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New York Neighborhoods

April 8th, 2013

Picture of the Hell’s Kitchen skyline with skyscrapers Hell’s Kitchen’s skyline and its Midtown West skyscrapers

When you’re planning a trip to New York City, chances are you’ll want to stay in Manhattan. In Manhattan you will find many of New York’s famous attractions and landmarks such as the Empire State Building, Times Square and Central Park. Manhattan is also home to various Universities and is the financial center of the city. So if you’re coming to New York to study, do an internship, or work; Manhattan is the place to be.

However, it can sometimes be difficult too find affordable accommodation in a residential neighborhood in Manhattan. But there are some neighborhoods that are an exception and which manage to combine all the best of Manhattan: great apartments, fantastic restaurants and a thriving cultural life. Hell’s Kitchen in Midtown Manhattan is such a neighborhood. In this article, we’ll introduce you to Hell’s Kitchen and paint you a picture of what it is like to live in this great neighborhood of the best city in the world! Read the entire story here…»

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January 14th, 2013

Picture of Times Square at dusk in New York City New York City’s Times Square at dusk

Times Square in New York City is perhaps the most famous square in the whole world. It’s certainly been estimated Times Square is the world’s most visited tourist attraction. When you visit Times Square in Midtown Manhattan it’s easy to see why: tourists from all over the globe come to marvel at the neon billboards, see a famous musical, go shopping in the area and soak up the unique Times Square vibe.

In this article, we’ll tell you a little bit about the history of Times Square, and give you tips on what to see and do to make the most of your trip to the iconic New York City square! Read the entire story here…»

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July 16th, 2012

A picture of a crowd outside New York City’s Apollo Theater in Harlem Harlem’s iconic Apollo Theater in New York City

Harlem is one of New York City’s most diverse and vibrant neighborhoods. It has also played an extremely important part in the history of the city and the nation. During the Civil Rights Movement, Harlem hosted speakers such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X, who actually lived in Harlem for some time. The neighborhood also became known for its unique culture and art. Nowadays, Harlem’s gospel choirs, Jazz music and soul food have become famous throughout the world, as has the iconic Apollo Theater.

Panoramic image of the Harlem River, Harlem, Central Park and Midtown Manhattan, New York City Panorama of the Harlem River, Harlem, Central Park and Midtown Manhattan in the background, seen from the Bronx in New York City

To find out more about the neighborhood, check out our video tour of Central and West Harlem. Every year, the neighborhood’s diversity, culture and art is celebrated during Harlem Week: a unique tribute that organizes many events during the summer.

What started in the ‘70’s as just one day of celebrating Harlem has turned into an event that stretches across several weeks. In fact, this year Harlem Week events will begin July 28th 2012 and last until August 25th, for what will be the 38th year of Harlem Week.  During this period, the neighborhood’s rich African American, Hispanic, Caribbean and European history will be celebrated with events including concerts, performances, exhibitions, sports events, family programs and, of course, Jazz.

You can check out the full program at the official Harlem Week website, and we will highlight some of the summer’s main events here. Read the entire story here…»

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May 14th, 2012

Construction of One World Trade Center and the 9/11 Memorial (photo courtesy of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey) A view of the construction site of the World Trade Center (courtesy of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey)

Almost eleven years after the September 11 attacks shook the world, the new World Trade Center is well underway. The National 9/11 Memorial is now open to visitors, and the construction of the new towers is taking shape. In fact, on April 30th, One World Trade Center overcame the Empire State Building as the tallest building in New York City!

Map of the World Trade Center area and its attractions World Trade Center map and its surrounding attractions

It seems Lower Manhattan has finally embraced its new position of being a commemorative site, cultural center, business hotspot, retail destination and residential community. It’s clear this area is definitely a must-see in New York! But where to begin?

1. Visit the National 9/11 Memorial

We suggest you start by visiting the WTC site. In 2003, a master plan was approved which incorporated both the desire to turn the site into a lasting memorial and the will to rebuild the towers even stronger and taller than they stood before. The new WTC will consist of five towers and a new transportation hub surrounding the National 9/11 Memorial [see pin 1 on the map] . The Memorial features two massive square pools that are set within the footprints of the Twin Towers, and bear the names of the nearly 3,000 people killed in the 9/11 attacks and the 1993 bombing of the North Tower. A Memorial Museum stands in between the two fountains, but as of May 2012 it is not yet finished. The plaza surrounding the fountains and museum is filled with hundreds of oak trees. One tree, however, is different: a single pear tree stands out from the rest. This Survivor Tree was saved from the original WTC site after the attacks and nursed back to health. Now it stands proudly at the plaza once more, and has even bloomed again. Visitors gather here just to touch the bark of the “miracle tree”, which has inspired hope and stands as a vision of rebirth. Read the entire story here…»

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May 11th, 2012

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if several of New York City’s best museums decided to get together and throw one big open house? Well, wonder no longer, because it turns out once a year, some of the city’s greatest cultural institutions do just that.

Held every spring, and now in its 26th year, the Museum Mile Festival is an annual bash in which the stretch of Fifth Avenue between 82nd and 110th Streets is closed to traffic and becomes one big block party. Ten museums lining the Avenue offer free admission, and a variety of fun, interactive educational activities – like chalk drawing, face painting, and a live model drawing class – take place out on the street. Live entertainment options also include bands, clowns, and jugglers, so ideally there’s something for every age group to enjoy.

The MET on Museum Mile at Night The MET on Museum Mile at Night

Some of the best-known museums in New York City participate in Museum Mile, including El Museo del Barrio, the Jewish Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of the City of New York, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, and the Neue Galerie. First-time visitors should be aware that the Met and the Guggenheim tend to be the most crowded, so it’s a great opportunity to investigate one of the other museums that you might not know as well. (After all, it’s free!) Read the entire story here…»

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March 4th, 2012

Welcome to part 2 of our video tour series dedicated to the Flatiron District, here in New York City.

The Flatiron District is approximately bordered by 20th Street to the south, Sixth Avenue to the west, 26th Street to the north, and Lexington Avenue to the east.

New York City Video Tour: Flatiron District – Part 2 (5:21)

In our first episode dedicated to the Flatiron District, we shared some history of the area, took you to Madison Square Park and the Flatiron building itself. You can find Part 1 of this series here on the Blog or on our YouTube Channel.

If you have interest in history and museums, you are in luck. The Flatiron District is home to many museums and historical sites such as:

•The American Jewish History Museum at 15 West 16th Street

•The Robert R. Livingston’s Masonic Museum and Library at 71 West 23rd Street

•Museum of Sex at 233 Fifth Avenue Read the entire story here…»

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February 16th, 2012

Welcome to the first video tour of our two part series dedicated to the Flatiron District, located in Manhattan, New York.

Here in the Flatiron District, you’ll find that this historic neighborhood is a thriving retail district; but  why is it called the Flatiron District?

New York City Video Tour: Flatiron District – Part 1 (4:45)

Flatiron Building – 175 Fifth Avenue

Head to 175 Fifth Ave where you’ll find a beautiful and curious structure known as the Flatiron building, which give the neighborhood its name. This ground breaking skyscraper was one of the tallest buildings in the city when it was completed in 1902.  Once it was finished, New Yorkers began referring to it as the “Flatiron” due to the triangular block it sits on, looking very much like an old fashioned flat iron.

The Flatiron District is roughly bounded by 20th Street to the south, Sixth Avenue to the west, 26th Street to the north, and Lexington Avenue to the east. Read the entire story here…»

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February 3rd, 2012

Welcome back to the second half of our series dedicated to the Chelsea, New York. If you missed the 1st  episode, you can find it on New York Habitat’sYouTube channel.

In the first episode of our Video Tour, we looked at the history of Chelsea, including the origin of its name, we took you to the Limelight Marketplace, some art galleries along 20th Street and the Hudson River Park.

Video tour of Chelsea, New York: Part 1 (7:00)

High Line

When the sun starts to set, one of the best places to be in Chelsea is the High Line Park.

The High Line was an elevated railway that delivered goods up and down the west side of Manhattan until it was abandoned in the 1980s.  Just recently the High Line was renovated to serve as a park, running from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to West 34th Street, between 10th & 11th Avenues.   It’s a great place to meet friends, take a leisurely walk, or have a picnic.  Enter at Gansevoort Street so that you can walk the whole length of the park.  Along the High Line you can get a glimpse of a new wave of luxury housing designed by famous architects. Read the entire story here…»

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February 2nd, 2012

New York's MET New York's MET

Got a yen for far-off lands, but not the budget? Don’t fret. Because for the price of a single museum ticket, you can now immerse yourself in Spain at the time of the Moors, the Middle East of the Thousand and One Nights, and India at the height of the Mughal era—all under one roof.

The museum, in this case, is New York’s mighty Metropolitan Museum of Art, where 15 dazzling new Galleries for the Art of the Arab Lands, Turkey, Iran, Central Asia, and Later South Asia have been a major hit with both the public and the press since they opened last November. Read the entire story here…»

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January 23rd, 2012

A baseball field in Central Park A baseball field in Central Park

Ready to enjoy the great outdoors in one of New York’s greatest assets? Head over to Central Park. Not only is Central Park one of New York’s largest parks in is centrally located in Manhattan making access from some of New York’s most popular neighborhoods including the Upper West Side, Upper East Side and Harlem a breeze. Today we’ll explore some of the activities available in Central Park year round but that are best enjoyed in the pleasant New York spring.

Running and biking: Central Park is the perfect spot for training for the next marathon or bike race or to take a casually run or bike ride. There is a giant paved loop running the entire length of the park. A single trip around the loop is just over six miles. In addition you can shorten the loop by using some of the mid-park crossovers. There are easily designated 4 and 5 mile loops as well as the full loop. When using the path make sure to stay in the proper lane and pay special attention to the fast moving bikers who whiz by. Read the entire story here…»

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