On the west side of Sixth avenue, between 21st and 22nd street there is an amazingly beautiful, 41,700 square foot pre-war historic building. It was one of the first department stores in the city that had automatic elevators and has housed one of Manhattan’s several Barnes and Nobles’ stores for years. Well, their lease is up, and they are leaving (don’t worry, the chain is set to open 2 new stores within the coming year). So, come spring, it’s anyone’s guess as to who will pick up this massive treasure. I would absolutely LOVE to see either a Nordstrom or a Target (as Racked is speculating) in that space, the two things from home that I will openly admit to missing. If it’s another H&M or WholeFoods I may consider moving.

What you’ve never been to Tar Beach?  It is a little strip of paradise on Elizabeth street in NYC.  Very exclusive, posh, and hard to get into.  If you are one of the lucky chosen few that are accepted to participate in the fun that goes on here on Sundays in the summer, prepare yourself for an experience of a lifetime.

This guy rocks.

The Verrazano Narrows Bridge has to be one of the most beautiful bridges in the 5 Boroughs.  Straddling the mouth of New York Harbor, linking Staten Island to Brooklyn, it was completed in 1964, and was the longest suspension bridge in the world until 1981 (still the longest in the United States).  The bridge marks the start of the New York Marathon, and its namesake is Italian navigator Giovanni Da Verrazano. 

Every ship that enters New York Harbor has to pass under this magnificent bridge, and almost every ship in the world is built to specifications in order to pass under the bridge. 

Another great fact is that it feeds into the Belt Parkway, a strip of highway where you can always feed yourself with the many Frankfurter trucks, as our Grobmutter would say.

And for those of you gay and lesbian sailors out there, you can join the Knickerbocker Sailing Association, a gay-friendly sailing group that sails under the Verrazano during New York Heritage’s Gay Pride Week (which was this past week, June 17-24th). 

We all remember the famous adage from our youth, “Those who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones”.  This is the exact kind of advice Philip Johnson must have headed when he built his famed Glass House on his property in Norwalk, CT.  Certainly an architectural masterpiece (in the modern form), the house’s minimalist steel post and lintel framework, and large glass windows allow its outside environment to frame the experience of those living inside. 

I also love the brown Barcelona chairs (though I would have picked black, not brown).  While I’m not the biggest fan of modern work, I can certainly appreciate what it is trying to accomplish, and anyone who has gone inside the Midtown Four Seasons restaurant will know what I mean.  Though it was built in the 1960s (by Philip Johnson), it still feels cutting edge and holds up to the test of time.  In addition, you can order cotton candy for desert which is always a plus!

One of Johnson’s last designs before his passing a few years ago?  Why none other than Marquee (Noah Tepperberg really hit the jackpot on this one)…though my guess is most people that frequent the place a) don’t notice the design because it’s dark, b) don’t notice the design because they are drunk, or c) don’t notice the design because they don’t notice the design and wouldn’t notice the design if it hit them over the head. 

 In any event, good news is that the estate of Philip Johnson has opened his famed Glass House to the public.  The opening luncheon on the 23rd of June will include guests Agnes Gund, Peter Brant and Stephanie Seymour, Aby Rosen, Richard Meier, and Robert A.M. Stern.  The bad news is that the house is completely sold out for 2007, so those who want to see it will have to wait a while.