FRIENDS

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The lobby of the Sherry-Netherland Hotel, winner of the 2015 Interior Award.

2016 Annual Awards – Call For Entries

This spring, FRIENDS of the Upper East Side Historic Districts will celebrate outstanding achievement in preservation, architecture, and advocacy on the Upper East Side during our Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony.

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New Report “The Upper East Side: A Framework for the Future of Five Neighborhoods” Available for Download

On October 7th FRIENDS released a neighborhood study which proposes 12 recommendations to preserve the community character, local businesses, affordable housing, and architectural legacy of the five diverse neighborhoods that make up the Upper East Side.

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Join FRIENDS to Learn How YOU Can Help Shape the Future of Our Community!

The Upper East Side: A Framework for the Future of Five Neighborhoods FRIENDS remains steadfast in its pro-active commitment to preserve the character of the Upper East Side in spite of development pressures stemming from the completion of the Second Avenue Subway, the City Planning Commission’s proposed zoning changes, and existing permissible zoning on the avenues.

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12th Annual Ambassador to the Upper East Side Award Dinner a Huge Success

More than 200 members of New York City’s philanthropic, preservation and civic communities gathered last evening at the Metropolitan Club as FRIENDS of the Upper East Side Historic Districts (FRIENDS) honored renowned pianist and bandleader Peter Duchin at its twelfth annual award dinner.

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Fighting Super Tall Towers with FRIENDS

Council Member Ben Kallos hosted a panel discussion about fighting superscrapers on Thursday, July 23rd.

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Summer 2015 newsletter

Summer 2015 Newsletter Available for Download

Stay updated on all of the latest FRIENDS news with our Summer 2015 Newsletter! Become a member today to receive our printed newsletter in the mail, guaranteeing the most up-to-date news on the landmarks and historic districts of the Upper East Side.

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ADVOCACY UPDATE: Another Win for Preservation!

Last November the Landmarks Preservation Commission announced a plan to remove nearly 100 buildings from consideration for designation. When a building passes the Commission’s initial review and is found to meet their basic requirements for designation, it is put on their calendar for a public hearing.

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Peter Duchin

FRIENDS Announces 2015 Ambassador to the Upper East Side!

Peter Duchin is America’s preeminent dance-band leader.  Since his debut in 1962 at The Maisonette in the St. Regis Hotel in New York City, he and his orchestra have provided the music for many of the nation’s most notable public and private events.

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FRIENDS Introduces New Technology to Rediscover Old Buildings

SMARTPHONES MAKE SMART FRIENDS!! On May 9th, over 125 Yorkville enthusiasts joined us for an awesome adventure, using an interactive web application to explore the history of our neighborhood. Players raced around Yorkville accomplishing photo challenges to identify architectural details, replicate historic photos, and imitate ornamental building features. They made stops at local haunts like Glaser’s Bakery, Schaller & Weber, and Heidelberg Restaurant. They were prompted to write a sidewalk poem about their love for Yorkville.

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Frick Collection

Breaking News: The Frick Abandons Contested Renovation Expansion Plan

Facing a groundswell of opposition to a proposed renovation that would have eliminated a gated garden to make way for a six-story addition, the museum – long admired for its intimate scale – has decided to abandon those plans and start over from scratch.

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FRIENDS of the Upper East Side 2020