@OHNY Flings opens dozens of doors across the city this weekend Oct 15th & 16th! #OHNY
If you ever found yourself looking longingly in a window of some wonderful dreamy building in the city thinking to yourself if I range the bell right now…would they give me a tour or think I am crazy and call the police than this weekend is for you. ONHY or Open House New York www.ohny.org is a non-for-profit volunteer driven organization founded in New York City in 2001. It hosts the largest citywide culture event from Staten Island to the Bronx and everything in between OHNY partners with hundreds of locations around the city. They arrange special guests, guided tours, and lectures in places that would otherwise be kept secret to the average New Yorker. From homes of historical importance, stunning architectural landmarks, beautiful places of worship, parks, green spaces, and studios of artists, fashion designers, and of course architects, this event runs the full gamut of intrests. I only learned about OHNY in 2008 and have been a huge fan ever since. So much so I have signed up to volunteer this year. Please stop by and say hi as I am posted at the Ford Foundation www.fordfound.org/ located at 320 East 43rd St. NY 10017 anytime on Sunday morning. The Ford Foundation is an amazing midcentury building constructed in the 1963 and has a soaring 160-foot-tall indoor atrium stocked with a lush subtropical garden and a small, burbling pool.
Of course I have the rest of my weekend planned out for when my volunteer shift ends. I spent much of my day pouring over the OHNY guide that I got from the October issue Time Out NY. There was just so many places I wanted to visit there was just no way I could get to them all in a single weekend. So after many drafts of the ultimate weekend wish list here is what I pinned down. So very excited. But please check the official website— this is our personal schedule for those of you who are wondering around the city and may want to meet up with us. Most every venue has a detailed list online of multiply times and dates you can attend.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15th : williamsburg and the southside
Nitehawk Cinema
We just noticed this place opened in our neighborhood a few weeks ago (we’re slow sometimes), this open house gives us the perfect excuse to go and really get a good looksee.
INFO: website
Building date: 2010 Architect: Caliper Architecture PC / Caliper Studio IncHome to the three-screen cinema/café and bar, this recently completed mixed-use building added three residential floors to an existing two-story mid-century warehouse. The building features a custom zinc panel façade with 2,000 hand-cast glass disks backlit by low voltage LED lights. Tours every half hour with the architect.
El Puente South Williamsburg Walking Tour
So curious what this tour will be about… Really from the description I can’t gather much but it is a great neighborhood with great eats and it’s own groove—so looking forward to it.
INFO:website
RESERVATION REQUIRED
Experience the rich history of indigenous arts and culture of the Los Sures neighborhood. Visit the outdoor murals of Los Muralsitas, our local community garden Espiritu Tierra, and the favorite haunts of El Puente CADRE.
Lunch on the Southside
Want to find something amazing—someplace I haven’t been too yet. suggestions…
MEET US: 2:30-3:30pm
174 Grand Street: Passive House
OMG OMG! I can’t wait. Now full disclose this is a colleagues of ours and I am sure I could of just asked to get a tour but I much rather show up with the group and freak him out a little. Plus I want to support such an awesome progressive designer and his wonderful building. If there are still tickets available for this tour— you really should come out and see this. NOT TO BE MISSED.
INFO: website
RESERVATION REQUIRED
This 1,500 sq ft mixed-use building, consisting of a triplex apartment and retail store, was the first New York home to be designed in accordance with the strict German “Passive House” standard - saving up to 80% of energy costs through features such as triple-glazed windows and a green roof. Architects Sam Bargetz and Werner Morath from Loadingdock5 will be on-site to talk about the project.
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SUNDAY OCTOBER 16th: midtown and greenwich village
Eagle Street Rooftop Farm
While I am off at my volunteer location in the city my partner will be visiting this incredible rooftop garden tucked away in the heart of Greenpoint Brooklyn. Said to be the largest in the city— I am so heartbroken that I will not be able to witness it for myself. However, he’s good with a camera so I expect to have some amazing documentation and maybe -hint-hint-some samples.
INFO: website
Eagle Street Rooftop Farms is a 6,000 sq/ft organic vegetable farm located on the shoreline of the East River with a sweeping view of the Manhattan skyline. The farm brings hyper-local produce to the Greenpoint Community. We host educational and volunteer programs bringing city-dwellers closer to their food source. Site organized by the Urban Farmers Association.
Ford Foundation
My volunteer location in the heart of mid town. I swell with pride. When I got my assignment at the volunteer meeting the women behind me actually gasped. She said she recalled when that building went up when she was a girl. She told me the whole city marveled at this building, saying that the talk about town was all about the windows. They were so large you could see straight through the space. —amazing. I actually never been inside the building so I really look forward to the time I will spend there.
INFO: website
Building date: 1967 Architect: Kevin Roche/John Dinkeloo Additional: Dan Kiley - landscape”This is one of New York City’s most distinguished modern buildings created after World War II. An elegant twelve story glass cube framed in Cor-Ten steel and South Dakota granite. It encompasses a full height atrium with offices lining the interior walls. The design creates both a working community and landscaped garden set apart from the bustling midtown environment”
New York University: Hopper Studio
For those of you who follow my blog you’d know that I am semi obsessed with this place. I just think it is fascinating that this artist studio has been held in an almost trust for the public—just as the artist left it and yet it is hardly easily accessible by the public. Dear lord —pray with me everyone—-please, please, could the lines not be miles long—- I am so counting on getting into this place. A stone’s through from Washington Square Park nestled in one of the most adorable federal style building, this is totally a highlight of the weekend.
INFO: website
Building date: 1830. From 1913-1967 Edward Hopper lived in the fourth floor studio of this iconic Washington Square North townhouse. Visitors will be able to see the American painter’s studio, complete with original easel, desk, furnace and kitchenette.
Center for Architecture (openhousenewyork welcome center)
How nice is OHNY—-a wrap party for all volunteers will be held here later Sunday evening which gives me a great excuse to check out the building’s green features.
INFO: website
Building date: 2003 Architect: Andrew Berman Architect
This building features 1,250-ft deep geothermal wells for heating and cooling while keeping visitors comfortable while in the city’s liveliest venue for architecture and design exhibits, performances and children’s programs.
