New York Habitat Blog

In these trying economic times trips to Europe are out of reach for a lot of New Yorkers. Fortunately, that doesn’t mean that New York residents and visitors alike can’t get a taste of Europe in North America’s preeminent city. This summer, in addition to all of the authentic Italian eateries, Eastern European neighborhoods and French bakeries, a portion of the city will be celebrating the Big Apple’s Dutch roots. New York Habitat has available accommodations that will place guests in the heart of the modernity of New York, but with access to the best the Old World has to offer.

New York Vacation Rental 2 Bedroom Apartment in TriBeCa (NY-2208)

The Bowling Green section of downtown Manhattan will be transformed into a quaint Dutch village for ten days in early September. The mock New Amsterdam village will consist of traditional Dutch canal houses, a windmill straight out of the Holland countryside and a stage for performances connecting the Old World with the New. Workshop presentations focus on crafts the Dutch are known for, such as wooden shoe making, Delft blue painting and glass blowing. In addition to the goings-on about the mock village, visitors have the opportunity to sample the cheeses, beers, pancakes and herring that Dutch cuisine is known for. Guests can also buy flowers and bulbs straight from Holland’s green pastures. The New Amsterdam Village will take hold of Lower Manhattan from September 4-14 and is presented in collaboration with the 400th anniversary of Hudson’s voyage celebrations taking place throughout the state of New York.

New York Habitat has yet to expand to the canals of Amsterdam but guests can find hundreds of apartments to their liking in what was once known as New Amsterdam. Below are a few apartments to get your search started:
-This 1-bedroom accommodation in Financial District (NY-12699) features beautiful hardwood floors and modern decor.
-This 2-bedroom rental apartment in Tribeca (NY-2208) features a traditional New York loft-style layout and tasteful design touches.
-This 3-bedroom apartment in Tribeca (NY-12342) is large enough to accommodate up to 6 guests and is housed in an historic downtown building.

London Apartment Studio Vacation Rental in Bayswater/ Westminster (LN-538)

Sure, London is famous for its museums: the V&A, the National Portrait Gallery, the Tates…Frank Sinatra even sang about the British Museum! But where you’ll find the up-and-coming or cutting-edge artists is in London’s smaller galleries—and there are plenty of them scattered throughout the city. Each day, you can head out from your centrally located New York Habitat vacation rental and discover another exciting and talented artist in the capital’s galleries. With such a vast array of visual arts at your doorstep, you may never see London the same way again.

An always-good bet is the Photographers’ Gallery off Regent’s Street, which is presenting dual shows of Andre Kertesz’s black and white photos of readers in unlikely places, as well as an exhibit of (often outrageous) men’s fashions.

The small Serpentine Gallery in the middle of Hyde Park has a Jeff Koons exhibit running until mid-September, so there’s plenty of time before summer runs out to catch his inflatable beach toys artfully rendered in aluminium. What’s more, the entire Serpentine Pavilion is itself a temporary work of art, designed by Japanese architects Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa.

The Hayward Gallery on South Bank allows viewers to access the mindscapes of ten international artists through large-scale installations. This creative exhibit stretches into early September.

London Apartment 1 Bedroom Vacation Rental in Marble Arch (LN-749)

The excellent Whitechapel in Aldgate presents the British Council Collection of sculpture and the East End Academy: Painting Edition, showcasing work by artists who live in London’s East End, as well as American painter Elizabeth Peyton’s moody, atmospheric works.

If you like your art with a little bit of nature (and interaction), Artangel at Harper Road is displaying Roger Hiorns’s ‘Seizure,’ which converts an abandoned council flat into a cave-like structure with sparkling blue copper sulphate crystals that you can walk through.

To bring the artistic vision back with you, consider staying in these well-designed New York Habitat accommodations:

• A stylish studio in Bayswater, Westminster (LN-472) just a few yards from Hyde Park. This flat, in a newly refurbished six-story terraced building with elevator, boasts an Italian kitchenette, an ensuite bath with wall-hung wash basins, an oak wooden floor and bar stools.  
• A spacious studio in Bayswater, Westminster (LN-538) that comes with both a double bed and double sofa bed. Other fabulous features include a wooden bar, glass-fronted storage cabinets, and a built-in wardrobe. 
• A gorgeous 1-bedroom rental accommodation in Marble Arch, Westminster (LN-749) on Hyde Park Place on the upper ground floor of a period building beautifully restored with original features. This rental includes a king bed (hard to come by in London), a laundry/dryer, two baths (one with Jacuzzi), Smeg appliances, a plasma TV, traditional wooden flooring, and exceptionally high ceilings. All rooms face a communal private garden.

Face it: Regardless of  what you saw in a Night at the Museum, you can’t sleep in a gallery—but you can enjoy artistic accommodations in London with New York Habitat.

Which of the above exhibits appeal most to you—or do you know another must-see gallery in London? Let us know in a comment below.

London Apartment Studio Vacation Rental in Camden Town (LN-508)

Beer may be Britain’s drink of choice, but wine is fast catching up in popularity among Londoners. To get some wine-tasting in on your next trip to London, New York Habitat is bringing you a short list of the city’s top spots for connoisseurs and amateurs alike—and, while you’re there, how about a toast to your comfortable and convenient New York Habitat vacation accommodation?

Caponata is a recently opened restaurant in Camden that offers a small but well-selected list of Sicilian wines. What makes it really special, though, is its leafy ground-floor osteria that features live jazz. What better way to spend an evening than with good wine and music?

If you’re searching for a broader selection, head to Kensington Wine Rooms, which has over 100 wines to choose from, many from lesser-known regions and plenty of by-the-glass options that you won’t find elsewhere. Glasses are poured from Enomatic machines that work like soda dispensers but keep the wine fresh and at the exact right temperature. Guests can help themselves by buying a ‘smartcard’ for a

London Accomodation 1 Bedroom in Camden/ Brent (LN-718)

determined amount and then sample away!

For another extensive list, there’s Vivat Bacchus on Farringdon Street, whose cellar holds over 20,000 bottles of wine! What it may not carry, however, are the natural wines and artisanal cooking on hand at Terroirs in Charing Cross, which has become a hit with the locals.

A great setting makes any glass of wine taste better, so check out 1707, the wine bar in famed department store Fortnum & Mason’s lower-level food hall. There, you can enjoy New World wines in traditional, elegant, Old World surroundings. A more modern alternative can be found in fashion emporium Selfridge’s Wonder Bar, which has a wine jukebox that measures out good-sized samples and experts on hand to offer advice.

Of course, another choice is to stop by Green & Blue, which is half wine bar, half wine shop, and pick up a bottle to bring back to your stylish—and much more intimate—New York Habitat flat. Some suggestions are:

-A lovely 1-bedroom vacation accommodation in Camden-Brent-Hampstead (LN-537) on the second floor of a Victorian apartment building with elevator. This homey flat has a laundry/dryer, king-sized bed, hardwood floors, lots of light and a three-acre common garden.

-A colorful and funky ground-floor studio in Camden Town, Camden-Brent (LN-508) that comes with a double Murphy bed and has direct access to outdoor gardens. Plus, it’s just a ten-minute walk from Camden’s famous markets.

-A 1-bedroom rental accommodation in Holborn, Camden-Brent (LN-718) that has contemporary furnishings and clean lines. This flat comes complete with a laundry/dryer, one double bed plus a double sofa bed, a welcome pack, well-stocked kitchen amenities and free shampoo and conditioner to boot!

So enjoy your stay in London, which is quickly becoming a wine capital of the world, and raise a glass to your New York Habitat accommodation. Salud!

Have a favorite wine destination in London? Let us know with a comment below.

New York Apartment 1 Bedroom Vacation Rental in Murray Hill (NY-14286)

New York is a wonderful city, but that doesn’t mean it’s not borrowing ideas from other big cities around the globe. Last year, New York City took a page out of the urban books of Bogota and Paris and dedicated some central streets and avenues to recreation the way the Ciclovia and Paris Plage events do in Columbia and France, respectively. New York’s Summer Streets event opens up miles of city streets to the public for biking, walking, jogging and just about everything else. For visitors from out-of-town the event provides a truly unique opportunity to navigate large swaths of Manhattan with space to breath, not to mention the opportunity for people-watching. New York Habitat has apartments available this August on and off the designated streets.

Summer Streets was a huge success in 2008, its very first year. The route connects the Brooklyn Bridge with Central Park, running for a long stretch along Park Avenue. More than just an open route for bikers and runners, Summer Streets has a wide array of performances, information kiosks and attractions along the route. There are activities related to arts and culture such as dance classes and sidewalk chalking, health and fitness stations running yoga classes and special bike helmet fittings, and myriad other musical performances and workshops. Summer Streets will be taking place on three consecutive Saturdays in August (August 8,15,22) from 7am to 1pm. The event is part of Mayor Bloomberg’s sustainability initiative encouraging residents and visitors to explore alternate forms of mass transit.

August is a busy time for New York Habitat accommodations and New York City tourism in general. Anyone looking to rent an apartment before the leaves start changing color should act fast. Below are a few attractive accommodations to get your search started.  

-This studio apartment rental in Williamsburg, Brooklyn (NY-12839) will place visitors on the east side of the Brooklyn Bridge, just a short walk or bike ride from the Summer Streets events on the other side of the river.

-This 3-bedroom vacation accommodation also in Williamsburg, Brooklyn (NY-12637) is a great option for families. The apartment can house 5 guests at a time and features a large outdoor deck, hardwood floors and a renovated kitchen all at a very attractive price.

- This 1-bedroom rental accommodation in Murray Hill, Midtown West-Chelsea (NY-14286) is just a few blocks away from the Summer Streets festivities and accommodates up to 4 guests.

New York Apartment 1 bedroom Vacation Rental in Greenwich Village (NY-14284)

With miles and miles of sky-scraping buildings, brick townhouses and paved avenues New York City is the quintessential concrete jungle. For any who has ever lived in or visited this city it is hard to imagine it as anything else but the conglomeration of steel, brick and people that it is today. But to the amazement of anyone who has set their eyes on this world capital, this landmass was filled with old-growth forests, expansive wetlands, rolling hills, abundant wildlife and an aboriginal people only about 400 years ago. In comparison to European cities, some of which took thousands of years of urban evolution to take their modern shape, the rapid growth and change of New York City is staggering.

In recognition of a paradise lost, or gained depending on your perspective, the City is presenting the exhibition Mannahatta Manhattan: A Natural History of New York City. The island Henry Hudson arrived at in 1609 was called “Mannahatta” by the local people and was sparsely populated (at least compared to today’s island) and rich in natural beauty and resources. The Museum of the City of New York, in collaboration with the Wildlife Conservation Society, will present historical artifacts and maps, interactive visuals and cutting edge multi-media presentations that will leave visitors with a new appreciation for the land that now houses millions. The exhibition offers a reimagining of the island of Manhattan, a place that has changed more within half-a-century than many places over thousands of years. While the loss of a rich natural habitat can be troubling (even Central Park is man-made), New York’s wildlife is preserved in its rivers, numerous preserves and majestic harbor. The exhibition runs from now until October 13th.

New York Accomodation 1 Bedroom in Midtown East (NY-12611)

New York Habitat apartments straddle the natural beauty of the New York landscape with the urban wonder it has become. Below are a few available apartments this early fall to get your search started:

-This 1-bedroom rental accommodation in Gramercy, Midtown East (NY-7572) is housed in a prewar building and features a fireplace, hardwood floors and access to a rooftop deck.
-This 1-bedroom vacation rental in Midtown East (NY-12611) is on the first floor of a Midtown townhouse and features hardwood floors and a decorative fireplace.
- This beautiful 1 bedroom rental accommodation in Greenwich Village-Soho (NY-14284) is located in a West-Village townhouse and features a design worthy of the pages of an interior decorating magazine.

Can you think of any other international cities that have gone through a rapid transformation comparable to that of New York?

London Vacation Rental 1 Bedroom Accomodation in City-Islington (LN-722)

In late summer, the party’s still going strong in London. For the locals who couldn’t get away on holiday—and those who did, but couldn’t get enough—the club scene comes to night spots throughout the city. Why go to Ibiza when London brings Ibiza’s nightlife to you? After a few drinks and lot of dancing, sleep it off in your New York Habitat vacation accommodation in central London. It’s the best of both worlds!

For lovers of all things Latin, try Scalalatina, one of the biggest parties in the city. Scala nightclub packs four rooms full of dancers, DJs, and delectable Latin beats. It’s a good choice during Carnival Weekend at the end of August, especially late at night when the street party finally comes inside.

 If it’s an exotic locale you’re after, The Bathhouse near Liverpool Street is the site of former Turkish baths converted into a club. The music encompasses everything from ’50s swing and exotica—with a bit of burlesque to boot!

The aptly named Last Days of Decadence in Shoreditch will help you make the most of your last days of summer. This friendly and fun basement party brings together vintage aficionados who jump and jive to live bands and cabaret.

Not looking to go quite that retro? Then look no further than the O2 Academy in Islington’s “I Love the Nineties” nights on Fridays, or the Electric Ballroom’s Friday-night Sin City, featuring old school metal, classic rock and punk, or its Saturday-night Shake, which runs the gamut from ’70s and ’80s music to disco and dance party anthems. Break out your best running man moves!

Whatever your style of music, London’s varied nightlife has something for you. But to stay in London in style, there’s only one choice: New York Habitat. Check out these rentals available near the city’s hottest night spots:

London Vacation Rental Studio in City-Islington (LN-506)

· A hip, contemporary 1-bedroom vacation rental in City-Islington (LN-722) that comes complete with a double bed, laundry/dryer and all the amenities you’ll need. There’s even complimentary soap, shampoo and conditioner to help you look good on the dance floor!

 · A funky studio in City-Islington (LN-506) between happening Hoxton Square and Old Street, which comes with a double bed, plus a washer/dryer in a communal area. This flat is in the basement of a warehouse building, giving it a cool, clubby feel. It also has excellent transportation connections and is well-situated near those all-important 24-hour buses.

 · A bright, beautifully laid out studio in City-Islington (LN-654) near Old Street station in Shoreditch. This rental, with double futon, is convenient to bus routes throughout the city and is close to Broadway Market, famous for its farmers’ market—a good place to get provisions for a late breakfast!   

While the warm weather’s still here, have an end-of-summer fling with London—and fall in love with a New York Habitat vacation rental.

What’s your favourite place to party in London? Let us know with a comment below.

Whether you’re in New York City for business or pleasure, you’re probably already familiar with the Javits Center. Located on Eleventh Avenue on Manhattan’s West Side, the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center was designed by world renowned architect I.M. Pei and features over 675,000 square feet of exhibit space. Home to popular shows like the New York International Auto Show and Art Expo, the Javits Center is close in proximity to some of New York’s best known tourist attractions including the Empire State Building and the Chelsea Piers.

New York Gift Fair

While the Javits Center hosts a slew of events that are open to the public, there are a select few shows a year that are trade only, meaning for vendors, buyers and other professionals. August 15 through the 20th sees one of the most exciting trade-only events hosted at the Javits Center - the New York International Gift Fair. Occurring twice a year, the NYIGF attracts over 30,000 buyers from all 50 states and 77 countries and features 2,900 exhibitors showcasing products from all the best lines in home, lifestyle and gifts. From tabletop and housewares, decorative and personal accessories, museum gifts, crafts, specialty foods and ultra high-end modern furniture - the NYIGF really has all of the bases covered.

Special attractions at the NYIGF include a special SustainAbility display which highlights companies whose business practices are socially responsible and fair-trade oriented, as well as suppliers whose products or production processes are eco-friendly. Additionally, this year’s show will feature A+™, The Young Designers’ Platform which showcases new designers and product innovations and STUDIO™ which will showcase a variety of trend-driven lifestyle merchandise including all the latest in pet, home décor and baby gear.

New York Accommodation 1 bedroom apartment in Midtown West (NY-12092)

To celebrate this influential trade show, we’re partnering with AllModern.com on a giveaway. To enter this giveaway:
Simply visit AllModern.com

• Choose a product $200.00 and under
• Leave a comment, telling us which product you’ve selected and why
• On September 4th, 2009  a winner will be randomly selected using Random.org
• All Modern will then ship the winner his or her prize free of charge
• **This giveaway is limited to U.S. residents only

If you are visiting the Gift Fair or other events at Javits Center, conside a vacation retnal apartment rather then a hotel room. After a long day walking around the exhibits there is nothing like laying back in your own apartment ordering some of New York’s great take-out food and relaxing. Check out these nearby apartments:

• A 1 bedroom apartment in Clinton (Midtown West) with 1.5 bathrooms (NY-14105)
• A 1 bedroom vacation retnal in Midtown West a short walk from Javits Center (NY-11338)
• A penthouse 1 bedroom apartment in Times Sqaure with a balcony (NY-12092)

All Modern is part of CSN Stores, the third largest online retailer of home goods. With over 200 specialty stores including CSNChairs.com, Cookware.com and Luggage.com - CSN Stores adds more than 10,000 products per month to it’s extensive pool of stores - selling everything from Herman Miller’s brand new Embody Chair to cookware from Rachael Ray.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

10/9/09 UPDATE: New York Habitat would like to congratulate Blog reader Deanna G., who is the winner of the New York Habitat/All Modern Giveaway posted on our blog back in August. Deanna will receive the furry and fabulous Connor Cream 18×18 Decorative Faux Fur Pillow shown here that she selected from BlissLiving Home, a great addition for sprucing up the decor of any home or apartment. We’d like to thank allmodern.com for contributing some of their beautiful home furnishings for the contest. Congratulations Deanna, enjoy curling up with some cocoa and your new faux fur pillow this winter and keep checking our Blog for future contests and great vacation rental opportunities for your upcoming winter escapes!