BUILD just returned from New York City where we field tested the new and improved Modern List Manhattan.  The database of all things modern is iPhone friendly now and each entry links directly to Google Maps – eliminating the need for physical maps.  Supplement the Modern List with a credit-card size subway map (found at Barnes & Noble) and you’ve got everything you need for urban adventure.  We’ve got a few tweaks to make here and there (like adding a digital subway map) but overall it’s a great way to see a lot of city with a minimum amount of travel ‘stuff’.  There are tons of new entries for you modernists out there (if you can put up with our crappy photos), and many more on The Modern List:

Buildings
The soon to be completed Standard Hotel at 848 Washington St (& 13th) spans the Highline Viaduct (also soon to be completed).  We’re betting that this is going to be one hot place to stay in town.  With very few other tall buildings around, the view will be incredible and it sits perched atop the Meatpacking district.

C.B. 4 at 11th Ave & 24th St boasts vehicle elevators and private parking stalls adjacent to condo units.

The 47 Story building at 20 E 23rd St appealed to our simple, boxy aesthetics.

Chelsea Arts Tower at 545 West 25th St

The building at Stanton & Allen caught our attention for it’s use of glass and rainscreens.  Anybody got the scoop on this one?

A couple of HUGE towers going up on the upper west side.

Building at 9th and W 54th

Breakfast
Check out Bread Tribeca, 301 Church St & Walker, 212 334 0200

Coffee Shops

Roots & Vine Café, 409 Grand St, 212.260.2363

Dinner
Matsugen at 214 Church St is the old 66 by Richard Meier, 212.925.0202.  Despite the change of restaurant the interiors were kept to the original clean, simple lines.

[photo by Daniel Krieger]

Rayuela at 165 Allen St, 212.253.8840 is all about the tree.

[photo courtesy of Rayuela]

WD-50, 50 Clinton St, 212.477.2900

[photo courtesy of WD-50]

Also check out:
Hearth, 403 E 12th St (at 1st Ave), 646.602.1300
Thai Terminal at 349 E 12th St, 212.614.0155 is the old United Noodles space
Blue Ribbon, 308 W 58th St

Drinking
Solex, 103 1st Ave (at 7th), 212.777.6677

[photo by Noah Sheldon]

Butter at 415 Lafayette (btwn 4th & Astor, 212.253.2828) has been around for a while but seems to have a renewed coolness on weeknights.


[photos courtesy of Butter]

Also check out:
Budda Bar, 25 Little West 12th St, 212.647.7314
Bar Veloce, 175 Second Avenue on 11th,  212.260.3200

Museums | Galleries
MOMA’s Fabricating the Modern Dwelling show.  More on this disturbing exhibit later…

International Center for Photography, 1114 Ave of the Americas (at 43rd), 212.857.0001.  The space is a clever modern solution -fitting an entire school into a courtyard and making it look hot.

The Storefront for Art & Architecture at 97 Kenmare Street (212.431.5795) is getting a needed face lift.  Looking forward to the reopening.

Retail Spaces
Jil Sander, 30 Howard St (at Crosby St), 212.925.2345.  Part fashion part museum this one is a must see for the minimalist fans out there.

Also check out:
CB2, 30 Mercer (Soho) 451 broadway 212.219.1454

Let us know what me missed…