Summer can be a great time to visit Manhattan because it's a lot less crowded. The Carlton on Madison Avenue has teamed up with Country, Chef Geoffrey Zakarian's Michelin-rated restaurant to provide guests with a picnic basket to take to one of the city's many parks. The old-fashioned picnic basket includes treats such as rosemary flat bread, tarragon and thyme potato salad, green Muscat grapes, smokehouse almonds, tomato haricot vert salad, cold fried chicken, tuna ciabatta with eggplant caviar and roasted peppers, white truffle lollipops and dark chocolate bark with pistachios, a bottle of wine and two bottled waters. The package includes a night at the hotel ( $499 per night for a Deluxe Room are based on double occupancy) and a welcome amenity of sunscreen and an assortment of magazines and a Continental breakfast for two at The Café at Country. The package is available on weekends though the end of August.
On Saturday, renowned French champagne house Veuve Clicquot staged the first polo match in Manhattan in 70 years. The match, between two North American Polo League (NAPL) teams - Ralph Lauren's Black Watch, captained by Polo model Nacho Figueras, and Asprey's Skeeterville, captained by Will Johnston - was played on Governor's Island, the 172-acre former Army base on Manhattan's southern tip. New York is often cited as the birthplace of American polo c.1876, and Army officers played the sport on Governor's Island until just before the onset of World War II in 1941. Black Watch bested Asprey 10 - 6 in the inaugural match of the Veuve Cliquot Manhattan Polo Classic. Veuve Clicquot has long supported polo in Europe, and since last year other parts of the U.S. as well, such as the Greenwich Polo Club in Connecticut.
The Carnegie Club, one of Manhattan's only cigar/cocktail lounges to survive the draconian smoking ban in style, is celebrating the onset of warmer weather with a "Cigars of Summer" selection specifically tailored to New York fat cats who head out of town on the weekends. The club's "Summer Beach Pack," for $45, includes three light, creamy robusto cigars, an Avo Classic Robusto, Fonseca Vintage Robusto, and Romeo y Julieta Exhibition #3, all of which are specially chosen to suit strolling the sands. The "Hamptons Weekend Pack," for $125, consists of a Montecristo #2, Greycliff Château Grand Cru Pirate, and a Davidoff Anniversario #3, all high-end smokes suited to the pricey vacation spot. The Carnegie Club is part of Mark Grossich's sophisticated cocktail lounge empire, which includes the amazing Campbell Apartment in Grand Central Station, one of our favorite spaces in all of New York.
It used to be that Wall Street was strictly business but as Portfolio mentions in their article on the new Wall Street, the Lower Manhattan financial sector is now home to more and more residences and retail storesLuxury apartments have been popping up in the area at a rapid rate. Twenty-one new residential buildings opened in 2007 and there are another 35 projects planned.
Some luxury retailers in the area now include Hermès, Thomas Pink, and Tiffany & Co. names you'd generally associate with the more traditional New York shopping areas of Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue. And the harbinger of high-end residential, a Whole Foods market is set to arrive soon.
This could be good news for Lower Manhattan which is becoming less dependent on financial services at a time when banks and other financial business are cutting back on jobs. Although it's perhaps not great news for the luxury retailers hoping that Wall Street's financial titans would simply hop down the street, fat bonuses in hand. The changing tone of Wall Street is also luring some other types of businesses such as marketing and real estate firms to the area helping to create a more diverse neighborhood. In 1993 47% of the jobs in the area were in financial services but by 2006 the number was down to 30% and is likely to fall further. Wall Street will remain New York's financial mecca but it's nice to see that sea of dark suits and gray buildings getting a little more color.
For months the possibility of living with Richard Gere has been one of the quiet selling points for Palazzo Chupi, director Julian Schnabel's monument to his own Schnabeliciousness in New York's West Village. Now that dream is over, Gere's full-floor, four-bedroom apartment is listed with Sotheby's. Gere's apartment has some benefits over the over two apartments which are listed at $27 million and $32 million, mainly that it's a little less over-the-top and doesn't have that odd avocado-colored kitchen. Curbed states that Gere bought the apartment in September for $12 million and has listed at $17,995,000. Is New York ready for "Venice in Manhattan?" We'll have to wait and see how long these places stay on the market.
It's true! Bellevue Psychiatric Hospital, previously home to famous names like Normal Mailer, Edie Sedgewick, and the guy who shot John Lennon (Mark David Chapman), is getting a remodel and soon will be a luxury hotel. Built in 1931 it's pretty perfect for the remake, with its location in Manhattan along the East River, its Italian Renaissance style, and even its "H" layout with hotel-sized rooms on long corridors.
Bellevue hasn't treated psych patients since 1984 when it was transformed into a homeless shelter, and now the plans for yet another renovation are well underway. No word yet on when they hope to have the hotel finished, but hopefully there's a developer locked in by the end of the year so renovations can get started by the middle of 2009.
Knowing all the history (and insanity) that happened in those walls, will you stay there?
Okay, this doesn't seem wise: putting an enormous diamond-encrusted hood ornament on the front of your Rolls-Royce. Aren't you just asking somebody to pop it off as they run by? Well, regardless, it certainly does look sparkly and it's really just a bit of promotional bling created by a jeweler for The New York International Auto Show. It's a one-of-a-kind diamond version of the Rolls-Royce mascot designed by Manhattan jeweler Jean Kemanjian and is exclusive to Manhattan Motorcars. Called "The Spirit of Ecstasy," it measures 4"h x 2"w and consists of mostly diamonds and platinum, plus a few other rare metals. Valued at $200,000.
This New York City co-op is located at 77 Bleecker St is three levels and has some great open spaces. The great room has high ceilings, three exposures, and a wood-burning fireplace. The open kitchen adjoins a dining conservatory. The home is configured as three bedrooms plus a large home studio. The master bedroom suite includes a master bath, dressing room with a skylight and laundry, and its own private south-facing terrace. The innovative windows (I love the circular window in the bathroom) make this home a step above the generic white box apartment. It is listed at $4.995 million.
Limited edition homes? That's the pitch for the new 34 Leonard loft project in Manhattan's TriBeCa neighborhood. 34 Leonard Street is a building of 16 loft-style homes with open floor plans and walls of windows offering urban and park views. The lobby will be dominated by an art installation from Jennifer Steinkamp, which will be a three-dimensional visual illusion of translucent glass with embedded leaves, sculptured wood benches and artisan crafted limestone walls. The development's units are designed to accommodate art collections, and art expert Carol Dorksy will offer advice to potential buyers interested in starting or expanding their art collections. Other amenities include a wine cellar that can provide storage of 300 bottles per unit, a grill and bar area on the roof deck, a sunbathing area with an outdoor shower, a pet spa, fitness center, storage and a round-the-clock doorman.
GlobeSt.com reports that the approximate construction cost for the project is $45 million. The 16 homes include, one, two and three bedroom residences as well as a 3,086-square-foot penthouse that has a 2,215-square-foot wrap-around terrace. No presales yet but there are 150 people on the waiting list to pick up the homes, which range from $2 million to $8 million for the penthouse. .
Jay-Z recently stepped down as the head of Def Jam records, perhaps because he's got a new project, a chain of five-star hotels. Various sources are reporting that he recently paid $66 million for a piece of land in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood in order to create the first of his new J Hotels. Jay-Z, born Shawn Carter, already as a clothing line (Rocawear) as well as his own bar chain, the 40/40 Club (he opened the Las Vegas 40/40 Club over New Year's) so this deal seems more secure than some of the others we've seen, such as Nicky Hilton's attempt at the hotel business.
The cream of the crop is officially all in one spot as the Robb Report, a global luxury source, recently released their limited edition series of rare items and unforgettable trips. From timepieces to cars, jewelry to wine, and trips to Aspen or Manhattan this list has something special for everyone and is bound to trip your trigger for must-haves. Imagine surprising someone with one of these unique gifts for the holidays! But don't wait too long -- the items went live for purchase a few days ago. Peruse the gallery and see for yourself the amazing offerings from Robb Report listed below:
Louis XIII de Rémy Martin's Robb Report Limited Edition Century-Old Barrel of Cognac: $2 million
ECOSSE Moto Works' Robb Report Limited Edition Titanium Series Motorcycle and Timepiece: $275,000
Steinway Lyngdorf's Robb Report Limited Edition Steinway & Sons Custom Model D Music System: $250,000
Is the worst part of traveling trying to get a good night's sleep? It can be tough to sleep like you do at home in even the nicest of hotels, but The Benjamin in NYC has something most places don't: a sleep concierge.
And the sleep concierge is just the beginning. They offer a menu of 12 different pillows, choices of specialized sleep enhancing snacks, and before-bed massages. In fact, The Benjamin is so sure they can give you a good night's sleep that's as good as what you get at home they'll give you a free night's stay if they fail.
Do you think it's worth it? What would you need to make the hotel feel like home?
We've seen 50 Cent's home in Farmington's Connecticut and while it is lavish the decor didn't impress. I might have to revise my opinion of his taste after a look at his Manhattan workspace. King Magazine checks out the plush pad which has a recording studio, G-Unit emblazoned pool table, leather-tufted walls and a weight room. The only off note is the all stainless rather institutional looking bathroom.
Say what you like about Moby's music, this is a man who likes design. Josh Barbanel of the NY Times recounted the story of his adventures at 300 Central Park West. The last property we looked at from the music man had a minimalist quality but this one is far more traditional to, as Moby put it "honor the Art Deco spirit of the building."
He bought the two-bedroom tower apartment for $4.5 million in September 2005. The apartment is spread out over four levels and has terraces with terra cotta tiles, stone parapets and of course, mega views. Moby lived in the space for a while and then embarked on a 14-month odyssey of renovation. With the help of interior designer, Sara Bengur, he turned the home into his ideal. And then, as so often happens, he decided to move.
There's lots to love here. The views, the terraces, the living room with a working fireplace, the opportunity to getaway from whoever you are living with simply by switching floors. Unfortunately there's no elevator here so if you want this place you better have the legs for it. But your $7.5 million buys you a truly unique place. After the jump, my favorite level is the third floor which has a cherry paneled library, a spiral staircase leading up to the fourth floor office and a wrap around crenellated terrace with 360 degree views.
Today's listing, a New York duplex penthouse on Riverside Drive on Manhattan's Upper West side is actually a double celebrity home. As the Wall Street Journal reported it is currently owned by CNN correspondent, Miles O'Brien but he and his wife bought it from actor Christopher Meloni (of Law and Order, and Oz) and his wife, Sherman Williams-Meloni. The nearly 2,000-square-foot duplex penthouse has three bedrooms and a terrace overlooking the river. The living room has three exposures and is wired for surround sound. The adjoining dining room has oversized windows and access to the water-irrigated terrace. The eat-in kitchen includes granite countertops, Sub Zero refrigerator and a Bosch dishwasher. The master suite is upstairs and there are two other bedrooms each with its own bath. The building has a 24-hour doorman, garage, gym, kid's playroom, storage and a deck. The apartment is listed at $3.495 million. Mr. O'Brien and his wife bought the apartment in 2005 for $3.2 million. After the jump, the living room at sunset.
