New York Habitat Blog

It sure may not feel like it right now but summer is just around the corner. The city is only a few short months away from open-air concerts in Central Park, packed beaches on Brooklyn’s shore and the familiar scent of hot dogs and beer wafting from major league baseball parks. New York City is a baseball town. With two major league teams, two minor league teams and a public baseball field in about every city neighborhood New York is perhaps the greatest baseball town in all of America (sorry Boston).

For outsiders, there is no experience more quintessentially American than spending a lazy weekend afternoon watching a baseball game. Prices are relatively inexpensive compared to some New York activities and easy to obtain for most professional contests. New York Habitat has accommodations all over New York City for those in town just for a weekend series or the player needing an accommodation for the whole season.

New York’s two cathedrals of baseball are Shea Stadium (home of the Mets) in Flushing, Queens and Yankee Stadium in the heart of The Bronx. Both teams play 81 games in their home stadium from April to September (in to October if they make the playoffs), so if your in town from a week during the summer you’ll be able to catch at least one of the teams in their home digs. Plus, both teams are in the process of building new stadiums so this is your last chance to catch a glimpse of Yankee Stadium which is considered a baseball relic or Shea Stadium, no ones favorite baseball palace but still full of memories.

On the minor league, or semi-professional, level there are two New York teams: The Staten Island Yankees and The Brooklyn Cyclones (Mets affiliate).While the fanfare may be more subdued at these ballparks the setting is more intimate and the hotdogs much, much cheaper. The great thing about American baseball, like European football, is its universality–just about all of New York’s myriad parks have at least one baseball diamond open to public use. Summer weekends in New York Cities Parks’ are overrun with children and grown men alike playing catch and organizing games.

For the less adventurous there is always the neighborhood bar, where a pint of beer and baseball argument are never far.

Mets fans should consider staying in this 1-bedroom apartment vacation rental in Jackson Heights, Queens (NY-11830), a stone’s throw from Shea Stadium. Yankee fans staying in this studio in Harlem, Uptown(NY-11856) will only be a few subway stops from Yankee Statdium, the house that Ruth built. Wannabe Brooklynites can catch a Cyclone’s game and play catch in Prospect Park while living in this 4-bedroom accommodation rental in Park Slope (NY-12640), one of Brooklyn’s coolest neighborhoods. For visitors wanting to hunker down on central Manhattan island there is this sleek 2-bedroom rental apartment in Midtown West-Chelsea (NY-12179), just blocks from Central Park.

What kind of baseball fan are you? Yankees, Mets, Red Sox? Let the debate begin below! 

The Luberon region of Provence, the subject of much of Peter Mayle’s writings, is the ideal vacation destination to get away from it all.  From the famous winter wind, called ‘Le Mistral’, to the joys of a summer evening spent sipping ‘pastis’ on the terrace, Mayle chronicles his time in the Luberon in the books A Year in Provence, Toujours Provence, and Encore Provence.  (He even incorporates the larger Provence region in his numerous fictional works.)  A wonderful and humorous combination of memoir and travel diary, readers cannot help being charmed by the region themselves.  Luckily, you don’t have to spend a whole year here to appreciate all it has to offer.  And when you do visit, New York Habitat has a variety of furnished vacation rentals from which to choose.

The Luberon region, found in the middle of Provence, is settled among three mountain ranges, and made up of many small and large villages.  Life is lived at a much slower pace here, where days are spent hiking in the hills, or just relaxing outdoors and enjoying the views.  You can spend every day browsing the different outdoor markets, but be sure to reserve Saturday for the largest one in Apt, Provence.

If you’d like to stay near Apt, New York Habitat has a one bedroom vacation rental house in Villars, near Apt (PR 776) for you.  This rustic, stone house is over one hundred years old but has been updated with all the modern amenities in the kitchen and bathroom for your convenience.  With tiled floors and beamed ceilings throughout, this house will transplant you back to a simpler time.  Head on in to Apt, a town that’s been in existence since before the Romans invaded Gaul, to see Roman relics and the church of Saint-Anne, which began construction in the eleventh century but wasn’t completed until the seventeenth.  Or you can spend your days lounging near the pool, adjacent to the house.

If you’d prefer to stay in a larger town in the Luberon, then you’ll want to try Lourmarin, where Peter Mayle himself lives. The town itself is full of historic architecture, dating back to the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.  Famed author Albert Camus once called Lourmarin home and is buried there as well.  This three bedroom villa in Lourmarin, Provence (PR 593) combines luxury and Provincial charm.  Able to accommodate up to eight people, this beautiful house offers large living spaces, a well-equipped kitchen, and three modern bathrooms.  The views from the terrace are phenomenal and there is also a pool on the property.

So, if you’re looking for the perfect place to get away from it all, look no further than the Luberon region of Provence.  Quite villages, small and large, abound but also offer easy access to the larger towns and cities of the area.  And staying in a furnished rental home from New York Habitat will ensure a more authentic, and satisfying, vacation.

If you are interested in reading about other regions in Provence check out these Blogs:

• Top towns in the South of France: #2 Avignon, Provence
• Top Towns to visit in the South of France: #3 Aix-en-Provence
• Top Towns to visit in the South of France: #5 Saint-Rémy-de-Provence

Have you read any of Peter Mayle’s books about the Luberon?  What are your thoughts about the region?  Please share and discuss in our comments.

Number Four on the Top Five list of musical must-see sights in London is Belgravia, one of the most beautiful and exclusive enclaves the city. The homes are owned by foreign governments, aristocrats, real-life royalty and rock n’ roll royalty alike. Even the Sultan of Brunei has a hard-to-miss place here. Can you imagine what the block parties must be like? Picture a Playboy Mansion on each street, only with old money, a lot of history and a lot more clothes (from nearby Harrod’s and Harvey Nics, naturally). Staying in a vacation rental here is the closest most of us will ever come to starring in a Merchant Ivory film.

Last week, New York Habitat brought you amazing vacation accommodations and long-term rentals in World’s End, London, the birthplace of British punk—but in the words of Monty Python, “Now for something completely different.”

So you’re wondering why Belgravia, London made our list. The wide avenues and Georgian architecture that surround Belgrave Square also provided the setting for the musical movie My Fair Lady, starring Audrey Hepburn. Remember the songs? “Does enchantment pour out of every door, no, it’s just on the street where you live.” Guaranteed you’ll find enchantment on any street or well-kept mews you walk down in Belgravia—and in any of the outstanding accommodations here that New York Habitat has to offer:

• An elegantly appointed 2-bedroom furnished rental accommodation in Belgravia – Westminster (LN-260) on Chesham Street between Pont Street and Eaton Square (one of Henry James’ favorite places); it also has two bathrooms and a daytime porter.
• A stunning studio vacation rental (LN-310) in Chelsea – Kensingston in a residential square on Hans Street between Pont and Sloane Streets.
• A one-bedroom vacation rental (LN-178) in Chelsea - Kensington on the third floor of a period apartment that is flooded with natural light and actually has that London rarity: a lift!

Honestly, staying in one of these London rental accommodations will transform you like Eliza Doolittle and transport you to another world and time.

A few steps away and you’re standing by the lovely Belgrave Square, a 10-acre park of unparalleled, overgrown beauty. Unfortunately, it’s gated and locked, meant for residents’ use only—but if you befriend the sultan, you may get to borrow his key. However, even the views from outside the fence are breathtaking and there are benches all around the park that are perfect places to take a tea (or coffee) break.
The smaller cottages lining Belgravia’s many mews were originally used as stables, and local pubs like The Star Tavern (built in 1703, and the place where England’s Great Train Robbery was planned over a few pints) were originally intended to serve the servants who worked in the nearby mansions.

Of course, for the full My Fair Lady experience, a shopping trip is in order—and you’re in luck! New York Habitat has many accommodations, like those listed above, that are just a short walk from label-laden Sloane Street and some of the world’s most serious department stores—not to mention Harrod’s illustrious Food Hall, where you can get lost for days and still survive on a steady supply of shortbread.

By the way, a few streets away from your vacation rental in its musical movie setting is the house where Ian Fleming, creator of James Bond, lived. Look for the blue plaque at 22 Ebury Street. Just like Bond, Belgravia is a British institution—refined, cultured and oh-so-cool. Stay in an accommodation just steps away from where Audrey danced and 007 came to life.

If you missed number 5 on the count down of London’s top music sites check out: Top Five must-see musical sights: London - # 5 World’s End

Look for next week’s #3 must-see musical sight in London—and let us know your favorite movie filmed in London in the comments section below.

Every May, the city of Cannes, on the French Riviera, plays host to one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious film festivals, which makes it the perfect time to visit and stay in your own vacation rental from New York Habitat.  For over sixty years, actors, directors, and other film professionals from around the world have descended on the town for two weeks of films and ‘fêtes’, while wondering which film will win the ‘Palme d’Or’ (past winners include Scorsese’s “Taxi Driver” and even “Fahrenheit 9/11” by Michael Moore).  This is your chance to vacation among the Hollywood elite.

Cannes itself is an ideal location for the festival.  In May, the weather is sure to be warm, with the sun glistening off the blue Mediterranean Sea.  If you can’t get into a film showing, a day on the beach will not disappoint.

This year, the festival will run from May 14th until the 25th.  Over the years, approximately forty percent of attendees have been newcomers, so if you’ve never been but always wanted to go, now is the time!  And whether this is your first or fifth Cannes film festival, New York Habitat has a vacation rental accommodation for you.

This furnished alcove studio rental in Cannes, French Riviera (PR 175), located in a beautiful 19th century building, is perfect for one or two people.  A separate living room area lets you entertain small groups of friends between film showings, and the pass-through bar to the kitchen is an ideal serving area.  The kitchen itself is well-equipped.  The sleeping area has a Murphy bed that can be folded way during the day to save space.  The marble tiled bathroom is modern and spacious.  The best part of this apartment has got to be the view.  From your balcony, you can see all the way to the Mediterranean!

If you’re looking for a lot more space, then this 4 bedroom villa accommodaiton, also in Cannes, French Riviera (PR 739), with enough room for eight people, is for you.  This beautifully furnished home has a large living room and modern kitchen with all the amenities.  All four bedrooms are large and sunny.  With three marble-tiled modern bathrooms, there will never be a wait for a shower in the morning!  There is also a covered terrace and a shared swimming pool to complete your French Riviera experience.

Staying in one of these furnished vacation rental apartments in the South of France, or one of the many others New York Habitat has to offer [perhaps link to South of France search page?], is sure to make your Cannes Film Festival experience unforgettable. 

For more about the festival, be sure to check out the official siteof the Cannes Film Festival. 

For more about Cannes, read Top Towns in the South of France: #1 Cannes, French Riviera.

Have you been to the Cannes Film Festival before?  Do you have a favorite restaurant or café in the city?  Please share with us in the comments below.

With a vacation rental in London, you can live like a local while taking in the city’s sights. The only question is: With so much to see, how do you narrow it down? Simple—think like a local. New York Habitat wants to help by sharing some must-see musical sights.

So, in the spirit of Brit boy Nick Hornsby, author of High Fidelity, New York Habitat is bringing you its Top Five list of must-see musical sights around London.

Everyone knows about Abbey Road. Just ask the millions of visitors snapping pictures and clogging up traffic as they cross the famous zebra stripes to the Beatles’ studios—and the line of drivers wondering just how much damage taking out a few tourists would cause to their Mini Coopers.

Okay, it’s a pretty good photo op if four of you are traveling together. But there are other essential, in-the-know sights for music lovers in London that do not involve potential road rage or posing with wax statues of the Spice Girls. New York Habitat has rental accommodations within walking distance of each one.

What better place to start than at the World’s End? Number 5 on the count down of must-see musical sites in London.

Despite its apocalyptic name, World’s End is actually the area on the west side of The King’s Road, one of London’s most vibrant shopping streets where Sloane Rangers (think socialites) and trendy kids in trainers (think sneakers you can’t live without) come together in funky boutiques (AdHoc), cool cafés (the Bluebird, which was converted from a car garage) and pubs too good to pass by without a pint (The Pig’s Ear). At the edge of all this stands our Number Five spot. It’s a store called World’s End—and it’s the place where British punk began.

In the early seventies, at 430 King’s Road, Vivienne Westwood, first lady of avant-garde fashion, had a shop named SEX, co-owned by Malcolm McLaren. It was here that the members of The Sex Pistols first met and practiced in the store’s back room—inventing an iconic punk statement and sound.

Even today, Westwood owns the store, now called World’s End, which is easily identifiable by the backwards-spinning clock outside. Her new neighbor, ironically, is London’s Conservative Club—but inside the shop, you’ll swear it’s still ‘Anarchy.’
 
If you want to experience the action of King’s Road first-hand, New York Habitat has some amazing vacation rentals that will let you live a part of music history.

There’s the 2-bedroom furnished apartment rental in Brompton, Kensington - Chelsea (LN-278) on Elystan Street between Old Brompton Road and King’s Road, an area teeming with restaurants, shops and cafés all outside your door. 

Also, there is a 2-bedroom furnished accommodation in Kensington - Chelsea (LN-474) with a private terrace so that the sights and sounds of the city come to you. 

Finally, to really live like a rock star, stay in a recently refurbished 2 bedroom vacation rental in Kensington - Chelsea (LN-462) with a decorative fireplace.
 
All of these accommodations are minutes away from unparalleled views of the Thames River—and a world away from anything you’ve experienced before. Skip the hotel and live like a local in one of our vacation rentals. While you’re at it, forget the tourist t-shirt that anyone can buy. Nothing says London like visiting its punk rock roots at the World’s End Shop.

Tune in next week to see what our Number Four can’t-miss music sight will be. What do you think will make the list? 
 

Any trip to France is incomplete without a few weeks spent living in the capital like a chic Parisian and at least a few days in a bucolic French-countryside village. Unfortunately for some of us, finances and a short time off from work force us to make a choice. And more often than not it’s the boulevards, designer boutiques and grand restaurants that beat out the Roman ruins, small farms and funny French accents. Thanks to some ingenious urban renewal, Bercy Village plops the French countryside (or at least an imagined version of it) right in the middle of Paris. Many of New York Habitat’s Paris accommodations put you within walking distance of the faux countryside charm.

We’ve already told you about the ascension of the city’s Bercy quarter , but the Bercy Village deserves some attention all to itself. The village brings to life the spirit of market shopping entirely unique in Paris. On each side of the street are low-rise buildings plucked right out of the 18th century and restaurant tables jut out onto the cobblestoned pedestrian rue from the village’s several cafes.

Also filling the buildings are small art galleries, clothing boutiques, restaurants and, at one end of the street, a large UGC movie theater. The village is a perfect start to a stroll around the quarter and lies directly adjacent to Bercy Park and just across the Seine from the National Library. One storefront in Bercy is particularly mouth watering to Anglophone  tastebuds–The Frog micro-brasserie, an English-style pub brewing its own pints on site.

For an entirely unique Paris experience stay on this Seine-docked house boat, a 1-bedroom rental accommodation in Bastille, Marais - Les Halles (PA-3374). Staying in this accommodation is an experience in itself and one your friends at home will not believe. Also available from New York Habitat is the contemporary styling of this 2-bedroom rental apartment in Bastille, Marais - Les Halles (PA-2488)which puts you a short walk from Bercy Village. Also a petit promenade from the village is this 1-bedroom rental apartment in Bastille, Pere Lachaise - Nation (PA-2663).

So next time you’re torn between visiting Paris or the countryside come to Paris, and take a trip to a country side village on your way to the Eiffel Tower.  

Spring is one of the most pleasant seasons in New York. In addition to being cooler then in the summer, the trees are in bloom and people are excited to be outside again after the cold New York winter. A highlight of the spring season for many New Yorkers is being able to enjoy their favorite parks again after the chilling New York winters.

If you come to New York in the spring there are several great park in New York which are not to be missed including:

• Central Park, Manhattan: is New York City’s most famous park and also the largest in Manhattan at 843 acres. The world-renowned landscape designer Frederick Law Olmstead designed the park in the 1800’s. Central Park offers activities for everyone’s enjoyment from pick-up games of baseball and soccer to walking paths to carriage rides though the park. 

• Prospect Park, Brooklyn:  If you want to venture outside of Manhattan consider Prospect Park which is Brooklyn’s equivalent of Central Park and was also designed by Frederick Law Olmstead. Prospect Park is well located in Brooklyn making it a great stop while visiting other Brooklyn landmarks.  Short walks from the park are the Brooklyn Museum, Park Slope (for shopping and dining) and downtown Brooklyn. The park is easily reachable by the 2,3 trains to Grand Army Plaza as well as the B,Q,S trains to Prospect Park.

• Flushing Meadows – Corona Park, Queens: This park is the largest in Queens and was the site of the 1964 world’s fare and is also home to Shea Stadium where the New York Mets play as well as the Author Ashe tennis center. The park can be reached via the 7 train to Shea Stadium and features boat rides on the park’s lakes, the New York Hall of Science and the Queen’s museum of art.

• Riverside Park, Manhattan: Want to enjoy the best views of the Hudson River? Take a walk along Riverside Park and enjoy the boat traffic along the river as well as views of the classic pre-war architecture along Riverside Drive.

To enjoy the season more consider fining a New York apartment rental with a terrace, balcony or garden to enjoy your own private outdoors in New York.

Here are a few of our favorites New York City Apartments with gardens, terraces or outdoor space:

• A Harlem 4 bedroom rental with a terrace and a short walk from Central Park (NY-11554)
• An Upper West Side 1 bedroom apartment with access to the buildings terrace and 1 block from Riverside Park (NY-12157)
• A Brooklyn 2 bedroom apartment in Carroll Gardens with a terrace near Prospect Park (NY-12236)

Do you have a favorite New York City Park? Share with us below.