Month: August 2019

Manhattan has a rich cocktail culture that dates back to the post-Prohibition era, and downtown Manhattan in particular is home to some of the oldest taverns and pubs around. These venerable distilled-spirit institutions have survived for over a century in an industry that can be very fickle, an achievement on its own. But beyond simply surviving, many of these bars have managed to thrive while remaining relatively unchanged. Only a few blocks from these historic watering holes stand the stunning NoMad condos at 88 & 90 Lexington Avenue. Much like the famed pubs nearby, 88 and 90 Lex, which were built in the 1920s and 1950s, respectively, are prime examples of the timeless style that certain NYC landmarks exude. Here are the top three historic bars and taverns located near 88 & 90 Lex.

Pete’s Tavern | 129 East 18th Street

Pete’s Tavern is an official New York historical landmark and – according to its owners – one of the oldest continually operating bars in the entire city. Founded in 1864, the bar was allegedly disguised as a flower shop during Prohibition. Pete’s has the classic pub feel thanks to its long wooden bar along one wall and booths on the other as well as glass display cases that house relics from its early days. It also boasts a classic tin ceiling and walls adorned with framed photos of famous patrons who have visited the pub through the decades. Pete’s is a fully-functioning historical landmark that has stood the test of time without changing much of anything.

Old Town Bar and Restaurant | 45 East 18th Street

Old Town Bar and Restaurant in the Flatiron District served its first cask more than 120 years ago. Owners claim the bar has been in continuous operation since 1892, which would put it right behind Pete’s as one of the oldest in the city. Old Town also possesses a degree of Gilded Age charm that is hard to match. As soon as you enter, you can’t help but notice the tin-tiled ceiling and the absolutely massive mahogany bar lining the wall. A total of 55 feet in length, the bar is undoubtedly the star attraction of the interior. Much like Pete’s, Old Town has that quintessential tavern feel that is at once familiar and welcoming. Thanks to its ambiance, Old Town has been featured in numerous films and was part of the Late Night with David Letterman show’s opening montage for over a decade.

McSorley’s | 15 East 7th Street

Head a few blocks south and you’ll come across one of Manhattan’s most storied ale houses, McSorley’s. Open since 1854, McSorley’s is as disarmingly bare-bones as it gets. You have two options here: McSorley’s Dark Ale or McSorley’s Light Ale. That’s it. Their beers are served two at a time, in small glass mugs, and the bar-backs can carry up to 20 drinks with just their fingers. Various eye-catching antiques line the walls, and there are gas lamps throughout. A collection of wishbones on display are said to have been hung by locals before they went off to fight in World War II. McSorley’s is likely the best option for having a true throwback pub experience in NYC, as a visit here provides a true glimpse into the past.

Image Courtesy of: ©iStock.com/kieferpix

Bolstered by the recent grand reopening of New York City’s legendary Rizzoli Bookstore, resident readers of 88 & 90 Lex will find no shortage of great bookshops near their new condos. Here’s a look at that legendary bookstore’s fresh start, as well as two other nearby institutions that are ideal for insatiable readers and collectors of rare and antique tomes alike.

Rizzoli Bookstore | 1133 Broadway

It’s known as the most beautiful bookstore in New York, and a visit to Rizzoli will soon show you why. Set inside a six-story Broadway townhouse, Rizzoli is a veritable palace for any bookworm. An arched Diocletian window draws you in and, once inside, you’ll find yourself walking along a black and white marble floor beneath stately cast iron chandeliers and an ornately vaulted ceiling. Cherub-filled frescoes even line the store’s perimeter. If all that’s not enough to make you feel as though you’ve arrived in book heaven, Rizzoli’s selection of titles surely will. Illustrated books are the specialty here, with fashion, interior design, art, architecture, photography, and general design all well represented. The expansive collection also includes books on languages as well as magazines and newspapers from all over the world. With more than 50 years of history, Rizzoli isn’t just an NYC institution—it’s an adventure every time you visit.

B&B Rare Books | 30 East 20th Street

Step into the world of B&B Rare Books, where it feels as though the eReader was never invented. Antique, hardback volumes are the name of the game here, with a particular focus on American literature, modern first editions, Victorian literature, poetry, mystery, and detective fiction. Treat a loved one to a 1906 copy of The Poems of Thomas Love Peacock, or go all out with a first edition of Ian Fleming’s Diamonds are Forever, original dust jacket and all. There’s also a wonderful selection of children’s literature full of enticing gift ideas for young family members. Joshua Mann and Sunday Steinkirchner, the book-loving store owners, will add the personal touch of a neighborhood bookshop by pointing you in the direction of your next favorite read.

Potterton Books | 200 Lexington Avenue

Looking for décor inspiration for your new condo? Head to the fourth floor of the New York Design Center, and Potterton Books will provide all the muse you need. This compact, expertly curated bookstore is stocked with titles on textiles and furniture, period styles, and landscape designs. Handsome, lushly illustrated books such as Nicky Haslam: A Designer’s Life; Jeffrey Bilhuber: American Master; The Givenchy Style; and Swarovski: Fashion, Performance, Jewelry and Designmake for coffee table books you’ll delight in poring over for decades. As a special treat for yourself or for a very good friend, we recommend the set of six diaries penned between 1922 and 1974 by the great photographer, interior designer, and gadabout Cecil Beaton. Now there was a man who never wanted for inspiration.

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88 & 90 Lexington, two luxury Gramercy condos that share an inviting lobby, reside in close proximity to numerous cultural venues and restaurants of note. They occupy an area of Manhattan once known as “Rose Hill.” Running roughly from 25th to 30th Streets and Fifth to Third Avenues, Rose Hill is now thought of as a part of NoMad. Those familiar with its rich history, however, know the spirit of Rose Hill is still alive and well…if you know where to look.

Rose Hill Historic House (218 East 25th Street)

Rose Hill Historic House is the obvious first destination for those who are curious about Rose Hill’s past. With an exterior that looks more like a quaint farmhouse, it’s one of the few wooden structures still standing in New York. As part of a 131-acre area spanning East 21st Street through East 30th Street, the lot on which it stands was originally acquired by British loyalist John Watts in 1747. Naming the plot of land after the “Rose Hill Farm” he owned in Scotland, Watts gave the neighborhood its name as well. During the American Revolution, Watts was exiled from New York and forced to forfeit his land, and the main house he’d built on Rose Hill Farm was burned to the ground. In 1811, many parts of the property were parceled out to facilitate Manhattan’s grid system. Though it has never been officially designated as a historic landmark and its exact date of construction is unknown, Rose Hill Historic House is one of the oldest buildings in the city.

Madison Square (Corner of Madison Avenue and 26th Street)

Before Madison Square Garden moved to its current address, its original home in 1874 was at the corner of Madison Avenue and 26th Street. Although the structure wasn’t known as MSG until 1879, by that time it had already hosted entertainment activities ranging from circus shows and beauty contests to its modern staple of musical concerts. With a seating capacity of 10,000, Madison Square Garden’s original location was home to many significant firsts in U.S. history: the first Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show and one of the country’s first indoor ice rinks. Even an Olympic discipline was named after it, as track cycling (Madison) was regularly featured there.

Appellate Division Courthouse of New York State (35 East 25th Street)

The Appellate Division Courthouse of New York State is a must-visit destination for art lovers. Designed by famed architect James Brown Lord, this limestone Beaux-Arts structure is widely considered one of the most beautiful courthouses in the country. Sixteen sculptors etched a series of Corinthian columns and sculptures with impressive details and precision around the courthouse. The roof alone boasts individual standing figure sculptures depicting historical, religious, and legendary lawmakers. The interior is no less impressive, as ten artists were commissioned (with the assistance of the National Society of Mural Painters) to create its allegorical murals. It’s no wonder that both the courthouse’s exterior and interior have been awarded landmark status, and its 2000 restoration has ensured that New York’s future will include this incredible nexus of art and architecture.

The luxury condominiums at 88 & 90 Lexington Avenue have some prestigious neighbors. At 7 East 27th Street, for example, boutique hotel The Evelyn has Tin Pan Alley roots and a storied past.

A Hotel with History

Since its opening in 1905, the hotel that is now The Evelyn has undergone numerous transformations. Named the Gershwin Hotel from 1992 to 2014 in honor of the famous brothers George and Ira Gershwin, native New Yorkers who together wrote some of the most popular songs of the 1920s and early 1930s, the unique establishment has been completely upgraded. Today, The Evelyn claims its historic “Tin Pan Alley” location with retro, artsy touches that honor its neighborhood’s musical heritage. While its bold, red exterior is accented by silver, teardrop-like sculptures, iPad-compatible gramophone players in its executive suites give a nod to the past while embracing modern technology. The result is a compelling combination of early-20th-century glitz with 21st-century pizazz. The Gershwins would definitely approve.

What was Tin Pan Alley?

Though the name of the district may have come from a somewhat derogatory description of the many pianos that used to play simultaneously here, Tin Pan Alley (which is centered on West 28th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues) was the hub of America’s music scene from about 1880 to the middle of the 20th century. In its prime, Tin Pan Alley was home to a plethora of songwriters, composers, and music publishing houses. Greats like the Gershwins as well as Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, and Scott Joplin changed the world from here with just pen, paper, and pianos. Classics like “God Bless America,” “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” and “Sweet Georgia Brown” were all written right in the area within a few blocks of each other.

What is Tin Pan Alley Now?

While much of the music that made Tin Pan Alley famous may have faded away with the advent of rock ‘n’ roll, the magic and creativity never really left. Current neighborhoods in the vicinity include Gramercy, NoMad, and the Flatiron District, all of which excite and delight with iconic architectural landmarks like the Flatiron Building, the Sohmer Piano Building, and the Met Life Tower. Musical performances include summer concerts in Union Square and Gramercy Park, and some of the finest places to eat and drink in Manhattan can be found nearby, whether one prefers the many Italian options of Eataly, the classics served up at the original Shake Shack, or the fine dining found at establishments such as Eleven Madison Park.

In the middle of all this action, The Evelyn offers an inviting escape for those who prefer to be centrally located while they enjoy the comforts of a well-appointed hotel room in a building that has been part of its community’s intriguing history for well over a century.

Upland  |  345 Park Avenue South

If you own a condo at 88 & 90 Lex, chances are you’ve already fallen in love with NYC and one of the greatest assets it possesses: its diversity. With its denizens hailing from and celebrating innumerable cultures, New York contains not only international restaurants, but regional American ones, too.

Take Upland, for example, a new restaurant from acclaimed chef Justin Smillie, who was born and raised in San Bernardino and is on a mission to bring you the taste of contemporary California cuisine with an NYC twist. The restaurant’s decor will transport you westward immediately: you’ll find yourself welcomed into a breezy, open space punctuated with natural oak, blown glass, and finishing touches of copper. On certain nights of the week, you might even be met by Smillie himself at one of his special events.

Brunch
If you’re in search of a satisfying Saturday brunch just a short stroll from your condo, Upland won’t let you down. If you’re in a devilish mood, choose the donuts with vanilla bean sea salt, almond, and gianduja, and follow them with the naughty-sounding “eggs in hell.” If you’re being better behaved, we’d suggest the farm egg omelette, made with Bulgarian feta and spinach. And of course, we recommend a glass of the Cava Brut Reserva as a weekend treat.

Lunch
Upland is an excellent venue for a work lunch. Order a tuna tartare to start, and move on to the signature Upland cheeseburger—a tower of grass fed beef, cheese, Peppadew peppers, and avocado. A bottle of Redbyrd Orchard “Workman Semi-Dry Cider,” made in the Finger Lakes, will pair perfectly.

Dinner
Upland really comes into its own with its multicourse dinner menu. Tease your palate with a Junmai Kimoto sake and seared sepia with spring peas, salami rosa, and smoked labneh. Then, try the classic Roman bucatini cacio e pepe, with its heaps of pecorino romano and cracked black pepper. For the main event, we love the epic Upland cioppino—a dish of clams, red shrimp, mussels, bass, lump crab, and other seafood—paired with one of the excellent white wines on the extensive list.

Still have room for dessert? The salted chocolate chip cookies with Battenkill milk, or chocolate orange budino will surely do the trick, along with a bottle of the sweet Fattoria Viticcio wine for good measure.

Image Courtesy of @iStock.com/PeteerS

Nothing says luxury and style like a sun-drenched roof deck overlooking New York City, especially for residents of the 88 & 90 Lexington Avenue condos. The expansive roof deck at 88 and 90 Lex offers incredible views of Gramercy and the Flatiron District, as well as many of New York’s most recognizable landmarks, including the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, the New York Life Building, and One World Trade Center. This roof deck serves as an extension of home, creating exciting possibilities for relaxing and entertaining steps from Madison Square Park. And also located around this lively public green space are a number of hotels, restaurants, and bars in gorgeous settings with their own views stretching from Gramercy to Lower Manhattan. For a city escape that’s yet another extension of your home, be sure to zip on up to one of the following rooftop decks, all located just footsteps from the new condos for sale at 88 and 90 Lex.

230 Fifth Rooftop Bar | 230 Fifth Avenue
Enjoy brunch and cocktails in the beauty of New York City’s largest rooftop garden. On Saturdays and Sundays, there’s an abundant and unlimited brunch buffet, featuring breakfast favorites, salads, and a grilling station to satiate those summertime cravings. Or come back at dusk to enjoy a refreshing cucumber and gin mojito as you watch the skyline twinkle. This multi-floor space is open year-round, thanks to a fully enclosed penthouse bar and lounge and the hardworking heaters that will keep you warm during the cooler months.

Roof at Park South | 125 East 27th Street
For critically acclaimed eats, luscious libations, and unobstructed views of the Manhattan skyline, visit Roof at Park South, a new rooftop experience at the peak of the Park South Hotel, featuring cocktails by beverage director Ted Kilpatrick and unique menus from the James Beard award-winning chef Tim Cushman. Enjoy an upscale take on a summer favorite by diving into a wagyu beef burger or satisfy your sweet tooth with a blueberry-sugar funnel cake. The drinks are the real stars at Roof at Park South, however, where one-of-a-kind creations like the Swamp Water—a concoction made from avua cachaca, chartreuse, pineapple, and lime—make summertime even sweeter.

Hotel Giraffe | 365 Park Avenue South
The Rooftop Garden at Hotel Giraffe is a seasonal delight, providing a lovely and relaxing atmosphere for enjoying sunset sips during the warmer months. This fully furnished space is open to hotel guests at all times—and to the public on Mondays through Saturdays—for Italian-inspired entrees and small plates, including homemade pastas, crostini, and mouthwatering pizza prepared in a brick oven imported directly from Modena.

La Birreria at Eataly | 200 Fifth Avenue
Located atop Eataly, the brainchild of renowned chef and restaurateur Mario Batali, is La Birreria. This rooftop restaurant and microbrewery is a MUST for food and beer lovers, who can take the elevator upstairs from the spacious European-inspired market to enjoy cask ales brewed just footsteps away. La Birreria also plays host to a number of seasonal pop-up restaurants, and this summer, guests can enjoy seafood classics like oysters, swordfish, and more, compliments of SABBIA, the Italian seaside concept currently bringing Mediterranean favorites to this lavish rooftop overlooking Madison Square Park.

The weather has been perfect, which means it’s time to hit those roof decks! For more information on 88 & 90 Lex, and to inquire about availability, visit 88and90Lex.com.

With top-of-the-line HD and surround sound, the screening room at 88 & 90 Lexington is an amenity you’ll use again and again. Here are 10 of the greatest films about New York City, best enjoyed with popcorn and friends in your very own private cinema:

Sweet Smell of Success (1957)
You can almost smell the liquor, sweat, and tobacco in this seedy but sublime flick, starring Tony Curtis as a young man who’ll do anything for a shot at the big time. The NYC jazz club scenes really transport you back to another era of Manhattan.

Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
One of cinema’s most enduring images is that of Audrey Hepburn fitted out in those pearls and with that cigarette holder, although the movie’s most iconic moment might be Holly Golightly sitting on her fire escape, strumming Moon River.

Midnight Cowboy (1969)
Maybe you came to New York City from small town America in an attempt to make it big—which means you’ll really empathize with Jon Voight in Midnight Cowboy. Whatever the case, the theme by John Barry and that bittersweet ending will have you in tears.

Taxi Driver (1976)
Long before Uber came along, there was Robert De Niro and Taxi Driver. Films about Manhattan hardly ever get more brooding than this. You talkin’ to us? You should!

Manhattan (1979)
Woody Allen has directed a few odes to Manhattan in his time, but this black and white beauty remains the most romantic and the most hilarious.

Ghostbusters (1984/2016)
Whether you favor the Bill Murray classic or the Kristen Wiig reboot, this franchise boasts some of the funniest (and spookiest) films about NYC. Just right for Halloween hosting.

Wall Street (1987)
The greed. The money. The mobile phones. Wall Street features a tour de force from Michael Douglas as the redoubtable Gordon Gekko. And while the suits may have gone out of fashion, the themes are all too timeless.

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)
Forget the first Home Alone: this one’s got Central Park, a cameo from Donald Trump, AND the plot is almost identical to the first movie anyway. Perfect for your holiday condo party.

Gangs of New York (2002)
Broadway wasn’t always the center of world-class theater and glitzy shopping, as this epic from Martin Scorsese reveals. An all-star cast, including Cameron Diaz and Leonardo DiCaprio, is in top form, but it’s Daniel Day-Lewis and his mustache that steal the show.

Black Swan (2010)
The brutal underworld of NYC’s ballet scene is brought to the fore in this mesmeric, sometimes nightmarish film, created by the great Darren Aronofsky. Bring a pillow to hide behind.

The 69th Regiment Armory | 68 Lexington Avenue

The 69^th Regiment Armory, located across the street from the 88 & 90 Lexington apartments, is not just a historic Beaux Arts building. It is the home of New York City legends; it encompasses a wealth of history; and it hosts an array of large-scale events. Like the vibrant neighborhood where these Gramercy condos are for sale, the Armory has many identities—a living museum, an army headquarters, a Victoria’s Secret fashion runway, and a place of myth—all of which will weave into your NoMad (North of Madison Square Park) days and establish a deep connection to the cultural and historical heart of the city.

In 1906 the architects Hunt & Hunt built the structure in the Beaux Arts style, a first for New York City armories, which had until that time been modeled after medieval fortresses. The Armory combines the grandeur of typical armory design with the classic Beaux Arts elegance that the Hunt brothers also used for what is known as the “Marble Twins” on Fifth Avenue, a pair of stately homes they built for George Vanderbilt.

It was at the Armory, a building that architecture critic Montgomery Schuyler called “an entirely different inspiration from any of its predecessors,” that Thure Johansson of Sweden broke the indoor track marathon running record in 1910; it was here that the first televised roller derby matches were held in 1948 and 1949; and it was here that the Knicks played many of their home games between 1946 and 1960.

Beyond the military artifacts and historical documents found on the Armory’s first floor, there is a room, according to The New York Times, where the 69^th regiment, once known as “The Fighting Irish,” gathers every year to drink a round of whiskey at dawn before they lead the annual Saint Patrick’s Day Parade. The Garryowen Club is a bar inside the armory where the spirit of the regiment, past and present, lives on and where personalized beer mugs of soldiers and officers line the shelves behind the wooden bar. The club, which is only open to military personnel and their guests, remains one of the most historically atmospheric bars in the city.

The Armory is also a landmarked building that hosts arts events, including serving for several years as the venue for the annual Museum of Comics and Cartoon Art (MoCCA) Festival, one of the most important gatherings for the illustration and comics communities in New York and beyond. These events at the Armory are the direct descendants of one of the building’s most historic moments: the 1913 Armory Show, which was the seminal exhibition that first brought modern art to the American public. It was, after all, at the Armory Show that the New York art world first came into considered contact with Picasso, van Gogh, Matisse, and Duchamp—a world-changing experience made possible in part by the grandeur of the Armory, whose vast interior creates a repository of history and creativity in the midst of one of Manhattan’s most desirable neighborhoods.