Andrew Baisley

© Jim Bachor

Update 10:15am on 7/20/18: Jim Bachor tells us that the NYC Department of Transportation has already pulled up the cockroach, bouquet, Trump, and pigeon mosaics. 

If you recently saw a construction worker filling potholes around Manhattan and Brooklyn with mosaics and thought it was a bit off, you were right. This was Chicago-based artist Jim Bachor in disguise for his latest public art piece, “Vermin of New York.” For the past five years, Jim has been filling potholes in Chicago with mosaics of everything from flowers to trash, and after a successful Kickstarter campaign, he recently brought his work to NYC. The series includes a cockroach, a rat, a pigeon, and Donald Trump (yes, you can drive over his face). 6sqft was able to talk with Jim about how he got into such a unique form of “guerilla” art and what the meaning is behind his latest series.

Jim began his career as a graphic designer in the advertising business, but fell in love with ancient history when he went to to Europe for the first time in the late 1990s. He was drawn to the ancient art and how it all remains today, the most durable being the mosaics that look the same now as they did 2,000 years ago. “What else can claim that kind of staying power?” he says. This led him to Ravenna, Italy to take a course in the ancient art of mosaic, which then influenced his decision to make a shift towards fine art and changing people’s perception of what a mosaic can be. “My angle was contemporary subject matter that people didn’t see in this type of mosaic.” Jim notes that he’s not “breaking plates and using Elmer’s glue and putting it on cardboard,” but rather using the same materials, tools, and methods of ancient craftsmen.

Fast forward to 2013, a very bad post-winter pothole season in Chicago and on Jim’s own street, and he started to apply this philosophy to filling these potholes. “Temporarily fixed over and over again by city street crews, the potholes cried out for something more resilient, and far more aesthetically pleasing than a patch of asphalt,” he explains. Some of his early work included a series of serial numbers to represent the shear number of potholes in Chicago; a series of flowers, serving as a juxtaposition to the “universally ugly pothole;” and “Treats in the Streets,” mosaics of classic ice cream treats. He’s now done installations in Finland, LA, San Antonio, Detroit, and Philadelphia.

Part of how Jim travels to share his work is through Kickstarter campaigns, the most recent of which landed him in New York, where he just completed his series “Vermin of New York.” Why did he choose this topic? He says it goes back to the idea of “unexpected subject matter” that isn’t necessarily beautiful to begin with but “you make it pretty with this elegant art form.”

Though much of his work’s subject matter is very upbeat, Jim also likes to keep people on their toes. And while a rat and a cockroach are pretty standard NYC, including Donald Trump in the “Vermin” series has proved a bit more debatable. As Jim tells us, some right-wing followers who didn’t realize the portrait was part of a larger series commended him on the work. While others took it as an opportunity to “drive their car over his head.”

The fifth and final piece in Chelsea is a bouquet of flowers in Chelsea. “It’s to remind everyone that the series is fun, I’m not making fun of the city at all. It’s a big kiss to New York City.”

Look out for more of Jim’s work coming to Detroit this fall, where he’s trying to get 10 pieces on the ground. And for more updates, be sure to follow him on Instagram @jimbachor.

Here’s where you can find all the NYC works:

• Dead cockroach: Greenwich Village, Bleecker Street near Mercer Street
• Dead rat: Fort Greene, South Oxford Street
• Dead pigeon: Prospect Heights, Pacific Street near Vanderbilt Avenue
• Donald Trump: East Village, Second Street between First Avenue and Avenue A
• Bouquet: Chelsea, 515 West 25th Street

All photos © Jim Bachor

6sqft’s series “My sqft” checks out the homes of New Yorkers across all the boroughs. Our latest interior adventure brings us to the Prospect Park South co-op of an adorable and creative couple. Want to see your home featured here? Get in touch!

Back in 2015, 6sqft visited bubbly Amy Sprague at her Boerum Hill studio. Three years, two dogs, and one adorable meet-cute story later, Amy has moved over to Prospect Park South with her fiance Brian Schundler. After their dogs, Charlie and Ladybug, brought them together in the dog park, these two lovebirds decided to not only become homeowners but to undertake a complete gut renovation of their pre-war co-op.

Brian, a landscape architect, favors mid-century-modern decor and minimalism, while Amy, a packing designer, loves vintage finds and earthy vibes. Luckily, this creative couple was able to mix their styles to create a comfortable home that uses clean lines and crisp architectural elements as a backdrop for their more eclectic finds and textures. Amy and Brian recently gave 6sqft a tour of their recently completed two-bedroom apartment and shared how the reno process went, how they mixed their aesthetics, and what it’s like living with two 80+ pound pups.

Amy and Charlie

Amy, you’re our first Mysqft participant to be featured twice! Obviously, a lot has changed in the past three years, including your engagement to Brian! How did you two meet?

Amy: Yes, a lot has changed! Brian and I met at a dog park in Brooklyn Heights the morning after I adopted my dog, Charlie. He offered me lots of desperately needed dog wrangling tips and asked for my number before leaving the park. We went on our first date that week, and the four of us have been together since!

Was it hard to give up your place in Boerum Hill?

Amy: It actually wasn’t. I was very excited to move in with Brian and to stop hauling our dogs back and forth between Prospect Heights and Boerum Hill!

The kitchen island and counters are quartzite. It’s also used in the bathroom.

Before buying your current co-op, you lived together in Brian’s old place in Prospect Heights. Amy, was it difficult coming into a space that was already furnished and decorated?

Amy: Sort of! I had collected a lot of traveling mementos, artwork, and antiques around my apartment that looked hilariously awkward in Brian’s former space. I had to toss some dream catchers, and he had some piled up antiquated technology that had to go. Things came together eventually.

What about you, Brian, how was it having Amy move in?

Brian:  I was ecstatic when she moved in!  She brought her warmth and laughter, a hilarious dog, and countless plants. Almost immediately after she moved in, her “moments” began to appear.  A feather here, a tiny jar there, candles and flowers on every surface.

The wood floors are original; they just had them sanded and treated with a water-poly coating. 

How did you find your current apartment and what drew you to it?

Brian: We were looking for a larger space for us and the pups and searched all of the neighborhoods around Prospect Park. We knew we wanted to take on a big renovation so were looking for an apartment with good bones, lots of light, and in need of some love.

Amy and Brian closed on the apartment last June; the renovation was finished in October, and they moved in November.

Tell us a bit about the renovation process. How long did it take? 

Brian:  We closed on the apartment on June 1st, and started demo mid-July. We slowly started moving things in as the workers were painting and doing finishing touches in November.

Any unforeseen difficulties? 

Brian: There were a couple minor surprises along the way but nothing out of the ordinary for such an old building. The biggest shock was opening up a wall and finding an old telephone operator’s switchboard. We didn’t know what to do with it, so we just left it there and sheetrocked over to leave a surprise for the next person who opens up the walls.

The proposal chairs!

Any challenges in mixing your styles?

Amy: We’ve kind of landed on a mid-century-modern fondness in our apartment that we both really like. We do have very different opinions on what’s an appropriate throw pillow count and how many decorative tiny plates seem reasonable to have in the kitchen. But overall, I think we have a pretty good time trying to mix our styles.

Brian: One of our first nights in the apartment we looked at our two favorite chairs and joked about how they seemed to personify us. Amy found this beautifully ornate, red velvet chair at an antique shop in Frederick, Maryland, her home town, and I pulled a busted-up mid-century chair out of the trash, cleaned it up and got it reupholstered. I think these chairs speak to our values, and anchor our home.  They’ve become our favorite spot in the apartment, and it’s where I asked Amy to marry me.

What were the most important things you wanted to accomplish?

Brian: We both loved the bones of the apartment and wanted to build off the original details that drew us to it, particularly the parquet flooring, beamed ceilings, massive tub, and gracious layout.  We tried to be strategic about what we introduced and were particularly concerned about using materials and details that will age gracefully.

Amy: We wanted to make sure that we kept the apartment feeling light and airy and the kitchen open and welcoming.

Was it tough being “homeless” for that time? 

Amy: It got pretty uncomfortable! We were Airbnb hopping and living out of suitcases for a month. There were a lot of late nights in our construction zone, but it did help us get more familiar with the neighborhood before we moved in.

Brian, you’re a landscape architect, so you definitely have knowledge of architectural drawings and construction. Did this come in handy?

Brian: Absolutely. Drafting plans let us think through all the details, both beautiful and mundane. They enabled us to clearly communicate our intentions with Landi, our contractor, who took a lot of pride in his work and was incredible to work with. It’s so different designing a project for yourself, because when all is said and done you can only blame yourself for that one oddly placed light switch.

Brian, you surprised us by saying that Amy brought most of the plants into the apartment! 

Amy: Brian’s mom was sweet enough to take care of our plants for us while we were between apartments and nursed them back to health after I burned them all on a rooftop. The plants have moved with me everywhere I’ve lived, but we’ve bought even more since moving in.

Now that it’s all done, what’s your favorite thing about the apartment?

Amy: I love our bathrooms and the tiles in them. Clé tile was a great resource. I also love our little floating bar moment and chairs, it’s a great spot for a cocktail and catching up.

Brian: My favorite piece is the bathroom vanity. I searched forever for the base and finally found it on Craigslist. We drove three hours to go pick it up and it fits the space perfectly. We had an extra piece of stone from the slab for our kitchen, and we had it cut to fit the vanity.

Amy’s grandfather’s trunk sits in front of the bedroom window. “He immigrated to the U.S. with it from France and his initials are still painted on the side. I like seeing how weathered it is and imagining how far it’s traveled,” she told us previously. 

You can each only take three items from the apartment–what are they?

Amy: My grandpa’s trunk, CCPP painting, and my box of cards and pictures.

Brian: Amy and the pups.

What do you love most about this neighborhood?

Brian: The neighborhood is amazing. We love walking around the old mansions on Albemarle and the historic limits of Prospect Park South. The houses there are so grand and gorgeous and such a surprise in the middle of Brooklyn. It’s been really exciting to see so many of these buildings being meticulously restored.

Favorite spots?

Amy: I love Sycamore, Elk Café, and WerkStatt.

Brian: All of these plus Der Pioneer, Blessings Café, and the Ox Tavern.

Do you take advantage of being so close to the park?

Amy: Every day! We’re always in the park with the dogs and love a long Friday night walk with the pups.

Brian: Of course!  I knew the park really well before living here, but it feels much more intimate now that we’re there every day. It’s been incredible watching the park ebb and flow during each season throughout the year.

Okay, last but possibly most importantly, how do you make it work living with two large dogs?

Amy: We’ve gotten used to a lot of dog hair and having our bed commandeered every morning! Brian’s a real sport about taking on a lot of the dog walking. Despite the chaos, we have a lot of fun with them.

Check out some before and during renovation photos from Amy and Brian below!

+++

RELATED:

• My 425sqft: Tour a Bubbly Packaging Designer’s Boerum Hill Studio Filled with Eclectic Finds
• My 800sqft: A Cute Design Couple Fill Their Ridgewood Railroad Apartment with Whimsy
• My 2,200sqft: A Couple Brings Serene California-Style Living to Their Park Slope Brownstone

All photos taken by James and Karla Murray exclusively for 6sqft. Photos are not to be reproduced without written permission from 6sqft.

Before and during the renovation; photos provided by Amy and Brian

There is plenty of things that Singaporeans can be grateful for but the one thing that we simply cannot do without is our vast array of local food that stems from our heritage and culture that spans across all races.

It goes without saying that when it comes to our local cuisine, we Singaporeans are fanatically passionate about it and it shows with the many Singaporean food festivals that take place all over the world for students and people working abroad who just can’t fathom the absence of our local delicacies in their bellies.

Come this National Day and the month of August, a number of fast food chains, restaurants, bars and cafes have decided that it’s time to upkeep the true spirit that is Singapore’s unyielding gastronomic scene by coming up with a slew of new Singaporean-themed edible treats, infusing both local flavours and flair into their various offerings. Here is our guide on 12 new dishes that pay tribute to all things Singaporean.

AH MAH HOMEMADE CAKE – ONDEH ONDEH CASTELLA CAKE

Wobbly castella cakes are bestowed with the ondeh ondeh touch at this bakery, where a pandan base made of freshly squeezed pandan leaves is layered with coconut, a splash of gula melaka for sweetness, and shavings of desiccated coconut on top.

This thematic treat even comes in its own designer box illustrated by local artist, Lee Kow Fong, featuring an image of old-school Singapore streets.

60 Paya Lebar Road,

Singapore 409051

Tel: +65 8133 8508

Daily: 9.45am – 8.30pm

Nearest Station: Paya Lebar

Photo Credit: Breadtalk

BREADTALK – CHILLI CRAB PUFFS

Moulded and shaped to look like actual mud crabs, tantalise your taste buds with the adorable and mighty tasty Chilli Crab Puffs from Breadtalk. Even though their filling might differ a lot from the original dish, who can deny that these pastry parcels are just the cutest things ever?

Photo Credit: Burger King

BURGER KING – HAINANESE TENDERGRILL CHICKEN & TEH TARIK PIE

Get the total ‘Taste Of Singapore’ experience with Burger King’s latest slew of locally-inspired offerings. The flavourful Hainanese Tendergrill Chicken and fragrant Rendang Beef/Chicken are back for a limited time only and let’s not forget to end off our meal with their new Teh Tarik Pie!

BUTTERKNIFE FOLK – SAMBAL CRUMBLE GELATO

The base of this innovative creation is made using both light and dark soy sauce along with a hint of spice in the form of their house-made sambal crumble. Costing S$5 for a single scoop, this intriguing gelato creation really packs on unbeatable flavour as well as some heat.

238 River Valley Road,

Singapore 238296

Tel: +65 6734 7855

(Closed on Mondays)

Tue to Thu: 12pm – 9pm

Fri & Sat: 12pm – 10.30pm

Nearest Station: Dhoby Ghaut

Photo Credit: Creamery

CREAMERY BOUTIQUE ICE CREAMS – ONDEH ONDEH LAVA COOKIE

Crafted especially for the nation’s 53rd birthday, this limited edition cookie presents itself in the form of crumbly pandan cookie crumbs infused with heavenly gula melaka and coconut shavings! But get your hands on this lovable treat quick because it will only be around from 14 Jul to  8 Aug 2018.

139 Tyrwhitt Road #01-03,

Singapore 207557

(Closed on Thursdays)

Mon to Wed: 12.30pm – 10pm

Fri: 12.30pm – 10.30pm

Sat: 12pm – 10.30pm

Sun: 12pm – 10.30pm

Nearest Station: Lavender

Photo Credit: KFC

KFC – GOLDSPICE CHICKEN KFC

Signature Hot & Crispy chicken coated with a winning combination of salted egg, chilli, curry leaves an sweet basil to deliver a touch of heat. Fried to glorious golden brown, for a taste better than gold.

Photo Credit: Krispy Kreme Singapore

KRISPY KREME – CHILLI SERIES DOUGHNUTS

Singaporeans love food but the one condiment that truly defines a dish—or rather completes it—is chilli.

For the month of August 2018 only, Krispy Kreme will present their new spicy chilli doughnuts; guaranteed to provide you with a fiery kick with every bite. These spicy morsels of happiness come in a variety of flavours, namely: Caramel Chili Doughnuts and White Chocolate Chili Doughnuts—both of which feature sprinklings of fresh chilli flakes over top.

Photo Credit: McDonald’s

MCDONALD’S – HA HA CHEONG GAI BURGER & D24 DURIAN MCFLURRY

Joining the bandwagon of sensational treats this National Day is McDonald’s Ha Ha Cheong Gai Burger. Paying homage to one of Singapore’s most beloved zi char classic, get ready get your appetites racing for these glorious (and massive) bad boys.

Why not complete the Singapore-themed gastronomic trip with their D24 Durian Mcflurry or the Kueh Salat from McCafé that’s inspired by the rich culinary stories of traditional Nonya delights. A sponge cake that, when cut into, reveals layer upon layer of sumptuous pandan mousse, sponge cake and sticky rice topped with coconut flakes.

Photo Credit: Old Chang Kee

OLD CHANG KEE – CHILLI CRAB’O

Boasting a bright red colour (possibly signifying one half of our nation’s flag), and stuffed generously with OCK’s house-perfected chilli crab stuffing, what you can expect from the Chilli Crab’O is a combination of savoury, sweet and lip-smacking flavour coupled with an aromatic, crumbly pastry to seal the deal.

Photo Credit: Paradise Teochew

PARADISE TEOCHEW – RED & WHITE DELIGHTS

Paying tribute to our nation’s birthday this year, Paradise Teochew has come up with an array of dishes that take on the iconic red and white colour of the Singapore flag. From dumplings, selected main course items and even desserts, get ready to be awed by their arsenal of thematic dishes.

TEXAS CHICKEN – SAMBAL CHICKEN

Taking their fried chicken up a notch, get set to light your mouth ablaze with their sweet but fiery sambal fried chicken. This saucy variant packs some punch but stays relatively true to the complex, heady aromas of a good sambal.

Photo Credit: Tom’s Palatte

TOM’S PALATTE – CHEE CHEONG FUN ICE CREAM

Serving their own variation of homemade ice cream since September 2005, this humble ice cream parlour is best known for their array of playful, somewhat quirky ice cream flavours.

We liked to believe that the folks here hit their creative threshold with their ginseng flavour but little did we know that they have way more up their sleeves. This national day, be sure to try their chee cheong fun-flavoured ice cream.

#01-25, 100 Beach Road,

Singapore 189702

Tel: +65 6296 5239

Mon to Thu: 12pm – 9.30pm

Fri & Sat: 12pm – 10pm

Sun: 1pm – 7pm

Nearest Station: Esplanade

Read: 38 Best Hawker Food in Singapore you have to try at least once in your life.

Zach Dorfman / Politico:
Silicon Valley, as world's tech innovation hub, has been target of foreign industrial espionage for decades; its open culture makes it hard to deal with threats  —  The West Coast is a growing target of foreign espionage.  And it's not ready to fight back.

Art director Yuni Yoshida has created these pixelated food photos by manually cutting up the foods in question into little cubes. Love these.

See also censored fruit.

This three-bedroom loft at 69 Wooster Street is the kind you don’t often see in today’s world of sleek designer spaces. Until 2014, it was the longtime home and personal gallery of prominent art collectors Eileen and Michael Cohen, who had lived there since Soho was, well, Soho. The current owner is a fashion designer who just finished a multi-year renovation adding a layer of one-of-a-kind opulence to an already dramatic space. The home, now on the market for $12 million, has been featured in Architectural Digest and other design publications, and we can see why, with everything from tin ceilings and exposed brick to gold-clad columns, dripping crystal chandeliers, a mirrored wall, and plenty of leather accents.

The sheer lavishness woven through the home’s considered design brings it to a level of opulence that’s rarely this carefully assembled. It’s combined with original bones and authentic loft living for a unique kind of luxury.

The space’s art gallery past is still evident, while the new version combines, as the listing says, “old-world Victorian sensibility with industrial NYC charm.” The decor was, in part, inspired by the interiors at the Hotel Costes in Paris.

Every facet of the home’s interior was meant to stand on its own as a piece of art. Mulitple cavernous entertaining areas include formal living spaces, lounges, a dining and bar area. A gourmet kitchen is separated from the living space by an undulant stainless steel sculpture wall.

Currently set up with three bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths,  the home features a master bedroom that also includes an office, library, gym, and spa.

A gold-wrapped master bath shimmers beneath a mirrored ceiling and a golden tub elevates bathing beyond mere luxury. Custom-outfitted closets provide compartments provide a space for everything. This visual feast is almost unbelievably situated within a boutique co-op building on a cobblestoned Soho street.

[Listing: 69 Wooster Street #2 by Steve Gold for Corcoran Group]

RELATED:

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• Sophisticated $16M Soho loft is part French farmhouse, part tropical palazzo

Images courtesy of Corcoran Group

Good news for parents of teenagers: At around 14, for perhaps the first time in their lives, your kid’s taste and your own line up. That’s not exactly true, of course (just look the other way when it comes to YouTube channels or social media memes), but when it comes to stuff they want, you’re more closely aligned than ever. Even the toys they loved at age 12 seem like a distant memory, and the days of wanting unicorn and ninja junk have been replaced with an appreciation for things you recognize as cool — like a nice futon or a cool pair of kicks. That’s one thing to look forward to on your kid’s 14th birthday. Happy shopping.

Sunski Recycled Plastics Sunglasses

Chances are, your eighth-grader has given you a lecture or two about the environment. These recycled plastic frames come from a mission-oriented company that also donates 1% of sales to environmental nonprofits. Available in a slew of looks and colors, they come with a lifetime warranty, too.

Buy Now $48

CouchBed

Sleepovers or study sessions just got a boost with this memory foam mattress bed that doubles as a comfy lounge sofa. Great for their basement workspace or the playroom turned teens-only-zone (time flies, huh?), it comes with washable covers to make cleanup a cinch.

Buy Now $299

Send Ribbon Birthday Bag

This sweet grab bag of birthday essentials — confetti balloons, candles, a cake bath bomb, and more  — gives recipients another reason to smile: Proceeds from each gift you buy go to the Birthday Party Project, a nonprofit that throws birthday parties for homeless youth.

Buy Now $52

PLAE Prospect Shoes

For the sneaker trendspotter in your life, gift ‘em these stylish kicks that are bound to ignite envy around the hallowed halls of junior high. Crafted with a built-in elastic lace-catcher to save your youngster from tripping, the shoes are made in a solar-powered fair-labor factory.

Buy Now $90

CanvasPop Personalized Photo Magnets

All you have to do is comb through their Instagram feed (they let you follow them, right?), upload some highlights, and voilà, your child’s gift will be on the way. In a few short years, you’ll be slapping them on a dorm room fridge.

Buy Now $15

Amped & Co’s Vintage Lightbox

You know all too well how often your teen’s mood changes. Thankfully, this cinematic light box set comes with 140 letters, numbers, and character tiles to switch up messages as often as necessary. With a vintage faux wood shell, the lightbox makes for a great addition to your teen’s desk or bedroom.

Buy Now $60

Speidel Twist-O-Flex for the Apple Watch

Your Apple Watch-obsessed teen will dig this super comfortable band that bends for a snug and secure fit. Available in brushed stainless, satin black, and silver aluminum, the sleek upgrade makes their smartwatch ready for a formal affair or first date (sigh).

[$80; speidel.com]

Jabra Move Wireless Headphones

From long battery life (up to eight hours with 12 days of standby power) and music and call control directly from the headphones, your teen will get a lot of neat features for under a Franklin. Bonus: The ultra-light headband means they’re extra comfortable for kids.

Buy Now $100

No Prob-llama Throw Pillow

Sorry, unicorns. Llamas are on their way to replacing the omnipresent mythical creature. This cheeky pillow is “as soft and comfortable as an alpaca full of marshmallows” and comes with the design printed on both sides.

Buy Now $35

FITS Light Hiker Crew (Teton)

Does your son or daughter love hiking? Pick up a few pairs of these socks and throw in a trail map with the dates you’ll be taking him or her out for an adventure penned into the margin. The “Light Hiker” is FITS most popular hiking sock, and with good reason — they’re beasts at absorbing moisture and cushioned under the foot to hold up to extended use.

Buy Now $22

Every product on Fatherly is independently selected by our editors, writers, and experts. If you click a link on our site and buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.

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The post The Best Gifts for 14-Year-Olds appeared first on Fatherly.

The apartment has undergone a four-year long gut renovation and is now in need of a new owner

A loft-like triplex penthouse within the cast-iron Soho building, 421 Broome, where late actor Heath Ledger once lived, has made its way to the market asking a whopping $65 million. Back in 2011, the unit sold for just $17 million and after embarking on a years-long renovation project, the new owners have decided to part ways with the home.

The New York Times reports that owners David Matlin, a distressed asset investor, and his wife, Lisa Matlin, spent more than four years working to transform the 8,000-square-foot "vertical mansion“ into their dream home. This included a gut renovation helmed by Roman and Williams that welcomed in new oak floors, a black marble staircase from Chesney’s, a kitchen with honed black granite from Germany, bathrooms doused in Italian marble, and steel-framed doors and and skylights from an industrial-chic aesthetic.

But after all of this work was complete, the couple decided that the home was just too much space.

Other notable highlights here include private elevator access to the living areas, 15-foot ceilings, arched windows, wood-burning fireplaces, French doors, three skylights, more than 20 custom closets, a fitness room, and an impressive 3,700 square feet of outdoor space in the form of multiple terraces that are well-equipped for entertaining and even include a jacuzzi.

The listing is being represented by both Core and Corcoran.

• Listing: 421 Broome Street [Corcoran]
• A SoHo Triplex on the Market for $65 Million [New York Times]
• Penthouse of Heath Ledger’s Old Building Sells for $17M [Curbed]

Here at Put This On, we strive to bring you the most insightful and critical analysis on men’s style and clothing. So today, we ask the hard questions: did Kim Jong-Un break out the extra wide pants yesterday for his summit with President Trump? And if so, was it to hide his extra tall platform shoes?

Observe.

Kim Jong-Un doesn’t always wear wide-legged pants, although he has some in his wardrobe. For a light and cheerful summery look, sometimes he wears grey trousers that taper to the hem. Other times, he favors wider trousers that would make designers Christophe Lemaire and Patrick Grant blush.

Yesterday’s summit was a serious event — a formal occasion — so naturally, Kim went with a more traditional 50″ leg opening to signal that he was here for business. But could there have been an ulterior motive for wearing such engulfing trousers? Here’s Kim at the beginning of the summit, gleefully enjoying his wide legged trousers — the swishing, free-flowing fabric whipping between his legs, signaling to slim-fit newbs that he’s not afraid of more adventurous silhouettes.

During the photo-op with President Trump, however, the massive, absolute-unit of a leg opening rode up on Kim mid-stride, revealing what was a very peculiar looking oxford. The facings, which are the part of the shoe that hold the eyelets, stand pretty far from the sole. Unusually so, if you compare the distance against your own shoes. The heel cup, similarly, is pretty damn tall.

Did Kim wear platform shoes for his meeting with President Trump? Our research on Google dot com reveals that Kim Jong-Un stands at 5′ 7″, Donald Trump reports he’s 6′ 3″ (although his real height is contentious. Here he is standing next to Obama, who’s 6’1″). Figure that’s about a six to eight inch difference, depending on who you believe.

Nicholas Templeman, a London-based bespoke shoemaker who trained at John Lobb, tells us that he thinks Kim’s shoes have lifts — a wedge-shaped insert that brings the wearer’s heel up, making the person look taller (think of how women’s heels work). Templeman estimates they’re about an inch high here. “That’s quite a bit. You won’t get much more than that without extending right to the front of the foot like a platform shoe,” he says. “I do my best to talk people out of it. If you do a more discrete 1/4″ lift, it makes no difference. But at the point it matters, it becomes too noticeable.”

Unless you wear massive, Electric Daisy Carnival, wool gabardine trousers that envelop 9/10ths of your feet, hiding them entirely. Another point for swishy pants.

The post Did Kim Jong-Un Wear Platform Shoes? appeared first on Put This On.

Own your very own private island that feels like it’s a million miles away, or at least off the coast of Maine, but is actually off the shore of Connecticut for only $4.9 million (h/t Mansion Global). With the not-at-all charming name of Potato Island, named for a group of potato-looking boulders near the shore (you say potato, we say po-tentially change that name!), this private island is part of the Thimble Islands, an archipelago of small islands, 23 of which are inhabitable, in the Long Island Sound in and around the harbor of Stony Creek in the southeast corner of Branford, Connecticut.

The 3,871-square-foot, four-bedroom house was originally built on the 1.1-acre island in 1912. It has since been extensively renovated.

The current owners, Richard and Katherine Kahan, bought the island in 1997 for $900,000. The Kahans explain that the house was in terrible condition, so bad that “There wasn’t a blade of grass on the island.” After 20 years and extensive renovations, they rebuilt the entire home, as well as added trees, gardens and the pool.

There’s a deep-water dock and a mooring for a sailboat 50 yards from the island. It is a five-minute boat ride to the harbor in the village of Stony Creek, and about a 90-minute commute to Manhattan.

With a true stately, New England feel inside and out, the home’s large fieldstone fireplace is the focal point of the living room. The space is surrounded by windows to take full advantage of the island location. Original character has been preserved with hardwood floors and beadboard complemented.

Ms. Kahan describes the house as open and airy yet cozy. New York City homes boast unobstructed views, but this island house takes it to a whole other level. The house was rebuilt to have views from every room, Mr. Kahan says, “We can see the sunrise and the moonrise.” As if that all wasn’t good enough, the home is primarily powered by solar panels and there is a backup generator.

The estate has been on and off the market for years. It was first listed by Christie’s in October 2014 for $7.35 million, according to the brokerage. Not only is this a huge price cut and a massively great deal per square foot (and insane views and privacy) compared to any luxe NYC offering but it is also an amazing deal considering the collection of eight Thimble islands that was for sale two years ago for $78 million (making each island just under $10 million, making $4.9 million a steal).

[Listing: Potato Island  by Christie’s International Real Estate agent John Campbell]

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Sadly, Geylang is no longer the rebellious teenager that it once was.

After the 2013 Little India riots, Parliament passed a Bill that designated both Little India and Geylang as Liquor Control Zones. This banned drinking in public places and the retail sale of alcohol from 10.30PM to 7AM.

This, as everyone predicted, has cost Geylang its business and its flavour.

Sex workers are less visible now, as are the gambling tables. The beer ladies have dwindled in number, along with the bars. Many coffee shops that weren’t good or established enough shuttered within 2 or 3 months of the Bill being passed.

Hawkers tell me of a time when the coffee shops would be full of people by 5 PM. Back then, the atmosphere was merrier, with everyone talking and laughing all the time.

These days, stalls like Sean Kee Duck Rice in Geylang close by 5 PM.

Says Ron, part of the trio who runs Sean Kee, “We used to open from 10AM to 8PM last time. But we noticed that after the alcohol ban, customers trimmed down quite a lot.”

Now, they run their stall from 11AM to 6PM to capture the lunch crowd.

It’s close to 2.30PM when I take a seat at Sin Huat Eating House where Sean Kee has been located since 1978. Despite it being so late, nearly all the tables are occupied with patrons tucking into plates of duck rice. I decide to do the opposite and order a bowl of duck porridge—just the way my father taught me to eat it.

For $9, I get warm, thick porridge, a bowl of soup, a saucer of chili, and a large plate of duck meat, innards, braised peanuts, egg, tau gua, cucumbers, and bean sprouts topped with their family’s secret gravy—a gooey, sweet braised dark sauce. It’s the same sauce that their father used to make some 40 years ago.

“After the government clamped down on the red light district, with the raids, it gradually became quiet,” Ron tells me. Even with an established business like theirs, it’s still been an uphill climb.

“Setting aside the long working hours, the rental is a killer and there is a lack of manpower,” Ron adds.

For some like Mr Koung Boon Kong who’s been running Koung’s Wantan Mee in Geylang since 1964, taking difficulties in one’s stride is part and parcel of being a hawker.

He apprenticed for two years at a push-cart wanton mee ‘stall’, before moving into a proper coffee shop in 1960.

“I was only paid 40 cents a day!” he tells me in Mandarin, “40 cents!”

When the 1964 race riots broke out in Geylang, the Malaysian hawker that Koung was working for decided to return home. This was when Koung decided to take over the business. He was more than capable, after years of secretly observing how his boss made wanton mee.

“Last time no such thing as teach one. No one will help you.”

Thankfully, Koung’s observation skills were on point.

His mee is soft but springy, coated in a mixture of chili, oil, and soy sauce. The char siew—fatty and tender—is homemade, marinated and barbecued by Koung every morning, while the wanton skin is slippery smooth and paper-thin.

Despite being over 70 years old, Koung is quite the warrior. His daughter, Sharon, tells me that her father has had two major heart operations within the last two years.

“He rested 1 month cannot take it, go back to work. It’s in them, they are used to working 14, 16 hours. It’s hard for people who’ve worked all their lives to stop.”  

The post 10 Hawkers Tell Us Why Geylang Isn’t What It Used to Be appeared first on RICE.

Elaborate ornamental plasterwork + modern art = gold

Renovating and decorating an old house for modern life is always a balancing act. Become too obsessed with tradition, and you’re living in period rooms; go for the High Modernist look, and you might as well have bought a condo in a glass tower.

But the interiors of this 1901 limestone house in Brooklyn’s Park Slope neighborhood—designed by the Portland, Oregon, studio Jessica Helgerson Interior Design—get it right.

The house’s owners, a couple with three children, “appreciate contemporary art and design,” says Chelsie Lee, the senior designer on the project, “and wanted the spaces to feel modern, while respecting the historic architecture.” So, the designers filled the house with furniture that is contemporary without being hard-edged, and added artwork that complements what the clients already owned.

Most of the house’s original elements remained, and were in good condition, including butternut wood paneling, wood floors, ornamental plasterwork, doors, and windows.

The kitchen and bathrooms were original, but were extensively renovated by the designers. (Brooklyn-based CWB Architects, the project’s architects of record, designed a terrace at the back of the house, as well as one off the second-floor master bedroom.)

Here and there, the original architecture was modified to adapt spaces to modern family life. The clients, Lee notes, “wanted the house to be approachable and kid-friendly.” The first floor of the house includes the living room, parlor, dining room and kitchen; the library, office and master bedroom occupy the second floor, while the children’s rooms are on the third floor.

Throughout the house, old and new engage in a stylish dialogue: The geometric wrought-iron grille on the wood-and-glass front door is reflected in the design of the new marble floor in the entry. The shell-patterned stained glass in the house’s front windows—along with a wallpaper by the artist Lindsay Cowles—inspired the kitchen’s ceramic wall tiles, made by Tempest Tileworks in Portland, that are a contemporary twist on the classic Delft design.

In the dining room, the design team added its own historically respectful version of the large, built-in wood cabinets common to houses of the early 20th century, re-creating the missing leaded-glass panes for the room’s bay window by looking at similar windows in the neighborhood. They departed from tradition by painting paneling in that room white, making the space brighter.

In the kitchen, an original swinging door leading to the dining room was replaced by a wider open doorway that both brings light in from the back of the house and creates a more accessible, family-friendly connection between the kitchen and the rest of the first floor.

The kitchen itself received a complete renovation: a stair to the basement, which is now accessed via the dining room, was relocated; the design team added three large windows along the outside wall and created a dining nook. The team also installed new cabinets and appliances, along with encaustic concrete floor tiles in a soft black.

The house’s furnishings and its sculptural lighting fixtures come from a who’s who of contemporary designers, among them Lindsey Adelman, BassamFellows, Another Country, Egg Collective, Jason Miller, Ladies & Gentlemen Studio, and Jaime Hayon.

The rich tones of the upholstery fabrics throughout harmonize with the brightly colored Moroccan rugs used in many of the rooms, along with custom pieces by Jessica Helgerson Interior Design, like the living room’s tufted sofa, the parlor’s curved sectional sofa and coffee table, and the tables in the dining room and library.

And contemporary art—like Vik Muniz’s large digital print Hummingbird (Scrap Metal) in the living room, or the monumental photograph in the library of the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta in Siena, Italy, by Markus Brunetti—further sharpens the conversation between contemporary and historic elements in the house.

For the master and kids’ bathrooms, the designers riffed on traditional hexagonal-tile floor patterns, updating them with bold colors. The bathrooms themselves have custom built-in medicine cabinets with arched, mirrored doors, and the existing windows in the new shower enclosures have frosted panes for privacy.

In the third-floor children’s playroom, the team opened up a large existing closet and created a skylit reading nook lined with bright blue cushions.

Not all the furnishings are brand-new; the clients already owned the master bedroom’s antique bed, and the twin headboards in the larger of the children’s rooms were an Etsy find that the designers painted green (and for which they designed new footboards).

As with any old house, renovation posed challenges: matching new wood to old, as when new floors were added to the office off the library or the children’s new reading nook; or when the contractors had to take special care not to let the renovation damage the existing plasterwork.

The tile patterns and their colors required lots of color matching and samples, but Lee calls it “a fun challenge.” In the end, as with all good design, the house’s thoughtfully-realized rooms look effortless.

Check Point Research:
North Korea's state antivirus software, SiliVaccine, contained a decade-old copy of Trend Micro's scan engine and also came bundled with the Jaku malware  —  Revealed: In an exclusive piece of research, Check Point Researchers have carried out a revealing investigation into North Korea's home-grown anti-virus software, SiliVaccine.

As you and I are both aware, jaywalking is a serious crime. While there may not be any real victim, per se, flippant disregard for a color-changing light, occurring millions of times each day, tears away at our moral foundation as a law-abiding society. Each step brings us closer to anarchy — but Hubei’s municipal government has a plan.

The city of Daye is testing a new measure to combat unscrupulous road-crossers, and it’s a water gun-wielding robot.

The machine is installed on street corners, and has a sensor that can detect when pedestrians are living life too close to the edge. If someone tries to dismount the sidewalk during a red light, the robot will fire a jet of water at the perpetrator’s ankles. Then they’ll be all damp and uncomfortable, especially if they’re wearing socks.

The robot will then say something like “These arbitrary constructs of law are by your own design, human. Abide by them.” (Just kidding. It actually says, “please don’t go through, you will be sprayed with water,” which is pretty fair).

It gets a little crazier though, because the robot’s duties don’t end at spraying liquids. It also takes your picture, applies facial recognition software, and uploads it to a police database. That sounds far less whimsical than the water spray. In case the point needs driving home, it also shoots out red and green lasers, and instantly displays jaywalkers’ photos on a big electronic screen right there at the intersection.

Wan Xinqiang, deputy head of publicity for the Daye city public security bureau, pointed to similar technology in Shenzhen and Wuhan as the inspiration.

“Shenzhen’s equipment can record violators’ faces and release them to the public. Wuhan’s can prevent people from running a red light by setting up two long ropes at an intersection,” Wan told China Daily. “We just combined them. If the equipment works well, we will utilize it throughout the city.”

You should probably also be wary of:

Unmanned AI Police Station to Open in Wuhan

China Exports Facial Scan Tech to Zimbabwe, Launches First “AI Technology Entry to Africa”

Last month, New York City had its first cryptocurrency real estate closing. The next week, an owner of the Plaza floated the idea of selling a “Plaza Token” to a group of foreign investors. Now, hedge fund founder and tech investor Claudio Guazzoni de Zanett, the owner of the landmarked townhouse at 10 East 76th Street, is asking one price in US dollars and a higher value in digital currencies due to their volatility. He is willing to accept bitcoin, Ethereum or Ripple. “I’m a true believer in these networks, but it’s very volatile,” Zanett told the Wall Street Journal. “They could be down 60% in two weeks.”

Mr. de Zanett, the owner of the hedge fund Zanett Asset Management, was a Blockchain seed and angel investor. He purchased the six-story Beaux-Arts townhouse back in 1994. For 24 years, the mansion served as a “family compound” for Mr. Zanett’s family, which allowed for extended family and close friends to live together under the same roof and yet, living separately with a certain amount of privacy.

Zanett and his wife Julia were fined $8,000 last March for listing rooms in the home online as rental units. The couple has listed as many as five units at a time on property websites, such as HomeAway and VRBO, for short-term stays starting at about $500. New York State law forbids short-term rentals in multiple-unit buildings for fewer than 30 days unless the owner is also living in the rented unit.

The limestone mansion boasts 12,380 interior square feet, 2,500 exterior square feet, and 13-foot majestic ceilings. The home was built in 1904 by architects Schwartz and Gross, renowned for building The Mark and The Surrey hotels. Today, it’s zoned for residential or residential with professional space on the garden floor. Beyond the reception gallery, through a private door, leads to what was formerly three professional offices.

There are 12 working wood-burning fireplaces, including two outdoor fireplaces located on the sixth floor, and roof terraces that have 360-degree views of Manhattan’s skyline.

The expansive Lower Level is built-out the full length and width of the building lot and has a laundry facility, staff room quarters, storage, mechanical storage and a vast vault under the sidewalk that partially extends underneath East 76th Street.

As 6sqft recently explained, “The digital nature of cryptocurrencies makes [real estate] transactions much faster. It can be completed in minutes or hours.” Let’s see how long this property stays on the market…

[Listing: 10 East 76th Street by Carrie Chiang of the Corcoran Group]

[Listing: 10 East 76th Street by Valerie Lettan of Douglas Elliman]

[Via WSJ]

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Listing photos courtesy of the Corcoran Group

Times Square. July 16, 1979.

6sqft’s series The Urban Lens invites artists to share work exploring a theme or a place within New York City. In this installment, Philip Ashforth Coppola shares some of the sketches from his life-long “Silver Connections” subway drawings. Are you an artist who’d like to see your work featured on The Urban Lens? Get in touch with us at tips@6sqft.com.

Despite its functional woes, the subway is absolutely teeming with historic art, from tile mosaics of station names to ornamental ceiling wreaths and wrought iron handrails. Philip Ashforth Coppola has committed himself to paying homage to these details often looked over by rushed straphangers, drawing the designs with meticulous care and attention. For the past 40 years, he’s been on a mission to draw every subway station in New York City. Though he’s not there quite yet, his amazing work has been compiled into a series of volumes called “Silver Connections.” Ahead, Philip shares some of his drawings and discusses why he started the project, how he goes about his work, and his thoughts on the subway past and present.

Essex Street. March 17, 2003

What inspired you to start this project?

Two sparks of impetus. The first was my father, who told me when I was about eight years old, that down in the NYC subway, some of the stations displayed pictures of old New York buildings of about a century ago. I thought that was intriguing and curious. I filed that away in the back of my mind as I went on about my education, my stint at RISD, my few years of adventures washing dishes and hitchhiking, until I came home again, settled into a job, and then decided, one day, to finally check out what my father was talking about.

The second “spark” was Cortlandt Street and Bowling Green. Both of those stations, in the mid-1970’s, had lost their original appearance. Bowling Green had already been enlarged and its walls covered with glazed red brick-shaped tiles. It had lost its unique name panels and “oriental rug” or tapestry panels. Cortlandt Street, meanwhile, was still (in August 1978) in the process of losing its hexagonal ferry boat tiles and Dual Contracts mosaic band, preparatory to its final covering of glazed beige brick tiles. These two examples compelled me to start a record of the subway stations’ original decor before more of it was lost to renovation.

33rd Street Eagle. April 19, 1979

When did you officially begin?

Officially, on July 1st, 1978. Unofficially, in August, 1977, when, to try out my idea to find the pictures my father told me about, I went to the subway station I was most familiar with by that time – the IND West 4th Street hub – and, armed with the “plumber’s pipe” schematic subway map available at that time, dutifully traced all the A B C D E & F routes throughout Manhattan until I’d written up notes on every one of them. I didn’t know anything about NYC’s transit history then. So, the next summer, I decided to do it right, and went to the New York Public Library, to find the beginning, the pictures, and the designer of the decor.

96th Street. August 31, 1980.

Which piece of subway art did you draw first?

For the mosaic piece, the 23rd Street name panel, of the IRT Lexington/Park Avenue line. For a faience piece, the back-to-back “BB” square panels in the Brooklyn Bridge station’s mezzanine. And for a pictorial plaque, the Astor Place beaver.

116th Street Columbia University. October 23, 1980.

Have you been to any of the abandoned stations, like the lower level of Bergen?

Yes – some years ago I took a TA tour of the City Hall station and took photos. Trains pass through screeching loudly, as everyone knows. For an abandoned station, it seemed to me that the Guastavino tiled walls were in pretty clean shape. I’ve also been on the lower level (corridor only) at Nevins Street in the mid-1980’s. Can’t get down there now, I believe. I’d be happy to tour the Worth Street, 18th, 91st, Fourth Avenue, and Myrtle Avenue stations some fine day.

Nevins Street. October 7, 1994.

Which mosaics are most challenging?

The Dual Contracts (1914-1920) mosaics. They are patterned in a mix of several colors, and that requires deft shading to approximate the mix in the large fields. The Contract 1 (1904-08) mosaic bands and frames, by comparison, are, for 90% of the examples, all one color, and so their coloring has been really simple to indicate.

Bleecker Street. October 27, 1978.

How has the increase in riders and decrease crime on the subway changed your experience drawing the underground art?

Any decrease in danger in the subway – or anywhere – is a benefit to us all and increases a pleasant habitat to live in. Actually, my visits to the subway are mainly on weekends, so I am spared the incredible AM and PM mash hours on the underground. I visited one reporter, when he was still at the NY Times, on a rare weekday morning in the city, and I couldn’t believe the tide of people rushing downtown at me as I struggled to advance uptown.

Lucky for me, though, I usually don’t have to be somewhere in the exact next minute, so I can wait for another train without much anxiety. I make way for the commuters, as they pour out of a train; I don’t want to be in anyone’s way, and I keep a low profile so I can continue my examination without calling attention to myself and being questioned by the transit personnel.

Bleecker Street. October 27, 1978.

What do you think of the art in the new 2nd Avenue stations?

I’ve only visited one so far, and that was at 63rd and Third. My impression of the art is that it is huge and totally different from the civic art of the last century. I feel it would be difficult for me to contain it in a drawing; I’d probably describe it in text instead. But I haven’t got that far yet, anyway.

Borough Hall. December 30, 1993.

Adam Chang’s “NY Train Project” – what do you think?

Just took a look at the article. His craftsmanship is amazing – I can only imagine the patience he has building up those digital particles to form the subway designs – both square tiles and patterned mosaics. The illustrations of Nevins Street and Borough Hall and 39th Street are like needlepoint. The colors are delightful. I’ve known of people who render the subway stations in oil paints, and one lady who did rubbings, then I do my black-and-whites, and here is a computer whiz doing the same as the rest of us, but in computer-generated images. Looks like he has a long way to go, like me.

3rd Ave Cartouche. July 29, 1993.

Is there any lost subway art that you’re aware of but have not been able to find photos of?

The Brooklyn Bridge eagles. I should like to see a color photo of them. But since I don’t know the complete system, I can’t say what else I’m missing.

Columbus Circle 59th Street. August 24, 1979.

How do you keep track of the mosaics you’ve drawn?

Whatever I’ve drawn I’ve published in my books, and of course, I have all my drawings here with me (except those which are now on display at the New York Transit Museum). I complete examining one system route at a time, so there’s no skipping around from one route to another, and so I can keep an orderly accounting of where I’ve been and what I am finished with.

181st Street Ceiling Wreath. January 28, 1982.

You’re a life-long NJ resident – why don’t you move to NYC, which would be far more convenient for this project?

Yes, you’re right; I’m aware that the subway is changing here or there, most weeks of the year – and I don’t know what I’m missing, month by month, so it would be so much better if I lived in NYC. Then I could take an excursion on whatever line I felt or knew needed some examination at that moment. Otherwise, I have a suspicion that I’ve missed a lot – and that’s probably true. And these days, I get into the city far less frequently than when I started out on this journey. But I’m comfortable in my condo here, happily surrounded by many things that I like, and I’m almost retired.

So I am staying in the state of my birth, and hopefully, aided by friends with info and the news station, I’ll keep abreast of changes as best as I can while pursuing the subway’s past. I’m up to 1908, and presently examining the IRT Lexington Ave. (1918) line, with my next projects on the Sea Beach (rebuilt 1915) and the 14th Street Crosstown lines (L train; 1924-28) in sight.

+++

Philip’s work is currently on view to the public at the New York Transit Museum’s Grand Central Gallery Annex & Store through June 24.

All sketches by © Philip Ashforth Coppola. Courtesy of the New York Transit Museum

Neil Jerome Morales / Reuters:
Philippines' anti-trust agency orders Uber to continue domestic operations as it reviews Grab deal; Uber was supposed to shut down on April 8 in the country  —  MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippines' anti-trust agency said on Saturday it has ordered Uber Technologies Inc [UBER.UL] …

A-frame cabins in 1984, Rajneeshpuram, central Oregon

found on flickr / Smiling in the Rain:

The summer I turned 14 I visited my dad on the commune in Oregon for the first time. My half-brother Kerry, ten years older, had flown in from New York, and together we traveled with our grandparents to central Oregon. When visiting the commune I usually stayed in one of hundreds of A-frame houses, many built by my father. These A-frames were clusters of 4, with a shared entry and bathrooms. Each A-frame contained two single mattresses on the floor, and 2 small closets with built-in storage. Toilets and showers were located in modular trailers, with one trailer of about 8 toilets serving 16–20 A-frames. My grandparents stayed at the hotel, which was more elegant and was where visiting journalists were put up and shown a good time. 

This full-floor penthouse is located within the former attic of one of New York’s early skyscrapers, the Liberty Tower. Built at 55 Liberty Street in 1909 by Chicago architect Henry Ives Cobb, the Gothic Revival-style office building was the tallest in the world when completed. It was home to FDR’s law offices and, later, to German spies plotting to prevent American from joining WWI. Architect Joseph Pell Lombardi converted the tower to co-ops in 1979, with the attic unit retaining vaulted ceilings, exposed beams, and 29 windows offering views across the city. It’s now listed for $2.695 million.

A foyer gallery open up into the expansive living area (spanning 33 feet!), a separate dining room, and corner kitchen. The stunning interior details include exposed beams, mechanical pipes, and all those sloped and vaulted ceilings–some of which soar past 13 feet. The penthouse apartment has been well integrated within the existing attic bones.

Even the corner kitchen is located under vaulted ceilings, with cabinetry that mimics the design of an Art Deco skyscraper.

The home spans 3,000 square feet on the main level and an additional 600 square feet on the mezzanine. There are four bedrooms and four bathrooms on the main level. The mezzanine holds two private offices and extra storage.

The apartment’s 29 windows offer 360-degree views in all directions of the city, from the waterfront to Wall Street. Even better? You get views of intricate sculptures of eagles, lions, and gargoyles that decorate the top of the skyscraper.

55 Liberty, once the tallest building in New York, is now a condo with all the frills, including 24-hour door attendants, porters and a live-in super. The exterior’s looking pretty spiffy, too: according to the listing, the recent renovation of its elaborate terra cotta facade was the recipient of the Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award from the New York Landmarks Conservancy.

[At CityRealty]

[Listing: 55 Liberty Street, #PH31 by Richard N. Rothbloom for Brown Harris Stevens]

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Photos courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

The 14-story building will bring a total of 150 apartments to the neighborhood

Five years after the project was first announced, the converted condos within Tribeca’s famed clock tower building are now ready to launch sales. The conversion, led by the Elad Group, has created 150 apartments inside the McKim, Mead & White landmark, which previously functioned as a criminal court building.

Apartments at the Tribeca condo, now going by the address of 108 Leonard Street, will ask from $1.535 million to upwards of $20 million. On the building’s website, currently available units range from $1.64 million and go up to $5.975 million.

The building will feature a mix of one through four-bedroom condos. Some of the standout features of these apartments, with interiors by Jeffrey Beers International, include 10-to-14-foot-tall ceilings, five-inch wide oak floors, marble-clad kitchens and bathrooms, and gallery walls for art collectors.

The sales launch is also accompanied by a host of new renderings, including ones for the buildings sprawling amenities package. Spread out over 20,000 square feet, the amenities here will include a fitness center, a 75-foot lap pool, a steam and sauna, a screening room, a billiards room with a wet bar, a residents lounge with a fireplace, and a rooftop lounge with a reflective pool, among several other amenities.

Sales and marketing are being handled by Douglas Elliman Development Marketing. Though the developers received somewhat of a setback last year when a judge ruled that the historic clocktower portion of the building could not be part of the triplex penthouse, they are moving forward with the rest of the conversion. The developers also need to sell 35 condos before August this year or the city does have the option to take back the property.

• Tribeca clock tower conversion will not include triplex penthouse [Curbed]
• Condo conversion of Tribeca’s clock tower building gets new rendering [Curbed]
• All the Tribeca clock tower building coverage [Curbed]

MUJI Singapore’s latest linen collection raises your resort wear game

There’s something about linen clothing that makes you feel oh-so-fresh, don’t you think? Maybe it’s the clean lines, or maybe it’s got everything to do with the super light, natural material. Either way, we know that if we want to pick up some breezy linen pieces for the weekend or that upcoming vacay, we’re definitely heading to MUJI Singapore to check out its 2018 Spring/Summer fashion collection.

In love with linen
Launching on 1 March 2018, the 2018 Spring/Summer collection highlights a series of new (and improved) linen tops, bottoms, and outerwear for both men and women. Ladies can say goodbye to less see-through garments and hello to new styles such as the 3/4 sleeve and short-sleeve blouses (the latter will be available from 28 March onwards).

Men, check out the shirts featuring straight bodyline cuts, which are breathable to help keep the body cool. These new French linen pieces are ultra-soft and comfortable (thanks to the additional step of pre-washing the outfits to reduce material stiffness), plus they’re quick to dry and damage-resistant even after you put them through several cycles in the washer.

It’s an art
Also, if you happen to be in town from 1 to 27 March and want to find out more about the popular brand’s linen collection, pop by MUJI’s Plaza Singapura outlet for the free ‘Everyday-life with Linen’ exhibition.

Perk Alert!
Enjoy an additional 5% off all items from the linen clothes collection. All you have to do is flash this post when making your purchase at any MUJI outlet in Singapore. This offer is valid from now ‘til 11 March 2018.

Find out more on the official website of MUJI Singapore.

This article is sponsored by MUJI Singapore

Period details and modern flourishes make this home a stunner

There’s no shortage of lovely Victorian townhouses in Ditmas Park, but the house at 520 Argyle Road, on the market for $2.785 million, is truly a cut above, thanks to a well-executed renovation that keeps the original character while adding in modern design elements.

The house dates back to 1899, per the listing (held by Corcoran’s Jeffrey St. Arromand), and it has plenty of Ditmas Park curb appeal: there’s a cute front porch, and the canary yellow front door provides a pop of color. There are original stained glass windows, along with period millwork and other vintage touches.

But elsewhere, the home has been brought into the 21st century. The revamped kitchen has “radiant heated reclaimed wood floors” and “a huge custom poured concrete eat-in island,” according to the listing; the master bedroom now has a walk-in closet that could double as a sitting room, along with a marble-covered en-suite bathroom. On the third floor, there’s a family room with 19-foot ceilings and its own bar.

In keeping with the quasi-suburban feel of Ditmas Park, the house also has an enormous yard complete with an in-ground swimming pool (!), along with an artist’s studio, a driveway, and a one-car garage. It looks positively bucolic—something you can’t say about every New York City home.

The place also has the added benefit of being near both Ditmas Park’s main drag at Cortelyou Road, and the subway, with the B and Q at Newkirk Plaza just a short walk away.

• Listing: 520 Argyle Road [Corcoran]

Minimalists, the hype is real: Hong Kong’s online apparel label Grana is bringing its collection of wardrobe essentials to Singapore with a pop-up store spanning the month of March and April. Obviously, we aren’t the only comfort creatures who can’t get enough of its stylish yet affordable quality threads. That’s right, our prayers are finally answered. You can now check out and try on Grana’s collection of modern staples without the “guess-timation” and having to wait for your packages. Win!

For those unfamiliar with what Grana is all about, here’s a head’s up: the label is known for its direct-to-consumer rep, providing great ready-to-wear pieces made from the quality fabrics in the world, like Peruvian Pima Cotton and Chinese Silk, at affordable price points.

But if there’s one thing we can’t get enough of, it’s their best-selling Chinese Silk collection. The buzz surrounds the fact that the fabric is not only soft to the touch, but ace for Singapore’s warm weather. Plus, your wardrobe deserves an update, so why not start with stylish silk essentials such as camisoles, tank tops, dresses, jumpsuits, trousers and shorts that will have you serving looks? It doesn’t take much to pull off a silk outfit in Singapore!

Not convinced? Head over to its pop-up store and give it a whirl. While you’re at it, take the chance to meet the team and explore Grana’s other must-have collections, including Peruvian Pima Cotton and Japanese Denim, as well as new styles such as TENCEL, French Linen Jersey and Lenzing Modal also available at its online store.

It doesn’t stop there… Grana is treating new members to a 10% off discount off their first purchase when they register via its Singapore sign-up page (keep your eyes peeled for a promo code). Members will be the first to know of its exciting events, and trust us, there are plenty coming your way!

Grana Pop-Up in Singapore, 4-20 April 2018, #01-65, 59 Eng Hoon Street, Singapore 160059. Open Mon-Sun, 10am-8pm.

This article is sponsored by Grana

The post Grana is popping up in Tiong Bahru and we can’t wait to shop appeared first on Singapore.

Let’s get one thing straight—Singaporeans are mad about cheese. For those who have been keeping up with recent food trends, you will realise that there is a common ingredient found in those recipes and yes, that is the addition of cheese!

While you may know some of the more popular cheesy food trends that have been making rounds on Instagram such as cheese toasties and Raclette cheese, it is now time to up your cheese pull game with KFC’s new Zinger Mozzarella Burger.

Just from the name of the burger, you should know that this is one seasonal item from KFC all cheese fans must know about. The best part? You don’t even have to wait for long as the Zinger Mozzarella Burger will be available from today at all KFC outlets islandwide!

Lo and behold, the all-new KFC Zinger Mozzarella Burger. The idea was inspired by the obsession Singaporeans have for anything and everything cheesy because let’s face it—cheese makes everything better, right? There is no such thing as too much cheese!

Before you start thinking that the burger is only going to hold a thin slice of cheese in the middle, we would just like to stop you right there.

Instead of the usual cheese slices, shredded cheese, or cheese sauce, KFC is reintroducing the way we should be enjoying cheese by creating a stretchy, gooey and sticky cheese patty to go along with their signature fried Zinger fillet. We know, cheese plus fried chicken is a match made in heaven!

Using a perfect blend of mozzarella and jalapeno cheese, the crumbed patty is fried to golden brown perfection with great textures from the crisp coating and warm, luscious interior. Break apart the cheese patty for an amazing cheese pull and don’t forget to record that down for your social media accounts! (Note: You’ve got to stretch it while it’s hot though. The stretchiness naturally gets less the longer you leave it to cool!)

With the fried cheese patty taking centre stage, other savoury ingredients you will find nestled in between two soft sesame buns include the iconic KFC Zinger fillet, crispy turkey bacon that cracks upon biting, refreshing shredded lettuce and two dollops of pizza tomato sauce that spread across both the top and bottom buns.

Imagine all the flavourful ingredients coming together to form one decadent burger that will leave you satisfied.

You can choose to have your Zinger Mozzarella Burger as part of a meal or a box. The Zinger Mozzarella Meal (S$8.80) comes with 1 Zinger Mozzarella Burger, 1 Spicy Potato Bites and 1 regular New Pepsi. Comprising a side and drink, this set meal is perfect for a quick yet hearty meal

It is also worth noting that just for this seasonal item, KFC is offering spicy potato bites instead of fries as an accompaniment to your burger. Fear not, because the spice level is rather mild.

For you serious big eaters, go for their Zinger Mozzarella Box (S$10.50) instead. On top of the Zinger Mozzarella Burger, diners also get 1 piece Chicken, 1 Spicy Potato Bites, 1 regular Whipped Potato and 1 regular New Pepsi.

As mentioned, the Zinger Mozzarella Burger will be sold at all KFC outlets in Singapore from today so make sure you visit the nearest KFC outlet soon with an empty stomach!

This post is brought to you by KFC Singapore.

Inside a modern Tiong Bahru apartment filled with memorabilia and antiques

We’ve hit the vintage abode of our video producer and checked out the modern style of a massive black and white house. Now, feast your eyes for the marriage of both vintage and contemporary styles as we take a peek into entrepreneur James Ellis’ Tiong Bahru apartment.

In this episode of Interiors Addict, we snooped around James’ pre-war pad to find our eyes trailing on every framed artwork and posters hung on the walls, bright travel souvenirs and even precious family heirlooms. Check it out for yourself here…

Hi! Tell us a bit about yourself…
My name is James and I’ve been in Singapore for the last three years. I moved over here from the UK with my partner. I work for myself — starting up a sales agency selling advertising across mobile game apps. I’ve always wanted to set up my own business and be flexible in terms of working from home, achieving work-life balance.

Now that’s a dream job! What makes Singapore the place to do so?
Asia has always been one of the places we aim for, and Singapore’s great for setting up a business in your 30s. Also, you can easily travel to anywhere in the region, and there are many nice restaurants and bars to check out too!

So, how does your lifestyle affect your living space?
Since I work from home, I think it’s important to have a space that I am happy to live and work in because I spend most of my time in here. But I do have a lot of meetings around Singapore, so I tend to leave a couple of times during the day. I like the idea of being in an open space, and in Tiong Bahru, all of the buildings are different and unique (as compared to high-rise flats and condos) with spaces that seem a lot more homey.

You mention working from home. Do have your very own workspace?
I’ve got a little desk around the corner — that’s meant to be my workspace. But the reality is I just much prefer to sit here (in the living area). I’m usually quite messy — I’ve got two computers and a lot of paperwork as well, so it’s just easier to spread out a bit. Then come evening, I’ll have to clear everything away for it to become more of a living space [laughs].

How would you describe your home style?
When we moved in, we really liked the textures of it, like the wooden walls, and the untreated concrete floor. These stood out at the time as something unique in modern Singapore. I love the natural look and textures. [The interiors] match our style anyway, with our stuff fitting in nicely in here.

Take us through your home. Where are your furniture from and why did you choose them?
Throughout the entire apartment, there’s the wood slatted panel which I like. It matches the furniture we got. We shop some of our vibrant furniture at Tan Boon Liat Building. We usually won’t get those in the UK, but it fits well in  Singapore where it’s sunnier and brighter.

The piano stool is a family heirloom that belonged to my partner’s grandmother. It’s a beautiful old piece. We didn’t know how to fit it in due to its height which is great for a piano but awkward for the dining table, but we’ve made do.

Most of the things here are from Bali because I love the modern Balinese style, and even got some of them from a shop in Tiong Bahru. Some bits are also from our travels.

Interesting… What do you usually look out for when you shop for your home?
I look for are interesting antique pieces that sit well within a modern environment. For example, this table we bought from the Expat Auctions. I love this piece because this is one of the first pieces we bought and I like that’s it got heritage. I think it’s quite new but has been distressed to appear older. I really like the antique feel to it.

We also go for textural art pieces now, because a lot of our previous artworks are architectural. There are some pieces here that hold sentimental value and we had to ship them from the UK.

So, which is piece is the most significant in the house?
The dining table is the most important piece in the whole entire apartment. We often have friends over for dinner, and we tend to gather around here (the table). A big table has always been central ever since we walked into the apartment. This is the thing that made us imagine living in it.

Like this story? Here’s more we think you’ll enjoy:
Fall in love with this modern black and white bungalow
More of a maximilist? Check out this vintage-filled apartment
Give your pad some jungalow vibes
Pimp your crib: Guide to furniture stores in Singapore

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