Rain Room at MoMA

 

The Rain Room will be open until the end of the month (July 28th).  It would be an understatement to say that lines have been long.  Average wait times have ranged from an hour upwards of two or three!  Members get special previewing hours before the museum opens.

 

Memberships are tax-deductible, rather affordable, and offer some amazing perks that make the purchase well worth it.   Nearly every week, events, member previews, and newsletters were sent out to members that I have yet to see at any other museum I am a member of.  Possibly the biggest plus is that you get to skip the ticket lines and go right into the amazing museum “free of charge.”

The pictures below speak the exhibit itself, however here is a quick rundown: A large room has been transformed with a choreographed water display that falls as if you are stuck in a late summer thunderstorm.  Fat rain drops dazzle the eyes as a light source contrasts the darkness of the room with the blinding light.  Silhouettes are created thanks in part of the light and the shadows.  The exhibit is both visually stimulating and is a delight for the ears as water cascades down throughout the space.

(More photos can be found here)

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.

Manhattan

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

When its 100 degrees in New York, it’s 72 in Los Angeles. When its 30 degrees in New York, in Los Angeles it’s still 72. However, there are 6 million interesting people in New York, and only 72 in Los Angeles. Neil Simon