(New York, NY)

Globetrotting newsman Anderson Cooper will soon be able to cool his heels in an old Greenwich Village firehouse -- complete with brass fire poles -- that he's turning into a new home.

The century-old building on West Third Street was nominated this week for a spot on the National Register of Historic Places, a status that Cooper can use for a slew of tax breaks if his renovations maintain the firehouse's historic façade.

Neighbors have seen Cooper visiting the firehouse regularly since it was sold in September for $4.3 million by the New York Board of Fire Underwriters, which operated the private Fire Patrol 2 out of the building beginning in 1906.

The fire patrol was disbanded in 2006, and the insurance industry-backed fire patrol finally sold the four-story building last year. The owner of record is Firepatrol LLC, which lists Cooper's business agent as Carolyn Rossip Malcolm.

Construction crews have already begun work inside the building, taking down partitions and ripping out old plumbing fixtures, city building records show.

"I hope the new owner will appreciate what's there and will keep as much of it intact as possible," said Andrew Berman, director of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, which nominated the firehouse for historic designation.

"It would be wonderful if that great interior could be preserved," said Berman, adding that his organization recommended the building for historic designation before it was sold by the fire underwriters.

The building, built in the Beaux Arts style, still has its original spiral staircases, brass fire poles, overhead beams used to dry hoses and walls covered with murals marking the fire patrol's history.

Cooper's plans for the old firehouse have yet to be filed, but the 8,240 square feet of space -- not including a two-story former stable in the rear yard -- will give him four times as much space as his current penthouse duplex on West 38th Street.

How much time Cooper will spend in his new home is anyone's guess. Beside covering world events, like the earthquake in Haiti, he's know for vacationing around the globe, including a trip recently to the Rambagh Palace in Jaipur, India, where he was spotted with close pal Benjamin Maisani, who owns an East Village bar.

(New York, N. Y.)

Many tour participants on WalkingToursManhattan.com love visiting SoHo, they want to spend more time exploring the neighborhood, after the tour, or want to come back on another day. I have listed more attractions to see that are not on our walking food tour.

This neighborhood is a wonderful mix of residential loft living, cobblestone streets, art galleries, boutique hotels, historic buildings and one of the best designer shopping areas in the city.

Historical Building – E.V. Haughwout
The charming cast iron buildings give this area a distinctive look that is unmatched in beauty and numbers anywhere else in Manhattan. These buildings were put up in the 1850’s through the 1890’s as a cheaper replacement for stone construction. A magnificent example is the five-story Haughwout Building built in 1857 in the city's first fashionable housewares district. The Haughwout Emporium was world famous in its day as manufacturers and purveyors of cut glass, porcelains, mirrors and chandeliers. Located at 488 Broadway corner of Broome Street.

Shopping Therapy – Bloomingdale’s and Top Shop
After Macy’s there is no other retail store as well-known. A smaller version of the 59^th Street Store, located on Broadway between Spring and Broome. A few steps away is Top Shop, the British fashion retailer which recently opened its first store in the U. S.

Gallery Viewing – Dia Center
Check out Walter DeMaria’s The New York Earth Room, the longest running art show opened in 1977. For over 30 years this exhibit has brought a quiet oasis from the tuml of city life. Located at 141 Wooster Street, between Houston and Prince.

Lunch/Dinner – Balthazar Restaurant
A French brasserie offering the look and quality you’d come to expect in SoHo.
Open for 15 years this pricey classic is always busy, and their eggs benedict is only available on the breakfast menu. Visit their bakery next door for the chocolate chip cookie. 80 Spring Street, between Broadway and Crosby.

Best Real Estate – 190 Bowery
Struggling photographer Jay Maisel in 1968 bought this abandoned Germania Bank, built in 1898 complete with working safe in basement for $102,000. Yes its completely covered in graffiti but fits into the neighborhood’s artistic lifestyle on the Bowery. The 72-room mansion today is worth upwards of $40 million.

Coffee Break – Dean & Deluca
Great people watching spot with good coffee and sweets. Watch models running down Broadway late for photo shoots, to beautifully dressed European travelers
clothes shopping. Corner of Broadway and Prince.

Apartment Shopping – Trump SoHo
In case you really get to like the neighborhood and are thinking of settling down, you definitely should check this hotel condo with 391 units. Built by the Donald, naturally it towers over all nearby buildings with 46 floors and very impressive views.

For an escorted food walking tour of SoHo please visit;
http://walkingtoursmanhattan.com

(New York, N. Y.)

February 22, 2010


Some people like to plan their theatergoing well in advance; others, especially these days, are more interested in a bargain. The TKTS booth is often the first stop for those seeking reduced-price seats to a Broadway show. The booth in the theater district, at a newly refurbished location, is a relatively quick and convenient place to score tickets.

But what about the long lines? How do you know if a show is worth the money? Can’t this be done on an iPhone? And why aren’t there ever any tickets to “Wicked”?

Victoria Bailey, the executive director of the Theatre Development Fund, the nonprofit performing arts service organization that operates the city’s TKTS booths — besides the one in Times Square, there are booths at South Street Seaport and in downtown Brooklyn — has some answers.

I asked her some basic questions recently; here is our exchange.

What is the best time of day to get tickets? Where and when are the shortest lines?

The booths open at different times depending on the day of the week. The best time to go to the Times Square booth, in terms of evening performances — if you want the shortest wait — is probably 5:30 or 6 p.m. Really anytime after 5:30 there’s never a line. Most people get there when we open so the lines are longest then. That’s also when we tend to have the most shows available. There’s also a play-only line at the Times Square booth. There are hardly any lines for that.

Weather is tricky. On a beautiful Saturday afternoon people want to hang out in Duffy Square so it will be crowded. When it snows there won’t be a line. On a cold rainy day you won’t have a line. Fall through spring; the weather can make a difference.

When you’re talking about the satellite booths, because they are smaller and not centrally located, the lines are always shorter. The lines in Brooklyn are the shortest.

I’ve heard you can get better seats if you go later in the day. Is that true?

A show may not be at the booth when it opens, but tickets may still be sent over at 4:30 or 5. The theater may have house seats that they haven’t used. If there’s no traffic at the box office, tickets will go to the booth. Producers know that there are people at the booth who are going to buy tickets that day.