The vacant lot near Houston and 2nd Avenue that was transformed into the BMW Guggenheim Lab over the summer has is about to find a new purpose as a community park, thanks to the efforts of neighborhood volunteer group First Street Green. No more ugly asphalt, you guys! Though too bad they chopped down that tree. more ›

Even though it may not have been widely reported until today, is it surprising that someone in Bushwick has opened a chicken sanctuary? The NY Post looks in on the brood of 19 chickens and one duck happily roosting at a makeshift farm in the neighborhood (which has been around for a while now). They report back that the birds "sleep in a weatherized wood coop, play on a jungle gym, nap in the sun, eat organic greens," and when they come down with a chicken cold (it happens!) they are given herbal remedies. more ›

The Guggenheim has its eye on 33 East 1st Street, a gorgeous piece of property in the trendy East Village... or rather, a rat-infested vacant lot in the East Village. According to DNAInfo, the museum aims to turn the lot into a temporary community space. Their plan includes a two-level structure, sort of a pop-up community center, which would host workshops, lectures, cooking demonstrations and art classes. The site reports that the lot, owned by the city, is connected to the park space along Houston Street (which is currently under renovations) "that would contain even more features, including a café and public bathrooms, and visitors would have access to the space from both East 1st Street and Second Avenue." more ›