Ambling hasn’t been much in my “repertoire” lately, but with the New York City Ballet spring season winding down this week, I’m done with daytime rehearsals and so have actually had a chance to do some ambling! After getting my hair cut today, I walked a zig-zag course home passing by the beautiful Upper West Side brownstones on 88th and 89th streets.
Here are the ones that caught my eye:
Good for you ambling those beautiful streets! Time to chill out and relax! Love, love, love all the detailed appliqués on those brownstones, would love to live in one of them, always has been my favorite… Thank you for sharing Joana!
Sent from my iPad
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Hi Denise,
I’m so glad you’re enjoying revisiting NYC from my pictures! Do you remember Lee’s Art Store just south of the park on 57th? I went there this past week and was horrified to see a big STORE CLOSING sign in the windows. That store was one of the best art supply/gift stores in all of New York – and a place that I frequented often. Apparently, the building was sold for $85 million and the store owners decided to shut down operations. That entire area is becoming known as “Billionaire’s Row” due to the astronomically high condo purchases…all probably by people who use these places as their second and third homes. Sad!
Hope you have a great weekend!
Joana
Hi Joana… No I do not remember Lee’s, but I do sympathize with you on the closing of it… So sad that the prices on these brownstones have gone up so much… They are so lovely to look at and will always be my favorites… I also do remember when there were many run down brownstones, but they are now being revamped which makes me happy… Many in Harlem have been newly renovated.
Have a safe and blessed Memorial Day!
xoo Denise
Hi Denise,
Actually, the high prices I was referring to are the new construction high rises going up just south of the park in Midtown. That said, the brownstones are certainly out of our price range, too. We have an artist friend who bought an entire brownstone in the heart of Harlem for 1 million. However, the whole thing had to be gutted and re-done…and I don’t know what that cost!
Hope you have a great Memorial Day, too! Joana
On Sat, May 28, 2016 at 11:31 AM, JOANA MIRANDA STUDIO wrote:
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In love this architecture. When I was a kid, I thought it was ugly and somewhat scary, don’t know why. Maybe because at the time, many of the brownstones were somewhat in disrepair and dirty because of pollution. I’m glad they got cleaned up.
Hi Helen,
I think your assessment is probably right on. I think much of the Upper West side above Lincoln Center was a bit of a no-man’s land not so long ago. I can see why you would have found it creepy. As the “gentrification” in Manhattan continues, we’ll probably end up being driven right off the island. I remember reading fairly recently about a couple who bought Lauren Bacall’s apartment at the Dakota on 72nd St. Amazingly, I wasn’t too shocked when I read that the apartment sold for $21 million, but I was totally “gob smacked” to learn that the monthly maintenance on that apartment is about $13,500. Can you imagine…you own an apartment and then still have to pay $13,500 a month to live there!
Meanwhile, we are here in this apartment for at least another year, thankfully. I bought a new patio “bistro” table and two chairs for our balcony (why did I wait so long?!) and we are enjoying having as many meals out in the fresh air as possible (and listening to the peaceful sounds of sirens and blaring horns. Hee hee!)
XOX – Joana
Ola Joana Agradecia que me enviasseso o teu numero de telefone O meu estragousse e perdi alguns numeros ainda que ar trazado dugo que me !embrei no dia do teu aniversario Beijos dos tios Guida e Ivo
Ola Tio Ivo,
Muito obrigada pela mensagem no meu blog e para os desejos de aniversario! Vou mandar o meu numero de telefona num email. Espero que todo esta bem com os Tios. Mando-te um grande abraco e muitos beijinhos
Joana