New York Habitat Blog

Looking for the perfect reason to visit New York this winter? Look no further then the 3rd annual Wine Expo taking place from February 26th to February 28th. This year’s wine expo will take place at the Jacob Javits Convention Center.

In conjunction with the event New York Habitat has a special offer for our customers. We are offering 10% off of our agency fees for anyone attending the Wine Expo. Just send or e-mail a copy of your ticket or a copy of the receipt from your ticket purchase before you complete your booking to receive the discount. The New York Wine Expo has generously extended a $10 discount off the price of tickets to anyone booking an apartment with New York Habitat (now through January 31st, 2010).  Just use the code HABITAT on the New York Wine Expo website when purchasing your tickets.

Wine Corks

The event has two public sessions:
• Friday February 26th from 6p.m. to 10p.m.
• Saturday February 27th from 2p.m. to 6.p.m.

The Wine Expo will feature over 170 winemakers who will be sampling some 600 wines from regions including France, Italy, South America, California, New York, Oregon and more. The event also has several seminars about wine. Speakers include: Gloria Maroti Frazee and Leslie Sbrocco.

If you are looking for an apartment near the Javits Center, New York Habitat has something for everyone. Some of our favorite winter choices include:

• A one bedroom apartment in the heart of Times Square in Midtown West (NY-12046)
• A one bedroom apartment just a few blocks from Javits Center in Midtown West (NY-12989)
• A four bedroom vacation rental in Midtown West (NY-12861)

If you have been to the New York Wine Expo before share the top wines that you sampled, and if you plan to attend this year let us know which wines you hope to try in the comment section below.

With so many breathtaking cathedrals in Paris, it’s hard not to want to see them all. But touring from one to the next can definitely lead to “cathedral-fatigue.”  One chapel that is sure to awe even the weariest of travelers is the divine Sainte-Chapelle.

Sainte Chapelle

Located in the heart of Paris on the Ile-de-la-Cité, Sainte-Chapelle is an architectural gem and a national historic monument. Its delicate skeletal structure, ornate vaulted ceilings and brilliant stained glass windows make it perhaps the best example of the French High Gothic style.

The cathedral’s 6,000 square feet of stained glass is a staggering site. Each window reads from left to right and from top to bottom, telling the story of the Old Testament and the Passion of the Christ – with 1,113 biblical scenes depicted in all. While the chapel was all but destroyed during the French Revolution, nearly two-thirds of the windows are authentic.

Commissioned by King Louis XI in 1241, the cathedral was built to house precious Christian relics, including Christ’s crown of thorns, a piece of the true cross and more than thirty other relics that the king purchased from the Byzantine Empire.  In fact, King Louis XI paid almost three times more for the relics than he did the construction of the cathedral. Today, what remains of the relics are housed in the nearby Treasury House of the Cathedral of Notre Dame.

While located in the middle of Paris, Sainte-Chapelle isn’t very noticeable from the street. The cathedral is tucked away within the Palais de Justice, and to enter you must turn left at the palace’s main entrance gate. The cathedral is open daily from 9 am – 5 pm, but closed on Christmas and New Years Day.

New York Habitat has dozens of vacation rentals also located in the heart of the city, including:

- This affordable Studio Vacation Rental in Saint Germain des Pres -St Michel - St Germain - Notre Dame (PA-2510). The cozy winter nest is within easy walking distance of Ile-de-la-Cité, and is situated on a small street in one of the most attractive and historic areas of the Left Bank.

- This 2-Bedroom Vacation Rental in St Michel - St Germain - Notre Dame - Paris (PA-3175). The apartment has a high-speed WiFi Internet connection, a modern kitchen and beautiful courtyard views.

- This charming and colorful 1-Bedroom Vacation Rental  in St Michel - St Germain - Notre Dame - Paris (PA-2435). The railroad-style apartment has a rustic charm with its exposed wooden beams and traditional floor.

Have you ever been to Sainte-Chapelle. Share your comments with us!

There are loads of traditional, historic pubs in London. No worries: New York Habitat will help narrow them down by bringing you a few of the best—not to mention some fantastic, nearby rental accommodations as well. This week’s featured pub is the Nag’s Head in Belgravia, a small beauty that’s hard to find—and even harder to leave!

Nag's Head Pub, London

The Nag’s Head is tucked away on Kinnerton, a tiny cobbled mews right off the main shopping street of Knightsbridge. Unconcerned with the trendiness and fashion usually associated with the area, this pub hasn’t changed much in over three hundred years. There’s a stove from the 1820s, an early, cheeky “What the Butler Saw” viewing box, and a cast iron fireplace on the lower level.

What will first catch your eye about the Nag’s Head are the colorful plants and flowers in boxes outside. Once inside, however, the miniature bar stools are the main draw, putting customers on a proportional level to the sunken bar area. It gives the place a sort of “through the looking glass” feel.

The Nag’s Head is a true “free house,” serving any type of beer that proprietor Kevin Moran sees fit. He took the “free house” sign off out front, however, claiming too many corporate pubs have abused the term. Oh…and he also banned cell phones from his establishment—so switch them off or suffer his wrath. You won’t need them anyway. The locals are friendly (as is Kevin, if you follow his house rules) and the conversation flows like freshly poured ale.

To become a regular at the Nag’s Head yourself, consider staying at one of these nearby New York Habitat rental accommodations:

• A cheery 2-bedroom vacation flat in Knightsbridge, Kensington-Chelsea (LN-784), conveniently located on Kinnerton, so you’ll be neighbors with the Nag’s Head. This ground-floor flat on a quiet, closed street has double and single beds, laundry, wood flooring, a terrace and a decorative fireplace. The perfect place for after the pub!

• London Apartment 1-bedroom in Kensington - Chelsea (LN-819)

  A gorgeous 1-bedroom rental accommodation in Knightsbridge, Kensington-Chelsea (LN-256) that comes with a double bed, double Murphy bed, single sofa bed, laundry/dryer and walk-in closet. This spacious, newly renovated flat also has a wonderful kitchen, wood floors, central heating and a decorative fireplace. Client testimonials rave: “The apartment was perfect for us. It was a good location…” 

• A modern, beautifully furnished 2-bedroom townhouse in Knightsbridge, Kensington-Chelsea (LN-819) on a quiet, residential street. This rental accommodation comes complete with double and single beds, two baths, laundry/dryer, a balcony, daily maid and weekly linen service, and a complimentary health club membership, for if you ever feel like getting up from your bar stool.  

Pubs are more than places to drink; they are part of London’s social and cultural core. Pull up a seat, hoist up a pint and soak in the atmosphere!

Be sure to check New York Habitat’s next historic pub pick and amazing selection of rental accommodations. Let us know which London pub you’d like to visit with a comment below.

We’re back with another New York video tour for you.  In this video I am going to show you another fabulous neighborhood of New York, known as Harlem.

Get the Flash Player to see this player. Click above to watch this video: Video Tour of Central and West Harlem. (4:53)

Harlem is a large, historical area in northern Manhattan.  It’s a major residential, cultural and business center. It stretches from the East River west to the Hudson River between 155th Street to the north and 110th Street to the south, which is the northern boundary of Central Park.

Harlem is so large, in fact, that it would be impossible to cover in just one video.  So instead, we’ll be doing separate videos on Harlem’s various districts.

The districts of Harlem are West Harlem, Morningside Heights, Central Harlem, East Harlem and Hamilton Heights. 

Our first stop in our Harlem series will be Central & West Harlem!

History:

Harlem was originally a Dutch village founded around 1658.  It was named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands. In the early 20th century many African Americans moved to this area and in the 1920s and 30s many famous artists, musicians and businessmen became well known in Harlem and took Black culture to a higher level, in a movement known as the Harlem Renaissance.

Marcus Garvy Park

Mount Morris Park a.k.a Marcus Garvey Park

Central Harlem revolves around Mount Morris Park, which was opened to the public in 1840 with the name Mount Morris Park.  In 1973, the park was renamed Marcus Garvey Park in honor of Jamaican born black activist, journalist and community leader, Marcus Garvey.

During the summer of 1969 the park held a series of concerts to celebrate African American music and culture and to promote black pride.  Many famous musicians, including Nina Simone, B.B. King, Sly & the Family Stone, Max Roach, Gladys Knight and Stevie Wonder participated to the event, which was also called “Black Woodstock”

Today, Marcus Garvey Park has two playgrounds for children, several fountains, an amphitheater, a swimming pool and an indoor space for yoga, kickboxing, karate and computer classes. 

All around the park you can observe beautiful historical houses which show the affluence in the area during the late 1800s and early 1900s when these townhouses were built.
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture - 515 Malcolm X Boulevard

The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, located at the corner of Malcolm X Boulevard (Lenox Avenue) and 135th Street.  The Schomburg Center is a national research library that collects, preserves and provides documentation and media on the culture and history of the people of African descent in the world.  Here you’ll find art, rare books, photographs, films and music of African culture and history.

Read the entire story here… »

Columbus Circle marks the southwest corner of Central Park and includes a monument to Christopher Columbus, shopping, museums and a gateway to Central Park. Today, we are going to explore some of the top activates and sites around Columbus Circle.

Traveling to Columbus Circle is easy; it is served by the 1, A, B, C and D subways. When rising out of the subway tunnels the 1st thing that you will notice is the statue in the center of the traffic circle. The monument, which was built to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Columbus’ voyage to the Americas, was designed and created by Italian sculptor Gaetano Russo. Atop the monument stands Christopher Columbus. In addition to being a sight to be seen, Columbus Circle marks the point where all distances are measured to in New York City.

2 Columbus Circle: Museum of Arts and Design

Columbus Circle has plenty of other activates too:

• 1st you’ll want to check out the Time Warner center which is along the western side of the circle. The towers were completed in 2003 and are 55 stories tall. The Time Warner Center has three floors of shops on the lower levels including Borders Books, Whole Foods Market and many specialty retailers. In addition the 4th floor has some of Manhattan’s top rated restaurants (be prepared to spend a pretty penny to visit them).
• To the north is the one of Donald Trump’s famous New York City Skyscrapers
• If you are ready for some New York City realization head to the northeast where you will find the Merchant’s Gate entrance to Central Park. Take a stroll through the park to reenergize before your next stop on your New York tour.
• Lastly to the south you will find 2 Columbus Circle known as the lollipop building, which has been through a rocky history. The building, which for many years was considered as an architectural eyesore by some and an architectural gem by others, has been transformed into the Museum of Arts & Design with a new design that is often criticized as much as the old design. The museum has more than 54,000 square feet of exhibition space for its extensive collection. 

If you are interesting in checking out Columbus Circle it’s a great idea to choose a nearby vacation rental. Some gems in the neighborhood include:

A 1 bedroom Upper West Side apartment (ny-14209) located just 4 blocks north of Columbus Circle on the 42nd story of a high-rise building.

A 1 bedroom vacation rental apartment in Midtown West (ny-11454) just 3 blocks south of Columbus Circle in a doorman building.

Let us know your favorite activities,  shops and cafes around Columbus Circle in the comments section below.

We here at New York Habitat are very keen on cultural traditions—and what can be more traditional than Cockney cuisine in England? Haven’t tried it? Haven’t even heard of it? Well, it’s time to get yourself to London and have a go. Stay in a local New York Habitat rental flat then head out to the pie and mash shop and order some jellied eels for us.

There are a ton of historical sights in London—but there is only one oldest pie and mash shop still in business: M. Manze’s. The original, at 87 Tower Bridge Road, opened in 1902, survived the Second World War, and is still family-owned. It is a Blue Plaque site as voted by the people of London.

London Accommodation: 1-bedroom in City Islington (LN-845)

The menu today is much the same as it has always been and is one of the best values in the city. The food choices, though limited, are handmade daily on the premises following century-old recipes. Take your pick of pies: minced beef or vegetarian varieties packed into pastry and baked fresh in traditional stone ovens. You have a choice of gravy or liquor (not an alcohol at all, but a type of parsley sauce; apparently, M. Manze’s has a special, secret ingredient that makes their liquor unmatched in all of London). The mash, from high-quality potatoes, is made as you order.

Oh, yes…and then there are the eels. Choose from jellied eels—a Cockney favorite—or the succulent stewed variety. Wash it all down with hot or cold sarsaparilla or, of course, a cup of tea.

Best of all, after a filling lunch for less than five pounds, you’re a short walk from the Thames River, Tower Bridge, Borough Market, the Tower of London and your own New York Habitat vacation accommodation, such as:

• A gorgeous, spacious and contemporary 1-bedroom rental flat in City-Islington (LN-837) with a queen sized bed, laundry/dryer, housecleaning services, a health club guest membership and a day membership at the private London Capital Club. 
• A charming 1-bedroom vacation accommodation in City-Islington (LN-834) on the third floor of a period walk-up. This flat, located between two quiet pedestrian alleyways and opposite a Wren church, comes with a double bed, hardwood floors, laundry and central heating. A scene from a Harry Potter film was shot at this location.
• A lovely split-level 1-bedroom rental in City-Islington (LN-845) on Trinity Square. With accommodations to sleep up to five (a queen bed, double mattress, and single sofa bed), this flat also features an interior spiral staircase, chrome kitchen appliances and free calls to the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and most of Europe.   

Enjoy the many traditions of London—and start your own tradition with a stay in a local New York Habitat vacation flat.

Leave a comment below to let us know if you have ever enjoyed Cockney cuisine in London.

Thanks to a wealth of world-class museums and galleries, Paris is one of the premier cities for cultural learning through the arts. To the credit of curators city-wide, the art offerings not only cross genres but go far beyond the work created by artists within l’Hexagone. Visitors to Paris have the opportunity to engage with artists and artwork from all corners of the globe. The collections found in this city go far beyond the European masterpieces (although these are not in short supply here). This fall, the musée du quai Branly will present an exhibition entiled 165 Years of Iranian Photography, continuing the Parisian tradtion of importing great art as a means to greater understanding and appreciation.

musée du quai Branly: Iranian Photography

Iran is a country that is often spoken about and debated in the West. But for all of the politcal discussion that surrounds the Middle-Eastern  nation little is mentioned about the county’s proud artistic tradition beyond a word or two on Persian rug making. This most recent exhibition sheds light on both the artistic and politcal evolution of modern Iran. The photography in this exhibition is unique in that it documents the turmoil and changes in the country while also standing alone on its artistic merits. Photography in Iran began during the reign of the Shah in the Qajar era with portraits of the traditional aristocracy, and today is asserting itself with the work of photojournalists. In the wake of the recent attention paid to the work, and repression of, these street photographers and journalists the exhibition provides an enlightening look at the history and work of artists within the Islamic Republic.

Fall is a great time to visit Paris, and not just for the hundreds of exhibitions going on throughout the city. New York Habitat still has plenty of accommodations available, here are a few to get your search started:

• This one-of-a-kind studio apartment in Marais-Les Halles (PA-1059) is situated on a cobbled, pedestrian street overlooking the church of St. Gervais and its gardens. The apartment itself is bathed in direct sunlight and is an ideal choice for couples. 
• This 2-bedroom vacation rental in Montmartre-Sacre Coeur (PA-2001) features a spacious balcony outfitted with a small table and rooftop views. The 800+ square foot apartment can comfortably accommodate 4 guests.
• This 3-bedroom accommodation in Bastille, Marais-Les Halles (PA-3530) is an absolute must-see. The apartment features pitched, wood-planked ceilings, hardwood floors, large eat-in kitchen, rooftop views and a unique mezzanine level.