Quote of the Day

“New York City is a great monument to the power of money and greed… a race for rent.” Frank Lloyd WrightEarlier this week, I went on a run uptown and caught a glimpse at the soon to be completed One57, Gary Barnett’s latest development.  The tower’s penthouse is currently in contract for $90+ million.  The building itself has also seen its rise in popularity after Hurricane Sandy left the construction crane dangling roughly 1,000 ft. above the streets of New York.  If money, greed, and beauty were to all mix, I would say this building, and New York in general, form the perfect mosaic.

A.P.C. Bond Street

Signage is officially up at the soon to be A.P.C. store. Located on Bond (right off of Bowery), the high end French retailer will be joining the likes of Oak, Intermix, and a plethora of new condo developments. If you haven’t been down on The Bowery in the past year- stop, drop, and go. The area has done nothing but explode with high end real estate, not to mention some amazing people watching too.

The East Village

For many young and first time renters, this New York neighborhood may be your best bet.  Located (roughly, as with almost all New York neighborhoods) from 14th street to Houston, and from the East River to Broadway, this plot of land has quickly moved its way up in terms of desirability. The neighborhood, which was once known for crime, drugs, and St. Marks celebrities like Madonna and Keith Harring, is gentrifying nicely and becoming a destination neighborhood.

Those looking to move here tend to be young, college educated (or in college thanks to neighboring NYU and The New School), socially active, and upwardly mobile.  Thanks in part of New York City’s Landmark and Preservation Society, many of the 6-story walk-up buildings cannot be torn down or redeveloped. but offer the charm and sophistication many new buildings cannot.  New York is a city of exceptions, but I would recommend this neighborhood to someone who is new to the city, younger, and socially active.  If you are looking for a quiet neighborhood, don’t move here.  AM New York, voted the East Village as the city’s loudest neighborhood.  That can be attributed to the plethora of bars, restaurants, and young people living in the area.

Here are a few things I recommend doing if you want to get a little more familiar with the neighborhood:

1.  Tompkins Square Park  (10th and Ave A) – This park has quickly become one of my favorite areas in the EV.  Bars and restaurants line the west side, while beautiful brownstones line the north side.  The park itself is home to huge elm trees (random, but beautiful), is a little less crowded than nearby Washington Square Park, and is a great place to people watch.

2.  Big Gay Ice Cream (7th b/t 1st and A) – A new addition to the neighborhood, New Yorkers from near and far flock to this small little shop throughout the entire year.  The name is as bold and delicious as the ice cream itself.  Be prepared to wait in line (it is worth it), especially on a hot summer’s day.

3.  Astor Place (St. Marks and Lafayette Street) – A more corporate-esque part of the East Village.  Nearby St. Marks is a gateway for amazing bars, restaurants, and people watching, while this part of the neighborhood is an epicenter for J.Crew, Facebook (coming soon) and a MASSIVE Starbucks.

4.  Yoga To The People (St. Marks b/t 3rd and 2nd) – Possibly one of the East Village’s (and New York’s) coolest assets.  This studio, located on St. Marks Street, “provides pay what you can” yoga classes.  Rich,, poor, young, old, all head to these hour long classes.  I recommend heading there at night for a candle lit class.

5.  Pomme Frites (2nd Avenue b/t 7th and 8th) – My favorite late night hot spot.  Like Big Gay Ice Cream, you will have to brave the crowds, but the wait is well worth it.  These hole in the wall restaurant tantalizes diners with a ton of different dipping sauces.  The fresh, made to order, french fries are served hot, fast, and ready to go.  Don’t hesitate to try a free sample to help make up your mind

30 Orchard Street

30 Orchard Street is a new addition to the Lower East Side. The luxury high-rise condominium tower was opened in 2010 and commands $1,500+ per square foot. My apartment looks directly at the thin tower that rises up well past the lower 6-story skyline of the Lower East Side. The building looks like a modern, luxury, walk-up, that is anything but. Full time doorman, floor to ceiling windows, and tasteful units are perfect for the artistically inclined, trendy, upwardly mobile resident moving down to the LES.

“Keep spinning your wheels, no matter how fast or how long you have to keep spinning them, if you do in fact keep spinning, you’ll eventually hit hard pavement and take off.”

Manhattan

“The best revenge is massive success.” – Frank Sinatra

Phone Booth Graveyard UWS

Gothamist recently chimed in on a very subtle change happening across the city.  All of those old phone booths that used to scatter the city have quietly been picked up and moved to a growing grave yard on the Upper West Side.  Many different efforts have been proposed for the remaining booths that now barely sprinkle the city.  Art projects, technological upgrades, and even WiFi hot-spots have now replaced the once functional phone booths.  Take a look at the pictures below.  If you’re interested in taking a look at the graveyard, all you need to do is 135th and 12th Avenue.  I am not sure how tough the city is being on gaining access, but am planning on finding out.  

 

Be sure to check out my Instagram in a few days to see if I made it up there!e 

Good Morning New York

“The city seen from the Queensboro Bridge is always the city seen for the first time, in its first wild promise of all the mystery and the beauty in the world.”
― F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

Luxury Gentrification Heads To Alphabet City

As if the New York real estate market was not spiraling out of control in just about every neighborhood….the once dangerous and dilapidated corner of Avenue B (yes Avenue B!) between 5th and 6th will now be transformed into a luxury/doorman building complete with a landscaped roof deck, yoga and fitness center, and one bedrooms starting at $3,600/month!

 

For better or for worse, the neighborhood is changing quickly.  Property values are on the rise and it appears the once tranquil and quieter part of the East Village is transforming into an upwardly mobile enclave for those recent college grads not quiet ready to make the jump to Murray Hill.

 

The building is being developed by Magnum Management, part of the Jared Kushner enterprise.  His company made news last year upon the purchase of millions of dollars worth of property in the area.  They have been gut-renovating buildings from the inside out and jacking up rents along the way.

 

Take a look at the building’s website here: Bloom62