These days we hear so much about Brooklyn’s storied renaissance that it’s sometimes easy to forget about the people and institutions who laid the groundwork for the borough’s spectacular resurgence in the last decade-plus.
One such pioneering organization is Bargemusic, “the floating concert hall,” which for the last 35 years has been presenting chamber music concerts inside an old coffee barge docked on the East River, at the base of the Brooklyn Bridge. Patrons stroll up a gangplank into an inviting wood-paneled room, seating approximately 175 people, where they can enjoy both resonant acoustics and a stunning view of lower Manhattan right across the river. (The gently swaying motion as you sit and listen to, say, a Beethoven string quartet is another bonus, depending on taste.)
The barge now hosts somewhere around 220 concerts a year, the majority of them reasonably priced at $35 for adults and $15 for students. Music lovers with children will want to know about the venue’s Music in Motion series, free one-hour family concerts presented every Saturday afternoon at 3:00 pm. Visit Bargemusic’s website for complete details about Music in Motion and other upcoming performances, as well as ticketing information and directions. (And don’t forget that if you’re feeling hungry after the show, Grimaldi’s, one of Brooklyn’s best pizzerias, is mere steps away from the gangplank.)
Bargemusic was founded in 1977 by Olga Bloom, a classical violinist who mortgaged her home to pay for the coffee barge that she had towed to Brooklyn’s Fulton Ferry Landing, where it’s remained ever since. Bloom passed away on Thanksgiving Day 2011, at the age of 92; though she is missed, her legacy is an enduring performance space that’s become an essential part of Brooklyn’s cultural fabric.
Are you thinking of paying a visit to Bargemusic, or one of New York’s other, equally beloved classical music venues? New York Habitat offers furnished rental apartments in Brooklyn, and all over New York City, so you’re sure to find one that suits your needs. Here are a few sample listings to give you a sense of what’s out there:
– Looking for a little space during your visit? This furnished three-bedroom duplex apartment (NY-14987) in Brooklyn’s Boerum Hill neighborhood comfortably sleeps six, and you’ll also enjoy a private terrace/deck and backyard area with patio furniture and a barbecue grill. Just a few minutes walking distance from the apartment, a major subway station with access to nine different subway lines keeps you connected to Manhattan and the rest of the city.
– A fully furnished studio apartment (NY-10812) sits on the top floor of a three-story prewar brownstone on a tree-lined block in Chelsea. Movie theaters, great shopping, and all conveniences can be found one block east on Eighth Avenue. Immediately to the west, meanwhile, you’ll find the High Line elevated park, one of Manhattan’s premier walking destinations, along with the Hudson River promenade and the Chelsea Piers Sports Complex, with its pool, gym, skating rinks, and countless other athletic facilities.
– Our furnished one-bedroom apartment (NY-15255) on the Upper East Side has parquet wood floors and a living room furnished with a queen size sofa bed, chair, and coffee table. Light-filled windows provide a southern exposure with views of the surrounding buildings and the street below. The East River is just over a block away, so you can stroll or jog along the East River Esplanade, and around the corner on 1st Avenue you’ll find plenty of dining options along with shops and a movie theater.
Do you have a particular music venue you’re passionate about in New York City? Feel free to share your recommendations below.
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