New York Habitat Blog

As we continue our journey around the Southern France we have chosen Aix-en-Provence as #3 in the count down of the Top Towns to Visit South of France.

Once the capital of Provence, Aix-en-Provence has maintained the majesty and style that comes with being an economic and cultural center. Cours Mirabeau is the center of this charming town. This tree-lined avenue is the perfect place to take a scenic stroll or to watch passersby from one of the many cafés.

Home to several art schools and universities Aix-en-Provence has become the site of several annual festivals such as the International Festival of Lyric Arts and Music and The Dance Festival.

Of note are the fountains and architecture of the town. Aix-en-Provence is often referred to as the city of a thousand fountains. The town is known for its many ornate and flowered squares and beautiful fountains.

New York Habitat has many available accommodations in the architecturally magnificent town of Aix-en-Provence:

· Studio apartment near Aix-en-Provence (PR-662) with access to a pool
· One-bedroom apartment rental in Aix-en-Provence (PR-411)
· Four-bedroom villa just outside of Aix-en-Provence (PR-832) that can accommodate up to 9 people

To recap the winners so far here are #5 and #4 again:

• Top Towns to visit in the South of France: Saint-Rémy-de-Provence #5
• Top Towns to visit in the South of France: Nice, French Riviera: #4

The countdown is getting closer and closer to the coveted #1 spot. Check back to the New York Habitat Blog next week to find out the town featured as the #2 town in the South of France.

Today’s winner of the “Guess the Price” contest is Bob and the correct price for this one-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn is $2,600 per month. The winner is entitled to 10% off the agency fees for a vacation rental of 30 days or less.

This one-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn (NY-12430) is now published on our website with a full description and a complete set of pictures. Here are some other interesting details:

The Prospect Heights, Brooklyn Apartment:

One of the best features of this apartment is the street it is located on. The block has about 15 houses on each side and they are all townhouses. In front of every other property there is a tree, which helps to shade the whole block. Following up on this trend of serenity the back of the apartment has access to a private planted garden and deck.

Furthermore, the apartment is within walking distance of the 2,3,B,Q trains for easy access to Manhattan. For those looking for restaurants in the area, Park Slope is just on the other side of Flatbush Avenue and offers some of the best gourmet options in the city.  On the other hand if you are looking to do some mall shopping the Atlantic Center is just up Flatbush Avenue and offers a large grocery store, the retailer Target and other mall shops. The apartment is also within walking distance of the new Atlantic Yards development which is under construction and will include the new basketball arena for the soon to be Brooklyn Nets.

If you decide to rent this apartment check out side of these events going on in Brooklyn:

• The Nostalgia Train: From Manhattan to Brooklyn to the 1930s
• New York Events: The Floating Pool at Brooklyn Bridge

To see the original clues: Guess the Apartment Price: Brooklyn Duplex Townhouse

Once again, congratulations to Bob, the winner of the “Guess the Price” contest for this Brooklyn duplex townhouse apartment.

Check back soon for the next “Guess the Price” contest featuring a new apartment in New York, Paris, London or the South of France.

This duplex townhouse apartment is located near Downtown Brooklyn in the Prospect Heights section, just one block from Flatbush Avenue. The apartment has many features, which make it unique including many original details such as moldings and pocket doors, a private garden and a location on a quiet tree-lined street.

After a summer recess from the “Guess the Apartment Price” game we return to the action with this one bedroom apartment in Brooklyn. For those of you who have not yet played the “Guess the Apartment Price” game here is a review of how it works:

• Everyone is invited to play
• Guess the price that you think the apartment should be listed for on a monthly basis in the comments section
• The person who guesses the correct price will be offered 10% off the agency fee of a Vacation Rental (30 day or less rental)

Standout features about this one-bedroom Brooklyn apartment:

The apartment is a duplex in a private townhouse. The lower floor has a large living room, which is separated from the dining room and kitchen areas by original pocket doors. From the kitchen there is a door that leads out to the back garden and deck area. The outdoor space includes seating on the deck and plantings below.

The upper level of the apartment has a spacious bedroom with walk-through closet, a large office and a bathroom. There is also a washer and dryer in the apartment.

From the apartment there is easy accessibility to transportation including the 2,3 trains at Bergen Street 1 block away and the B,Q trains at 7th Avenue. Also for those needing access to Long Island Railroad the Flatbush Terminal is just a short walk from the apartment.

To help in determining the price we have included some links to other area apartments:

• A 1 Bedroom apartment rental in Brooklyn Heights (ny-12390) for $2,000 per month
• A 3 Bedroom rental in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn (ny-12296) for $4,500 per month
• A 1 Bedroom apartment rental in Fort Greene, Brooklyn (ny-12204) for $2,500 per month

Take a look at our Brooklyn, New York Furnished Apartment Rentals for other properties in the area before making your guess about the price of this apartment. 

For more information on the surrounding areas take a look at:

• Apartment rentals in Fort Greene / Clinton Hill Brooklyn
• New York Habitat offers rentals in Brooklyn Housing Boom

Ok, we have done our part in providing you the details that you need to come up with your best guess of the apartment price. You have until 2 P.M. tomorrow to make your guess. We will post the results and announce the winner at that time.

Rules:
10% discount on agency fees is only good for vacation rentals (30 days or less rental).
Only one guess allowed per e-mail address.
Discount is good for 30 days after you are notified that you are the winner.
The winner must provide a valid e-mail address.
In the event of a tie, the first person to guess the price closest to the correct price will be declared the winner.

————————————————-

This contest is now closed.

You can view the result and the winner here: Guess the Price results: Brooklyn Duplex Townhouse
To see the apartment visit the one-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn (NY-12430)

London’s Open House Weekend: Come see the best architectural attractions and stay like a local.

London is famous for its centuries old architectural treasures and now for its new buildings as well. Open House London is a weekend-long event taking place September 15-16, 2007. What better way to enjoy the event than to rent an apartment and experience the city like a local?

New York Habitat offers a variety of accommodations throughout London to suit the needs of anyone looking for an interesting architectural apartment building. Some choices that are available during the London Open House Weekend include:

· A 1-Bedroom accommodation in Westminster (LN-223) in a brick building
· A 2-Bedroom rental in Earls Court, Kensington/Chelsea (LN-81) in a townhouse with a balcony facing Earls Court Square
· A 2-Bedroom apartment in Tower Hamlets/Canary Wharf (LN-375) in a recently constructed building

The event allows visitors to walk though and visit over 500 buildings throughout London, including Jimi Hendrix’s house, several churches, City Hall and Channel Four Television. If these sites don’t interest you, visit the London Open House website, which has a searchable guide to all of the open houses. Also, remember that some of the most popular sites are reservation limited, so plan these stops in plenty of time.

If you are traveling to London, consider staying in one of these areas:

• London Accommodations near Kew Royal Botanic Gardens
• Apartments along the South Bank of the Thames
• Docklands Accommodations: Stay near Canary Wharf

If you make it to the London Open House, send us your comments on your favorite building tours.

Nice is, well … nice. And this is why we have chosen the French Riviera city as one of the top destinations in the South of France. As we continue our explorations of our favorite towns in that region, we reach Nice, a seaside city located in the eastern French Riviera close to the Italian border and Monaco.

The city of Nice has been a major tourist center for centuries. Royalty and commoners alike are attracted to the Mediterranean coastline and climate. The summers tend to get very hot. However, the cool sea breeze off the Mediterranean helps to make the days pleasant. Snow is rare in Nice and is recognized as a special event by its inhabitants.

Due to its busy port, Nice has been influenced culturally by countries all over the world. Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Asian and African immigrants have all left their mark on the Nice lifestyle.

Besides the beaches, shops, and restaurants, another great place to check out in Nice is Le Chateau. The castle originally overlooking the city was removed in 1706. However, the area today is great for walks in the shade, a waterfall, grassy parks, and great views of the city and the Mediterranean.

New York Habitat has some standout apartments available in Nice:

• One-bedroom rental (PR-313) with a terrace overlooking the heart of the city
• Two-bedroom accommodation (PR-768) located on the promenade and perfect for a group of friends
• Three-bedroom apartment (PR-545) with great views of the Mediterranean Sea

Next week, New York Habitat breaks into the top three. Check in again to find out what we think is the #3 top town in the South of France.

Also, if you missed the #5 top town in the South of France, check out the entry from last week: Top Towns to visit in the South of France: #5 Saint-Rémy-de-Provence.

While most of us are contemplating our look for the Fall of 2007, the fashion industry is ready to unveil its 2008 Spring collections in New York from September 5-12, 2007. In other words, Fashion Week is upon us and for those of you visiting New York during the fashion week events, you know that finding an accommodation can be difficult.

Most of the festivities take place in centrally located Bryant Park, but the buzz permeates the entire city and creates a special kind of energy.

Also, many people going to the Fashion Shows like to stay in the Greenwich Village or West Village areas because that is where many of the parties take place after the shows themselves.

New York Habitat has an array of apartments that will put you in the heart of the action. Here are some interesting loft apartment options that are still available as of August 20th during Fashion Week:

• A 2-Bedroom Rental in Tribeca (NY-12138) with a large projection TV and roof access
• A Studio in Midtown West – Chelsea (NY-12250) within walking distance of Bryant Park
• A 2-Bedroom accommodation in Greenwich Village – SoHo (NY-11885) with a large living room that could be used as a photo studio

Nautica kicks off the show September 5 at 9 a.m. and the week-long event closes with Tadashi on September 12 at 2 p.m. For the entire schedule, check out the official Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week website.

If business as a model, designer or fashion aficionado brings you to New York that week, consider renting an apartment. Our offerings include something to meet almost everyone’s needs, including such features as screening projectors, photo studio spaces and well-located apartments near Bryant Park, Greenwich Village/West Village and most any other Manhattan neighborhood you would like to stay in.

If you are interested in Fashion, remember that New York Habitat also offers accommodations in London and accommodations in Paris for their respective Fashion Weeks. Remember, too, that if you are coming back for the February or September Fashion Weeks in New York, it is never too early to book your apartment for the next one

They say the neon lights are bright on Broadway.
They say there’s always magic in the air.
~George Benson

Times Square, New York needs no introduction to entice. Over 26 million people visit Times Square a year to marvel at the bright lights, larger than life advertisements, and bustling crowds. Unbeknownst to many, besides being a business and tourist district, the Times Square neighborhood is also home to several palatial high-rises. New York Habitat has several accommodations available right on Broadway.

Penthouse: What a View

If a penthouse view of Broadway and Times Square isn’t luxury, then we do not know what is. This one-bedroom apartment (NY-12092) features a small, private balcony off of the bedroom, providing a bird’s eye view of the Times Square action.

The two-bedroom (NY-12098) and one-bedroom (NY-12046) luxury apartments available in the same building do not have private balconies. They do, however, have floor to ceiling windows in common with the penthouse apartment. Occupying the entirety of one wall, the windows allow for the multi-colored lights of Times Square to fill the room, while also keeping out all of the noise.

While staying in any one of these three accommodations, renters will have access to the extravagance of the building’s amenities, including the common terrace boasting its own putting hole.

These apartments are in the perfect location to visit the major Midtown Manhattan attractions, while also being located near the 1, 2, 3, 7, A, C, E, N, Q, R, S, and W trains for convenient travel to other areas of New York City.

Why are these Broadway apartments Hidden Gems?

Location, alone, would be enough to make these apartments stand out. That detail combined with the luxury and comforts of the building destine them to be Hidden Gems.

For more information concerning restaurants, theater, and attractions in the Times Square area, visit http://www.timessquarenyc.org/

If you would like to learn more about the Times Square apartment and hotel market, read Times Square: Home to Furnished Accommodations from our blog.

Feel free to comment on the wonders of Times Square below.