INSTAGRAMMABLE

Once again, it's time to say thank you to all of the talented Instagrammers for all their hard work.

Chrysler Building gargoyles set against a backdrop of The Manor ‒ with The Cloister in the shadows ‒ by gettinviggy

"Rolling the dice in Tudor City" by hecticful      

"RIP Tudor City Greens" by thewigmusic        

"Lost in nothingness" by perceptionshot                   

        

  Manhattanhenge madness by chief770                       

MISCELLANEA

Once again, a grab bag of material.

The entrance to No. 45's rooftop has recently re-opened after years of closure due to Local Law 11. Tempting though it may be, it's only for the use of residents of Prospect Tower, No. 45.

Here is a photo of the North Park's fountain, depicting a young boy bearing a jug which pours water on a hapless turtle, while beneath them, lion heads spew water. 

This photograph shows the model of Tudor City in No. 5's lobby, which is undergoing a renovation. No word on whether it will include No. 2. Stay tuned. Past history here.

The Tudor Arms cigar ‒ the Modern Cigar ‒ suggested that anything with the word Tudor attached to it could be sold. 

The two falcon heads pictured are new additions to the South Park, though they are not technically new. Originally part of No. 25's roofline ‒ where they warded off evil doers ‒ these heads were replaced after nearly 100 years of service. Now they live across the street in the South Park.

Thank you Tudor City Greens for the info.

PRADA in Tudor City

We'd like to welcome back the fashion shoot video, this one courtesy of the house of Prada. Although the short film ‒ a mere 1:49 long ‒ is pretty baffling in a typically Prada way, it's just plain pretty in its Tudor City imagery.

We begin on a rooftop terrace of No. 5, where a girl stands holding something up. (Directly above her is the new tower of Chase Bank, enthusiastically lit each night.)

Close up on the girl, played by actress Scarlett Johansson, who is airing out her Galleria bag.

In the North Park, she attempts to shake some moisture from the tree into her handbag. The Manor provides the background.

The story continues in the 41st street cul-de-sac where she records the sound of a medium-size dog barking. 

A final yap and the saga moves on. 

After several more oddball twists, the camera alights on a sphere nearly big as the room. Paging Stanley Kubrick! 

Scarlett Johansson is a global ambassador for Prada, and the face of its Galleria Bag. This short film entitled "Ritual Identities" was directed in 2025 by Yorgos Lanthimos, better known as the director of the movie "The Favorite."

See the complete short film here.

MISCELLANEA

 Here's another installment of Miscellanea for your viewing pleasure:

At a table in the Tudor City Steakhouse sit Cindy Adams, the New York Post's gossip columnist extraordinaire, along with Mirso Lekic, owner of the restaurant. Only in New York, kids.

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A photograph of 1st Avenue and 40th Street, looking downtown. On the right is No. 5, while across the street is the home of the WM INTNER MATTRESS CO. They seem to be reputable enough; the wall along 40th Street reads

MANUFACTURERS

⸺ OF ⸺ 

MATTRESSES

BOX SPRINGS

BOX COUCHES

PILLOWS

ROLL BOLSTERS

COT BEDS

METAL SPRINGS

Whether they supplied any bedding to Tudor City is unknown.

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The Sharansky Steps and the Isaiah quotation set the backdrop for this picture made on September 19, 1960. The protestors' poster says it all:

Down With Castro

CUBA  Yes

COMMUNISM  No!

Cuban Front  F.R.D.

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Part of the Tulip Celebration of 1939, this picture was made from a window in The Manor, showing the stage set for baritone Glenn Darwin. From the collection of Fabrice Frere, thanks Fabrice.

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Finally, proof there's life after fifty in Tudor City.  

INSTAGRAM Meets the Paint Brush

Here is another admirable effort thanks to a talented group of Instagrammers. There is also a theme this week ‒ all of the entries are illustrations.  

 "View over 42nd Street from Tudor City" by secretsketchnyc         

  "Sunset on a Tudor City Rooftop" by gavindedraw

"Tudor City Bridge" by venustongnyc        

     "Tudor City Bridge" by lisabisbeeart       

"An elevated playground in Tudor City" by secretsketchnyc 

MORE Miscellany

 

We begin with a puzzle from 1934: what is the man doing to the roadway at 1st Avenue and 41st Street? 

And what exactly does the extended leg mean?

Questions, questions! The man in the hat is sticking his pole into a hole, that we are sure of. We took a closer look at the sign, which reads

 

1st Ave 41st

14 ft North of BL

30½ ft W of E curb

Looking N.W.

Not a lot of help, with notations right out of a city almanac and no mention of an extended leg, either. The photo is from the NYC Municipal Library and is entitled "Looking northwest from 1st Avenue, 41st Street." Hmmm. . .

   

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This is an oil painting entitled "Tudor City" from artist Uo Suga that was listed last week for $397.84 on eBay. Too bad the listing ended early, with no explanation.

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"Party at the Ford Foundation" by our good friend, Garth Justice.

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This comes from regular contributor David Reiff. Fabled songwriter Neil Sedaka ‒ "Breaking Up is Hard to Do," "Calendar Girl," "Love Will Keep Us Together" ‒ recently passed away, and in 2012, there was a concert honoring him in the South Park. Above, the flyer and below, the guest of honor.

Sedaka at the Tudor City Greens concert

AD CAMPAIGN, 1931

Hello today from August, 1931, when the following newspaper ad campaign ran. 

 

A Seat in the Shade Three Blocks from Grand Central

Here it is ‒ waiting for you ‒ a shady seat, just three blocks from one of the hottest, busiest parts of New York. It's in a Tudor City park, inviting you now. So walk across town today; feel the temperature drop as the breeze from Tudor City's parks blows about you. Low thermometer, reasonable prices. What more can you ask? . . .

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Fresh Green Leaves Untouched by City Grime

Tudor City's two blocks of private parks are far enough away from the grime and dust of metropolitan traffic to stay continually fresh and green. Just as Tudor City, itself, while only three blocks from Grand Central, has an air of restfulness and peace hard to find in New York today. Come to Tudor City ‒  look at our apartments, our parks, our restaurants ‒ see how living is made easy for you in this unique community. . .

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Privet Hedges-Flowering Shrubs Bring Suburban Atmosphere to 42nd Street

At Tudor City's doorstep are two blocks of the most delightful parks in all New York ‒ parks where you'll find only your kind of people ‒ for they are private parks, the property of Tudor City. Its parks are only one of the characteristics which make Tudor City unique. . . 

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Fluttering in a River Breeze Which Cools All Tudor City

When the rest of New York is breathless in midsummer, there's a breeze in Tudor City. A breeze that comes from the river, refreshing every apartment with its cooling breath. The minute you step inside one of Tudor City's apartments, you'll notice the coolness, the freshness of the air. . . 

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Ice Cold Melon Served at a Cool Corner Table

If you want to live in comfort, come to Tudor City. . . Every table in each of the three airy restaurants is pleasantly cool even on the hottest day. Come for dinner tonight – get an idea of the restfulness, the coolness, the relief from parched city streets that every Tudor City resident enjoys. Look at some apartments ‒ the same coolness, the same breeze that made your dinner a delight will greet you in every Tudor City room. . . 

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Old World Charm at the East End of 42nd Street

While it is modern as can be in arrangement and conveniences, Tudor City has an Old World charm not to be found elsewhere in New York. As with the manor houses of Old England, so with Tudor City ‒ well-tended lawns, clipped hedges, flowers and trees form a background for its beautiful buildings. And from this breezy setting, perched on Prospect Hill at the east end of 42nd Street, one gets magnificent views over river and city. . .

Even More MISCELLANY

Time again to clear off the desk and share some miscellaneous items.   

                           First is the shedding of the leaves of the London Plane trees along Tudor City Place, an annual occurrence that inaugurates the winter season. Mauricio Cegueda captures this colorful event on the Tudor City Facebook page, above.

A landscape made in early 1927, featuring no. 45, all by itself in a hazy fog. 

Dutch colonist David De Voor arrived in 1677 to oversee farm land that included Prospect Hill. No. 25 commemorated him with this stained glass window, one of the few windows bearing a name. Thanks to Sally Hill for the photo.

One of the tax record series, this depicts 39th Street and 2nd Avenue, looking north. The Woodstock takes top billing, backed up by No. 25, lurking in the shadows.

Last but not least is this Spiderman ad featuring the lead taking a brief nap, presumably dreaming about Tudor City. This too came via Sally Hill, nothing gets by her. Thanks Sally!

Tudor City on Film: FBI

This edition of Tudor City on film concerns an episode from the longtime television staple, FBI. 

Entitled "Ratlined," it starred Missy Peregrym and Zeeko Zaki as the chief on-the-ground team for the New York City branch of the FBI. They manage, one way or another, to get everything thrown at them done.          

Our story begins with two professionals ‒ a reporter and a cameraman ‒ headed out of the 41st Street cul-de-sac.

They arrive at No. 5, which has been transformed into the Luxury Suites Hotel. A line of cars pull up, and the Prime Minister of Jordan gets out. The press begins shouting questions, but for some reason, he answers the girl. Then, suddenly, shots ring out.

The gunman apparently misses the Prime Minister and instead kills the reporter, the FBI initially believes. Later it turns out that the reporter was in fact the target.  

The plot percolates along elsewhere for a while, then returns to the North Park. 

There are diplomatic meetings held, in this case the delegate from China meeting an FBI higher-up to discuss the case. Who cares what they're saying, the park looks great.

And finally, in the last sequence, the male lead's girlfriend breaks up with him in a restaurant. As she exits, the painting behind her indicates it is the Tudor City Steakhouse. In 1928, artist Georgia O'Keeffe painted East River from the Shelton Hotel from her 30th floor suite in the hotel. A much larger copy was made and now hangs in the restaurant.