New York Habitat Blog

The Titanic was en route to New York when it met its tragic fate almost a century ago. Today, the “Unsinkable” ship has made it to its final port of call. The Discovery Times Square Exposition, one of New York’s newest museum spaces, is now featuring the fascinating “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition”.

The sprawling exhibit recreates the entire Titanic experience, from the ship’s construction to life onboard, and ultimately to the iceberg that sunk it. More than 350 artifacts from the shipwreck – 40 of them never before seen — are on display, including jewelry, china, clothing and personal letters. Visitors can walk through reconstructed first- and third-class cabins as well as see a replica of the Grand Staircase.

The exhibit succeeds in making the experience interactive and engaging. Visitors are given a “boarding pass” upon entry that includes factual information about one of the Titanic’s 2,228 passengers. At the end, it is revealed whether “your” passenger made it onto one of the lifeboats.

Titanic

The Discovery Times Square Exposition is a whopping 60,000 square-feet, so winding your way through the exhibit can take upwards of two hours. And of course, there is a gift shop to hit afterwards. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the Discovery Times Square’s website.

Want to stay near the hustle and bustle of Times Square? New York Habitat has dozens of conveniently located apartments within walking distance of the Titanic exhibit, including:

- This affordable Studio Vacation Rental in Midtown West - Chelsea - New York (NY-11802), located in the heart of the Theater District and only blocks from Times Square. The apartment has two beds. A great deal!

- This luxe 2-Bedroom Vacation Rental in Midtown West - Chelsea - New York (NY-12496), featuring a gym, rooftop access and unlimited Starbucks’ coffee. The apartment is in a high-rise building with full-time doorman and a 24-hour attended front desk.

Have you ever been to the “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition”? Are you a Titanic buff? Please share your comments with us!

Imagine sampling delectable dishes from more than 40 of New York’s best restaurants — all in one night, all under one roof.  New York Taste, a culinary event held for charity, turns this foodie dream into a reality. 

On Monday, November 2nd, some of New York’s most celebrated chefs and mixologists will come together to serve up their signature dishes, all to benefit City Harvest. Held at the Skylight Lounge in SoHo, guests will be able to sample mouthwatering fare from an impressive lineup of participating restaurants, including Corton, Craft, Le Cirque, Morimoto, Bar Boulud and many more.

Hosted by New York magazine culinary editor, Gillian Duffy, a portion of the evening’s proceeds will be donated to the hunger-fighting organization. General admission tickets are available for $175 and VIP tickets for $250 at http://www.nymag.com/taste.

New York Taste

The two-hour event runs from 7:00-9:00 p.m., but a VIP ticket will grant you an extra hour to graze and chat with the chefs, starting at 6:00 p.m., as well as a VIP gift bag. Crowds gather quickly so get there early! Last year’s event drew more than 1,000 guests.

New York Habitat has gorgeous apartments conveniently located near the New York Taste event to help you be the first to nab those savory morsels, including:

- This spotless Alcove Studio Vacation Rental in Greenwich Village - Soho - New York (NY-12564) in the heart of the Village. Enjoy easy access to an array of restaurants, bars and shops.

- This tastefully furnished 2-Bedroom Vacation Rental in Noho - East Village - Lower East Side (NY-12499). The loft space includes high ceilings and a skylight.
Have you ever been to one of the New York Taste events? Do you have a favorite celebrity chef? Share your comments with us!

What we look for in a good travel experience doesn’t change much. We set out with our entire families or just a pack on our backs in search of interesting people and places, new ways to experience the world and food, traditions and ways of living that challenge our preconceived notions. The ways in which we travel, however, is always changing; we’ve moved from word-of-mouth travel advice to the word of a trusted print travel guide to the opinions of other jet-setters on internet discussion boards. Voyages that once took months of preparation and weeks of hard travel now take a credit card and a short flight. With all of the changes in travel it is all the more important to stay on the cutting edge in order to find the next unforgettable travel experience. The Adventures in Travel Expo taking place this October in New York City’s Jacob Javitz Center tackles the evolving travel industry with the verve of an 18th-century explorer. New York Habitat apartments are available during the expo so travellers can have a comfortable place to lay their heads while they dream about that next international jaunt.

New York Accommodation: 3-bedroom rental in Midtown West (NY-10971)

The two-day travel expo has something for every traveller out there. Not just an event for those working within the industry, the expo features informative seminars, hundreds of tour operators and experts, hands-on adventure activities and authentic cultural performances. Featured speakers include Arthur Frommer, renowned travel guide creator, Patricia Schultz, author of 1,00 Places to Visit Before you Die, Tony Wheeler, the founder and CEO of Lonely Planet, and Holly Morris, the host of Globe Trekker. Vendors, travel associations and tour operators from every corner of the world will be on hand to answer questions and entice the curious while presentations by writers and filmmakers from National Geographic Adventure will have guests in awe. A highlight of the expo is the interactive adventure activities. Guests will have the opportunity to climb a rock wall, learn to scuba dive in a heated pool and participate in an indoor ropes course.

New York Habitat apartments are still available during the weekend of October 10-11, below are a few to get your search started:

-This studio rental apartment in Upper West Side (NY-12072) features a cozy interior space and a lovely balcony with space for dinner for two. 

-This 2-bedroom rental accommodation in East Village-Lower East Side (NY-7311) is an ideal choice for jet-setting families. The apartment features a spacious backyard (In Manhattan!) and a bedroom decorated with a child’s interests in mind.

-This 3-bedroom rental apartment in Midtown West-Chelsea (NY-10971) offers some rare architectural charms and is located in one of Manhattan’s great neighbourhoods.

Let us know what your dream vacation is below. Is it an adventure cruise on the Amazon, a hiking trip in New Zealand or a weekend in a New York High Rise? Whatever it is, let us know below.

During parts of the 1970’s and 80’s Central Park was often a scary place to be. Runners were told to steer clear of the reservoir loop at night, women were advised to keep a friend or two by their sides during park outings and dozens of out-of-luck men and struggling young people even spent desperate nights in one of the United States’ great urban landmarks. That era was surely one of the darkest in the park’s history, rivalled perhaps only by the period that saw the Hooverville shanty camps of the Great Depression. Today’s Central Park is enjoying a prolonged renaissance. The park is the envy of international cities that can only dream of having this much useful, manicured, diverse and safe green space in the geographic center of their metropolis. Contemporary Central Park is one of the safest places to be in an already secure large urban center. Nonetheless, the park does get quite scary at certain times of the year, especially if you happen to be a five-year-old on October 31st.

Central Park New York

Today’s park is a haven for families as much as any other group for myriad reasons, one of which being the diverse slate of events put together each month by the Central Park Conservancy. This Halloween’s Central Park offering really does have something for families of all stripes. On October 23rd the park will hold a pumpkin carving workshop designed specifically for families with children ages 6 years and older. All pumpkins carved, no matter how aesthetically advanced will be eligible to take part in the famous pumpkin sail on Sunday the 25th. On the same Sunday afternoon as the pumpkin flotilla will be the annual Halloween parade, including storytelling, pumpkin crafts, live music and, of course, plenty of candy. On Thursday, October 29th the park will hold yet another crafting event at its Chess and Checkers House while Central Park’s main holiday event will take place on the 30th when Belvedere Castle will be transformed into a haunted house. Adults looking to get in on the fun can participate in a workshop on making impressive jack-o’-lanterns that acts both as workshop and social hour. All of the Central Park Conservancy events are free to the public and require no advance registration, only a half-way descent costume.

Another scary New York experience can be arriving at a hotel that is not quite as advertised. With New York Habitat’s pre-screened apartments travellers won’t have to worry about the fright that comes with finding a closet-sized hotel room with that un-clean aura. Below are a few clean and cozy New York Habitat accommodations available at the end of October:

-This 2-bedroom rental apartment in Harlem, Uptown (NY-12688) is housed in a quintessential Harlem townhouse and features hardwood floors, a renovated kitchen and large, bright windows.

-This 2-bedroom apartment rental in Midtown East (NY-12498) is just a few blocks from the green acres of Central Park and is fully renovated from stainless steel appliances to finished hardwood floors.

Ever been in New York for Halloween? Tell us about your experiences below.

This June started off cool and rainy but the summer heat wave has now definitely descended upon New York. The sweltering subway stations alone will have you pining for the beach. Fortunately there are some sandy escapes right in NYC that serve as a welcome alternative to the concrete jungle.  Enjoy a cool breeze coming in off the water and BBQ-style food at one of three Water Taxi Beaches, located in Long Island City, South Street Seaport and Governors Island.

New York Vacation Rental 1 Bedroom Apartment on a Ship in Battery Park (NY-14061)

All along the East and Hudson Rivers, yellow-checkered water taxis zip through the waterways. These taxis, owned by the New York Water Taxi Company, serve commuters and sightseers alike. In 2005, the company opened a man-made beach in Long Island City, Queens, hauling in over 1,000 tons of sand. The free beach – just a 4-minute water taxi ride from Midtown — was an instant hit. Although swimming isn’t allowed, beachgoers can enjoy burgers, hotdogs and tropical drinks from “Harry’s @Water Taxi Beach” while looking at the sweeping Manhattan skyline.

This May, Manhattan got it’s own Water Taxi Beach, located at the South Street Seaport next to Pier 17. Dotted with picnic tables and palm trees, the sandy beach also has a 9-hole miniature golf course, skeeball and ping pong tables. Not to be outdone by Harry’s, the Seaport location serves up beach eats at the Fish Shack and Raw Bar. At night, DJs spin music while partygoers dance against the backdrop of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Water Taxi Beach

A third Water Taxi Beach just opened in July on Governors Island, a tiny island located in New York Harbor less than a half-mile from Battery Park in Lower Manhattan. With more than 300 tons of sand, as well as basketball and volleyball courts and live music, there are more than enough reasons to check out the newest location of WTB. For more information on any of the Water Taxi Beaches, click here (http://watertaxibeach.com/)

Whether you want to explore one or all three of the Water Taxi Beaches, New York Habitat has the perfect apartment for your summer stay. Check out:  
 
- This 1-Bedroom Vacation Rental (NY-14061) actually located on a ship docked in Battery Park City! You can stay in this floating lighthouse, known as one of the most historic ships in the world. The top level of the ship has a large deck for sunning and taking in the spectacular view of New York Harbor.

- This pristine, elegantly modern 1-Bedroom Vacation Rental in Tribeca (NY-8901). The “yacht loft” was custom designed and decorated. Enjoy the high ceilings (over 12-and-a-half feet!) and hardwood floors.

Spending an afternoon or evening at one of the Water Taxi Beaches is a great way to relax in New York City. Order up a piña colada and enjoy the beach escape.

Have you ever been to Water Taxi Beach? Share you comments with us!

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.

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.