New York

Footwear king Steve Madden and his wife have been buying up units of the historic Blacksmith House on New York's Upper East Side since 2006. Now that they own it all, they're ready to sell.

The home, which was listed just this week for $8,995,000, was originally built in 1860 and was subsequently cut up into separate apartments. Located on East 73rd Street between Lexington and Third Avenues, the house is spread over 6,000 square feet. Current floor plans feature seven bedrooms and 10 bathrooms, and the master suite opens onto a private garden. There are also three terraces — one on the parlor floor and another two on the top level of the house.

A look at the house and all that comes with it, here in the gallery.

All eyes will be on the latest styles this Thursday when New York Fashion Week kicks off, but our stomachs will be in a different place. New York City is known for some some mouthwatering foods — think hot dogs, pizza, and cheesecake — that inspire plenty of our own recipes that add a twist to the classics. Whether you're close to the runways or not, you can still indulge in some big-city eating with these distinct dishes.

Loosen your girdles and get ready for a little Downton Abbey here in the States! The creator of the popular British drama series, Julian Fellowes, is developing a new NBC show called The Gilded Age, set in 1880s New York.

Known as the American Renaissance, this period following the Civil War (from 1877 to 1893) was a time of economic growth and industrialization, but it wasn't without its problems and setbacks. In fact, the era's moniker was coined by Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner in their 1873 satirical novel The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today, which called out our country's greed and political corruption hidden beneath a thin layer of gold.

For women, the Gilded Age was a transitional mixed bag of Victorian morality, loveless marriages, the birth of the women's rights movement, and the invention of the vibrator. Find out more about the important women of this period, mostly centered in New York, as well as the rules of love, sex, and marriage in the Gilded Age.

Monique Lhuillier's Spring 2013 collection took its direction from the beauty found underneath the ocean's surface. Her customarily gorgeous gowns and dresses were, this season, covered in prints that resembled glittering aqua fish scales or stylized images of koi. Other dresses were covered in small shells painted a deep blue that caught the light as the models moved down the runway. Peplums, an enduring trend this season, were used to create fishtail silhouettes with a number of the collection's tops.

But even the dresses that didn't look like they were pulled straight out of the water carried reminders of the sea. Gauzy tulle numbers were embellished with lace or sequin embroidery that looked like the patterns of the ocean current, and one strapless gown was covered in a multicolored print that resembled the ocean depths fading from light blue to dark.

New York's busy, taxi-filled streets are the setting for so many classic love stories, and with the city's Fashion Week in full force, we're filling up our instant queue with all the best, most romantic movies based in NYC. There's Marilyn Monroe's infamous standing-over-the-sewer scene in The Seven Year Itch, Audrey Hepburn's iconic role in Breakfast at Tiffany's, plus contemporary rom-coms and plenty of cool, quirky indie films. Open Netflix, check out our picks, and get ready for a romantic, New York-inspired movie marathon.

One of our favorite authors, Michael Cunningham, has just listed his Union Square loft for $1.595 million. Besides some truly incredible features, including amazing views south to the new World Trade Center and north to the Empire State Building, original steel columns and architectural woodwork, it's a true haven for book lovers. See why when you take a tour of this property.

Photos courtesy Corcoran

Running through June 4, BOFFO's first-ever show house at 371 Madison Street in New York takes a bold, gigantic step outside of the parameters of the traditional show house. The arts and culture nonprofit group BOFFO has gathered together the best in creative furniture, decor, and art to create imaginative, playful, idea-sparking interiors. Assembled by artist/designer Andrew Yes, the spaces are organized under the themes of Nature, Future, Play, and Work. Keep clicking to see the spaces — and be prepared for surprise, delight, and inspiration.

All photos courtesy Evan Joseph

Japanese clothing line Uniqlo is much loved for its minimalist sensibilities and affordable prices (for those not familiar with the line, think of it as a less-trendy H&M or a cooler Gap), and just this week, it introduced its first-ever kids line. Uniqlo Undercover, a collaboration with designer Jun Takahashi, is only available at the brand's three New York City stores, so check out these 10 covetable pieces, call up your favorite Manhattanite, and beg them to go on a shopping spree for your oh-so-needy tot!

Last year, designer Karl Lagerfeld listed his 50 Gramercy Park North apartment for $6.5 million, then dropped the price by over $1 million, and finally took it off the market. Now, the three-bedroom apartment, which Lagerfeld purchased in 2006, is back on the market for $5.2 million, according to Curbed. Take a peek at the apartment, which is listed through Douglas Elliman, when you keep clicking!

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