New York Habitat Blog

Sure, a trip to Paris would be incomplete without a tete-a-tete with the Mona Lisa at the Louvre, but there are more intimate ways to peruse the art world in the French capital. While the halls of Paris’ most renowned museums are teeming with foreign tourists and twinkling flashbulbs, dozens of galleries in the city draw Parisians out of cafes and into the modern art world. Among all of the galleries currently shining in the city of light the Fondation Cartier is one of the brightest. This season, the Fondation Cartier turns its focus towards the ideas of native identity and of being rooted, and uprooted. Native Land, Stop Eject confronts the consequences of globalization, where native peoples are constantly threatened with exile and where massive migration has greased the wheels of modernity. The extensive mixed-media exhibit fills its halls with art-loving Parisians and out-of-towners in the know. New York Habitat apartments are filling quickly this winter, but travelers can still find dozens of available apartments that fill their artistic tastes.

Paris Accommodation: 2-bedroom Apartment in Opera Le Louvre PA-2079 photo

Native Land, Stop Eject focuses around an artistic and intellectual dialogue between filmmaker and photographer, Raymond Depardon, and philosopher Paul Virilio. Depardon’s work focuses on explored native lands and the world of farmers, deftly combining both political and poetic considerations. Writer Paul Virilio has spent much of his career toying with the notions of speed, exodus, the frailty of geography and the pollution of distances. The best way to enjoy this offering is by attending one of the Nomadic Nights evening presentations running along side the original exhibit. The series includes film screenings, live concerts and mixed-media presentations that add the joys of an evening out with the already engaging exhibit.

-This 3-bedroom apartment rental in Marais-Les Halles (PA-1516) is situated in an expansive loft space. The decor and design of this accommodation reflects the same crisp modernism found in the galleries of the Fondation Cartier.

-This studio apartment in Saint Germain des Pres (PA-3647) is ideal for coupled in town for a touch of Parisian romance. An elegant decor is accented by hardwood floors and exposed wood beams. Both the kitchen and bathroom have been beautifully renovated.

-This 2-bedroom rental apartment in Opera-Le Louvre (PA-2079) evokes the best of modern art in every square inch of its carefully constructed design. Modern art or architecture lovers will not be disappointed with this accommodation.

Let us know what you thought of the exhibit at the Foundation Cartier below.

If you have ever ogled the iconic fashion photography of Richard Avedon or the black and white vintage prints of Condé Nast, you won’t want to miss this year’s fashion-themed exhibits at the International Center of Photography (ICP) in Manhattan. The ICP has declared 2009 the ‘Year of Fashion’ and is celebrating with a six-show series of fashion photography that pays homage to elegance, style and, of course, the art of vogueing for the camera.

New York Accommodation: 1-bedroom rental in Midtown West, Chelsea NY-12827 photo

First in the series is Edward Steichen: In High Fashion, The Condé Nast Years, 1923-1937 on view from January 16 through May 3, 2009. The Steichen retrospective includes 175 vintage photographs, spanning the full range of his fashion images and celebrity portraiture. Steichen served as chief photographer for Condé Nast’s Vogue and Vanity Fair and revolutionized the field with his sleek Modernism. Many of the images, drawn from the Steiechen Archive at Condé Nast, have never been exhibited before.

One of the most highly anticipated exhibits at the ICP is Avedon Fashion: Photographs, 1944–2000, on view from May 15 through September 6. The exhibit will provide the most comprehensive look to date of Avedon’s fashion photography during his career at Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue and The New Yorker.

The International Center of Photography  is located in the heart of midtown Manhattan (1133 Avenue of the Americas at 43rd Street). Want to be close-up to the action? Stay in your very own New York Habitat apartment and you’ll be steps from the ICP museum, store and café. Consider one of these stylish vacation rentals:

New York Apartment: 1-bedroom rental in midtown west chelsea NY-11197 photo

This modern 1-Bedroom Vacation Rental in Midtown West - Chelsea - New York (NY-12827). Located at the foot of Rockefeller Center, this 24-hour concierge building features fully equipped fitness and conference rooms. Enjoy floor-to-ceiling windows and views of the Manhattan skyline.

This chic 1-Bedroom accommodation in Midtown West - Chelsea - New York (NY-11197), located on the 15th floor of a 25-floor high-rise building. The apartment has been completely renovated and is filled with pop art.

For more information on ICP’s yearlong line-up of fashion exhibits, visit the ICP’s website.

Have you ever been to the International Center of Photography in New York? Do you have a favorite fashion photographer? Share your comments and experiences with us!

With the weather warming up again, London parks prove to be absolutely irresistible. Of course, in the capital city, there is no shortage of green spaces in which to greet the springtime sun. The question is how to navigate them all. Over the next few weeks, in celebration of spring, we’ll be bringing you some of the best places in London to get outdoors—and, with our New York Habitat vacation rentals, some of the best places to come back home to!

Squirrel in Hyde Park, London photo

One of the most stunning, centrally located places in London is Hyde Park, and visitors can spend a full day without ever leaving its leafy confines. Heading in from Kensington Road, on the southwest, there’s Kensington Palace, which was once home to Princess Diana. Not far from there is the Orangery, serving afternoon tea in its sunroom. If you continue north through the park to Bayswater Road, you’ll find a free fresh air art fair on Sundays (all works are for sale).

To the southeast, Hyde Park boasts a bike and walking path surrounded by all sorts of colorful flora, low-hanging trees that seem to form an overhead bridge and some of the friendliest (and most domesticated) squirrels in town. There are plenty of benches from which to watch their antics as well as those of the tourists who seem trained to feed and photograph them. If you follow this path to the east, it will lead you to the small but well curated Serpentine Gallery of arts and the snaking Serpentine waterway. Stop at the waterside Lido café or The Dell restaurant for a glass of wine or a light snack to fortify yourself for the debates and didacticism of Speakers’ Corner, to the northeast, or for an afternoon of museum hopping on nearby Cromwell Road.

To enjoy all of the action and every drop of sunshine in Hyde Park, stay in a nearby, conveniently located New York Habitat vacation accommodation, such as:

• A uniquely laid out, spectacularly designed 1-bedroom duplex in North Kensington, Kensington-Chelsea (LN-485) on the ground and first floors of a converted house in a nice, residential neighborhood. This vacation rental has a garden and terrace, large picture window for plenty of sunlight, a café-style dining area, decorative gas fireplace, washer/dryer, queen-sized bed and an open bathroom with tub just off the bedroom, in addition to a downstairs shower. It’s an easy walk to Portobello Road and Notting Hill. Past clients have raved: “We had a great time in London and the owner of the apartment was very helpful.”

• A bright 3-bedroom vacation accommodation in South Kensington, Kensington-Chelsea (LN-583) with a clean, modern motif. This apartment is on the ground, first and second floors of a quiet mid-terrace mews house located off Old Brompton Road, just a three-minute walk from South Kensington station. With three bathrooms, a queen-sized bed and walk-in closet in the master bedroom, wooden floors, and a huge, arched picture window that takes up nearly one wall, this rental will easily become your preferred home away from home.

• A cheerfully decorated studio in Notting Hill, Kensington-Chelsea (LN-152) with colorful furnishings and a large, dramatic picture window for springtime views. This vacation rental on the fifth floor of a portered building with elevator and full-time doorman is only a two-minute walk to Notting Hill Gate station. The studio has plenty of space, with a double bed, a double sofa bed, a washer/dryer, a dining area for four and two bathrooms: one with a tub and the other with a shower. There are also French doors in the living room that open onto a small balcony with seating—a perfect place for morning coffee in the sun.

This spring, enjoy London outdoors—and let the sun shine in your New York Habitat vacation rental!

Have a favorite spot in Hyde Park? Tell us about it with a comment below.

Memories of science class often evoke images of drab lab coats and maladroit frog dissections. As adults, many of us move through life enjoying the technological and scientific advances without appreciating the ubiquitous role science plays in our lives, and maybe those boring science classes have something to do with that. While it’s still easy to forget just how fascinating science can be, the New York Hall of Science presents ideas and theories in a way that children won’t soon forget. The Hall’s situated a quick subway ride from New York Habitat’s Manhattan accommodations in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens.

New York Accommodation: 2-bedroom in the Upper East Side NY-11748 photo

The New York Hall of Science is a leading innovator in exhibit technology and educational programming. The Hall’s approach focuses on drawing children to exhibits with engaging topics and then getting them really interested by allowing them to touch, feel and experience the scientific or technological issues being explored. The Hall features the largest selection of interactive exhibits in the entire city and this spring ushers yet another round of dissection-free science experiments.

Science-loving families will feel at home in the modern comforts of New York Habitat rental accommodations, below are just a few that will help start a proper apartment search:

- This 2-bedroom apartment rental in Woodside, Queens (NY-12846) is a short distance from the New York Hall if Science and can accommodate a family of six.

- This 2-bedroom apartment rental in Upper East Side (NY-11748) features a large backyard and is just a short subway ride from Flushing Meadows.

Families entering and exiting the Hall that hear the roar of an afternoon crowd in the distance shouldn’t be alarmed, Flushing Meadows is also home to the New York Mets’ brand new Citi Field.

Leave a comment blow about your favorite exhibit at the New York Hall of Science

Check out this other top Kid Site in New York:

• Children’s Museum of Manhattan: 1 of the 5 Best New York Sites for Kids

In America, the 4th of July means celebrating the birth of the nation. But in France this year, they’ll be celebrating on July 4th as well - when the 96th Tour de France kicks off in Monte Carlo, Monaco.  Why not come on over, rent a New York Habitat vacation apartment and watch the riders whiz by?

South of France: Vacation Rental 1-bedroom in Menerbes, Provence France (PR-905) photo

Towns actually apply to be included in the route, and for this year there were 252 applicants to choose from. The commissioners of the Tour de France visit each town to measure, gauge, and survey every potential inch of the roads - as well as try to determine if the town is able to sustain riders, their crew, the press, and the many tourists who descend on the start and finish lines of each day’s race.

There are some exciting features to this year’s Tour de France. It will be the first time six countries are involved in the route, with Monaco, France, Andorra, Spain, Italy and Switzerland hosting portions of the race. And the South of France plays a prominent role!

Be there when it all begins, on July 4th in Monaco, just a short hop from this 2 bedroom rental in Beausoleil (PR-632).  Beausoleil is a charming town typical of the ones that dot the French Riviera, and much more affordable than the expensive condos in Monte Carlo proper. You can enjoy the kickoff and be back in time for lunch by the sea - or try your luck, or just do your best imitation of James Bond, at the world-famous casino!

Montpellier is a great spot for watching the race, as the Tour’s only team time trial will start and finish there on the same day, July 7.  So, why not take advantage of the close proximity of this 2 bedroom rental in Montpellier (PR-297)., located in the Antigone complex, just steps away from the start and finish line?  You can catch the departure, have a nice day of shopping, and then cheer the teams as they return!

South of France Accommodation: 2-bedroom rental in Beausoleil, French Riviera (PR-632) Pict

Or, you can chose a central location - like this 1 Bedroom Vacation Rental in Ménerbes, Provence Luberon (PR-905) - and take day trips to see the starts in Monaco, Marseille and Montelmar, and the finishes in Brignoles, Mont Ventoux and La Grande Motte.

New York Habitat has these and many more vacation rentals along the route of the race. This is your chance to see Lance Armstrong come out of retirement to try winning his eighth Tour de France championship. So, be where the action is, this July in the South of France!  And if you’ve ever seen the Tour de France in person, let us know your experience in the comments!

New York Accommodation: 3-bedroom rental in Battery Park (NY-14016) photo

New York City has some of the world’s finest museums. The Met is the city’s answer to Paris’ Louvre, the Museum of Modern Art houses both the recognizable and avant garde, and the Guggenheim has visitors in awe before they step through the doors. The draw of New York’s cultural institutions is obvious to most travelers, but is often underappreciated by the smallest ones. Even the most cultured children often have a hard time staying still and listening to lectures in the halls of world-famous museums. For parents hoping to engender a real sense of cultural awareness in their children, while keeping them in their element, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan is a godsend. Many of New York Habitat accommodations share the  Children’s Museum of Manhattan’s blend of cultural and kid cache and are available throughout the year.

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) offers authentic cultural learning experiences, hands-on workshops and kid-friendly performances that range from rowdy pop-rock concerts to calming author readings. CMOM is first and foremost an educational space, and one that mixes fun and learning. CMOM’s exhibits tackle a diverse range of issues from literacy to creativity. The museum boasts a floor dedicated solely to pre-schoolers, exhibits designed to introduce art, science and literature. The museum even has a healthy living programming encouraging good nutrition and daily exercise. In addition to the permanent exhibitions on display, the museum hosts a calendar full of daily drop-in workshops allowing children to explore their creative side or refine their motor skills, all in a supervised and social setting. The Childern’s Museum of Manhattan is located on the Upper West Side and admission to workshops is free with $10 admission price. Museum entry is free on the first Friday of each month.

New York Vacation Rental: 1-bedroom apartment in Morningside Heights NY-11526 pict

Below are a few family-friendly apartments available this spring:

-Families will love this 3-bedroom vacation rental in Battery Park (NY-14016). This boathouse apartment is truly one of New York Habitat’s most unique accommodations. A must see.

-This 1-bedroom vacation rental apartment in Harlem, Uptown (NY-11526) would be a nice choice for a family looking to experience one of New York’s most famous neighborhoods and enjoy the apartment’s private garden.

- This 2-bedroom vacation rental in Noho, East Village-Lower East Side (NY-12499) will please both parents and kids, alike.

Let us know your favorite exhibit at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan in the comments section below.

As the intellectual epicenter of nineteenth and twentieth century, London, and especially the Bloomsbury area, were home to some of the most celebrated authors and thinkers of the time. With the University of London, the British Museum, the British Library, the Pushkin House and the Dickens House all within walking distance, it’s no wonder that the area continues to attract academics, artists and literature lovers from the world over. Want to make sure the story of your visit to London has a happy ending? Book a stay in a nearby New York Habitat vacation accommodation!

London Accommodation: 2-bedroom rental in fitzrovia LN-269 photo

The history of Bloomsbury reads like the shelves of a library: Virginia Woolf lived at 51 Gordon Square and hosted the famed Bloomsbury Group there. Jeremy Bentham founded University College on Gower Street, where his remains can still be seen in the South Wing (for a sight you’ll never forget, skip Madame Toussaud’s and head here instead!). T.S. Eliot was dubbed “the Pope of Russell Square” and hid out from his first wife at 24 Lincoln’s Inn Fields. Mary Godwin is rumored to have first met Shelley in the St. Pancras Old Church, where she was visiting the grave of her mother, Mary Wollstonecraft.

Although blue plaques abound, the best part about Bloomsbury is that its history and culture can still be felt on its vibrant streets, in its varied bookstores, and in its myriad museums and galleries.

Take a break in charming Bedford Square to see one of London’s best-preserved eighteenth century public spaces. Stop in Sir John Soane’s Museum for its enormous and eclectic collection of sculptures and rarities…not to mention its eccentric layout. And browse the rare books or buy a gently used paperback in the reasonably priced shops along Charing Cross Road—a London institution struggling to compete with chain stores. Take your treasure to bed and read until you fall comfortably asleep in one of these suggested New York Habitat vacation rentals:

• A spacious and well laid out 2-bedroom vacation rental in Bloomsbury-Westminster (LN-640) in an apartment building with elevator. This accommodation has two bathrooms, a laundry/dryer, dining for six, and a double sofa bed in the living room, in addition to the two bedrooms, so it’s perfect for a family, a group of friends or an entire book club!

• A sunny and immaculate 2-bedroom rental accommodation in Bloomsbury-Westminster (LN-388) in a large apartment building with elevator and full-time doorman. The master bedroom has a king-sized bed, the second bedroom has twin beds and the sofa bed in the living room sleeps two. Client testimonials state: “I wish to tell you that the apartment greatly suited our requests and therefore I definitely recommend it”; “The three-room flat we were in was simple but quite pleasant”; “We…found the location and condition of the apartment to be very favorable.”

• A modern and lovely 2-bedroom vacation accommodation in Fitzrovia-Westminster (LN-269) conveniently located between Goodge Street and Tottenham Court Road. This second-floor apartment (in a building with elevator) has leather furnishings, wood floors, electric heating, a queen-sized bed in the master bedroom, two twins that can be zipped into a king in the second bedroom, and contemporary décor throughout.

Bloomsbury is where literary London comes to life! Let New York Habitat put you in the heart of this historical and cultural center.

Which London-based book is your favorite? Let us know with a comment below.