snow drifts from collecting on many roofs across the country. Leaving it there can be a problem for several reasons, from water damage to roof collapses, but one of the most direct dangers comes from falling ice and snow. Statistics show that approximately 15 people in the United States are killed in icicle-related accidents yearly, which isn’t to count the additional non-lethal injuries each year. These incidents are all too common in many northern cities, but the problem is exacerbated in New York by the construction of supertall skyscrapers, which can turn even Billionaires Row into a hazard zone. 

There are several ways to safeguard against roof-borne dangers, such as the use of a Roof Rake, a long-armed device for removing snow and ice from high places. Alternatively, roofers can install ice and water protective membranes whose hydrophobic properties stop the hazards from forming or heating cables that are especially helpful in frigid climates with high snowfall rates. Additionally, cleaning and maintaining your gutters during the non-winter months is a great way to save headaches and frustration when things get cold and debris freezes over, creating frigid hazards down the line.

Space Heaters

The unforgiving chill of winter can be combated with warm blankets, hot food, and of course, space heaters. Many New York City apartments don’t allow tenants to control their own thermostats and heat complaints skyrocket in the wintertime, with the Bronx the borough most impacted. Steam and hot water radiators are frequently inconsistent in their heat distribution; this is where portable space heaters come in very handy. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that between the years 2008 and 2010, space heaters were responsible for approximately 1200 fires per year. By some estimates, space heaters are responsible for 55,000 fires per year and over 400 deaths and 1500 injuries worldwide! 

High-wattage, low-regulation devices can easily combust flammable materials such as curtains, papers, bedding, and fluids such as gasoline, cooking oil, or certain alcohols. To avoid fires caused by space heaters, it’s important to follow a few simple guidelines: Always place your space heater on a flat, non-flammable surface and avoid plugging it into an extension cord or power strip; it should be securely plugged into the outlet and grounded. Don’t use a space heater with a damaged cord, and keep on guard for an overheating plug, outlet, or faceplate; if it’s overheating, unplug it immediately! Additionally, it’s important to check that the device has been certified for safety by an organization such as OSHA or the government’s official website for consumer protection. 

Black Ice

A common, invisible hazard coats the ground in many winter climates, a slippery, dangerous fiend commonly known as black ice. Black ice forms when the outside temperature falls below freezing point while the ground is still wet either from rain, melting snow, or other reasons. It’s called “black” ice because it’s thinner and more difficult to see than regular ice and, therefore, a greater hazard to less-than-vigilant homeowners during winter months. Black ice typically forms during especially cold times of the day, such as dusk and late evening. Ice-related falls are one of the most common ways to injure oneself at home during the winter, and February is the busiest month for winter-related falls in many locations. Falls are the leading cause of injury and death in older Americans, and proper prevention is essential to avoid painful, costly, and life-threatening issues like back and neck injuries, herniated discs, cervical sprain, and lumbar strains most common among them. 

The best way to avoid black ice around the house is to prevent it from forming in the first place, either by installing expensive heated walkways or much cheaper snow-melting mats. Additionally, removing snow as soon as possible after it falls can stop it from compacting and creating hidden hazards. Before a snow storm or ice storm, liquid anti-icer, salt, and even kitty litter can help add grit to walkways and prevent thin ice from forming. Walkways, outdoor staircases, and tile floors are especially dangerous locations, as these cold-retaining, flat, high-traffic areas create ideal conditions for black ice to form. Wearing proper, non-slip footwear and slowing down during winter months can help you avoid the worst injuries due to slipping and falling. 

Hypothermia & Frostbite 

Hypothermia is a condition often associated with falling through ice or long, unprotected journeys into the heart of a blizzard. However, it’s both more common and more dangerous than often given credit for. Hypothermia is the result of the body losing heat faster than it can be replaced and can occur when the body temperature is less than 95 degrees or even from prolonged exposure to outdoor temperatures as high as 40 degrees! Typical symptoms include persistent shivering, poor mobility, and cognitive issues such as confusion; Should you experience any of these, head indoors to a warm heated area immediately!

Frostbite, on the other hand, is the most common injury resulting from exposure to severe cold and occurs when blood vessels and underlying tissues freeze and are damaged. This most often occurs in the extremities, such as fingers and toes, but can affect exposed body parts, such as the nose, ears, and lips, during especially frigid weather. Keeping these body parts warm and covered with several layers of weatherproof clothing is essential to fending off this cold-weather hazard. Stiffness, discolorations, blisters, and internal pain upon reheating are telltale signs of frostbite, and it’s recommended you receive treatment as soon as possible if you experience any of these symptoms. 

While hypothermia and frostbite are associated with the outdoors, indoors can be just as dangerous in the case of massive, grid-downing weather events such as Hurricane Sandy in 2012, which left hundreds of thousands without power. A decade later, New York City experienced another major cold-related power outage in April 2022, affecting over 170,000 people! In addition to ensuring your home is well heated, it’s also wise to invest in a generator or other supplemental power source to be prepared for New York winters, as even indoors, frostbite and hypothermia have been known to cause injury and take lives.

Carbon Monoxide

Often called “the silent killer,” this odorless, colorless gas is a byproduct of carbon-containing fuels such as gas, wood, and coal. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that at least 430 people die annually in the United States from Carbon Monoxide poisoning.  When carbon monoxide builds up in your bloodstream, it can cause a decrease in oxygen absorption, similar to oxygen deprivation, which can lead to brain and heart issues and, in extreme cases, even death. 

In places such as New York City, for instance, landlords are required to provide tenants with working carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, although tenants are usually responsible for monthly testing and battery replacement. The risk of carbon monoxide poisoning increases exponentially in the winter as fume-producing products such as fireplaces, heaters, and furnaces are in full use. 

As symptoms can be difficult to pinpoint and build-ups harbors such insidious dangers, it’s essential to keep vigilant about this dangerous chemical. This means checking your carbon-monoxide detector monthly and replacing the batteries if it’s a replaceable model. If you don’t have a detector or don’t know where it is, check your lease and contact your landlord if it falls under their jurisdiction. It’s also important to avoid using a stove, charcoal grill, or a gas range to heat your home, and if you have a generator, operate it in a well-ventilated outdoor space. Additionally, if you have a gas or oil furnace in your home or building, ensure it’s inspected at least once a year by a certified party.

Shoveling Injuries

According to NY state law, if you are a property or business owner, you are responsible for keeping the public areas surrounding your buildings safe after a winter storm and need to ensure the sidewalks are clear from snow and ice and there is a 48” wide path and that fire hydrants are clear of snow and ice. Do not push snow and ice into the gutter, street, crosswalk, or pedestrian ramp.

If you’re a renter, depending on the conditions of your lease agreement, your landlord may be liable for serious injuries incurred while shoveling snow or removing ice. This is especially true if they were made aware of the dangerous conditions ahead of time and did not take steps to correct them. According to RentHop, Brooklyn is the borough with the slowest response to shoveling new snow.

While not inherently dangerous, icy winter conditions compromise health, and underestimating the winter cold can lead to injuries and even death while shoveling snow. Most injuries that occur while shoveling are due to falls, overexertion, and improper form. Bumps and bruises are common, but so are neck, back, and shoulder injuries. In the United States, around 11,500 people are admitted to emergency rooms for snow-shoveling-related injuries yearly, while over 100 shovelers die annually. There are ways to help prevent this; dressing in many warm layers as well as warming up and stretching both before and after shoveling can also help to keep muscles flexible and abate sprains and other injuries. 

For shovelers aged 55 and above, the heart is in the most danger as chest pains, and cardiac arrest can lead to serious injury or even death. If you have a history of heart disease or have other high-risk factors, it’s important to avoid overexertion while shoveling snow and to immediately stop should you experience any severe symptoms while shoveling; chest pains, dizziness, radiating arm pain, and shortness of breath. Early signs that can be helpful include a “stuttering” pain in the chest, neck, left arm, or back, cold sweats, and nausea; recognizing these can help deter a more painful, life-threatening, and expensive situation down the line! 

The post 6 Wintertime Hazards New Yorkers Shouldn’t Ignore appeared first on CitySignal.

Who were Andrew Carnegie and Louise Whitfield?

Andrew Carnegie’s Immigrant Tale

Called the Father of Modern Philanthropy, Andrew Carnegie was born in 1835 to Will and Margaret Carnegie in Dunfermline, Scotland, the capital at the time. Having fallen on hard times, Will Carnegie joined the popular Chartist movement, a populist movement composed of thousands of working-class Scotsmen sharing a vision for a “better life for the working man.” After the movement failed in 1848, Will and Margaret Carnegie sold their belongings to book passage to America for themselves and their children, 5-year-old Tom and 13-year-old Andrew. They eventually settled in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, taking over a family member’s weaving shop, which ultimately failed, leaving the family in need.

Andrew began working at age 13 as a low-paying bobbin boy in a cotton mill, anything to help support the family. He quickly found better work as a telegraph messenger, teaching himself how to operate the equipment. He eventually found himself in the position of telegraph operator for the Pennsylvania Railroad, where he was promoted to superintendent by age 24. When ten shares of the Adams Express Company went up for sale, Thomas A. Scott, a superintendent of the western division of the Pennsylvania Railroad, alerted Carnegie. But it was Margaret Carnegie who mortgaged their home to obtain the $500 needed for the shares. This investment was massively successful, and Carnegie eventually spun it into another purchase of a share in his business partner Theodore Woodruff’s Sleeping Car Company, a business that Carnegie would eventually buy.

Louise and Andrew’s Secret Engagement

By age 30, around 1865, Carnegie was a multi-millionaire business tycoon with business interests in iron works, steamers on the Great Lakes, railroads, and oil wells. It wasn’t until 1880, at age 45, he began courting his future wife, Louise Whitfield, age 23. Miss Whitfield was born in Chelsea, Manhattan in 1857 to English immigrant and textile merchant John Whitfield. After befriending her father, Carnegie met and was immediately attracted to equally ambitious Louise. 

Andrew was one of the most famous bachelors in the US  at the time, with a growing value of $20 million ($350 million today), although Louise made it clear she had no wish to marry rich. Andrew compromised, making it clear he planned on giving his fortune away: They fell in love. Margaret Carnegie, age 70, disapproved, purportedly having exacted a promise from Andrew that he would remain single while she was alive. Even with her undermining, the couple was engaged in 1883 before breaking it off in 1884 before engaging each other again secretly weeks later to spare mother Margaret, marrying after her death in 1886. Unusual for the time, Louise signed a prenup renouncing claim to Andrew’s millions, gaining stocks and bonds for an independent annual income instead. 

The Andrew Carnegie House

The house was planned by Louise and Andrew not only as a place to raise their daughter, also named Margaret, but also as a base for Carnegie’s philanthropic ventures. After selling his company for $480 million (a staggering $13 billion today), Carnegie retired to the mansion in 1901. There he and Louise oversaw the donation of around $350 million to education, cultural institutions, and promoting world peace. The home was the first modern steel-framed construction, highly sophisticated for the time, featuring multiple electric elevators (one of the first Otis passenger elevators in the city), a fully electric laundry, a hi-tech air conditioning system, and a cellar coal car that traveled over a miniature train track to transfer fuel from a storage bin to the boiler-room. With four levels, a ground floor, and a basement, it rivals some of the one-percenter mansions of today! 

The spacious private garden was rare at the time in New York City, but the Carnegie family preferred simple natural pleasures to the flashy trappings of the Gilded Age elite. Every morning the family would wake up to the sounds of renowned church organist Walter C. Gale who would arrive daily and play the massive organ in the main hallway. The two lived happily with their daughter there for about twenty years until Andrew’s death in 1919. Louise continued their philanthropic ventures long after, living in the mansion until her death in 1946, leaving it to the Carnegie Corporation.  In 1974 the building received historic landmark status before being turned over to the Smithsonian Institute in 1976 to be used as a home for the Cooper-Hewitt Museum. 

The Andrew Carnegie Mansion Today

The interior remained largely unchanged until 2011, when it was renovated by the organization with respect for the original spirit and character of the building. Being a historic landmark, the renovations took care to restore key features of the interior, including moldings, chandeliers, and woodwork, while also allowing for the creation of the Cooper-Hewitt Research Library and the 6000-square-foot Barbara and Morton Mandel Design Gallery. 

In 2015 the mansion and Cooper-Hewitt campus earned LEED silver certification from the United States Green Building Council, which is awarded to buildings that are designed, constructed, maintained, and operated for improved environmental and human health performance: Even after their deaths, the legacy of Andrew and Louise Carnegie is being honored by their home and organization. 

featured image of Carnegie Mansion: Some rights reserved by ajay_suresh

The post How the NYC Carnegie Mansion Came To Be appeared first on CitySignal.

A few weeks ago, the team at CitySignal profiled The 44th Annual Housing Tour hosted by the Brownstoners of Bedford-Stuyvesant, an organization with more than 40 years of experience uplifting and protecting the communities of Black Bed-Stuy. As the tour continues through its end date on December 11th, I spoke with Shayla Mulzac about her experience as a young home-buyer and first-time renovator. In our conversation, we talked about the future of Bed-Stuy and the Brownstoners as well as her journey with the renovation, gathering some useful tips for future homeowners and renovators in the process.

The Newest Brownstoner of Bedford Stuyvesant

“This year’s tour is going well!” Shayla was proud to announce, “but people can continue to buy tickets up until December 11th. That’s when the link will no longer be available.” Mulzac estimates that at the time of our interview, the Brownstoners had received approximately $4000 worth of ticket sales.

“We do this every year except 2020, of course; prior to 2020, we always did it in person. I’ve been in a home that’s been participating in the tour […] at least since I was seven years old.” She went on, “As a child too, I used to think these homes were so beautiful and the owners were such people I would look up to like ‘Omigod one day I definitely want to own a home and be able to put my home on the tour as well; so I’m glad we’ve come to this space, you know?”

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Homeownership is a focal point of the Brownstoners of Bedford-Stuyvesant’s mission, especially for Mulzac, who has been at the core of the movement since a young age. She went on to speak about why that mission matters more than ever before,

“I am technically on the outskirts of Bed-Stuy. We’re trying to figure out how to preserve the life of the organization of the Bed-Stuy Brownstoners because, due to gentrification and people getting older, the lifeline of the org is dwindling. People are getting older, moving out.”

“I’m actually the youngest member [of the Brownstoners], so if there’s no one to follow me, how is the life of the organization going to sustain itself? So that’s an unfortunate situation.”

She clarified, “Not many brownstoners end up losing their homes,  but everybody’s situation is so different. The point I’m trying to make is that the organization may not have many more years of membership because in Bed-Stuy, not many of the homeowners are Black anymore, and many of the people moving in are not black homeowners.”

This is evident in the fact that in 2000, around 75% of Bed-Stuy identified as Black, while in 2015, that number is only about 50%. This transition is helped along by Urban Renewal, Blockbusting, and natural migration.

The Brownstoners of Bedford-Stuyvesant considers themselves to be a “Hands on organization,” and with their 44th Annual Housing Tour, “Preserving Our Legacy, While Embracing Our Future,” they further their mission which includes ‘helping to revitalize the Bed-Stuy community through building a strong base of Black home-owners in the area.” Bed-Stuy, a historically Black neighborhood, has seen a major shift in its demographics in recent years, with Black homeownership at a historic low. Outside real estate investors have moved into the area, buying homes en-masse to be repurposed as apartments, business space, or other building developments; to many, this is a tell-tale sign of gentrification.

“I’m actually the youngest member [of the Brownstoners], so if there’s no one to follow me, how is the life of the organization going to sustain itself? So that’s an unfortunate situation.”

 

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A post shared by Shayla Mulzac (@shaylamulzac)

Three Tips for Young Home Buyers from a Young Home Buyer

As a young home-buyer fresh off a hundred-thousand-dollar renovation, Shayla was fully prepared to share point-by-point advice she had for others who wanted to do the same.

“You know, I get asked [for tips] a lot actually, and everybody’s situation is so different.” Shayla reiterated, “Depending on location, what type of home to purchase, whether you’re married or not; so many different variables to buying a home that’s different for everyone. But I think I realized three things that are kind of standard no matter what your race, age, etc; it may vary, you may have more if you’re a particular age, but, I believe these are three things that really make homeownership easier.

Go “Turn-Key” or Go Home

“Whether it’s a condo, coop, two-family home, three-family home, apartment building complex, anything, If you don’t want to do a lot of renovation, get something that’s “turn-key.” Turn-key means that you can walk right in, and it’s newly renovated and doesn’t need any work or very minimal repairs. You can walk in, move your stuff in, move your renters and your tenants in – that would be an ideal situation.”

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Renovating a home can be expensive, time-consuming, and a potential money-sink for first-time homeowners, and Shayla recommends avoiding it if you’re not comfortable with the process.

“It’s different from person to person, so it varies a little bit; if someone my age wanted to get something that’s brand new it’s going to cost way more than a fixer-upper. That’s how the factors become different and people do what works for them, but it would be ideal if you didn’t have to go through all those renovations; because I just finished a renovation process and it’s just a headache.” Mulzac was beginning the process of renovating her home during 2021’s annual housing tour, having completed it in time to be featured this year: She’s fresh off the experience.

How much money do you need for closing costs and renovations? Money is the name of the game

“My second tip is if it’s not turn-key and you have to go through renovations, have money in the bank. People who are my age, my friends, ask too, ‘so how much should you bring to the closing table? How much should I have in my savings?’

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Shayla looked to her own renovation process for an answer, further elaborating, “Now that I’m a year past closing, I give people my real raw numbers, so they have a better idea of the ballpark I guess.” Mulzac began renovations in January 2022 after closed 2 months prior in November of 2021. Looking at her credit card statements, Shayla shared that she had spent approximately $85,000 throughout the process with her own home.

“So it’s safe to say if people want to get into the renovation process, I‘m thinking at least $100,000 in your account. If you’re going to be renovating, doing floors, doing fixtures; you just want to be comfortable. You don’t want to be stretching your last penny up until foreclosure, and you haven’t even really moved in yet. So let’s just say 100k just to be safe.” The process can be deceptively expensive, she went on, “Furniture, like couches and chairs and microwaves and countertops and tiles; everything costs so much money.” Mulzac was quick to add that the $100,000 she recommends having at the ready doesn’t include money for closing, down-payments or closing costs, “that’s something else, a whole ‘nother branch on this tree that you could get into.”

Build your community before building your home

“If you don’t have a lot of money in the bank,” Shayla continued, “I would recommend having a team that will do work for you preferably for free, or for super super cheap.” Again, Shayla noted the difference in situations across the board for potential renovators, offering her own as an example “For me, my dad, he owns a lot of property in Brooklyn. He has contractors on different projects around Brooklyn, he does big projects. He’s ten times bigger than me.” Shayla utilized some of those resources in the process of her own renovation, smartly cutting costs.

“Not everyone has that opportunity or that privilege or that resource, but if they do, ideally have someone do some work for cheap, a handyman, maybe a task rabbit, someone who wants you to win.”

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Mulzac stressed the importance of having the support of a team or the community, filled with people you trust. “Someone who’s not going to try to get one over on you, run your pockets up, that’s my third recommendation; having a team that’s really invested in you. Maybe it’s your parents helping you out, maybe it’s your handyman who can do some things for free. Have a team that’s willing to see you win and invest into it with you to help you out, because it can be so expensive.” But again, everyone’s situation is very different;

“Everyone’s lean-on person is different, their team is different, their tribe may be different, but you should have something, someone willing to go to bat for you.”

Surprises and Challenges of First-Time Renovations

Full-scale renovation is not an easy feat, and Shayla had her own fair share of surprises and challenges to overcome during her own process.

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“Honestly, I’m thinking – I didn’t know how much work needed to be done behind the walls. So when I first did a walkthrough, the first tour of the home, everything looked so perfect, everything looked so beautiful. Nicely furnished and it wasn’t even staged, it was all real furniture from the people who lived before – of course they took all of those things with them but it just looked nice! I thought there’s no way a lot of work needs to be done.” But Shayla soon made a sobering discovery.

“As soon as I started moving in, I didn’t start living there till August. So I closed in November, then in December and January my dad and I are feeling out the place, seeing what’s right and what’s wrong; we realize that so much work needs to be done! And you may not know these things if you don’t have a team. For example; outlets. It’s ideal to have outlets in certain places; by your bed, behind a picture frame, where you want to mount a Tv. Certain things you want that make sense to make your house a home, those come up.” But that was barely the worst of it according to Mulzac.

“There was a rat infestation on the first floor, under the floor.”

Luckily, rodent complaints are down from last year in Bedford-Stuyvesant so hopefully this will be a worry of the past for her.

“Just a lot of things, our tenants space downstairs didn’t have a closet; if I want to rent that out to a tenant at a maybe higher rate I should fix that up, put a closet down there, put a washer and dryer down there.”

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Shayla went on to expand on the hidden expenses behind the walls, “I installed a washer and dryer, but where the washer and dryer went there was no plumbing for a washing machine in that location; so a lot of things like that came up as I was going through the renovation process, and it all tied back to money.”

Lighting, plumbing, electrical, according to Mulzac every single room had something which needed to be attended to.

Aspiring to Inspire

“The feeling that I did it, the feeling that it’s possible.”

Curious after hearing about all of the challenges that went into her renovation, I asked about what parts of the process Shayla most enjoyed.

“I want to give a good answer, I think my favorite part is the overall satisfaction throughout the whole thing, and that feeling still stands today. It’s the feeling I had at the closing table, and I still have that feeling right here right now chatting with you on the phone. The feeling that I did it, the feeling that it’s possible.”

Mulzac isn’t unaware of her legacy and influence on other potential home buyers and renovators.

“I think the admiration I get from other people, doing it at such a young age, it’s so inspiring to so many others. They’re like, ‘well, if she did it, I can definitely do it.’ I just get a lot of wow from other people. I feel like if I’m inspiring you to do it, by all means, use my story, use my testimony and mold it into your own, do what you need to do as well, whatever that may be, because everyone’s story is different.”

Taking Part In The NACA Program

I asked Shayla if there were any last words of advice she had to offer young home-buyers, and she lit up, adding, “I don’t know if I mentioned it, but I went through a program called NACA. That’s what makes it much much easier. I felt the program itself is very difficult, but what makes it different from trying to buy a home outside the program is that you don’t have to come to the closing table with a whole bunch of money. In the beginning, I mentioned having 100k in your account, and that didn’t include closing costs, and down payment, in the NACA program, you don’t need closing costs and down payments.”

 

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A post shared by Shayla Mulzac (@shaylamulzac)

 According to their website, The Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America (“NACA”) is a non-profit community advocacy and homeownership organization with goals not too different from that of the Brownstoners themselves, that of building healthy, thriving communities in urban and rural areas.

“I came to the closing table with about $40,000 on a $1 million loan; if it weren’t the NACA program I would probably have to come with 20% of $1 Million to the closing table. I highly recommend it; no closing costs, no down payment, my interest rate is only 1%, and I believe the national average is something like 6 or 7%” She’s correct, of course, with the 30-year fixed mortgage rate hovering around 7.08%.

“I felt like it would always happen, though; my Instagram bio has been for like 9 years now “Aspiring to Inspire” I always have an urge to inspire, to be a leader, to be a role model, to promote positive things; so I just knew it was going to happen. I would tell my younger self, “believe in yourself and stay committed, stay committed to it, stay disciplined, and keep going forward. Keep doing it. Keep doing it.”

Tickets for the Brownstoners of Bedford-Stuyvesant’s 44th Annual Housing tour are on sale now and will continue through the 27th of November when the tour ends. Hungry for more of the process? You can check out Shayla’s full renovation below.

Editor’s note: We have updated this article to correct that Shayla’s renovations began in January of 2022 and that the Brownstoner’s last day to purchase ticket sales is December 11th, 2022. 

The post Meet the Newest Brownstoner of Bedford Stuyvesant Aspiring to Inspire appeared first on CitySignal.

Hotels to Sightsee

Ansonia Hotel 

The Ansonia Hotel, in operation from its erection in 1904 to its conversion to condominiums in the early 90s, has one of the most complex, controversial, and fabulous histories of any pre-war hotel in the city. Built by the “All Time Black Sheep” heir to the Phelps-Dodge copper fortune, William Earle Dodge Stokes, the intention was to put Grande Boulevard (now known as Broadway) on the map by building the grandest, tallest, biggest building in the city. With over 1400 rooms, 550,000 square feet of space, a chicken farm on the roof, and an egg market in the basement, the Ansonia was never the chicest spot to stay; but its long list of historic residences has cemented its importance. From baseball player Babe Ruth to Four Seasons composer Igor Stravinsky, the seedy, infamous reputation of the hotel drew many eccentric guests. In one of its most famous stints, the basement of the hotel served as the base for a gay bathhouse where a young Bette Mindler performed alongside Barry Manilow, her accompanist. 

The hotel also played a key role in the blackmail of Edward R. West, the Black Sox Scandal, and as a safe house for bank robber Willie Sutton. One resident, Thomas The Cat, never left the location and has reportedly been haunting the halls since 1903. With a major stripping of the face for World War I steel, and a series of less-than-scrupulous owners, the building, now a historic landmark, retains only a shadow of its former glory. The building is now home to 385 condominiums, rearranged in 2007 to recreate the grand apartments of history long since past, with units going for as low as $800,000 per year up to over $5.5 million and renting for $9,500 a month; A small ask to live in a pre-war condominium with a sharp Parisian-style exterior and refurbished interior. Part of the building also serves as a secondary facility for The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA).

Fifth Avenue Hotel 

Considered at the time to be not only the finest hotel in not just New York City but the world, the Fifth Avenue hotel was located at 200 Fifth Avenue and was in operation from 1859 to 1908. Built on what many considered to be cursed ground (as dozens of skeletons were unearthed during construction), Amos Richard Eno, a wealthy businessman, was not deterred. Influenced heavily by European architecture, the hotel’s interior was modeled after French hotels, while the exterior was all imported Italian marble. The location also featured the first steam-powered passenger elevator built in the United States.  Politicians appreciated the hotel for its luxury but also its security; with soundproofed rooms and discreet staff; except in the case of Robert Montague, a famous bank robber, who was arrested after his chambermaid tipped off the police.

James Garfield, the 20th president of the United States, had a specifically involved history in the hotel, having to pander to Republican support at the convention in 1880. Chester A. Arthur, the eventual successor, also frequented the hotel before Garfield’s assassination by Charles Guiteau, who also found himself in the hotel from time to time, truly a very small world.

In 1908 the Fifth Avenue Hotel was officially torn down and rebuilt into the Fifth Avenue Toy Center, which according to the Toy Manufacturer’s association, was responsible for 95% of the toy business by 1981. In 2007 however, the building at 200 Fifth Avenue was sold again to L&L Holding company to be transitioned into a Class A office building and where Eataly is currently located.

A new hotel has risen nearby at 250 Park Ave that has taken the name Fifth Ave Hotel that visitors can sight-see. It is not open for bookings just yet.

Closed for Renovations

Waldorf Astoria 

With legendary service and a long, celebrated history, the Waldorf Astoria Hotel is one of the most well-known hotels in New York City. Synonymous with celebrity, the original Waldorf Hotel was built in 1893 by William Waldorf Astor, an attorney, and scion to the grotesquely wealthy Astor Family of New York City. Like a plot out of some plutocratic fantasy, Waldorf’s cousin and rival, John Jacob Astor IV, built an even taller hotel next door in a startling show of one-upmanship. Eventually, following a truce, the buildings were connected by Peacock Alley, a long marble corridor, and hence was renamed the Waldorf-Astoria. 

The first hotel to have electricity on every floor, en suite baths, and 24-hour room service, the Waldorf Astoria set a precedent for luxury hotel living. After its grand reopening in 1931 as a dual tower hotel in a new location, celebrities such as Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Cole Porter, Andy Warhol, and every president from Herbert Hoover to Barack Obama have graced the halls and rooms: The late Queen Elizabeth II even stayed at the location with Prince Phillip in 1957. The location is currently undergoing a $1 billion renovation but will be open again in 2023, when you’ll again be able to walk the halls and brush elbows with celebrities of yesteryear. Units in the building are currently for sale, all the way up to $19 million. 

Hotels to book now

The Plaza Hotel 

Possibly the most famous hotel in New York City, it’s said that “Nothing unimportant ever happens at The Plaza.” Opening in 1907, for over 100 years, the hotel has been the location of critical meetings, classic films, and glitzy nightlife. Built on the site of the Original Plaza hotel after it was demolished in 1905, it was rebuilt two years later by Bernhard Beinecke, Fred Sterry, and Harry S. Black for $12 million (which at the time was unprecedented). It took about twenty-seven months to demolish the old Plaza and build the new one, but the investment was well worth it. Reportedly, the single largest order for gold-encrusted china was placed with L. Straus and Sons to furnish the new hotel, truly sparing no expense for the decadence. 

From 1959 to 2013 and beyond, the hotel has served as a set piece to some of the most important and influential films of their times. Alfred Hitchcock’s North by Northwest was the first time the Plaza made its way to the silver screen but it was followed by The Way We Were, The Front, Baz Lurhman’s The Great Gatsby, and perhaps most famously, Home Alone 2, where a hapless Macaulay Culkin wandered the halls of the hotel unchaperoned. Guests today can even pick from several themed offers, including a Home Alone 2: Fun In New York package that includes a Limousine ride to the filming locations, a large cheese pizza, and a Home Alone Sundae.

Residences at the Plaza at 1 Central Park South and 768 5th Ave can also be purchased.

Chelsea Hotel 

Originally conceived as a socialist utopian commune by architect Philip Hubert, this eccentric, bohemian hotel has a rich cultural history and has hosted some of the most famous names in the art world: From Bob Dylan to Janis Joplin, Mark Twain to Jimmy Hendrix. Andy Warhol shot several films with actress Viva, while Madonna, who lived there during the 80s, has used the location for photo shoots and public appearances.

Arthur C. Clark is said to have written 2001: A Space Odyssey at the Chelsea, while Jack Kerouac is said to have had a one-night stand with Gore Vidal. In the 70s, The Chelsea was run as an informal artists’ colony for a period of time, where artists traded paintings for rent or lived free, subsidized by the super-rich, who also called the hotel home. It was curated and run by Stanley Bard, who has been called everything from ”the best landlord in history” to “the biggest starfucker of all time.”

Closed for eleven years due to renovations, the hotel has recently reopened and is accepting new guests at all-time-low “hard hat” rates to encourage those who don’t mind a little bit of construction to have a stay. Some 50-odd guests call the 12-story building a permanent home, many of who have been there for decades. The renovations on the nearly 140-year-old building have brought a restored lobby, refurbished apartments and rooms for vistors, two restaurants, an event space, and a rooftop fitness center and spa. Additionally, El Quijote, an old-school Spanish restaurant next door that was closed in 2018, is scheduled to reopen alongside the hotel.

At around $200 to $600 a night, it’s a steal for the amount of history and legacy you get to interact with. You may even be joined by a few spectral friends.

A building’s life is often long, complicated, and dotted with scandals and mysteries, even more so for a hotel where hundreds of thousands of fascinating guests filter in and out yearly. These fabulous, historic New York hotels are fascinating and well worth a stay if you’re able; You might even share the halls with a ghostly cat or artistic royalty if you’re lucky!

The post The 6 Most Iconic Hotels To Visit in NYC appeared first on CitySignal.