Nikki’s Take – Tribeca

September 24, 2015September 24, 2015Leave a comment

Image courtesy of Corcoran.com

A quick rundown of NYC neighborhoods through my eyes

Tribeca

Neighborhood Boundaries: Canal Street to the north, Vesey Street to the south, Broadway to the east and West Street to the west

Subways: A, C, E, 1, 2, 3 and R

Architecture: Immense cast iron lofts, classic pre-war walk up buildings, and new construction buildings (particularly on the far west side)

What I Like Most About It: Few places in Manhattan feel like Tribeca. It’s dominated by expansive, pre-war lofts with a super cool industrial feel. Some neighborhoods are just made for meandering, and this is truly one of them. You can get yourself caught up in the hustle and bustle of streets like Church Street and West Broadway. But, if you’re looking for a bit more private exploration, side streets like Beach Street, Vestry Street and North Moore Street offer a much more low key experience. Even though the neighborhood has great proximity to other downtown neighborhoods (Soho, the West Village, Battery Park City and the Financial District), it still manages to feel very self contained. This is probably due in part to the high number of great restaurants, bars and shops. And with great neighborhood conveniences like Whole Foods and Bed, Bath and Beyond, it’s easy to see why so many want to call Tribeca home.

Favorite Places and Spaces

The Roxy Hotel (f/k/a The Tribeca Grand Hotel)

Anotheroom

Max

Nikki’s Take – Flatiron & Union Square

June 25, 20151 Comment

A quick rundown of NYC neighborhoods through my eyes

Flatiron/Union Square

Neighborhood Boundaries: 14th Street to the south (start of Union Square); 26th Street to the north (end of Flatiron); 6th Ave to the west; Lexington Ave to the east

Subways: 4, 5, 6, N, R, and Q

Architecture: Cast iron lofts, classic pre-war skyscrapers, and increasingly, new construction buildings

What I Like Most About It: The Union Square/Flatiron District isn’t just my favorite “jumping off” point for many other downtown neighborhoods (i.e. the East Village, Greenwich Village, West Village, Chelsea). It’s a fabulous place in and of itself to hang out in. You can take something to go from the numerous food trucks along Union Square or Fifth Ave and enjoy your lunch al fresco in Union Square Park or Madison Square Park on a warm, sunny day. You can easily run whatever household errands you need, thanks to the presence of Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s, and you’re just a short walk Bed, Bath and Beyond, the Container Store, Harmon Beauty and more on the border between Flatiron and Chelsea. You can also enjoy a day of shopping thanks to all the shops along the “Ladies Mile” on Fifth Ave (but trust me guys, it’s not just for ladies!). And if you want to enjoy a night out on a the town, you have a bevy of restaurants and bars to choose from. Added bonus – if you don’t feel like cabbing it, Union Square station offers great access to all of Manhattan and beyond, thanks to the 4, 5, 6, N, R, Q and L train. Plus, you can catch the F or the M at 14th or 23rd Street.

Favorite Places and Spaces

Nikki’s Take – Midtown West

March 24, 2015March 23, 20153 Comments

A quick rundown of NYC neighborhoods through my eyes

Midtown West (Hell’s Kitchen, the Theater District, Times Square & Herald Square)

Neighborhood Boundaries: 34th Street to the south and 59th Street to the north; Sixth Avenue to the east and the Hudson River to the west

Subways: A, B, C, D, E, F, M, 1, 2, 3, N, R, and Q

Architecture: Skyscrapers; post war high rises and mid-rises; pre-war buildings dotted along side streets; new development high rises along the far west side, including the massive redevelopment project Hudson Yards

What I Like Most About It: Similar to its sister neighborhood across the way, Midtown West brings to mind images of massive skyscrapers and bustling sidewalks. But Midtown West is also home to Times Square and the eponymous Broadway, conjuring thoughts of bright lights, tourists and a multitude of entertainment options. But go west of 8th Avenue, and you’ll find yourself in a very different place – a highly residential area, with an interesting mix of brand new buildings, pre-war walk-ups, post-war mid-rises and townhouses. There’s an incredible selection of bars and restaurants, especially along 9th Avenue and, increasingly, 10th Avenue. Few places in the city have the kind of transportation options the area has – between 6th and 8th Avenue there’s access to 13 subway lines, including major transit hubs such as Port Authority, Penn Station and Times Square. The area also boasts excellent access to green space – the terminus of the High Line at 34th Street, Hudson River Park to the far west, and Central Park is not too far away for the lucky people who live in the West 50s. And to add to all of this? The 7 line subway extension is scheduled to be completed later this year, making east side access much easier. Plus, the area will see a huge injection of new energy thanks to the Hudson Yards project (with the first tower slated to also be completed later this year).

Favorite Places and Spaces

The Little Pie Company

Brooklyn Diner

Asiate

Pio Pio

Island Burgers & Shakes

Nikki’s Take – Upper East Side

December 9, 2014Leave a comment

A quick rundown of NYC neighborhoods through my eyes

Upper East Side

Neighborhood Boundaries: 60th Street to 96th Street; East River to Fifth Avenue

Subways: 4, 5 and 6 (with the Second Avenue Subway on the way!)

Architecture: Post war high rises and mid-rises; some of the most stately townhouses in all of New York City, between 5th and Lexington Avenue; smaller pre-war buildings, especially east of Third Avenue; and more recently, new developments scattered across the neighborhood such as the Lucida at 86th Street and the Touraine at East 65th Street.

What I Like Most About It: Looking for a lovely neighborhood with lots of amenities, great access to green space and a great variety of restaurants and bars? Then you may want to consider the Upper East Side. The neighborhood has seen some significant changes over the past couple of years, thanks to new condos and the construction of the Second Avenue Subway, which may finally open towards the end of 2016 (fingers crossed!). 86th Street has become an impressive commercial hub, featuring stores such as H&M, Sephora, Barnes & Noble and Fairway, along with the always fabulous (in my opinion) Shake Shack for a bite to eat. Whole Foods is also slated to open in early 2015 at 3rd Avenue and 87th Street. Most people know about the Upper East Side’s proximity to Central Park, but many people have barely heard of Carl Schurz Park – a lovely little park along the East River which runs from East 90th Street down to East 84th Street. It’s connection to Bobby Wagner Walk is an awesome place for a long run, a nice bike ride or an evening stroll.

Favorite Places and Spaces

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Nikki’s Take – Midtown East

November 11, 2014Leave a comment

A quick rundown of NYC neighborhoods through my eyes

Midtown East

Neighborhood Boundaries: 42nd Street to 59th Street; East River to Fifth Avenue

Subways: E, M, N, R, Q, 4, 5, 6 and 7

Architecture: Skyscrapers; post war high rises and mid-rises; townhouses and smaller pre-war buildings, especially east of Third Avenue; and more recently, new development high rises along Second and Third Avenue

What I Like Most About It: Even though Midtown East often brings to mind the hustle and bustle of the work day for many folks as well as the glamour of the shopping Valhalla that is Fifth Avenue, the area, in my opinion, has a number of hidden treasures. Once you’re past Third Avenue, it becomes much more residential, and a number of side streets have gorgeous townhouses and pre-war walk-ups. The southern portion of the neighborhood is also home to the charming Tudor City apartment complex and serene “pocket parks” with glorious waterfalls such as Greenacre Park (one of my favorite hideaways when I worked in the area) and Paley Park. And of course, there is this pretty amazing place called Central Park nearby. The amenities in the neighborhood’s eastern section have really increased over the past couple of years – Second Avenue has seen an influx of new restaurants and cafes, and the opening of Whole Foods on East 57th Street has been a big boon. With trains that offer access to both the west side (E, M and 7) as well as the east side (N, R, Q, 4, 5 and 6), Midtown East is a very convenient neighborhood for wherever you might want to go in Manhattan and beyond.

Favorite Places and Spaces

The Bar @ the Four Seasons

Katherine Hepburn Garden

BXL East

Nikki’s Take – SoHo

September 18, 2014Leave a comment

A quick rundown of NYC neighborhoods through my eyes

Soho

Neighborhood Boundaries: From Houston Street to Canal Street and Sixth Avenue to Crosby Street

Subways: 6, C, E, R, N, B, D, F and M

Architecture: Converted cast-iron lofts and pre-war walk-up buildings, especially closer to Houston, between West Broadway and Sixth Ave

What I Like Most About It: It’s hard not to feel a bit glamorous just being in Soho. With high end boutiques, top of the line designers, big name clothing brands galore and avant-garde art galleries, how could you not? My favorite aspect of the neighborhood is its famed cast iron buildings and cobbled side streets, which really give the area its unique feeling versus other Manhattan neighborhoods. Broadway and West Broadway are often bustling with activity, but you can frequently enjoy a very chill stroll along side streets such as Green and Wooster. The area is convenient to subways, especially if you need access to the east side of Manhattan, and it has good proximity to other popular downtown neighborhoods such as Greenwich Village, the West Village, Nolita, and Tribeca.

Favorite Places and Spaces

Peter Lik Gallery

Axelle Fine Arts

Pop International Galleries

Blue Ribbon Brasserie