The Fight to Save First Avenue Estate: Looking Back
FRIENDS recently capped its weeklong series exploring the cultural and historical context of Yorkville’s City and Suburban First Avenue Estate and the decades-long battle to preserve it, which relied upon both local advocates and the legal system at our country’s highest court.
Historic Yorkville Family Tour
Children of all ages explored historic Yorkville on this virtual family tour led by FRIENDS' Director of Education in June 2020.
Reimagined Row Houses
Andrew Dolkart discussed the history of early 20th century row house modernization, written about in The Row House Reborn, for FRIENDS in May 2020.
Annual Awards 2020: Getting to Know our Good Neighbors
Many businesses on the Upper East Side are family-owned, and have been passed down for generations. These small mom and pop shops lend individual character, neighborly warmth, and historical continuity to our community. The following tour highlights an array of small businesses that have served our neighborhood for decades.
Annual Awards 2020: An Ethereal Tour of the Upper East Side
Today we celebrate the recipient of our 2020 Renaissance Award, Park Avenue Synagogue. Last year the Synagogue completed a campus-wide renovation, with a program for the East 87th Street Synagogue House in tandem with the newly acquired building on East 89th Street.
Annual Awards 2020: Honoring New York City Council
In this second of our series to celebrate FRIENDS 2020 Annual Awards recipients we highlight our 2020 Expression of Thanks Awardee New York City Council for adopting Resolution No. 916, which amends the Zoning Resolution to put a cap on exempt mechanical void space within new buildings in residential neighborhoods.
Annual Awards 2020: Have you seen a new tree?
Every year, FRIENDS of the Upper East Side Historic Districts celebrates outstanding achievement in preservation, architecture, and advocacy on the Upper East Side during our Annual Meeting & Awards. This year we have selected six award recipients that have demonstrated excellence in Restoration, Stewardship, Innovation, and more!
A (Virtual) Sunday Stroll with Michael Kimmelman & Andrew Dolkart
In case you missed it, here's the link to a terrific New York Times article that appeared this past week featuring FRIENDS advisory board member Andrew Dolkart. It's a virtual walking tour of Museum Mile, part of the Metropolitan Museum Historic District, and the second in a series of strolls of the city by Michael Kimmelman.
At Home with the Friends of the Upper East Side
Heartfelt greetings to all, from Friends' President and staff, now working from homes in Yorkville (Franny), Boerum Hill (Lara), Stuyvesant (Felicia), and Pelham (Heidi). Rachel is safe at home on maternity leave with her twin girls.
UPDATES: Annual Awards & Public Programs
Given the current state of the COVID-19 outbreak, and out of an abundance of caution and respect for you, our members, and our colleagues, FRIENDS has decided to postpone the events scheduled for April, including our 37th Annual Meeting & Awards.