Andrew Baisley

Photographer Marc Yankus captures a dreamy, not-quite-real version of New York City

From a distance, photographer Marc Yankus’s images of New York City look like photos you may have already seen of architectural landmarks—the Empire State Building, or the Ansonia apartments on the Upper West Side. But look a bit closer and you’ll notice something a bit off-kilter about them. The ESB, for instance, is usually surrounded by buildings and a crush of people; but in Yankus’s image, it sits isolated amid Manhattan’s grid.

That dream-like, fantastical quality is quite intentional. Yankus even uses the term "surrealism" when referring to his latest collection of photos, "The Secret Lives of Buildings," now on view at ClampArt Gallery in the Flatiron District. "It’s a fantasy," he says of this series of photos. "It’s documentational, but it’s not pure documentation. It’s a place to escape to—an idealized New York in a more meditative, peaceful place."

To create these images, Yankus first wanders around New York City, building what he calls a "visual diary" on his smartphone—when he sees a building that speaks to him, he’ll snap a picture, and then come back later to grab a more official photo.

"I’m interested in all kinds of buildings, but some just stop me in my tracks," he explains. "It’s hard to describe what it is, but there’s something that is calling me." Though Yankus often photographs turn-of-the-century icons (like the Ansonia, or the Flatiron Building), he also focuses on more quotidian, lesser-known structures, like a series of plain homes in the West Village. He’ll manipulate photos after the fact—changing the lighting, removing people, darkening the sky—in order to achieve that hyper-realistic quality he’s striving for.

"They’re portraits of buildings that are real and fiction," Yankus explains. And they’ll be on view until November 26.

None of these are going to be cute lil’ pumpkin-shaped cookies or “spoOoOoOoky” cupcakes with chocolate bat wings. Presented here are only the most absolutely gruesome Halloween dishes that even a zombie might need to cover its eyes sockets to swallow.

Kids are picky enough eaters, so I’m not so sure any of these are a great idea to risk giving them trust issues and new food phobias, but the skin-crawling grossness of these edible monstrosities is truly admirable.
 

1. Worm Salad

The early bird may get the worm, but the early trick-or-treater will get the dry heaves.
~ Delicate raspberry Jell-O worms nestled on a bed of chocolate doughnut crumbs ~
 

source flickr / Steve Chao
 

2. Spider-Chip Cookies

With a simple toothpick, in just minutes, you can ruin chocolate chip cookies for everyone forever.
~ Soft and chewy butter cookies with “decorative” chocolate morsels ~
 

 

3. Horror Dogs

Protein is an important part of any diet, even a serial killer’s. Fatten up your guests with this “finger chewin’ good” favorite.
~ Steamed and carved sausages, drizzled in a tomato puree and tucked into fluffy buns ~
 

 

4. Witch’s Digits

If you prefer something sweeter when you’re devouring fingers, this is for you.
~ Almond-encrusted butter cookies with strawberry dipping compote ~
 

 

5. Earwax Skewers

These tiny treats may bring back the face-crumpling memory of the time you first discovered the taste of earwax.
~ Petite marshmallows bites with a peanut butter glaze ~
 

source Pillowthought.com
 

6. Intestine Cake

It all winds up in the same place, right? Replace with a chocolate filling for added cringey fun.
~ Puff pastry braided into coils and stuffed with blackberry jam ~
 

 

7. Gummy Eyeballs

Your eyes may be bigger than your stomach sometimes, but these one’s aren’t. They may be bigger than your gag reflex, though.
~ Sweet, multi-colored gelatin orbs ~
 

source/recipe fiction-food.com
 

8. CSI Blood Suckers

You haven’t truly enjoyed candy until you’ve had it in the form of blood and glass, I guess.
~ Hard candy suckers with festive dye ~
 

source Instructables.com
 

9. Kitty Litter Cake

It’s probably best to invest in a new, UNUSED litter box and scoop for this nightmare.
~ White and chocolate cake with vanilla pudding, sprinkled in cookie crumbs and topped with Tootsie turdlets ~
 

source NoblePig.com
 

10. Torn-Out Heart

The heart wants what the heart wants. And sometimes it’s a cannibal.
~ Decoratively shaped gelatin treat, bathed in strawberry syrup ~
 

source flickr / Emergency Fan
 

11. Severed Toes and Ear Pops

Sophisticated zombies consider these the perfect appetizer before the brain entree.
~ Sugar cookie on a stick with pink glaze and icing details ~
 


source YouBentMyWookie.com
 

12. Puke-amole

Some things are just better the second time around. Ask any dog!
~ A tangy mash of avocado, diced tomato and onion with citrus juices ~
 

source Amy’s Savory Dish
 

13. Flesh-Eating Cupcake

Um, so yeah. >hrk!~ Fondant cupcake glazed with red gel, vodka and lemon juice ~
 

source Instructable.com
 

14. Crunchy Roaches

If you don’t really care for dates, welcome to now hating them with every fiber of your being.
~ Sweet dates stuffed with cream creese and crunchy walnuts ~
 

source jessntone.blogspot.com
 

15. Fist of Flesh

Don’t bite the hand that feeds you, but chomp away if it goes and feeds you a hand.
Zesty minced meat with baby onion garnish on a bed of mashed potatoes.

source flickr / little cabbage
 

16. Mummy Head

Aw, I can’t tell if he’s smiling at me or wants to eat me.
Zesty bacon-wrapped meatloaf with onions and red peppers.

source joandsue.blogspot.com
 

I’m sure you can see now that terrifying people this Halloween needn’t be limited to costumes and decorations. There’s a vast world of culinary terror out there with which we can scar people for life.
 

–

Follow HowToBeADad on Facebook. It’s not very terrifying. That much.

Funny Parenting Infographics
Because laughter is the best way to keep your kids from driving you insane.

Here in Manhattan, $22 million barely buys a townhouse, but not far away upstate in Dutchess County, it’ll get you a whopping 289 acres, complete with a Georgian-style manor, Greek Temple-inspired pool house, equestrian facilities, and some serious historic pedigree. The Post reports that the 1851 Atalanta estate was built for Franklin Hughes Delano and his wife Laura Astor Delano (FDR’s great uncle and aunt) as a wedding gift using land from the Astor’s nearby Rokeby estate. It’s now hit the market, providing a wealth of views inside the home and throughout the stunning Hudson Valley grounds.

The 16,000-square-foot mansion has “museum-quality details and luxury amenities rarely attained,” according to the listing. This includes a grand staircase with a skylight encased by a painted arts and crafts-style cove ceiling, six bedrooms and baths, a first-floor staff wing, and a second-floor guest wing.

There’s a mahogany paneled office with an ornate ceiling mural and carved fireplace, a dining room with a gold leaf tracery ceiling and gold leaf walls, an enfilade with Minton tiled floors, and a sitting room with a balcony that overlooks the formal walled gardens.

On the lower level is a glass-enclosed wine cellar and tasting room that can hold 5,000 bottles.

Outside, the 289 acres resemble Hyde Park in London, with their “sweeping irrigated lawns dotted with specimen trees and surrounded by light woodlands.” Included in the walled gardens are a terraced boxwood garden, koi pond with fountains, wisteria-covered pergola, and colorful perennial border.

A Greek Temple-inspired pool house overlooks the 75-foot pool and adjacent tennis court.

There’s also a three-bedroom guest house, three-bedroom farm house, stone gate house, carriage house with two second-floor apartments, a two-bedroom Victorian gardener’s cottage, and a commercial-grade greenhouse.

The equestrian facilities are quite impressive thanks to an eight-stall barn complete with office, full bath, tack room, feed room, heated indoor ring, and outdoor dressage ring.

According to a separate piece in the Wall Street Journal, the estate is currently owned by investment adviser Martin Sosnoff and his wife Toni, contemporary art collectors. They listed the estate because they now spend most of their time in Florida, but noted that when they’re in residence it requires a staff of 14 to maintain the property.

[Listing: 89 Martin’s Lane by John R. Friend and Anthony Cutugno of Houlihan Lawrence]

[Via NYP]

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Images via Houlihan Lawrence

Caretaker’s cabin on Moon Island, Squam Lake, New Hampshire.  

Contributed by Joe Lee:

Camp at Squam Lake.

Nearby is Chocorua Island: the site of America’s first resident boys’ summer camp, operating 1881–1889.  

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6sqft’s ongoing series The Urban Lens invites photographers to share work exploring a theme or a place within New York City. In this installment Brooklyn resident Attis Clopton offers us a look at his stunning portraits. Are you a photographer who’d like to see your work featured on The Urban Lens? Get in touch with us at tips@6sqft.com.

If you ask Attis Clopton what his day job is, he’d quickly respond “musician.” However, the drummer, who’s travelled the world recording and performing, would be remiss not to mention his impressive photography skills. Though not formally trained, Attis has developed an eye and the ability to capture subjects in a way that many professional photographers struggle with throughout their career. But what may set Attis apart from his contemporaries is his openness, his curiosity and his unpretentious disposition, all of which help him lock into the moment and keep his photos from looking overthought or overdone. Ahead he shares some of his recent favorites with 6sqft.

Name and neighborhood?
Attis Clopton. I live in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn.

How long have you been a New Yorker?
6 years.

Tell us about the series you chose.
I am not sure if this is a series per se. These are some of my favorite photos from around the city that capture the best part of New York: The people that live here.

What types of subjects tend to catch your eye?
For portraits, I look for people whose faces tell a story or maybe they have a really unique facial feature. For candid street shots, I look for moments that can’t be replicated or something that gives the viewer a unique glimpse into someone’s life and their struggles. I always try and seek out soulful images—not something that can be replicated.

What else are you working on right now?
I’m a full-time musician, so I’m always working on various projects with music. As far as photography goes, I’m working on strengthening my craft and booking more photo shoots.

Instagram: @jerrellephant
Website: attisj.com

▽ ▽

 

Cynthia

Innocent

The September Issue

Tziporah Salamon

09.11.2016

“Your love for me makes the air around us burn…”

Oba

Adventures in Babysitting

“There’s no way to be a perfect mother, but there are a million ways to be a good one.”

“With tired eyes and bills to pay … You gotta make it through another day…”

“The color in her eyes was fire rising…”

AP parenting 102

Yahmina

All images courtesy of Attis Clopton

MORE FROM THE URBAN LENS:

• Photographer Bob Estremera captures vestiges of the Lower East Side’s early days
• Documenting New York City’s Vanishing Privilege Signs
• Documenting Gentrification’s Toll on the Mom-and-Pops of Greenwich Village

Simplicity, humility and inner focus were key to early Quaker architecture, principles that also inspired Bates Masi + Architects‘ latest project. The beautiful Underhill home sits in Matinecock, a village within Oyster Bay, Long Island, on the site of an old Quaker settlement. It’s composed of a series of interconnected wooden pavilions topped by angled gabled roofs, “each one focused inward on its own garden courtyard instead of out to the surrounding neighbors,” according to the firm.

Although the home’s owners had a strong desire to live in the city, they couldn’t afford the lifestyle their kids needed as they approached school age, so they decided to settle down in the suburbs of Nassau County. Despite having close neighbors on all sides of their property, they had a goal to create a strong connection to nature, hence the inward-looking courtyards.

The geometric pavilions are connected to each other through glazed corridors with huge glass sliding doors, further blurring the indoor-outdoor boundaries.

Inside are oak floors and weathered oak ceiling boards, both of which radiate outward from the center, pointing to the courtyards. Weathered metal straps on the ceiling also emphasize this geometry and serve as a way to organize lighting and audiovisual equipment.

See more projects by Bates Masi + Architects here and more photos of Underhill in our gallery below.

RELATED: 

• A Boardwalk Connects Historic Buildings at Bates Masi + Architects’ Mothersill Home
• Bates Masi + Architects Gives an Incredible Modern Update to a House They Built 35 Years Ago
• Bates Masi + Architects Renovated the Far Pond Residence with Hurricane-Proof Prefabricated Panels

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A Philadelphia native is looking to streamline parking enforcement with a new device that kicks boots to the curb. The “Barnacle,” created by Kevin Dougherty, president of Ideas That Stick, is a device that attaches to a car’s windshield, obstructing a driver’s view and immobilizing the vehicle. It’s a replacement for a parking boot, which the company says is an “unpleasant situation for anyone who has experienced it, but it is also a drain on the administration’s resources.”

READ MORE AT METRO NEW YORK…

The renovation of this row house, located in Greenpoint’s landmarked historic district, was an inspired project right from the get go. The owner’s original intention was to sell the home on account of its unstable structure, seasonal flooding, vinyl siding and asbestos laden facade. However, the team at Delson or Sherman Architects convinced them to give the property an architectural facelift instead. From the front facade to the backyard, the property has been majorly upgraded with some beautiful additions including a two-story kitchen and wine cellar.

The dilapidated front facade of this building was replaced with a new period-perfect polychrome cornice at the top. Moving down the exterior, replicas of the original windows, castings and clapboards were installed, and at the sidewalk level, an etched glass wall of windows provides both light and privacy.

Painterly abstract art is used to adorn the walls of several rooms in this home, and each painting is complemented by modern-rustic furnishings and carefully curated light fixtures.

Maybe the most impressive detail of the house is the two-story kitchen that features a open central channel that connects the first and second floors. Beautiful globe-like light fixtures hang from the kitchen’s soaring second story, enhancing the rooms already elongated configuration.

The open-air staircase leading to the home’s upper levels is made from salvaged floor beams, and a catwalk playroom overlooks the two-story kitchen at the heart of the house.

The interior of master bathroom is a subtle combination of light marble with light muted grays and whites paired with hard wood flooring.

The bone-dry wine cellar—once a place of seasonal flooding—is now bone dry and finished with bold sophisticated details that include a dark granite counter and floor-to-ceiling wine racking system.

The fully furnished roof is equally luxurious with a sofa, two ottomans and an abundance of lush greenery.

French doors off the central kitchen space open onto a new deck and a quaint Brooklyn backyard.

See more work from Delson or Sherman Architects here.

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• Behind This $1.25M Greenpoint Duplex Is a Barefoot Backyard Paradise
• Alison Jennison’s Greenpoint Townhouse Reflects the Neighborhood’s Eclectic Vibe
• Charming $1.15M Greenpoint Garden Duplex Arrives Just in Time for Spring

6sqft’s ongoing series The Urban Lens invites photographers to share work exploring a theme or a place within New York City. In this installment, award-winning authors and photographers James and Karla Murray introduce us to the faces and food vendors that make up the 2016 Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy. Are you a photographer who’d like to see your work featured on The Urban Lens? Get in touch with us at tips@6sqft.com.

2016 marks the 90th anniversary of the Feast of San Gennaro, which is held in the “Little Italy” neighborhood of lower Manhattan from Thursday, September 15 through Sunday, September 25th. The Feast is an 11-day salute to the Patron Saint of Naples, Saint Januaries, and it is the longest and most popular street fair in New York City (anticipated to bring in one million tourists and New Yorkers this year).

Little Italy was once known for its large population of Italian immigrants and is now centered on Mulberry Street between Broome and Canal Streets. Italians first began to settle in the area during the 1850s, but by the 1960s, wealthy Italians began to move out and Chinese merchants for the first time began to move north of Canal Street—the traditional boundary between Chinatown and Little Italy. Observing the changes in the neighborhood, Italian merchants and restaurateurs formed an association dedicated to maintaining Mulberry Street north of Canal as an all-Italian enclave, which it still largely remains.

Ahead we document some of the longtime New Yorkers, tourists, and decades-old Italian vendors who’ve added their own flavor to this year’s festivities.

Italian Sausage. The food booths do a brisk business during the Feast. Italian Sausage is a style of pork sausage that is either sweet or hot. Recipes vary slightly but generally include a seasoning of salt, pepper, garlic and fennel seeds. The addition of hot red pepper flakes and paprika in the seasoning mix make the sausage hot rather than sweet.

Zeppoles and Calzones. Zeppole, or Italian doughnut holes, are fried dough dusted with powdered sugar. They have become one of the most popular Italian street desserts served at the Feast of San Gennaro. Calzones are basically half-moon shaped folded pizzas made from pizza dough and stuffed with the same ingredients as pizza, including tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese and ricotta, and they often include pepperoni and possibly other cheeses and Italian sausage.

Ball Toss. Besides the innumerable food stands, games of chance are scattered throughout the Feast. Attendants shout to passersby to try their luck.

The King of Candy Apples. Candy apples are usually Granny Smith apples which are dipped into a liquid red candy mixture and served on a stick. The sweet candy exterior hardens to a crunchy texture and is a nice contrast to the sourness of the Granny Smith apple inside.

Sausage and Peppers. Lucy’s Sausage Stand is found at all of the Italian feasts in NYC and many of the local street fairs. They have provided festival food including their famous sausage and peppers for over three generations.

Street Performer. Like New York City itself, The Feast is attended by a mixture of nationalities. “The Feast brings the world to Little Italy and Little Italy to the world,” says Joseph Mattone, President of Figli di San Gennaro, Inc.

Anthony and Josie, Owners of Mulberry Street’s Caffe Napoli. Caffe Napoli is a family-run Italian restaurant which has been in business for over 30 years. They have a large Italian menu including red sauce favorites of pasta, chicken and seafood.

Cigar Roller. The Mulberry Street Cigar Co. was founded in 1999 and is known for its own hand-rolled line of cigars.

Crooner. Angelo Ruggiero belts out the standards on the main stage on Grand Street by Mott Street.

Meatball Eating Contest. On Saturday, September 24th at 2pm on the main stage there will be for the first time a Meatball Eating Contest hosted by “Who’s The Boss” star Tony Danza. The meatball-eating contest was created in memory of John “Cha-Cha” Ciarcia, the unofficial mayor of Little Italy, who passed away last year. (To sign up, call 212-764-6330)

The Cannoli King. “Baby John” DeLutro is known as the “Cannoli King” because his Caffe Palermo dessert shop serves up some of the city’s best cannoli. Caffe Palermo in Little Italy has been in business since 1973.

Blocks of Torrone. Ferrara Bakery & Cafe started shipping the non-perishable traditional Italian nougat candy called torrone, during World War II to many Italian-American soldiers overseas, thus starting a successful mail-order business. Ferrara’s soon became known around the world for its torrone, which is made using large amounts of whole almonds and filberts in a time-honored style that is practiced in the region of Benevento, Italy. Whole nuts are always used for torrone rather than chopped nuts, because the entirety of the nut is what retains the flavor. Since there is no dairy in the candy, it packages and ships easily. Today, Ferrara’s is operated by the fifth generation of the Lepore family.

Outside Caffé Roma. Caffé Roma has been in the same family since 1952. It was originally called Caffé Ronca when it was opened by the Italian immigrant, Pasquale T. Ronca, in 1891. The Ronca family ran their popular pastry shop until 1952, when it was sold to a fellow Italian immigrant, Vincento Zeccardi, who changed the name slightly to Caffé Roma. They specialize in Italian pastries including cannolis, pignoli cookies, biscotti and sflogliatella.

Baked Clams. Umberto’s Clam House on Mulberry Street has been in business since 1972 and became famous for its celebrity clients and its signature clam dish with its hot red clam sauce.

Offerings. The central focus of the celebration takes place every September 19th, the official Saint Day when a celebratory mass is held in Shrine Church of the Most Precious Blood. Mass is followed immediately by a religious procession in which the Statue of San Gennaro is carried from its permanent home in the church through the streets that comprise Little Italy.

Outside of Ferrara’s Original Cafe. Ferrara’s is a sponsor of the annual Cannoli-eating Contest, which was held on Friday, September 16th. This year’s winner, Wayne, downed 21 Ferrara cannolis in six minutes. Ferrara Bakery & Cafe was established in 1892 by Italian immigrants, Antonio Ferrara and Enrico Scoppa. Ferrara’s is considered America’s first espresso bar. The café later added Italian specialties including cannoli, sfogliatella and gelati to its menu. Pietro Lepore, a nephew of Antonio Ferrara, began working at Ferrara’s after World War I and later married the daughter of Enrico Scoppa. Mr. Lepore bought out Enrico’s interest in the café and took over ownership after Ferrara’s death in 1937. Before World War II broke out, Lepore’s strategic purchase of sugar protected the business during rationing.

Accordion Player. The Figli di San Gennaro (Children of San Gennaro), a non-profit community organization dedicated to keeping alive the spirit and faith of the city’s early Italian immigrants, has presented the Feast annually since 1996.

Fried Oreos. Fried Oreos are a street fair favorite.

Ferris Wheel. Although this is an annual celebration of faith, the Feast of San Gennaro is known for its festive atmosphere, featuring Italian cuisine, carnival food favorites, religious processions, colorful parades, free live music and entertainment, rides for kids and adults, games and vendors.

The Grill. Shish-ka-bobs and braciole. Braciole is an Italian dish made of pork rolled as a roulade with cheese, sausage or vegetables inside. It’s braised in tomato sauce or grilled.

Want to explore the even for yourself? The hours of the Feast are from Sunday–Thursday, 11:30 am-11 pm; Friday and Saturday, 11:30 am-12 midnight.

James and Karla Murray are husband-and-wife New York based professional photographers and authors. Their critically acclaimed books include Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York, New York Nights, Store Front II- A History Preserved and Broken Windows-Graffiti NYC. The authors’ landmark 2008 book, Store Front, was cited in Bookforum’s Dec/Jan 2015 issue as one of the “Exemplary art books from the past two decades” and heralded as “One of the periods most successful New York books.” New York Nights was the winner of the prestigious New York Society Library’s 2012 New York City Book Award. James and Karla Murray’s work has been exhibited widely in major institutions and galleries, including solo exhibitions at the Brooklyn Historical Society, Clic Gallery in New York City, and Fotogalerie Im Blauen Haus in Munich, Germany, and group shows at the New-York Historical Society and the Museum of Neon Art in Glendale, CA. Their photographs are included in the permanent collections of major institutions, including the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, the New York Public Library, and NYU Langone Medical Center. James and Karla were awarded the 2015 Regina Kellerman Award by the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation (GVSHP) in recognition of their significant contribution to the quality of life in Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo. James and Karla live in the East Village of Manhattan with their dog Hudson.

All images © James and Karla Murray

RELATED:

• The Urban Lens: Documenting New York City’s Vanishing Privilege Signs
• The Urban Lens: Documenting Gentrification’s Toll on the Mom-and-Pops of Greenwich Village
• The History of Brooklyn Blackout Cake: German Bakeries and WWII Drills

The former Verizon Building at 375 Pearl Street has long been considered one of New York City’s ugliest buildings. The oppressive structure was erected in 1975 and climbs 540 feet into the sky. While the height is almost negligible compared to some of the supertalls rising today, the tower’s prime skyline positioning amongst some of the world’s most celebrated architectural creations has done nothing to help shroud its banal facade. In fact, when the telephone switching center opened its doors for the first time more than 40 years ago, New York Times architecture critic Paul Goldberger described it as the Verizon’s “most disturbing” addition to the city (though in defense of the architects Rose, Beaton & Rose, it was built to withstand severe weather and attacks and protect the critical telecommunications infrastructure within). But all of that is changing now, as the building’s fortress-like facade is in the midst of receiving a long due makeover.

The 32-story tower is currently owned by Sabey Data Center Properties and the company commenced updates in January this year. As seen in the images taken by 6sqft, the building is trading out some of its limestone bands and slender three-foot wide windows for floor-to-ceiling glass curtain walls across the top of its four faces—although the upper east-facing wall is seeing the most dramatic of these changes. The new look has been designed by COOKFOX Architects.

Verizon ditched the building back in 2007, selling it to Taconic Partners for $172 million. Taconic said it would transform the facade with glass after the purchase, but four years later the company sold off ownership to Sabey Data Centers and Young Woo and Associates for $120 million. Now eight years after Verizon vacated, the current owners are finally moving forward with the makeover.

With 1.1 million square feet within, the tower will eventually be used as office space (15 floors worth) by various businesses and government agencies. This will be in addition to its current use as a data storage center. In January, The Real Deal reported that the NYC’s Department of Finance would take on 175,000 square feet of space on the 26th through 30th floors.

Construction is expected to wrap later this year.

RELATED:

• One World Trade Center not for sale after all (at least not yet)
• REVEALED: World Trade Center Performing Arts Center will be a translucent marble cube
• Skyline Wars: In Lower Manhattan, A New Downtown Is Emerging

We’re quite the obsessive bunch when it comes to food. From stalking stalls at our favourite hawker centres to attempting to DIY our own laksa in the home kitchen, there’s no denying that we are suckers for good food – especially laksa, of course. On a cold, rainy day, there are few things we like better than a hot, spicy, soupy bowl of the stuff to tuck into. Hungry already? Here’s where to get your fix.

928 Yishun Laksa
Is it worth trekking up to Yishun for? Hate to break it to you, but yes. For less than $5, you can get a bowl chock full of ingredients like fried beancurd, hard-boiled egg, beansprouts, fish cakes, and cockles (you can request for it to be changed with crabsticks!), so there’s no need to add on any extras. You also get to choose your noodle and there’s an unlimited supply of laksa leaves and sambal.
928 Yishun Laksa, 01-155, Yishun Central 1, Block 928, Singapore 760928

D’Laksa
Unlike the usual creamy and indulgent version we’re accustomed to, Assam Laksa is punchy, sour and packs a lot of heat. Originally a popular pop-up business in Johor Baru, there’s no need to cross the Causeway anymore for D’Laksa. Besides the mouthwatering broth and all that flavour, one of the best things about D’Laksa is the springy and thick noodles made from tapioca starch. If you’re a fan of fishballs, you can have them on its own, swimming in the delicious broth.
D’Laksa Penang Assam Laksa Singapore, 90 Hougang Ave 10 #B1-K7, Hougang Mall, 538766

328 Katong Laksa
This venerable institution made headlines after defeating celebrity chef, Gordon Ramsay, in a laksa showdown, but that’s really not surprising to its throngs of ardent followers. Laksa noobs should make this stall their introduction to this local favourite. The laksa here is laden with cockles and a good sprinkling of laksa leaves, but in our opinion, the best thing about the laksa here is the perfectly balanced gravy and the cut noodles you can slurp up with a spoon. Don’t embarrass yourself by asking for chopsticks; and don’t forget the sambal!
328 Katong Laksa, various locations

The Original Katong Laksa (Janggut Laksa)
True story: Honeycombers ed Selina once walked into East Coast institution Kim Choo one day with a bottle of lime juice from the aforementioned laksa joint, and was told off by the auntie behind the counter for not going to the laksa stall across the road in Roxy Square instead: “It’s cheaper, and it’s BETTER,” she declared. We’re not going to go into a history lesson about the long Laksa War of old, but our verdict? This is a damn good laksa that’s intensely flavoured, but not-too-spicy gravy. If the Roxy Square branch was open beyond 5.30pm, we’d have a regular table. Heads up: the Paya Lebar branch is serving up a crayfish laksa – take us there!
The Original Katong Laksa (Janggut Laksa), 1 Queensway, #1-59, Queensway Shopping Centre, Singapore 149053; Roxy Square, 50 East coast Road #01-59, 149053; Food Republic, Lvl 4 Wisma Atria 435 Orchard Ro 238877; Quemoy Building, 327 Upper Paya Lebar Road, Singapore 534947

Beast & Butterflies
While it’s the hawker legends that usually come to mind when laksa is mentioned, this resto has entered the fray with its own slightly upmarket version of the dish. Enter Beast & Butterflies’ Mee Tai Mak Laksa – a hefty hot stone bowl filled with a satisfying spicy, savoury broth. But this isn’t your average laksa; the dish is chock-full of seafood like fresh, plump cherry stone clams, prawns and fishcake. And instead of the usual soggy tau pok, you get some crispy, brittle fried beancurd. This dish is fantastic value at just $16.
Beast & Butterflies, 90 Robertson Quay, Level 1, Singapore 238259

Alexandra Village Claypot Laksa
If it’s thick, creamy laksa soup that does it for you, make this unique laksa stall your first stop. As its name would suggest, the laksa here is cooked and served in thick claypots to concentrate flavours and keep your laksa nice and warm. The thick, spicy soup base is the star here – you’ll struggle to find a more substantial and creamy variant. Need more convincing? The stall even made its way onto Michelin’s Bib Gourmand list this year!
Alexandra Village Claypot Laksa, 120 Bukit Merah Lane 1, #01-75 Alexandra Village, Singapore 151120

Sungei Road Laksa
This humble stall is another famous institution that’s easy to miss if you’re not savvy with local food haunts. Located in an unassuming coffee shop on Jalan Berseh, this stall serves up your classic laksa that, while small, makes up for it with ample servings of plump, fresh cockles. Its $3 price tag is the cherry on top.
Sungei Road Laksa, 27 Jalan Berseh, #01-100, Jin Shui Kopitiam, Singapore 200027.

Chong Wen Ge Café
We can’t possibly miss out this gem just down the street from our office. This quaint Peranakan cafe is right next to the Thian Hock Keng Temple. Step through its bright blue doorway and you’ll be greeted with a rustic cafe that pays homage to coffee shops of old. And when you’re done admiring the Peranakan tiles, sit down to a traditional Nyonya laksa that isn’t too heavy; this one comes packed with ingredients like prawns, fish cake, hard boiled egg and soft, fluffy tau pok.
Chong Wen Ge Cafe, 168 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068619

Penang Kitchen
The Penang-style variant swaps the thick, creamy curry for a lighter broth flavoured with tamarind, flaked fish, lemongrass and even pineapple. And Penang Kitchen is one place where you can find it – its rendition of the dish offers a pungent, spicy broth heavy on belachan, and ample toppings of basil round up the dish with some fresh flavours.
Penang Kitchen, 5 Coronation Road, #01-05 Coronation Arcade, Singapore 437066

National Kitchen by Violet Oon
It is unorthodox to serve laksa without its signature broth, but we have no qualms whatsoever when it’s in the good hands of celebrated Peranakan chef, Violet Oon. In this dry laksa, fresh rice noodles are instead tossed in Oon’s flavoursome laksa gravy, ensuring they stay firm and springy. Expect brilliance in every bite.
National Kitchen by Violet Oon, 1 Saint Andrew’s Road, #02–01 National Gallery, Singapore 178957

San Laksa Steamboat Restaurant
Now for something a little different. Some of us love laksa soup so much that we just want to dip everything in it. At San Laksa Steamboat Restaurant, you can cook ingredients like pork belly, beef striploin, fish paste, cockles and more in a boiling, free-flowing laksa soup base that will leave you addicted. Slurp to your heart’s content!
San Laksa Steamboat Restaurant, 404 Telok Blangah Road, Singapore 098840

Like this story? Check these out:
Make your own sambal to go along with that laksa!
Check out this massive guide of local Singaporean foods and drinks you must try
Lau Pa Sat: The history and the lowdown on all the yummy food
Hot Hot Eats: Where to eat the spiciest dishes in Singapore

Or sign up for our weekly newsletters!

The post Who’s got the best laksa in Singapore?here to find Katong laksa, Assam laksa and more must-try versions appeared first on Singapore.

I steeled myself for 6 weeks, 2 months maybe, at the very outside, worst case scenario, 3 months. I mean, this is my own flesh and blood we’re talking about here. How could Junior not enjoy a nice up close silent confrontation with a mattress for 8 hours at a pop just like his pop? No worries.

Public Domain

Me: But I can’t feel my face. One of my toenails fell off. I forgot my middle name. Also, is this really good for Lev — that he wakes up and eats 3 more dinners in the middle of the night? He’ll grow up to be some obese court stenographer, living in Queens with a thyroid disorder.

Pexels

This combination of sleep deprivation and sarcasm has been working great. We put him to bed tonight and he slept almost 18 minutes before I had to carry him around the living room, swimming through the night kitchen in loops like those sad polar bears who committed suicide at the Central Park Zoo. I sang him all the songs I remembered from Hebrew School, which — in combination with the sheer force of my Hebrew magnetism, seems to be making him more Jewish-ish. He recently told me he wants to become a CPA. I mean. What nachas.

Wikimedia

The post My Wife Won’t Let Me Use ‘Cry It Out’ To Sleep Train My Son, So I Did This Instead appeared first on Fatherly.

Michael Phelps took his world record to 21 gold medals last night; Usain Bolt is poised to become the first athlete to win three golds at three Olympics; and Serena Williams (tied with sister Venus) has the most gold medals of any tennis player in the games. To have a little fun with these athletes’ stats, CityRealty.com put together this infographic that shows how long it would take the Olympians to sprint, serve, and swim their way to the top of New York City’s three tallest planned and built residential buildings — the Central Park Tower, 111 West 57th Street, and 432 Park Avenue.

Click to expand to full size >>

[Via CityRealty.com]

RELATED:

• What Are Top NFL Players’ Salaries Worth in Real Estate?
• INFOGRAPHIC: What the Top-Paid MLB All-Stars Can Buy in NYC vs. Their Home Cities
• Infographic: How NYC’s Supertalls Compare in Height and Girth to Global Towers

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The chances are very high you’ve seen one or several Re-imaginings of Disney Princesses that the Internet has churned out. I ran across a really nutty one, got curious and discovered so many I hadn’t seen. Bearded Princesses? Hot Dog Princesses? Bowl of Water Pricesses!?!

But I had to do a lot of searching, and since searching is boooooorinnnnng, I’ve put together a 101 bite-sized pictures of 23 different, progressively weird Re-imagined Disney Princesses for you to enjoy. Or just whisper “What in all of the unholy hecks is going on here!”
 

Costume-Swapped Princesses

By Haruki Godo
 

Ethnically-Swapped Princesses

By Let There Be Doodles (click for more)
 

Lifelike Princesses

By Väätäinen (click for more)
 

Fine Art Princesses

By Heather Theurer (click for more or to buy one)
 

Pinup Princesses

By Andrew Tarusov (click for more)
 

Plus-Sized Princesses

By The Huffington Post UK (click for more)
 

Mommy Princesses

By Isaiah Stephens (click for more)
 

Male Princesses

By Sakimi Chan (click for more)
 

College Student Princesses

By College Humor (click for more)
 

Star Wars Princesses

By Ralph Sevelius
 

Classic Horror Princesses

By Travis Falligant / Break.com (click for more)
 

Comic Book Princesses

By J. Scott Campbell
 

Classic Fighting Video Game Princesses

By Mike V (click for more)
 

Creepy Princesses

By Jeffrey Thomas (click for more)
 

Bearded Princesses

By Adam Ellis / Buzzfeed (click for more)
 

Velociprincesses

By XP Comic (click for more)
 

Presidential Candidate Princesses

By Annabel Coe / MTV (click for more)
 

Rock Princesses

By Kevin Bolk
 

Pet Allergy Princesses

By Walt Disney Studios. Andrew Richard / BuzzFeed
 

Instagram Princesses

By B for Bell (click for more)
 

Root Vegetable Princesses

By Gemma Correll
 

Hot Dog Princesses

By someone with a package of hot dogs and internet access.
 

Lukewarm Bowl of Water Princesses

By Danny Scheyer (click for more)
 

Cement Mixer Princesses

By someone who’s fascinated with construction or is sick of Re-imagined Princesses. Probably.
 

The West Chelsea condo building will be completed sometime next year

It was just a few months ago that we last checked in with the Michael Shvo-developed, Peter Marino-designed condo at 239 Tenth Avenue, and since then, the building has made significant progress. As of this week, it’s officially topped out, marking a milestone for the project. If all goes according to plan, the building will be complete by the second quarter of 2017.

To recap, the building will look something like this once it’s complete:

It’s rising on the site of a former Getty gas station, hence the building’s moniker, The Getty. Marino, known in some circles as "the leather daddy of luxury," is responsible for the condo’s design—and a photo from the topping-out ceremony provided by a building spokesperson shows why, exactly, that nickname follows him around.

Restaurateur Daniel Boulud is also in the shot, and though a spokesperson wouldn’t confirm his involvement in the project (saying only that he’s a "special friend" of the building), there is commercial space. Some is already confirmed to be devoted to a gallery, but maybe there’s also a restaurant is the works, too? Only time (or official word as the building gets closer to completion) will tell.

• Track the Progress of High Line Condo The Getty Through the Evolution of the Site's Art [Curbed]
• Michael Shvo's Gas Station-Replacing Chelsea Condo Is On the Rise [Curbed]

Boutiques Fair Singapore 2016: The independent designers showcase with great shopping deals is back at The Pit Building

Looks like you might have to postpone that self-imposed shopping ban (nice try though)! ‘Cause if there’s one shopping event that you absolutely can’t miss, it’s definitely Boutiques at the Pit Building – yes, it’s back! Founded in 2002, Boutiques is the curated fair featuring more than 150 exquisite bespoke designers and independent businesses under one roof, offering chic apparel for men, women, and children, fashion accessories, home furniture and wares, and a plethora of unique trinkets.

Returning on the 4th and 5th of November at the F1 Pit Building with the theme of “The Gifting Edition”, this fair will be even bigger than before! In collaboration with the prestigious Singapore Fashion Week, brands that’ll launch collections and retail products at the fair will be exclusively selected by Fair Director and Founder, Charlotte Cain herself. This edition will introduce new vendors such as Bon Vivant that offers a collection of handmade leather products, eck&art design studio that creates original Singapore-themed design posters, and MAISONZHOU that sells a collection of luxury women’s sleepwear made from the finest silks and lace.

On top of that, other great highlights of the fair include The Gentlemen’s Club – a sophisticated designated area for men to shop or lounge around; fun and enriching Craft Workshops by Hili Studio and Bloesem; the Interactive Play Area to keep the little ones occupied while you shop; and pop-up Cafe by Violet Oon Singapore for shoppers to catch a breather over local bites and delicious desserts. What’s more? Boutiques offers a wonderful opportunity to support worthwhile causes while you shop, as 100% of proceeds will be directed towards charities like the Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (HOME) and Babes Pregnancy Crisis Support.

So clear your diaries on 4 and 5 November and round up your girlfriends; there is shopping to be done!

Boutiques at The Pit Building, 1 Republic Blvd, Singapore 038975. November 4-5. Follow Boutiques on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates.

The adjectives “cavernous” and “airy” don’t usually go together, but a gut renovation at this Tribeca loft created an industrial-chic space that manages to feel bright and open while retaining its dark, underground moodiness. Located at the 19th century building 55 North Moore Street, the two-bedroom home boasts historic details like exposed wood ceilings, brick walls, and steel columns, along with more modern touches such as the amazing skylight made of frosted glass blocks.

The loft last sold in 2004 for $1.78 million, and after the reno, the owners thought they could pick up a cool $10.6 million last year. The price has now dropped significantly to $4.5 million, however.

The home opens to a large partitioned foyer, which leads to the rest of the open space.

The kitchen is quite modern, with a large central island, custom cabinets, stainless steel appliances, and luxury appliances.

The master bedroom is separated by flowing white curtains and features a pair of large walk-in closets and a lavish en-suite bath.

The second bedroom is more private, with a separate entrance and location at the opposite end of the home. It functions like more of a guest suite thanks to a kitchenette and full bath.

[Listing: 55 North Moore Street, #1 by Ryan Serhant and Chase Landow of Nest Seekers]

RELATED:

• Old World Charm and 21st Century Finishes Combine Seamlessly in This Spectacular Tribeca Penthouse
• Grand Loft on Grand Street With Original Cast Iron Columns Asks $17,500/Month
• Alexander Wang Lists Luxuriously Moody Tribeca Loft for $3.75M

Images via Nest Seekers

A young nomadic boy raised in a suburban Melbourne beach town that was obsessed with surf culture, Lukas Vincent founded his label Ex Infinitas on the basis of combining surf sensibility with minimalistic modern punk. Think along the lines of young men chilling out as they roll up joints, smoke, eat burned pizza while having a cold beer, and you’ll get a good idea of Ex Infinitas’ unique aesthetic. Recently announced as the winner of the 2016 International Woolmark Prize, Mr Vincent spoke to Manuscript about the inner workings of his label and the launch of his spring 2017 collection.

How did you come to call the label Exinfinitas? 
The concept of infinity has been a curiosity of mine since I was young. My father, who is a shaman and astrologer, educated me early on with transcendental phenomenology and subjects exploring the “space between things”. Hence the Latin translation for “Of Infinity” I felt provided a conceptual framework where I could examine and combine elements of the past and future, through the vehicle of fashion- from fabrics, to styling, in an almost alchemical way.

Did you always know that fashion was your calling from the beginning, or was it something you eventually fell into?
I knew from a young age fashion provided a window into this creative world, which always really fascinated and inspired me. Yet interestingly, no one in my immediate environment had the slightest interest in fashion – for me it was very instinctual. Before the Internet, fashion magazines were the only access I had, so I spent a large portion of my youth studying the various elements of every imported magazine I came across. At the time I wasn’t particularly interested in design and remember specifically never wanting to be just a designer – I wanted build things. Fast forward through 12 years of career to date and I’m now building a brand, which is what I most enjoy. I’ve always had a passion for every facet of fashion – from business to creative. During my career I was quite fortunate to work internationally as multi-disciplinary, across many fields, from marketing and PR, visual merchandising and styling, to buying and design- it was a very slow and steady progression to this point, but I knew I was definitely well prepared.

Ex Infinitas has been regarded as the ‘Aussie answer to Vetements’, which is quite the comparison. What have been some of the challenges you’ve had to overcome in order to establish Ex Infinitas as a unique brand against the masses of other labels out there?
Adopting a clear and relevant point of view is always one of the biggest challenges for any brand. You need a vital reason to exist amongst the masses of other labels, and I think that reason should always come from a very authentic place. This led to examining my personal upbringing, in a low-income costal town, which could be perceived as the antithesis of the fashion world. However, it was something personal to me and something I felt I had to offer. I also had to ask myself on a very basic level, what would the global consumer like to see in a progressive Australian brand. Then ultimately how could all these elements somehow interrelate and work to elevate the somewhat mundane into a more luxury space. For this to be executed well, also surrounding myself with brilliant minds and collaborators with a very high taste level, helped to push and develop the work much further.

You’re the winner for the International Woolmark Prize for 2016 (big congratulations!) – how did you incorporate merino wool into the design concepts of your submission? Explain the story behind the look.
The title of the collection “Kings of Nowhere”, allowed me to explore the nuances of high-end luxury, within a subcultural context. When I set out to create the Woolmark look, I knew I wanted to bring the traditional fibre into a modern space. I sourced and developed the wool fabrics in Italy, most incorporating the highly technical transparent nylon yarn. As the brand DNA sits at the intersection of surf and tailoring- I worked toward creating a look which alluded to surf, without being too cliché. So the fabric choices, design details and accessories all combine the lyricism of surf culture, whilst also incorporating high-end tailoring, heightening the overall look. There is also a particular wool yarn I worked with, certified as the lightest wool in the world and befittingly referred to as “wool chiffon”- at 15 micron, its even finer and more luxurious than cashmere.

When you were announced as the winner for the prize, what thoughts went through your mind? How did you feel about it all?
Naturally, it’s a gruelling build up to such an event and when the announcement was made, there was definitely a rollercoaster of emotions. It’s an enormous honour to be internationally recognized and awarded for your work, so it’s certainly a career milestone. Particularly when there were endless sacrifices made to bring the brand to fruition, since building it from the ground up and relying only on my own resources from its inception. It’s certainly invaluable to now have the much-needed industry support behind the brand, which will make the future trajectory one full of many more opportunities to grow the business in diverse ways.

Now that you’ve won the prize, what are your plans for the future and what can we expect to see from Ex Infinitas in the coming years?
At a point in the near future, a fashion show or presentation during Paris Fashion Week – that is certainly high on the agenda right now as we concentrate on the northern hemisphere market. This will be a unique platform to present the collection to a different audience and culture, where typically Australian brands are rarely experienced. Australia is seen to be this exotic culture from far away, so to me there is tremendous opportunity to bring a piece of our distant culture to the international fashion arena in a very unfiltered and highly curated way.  In terms of the brand itself, I’m continuing to cultivate a quintessentially Australian look and feel for the product and overall brand image, yet more unconventional and progressive than one would expect. There is also a high profile collaboration in the pipe, the details I cannot yet reveal.

Describe your SS17 collection in three words.
Surf, art, tailoring.

What was the creative process behind the look for the new collection? Where did you source your inspiration for it?
At the time I was looking at a few books in particular that provided the basis for the collection narrative. Gonzo by Hunter Thompson, 10X15 by Quentin de Briey and Plans for Other Days by Jan Family – the latter largely influenced the lookbook art direction. The concept was to create a tailored surf collection, using high-end fabrications made in limited supply, but based around the idea these clothes would be worn by a cross-section of youth who really couldn’t afford them. They spend all their money on the expensive clothes they wear, slabs of beer and have very limited money for renting the run-down suburban place which they live. So it was a very true-to-life approach for the creative process. Surf subculture was also a major part of the inspiration, so I worked to capture the spirit of the surf movement; translated into refined functional tailoring – the end result is what I refer to as surf dandy.

The lookbook itself is quite stellar in terms of photography, what story are you trying to portray in it?
The lookbook was photographed and art directed by a close collaborator and friend Fabein Montique, most well known for his creative work with Kanye West and Donda since 2010. We wanted to portray a lifestyle in the images and move away from the traditional notion of a lookbook. So we scouted a soon to be demolished artist squat outside of Paris, where we could shoot the models in a very raw, gritty space. This helped to give the impression the models were genuinely living in the building, so we shot the boys from early on, as though they had just returned from being at a party. We followed their progression throughout the day as they continue to drink, smoke, burn pizza in the kitchen and play video games as they prepare for the night ahead. All while observing their many incarnations of looks, as they continue to dress and undress all day in a very stoner-like manner.

Ex Infinitas has signed on to at least eight stores globally (Toronto, South Korea, Paris, Los Angeles to name a few) – what advice would you give to other labels looking to expand their presence into international waters?
Slow and steady wins the race. For me it was always a focus, as there is a limited market in Australia for non-traditional luxury menswear. However, the beauty of today is any brand can access overseas markets from relatively humble foundations. There are many options for creating fully intergraded online stores with little overheads that can service international consumers. Having strong content to capture the attention of these overseas markets is key. Certainly securing wholesale accounts with top international department stores and boutiques is never easy, it takes a lot of persistence and being physically present in these overseas markets to push and sell the brand, which is not always feasible for an Australian brand, being so far from the action. However I was extremely fortunate to have a very wide network of associations overseas, enabling me to get the brand in front of some highly influential people, who would normally be completely out of reach.

What does fashion mean to you?
Fashion for me is one of the many great disciplines of an artist. Some use paint and canvas, others use the written word, while in fashion it’s about working with cloth and the physical form. Like all other creative disciplines, fashion can also be used to gauge the mood of any generation, so I’ve always been fascinated by the direct relationship between fashion and culture. I think right now we live in very precarious times, which indeed seems to reflect the current mood in fashion – one that is fluid, unconventional and constantly hungry for change.

The post IN CONVERSATION: EX INFINITAS appeared first on Manuscript.

Actress Michelle Williams‘ exquisite taste in real estate has had us swooning over each of the extraordinary properties she’s bought and/or transformed–and renovation plans for the pixie-haired star’s historic 18-room Colonial Revival-style mansion on Albemarle Road were recently approved. In quiet Prospect Park South, her fame has paved the way for a new level of exposure for historic homes like this one at 1305 Albemarle, which hit the market yesterday for a neighborhood record-setting $2.98 million.

The unusual and somewhat haunting (though hopefully not haunted) 10,000-plus-square-foot, 23-room mansion would turn a few heads on its own, but a celebrity neighbor certainly doesn’t hurt. The impressive home has 10 bedrooms, six full baths and floors of pine, cherry, mahogany and oak. There’s a two-car garage and decks galore, including one with a six-person hot tub. But the Oscar for cool house features definitely goes to the unbelievably massive and dramatic third floor ballroom, complete with wet bar.

Designed by Stanford White protege H. B. Moore, the home is a star in its own right: It was a key location in the Oscar-winning film “Reversal of Fortune,” and “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit” did some filming on the home’s first floor. The Post also shares some of the home’s history from its first owners in 1905 through a turn on the market for $4 million in 2004. Ms. Williams might be a good resource for whomever purchases the white cedar clapboard home fronted by four 30-foot Ionic columns, as it apparently needs a fair amount of exterior work.

Once inside, double doors take you to a great hall with coffered ceilings; the room is adjacent to a living room, music room, a mahogany wood-paneled dining room and a bay-windowed library.

All rooms on the first two floors have 11-foot ceilings, including the surprisingly of-the-moment-looking chef’s kitchen. There’s a fireplace in the kitchen and many others throughout the house. Rarely-seen details–like a three-story dumbwaiter and spider-web windows–can be found at every turn.

An appropriately sweeping staircase brings us to the second floor; up here there’s a master bedroom, a dressing room and two bathrooms–and lots of fireplaces.

It’s the third floor that can’t be missed. That’s where you’ll find that enormous ballroom with columns and a gleaming, endless dark wood floor, plus a wet bar and oval window. In the mid-1990s, the home’s owner would apparently rent out the ballroom for events in addition to hosting film and TV shoots in the entire home.

Detail-filled garret-like nooks are everywhere, including this charming little billiards nest. We can imagine parties with a different theme in every room, or a school filled with creative classrooms just for starters.

[Listing: 1305 Albemarle Road by Rachel Simons and Ryan Serhant for Nest Seekers]

[Via NYP]

RELATED:

• Live Across the Street From Michelle Williams in Ditmas Park for $679K
• Michelle Williams Buys Colonial Revival Mansion in Prospect Park South That Needs a Little TLC
• Michelle Williams Sells Boerum Hill Townhouse for $8.8M

Images courtesy of Nest Seekers

Vacation homes don’t get much better than this. The abode at 375 Brick Kiln Road in the Hamptons was designed by the Mid-century architect Andrew Geller. He was known for designing creative homes across Long Island that utilize low-cost materials in unconventional ways, according to Curbed Hamptons, and he created this one–known as the Elizabeth Reese house–in 1963. The striking $2.2 million beach cottage, featuring triangular windows with projecting flaps, sits on a beautiful five acres of land. It comes with a tennis court, swimming pool and an impressive stone fireplace, making this one of the coolest vacation pads we’ve come across.

The home is modest, with 1,200 square feet, and it certainly doesn’t overwhelm the surrounding greenery. The landscape architect Joseph Cornetta has updated the grounds — according to the listing, “the landscape has been selectively cleared and naturalized for a gracious park-like feel.”

Inside, a stone fireplace anchors the open living and dining room, which feels especially beachy with its white beamed ceiling. In the original design of the house, the ceiling was more open and loft-like.

The other side of the living room opens up to the greenery and pool patio outside.

Since it was built in the 1960s, the home has been renovated with updated fixtures, plumbing and electric, as well as a new kitchen.

There are three bedrooms and two bathrooms total. One has a great private deck space that overlooks the pool, and the other features the home’s signature triangle windows.

Here’s a view of the deck and the amazing pool outside of the master bedroom.

The best part about this beach cabin? Although it may be low on square footage, there is plenty of space to kick back and relax. Who wouldn’t want a view like that from your hammock?

[Listing: 375 Brick Kiln Road by Angela Boyer-Stump for Sotheby's]

RELATED:

• Robert Young Gives an Outdated ’80s Home in East Hampton a Mid-Century Mod Makeover
• Own a Charles Gwathmey-Designed Mid-Century Marvel in East Hampton for $2.5M
• Amy Lau Creates an East Hampton Retreat Using Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Photos courtesy of Sotheby’s

The Michelin Guide Singapore has just released its Bib Gourmand Awards 2016. Singapore’s rich cultural diversity and local gastronomy has thus been further affirmed, much to the delight of many gourmets and food lovers alike.

14 restaurants, 17 hawkers and 3 street food establishments have made it to the list. Criteria for the award? The establishment must offer quality and value-for-money meals under S$45.

Local delights that made it to the list include the much loved Hainanese chicken rice, prawn noodles, bak kut teh and also the unpretentious curry puff.

Hawker selections are aplenty, ranging from the popular Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice in Maxwell Food Centre, Balestier Road Hoover Rojak in Whampoa Market Place and Famous Sungei Road Trishaw’s laksa in Hong Lim Market and Food centre.

New to the hawker scene is A Noodle Story which started out in 2013, owned by two fine dining trained chefs turned entrepreneurs.

It is not just local food that received all the praises. Restaurant options extend to Turkish cuisine like Alaturka at Bussorah street, Indian fare at Laagna in Little India, Peranakan cooking at True Blue Cuisine in Armenian Street and Singaporeans’ favourite bak kut teh at Song Fa in New Bridge Road.

stetsonusa:

http://www.stetson.com/search?q=open+road

Photo: @actor_robertdean

Underutilized city spaces will be transformed into junior fields

New York City, in partnership with soccer team New York City FC, Adidas, and the U.S. Soccer Foundation, will build 50 junior soccer fields across the five boroughs over the next five years (h/t Crain’s). The $3 million public-private partnership was announced by Mayor Bill de Blasio on Tuesday at the South Bronx’s Millbrook Playground, where the first eight fields are set to be built.

Each of the four sponsors will contribute $750,000 to build fields in underused or dilapidated city-owned property in underserved neighborhoods. According to the New York Times, the city has already identified spaces in public housing projects, schools, and several neglected parks throughout the boroughs where the fields can be installed.

The $3 million will also cover funds for soccer clinics, after-school programs, and maintenance of the fields with the objective of making the sport accessible to nearly 10,000 children while encouraging health, well-being, and social interaction. All good things!

• New York City to build 50 new soccer fields [Crain’s]
• Project Commits $3 Million to Build 50 Soccer Fields in New York [The New York Times]

2016 marks the 40th anniversary of the event that has been celebrating Independence Day annually since 1976

This year marks the 40th anniversary for the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks. Though the iconic brand first lit up the sky with their fireworks display in 1958 along the New York Harbor, the event did not become an annual celebration until 1976, when they paired up with the Walt Disney Company to celebrate the United States’ 200th birthday.

It wasn’t until 1991 that the event became broadcast on national television as the ‘Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular,’ airing on WPIX until switching to NBC in 2000. Today the event prides itself on being the largest Independence Day pyrotechnic show in the country.

To celebrate this milestone, Macy’s will once again light up the sky above the East River, launching from four barges in Midtown Manhattan and one below Brooklyn Bridge near South Street Seaport, launching over 52,000 shells throughout the 25-minute show. The convenient location makes the display visible for those in western Queens, Brooklyn, and Manhattan’s east side.

Check out Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks over the years and if you’re in town, be sure to catch the spectacular event at any one of these ideal viewing locations. The show starts at 9:25 p.m. so wherever you choose to watch from, be sure to beat the crowds and get there early.

• History of Macy’s Fireworks [Macy’s]
• Where to Watch NYC's July 4th Fireworks [Curbed]
• The Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks Will Return to the East River [Curbed]

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