Stephen Riley (pictured above)
Designer, Upper East Side
How long did you wait to get in?
Four hours. Inside, it was kind of spooky, like the funhouse got shut down. But it also felt straight out of an episode of Sex and the City.
Did you buy that couch?
Yes. The second I walked in, I saw it and was like, This can’t still be here; this has to be sold. The aged brass nailheads, the patinaed leather. A woman came over and told me it was $1,000. I was like, “Okay, great.” And then someone else came over and they were like, “That’s $2,000.” I was like, “No, no, I wasn’t asking, somebody already told me the price.” Anyway, I just immediately sat on it because it was eat or be eaten in there. I mean, my sister’s friend had a piece of art literally taken out of her hands.
Amanda Wu
Photo and video producer, Upper East Side
Carlos Nicasio
Nurse, Astoria
Michelle Caputo
Production-company owner, Bedford-Stuyvesant
What did you get?
I grabbed, like, four Baccarat ice buckets, silver engraved tongs, some little shakers, framed photography. And an olive velvet bed with some grommets. I have a new brownstone, so I needed that. I think I spent, like, $7,700.
Mike Fabbri
Real-estate broker, Gramercy Park
Were you a Gramercy Park Hotel regular?
Oh, yes. Every year after our Christmas party, we reserved a table at the Rose Bar. So I bought a menu — now, we’re going to re-create the cocktail list at our prewar, very Gramercy-inspired apartment. Also, if this building goes condo, I’m definitely buying.
Teddy Rose Francia
Stay-at-home mom, Park Slope
Jayan Fazal Karim
Venture capitalist, Soho
Stephanie Greco
Attorney, Gramcery Park
Connor Wright
Artist, Lower East Side
What is that you’re holding?
A Champagne bucket. I bought three for $40 each, which I’ll be using as trash cans. I just want people to glance around in my apartment and be like, “Is that a Veuve logo on your trash can?”
Rina Dweck
Artist, Noho
Sam Kochman
Retail buyer, Gramercy Park
Rita Beltran
Art director, Stuyvesant Town
Danielle Beickert
Financial analyst, Gramercy Park
Did you see anything weird happen?
I don’t know if people were going crazy, just ripping shit off the walls, but there was a woman who took a sign that said, “warning: 125 maximum occupancy.” Like, did she just find that, or did she take it off the wall? No idea. I guess it’s a talking piece, right?
Naomi Lytle
Interior designer, Chelsea
Alisa Cortina
Waitress and student, Bedford-Stuyvesant
Did the pricing seem fair?
Everybody you asked would tell you something else. So instead of saying “How much is it?” I started just being like, “This is $500, right?” And people would just say, “Yeah.” I’m from New York. I know how to barter.
Spencer Krell
Marketing-content creator, Upper East Side
Glenn Morizio
Actor, Bedford-Stuyvesant
Zach Williams
Fitness instructor, Hamilton Heights
How was the experience?
Worse than Black Friday. Everyone was like, “That’s mine!” I turned into the soccer mom from hell. There was this — well, I’m sure she’s a very kind woman, but let’s just say she was starting to eye this picture I’d already claimed. I was like, “Excuse me, ma’am,” with a little bit of a tense voice.
Judy Hallden
Flight attendant, Upper West Side
Amanda Wu
Photo and video producer, Upper East Side
Carlos Nicasio
Nurse, Astoria
Michelle Caputo
Production-company owner, Bedford-Stuyvesant
What did you get?
I grabbed, like, four Baccarat ice buckets, silver engraved tongs, some little shakers, framed photography. And an olive velvet bed with some grommets. I have a new brownstone, so I needed that. I think I spent, like, $7,700.
Mike Fabbri
Real-estate broker, Gramercy Park
Were you a Gramercy Park Hotel regular?
Oh, yes. Every year after our Christmas party, we reserved a table at the Rose Bar. So I bought a menu — now, we’re going to re-create the cocktail list at our prewar, very Gramercy-inspired apartment. Also, if this building goes condo, I’m definitely buying.
Teddy Rose Francia
Stay-at-home mom, Park Slope
Jayan Fazal Karim
Venture capitalist, Soho
Stephanie Greco
Attorney, Gramcery Park
Connor Wright
Artist, Lower East Side
What is that you’re holding?
A Champagne bucket. I bought three for $40 each, which I’ll be using as trash cans. I just want people to glance around in my apartment and be like, “Is that a Veuve logo on your trash can?”
Rina Dweck
Artist, Noho
Sam Kochman
Retail buyer, Gramercy Park
Rita Beltran
Art director, Stuyvesant Town
Danielle Beickert
Financial analyst, Gramercy Park
Did you see anything weird happen?
I don’t know if people were going crazy, just ripping shit off the walls, but there was a woman who took a sign that said, “warning: 125 maximum occupancy.” Like, did she just find that, or did she take it off the wall? No idea. I guess it’s a talking piece, right?
Naomi Lytle
Interior designer, Chelsea
Alisa Cortina
Waitress and student, Bedford-Stuyvesant
Did the pricing seem fair?
Everybody you asked would tell you something else. So instead of saying “How much is it?” I started just being like, “This is $500, right?” And people would just say, “Yeah.” I’m from New York. I know how to barter.
Spencer Krell
Marketing-content creator, Upper East Side
Glenn Morizio
Actor, Bedford-Stuyvesant
Zach Williams
Fitness instructor, Hamilton Heights
How was the experience?
Worse than Black Friday. Everyone was like, “That’s mine!” I turned into the soccer mom from hell. There was this — well, I’m sure she’s a very kind woman, but let’s just say she was starting to eye this picture I’d already claimed. I was like, “Excuse me, ma’am,” with a little bit of a tense voice.
Judy Hallden
Flight attendant, Upper West Side
