Skip to Content
CityRealty Logo
Over the weekend, the socially distant Golden Globes ceremony presented a unique look at celebrity homes. However, thanks for the number of luminaries that have made their home in Manhattan and Brooklyn, New Yorkers have the potential to see famous faces on a day-to-day basis. This is not limited to famous people - a recently listed Brooklyn Heights townhouse attracts attention not only for its impeccable architecture, but for its appearance in the popular film Moonstruck. Below, we take a look at that and other listings linked to famous names that made news over the past month.

In this article:

2280 FDB, 2280 Frederick Douglass Boulevard
2280 FDB, 2280 Frederick Douglass Boulevard Harlem
The Verona, 32 East 64th Street
The Verona, 32 East 64th Street Park/Fifth Ave. to 79th St.
The Plaza, 1 Central Park South
The Plaza, 1 Central Park South Midtown West
160 East 81st Street
160 East 81st Street Carnegie Hill
120 East 78th Street
120 East 78th Street Park/Fifth Ave. to 79th St.

1. Mike Nichols - Listed for $26,000,000

Acclaimed stage and screen director Mike Nichols died in 2014, but has made indelible contributions to film history with Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and The Graduate, to name but a few. His Upper East Side townhouse is similarly timeless, dating back to 1899 but including modern amenities like a landscaped garden. It’s a good thing it also comes with a private garage - the New York Post observes that the townhouse is on the same block as Madonna’s mega-mansion, the one where she got in trouble for posting homemade “No Parking” signs!

From the listing:
This elegant 40-foot-wide mansion could be found as easily on Eaton Square in London as on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. 160 East 81st is a double wide mansion with a private garage, an elevator and a double wide, very deep, lovingly landscaped south garden. Situated with a triple width house to the west and another double width house just to the east, 160 is surrounded by vast gardens, low buildings and open sky. Meticulously planned with double height spaces that open to the garden, a sophisticated wood panelled library and a mezzanine balcony large enough for a party, this house has a wonderful warm ease for everyday life as well as dramatic spaces for entertaining.

2. Juergen Friedrich - Relisted for $19,950,000

1-Central-Park-South-01 The Plaza via Compass
The Esprit store on Fifth Avenue has long since closed, and the apparel company’s founder is also working to step away: Founder Juergen Friedrich has relisted the Astor Suite at the Plaza. Mr. Friedrich and his wife, Anke Beck-Friedrich have put millions of dollars into renovations of the suite, which has hosted the likes of President John F. Kennedy and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. But the rich history and beautifully detailed interiors have not moved buyers; the New York Post noted that the price is way down from its original $55 million in 2008.

From the listing:
The historic "Astor Suite" is one of the most well-known homes in America and the finest in the world-renowned Plaza. Previously occupied by many notables such as John Jacob Astor, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, and John F. Kennedy, there is no grander home of greater pedigree or proportion than exquisite 509. This brilliant masterpiece, situated on the most desired corner of the iconic Plaza building, enjoys a magnificent vantage point yielding breathtaking views of Central Park and Fifth Avenue.

The 4,299-square-foot, four-bedroom, five-and-a-half-bath residence boasts high-end museum-worthy interiors by architect S.R. Gambrel Inc., who employed master artisans that rebuilt Windsor Castle in England, in a complete transformation that is unparalleled in every last detail. Exquisite custom millwork, soaring 12-foot ceilings, including those of tasteful old-world hand-drawn plaster, built-ins and fireplaces, rich English oak paneling, striking hand-hammered leather walls from France, and spectacular furnishings from around the world create the ultimate air of sophistication.
The Plaza has 16 available listings from $1.2M.

3. Dick Snyder - Relisted for $17,000,000

120-East-78th-Street-01 120 East 78th Street via Sotheby's International Realty
Between its new releases and a potential merger with Penguin Random House, Simon and Schuster has been in the news quite often as of late. Even its former president, Dick Snyder, cannot avoid the spotlight - the New York Post announced that his sprawling Upper East Side mansion is back on the market, down from its original listing price of $26 million in 2012. Appropriately enough for a publishing magnate, the home features a wood-paneled library.

From the listing:
Commissioned in 1930 by banker Henry R. Winthrop upon his daughter's engagement, the architects of this house, envisioned a neo-Georgian residence with a scene-stealing entrance niche. Delano & Aldrich created the dramatic entrance by cutting deeply into the façade with a sweeping curved marble staircase that leads up to the offset entrance door. The arms of the elegant iron fence bow out, mirroring the shape of the entrance alcove. The upper floors of red brick are subtly trimmed in limestone. Inside the rooms boast French paneling, rich hardwoods and carved marble mantles which among other period details have been meticulously maintained and carefully restored. The house offers 14 rooms on 8 stories above grade with many principal rooms boasting floor to ceiling windows with double exposures facing south and west, bathing them with abundant southern light.

4. Jeff Zucker - Sold for $15,350,000

The Verona via Warburg Realty
Less than a year after it was listed, CNN chief Jeff Zucker’s Upper East Side apartment has found a buyer. The sales price is down from the $17.5 million it was originally listed for, but is nevertheless more than he and ex-wife Caryn (not pictured) paid for it in 2007. The New York Post announced the sale and identified the buyer as trader/philanthropist Michael Steinhardt, who should have plenty of room for his acclaimed art collection there.

From the listing:
Finally, a 5-bedroom, 4.5-bathroom apartment impeccably renovated in the iconic Verona co-op. From the moment you enter the private elevator landing and step into the grand entrance gallery this apartment exudes serenity and elegance with its meticulous finishes, large windows and beautiful natural light. From the 38' living room adorned with Venetian plaster, the adjacent dining room with silk velvet walls, the large lacquered walled library and private office to the 25' chef's kitchen with the finest appliances and 2 eating areas, this apartment is full of extraordinary details including 11' ceilings and 3 working fireplaces.
The Verona has 3 available listings from $1.1M.

5. Moonstruck - Listed for $12,850,000

19-Cranberry-Street-01 All images of 19 Cranberry Street via Corcoran
19-Cranberry-Street-02
19-Cranberry-Street-03
From the night at the Met to the Brooklyn Heights townhouse, Moonstruck is as much a love letter to New York City as it is a romantic comedy. The interiors were shot in a different location, but there's no substitute for the exterior of the townhouse many of the film's characters expressed admiration for. However, Gothamist notes that the house's significance goes beyond one popular movie - it once belonged to Edwards Rullman, architect and chairman of the Historic Preservation Committee of the Brooklyn Heights Association.

From the listing:
At 26' wide, with garden and gated parking, this 30-window, light-filled, 4-story, 5+ bedroom, 3.5 bath townhouse has been impeccably renovated with restored original charm and exquisite attention to detail, resulting in comfortable and stately opulence. This peerless effort has seamlessly modernized this 1829 home for generations to come. Grand in scale, with sunny, large-scale rooms throughout, the corner townhouse is private, intimate, and considered at every turn.

With all of the infrastructure inside and out already redone, you need only kick back and enjoy this glamorous hideaway with a European flair, perfect for robust life or entertaining friends. So close to Manhattan but quietly tucked away in the best-of-the-best Brooklyn Heights location, it's a short stroll to transportation, bistros, and the new deep-water marina.

6. Carolyn Rafaelin - Relisted for $11,500,000

Would you like to tour any of these properties?
Just complete the info below.
  1. Select which properties are of interest to you:

Or call us at (212) 755-5544
156-Reade-Street-01 156 Reade Street via Douglas Elliman
For millennials, Alex and Ani expandable wire bangles with the wearer’s charm of choice have become a signature jewelry item. They have also made founder Carolyn Rafaelian one of America’s richest female entrepreneurs; however, she no longer works for the company and has relisted her Tribeca townhouse. She'll be taking a loss on it - the New York Post observes that she purchased it for $13.8 million in 2015.

From the listing:
Featured in Alexander Gorlin's book, "Creating a New American Townhouse," 156 Reade Street is celebrated for its innovative elements that include a 1,100-foot underground pipe which maintains a constant 52-degree interior ground temperature all year round. State-of-the-art systems further optimize comfort throughout the entire residence, including a geothermal system that provides heat, AC and hot water, and an automatic water filtration system for clean drinking water. There's even a heated sidewalk to conveniently melt the ice and snow! Radiant heated floors, floor-to-ceiling windows, panoramic southern, western and northern views, and impeccably-appointed living/entertaining spaces with the finest finishes and fixtures are among the other distinctive details.

7. Sela Ward - Listed for $5,795,000

16-Crosby-Street-01 16 Crosby Street via Corcoran
Two-time Emmy Award-winning actress Sela Ward is known for her roles on Once and Again, House, and FBI, but acting isn’t her only talent: She brought a flair for design to her Soho pied-a-terre. According to The New York Times, her top-to-bottom overhaul of the home took more than a year, and her paintings are on display in the apartment. She and husband Howard Sherman (not pictured) have listed the apartment, but are not saying good-bye to New York - she told the Times that they are looking for a bigger apartment, preferably close to Central Park, to better accommodate their two grown children.

From the listing:
The centerpiece of this expansive loft is its enormous 27x28-foot living room which is ideal for entertaining and features 3 beautifully designed bedrooms, 2.5 baths, gorgeous hardwood floors and, for quiet moments with a good book, a cozy, 125 square-foot mezzanine space. The immense windows bathe the loft in natural light while overlooking quiet, cobblestoned Crosby Street, one of the most coveted in SoHo. The sleek, open chef’s kitchen with breakfast bar boasts Italian finishes and is outfitted with top-of-the-line Sub-Zero and Miele appliances. Opposite the designer kitchen is a beautiful built-in banquette, ideal for breakfast or an intimate family dinner.

8. Rachel Maddow - Sold for $2,349,000

130-Jane-Street-01 Harbor House via Brown Harris Stevens
Breaking news: Just months after it was listed, Rachel Maddow’s West Village apartment is in contract. The new buyer’s identity is not available, but the New York Post reported that the MSNBC reporter and her partner, Susan Mikula (not pictured), bought the fourth-floor unit from R.E.M. singer Michael Stipe in 2010.

From the listing:
Be the first to live in this newly renovated home in an established cooperative on coveted Jane Street with attended lobby. Thoughtful and exceptional restoration, this home has all new infrastructure systems and finish.

Original architectural details include: organic wood support columns, tall ceilings, exposed brick; and new hickory wood floors. Fantastic large wood burning fireplace with Virginia soap stone clad surround; custom cabinetry and millwork throughout the apartment. Sophisticated designer lighting fixtures also.
Harbor House has 1 available listing for $899K.

9. Candice Bergen - Purchased for $2,150,000

825-Fifth-Avenue-01 825 Fifth Avenue via Compass
According to 6sqft, Emmy Award-winning actress Candice Bergen’s love of the Upper East Side dates back to the late ‘70s, when her “first grown-up apartment,” a duplex with Central Park views, was profiled in Architectural Digest. It appears that her daughter, Chloe Malle (not pictured), now lives there, and Ms. Bergen has recently purchased a Fifth Avenue apartment that once belonged to developer/political figure Abraham Hirschfeld.
825 Fifth Avenue has 1 available listing for $1.7M.

10. Don Lemon - Sold for $1,530,000

2280-Frederick-Douglass-Boulevard-01 2280 FDB via Douglas Elliman
This just in: CNN anchor and Edward R. Murrow Award-winner Don Lemon has sold his condo for just above what he paid for it in 2013. The Real Deal reports that he and fiance Tim Malone (not pictured, and the Elliman broker who handled the sale on his behalf) were originally planning to look for a place in a new neighborhood, and are now looking for a larger apartment now that they both spend more time at home.

From the listing:
Beautiful and spacious three bedroom home in mint condition with East and South-facing Manhattan and Harlem city views. Currently configured as a two bedroom, the open layout offers flexibility to be converted back to the original layout with three bedrooms.

Through the entry foyer you're led into the open living space which includes the dining area and balcony. Just off of the living room you'll find the chef's kitchen featuring modern, sleek cabinetry, stone countertops and backsplash, complete with a Wolf range and hood, dual fuel oven, Sub-Zero refrigerator, and Miele dishwasher.
2280 FDB has 2 available listings from $565K.

11. Christine Baranski - Listed for $1,395,000

125-East-74th-Street-01 125 East 74th Street via Kleier Residential
Over the summer, a trend emerged of renters signing new leases for bigger apartments in the same building - they already know they like where they live, and it made for a significantly easier move. On the Upper East Side, Tony- and Emmy Award-winning actress Christine Baranski has taken that to a grander scale - the New York Post announced that months after she bought a “fixer upper” duplex in the prewar cooperative where Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis grew up, she listed the apartment she already owned in the building.

From the listing:
The entrance gallery leads to a spacious twenty foot living room with elegant hardwood floors, large south-facing windows, custom built-in bookshelves, high beamed ceilings and wood-burning fireplace. The dining room is open to the windowed kitchen with new stainless steel appliances, stone counters and subway tile backsplash.

The primary bedroom has three huge windows facing south with lovely tree line exposures, seven closets and a windowed ensuite marble bath with Lefroy Brooks fixtures. The second bedroom is also well appointed and has an ensuite windowed bath.
125 East 74th Street has 5 available listings from $750K.

Would you like to tour any of these properties?
Just complete the info below.
  1. Select which properties are of interest to you:

Or call us at (212) 755-5544
Would you like to tour any of these properties?