Fall in New York City is undeniably one of the most beautiful seasons. Summer's hot and sticky humidity has faded and left behind a crisp breeze in the air. Jackets and scarves come out, and people flock to the nearest parks to take in the sights, sounds, and colors of the season. Here are a few of my favorite fall activities - check out Time Out New York's full fall guide for even more ideas! 1. Take a stroll to see the leaves in Fort Tryon Park and The Cloisters. The park is gorgeous this time of year, the view of the Hudson River is breathtaking. Plus the slightly spooky, gothic art and architecture at The Cloisters is the perfect pre-game for Halloween fun. Where: Fort Tryon Park, entrances at the 190th Street and Dykman Street A Train Subway Stops Hours: Park hours are Sunrise to Sunset all year round 2. The Village Halloween Parade Before you head out to your Halloween party of choice, take part in the world's largest Halloween procession. With over 50,000 party-goers each year, the parade is a massive and long-standing NYC tradition. So dig out your cat ears or Marie Antoinette wig and get ready to strut your stuff zombie style. Where: Line up at Sixth Ave and Canal Street - Parade goes up Sixth Ave from Spring to W. 16th Street When: Monday, October 31, 2016 3. Check out some (or all!) of NYC's Haunted Houses in time for Halloween a. Haunted Hay Ride Time Out NY says: "The haunted attraction is back again with more vicious and disturbing scenes to make you scream! Ten Thirty One Productions (of Shark Tank fame) created this gripping haunted attraction located at Randalls Island Park. For the first time, hayriders will embark on three new experiences: House of Shadows, Purgatory Haunted Village and Theater Macabre. Not for the faint of heart, the New York Haunted Hayride is all set to terrorize those who dare to enter. Where: Randall's Island When: Thursday-Sunday, October 13-30 & Monday October 31st b. Blood Manor Time Out NY's review raves "Garish zombies, monsters and other ghoulish creatures await in this 5,000-square-foot labyrinth of horrors, deemed too scary for children under 14 to enter without supervision. Pass through themed rooms such as The Crypt and Hannibal’s Hell... Lines are likely to be long so consider shelling out for an R.I.P. express entrance ticket. Where: 163 Varick Street (Soho) When: Thursday, October 13 - Monday, October 31 4. NYC Cider Week Drink fresh apple cider and binge on donuts. Specifically spiked pear cider and mini maple doughnuts plus other delicacies being served at various locations all over the city at NYC's Cider Week 2016. For one week only, everyone’s favorite autumnal fruit is being served up adult beverage style at more than 50 bars and restaurants in NYC along with free tastings, events and workshops. Where: All over NYC! When: Friday, October 21 - Sunday, October 30 #NYCHappenings #BlogPosts

It is my pleasure to share Compass' 3Q16 Manhattan Market Report, which looks at the prevailing trends shaping the market from this past quarter and provide a glimpse into the research and data analytics in which Compass prides itself. Highlighting a few trends: - The total number of closings in the third quarter (2,739) was below expectations, down 25% compared to the third quarter last year. However, total contracts signed exhibited a more modest decline (-8% Y-o-Y) and actually increased year-over-year for co-op units priced between $1M and $3M. When considering these figures, it is important to remember the variable lag time between contract signing date and closing date as well as the unpredictable closing schedules of new development condominiums, which make up an increasingly large percentage of the over market. - Available inventory is seemingly disconnected from the demands of the market at this moment in time, as units priced above $3M make up 28% of inventory and less than 14% of contracts signed. - Co-op inventory is limited (45% of total inventory) and demand is high (54% of contracts signed) as asking prices continue to rise in the condo market. - The median price of active condo units was $2.3M in the third quarter, up 10% year-over-year and 44% higher than the median contract price of condo units this quarter ($1.6M). Them median closing price for condos ($1.65M) was a 10% increase compared to the third quarter last year, while the median closing price for co-op units set a new high at $820K. Uncertainty in the marketplace continues as the Federal Open Market Committee decided in their September meeting to leave the Federal funds rate unchanged and the presidential election reaches a fever pitch in the final stretch to Election Day 2016. Demand for homes priced under $3M, those most likely to be used as primary residences, continues virtually unabated while the continued increase in new development inventory, especially at the highest end of the market, has further reduced urgency for luxury buyers. #CompassMarketReports #BlogPosts

It has been an incredibly busy summer but as fall begins, I have promised myself I will at least make time for ONE little DIY project that has been on my list for a while. I have some beautiful old kitchen tiles from our summer home in Cesme which we replaced a few years ago during a renovation. I have been saving a few to make trivets so that I can continue using them in my own kitchen. Although I'm planning to make my trivets with "used" tiles, you can also use store bought/new tile or really anything similar. My kitchen tiles in their original glory! The main challenge I face is the caked on mortar on the backside. After some googling, I found these instructions on how to apply muriatic acid for a project like this. After that, I intend to apply self-adhesive thin cork sheet (or rubber cement regular cork sheet), and voila! A way I can continue to use my beloved tiles! #DIYDecor #BlogPosts

Sunset Park is one of Brooklyn’s most diverse neighborhoods, with an old world, friendly vibe that residents love. The park itself serves as the perfect centerpiece for the surrounding row houses, amazing Chinese and Latin American restaurants, and offers beautiful views. Industry City and the Brooklyn Army Terminal also have begun to offer industrial co-working spaces that promise to bring the same arts and design professionals that made Williamsburg in to a world-wide brand. Compared to Williamsburg, Sunset Park offers a similar vibe with more than half the price - $517 per square foot versus $1146 per square foot in closed sales in the most recent quarter. “Sunset Park is unique in New York's gastronomic demimonde… Domincan, Mexican, Peruvian, Ecuadorian, and Salvadoran places, and the stray diner and Hasidic spot, are all tumbled down the hill toward the Upper Bay, while an ever-expanding Chinatown on top lures you with Vietnamese, Yunnan, Sichuan, Cantonese, Malaysian, and the occasional Thai place. You pick. Either way, dinner will be cheap and tasty. Sunset Park is one of the city's great unsung food destinations” – The Village Voice (09/2014) - SIGHTS - Sunset Park – Not just a namesake for the neighborhood, Sunset park is the highest point in Brooklyn and offers spectacular views in to Manhattan, Brooklyn, and even Staten Island (1624 10th Avenue @ 16th Street, Hours: Thur – Sun 12pm-6pm) - EAT - Ba Xuyen – This beloved Vietnamese sandwich shop is good enough to make locals hurry home from work in Manhattan just so they could score a banh mi for supper. ​Recently, the place has added a wider selection to the menu and now also serves good apps along with Chinese pastries and cakes in the Hong Kong style. (4222 Eighth Avenue, Hours: 7:30am – 6:30pm) Green Fig Bakery - Conveniently located just uphill from the 36th Street express stop, this newcomer offers amazing coffee, overstuffed sandwiches, little square slices of pizza, along with assorted vegan cakes, cookies, and pastries. (462 36th Street) - DIM SUM - East Harbor Seafood Palace – The largest of the neighborhoods Dim Sum Meccas, waiters sport maroon tuxedos and bow ties in an expansive 500+ seat dining room replete with massive chandeliers (714 65th Street, Hours: 9am – 11pm Daily) Pacificana – Huge crowds, long waits, but according to the raver reviews and regular visitors, this dim sum spot serves up enough spectacular bites to be worth any wait (813 55th Street, Hours: 9am-11:30pm Daily) If you are interested in exploring our entire Brooklyn Series at once, please reach out and we can get you the full brochure. #NYCMarketAnalysesTips #BlogPosts

Stone Street is a tiny cobbled street, a time capsule of New York’s past that sits at the base of the towering skyscrapers of the Financial District in Manhattan. It is home to the oldest buildings in New York City, the last remaining remnants of “New Amsterdam,” the original settlement created by the Dutch West India Company in the 1600s. Originally known as Brewer Street (or Brouwer Straet in Dutch) Stone Street got its first name in 1632 when the Dutch built North America’s first (but certainly not last) brewery right here in NYC on the newly cobbled street. During the 1700s, the street became known as Duke Street. The area was largely commercial and included neighboring South William and Pearl Street. However, after the Great Fire in 1835, which destroyed more than 700 buildings in downtown New York many of the burnt out original Dutch buildings in the area were rebuilt with quick and simple facades, giving rise to blocks of severe brick and granite buildings that were used mostly by merchants and importers handling products like cotton and tobacco. By the beginning of the 20th century, as the first generation of downtown skyscrapers demolished many older buildings to make way for a new development in the area, The Real Estate Record and Guide quoted a 1904 account that described the area as “a melancholy street of monotonous warehouses.” Stone, William, and Pearl Street held the last vestiges of any original buildings, but were ignored from the end of the 1800’s until the early 1900’s. In fact, The New York Times mused in 1901 that the crooked streets “remained… only to bewilder modern New Yorkers.” Amos F. Eno was the first owner in the area to commission a restoration of the original architecture of the area. In 1903 he hired architect C.P.H. Gilbert to rebuild 57 Stone Street in Dutch Colonial Revival architecture. Over time Amos reconstructed many of his other buildings on neighboring William Street in the Dutch revival style, evoking how they would have appeared in their original state in “New Amsterdam.” Gradually other area owners and investors began to follow suit and a rebirth of Dutch renaissance design continued through the end of the 9120’s. Perhaps the pinnacle of the restoration, Block Hall was renovated in 1929 at 21-23 South William Street, with a dazzling half-timbered facade and mansard roof, designed by William Neil Smith as a businessmen’s lunch club. Named after the Dutch explorer Adrian Block, Block Hall had a gym, squash courts, dining rooms, a billiard room, telephones and stock tickers. During the Great Depression and the decades that followed, the area again fell in to neglect. While Stone Street originally ran from Broad Street to Hanover Square, it was divided into two sections by the construction of the Goldman Sachs building at 85 Broad Street in the 1980s. It was only in the mid 1990s that a joint partnership between the Landmarks Commission, the Alliance for Downtown New York, and Stone Street owners began to transform Stone Street from a forgotten back alley into one of FIDI’s liveliest destinations. Restored buildings, granite paving to protect and repair older cobblestones, and period streetlights have brought the area back to a modernized semblance of its original form. It is now home to half a dozen restaurants and cafes, with outdoor tables that have become popular for locals and tourists alike, especially on warm late spring, summer, and even early fall nights. Today the cluster of historic buildings along Stone, South William, Pearl Streets and Coenties Alley form the Stone Street Historic District. It was officially designated as a historical landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1996 and is now pedestrian-only. As summer ends and fall begins, take advantage of a few more weeks of balmy evenings and take a stroll on Manhattan’s first street. Other notable landmarks to check out in the area include The India House, located at the Hanover Square end of the street, and the final building to get a rehabilitation in the area, 19 South William Street, which is now home to a buzzing Biergarten that also happens to be on our short list for Oktoberfest 2016 destinations. #NotableinNY #BlogPosts

Watermark Ocktoberfest - Photo Courtesy of Watermark From September 17th through the first weekend in October, NYC will raise an overflowing beer-filled stein (think the biggest pint you have ever seen) to Oktoberfest. The Bavarian celebration is one of the largest in the world outside of Germany, and will feature some of the best new beers in NYC as well as traditional favorites and of course plenty of delicious German food. Enjoy the slowly cooling weather while guzzling brews at some of the best beer gardens in NYC or check out the annual German-American Parade, which culminates in a massive Octoberfest celebration in Central Park. Oktoberfest is a traditional autumnal festival, which originated in Germany, that is celebrated all over the United States by drinking copious amounts of beer, sporting lederhosen, munching on pretzels, and doing some polka dancing along with general merrymaking. Given it’s name, it makes sense the first Oktoberfest was held on October 12–17 in 1810 to honor the Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig’s marriage to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. Supposedly, the celebration date was changed to the third week in September in the U.S. due to cold-weather concerns. Oktoberfest NYC celebrations will take place in all five boroughs in NYC at various venues. The largest events include Oktoberfest in Central Park (Sept 17), Munich on the East River (Sept 23) and Watermark’s Oktoberfest (Sept 17 – Oct 2). However, even the Met’s will raise a glass to the holiday, and on Friday September 23rd before their game they will offer fans an “Oktoberfest at Citifield” pre-game with beer, pretzels, and extended hours of merrymaking before the first pitch. And, not to be left out, Brooklyn will have celebrations across the river at Radegast Hall & Biergarten in Williamsburg (Sept 17 – Oct 1) Oktoberfest in Central Park Central Park (Rumsey Playfield) Saturday - September 17th, 1:30pm $30 After The 59th Annual German-American Steuben Parade which will march up 5th Avenue from 68th to 86th street on Saturday, September 12th from noon to 1pm, celebrations will begin in Central Park. Ocktoberfest & the German Steuben Parade" Enjoy a pitcher or two and great entertainment featuring “Spitze!”, the Polka Brothers and many other bands, as well as the 8th annual National Masskrugstemmen Championship sponsored by Hofbrau Bier." (from the event website) Munich on the East River 24-20 FDR Drive Service Road East - Zum Schneider Tent (21st Street & East River) Saturday & Sunday - September 17th - October 2nd - 5pm $25 - $100 Bavarian bier haus Zum Schneider brings Oktoberfest to the East River, where “a German-speaking staff—outfitted in lederhosen—serves liter steins of Oktoberfest brews while a slew of snack stands hawk cotton candy, gingerbread and brezel. There will be live music provided by Mösl Franzi and the JaJaJa's as well as special guests throughout the event. DJ Volka Racho will keep the haus rocking between sets.” (from the event website) Watermark’s Oktoberfest Watermark Bar at Pier 15 at 78 South Street (Financial District) Saturday & Sunday – September 17th - 25th & October 1st & 2nd - 12pm-Midnight - FREE - $60 for Bier flights and tastings There’s lots of reasons to love Oktoberfest…the steins of beer, the tents, the lederhosen, the pretzels. “If you’re not traveling to Munich this year, you could have missed out on three of the best weeks of your life – until now. Over 3 weekends, you can experience everything that makes Oktoberfest great. We’ll have live music, full Oktoberfest decoration and fun games for the entire family. Along with steins, you’ll get some of the best Oktoberfest food that New York has to offer.And while you eat, be sure to enjoy the amazing views of New York at our 3,500 square foot venue featuring the Brooklyn and Williamsburg bridges and Brooklyn skyline.” (from the bar website) Radegast Hall & Biergarten Oktoberfest Radergast Hall, 113 N. 3rd Street (Williamsburg) FREE admission, pay for any food and drinks Every day between September 17th and October 1st This Brooklyn beer tavern kick-starts the Oktoberfest celebrations on Saturday September 17th with a pig roast, live music from polka bands, mug-holding competitions and celebratory keg tappings and three kegs flown in from Germany. You can order bratwurst and kraut from Radegast all year round, but there will be a special Oktoberfest themed menu available from September 17th through the end of October. #NYCHappenings #BlogPosts

Everyone loves a little touch of green in their homes, especially in such an urban setting as New York City. However, not everyone is born with a green thumb. For those like me, who are not so horticulturally inclined, succulents provide a perfect middle ground, and for very low cost, time or effort, can bring a beautiful (and given the size of New York homes) a perfectly proportioned petite touch of greenery to any apartment. Succulents thrive in the simplest of environments as one of the easiest plants to take care of – and they are super cute! From painted pots to vintage containers, succulents can grow in almost anything. And don't tell anyone, but fake succulents will "thrive" anywhere. CB2 has some very cute options, and I just bought this one for my bathroom. Porch.com has a great list of 15 easy DIY succulent planters - My two favorites are below, but there are plenty to choose from, so get your (semi) green thumb on and try a few of these out! 1. Brass Succulent Plantar from "A Beautiful Mess" Supplies: - PVC sewage drain caps in various sizes - Power drill + drill bit - aluminum sheeting in brass color (I used 38 gauge.) - X-Acto blade - Steel ruler - Measuring tape - Permanent spray adhesive - Cutting mat (optional, but helpful) - Black paint + primer (optional) Step One: Paint the PVC caps if they are not black. (optional) Step Two: Step Two: Drill drainage holes in the bottom of the larger PVC caps. (3-4 per cap) Succulents are desert plants, so they need drier soil to grow in. Of course, they still need to be watered well, but the moisture has to go somewhere or root rot will occur and your succulents will die a sad death. Relying solely on pebbles in the bottom of your planter for drainage is risky, so it may help to make a pedestal style planter so that the bottom portion is a saucer that catches excess water through the drainage holes of the top portion. Step Three: Measure the circumference and height of the PVC pipe. Add .25" to the length and subtract 1/16" from the height before noting the measurement. Step Four: For each PVC cap that you're using, cut a piece of sheet metal to your noted measurements from step three. Be very careful when handling the aluminum because it is easily imprinted and warped, and those imperfections are not easily removed. Step Five: Lay out each strip of sheet metal facedown onto newspaper or protective paper, making sure there are several inches of space between them. Spray the wrong side with permanent spray adhesive, making sure to completely cover the edges without getting overspray on the good side. Spacing out the pieces will help prevent overspray from sticking to the good side of the aluminum. Place the PVC cap upside down and attach the adhesive side of the aluminum to it by pressing the middle part of the alumimun to the PVC cap, working your way around to either end. When you get to the end, just overlap the excess metal and press with your finger to make sure the end will adhere completely. Step Six: Fill the bottom of each aluminum-wrapped PVC cap with a layer of pebbles. This will assist in draining the water from the soil. Step Seven: Cover the pebbles with a thin layer of fast-draining potting soil, arrange the succulents inside the PVC cap, and then fill in around them with more fast-draining potting soil. 2. This step by Step Photo Guide from BlueBirdKisses makes the progress very simple,and shows that you can use almost anything to pot your plants, but note from "A Beautiful Mess" above to be careful to include enough gravel in your pots so that the succulents can drain! #DIYDecor #BlogPosts

The summer months between Memorial Day and Labor Day mark the high season for many things: rentals, temperatures, humidity, and park-wide sun bathing to name just a few. In the sizzling world of NYC's BBQ restaurants, nothing can beat a summer afternoon eating fresh barbecue in Brooklyn, So make time in the next (gasp) last 3 weekends of summer to check out a few of these amazing BB‘cue destinations. These are only a few of many that are now all over the borough - the only struggle lies in choosing between them all. 1. Fletcher’s (433 3rd Avenue, Gowanus) Operated by the same restaurant group that is behind Peaches and Hothouse, Fletcher’s is a mighty fine choice for seldom bbq’d proteins (like duck, lamb and pork steak), However, their crowning menu item istheir gold standard burnt ends. Odd-shaped leavings from the point half of a smoked brisket, they have a higher fat content and require a longer cooking time — resulting in delectable, well-caramelized shards of salty, meaty goodness. 2. Smoke Joint (87 South Elliot Place, Fort Greene) Spare ribs are a dime a dozen on most barbecue menus, which is why the “Brontosaurus-sized” short ribs are a must-order at Fort Greene’s southern-leaning smoke spot. But instead of being slow braised and deposited on a puddle of polenta, these beefy, dry-rubbed bones are accompanied by a trio of tasty dipping sauces; tomato-based barbecue, sticky brown sugar-chili, and vinegary jalapeño. 3. Morgan’s (267 Flatbush Avenue, Prospect Heights) Pitmaster John Avila originally made his name dry-rubbing brisket and pulling pork at the famed Franklin Barbecue in Texas. But at his busy Prospect Heights restaurant, the highlights are actually his poultry selections. Surprisingly moist and delicious, chicken, sold by half or whole bird, as well as turkey is always cooked to perfection, and you should never pass up a steaming side his collards and cornbread. 4. Hometown (454 Van Brunt Street, Red Hook) Like many of Brooklyn’s talented new crop of pitmasters, bodyguard-turned-smoked meat enthusiast, Billy Durney, takes a global approach to his ‘cue. We’re especially fond of the jerk-rubbed baby back ribs, aromatic with ginger and ringed with a peppery, broiler-charred crust. 5. Beast of Bourbon (710 Myrtle Avenue, Bedford-Stuyvesant) Pitmaster Nester Laracuente’s part cookhouse part bar and nightclub offers delicious meats, creative sides, along with a massive bar with over 46 draught lines and 200 well whiskeys to choose from. The restaurant also houses a stage for live music and DJ events, plus a skee ball and pool table. Definitely the spot for a cook out style get down, made clear in their motto – BBQ, Beer, and Rock & Roll. #NYCHappenings

Bed-Stuy has seen a dramatic upswing in the real estate market over the past few years years. In the last three years specifically, the average price per square foot for the neighborhood has risen from $275 at the end of the first quarter of 2012 to $468 in the end of 2015. However, an average price per square foot of $495-$525 per square foot (depending on building type) is still almost half of Fort Greene’s $885 per square foot. Inventory is also fairly high, especially in the single and multi-family market, which means it is still in some ways a buyers market, even when prices are competitive and interest is high. Apartments (condos and coops) with their entry-level pricing tend to be much more competitive, and it is common to see bidding wars and closing prices well over ask. Bed-Stuy has historically been somewhat overlooked in terms of both a cultural and architectural hotspot, although in recent years, a huge influx of new restaurants, bars, and residential developments have sprung up in the more western parts of the neighborhood along the Clinton Hill Bed-Stuy border. Stuyvesant Heights, however, the more eastern and northern part of what was historically two neighborhoods (Bedford to the West, and Stuy-Heights to the East), has received less attention and thus prices tend to be lower than the Western areas even though it is similar in terms of transportation, architecture, and amenities. Stuyvesant Heights has a rich history, similar to Clinton Hill’s historical district, and the blocks between Tompkins and Stuyvesant Avenues to the west and east, and Atlantic and Madison to the south and north are currently in the process of being named a national historical district as well. Morgan Munsey, in an interview with Brick Underground from September last year, explains "Stuyvesant Heights was a fancy neighborhood to live in, just as much as Park Slope or Brooklyn Heights... Many of these new residents went so far as to build themselves mansions and villas, and while most of the neighborhood has given way to the more typical rowhouse style, remnants of that 19th century grandeur can still be found if you know where to look.” And it isn’t just the architecture that residents of the neighborhood love – Emily Nanko of the Bed-Stuy Blog describes the neighborhood she calls home: “People don't know about… the local businesses, the walking tours, the community gardens… the fried chicken at Peaches, the guys that sell flowers out of their trucks every day on this corner of Throop. Simply put, there's a lot of great stuff happening… it’s worth checking out.” -SHOP- Harold & Maude Vintage (592 Lafayette Avenue, Hours: 12pm-8pm) Small but well curated vintage finds at great prices Locale Village (410 Marcus Garvey Blvd, Hours: Tue-Fri 12-6pm, Weekend 11am-5pm) This well loved local spot is part beauty shop with handmade soaps, candles, and other items, part vintage store with jewelry, clothing and other fine antiques and collectibles, and finally part yoga studio with a variety of classes and styles offered throughout the day. Olivino Wines (426 Marcus Garvey Blvd, M – Sat 12pm-9pm, Sun 12-7) Small but well stocked wine shop that offers a great selection, good prices, and a special 10% off every Tuesday. -EAT- L’Antagoniste (238 Malcolm X Blvd, Hours: 5:30-11pm M-F, 11am-11pm on Weekends) Farm to table high-end French restaurant with a celebrity chef and an extensive wine list – Highlights: Cheese Soufflé, Hudson Valley Duck, Steak Frites, Duck Hash with Shoestring Frites and blood orange mimosas Saraghina (495 Halsey Street, Hours: 8am-11pm) Brick oven Pizza and Italian food with rave reviews that many claim could even rival Grimaldi’s and other NY legends. Hole in the wall exterior, industrial chic interior, and a nice wine list to boot Peaches (393 Lewis Avenue, Hours: 11am-4pm – 5pm-11pm) Local favorite for soul food, fried chicken, and a New American twist on traditional southern cuisine – Highlights – Brooklyn Wings, Brownstone Punch Cocktail, Spicy Salmon and Shrimp Grits, Crab Cakes, Meatloaf Sandwich and Sweet Tea If you are interested in exploring our entire Brooklyn Series at once, please reach out and we can get you the full brochure. #NYCMarketAnalysesTips #BlogPosts

Clinton Hill Historic District is a national historic district in Brooklyn located between Fort Greene to the west, Bedford-Stuyvesant to the east – according to the map from its original designation as a national historic district in 1981. It consists of 1,063 largely residential buildings built between 1830 and 1930 in a wide range or architectural styles. Buildings include freestanding mansions, row houses, and apartment buildings, as well as a handful of churches, schools, and storefronts. The Clinton Hill neighborhood began as a suburban retreat on the outskirts of the city of Brooklyn. Initially developed as a quiet middle-class residential neighborhood in the 1830s, it was almost completely built up by the 1880s. However, the community enjoyed another period of growth and appeal at the turn of the 20th century when Brooklyn’s wealthiest citizens came into the area and replaced many of the older houses with stylish new mansions. The once quiet residential neighborhood became known as Brooklyn’s “Gold Coast.” The community remained popular with the affluent until the 1920s, when the wealthy abandoned the area for Manhattan and Clinton Hill again became a middle-class haven. Buildings from all of these periods survive in the Clinton Hill Historic District and give the area an uncommon diversity of architectural styles. Buildings in Clinton Hill range from small frame houses to monumental mansions. There are unified blocks of brownstone and brick row houses, asymmetrically massed rows of late 19th century houses, as well as institutional buildings that are a direct reflection of the area’s wealth and social standing. The neighborhood’s grandest avenue is anchored by several freestanding homes of a scale rarely seen in New York City. The most noteworthy were designed for the oil baron Charles Pratt by William Bunker Tubby, the architect of Amfitheatrof’s house. Pratt’s family home, at No. 232, is now part of St. Joseph’s College; he also commissioned three other houses, Nos. 229, 241 and 245, as wedding gifts for his sons. No. 241, the most imposing of all, now houses the Roman Catholic bishop of Brooklyn. Other distinctive houses are sprinkled south along the avenue toward Gates Avenue. Clinton Hill’s mix of architecture is unique from other neighborhoods in Brooklyn or Manhattan. The oldest buildings were made in Greek Revival style which gave way to Gothic revival architecture in the early 1800s. In the 1840’s, Italian Renaissance architecture began to emerge as the preeminent popular style, and Clinton Hill’s brownstones, as well as those in neighborhing Fort Greene (which did not have it’s own unique neighborhood distinction until the early 1900s.) This style remained popular in Clinton Hill until the early 1870’s, when a variant of the style, French Second Empire, emerged, which featured peaked shingled mansard roof, typically decorated with ornate cast iron railings and featuring high peaked dormer windows. In the late 1870’s a more angular and geometric architectural style began to infuse it’s way in to Clinton Hill’s buildings - the Neo-Grec is characterized by extensive use of angular forms and detailed carvings which were more possible in the later 1800’s due to the introductions of new technology and machinery that was capable of carving stone which made these carvings less expensive and labor intensive than hand carving options in the pre-mechanization age. Prior to the 1870’s, most of the homes in Clinton Hill and indeed all of New York were erected and designed by builders (Lambert & Mason, as well as Benjamin Liniken were particulary active in Clinton Hill) however by the last 1870’s, most homes were designed by professional architects, particularly in the Neo-Greco style. The most active architect in this style, throughout New York City, was Amzi Hill, who also was responsible for many other Neo-Grec landmark buildings in Crown Heights, Bedford-Stuyvesant and Fort Greene. By the late 1880’s, most of the land in Clinton Hill had been built up, but architecture in the area still continued to change as some of the oldest Greek Revival and Italianate buildings were bought by new wealthy residents, who often demolished and rebuilt them in newer styles popular in the 1880’s and 90s, namely Romanesque Revival and Queen Ann styles, which represent many of the lighter colored stone houses, which are mostly large free standing highly ornate victorian-esque mansions, that dot the area. In the late 1890’s a more uniform building style began to return, based in a more classical and less ornate form typical of the renaissance styles made in the early 1800’s, which is widely seen across most boroughs of Brooklyn. These buildings are considered neo-renaissance or Beaux-Arts in style, and are characterized by a more uniform limestone façade, often build in row form to create a more unified cityscape. Despite this move towards more uniform neighborhood architecture in most neighborhoods of Brooklyn, a handful of stately brick and frame houses also joined the mix in Clinton Hill, mostly build in the late 1890’s and early 20th century in colonial revival or victorian style. Because of this massive array of architectural styles, housed in such a small urban area, Clinton Hill's historic district serve as a rich architectural timeline of great Brooklyn architecture in constantly changing neighborhood. (Architectural overview paraphrased from the original filing for Historical Site status under NYC mayor Ed Koch in 1981.) Clinton Hill is dotted with cozy cafes, restaurants, shops, and boutique music and art venues, some tucked away on tree-lined blocks, however an abundance of the neighborhoods various restaurants, stores, and eateries line Myrtle Avenue and Fulton Street. -TO EAT- SoCo, 509 Myrtle Ave. This southern fusion restaurant is a big hit in the neighborhood, serving up a mix of Cajun/Creole, barbecue and soul food. 718-783-1936. Urban Vintage, 294 Grand Ave. One of the quaint coffee and tea spots in Clinton Hill, Urban Vintage is loved for its cozy character with lots of natural light. They also sell jewelry, housewares and other novelties. 718-783-6045. Mac Shack, 901 Fulton St. This tiny eatery’s specialty is its variety of gourmet mac and cheese, including the BK classic mac and the Mac Daffy, with smoked duck. 718-230-0727. Speedy Romeo, 376 Classon Ave. Co-owned by a former protégé of Jean-Georges Vongerichten and a onetime casting director for “The Sopranos,” this rollicking cafe and bar in a former auto-parts store on the Bedford-Stuyvesant border specializes in umami-rich farmers market fare, much of it wood-fired. During tomato season, order the sublime Speedy Romeo pie, which comes topped with lemony heirloom slices and generous dollops of housemade ricotta. Locanda Vini e Olii, 129 Gates Ave. Housed in a converted 117-year-old apothecary (the pharmacy area in back serves as the kitchen), this local institution crafts authentic Tuscan cuisine in one of the city’s most romantic settings. Peck’s Gourmet Provisions, 455A Myrtle Ave. This friendly storefront on formerly down-and-out Myrtle Avenue sells gourmet foodstuffs, decadent baked goods and damn fine cups of coffee. (347) 689-4969. Clinton Hill Pickles, 431 DeKalb Avenue Technically across the street from Clinton Hill in Bedford-Stuyvesant, this sliver of a shop, run by the former owners of the late, lamented Guss’ Pickles on the Lower East Side, offers everything from kimchi to preserved cauliflower to a steady stream of hungry Pratt students. -TO DRINK- The Fulton Grand, 1011 Fulton St. The Fulton Grand is known for its craft beer and whiskey selection as well as the seasonal beer specialties and Belgian and German brands, among others. 718-399-2240. The Emerson Bar, 561 Myrtle Ave. Frequented by residents and Pratt students alike, this funky literary-themed bar makes for an entertaining night with a live DJ, board games and pool. They also offer 12 beers on tap and outdoor seating in the back. 347-763-1310. Hanson Dry, 925 Fulton St. Another beloved neighborhood bar, Hanson Dry is known for their reasonably priced drinks and friendly atmosphere. Drinks include The Dublin Dare, mixed with Jameson Black Barrel and honey syrup and their classic Bee’s Knees, mixed with Damrak gin, honey and lemon juice. 347-422-0852. -TO SHOP- Eddie Hibbert: architectural salvage, 224 Greene Ave. Hibbert, a former FDNY firefighter, has peddled antique doors, fireplaces, furniture and ephemera rescued from the neighborhood’s decaying brownstones out of an unmarked garage for more than three decades. Leisure Life NYC, 559 Myrtle Ave. For the dapper gentleman with a taste for unique style, Leisure Life NYC will most likely supply what’s needed. The choices of vintage shirts, jackets, hats, jewelry and home accessories ensure a well put together outfit and living space. 347-725-3167. Green in BKLYN, 432 Myrtle Ave. Green in BKLYN caters to those living or wanting to adapt an eco-friendly lifestyle. Recycled paper and biodegradable products, as well as hypoallergenic and organic products are some of what’s offered. 718-855-4383. Closed Mondays. -TO DO- BLDG 92: Brooklyn Navy Yard Center, 63 Flushing Ave. The Brooklyn Navy Yard spans a few neighborhoods including Clinton Hill. BLDG 92, located just outside of Clinton Hill in Fort Greene, is the yard’s new museum. Filled with a rich historical record of New York City’s well-known ship yard, which played a pivotal role in the Industrial Revolution, BLDG 92’s “Brooklyn Navy Yard: Past, Present and Future” exhibit is a must-see. Admission is free. 718-907-5992. Pratt Sculpture Park, between Dekalb and Hall streets. The entire Brooklyn campus of The Pratt Institute is a sculpture park — the largest in New York City, according to the school. A range of sculptures from artists like Robert Indiana and Dorothy Frankel grace the 25-acre campus grounds. 718-636-3600. FREECANDY, 905 Atlantic Ave., Second Fl. This gallery/performance space got its start from a Kickstarter campaign created by former Pratt student, Todd Triplett. The aim is to showcase underexposed artists to underexposed audiences. #NotableinNY #BlogPosts

It is my pleasure to share with you Compass' 2Q16 Brooklyn Market Report. This report highlights the prevailing trends shaping the market from this past quarter. A few major trends to note from the data: The 2Q16 median closing price was the highest on record for the market overall ($835,000), for the condo market ($900,000), and the highest second quarter on record for the co-op market ($499,250). Prices are on the rise for active units as well as signed contracts, as the overall median price of inventory increased 12% to $995,000 and the overall median price of signed contracts increased 7% to $899,000. Despite these price increases, months of supply is dropping; the average monthly number of signed contracts increased over the last year while inventory stayed consistent. While Brooklyn’s overall median closing price was the highest ever this quarter, we expect that record will be broken several times in the coming year as closings begin at premier condominiums such as Pierhouse, 1 John Street, 51 Jay Street, The Boerum, 465 Pacific Street, and 550 Vanderbilt. I hope that you find these key takeaways useful and I strongly encourage you to check out the Compass Markets App for more detailed data broken down in to neighborhood analysis for the 27 neighborhoods in Brooklyn (visible in color on the map below.) I welcome your comments and am always happy to answer any questions you have about the NYC Real Estate Market. #CompassMarketReports #BlogPosts

We have all been there – the amazing sunset shot that never looks like we see it when we snap a phone pic, the cute hair-do that looks oddly sideways in our selfie, the delicious pasta that looks drab and 2D even with a very overdone XX Pro filter on it. While obviously, any photo pro should have and use real cameras, for us lay photographers, a good photo is a good photo, regardless of what medium we use to take it. Camera phones have some inherent strengths and weaknesses, and by emphasizing the good and downplaying the bad, you get the most out of all the images you decide to snap on the go! While I’d love to claim to be an expert, the tips below are taken from REAL photo experts at PopPhoto.com – check them out below, and let’s see if we can’t do better than a kissy face pose in front of our new favorite restaurant with a heftily applied Valencia filter in our next instagram post… “Here are some things to keep in mind when firing up the photo app on your iPhone, Droid, Lumia or whatever. 1. Get Close - Many cell phone cameras, especially the iPhone, really start to shine when you bring them in close to your subject. The small sensor provides a relatively wide depth of field so you can get entire objects in focus where cameras with bigger sensors and longer lenses would have trouble.When getting close, you can also usually have more control over the lighting of your subject. Are bright patches in the background of your composition throwing off the camera's meter and making your subject dark? Get closer and block it out all together. Small detail shots can be quite effective if done right. 2. Crop, Don't Zoom - Many smartphone camera offer a digital zoom function, but you're almost always best served by pretending it doesn't exist. Even in the liveview preview, you'll be able to see how noticeably your images degrade the second you start to "zoom." The camera is simply extrapolating what's already there and basically guessing what the image looks like. It gets ugly fast.When you're cropping, however, you're actually just sampling pixel info that was actually recorded. Many smartphones have 8-megapixels of resolution and sometimes more. That means you can crop substantially and still have plenty of resolution left for display on the web. And the lack of gross upscaling artifacts will help mask the fact that it was taken with a phone. 3. Edit, Don't Filter - If you want your images to be unique, the last thing you should do is paint them with the same filters that literally millions of other people are using. For the record, I'm not anti-Instagram. I think the sharing element is fantastic, but the pre-determined "retro" washes are played out. And that goes for every other app slinging the same stuff.I suggest getting a full-on image editing app like the excellent SnapSeed, Photoshop Express, or iPhoto. They'll let you make reasonable adjustments, like contrast, sharpness, and color temperature. Stuff you'd actually do with images from your big camera. It's also not crazy to dump your images into Lightroom or another piece of editing software if you don't feel the need to share them right away. OK, it’s a little crazy, but people do it.It's with this decision that you can actually begin to choose your own style, or even extend the style you've already developed outside of your smartphone. It's a heck of a lot more effective than picking your favorite filter and slapping it on every photo. 4. Don't Add Fake Blur - Depth of field will always be one of the biggest challenges for a smartphone camera. Wide angle lenses and tiny sensors make any substantial background blur difficult to achieve. But faking it almost always makes things worse. First, blur added with an editing app is usually applied uniformly across most of the frame. That's not the way a lens works, so it looks unnatural. Second, it's hard to be precise when selecting the object you want in focus so you can end up with harsh transitions from sharp to blurry. It's distracting and a dead give away that you’ve been messing with the image.If you want the viewer to focus on one specific thing, make it the central object in the frame. Try to keep your backgrounds as simple as possible, even if it means asking your subjects to turn around or move a few steps back. It's worth it. 5. Pick a Better Camera App - This one applies more to iPhone users than Android users, but in any case, the goal is more control. There are a couple of standard choices in this category and any of them will treat you better than the stock camera app. I like Camera Awesome (made by SmugMug) because it allows you to shoot in bursts and separates the AF lock from the exposure lock. It's also free. Other apps like Camera+ have similar options for more controlled shooting.Whatever you pick, it's worth it to spend a little time really getting used to it. It seems silly to take out your phone and practice taking pictures, but you'll be glad you did it if you manage to catch a great shot while others are still flipping through pages of apps or trying to turn off their stupid flash. 6. Ditch The Flash - The problem with many smartphone flashes is that they don't actually, well, flash. They're glorified LED flashlights, thrust into a duty they're not fully prepared for. They are bright, but the color temperature can be gross and they miss one of the primary duties of a strobe: freezing the action in the frame. The actual "flash" duration is much too long, so you end up with an image that's both blurry and terribly-lit. Not to mention how close it is to the lens, which makes those horrible demon eyes almost a given.So, what do you do in the dark, then? Unfortunately, even with advances like Nokia's nifty PureView technology, there's only so far you can push a smartphone sensor in low-light. Often, your best bet is to seek out another light source. It likely won't be perfect or even flattering, but it can be interesting. In a dark bar? Look for a neon sign or a bright juke box. At a concert? Wait until one of the wacky swinging stage lights makes its way over to your area. Photography is about creativity after all.If it comes right down to it, though, getting a bad flash picture can be better than getting no picture at all if you just want to remember a moment. 7. Keep Your Lens Clean - Your pocket is not a clean place, and the grime that lives within loves to glom onto your smartphone camera lens. The results are hazy, dark images that won't look good no matter how many retro filters you slap on them.The lenses are now remarkably tough, so giving them a quick wipe with a soft cloth can't hurt (and your T-shirt will do OK in a pinch, but try not to make a habit of it). Once in a while, it's worth the effort to break out the lens cleaning solution and really get the grime off of it. It may not look dirty and you might not even notice it in your photos, but often a deep clean will make a difference. 8. Watch The Lens Flare - Adding lens flare is another trend in mobile photography right now that's getting more overdone by the minute. But, this one can actually work for you if you do it the natural way. The tiny lenses are often more prone to wacky light effects than their full-sized counterparts, so you can really play it up if you want to. A silhouette with a bright, flaring background can actually look very stylish.If you want to control the flare in your shot, move the sun (or whatever bright light source is causing the refraction-based mayhem) around in the frame. As you get closer to the edge, you'll often see the flare spread out and become more prominent. This is especially true with the new iPhone 5, which is also prone to image-ruining purple fringing that should be avoided if possible.You can also cup your hand around the lens in order to make a DIY lens hood, which will cut down on the amount of flare if the light source happens to be out to the side of the frame. It may even be able to get rid of it all together. #DIYDecor #BlogPosts