Neighborhood Guide – Upper East Side Apartments

April 1st, 2011 Filed Under: Upper East Side Apartments, Neighborhood Guide

Once known as the ‘Silk Stocking District’, the Upper East Side still retains its position as the most affluent area of New York City.  No matter where you go, mention this neighborhood and it usually arouses images of luxury and extravagance.  It’s convenience to Central Park, multi-cultural museums & every high-end designer in a stones throw makes this area very desirable.

Museum Mile is the name for a section of Fifth Avenue running from 82nd to 104th streets in a neighborhood known as Carnegie Hill. The “mile” contains one of the densest displays of culture in the world.  Ten museums occupy the length of this section of Fifth Avenue, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Frick Collection, The Jewish museum, Goethe-Institut, Neue Galerie New York, Guggenheim, National Academy Museum, Museum for African Art, El Museo del Barrio, Museum of the City of New York and the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum.

An eleventh museum, the Museum for African Art, joined the ensemble in 2009 at 110th Street, the first new museum constructed on the Mile since the Guggenheim in 1959. In addition to other programming, the museums collaborate for the annual Museum Mile Festival, held each year in June, to promote the museums and increase visitation.

In the shopping mood?  You will not become bored with the array of shops in this stunning neighborhood.  Baccarat, Barney’s New York, La Perla, Versace, D&G, Prada, Moschino, Armani, Fred Leighton, Valentino & YSL are just a few names that call the Upper East Side home.

Nestled between these shops are great cafes and restaurants for the taking.  A favorite for mother’s and the children is Alice’s Tea Cup-a whimsical tea room with a health conscious menu and very kid-friendly.  The perfect location for a party or a family to take some time out of their busy day and relax in a comforting setting.  Other notable eateries include Fig & Olive, The Mark Restaurant by Jean Georges, Café d’Alsace, Beyoglu, Fishtail by David Burke, Parlor Steakhouse and Nica Trattoria.

Perfect for any age or family size, Central Park runs along the Upper East Side, giving residents things to do all year round!  Whether it’s ice-skating in the winter, checking out the Summer Concert Series in the summer, or taking a run in the morning, there is always something to do to keep you busy.  A favorite of locals is to be able to see the changing colors in the early Fall & the blooming of flowers in the Spring-the perfect scenery in your ‘backyard’.

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Neighborhood Guide-SoHo Apartments

March 2nd, 2011 Filed Under: Soho Apartments, No Fee Apartment New York City, Neighborhood Guide

Walking along the cobblestone streets and iron-clad buildings of SoHo today, taking in the shopping, eating, art & music scene, you will understand why it’s such a popular destination for locals & visitors, alike.  It’s hard to imagine that not so long ago this area was filled with farms and rolling hills amongst Federal-style housing.

During the 60’s and 70’s, artists began to move into the area to take advantage of the large spaces, known as lofts, to work & live in, starting the transformation of what we see today.  Boasting the greatest collection of cast-iron architecture in the world, we can see why this would be the perfect backdrop for artists & art lovers alike.

Museums worth mentioning include The New York City Fire Museum, CMA (NYC’s only hands-on art museums for children) and The New York Earth Room.  SoHo also houses an endless array of art galleries that mixes all aspects of the art world, including The New Museum of Contemporary Art, Clic Bookstore & Gallery, Brentano’s, Agora Gallery, Ronald Feldman Fine Arts, Animazing Gallery and the Deitch Projects.

SoHo boasts one of the most unique shopping experiences, with everything from art stands & street vendors on the sidewalks (which sell everything from jewelry, artwork, books, antiques & handmade goodies) to eclectic and high-end boutiques, this neighborhood exceeds all expectations.  Whether you are looking for the perfect designer dress or that one-of-a-kind vintage find, stores like Bloomingdales, Topshop, Kate Spade, Chanel, All Saints, What Goes Around Comes Around, J.Crew and Marc Jacobs create the ultimate shopper’s paradise with an endless array of options to choose from.

The selection of eateries in SoHo are amongst some of the best in the city! Jean Georges’ American Nouveau Mercer Kitchen, a Paris bistro-inspired Balthazar, a shabby-chic Lucky Strike, a refined take on Thai at Kittichai and Spanish-infused Boqueria are just a small handful of the melting pot that has become SoHo’s cuisine.  Besides the delicious aromas of those honey roasted nuts from the street vendors, that is.

For those night owls, SoHo’s nightlife is among the best of the City, no matter what your preference. ñ bar is for the quirky, yet elegant, crowd that can enjoy a tapas bar that showcases delicious food among the brown polka dot walls.  World-renowned Balthazar’s bar is much more intimate than the over-sized dining room, pouring your drinks with the utmost care.  The building was converted from a leather wholesaler’s warehouse to an airy space that can accommodate over 200 people in the dining room and at the zinc bar, keeping the style of the surrounding neighborhood.  If you are looking for a ‘spicier’ flavor, head to S.O.B’S for some Cuban salsa, Brazilian samba, Jamaican reggae and some African pop thrown in.  They even offer Latin dance classes (free) every Friday night, just to make sure you are ready for the weekend.

There is are great options for living in this neighborhood, including SoHo Court.

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