NY Townhouses in Pop Culture: Breakfast at Tiffany's

Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's

The 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany's and its lovable heroine, Holly Golightly, have defined New York City in the filmgoing imagination for almost fifty years. Pictures of Audrey Hepburn in her little black dress and big black glasses are sold at every souvenir stand in the city; formerly prosaic objects (pink lipstick, cigarette holders, brown-bag breakfasts) now boast an aura of movie magic. One of the most iconic of these images is the New York City townhouse where Holly Golightly threw her parties and sang "Moon River."

Holly Golightly's brownstone at 169 East 71st Street
(Image courtesy amorecrush.blogspot.com)

The film focuses on the romance of Holly and Paul, two young residents of a formerly single-family Manhattan townhouse divided into rental units. In his book, Celluloid Skyline, James Sanders calls the multi-unit New York City brownstone the "obvious locale for romance" due to the "domestic unity" of the building's structure and the "solitary lives" of its renters. (Source: Movie Diva) In the eponymous novella by Truman Capote, the location of Holly and Paul's brownstone is never specified. However, the film's facade shots were done on location in front of an Italianate Style townhouse at 169 East 71st Street.

(The Italianate Style, for the curious, is one of the most recognizable and classic of NYC brownstone styles. It is easily identified by its pilastered doorway, long front windows, ironwork railing, and protruding cornice. [Source:Charles Lockwood's seminal work, Bricks and Brownstone.] Excellent examples of this style often appear among Manhattan brownstones for sale.)

For more information on townhouses for sale and other New York City Brownstones for Sale , contact Vandenberg -- The Townhouse Experts TM. We specialize in townhouse realty.

Manhattan Brownstones for Sale! Vandenberg, Townhouse Realty: 56 West 76th Street!

Manhattan Brownstones for Sale

56 West 76th Street

$5,300,000

This handsome five-story Manhattan townhouse is located on one of the most desirable blocks on the Upper West Side. Central Park is only a few steps away. This lovely park block is tree-lined and almost completely townhouse-flanked. Currently configured as ten rental units, this New York City townhouse needs only your creative touch to transform it into your ideal single-family mansion in an unbeatable location. Best of all? This is a NYC Brownstone For Sale!

Nine of the ten units in this New York brownstone are free market with leases expiring in the next twelve months. Charming features such as exposed brick, decorative fireplaces with original wood-carved mantels, and bright natural light from the box front windows add value to these units. Should you choose to return this Upper West Side townhouse to its former glory as a single-family mansion, these details, including an original entryway mirror and an original wood-carved banister, could be easily restored to highlight the historic character of this building. The only rent-protected tenant is ideally located in a one-bedroom in the street-level front, so this would not interfere with your central stairs or construction if the tenant is not relocated. Most of the units are studios and one-bedrooms, but the top floor boasts a three bedroom, two bath duplex with two terraces – a perfect future guest apartment.

For more information on Manhattan Brownstones for Sale and other townhouses for sale, contact Vandenberg -- The Townhouse Experts TM. We specialize in townhouse realty.

New York City Brownstones for Sale! Vandenberg, Price Reduction! 35 West 95th Street

New York City Brownstones for Sale

35 West 95th Street

PRICE REDUCED to $3,495,000

End your search for New York City Brownstones for Sale! This four-story Manhattan brownstone is situated on a gorgeous New York City townhouse block just steps from Central Park. One of an intact row-of-four, this property’s authenticity is visible even from the sidewalk. The façade is adorned by delightful original carvings. The exterior ironwork on the front door is in excellent condition. Nor does the interior disappoint the New York brownstone purist. This property distinguishes itself not only by decorative original details, but by functional ones. Here, preservation is not a matter of show, but a practical way of living. The current owner, an architect and artist, has restored the original fireplaces and opened the flues to create functioning wood-burning hearths in almost every room in this New York City Townhouse. He has also lovingly restored much of the original woodwork to its former glory. Most of the original parquetry has been preserved, as has the asymmetrical layout of the rear rooms. Original window frames, door frames, moldings, and pocket doors are found throughout. Although the greenery of Central Park is only steps away, this Nyc Brownstone For Sale also provides you with an extraordinarily deep garden in which to relax with your morning cup of coffee. Currently configured as an owner’s duplex with a rental duplex above, this Upper West Side townhouse could easily be converted into a single-family home.

For more information on New York City Brownstones for Sale and other Manhattan Brownstones for Sale , contact Vandenberg -- The Townhouse Experts TM. We specialize in townhouse realty.