NEW YORK CITY: 300,000 March Ahead Of United Nations Climate Change Summit

Via USA Today:

More than 300,000 people marched through the streets of New York City on Sunday in what organizers called the largest climate-change demonstration in history. With banners, flags, floats and drums, protesters at the "People's Climate March" overwhelmed midtown Manhattan in flocks of vivid color, demanding action ahead of the United Nations Climate Summit this week. "I'm totally passionate about our planet and what's happening with our life here," said Heather Snow, 57, a massage therapist from Wilmington, N.C. "The whole Congress, everyone has gone insane, and it's time to end the insanity. I don't know how, I don't know when, but it's got to happen soon. We're running out of time." The massive march kicked off at 11:30 a.m. on the ritzy Upper West Side along Central Park before winding its way through the city on a two-mile route. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon, former U.S. vice president Al Gore, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, and actors Mark Ruffalo and Leonardo DiCaprio joined thousands of protesters at the march.

NEW YORK CITY: Midtown Manhattan May Get World's Tallest Residential Tower

According to plans leaked by New York Yimby, a skyscraper planned for midtown Manhattan would be only one foot shorter than WTC 1, making it the tallest residential tower in the world.

225 West 57th Street‘s facade will top-out 1,479′ above street level, while a surprise spire on top will cap the tower at 1,775 feet. Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill are designing the building. New York City’s skyscraper boom is entering unparalleled territory, and 225 West 57th Street could very well represent the crest of the current wave, assuming the tower is financed. The new height details will result in several superlatives: Manhattan will finally retake the ‘tallest roof’ in the United States from Chicago’s Willis Tower, which stands 1,451′, and 225 West 57th Street will become the tallest residential building in the entire world, surpassing both 432 Park Avenue and Mumbai’s World One Tower.

Several other midtown towers now under construction will challenge the height of the Empire State Building. (Via Towleroad)

NEW YORK CITY: Newlywed Gay Man Killed In Manhattan High-Rise Fire

Yesterday's high-rise fire in Manhattan took the life of a newlywed gay man and critically injured his husband.

The men, 27-year-old Daniel McClung and 32-year-old Michael Todd Cohen, were found in a stairwell near the 31st floor of The Strand condominium suffering from smoke inhalation and burns after the three-alarm fire erupted more than 10 stories below at the building on West 43rd Street, the FDNY said. McClung [ABOVE LEFT] died and Cohen is in stable condition at a hospital. The couple married in July, neighbors told NBC 4 New York. More than 200 firefighters responded to put out the blaze, which began in a hallway of the 20th floor, according to the FDNY. It took firefighters about an hour and 40 minutes to get the blaze under control, authorities said. Crews got to the scene quickly, but it took some time for firefighters to reach the higher floors.

The Red Cross is assisting the other tenants, who will not be allowed back into the building until the elevators are repaired. There is video at the second link.

UPDATE: The FDNY says the fire was caused by a power strip that was "possibly connected to a Christmas tree."

Blaze At Manhattan High-Rise

The New York Daily News reports:

A massive blaze at a Midtown Manhattan high-rise has critically injured two people as firefighters rushed to control the flames. Firefighter spokesman Danny Glover said the fire reported to authorities shortly after 11 a.m. Sunday was on the 20th floor of a building at 43rd Street and 10th Avenue. He says about 40 units responded to the fire and were on the scene shortly after noon. He says two civilians with critical injuries were taken to separate New York hospitals. A man who lives in the building appears to be live tweeting the action from his family apartment, several floors above the flames.

The fire is in the district of openly gay NYC Councilman Corey Johnson, who is on the scene.

UPDATE: JMG reader Steve took this from his balcony.

Midtown

Very Koyaanisqatsi. And therefore very cool.

(Tipped by JMG reader Michael)

Afternoon View - Bryant Park Rink

There are three skating rinks around midtown Manhattan, but Bryant Park's is the only free one thanks to pervasive corporate branding.

Afternoon View - Park & 42nd

Looking east from the same place from which I posted the western view last week. Today's Summer Streets ride was less crowded and slightly less hot due to cloud cover. We finished with a nice lunch in Brooklyn's Boerum Hill.

NYC To See First $100M Apartment

Months after a Russian billionaire plunked down $90M to buy his daughter a Manhattan apartment, that record figure is about to be eclipsed by the Prime Minister of Qatar, who has committed to pay over $100M for a penthouse in the 90-story One 57, which is now going up in midtown across from Carnegie Hall. It turns out that despite all his dough, other buildings have shot down the prime minister's attempt to purchase.

The sheik had looked at the top trophy homes in Manhattan, including Denise Rich’s $60 million co-op, sources said. But co-op boards have shunned him. The sheik has two wives and 15 children and a huge entourage. Co-op boards have balked at the sheer number of people he would bring to a building. In addition, his gun-toting security detail would likely follow him around and surround the building when he is in town. Finally, the sheik has diplomatic immunity, which could hamper any building’s attempt to legally address any issues that might come up, such as collecting unpaid common charges.

The prime minister is also said to be buying four separate full-floor units in the same building, bringing his total outlay to more than $250M.

Evening View - Lord & Taylor

World's Best Public Restroom

Virtual Tourist has named Bryant Park's restroom as the "world's #1 public toilet." I've been in there, it IS nice. "Who would have thought that a loo in the middle of such a dirty, noisy, frenetic city would have classical music, fresh flowers, and even an attendant! Visitors report that it's also spotlessly clean."

Morning View - Sixth & 42nd

Afternoon View - Bryant Park

Everybody's favorite midtown oasis. Free wifi!

Afternoon View - Madison & 42nd

Photo Of The Day

Several blocks of midtown Manhattan were shut down this afternoon after a suicidal man (light blue shirt) somehow clambered over the 12-foot glass wall on the 70th floor viewing deck of 30 Rock. Police were able to coax the man to safety after a "very tense hour."

(Photo via - Buzzfeed)

Movies At Bryant Park

During the summer months, New York City screens classic movies in Midtown's Bryant Park. Here's an oddly compelling and unnarrated clip from last week's screening.

Afternoon View - Hell's Kitchen

The wall of skyscrapers across the top of this photo sort of define the eastern boundary of Hell's Kitchen, which is mostly low-rise. For now.

Evening View - Midtown Manhattan

Photo Of The Day - Midtown Manhattan

JMG reader Steve tips us to an amazing 67-photo aerial depiction of New York City by the Denver Post. This size and clarity of the photos can't be given justice here, hit the link and see why it took me forever to pick just one out.

Morning View - Helmsley Building

Built in 1929 as the New York Central Railroad Building, it was purchased in the 80's by the Helmsleys. "Queen Of Mean" Leona later stipulated that all future owners of the building must keep its Helmsley name. In 2006 the Helmsley was purchased for $705M by the royal family of Dubai, who sold it one year later to Goldman Sachs for $1B. Flip this house. The building just completed a $100M green retrofit which included replacing all of its windows with double-paned glass.

Afternoon View - Bergdorf Goodman

Built in 1928 on the site of Anderson Cooper's great-grandfather's mansion.