New York Habitat Blog

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 African American 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… »

New York Apartments 3 Bedroom Vacation Rental in Crown Heights (NY-12841)

Brooklyn always has a lot to celebrate. It’s a borough of unparalleled diversity, architectural purity and overall vibrancy. Once an afterthought to visitors glued to the island of Manhattan, Brooklyn is now an absolute must-visit for any serious traveler to the Big Apple. Visitors will find it hard to ignore the resist the flourishing hipster neighborhood of Williamsburg, the expansive beauty of Prospect Park or the stately brownstones of Bedford Stuyvesant. Truth-be-told, Brooklyn has a lot of the neighborhood charm that a gentrified Manhattan has long lost. During the summer the city of New York makes a special effort to celebrate the city’s second borough with the Celebrate Brooklyn! Performing Arts Festival, with perhaps the summer’s finest line-up. And while the world’s top performers will be featured on the stage, some of the city’s finest accommodations can be found with New York Habitat.

New York Vacation Rental 4 Bedroom in Prospect Heights (NY-12445)

The Celebrate Brooklyn! performer line-up is almost as diverse as the venue where it will be held. The performances begin on June 8th with David Byrne and continue all the way until August 14th when the Animal Collective performs. Some of the notable acts include the duo MGMT on July 1st, Jackson Browne July 21st and TV on the Radio on August 11th. There are also special nights devoted to family concerts, dance performances, benefit shows and Latin music. All performances will take place at the Prospect Park Bandshell, a legendary Brooklyn venue.

Visitors to New York interested in celebrating New York’s iconic borough should take a look at these accommodations, just a few out of the dozens available this summer:

-This 4-bedroom rental accommodation in Prospect Heights (NY-12445) represents a trendier side of Brooklyn with chic modern furnishings and is located just a short walk from boutiques, cafes and great restaurants.

-This 3-bedroom vacation rental in Crown Heights, Brooklyn (NY-12841) is a dream for any vacationing family. This triplex apartment features a cozy décor, turn-of-the-century charms such as a decorative fireplace and claw-foot bathtub all the while staying modern and convenient.

What is your favourite thing about Brooklyn? What does it have to celebrate that Manhattan does not? Please Comment Below.

Well I’m back with another New York neighborhood video tour. Today I’m going to show you yet another fascinating New York neighborhood, Chinatown, which stands proud as a small city within The City. So what makes Chinatown so special?  Let’s find out.

Chinatown is located on the East Side of Lower Manhattan.  It’s constantly growing, over taking other neighborhoods and changing, but as of now it is roughly bordered by Broome Street to the North, Broadway to the West, Worth Street and East Broadway to the South, and Essex Street to the East. 

Get the Flash Player to see this player.  Click above to watch this video: Video Tour of Chinatown, New York.(5:02)

Chatham Square:
What better place to start our tour of Chinatown than in Chatham Square.  Once a large open air market in the early 1800’s, it became a center for tattoo parlors, flophouses, and saloons in the mid 1800’s, but today has turned into a major intersection in Chinatown.   You’ll find the Kimlau Memorial Arch dedicated to Chinese Americans in the name of freedom and democracy. 

Chinatown’s History and Landmarks:
On Mott Street, just a few blocks away from Chatam Square, is where in 1858 the Cantonese businessman, Ah Ken, became the first Chinese to immigrate to Chinatown.  He eventually opened a successful cigar shop and from that point on, a steady stream of Chinese started settling in the area.

When the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 was enacted the Chinese population in this small neighborhood exploded.  Today Chinatown’s population is estimated around 100,000.

Read the entire story here… »

Hello once again. Welcome to another New York Habitat video blog! Today, we are going to get a little taste of one of New York’s most famous neighborhoods, known as SoHo. You may have imagined SoHo as the one of the most fashionable areas in New York with its loft-style apartments, art galleries, and its diverse shopping. If you imagined SoHo like that then you are right. SoHo, which stands for SOuth of HOuston Street, is undeniably one of the coolest neighborhoods in New York. It’s has been the backdrop for fashion shoots, TV commercials and Hollywood blockbusters like Men in Black, Spiderman or Unfaithful. Many famous stars have their New York apartments in SoHo. They wander the streets randomly, so be sure to keep an eye out for celebrity sightings. In fact, the day we were out filming this video, we met Whoopi Goldberg!

Get the Flash Player to see this player.
Click above to watch this video: Tour of SoHo, New York – What to see and do.(4:58)

You’ll find SoHo in southern Manhattan just to the south of Greenwich Village. The boundaries of the heart of SoHo are roughly Houston Street to the north, Canal Street to the south, Crosby Street to the east and 6th Ave to the west.

SoHo’s Architecture and landmarks:

Before we get into the modern day delights of SoHo, let’s step back in history a bit. What is fascinating about this neighborhood is that it is the largest surviving cast-iron building district in the world. Many commercial buildings along Broadway and Spring Street feature this type of construction. Cast-iron’s fire-resistant properties and strength made it possible to construct large building façades at less cost than comparable stone fronts.

A great example of SoHo’s cast-iron buildings is 28-30 Greene Street. Built in 1872, it’s known as the “Queen of Greene Street”. It towers over the street with its ornate French Second Empire façade. And of course, every Queen needs a King. Located at 72 Green Street is another cast-iron building known as the King of Greene Street. This cast-iron beauty, built in 1873, is probably the best example of the Second Empire architectural style in New York City.

As you might know, SoHo is also well known for its loft style apartments. In the late 1800s, SoHo became an industrial district where workers toiled in dangerous conditions. Eventually, in the 1960s, as most of the commercial and manufacturing buildings were abandoned, SoHo was almost destroyed. As with many of New York’s neighborhoods, SoHo was saved by artists who settled there and used the large loft spaces as studios. As artists moved in, the district became populated with galleries and eventually SoHo became the center of the lower Manhattan art scene. Today, the area remains full of art galleries.

Some of our favorite SoHo area lofts include:

This 2-bedroom loft apartment centrally located in SoHo on Prince Street (NY-9572)

This amazing 3-bedroom loft in neighboring Tribeca (NY-5278).

Or for something smaller, this one-bedroom duplex loft vacation rental on West Broadway in SoHo (NY-12831).

Read the entire story here… »

New York Accommodation: 1 bedroom rental in Brooklyn Heights (NY-12661)

Founded following the September 11th attacks by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff, The Tribeca Film Festival in downtown Manhattan has quickly become one of the most prominent gatherings for budding and vetted film actors, directors and cultural icons in the United States. The New york City’s festival in Tribeca is grittier than its counterparts in Cannes and Park City, focusing more on the films than the ostentatious celebrity gift bags. Nevertheless, Mr. De Niro is a staple at festival events and many international movie stars can be seen taking in films or acting as judges on festival panels. New York Habitat has several accommodations available steps from the festivities but if you want a prime apartment its a good idea to book early.

More than just a place to catch a new film, the Tribeca Film Festival features a diverse lineup of events and activities. The festival holds a number of small music concerts, a family-oriented street fair and special presentations for aspiring film makers. That said, movies are still the festival’s biggest draw. This year Tribeca welcomes the directors, cast and crews from over 200 pre-selected international films. Tickets are available to the public so it is not just industry insiders that have the pleasure of participating in the Q&A sessions that follow many screening. For New Yorkers lucky enough to be in Tribeca during the festival the ambiance is electric, movie stars eat dinner in area restaurants and writers and directors can often be seen sharing ideas in Tribeca coffee shops. The 2008 festival goes from April 23rd to May 4th. The screenings now take place throughout Manhattan as the size of the event has continued to grow in size.

New York accommodation: 2 bedroom loft in Tribeca

Staying in Tribeca is all about big, loft-style accommodations, so why stay in a cramped hotel room? For example, this 2-bedroom rental apartment in Tribeca is quintessentially New York (NY-7388), its open, sun-drenched spaces make this a must see for festival goers. A little north of the film festival, in the mythic Greenwich Village neighborhood, is this 1-bedroom rental apartment in West Village, Greenwich Village - Soho (NY-10760). And just across the East River in Brooklyn is this 2-bedroom rental apartment in Brooklyn Heights (NY-12661), guests will feel as if they are the star in their own movie as they walk to the festival across the iconic Brooklyn Bridge.

Film buffs looking to attend this year’s festival should act fast, Hollywood types pour into downtown Manhattan during the Tribeca film festival and have a habit of gobbling up dozens of the neighborhood flats.

New york Accommodation: 3 bedroom rental in the Upper West Side (NY-9161)

New York’s Upper West Side is flanked by the Hudson River and Central Park on its sides and by Midtown to its south and Harlem to its north. Home to Central Park West, Broadway and myriad brownstone residences, the Upper West Side truly New York, filled with typical New York Cafes, bagel shops, Museums and music venues. Here are some tips about the neighborhood.

Upper West Siders consider themselves less stuffy than their neighbors to the east and more refined than those to the north and south. Despite being smack dab in the middle of the New York Metropolis the Upper West Side is largely residential and maintains a neighborhood feel. Travelers looking to stay within a short walk of the park, river and opera house need not look further than New York Habitat’s Upper West Side accommodations.

Like we said, Upper West Siders are a refined bunch. They like to eat well, drink well and be entertained without leaving the neighborhood. Charming sidewalk cafes are a staple in the neighborhood and during the summer there isn’t a better place to have a drink. The neighborhood forgoes jam-packed dive bars and instead is entertained by the fine arts of ballet, symphony and the opera. Lincoln Center, Beacon Theater, the New York Philharmonic and the New York City Opera all call the Upper West Side home. Also on the Upper West Side is the American Museum of Natural History, one of the oldest and best natural history museums in the United States.

Celebrities have always had a thing for the neighborhood–Seinfeld’s fictional cast of characters lived here as did John Lennon, who was tragically killed outside of the famed Dakota building. The real star of the neighborhood though, is its geography. Central Park is unquestionably one of the world’s finest urban parks and is never more than a few blocks away from anywhere in the quarter. And to the West is the famed Hudson river and adjacent Riverside Park.  

New York Accommodation: 2 Bedroom Rental in Upper West Side (NY-4177)

At the northern end of the park, just off of Broadway, is this open 3-bedroom rental accommodation in Upper West Side (NY-9161). A bit further south on 75th street is this 2-bedroom rental apartment in Upper West Side (NY-4177). And for a touch of Old New York check out this 1-bedroom vacation rental (NY-12483) in an Upper West Side townhouse, outfitted with exposed brick, a fireplace and heaps of New York charm.

Staying on the Upper West Side is a romantic New-York experience and an essential part of any visit to the Big Apple. 

More on the Upper West Side:

Guide to Upper West Side Furnished Apartment Rentals

The rich cultural history of the Upper West Side is one of its most distinguishable characteristics. As the home to numerous historical institutions, classic apartments and some the city’s most prestigious universities, the Upper West is one of the most popular residential neighborhoods in Manhattan.

The Upper West Side stretches from 59th Street to the south, lined by Central Park to the east and bound by the Hudson River to the west. Once a shipping, transporting and manufacturing corridor, the Upper West Side soon attracted a diverse, eclectic mix of peoples as cityscape grew and developed.

Some of Manhattan’s most notable residential streets and avenues intersect within the Upper West Side. Riverside Drive, West End Avenue, Broadway, Amsterdam Avenue, Columbus Avenue and Central Park West serve as the setting for some of the most recognizable scenes in movies and TV shows. Due to the pre-War architecture, colorful community and rich culture life, movie and television film crews are no strangers to the Upper West Side.

Museum of Natural History: New York City picture

Restaurants featured in TV shows and movies are mostly found along Amsterdam Avenue which is home to various unique restaurants, bars, cafes and bodegas. H&H Bagels, known for its affiliation with Seinfeld, is at 80th Street and Broadway. Gray’s Papaya, a hot dog and juice stand frequented by Carrie and the Sex and City gang, stands at 72nd Street and Broadway.

As the city’s most popular filming destination, it’s no surprise for two major broadcasting companies have headquarters in the Upper West Side. Time Warner Center, at Columbus Circle, and the American Broadcasting Company, at Lincoln Square, house studios for regular tapings of various television programs.

In addition, some of the City’s most famous and prestigious universities have campuses located in the boundaries of the Upper West Side. Columbia University, Fordham University and Barnard College bring an air academia to the neighborhood as it serves home to many professors and students.

Cultural institutions also attract people to the Upper West Side from all over Manhattan. Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, located between 61st and 66th Streets on Broadway, is home to the New York State Theatre, the New York City Ballet, the New York City Opera, the Metropolitan Opera House, and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. In addition, the American Museum of Natural History, the New York Historical Society, and the Children’s Museum of Manhattan are all located in the Upper West.

New York Accommodation: 1 bedroom rental in the Upper West Side (NY-12157)

If looking for accommodations in the Upper West Side, New York Habitat has much to offer for either a short vacation or an extended stay. This studio accommodation in Upper West Side (NY-12090), located at 75th Street between Riverside Drive and West End Avenue, is situated in a picturesque Brownstone and can hold up to four guests. Another option is this one-bedroom rental in Upper West Side (NY-12157), on Riverside Drive between 69th and 70th Streets, is in a luxury high-rise building overlooking the Hudson River. Or if looking for something for a longer visit, consider this studio apartment in Upper West Side (NY-11024), on 73rd Street between Broadway and West End Avenue, is housed within a high-rise complex complete with on-site laundry and work-out facilities.

Other West Side Manhattan neighborhoods:

• Chelsea Accommodations
• Hell’s Kitchen / Clinton Apartments
• Rentals in Morningside Heights

Ever stayed or lived in the Upper West Side? We’d like to hear about the unique and unknown neighborhood hot spots! Please leave recommendations for restaurants and nightlife in the comment section below!