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 Here are the latest in our ongoing list of prize Instagram entries.

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ARTIFACTS: A Mug and a Coffee Pot

 

A mug and a coffee pot are the artifacts of the day, the first a souvenir of the Three Lions Pub, set in the Hotel Tudor. It opened in 1964 as the hotel's answer to the British invasion popular at the time, rendered in a pleasantly faux-authentic manner.  

On the reverse was written Honour, Fame, Love and Wealth may desert us, but Thirst is Eternal. The Three Lions Pub had a long enough life ‒ it closed in 1979 ‒ and left behind some imagery:

Its main entrance at 305 E. 41st St. had its own awning (at left), while its print ads made it seem a bit fancier than it really was.

The second artifact has not as much provenance, a coffee pot simply stamped TUDOR CITY.  

On the underside is the manufacturer's name, Stanley Insulating Co. of Great Barrington, Mass. The firm was well known for its insulated bottles. Other Tudor City coffee pots were made by Gorham, a renowned silversmith. More about it here.

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You certainly didn't think I'd forget Manhattanhenge!

MANHATTANHENGE 2023

Monday, May 29, 8:13 pm, half sun

Tuesday, May 30, 8:12 pm, full sun

Wednesday, July 12, 8:20 pm, full sun

Thursday, July 13, 8:21 pm, half sun

RESTAURANTS: Convivio

Today, we cover Convivio, which once operated in the restaurant space in Prospect Tower that's been there since Tudor City began.

The story actually begins with L'Impero, the restaurant that preceded it. Owned by Chris Cannon, it featured chef Scott Conant in the kitchen. Several good reviews later, the restaurant was a hot ticket, the first time that ever happened in Tudor City.

Then Cannon and Conant had a falling out, and the chef left. Cannon searched and came up with another chef with the apt credentials.

 The new chef, Michael White (above) came aboard and it was decided to spruce the place up with a new name and some decor enhancements. This was done and the place was opened in 2007.

Inside, it was all kinds of luxe, from the wraparound crimson banquettes to the ceiling's six-coats of car paint to make everything shimmer. The winning combo of Convivio (and Alto, another fine-dining restaurant) was further enhanced when they took on a business partner and added a third, Marea. Everything reached its peak when the New York Times awarded all of them with three stars apiece.

A year passed, and suddenly White and the new business partner wanted out. In the acrimonious settlement, they took Marea, while Cannon took Convivio and Alto. And then came the final blow; an alleged tipping scandal at Alto caused him to shrug his shoulders and walk away. Convivio, and Alto, were closed.

That's all there is to the story. We leave you with a view of the outside, around Christmas time.

REAL ESTATE REPORT: What's Your Apartment Worth?

 Recent Tudor City sale prices via Streeteasy.

The Cloister 

$572,500, Apt 1008, one bedroom

$555,000, Apt 302, one bedroom

Essex House

$975,000, Apt 902, two bedroom

$585,000, Apt 608, one bedroom

Haddon Hall
$930,000, Apt 802C, two bedroom
$900,000, Apt 501C, two bedroom

Hardwicke Hall
$875,000, Apt 205B, two bedroom
$328,000, Apt 1303A, studio

Hatfield House   
$330,000, Apt 306A, studio
$329,000, Apt 903A, studio

The Hermitage 
The Hermitage is a rental-only building. Recent monthly rentals:
$5,895, Apt 505, three bedroom

$5,495, Apt 604, three bedroom

The Manor  

$1,250,000, Apt 808, three bedroom

$440,000, Apt 316, one bedroom

Prospect Tower, No. 45
$550,000, Apt 910, one bedroom
$495,000, Apt 1211, one bedroom

Tudor Gardens, No. 2
$1,100,000, Apt 8BS, tw0 bedroom

$660,000, Apt 5GN, one bedroom

Tudor Tower, No. 25
$482,500, Apt 1712, one bedroom
$465,000, Apt 505, one bedroom

Windsor Tower, No. 5
$3,200,000, Apt PH 4, two bedroom
$435,000, Apt 720, one bedroom

Woodstock Tower

$599,000, Apt 2418, one bedroom

$435,000, Apt 1810, one bedroom

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Penthouse 4 in Windsor Tower has sold for its asking price, $3.2 million (see our coverage here) and the nearly-million dollar studio has not sold yet (see more here). Such is the nature of the real estate market these days. 

The biggest ask at the moment is Apartment 9HS in Tudor Gardens, a two-bedroom priced at $1.35 million. 

The dining room of Apt 9HS with windows facing south.

Brown Harris Stevens is handling the sale. More details, here.

PARKS Miscellanea

Again, it's time to look at some odds and ends that don't seem big enough for a post, but are of some interest nonetheless. And in honor of the spring season, they all have to do with the parks that tie Tudor City together.

First, a portrait of The Manor, No. 45 and No. 25, made around 1929. The grassy area is the site of the future South Park; they haven't done much with the landscaping as it was then the famous Tudor City Miniature Golf Course.

Also around the same time, a photo was made of two benches and a large pot grouped together in the North Park. Behind it, the lattice-worked wall that's the western border of the park. 

From the Daily News, May 17, 1939. Held from 1936‒1940, the tulip festival was an effort to have some good news during the Depression. More about it here.

A page from the July, 1965 issue of Tudor City View, enabling readers to identify the various trees of the North and South Parks. The parks were in terrible shape by then, but at least they could still name its trees.

The park's savior, John McKean, pictured at a community meeting. At the table beside him was a scale model and birds-eye view renderings of the two parks. What was said at this meeting is lost to time, but it is fine portrait of John McKean, selling an idea.

Harry Helmsley is Going to Destroy This Park!

A couple of rare photographs showing the plywood put up around the North Park on Memorial Day weekend, 1980, prior to demolition by Harry Helmsley. Or at least the attempted demolition by Harry Helmsley.

Of course, the plywood attracted immediate graffiti from the locals, in both good taste and exquisitely bad taste.

Apparently, some of the graffiti hit too close to home, and the blue paint covered up some of the previous work. Someone has written We love trees, but Helmsley is sleaze, so let's bring him to his knees. Somebody else wrote YEAH! 

Our favorite cartoon ‒ the rear end of an ass.

The second photo has some good lines ‒ These parks are the unreal estate of H. Helmslee ‒ but the primary graffiti is key:

Rather convoluted at best, the joke lumbers along until finally coming to its end. There was an addendum in another hand reading This is too low (bottom right). Apparently not everyone liked this approach, but hey, that's Tudor City for you.

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These pictures come courtesy of Fabrice Frere, who photographed the scene as a teenager. Thanks, Fabrice. 

Instagramable You

We once again welcome five talented Instagrammers who document Tudor City as it approaches its centennial, four years from now.

Temporary United Nations Mural by carosbai    

Five Gargoyles by citymousenyc  

An Opposing View by leahblesoff 

 

  Painted Not Photographed by jimmyadvice 

   

No. 45 and the United Nations by jamescampbelltaylor