What started as a response to sidewalk scaffolding turned into a viral Upper East Side stoop landmark, where creativity, motherhood, and community collide.
I’ve had a love affair with NYC long before Sarah Jessica Parker made it official. Born and bred in Brooklyn before it was cool, I’d hop the F train into Manhattan any chance I got — and naturally, fell hard for Sex and the City. So when I discovered Stoop and the City, I knew I’d found the next best thing.
If you’ve spent any time online, you’ve seen it: the stunning Upper East Side stoop dreamed up by Kristi Hemric, a Dallas native who now calls New York home with her husband and four kids — ages six, four, and three-year-old twins. What began as a creative solution to an ugly scaffolding situation quickly became one of the city’s most beloved and recognizable spaces.
I caught up with Kristi just before Mother’s Day to talk about raising a big family in NYC, her latest stoop designs, and her new partnership with Allegra.
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Kristi Hemric of Stoop and the City
You started Stoop and the City in response to ugly scaffolding in your neighborhood. Was it something you planned, or did it just happen organically?
I probably started decorating in 2023, before I officially started the Stoop and the City account in 2024. We live in a brownstone next to a large apartment building. In New York City, buildings have to do brickwork every few years, and scaffolding goes up. Because of the city laws, the scaffolding extended past their property line and onto ours.
We didn’t even get notice. We just heard people drilling into our house one day.
Once scaffolding goes up in New York, it can stay up forever. It’s often cheaper for buildings to leave it there than take it down. So I thought, “Okay, this is probably going to be here for a while.”
I always loved those restaurants with flowers over the doors, and I realized nobody could even really see our front door anymore, so I could decorate it however I wanted. I thought I could do this and won’t annoy the neighbors because no one would even see it anyway.
That’s really how it started.
And now it’s become such a phenomenon.
Kristi: It’s funny because it literally started with giant pink flowers around the doorway. I thought my husband was going to say absolutely not, but I think he figured nobody would notice anyway.
Then people started seeing it. We really love our neighbors, so our biggest thing was making sure people enjoyed it. Once we realized people liked it, we just kept going.
I loved it because I’m born and bred in Brooklyn, and the stoop was the centerpiece of our existence growing up. Everything happened on the stoop — good and bad. You celebrated there, got in trouble there, played with your friends there. It feels like that’s what’s happening again.
It really is. We even put a little sign on the gate telling people they’re welcome to take pictures. People ask all the time if we mind them standing on the stairs, and I’m like, “No, it’s a community sidewalk.”
We wouldn’t decorate if we didn’t want people enjoying it. We put out bubbles for kids to play with because we want them to play with them.
The most shocking thing has honestly been how respectful everyone is.
That was actually my next question. You leave the decorations out overnight, and they’re still there in the morning?
I know, it surprises me too. I used to be nervous about leaving things out, especially expensive pieces. But eventually I thought, “You can’t live in fear.” If someone steals a flower pot, maybe they needed it more than I did.
Thankfully, we really haven’t had problems.
One of my favorite displays was the dog-themed stoop. How did you get all those dogs to sit still?
Oh, that wasn’t me. There’s a dog walker who’s now become a really good friend. She’s probably the best dog walker I’ve ever seen in my life. She throws birthday parties for the dogs, takes them on the Staten Island Ferry because she thinks they’ll enjoy it — she’s amazing.
@stoopandthecity Walking home to the cutest surprise! 🐣🐶🌸✨ #dogsoftiktok #dogsofnyc #springdecor #newyorker #uppereastside ♬ original sound – Tik Toker
One day, she organically stopped by with about 20 dogs and put them all on the stoop. We were shocked. Now she sometimes gives me a heads-up before she comes by for dog birthday parties and themed shoots.
I could never make dogs sit still like that. That’s all her.
You’re partnering with Allegra. Why did you want to partner with them?
Kristi: I’m a migraine sufferer and have been since middle school. I see a neurologist and take prescribed medication, but what I didn’t realize until a few years ago was that my migraines got significantly worse during allergy seasons.
I always thought allergies just meant sneezing and watery eyes. I didn’t realize they could trigger headaches and migraines, too.
My neurologist recommended taking Allegra daily as a preventative measure, and it made a huge difference for me.
I totally relate to that. Allergies trigger my migraines, too.
Exactly. I was running through rescue medications because the migraines kept happening. Once I understood allergies were contributing, everything made more sense.
My kids also have respiratory issues and asthma on my husband’s side of the family. Allergy season can hit them really hard, especially my youngest and middle child. Sometimes even small colds become serious because their lungs are weaker.
Our pediatrician recommended treating allergies proactively, and it’s helped tremendously. If they can breathe better, they sleep better, and then they heal better.
That’s why the partnership felt really organic to me. It genuinely changed our lives.
What do you have planned this weekend?
I did a giant Mother’s Day-themed stoop in Allegra colors, and honestly, I think it’s one of the prettiest ones we’ve ever done.
We’re also doing a Mother’s Day giveaway with a spa day prize that can be used anywhere in the country.
Moms have the hardest job in the world, and hopefully, every mom gets spoiled this weekend.
Raising kids in New York City is such a unique experience. What’s something surprising about raising children here?
Honestly, I think it’s easier to raise kids in New York City.
I know that sounds crazy because it’s expensive, but everything is close. Our school is one block away. Parks are everywhere. You don’t have to load kids into cars constantly. The pediatrician is nearby. The grocery store is nearby.
On rainy days, we’ll take the bus across town to the American Museum of Natural History and spend hours there.
I love that my kids get exposed to so many cultures, foods, museums, and experiences just by living here.
I completely agree. What are some of your favorite things to do with your kids in the city?
Kristi: Honestly, pretty simple things. We go for frozen yogurt way too often in the summer. We spend tons of time in Central Park. My kids love racing the little boats there now.
We’re very “’90s parents” in the sense that we love simple neighborhood days — scooters, parks, blankets on the grass, burgers in the backyard, ice cream after dinner.
That’s our perfect day.
Those really are the moments your kids remember.
Exactly. And we’ve also gotten really lucky with our street. We know everybody. Our neighbors all know our kids. There’s a real sense of community here.
Do you have any fun future plans for Stoop and the City?
Endless ideas. I want to do a summer country club theme with vintage tennis rackets and golf clubs.
Last fall, I created a giant notebook-paper backdrop for back-to-school photos. Families came by for their first-day-of-school pictures.
Halloween is huge for us. Our street actually gets closed off by the police, so it’s safe for trick-or-treating. Last year, we gave out 17,000 pounds of candy.
And this year, we’re planning a Hanukkah-themed stoop, which has been really fun to design because there honestly isn’t a lot of Hanukkah décor out there.
Want to treat a mom in your life — or yourself — this Mother’s Day? Kristi has teamed up with Allegra Allergy for a special giveaway celebrating all the little moments that make motherhood beautiful. Share your favorite “mom moment to bloom” on Instagram, tag @allegraallergy, and use #AllegraSweepstakes in your caption for a chance to win a $500 SpaFinder gift card. The sweepstakes runs through May 12, 2026.
For official rules and details, visit Allegra Sweepstakes Terms & Conditions.
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