Access Granted with Open House New York

Brian Lehrer (0:10)

Brian Lehrer on WNYC for our last few minutes today. We're going to offer you the opportunity to go behind the scenes at different places of interest all over New York City.

It's the 25th annual Open House New York. The festival is this weekend. They have 300 sites to visit from tomorrow through Sunday. And so to tell you about how it works and what's still on offer, we are joined by Kristin LaBuz, the Executive Director of Open House New York. Kristin, thanks so much for joining us. Such a great thing. Welcome to WNYC today.

Kristin LaBuz (0:43)

Thanks, Brian. Longtime listener and supporter. Delighted to be here.

Brian Lehrer (0:47)

And listeners, we only have a few minutes, but you can call in or text us if you've already signed up, if you have a favorite discovery from past years festivals, are you one of the 1200 volunteers helping them pull this off? 212-433-WNYC, call or text 212-433-9692.

And Kristin, I see we're a little late for the ticketed events. They're all sold out, but there are still plenty of places to visit. Give people a quick overview.

Kristin LaBuz (1:18)

Absolutely. This Friday, Saturday and Sunday, we have 150 drop-in destinations that curious New Yorkers can visit. No tickets, no advance registration. Just check out our website, ohny.org/festival, and you can explore all corners of the city.

A few highlights I'd love to tout. We are opening up the Paradise Performing Arts Center on the Grand Concourse in the Bronx. This is the second largest theater in the city, behind Radio City Music Hall. It is ornate, designed in the Italian Baroque style, a real show stopper. We're also inviting New Yorkers to get out on the water. We're giving you opportunities to paddle on the Gowanus Canal, the Bronx River, the Harlem River.

We can take folks stargazing in Elmhurst, Queens. We are opening up private rooftop gardens in Rockefeller Center and in tons of other places of interest across the city.

Brian Lehrer (2:14)

I see as I was looking through the offerings that all the sanitation department and MTA tours are sold out. Even a chance to see mockups of new sidewalk sheds is sold out. Is that an indication that New Yorkers love their infrastructure?

Kristin LaBuz (2:31)

New Yorkers are infrastructure nerds, totally. New Yorkers love two things. I've been doing this for nine years. Everybody loves a rooftop and a penthouse view, and they also love the guts of the city. We are so proud to partner with city agencies and our infrastructure workers to open up the DOT repair shop, or the DSNY, Spring Street Salt Shed, or Parks Facilities and Insights with the Port Authority.

Brian Lehrer (3:01)

I've heard from my producer that the schedule is a good way to find out about places to plan to visit year round, and to make sure and check the schedule early next year, of course, for the events that are sold out this year.

But people can use this as a resource, right? Like, oh, what am I going to do on this Sunday afternoon in February when it's really cold out? Maybe they'll get some ideas from Open House New York this weekend?

Kristin LaBuz (3:27)

Absolutely. Our hope is to be an inspiration. And many of the sites that we open are open year round. So check out our website and take a look at what's on offer in the city.

Brian Lehrer (3:39)

Listener writes, I go every year to the West Beth Tours in the far west village, no tickets required. Almost always room, at worst, you wait 15 minutes or so.

Largest artist housing in the US. Fascinating. What about West Beth is open to the public?

Kristin LaBuz (3:59)

So they have galleries that will be open to the public and also seeing the complex in and of itself is an architectural treat. This is dedicated housing just for artists in the West Village.

Brian Lehrer (4:11)

That is cool. Will you be, well, has the festival changed over the years? Yeah.

Kristin LaBuz (4:17)

This is our 25th anniversary of our founding. We were founded by architect Scott Lauer in the wake of 9-11.

The first year the festival was relatively modest. It was 80 sites. It was 300 volunteers. It has grown over the years from focusing really strictly on architecture to a much broader look at the city, encompassing small businesses, manufacturing spaces, infrastructure sites, and as you noted this year, we are opening up more than 300 buildings, made possible by 1,200 volunteers.

Brian Lehrer (4:51)

That is so cool. Talk more about the origin story. You mentioned it started right after 9-11.

Kristin LaBuz (4:57)