Tag: brooklyn bridge

Categories
Entertainment NYC

5 Things to Do Downtown

Nextvoyage Pexels

 

 

Entertainment in Downtown NYC

Downton Manhattan is a tourist’s dream. Your choice of entertainment is really only limited by your imagination. There is something for everyone on this life-affirming island. Whether you’re after a taste of history, mouth-watering food, or incredible views, you’ll find it in downtown NYC. You’ll need a few days to take it all in, so make sure you book a comfortable hotel. You’ll want to spend your downtime chilling on your comfy hotel bed watching movies or playing online casino games (no need to worry about a casino dress code) and resting your weary feet in between some truly awesome experiences.

Ride the Ferry

So where to begin? Let’s start with daytime entertainment. If the weather is good, take yourself off for a ride on the Staten Island Ferry. You’ll get glorious views of Lower Manhattan, and as an added bonus you’ll get to see the Statue of Liberty from the water – for free! So, if you don’t manage an actual visit to Ellis Island to see the Lady up close and personal, at least you’ll be able to say that you got a good look, albeit from a short distance. Having said that, if you’ve got the time and inclination, we do recommend taking that trip to Ellis Island for a proper visit. Be sure to plan your trip and book your tickets in advance to avoid disappointment.

Walk the Bridge

Visitors on a budget, fear not! There are plenty of ways to experience Downtown NYC without spending a fortune. The Staten Island ferry is free, so that’s a good start. But walking is also free. And walking across the Brooklyn Bridge will undoubtedly give you the New York feeling you’re looking for. The views are magnificent, and the experience is unforgettable. Follow that up with a visit to Battery Park and discover the parks’ monuments dedicated to soldiers, inventors, explorers, and immigrants. 

Explore the Seaport

After you’ve taken your rest, head back out and make your way to the South Street Seaport. Explore the charming, cobbled streets, gawp at the gorgeous buildings, take photos of the Brooklyn Bridge, and then stop for a bite to eat at one of the many yummy eateries that you’ll find dotted about the place. If you’re visiting in winter, look out for the ice-skating rink. Or pop into the local maritime Museum for a short, but sweet history lesson.

Dine Somewhere Historic 

When evening rolls around, you’ll find plenty of bars and restaurants to keep you entertained and well-fed. However, if you want to celebrate the occasion, head to Pier A Harbor House. You can choose to eat outside by the water for a casual dining experience (we recommend an early, sunset dinner), or you can take it up a notch and head up to the 2nd floor for a more formal dinner. Either way, you’ll get to enjoy your meal while in a historic, NYC landmark. Harbour House first opened its doors in 1886 and has since been lovingly restored to reflect its historic importance.

View the Night-Time Skyline

NYC is the city that never sleeps, so taking in views of the city at night can be just as spectacular as the city by day. Why not head up to the One World Observatory (Freedom Tower) for an incredible view of the big city in all its bright lights. During the summer season, the Observatory allows visitors to enter up to 8 pm and then stay as late as 9 pm. You certainly won’t regret an evening visit. Just as you won’t regret an evening walking tour. Plenty of tour companies offer night tours, and these can be a great way to escape the heat and bustle that comes with day tours. 

Categories
NYC Travel Uncategorized

Consider Brooklyn for your stay in New York

Consider Brooklyn for your stay in New York

 

Preparing a visit and or looking to relocate to New York, considering which area is ideal for your stay. Be sure to look into all options which may affect your choice. You just may want to consider staying and exploring Brooklyn.

Brooklyn is one of the most populous boroughs in New York, it has enjoyed steady growth, it’s trendy and there are many options regarding accommodation ranging from chain and boutique hotels to furnished apartments. Hotels that offer unique experiences are readily available like the Condor is right over the bridge and can easily be accessed and also provides breathtaking views of Manhattan. 

The history of Brooklyn spans over 350 years. Brooklyn offers a true sense of community, with a suburban feel, with neighborhoods closely knit, giving you a chance to establish new friendships and long term relationships with both the city and the local people. People say that it’s most likely one may have a grandparent, great aunt or uncle or another distant relative that at one time lived in Brooklyn, or perhaps a friend that lives there now. In the early 1900s, Brooklyn was a mecca for immigrants arriving through Ellis Island. A little over a hundred years later, many young professionals and artists left their pricey Manhattan apartments for Brooklyn’s less expensive rates and much more space. 

In Brooklyn you will find the largest weekly open-air food market in America, bringing in twenty to thirty thousand people each weekend to eat from the local vendors. The dining experience in Brooklyn is not limited to the open-air food market as there are a good number of high-end restaurants that you can dine in. The upside to choosing Brooklyn is that you will have a chance to interact with local vendors and savor what they cook. 

Artists, creators, and small business owners make up the community in Brooklyn and enjoy interacting and advising visitors in many ways. If you are looking to meet New Yorkers and engage with them in their daily activities, then consider Brooklyn. 

Affordability is a crucial element that you must consider when choosing a place to stay in New York City.

Brooklyn has an abundance of affordable hotels and other types of accommodation facilities. Brooklyn is home so one of the most legendary beaches Coney Island, and the New York Aquarium. 

The influx of visitors experienced in the other borough has seen prices of social amenities soar while those in Brooklyn remain at reasonable rates. You can commute to and from Brooklyn while saving a few coins on accommodation and food, among other things.

Final Comments 

Brooklyn is family-friendly, and one of the largest boroughs in New York, its affordable, and full of its own history to explore. 

Categories
Culture Entertainment Events Featured Movies Outdoor

Brooklyn Bridge Park Celebrates Their 20th Anniversary of Free Public Programs

Movies with a View in Brooklyn Bridge Park.
Movies with a View in Brooklyn Bridge Park. Photo Credit Etienne Frossard

Brooklyn Bridge Park is celebrating their 20th anniversary of free public programs with their Movies With a View event and if you’re looking for something relaxing to do this summer, this is perfect. They will be showing several public movies on Pier 1’s Harbor View Lawn throughout July and August.

Bring plenty of blankets for seating to get a view of the movies featured in Brooklyn Bridge Park, which are some of the more popular films over the 20-year history including Selma, Girlfight, Crooklyn, and Pariah. Pariah, directed by Dee Rees, which is also based in Brooklyn, is about a teenage, African American who is struggling to bring out her identity as a lesbian to her friends and family.

The event will begin at 6 pm with food vendors, a DJ, as well as a short film put together by BAM Cinematek. Some of the food vendors that will make their return to the park are Burger Supreme, Home Frite, and Bona Bona Ice Cream along with some new food vendors including Groundlings Pizza, Destination Dumplings, and Vayalo Cocina.

Here is a list of dates and movies that will be shown at Brooklyn Bridge Park. Bring your friends and family for a movie night under the stars.

July 11th: Pariah

July 18th: Girlfight

July 25th: It Happened One Night

August 1st: Crooklyn

August 8th: The Big Lebowski

August 15th: An American Trail

August 22nd: Selma

August 29th: Public Vote (The Adventures of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert, Groundhog Day, Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory

'Movies with a View' event in Brooklyn Bridge Park.
‘Movies with a View’ event in Brooklyn Bridge Park. Photo Credit Etienne Frossard
Categories
Architecture Design Lifestyle Living

5 River Park has the BEST Views of Brooklyn and Manhattan

Written and Photographed by Addison Franz

Where Cobble Hill meets Brooklyn Heights, River Park emerges as Brooklyn’s newest luxury neighborhood, encompassing an area of nearly 1-million-square-feet.

River Park will eventually be a collection of seven new residential properties: Polhemus Residences, Polhemus Townhouses, and 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 River Park. Polhemus Residences and Polhemus Townhouses are completed and expecting residents soon. 5 River Park is celebrating its recent construction topping out. 1 and 2 River Park are the next to rise, and 3 and 4 River Park will be in the last phase of the development.

I had the opportunity to visit 5 River Park, a beautifully-designed building by architect Douglas Romines. This coveted condominium is being developed by Fortis Property Group and will be comprised of 25 larger-than-life residences. Each floor is different, and the building offers one- to four-bedroom living spaces along with three levels of amenity spaces. This will include dual-level garden promenades, a resort pool, an outdoor kitchen, a private playground, steam and sauna rooms, and more.

With its enticing location, the building is a photographer’s paradise; it is the perfect median between land and sea. From the top of the 16-story building, you have a spectacular view of Manhattan on one side and of Brooklyn on the other. On the ground, it’s conveniently located near a Trader Joe’s, several coffee shops, a few parks, and anything else that you could want. Not to mention, the building is less than ten minutes away from Pier 6, Brooklyn Bridge Park and the rest of the waterfront.

In an attempt to capture the feeling of a townhouse, the upper floors will be exclusively accessible by key. As soon as you exit the elevator, you are greeted by your own hallway leading to your lavish living space.

If you have any interest in making 5 River Park your new home, it is located at 347 Henry St and apartments are currently on the market from $1.15M to $4.4M.

Categories
Living

Documenting History

PHOTOGRAPHER BARBARA MENSCH HAS SPENT 30 YEARS PHOTOGRAPHING THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE AND THE SEAPORT

By Deborah L. Martin

Photography and excerpts by Barbara Mensch

From her loft on Water Street, Barbara Mensch can almost touch the massive approach to the Brooklyn Bridge. “It’s my muse, it is always with me,” she says. For over 30 years, Mensch has been photographing the Bridge and the Seaport area, and her work is a visual and oral history of an area that is a fascinating part of the history of New York City. Her books—In the Shadow of Genius and South Street—reveal hidden truths about one of the most storied neighborhoods in New York. In 1999, Mensch was given unprecedented access to photograph inside the massive stone structures that make up the approach.

From In the Shadow of Genius: I showed up at the makeshift office, located in a trailer next to the bridge. The foreman gave me a hardhat and an industrial flashlight, then he designated one of the construction workers, “Big Mike,” to escort me. As we walked through the same open door that I had peered into months before, groups of laborers, carrying tools and safety gear, were going in and out. With a rush of excitement, I was about to explore the depths of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Following my escort through the metal entrance, my eyes adjusted to the void illuminated only by a few construction lights. The smell of mildew and choking dust intensified as we continued further in. I wrapped a handkerchief around my nose and mouth, following my guide who pointed with his flashlight to a large hole in the ground, which seemed to reach down to at least fifty feet. The long ladder, placed without any reliable support, was leaning to one side of the hole. Descending the ladder first, “Big Mike” shouted: “Follow me.”

The South Street seaport bears little resemblance today to its rough and tumble fish market beginnings. Its history is the origin story of New York itself, and that history is riddled with romantic seafaring adventurers, rule- breakers, mob bosses, and hard-working men and women who built this city with calloused hands, bent backs, and the basic human desire to survive. Mensch’s South Street captures the Seaport—through photos and stories—in all of its rough drama and determination.

From South Street: I crossed Pearl Street, past the Seaport park, and who comes along but the captain on the N.Y.C. police force. “Frankie, we were out in Brooklyn today, we’d like to talk to you.” And then along the sidewalk comes this Irish guy that we’d see hangin’ around the market every night. We nicknamed him “The Beard.” He came walking up briskly. He acted very personable. Then he said, “Would you like to get into the car so we can sit down and talk?” In the car they told me, “Be a survivor, so-and-so is going to go to jail, and his brother, and so-and-so from Peck Slip is going to jail, you be a survivor. We know how it is down there, we see you work hard, you get all that fish water on you, and the smell, and working hard, and you get wet, you have to work hard for a living, we see what it’s like down there in that market, it’s a rough place, that’s a terrible place.” They kept trying to impress upon me to be a survivor. A lot of people were going to go down. And I could make up my mind, make a decision, save myself and not go down with the rest. I called my lawyer that night and went the next day and found out that they were going to give me immunity.

    Categories
    Uncategorized

    Move Over Turkey, It’s Time For The Real Star Of The Show

    Satya Murthy

    Historically, Turkey has been the star of the Thanksgiving show — this year Breakstone’s is here to set the record straight.

    In fact, according to a recent survey* conducted by New York’s own butter brand, Breakstone’s, New Yorkers cited they would rather do the following than have a Thanksgiving with no butter:

    • Almost half would rather give up a season of Yankees baseball
    • About 23 percent would rather give up wine and beer at their remaining holiday parties
    • About 17 percent would rather give up bagels for a year

    Not to mention, last Thanksgiving, New Yorkers bought more than 4.7 million pounds of butter — that’s more than 18.6 million sticks!**

    • That’s enough sticks to run the length of the Brooklyn Bridge 842 times!
    • That’s the length of more than 1,863 Empire State Buildings.
    • That’s 1,191 times the amount of yards rushed by the New York Giants in 2016 (1,412 yards).
    • That’s more than ten times the weight of the Statue of Liberty!

    *According to an October 2017 Survata online survey of 718 New York adults.
    **According to November 2016 industry data.