Category: Blog

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.

The open kitchens and living spaces of 88 & 90 Lex’s luxury condos beg to entertain. So, instead of waiting to be invited to Thanksgiving dinner, call your friends and family and let them know that this year’s feast is at your new home. NoMad’s environs offer an eclectic mix of food and home furnishings to satisfy all tastes, so you can let your creative side run free and set a sumptuous, stylish table for your guests this holiday season.

You’ll certainly want to make your first decorating stop at the New York Design Center (NYCD). NYCD is the ideal place to see textiles, lighting fixtures, and furniture up close; explore color palettes and styles; and get a sense of how different design elements will work together in an interior. Though the showrooms are “to the trade,” meaning that customers must make purchases through an interior designer or architect, the Center’s Access to Design Program can connect you with a designer who will help you make decisions for your space and make purchases from the showrooms. The 10-story, 500,000-square-foot building is home to a range of purveyors, ideal for different budgets and tastes. On the 10^th floor, 54 antiques showrooms provide a crash course in the signature styles and silhouettes of different time periods, so you can begin to discern Art Deco from Art Nouveau and develop a personal aesthetic. Browsing with an open mind is key: stumbling upon an unexpected object or piece of furniture that immediately draws your eye is a sure sign that you’ve found something that will feel just right in your new luxury condo.

For those who seek modern takes on classic designs, Restoration Hardware may be just the ticket. Authentic and reimagined reproductions alike can be found in a multitude of furniture choices, textiles, and other home goods that will please the most discriminating shoppers. Each Restoration Hardware showroom is its own thoughtfully designed gallery, so even a single stroll through the store is a good exercise in imagining how a piece of furniture, color scheme, or design concept could work for your space. Best of all, you can count on Restoration Hardware to provide something new every few months, as most offerings are seasonally coordinated to a larger aesthetic theme. If you’re looking for a table that is practical for everyday use in your urban space but easily expands to accommodate twelve hungry companions, then this is the only store you’ll need to visit. 88 & 90 Lex features a model apartment designed by Restoration Hardware, so you can see for yourself just how perfect a match your home will be.

For those who love vintage dinnerware that evokes the cheery optimism of midcentury Americana, Fishs Eddy is the perfect shop to find place settings for a festive and fun holiday table. Both affordable and stylish, Fishs Eddy offers a mix of antique and new tableware, including some historical gems like dinnerware from cruise ships, diners, and social clubs, and  unique hand-painted samples from china factories. The store also sells new china classics that celebrate the New York City skyline, scenes from American history, pets, an array of bright solid colors, and pure white. Todd Oldham’s dinnerware, barware, and accessories line for Fishs Eddy draws its aesthetic from the work of American Modernist Charley Harper (1922-2007), who illustrated science textbooks in the 1950s. His floral and bird designs add a welcome bit of joy to any table.

Though a chic table presentation will provide ambiance, a successful Thanksgiving is all about the food. That’s why those with condos in Gramercy or near Madison Square Park flock to nearby Whole Foods, the neighborhood staple Kalustyan’s, and the massive Italian specialty emporium, Eataly. Eataly’s 50,000-square-foot space is lined with rows of specialty items, classic staples, and cookware, and they even offer recipes and cooking classes. No one describes Eataly better than Mario Batali, the celebrity chef and owner (along with co-owners Lidia Bastianich and Joe Bastianich), who likened it to a grocery store with tasting rooms. Eataly can provide it all, including your turkey, for an updated and inspired Thanksgiving feast. And, when Thanksgiving is over, be sure to duck in the store for the delicate, delectable truffles and related specialty items that can only be found in the fall.

Image courtesy of © iStock.com/shironosov

New York City and music go hand in hand, like the modern and classic design of the 88 & 90 Lexington apartments. Whether it’s Billie Holiday singing “Autumn in New York” or Lou Reed taking a walk on the wild side, the songs inspired by the city that never sleeps could fill countless playlists from every conceivable genre. Over the years, New York has provided ripe terrain for a host of musical scenes—from street harmonics, jazz, rock, and disco to New Wave, punk, and hip hop, to name just a few—and for myriad musicians whose careers were launched and thrived in clubs and concert halls around town. Whether you want to listen to a romantic street-corner saxophone solo or rousing rock concert, some of New York City’s most legendary music venues are just around the corner from your Madison Square Park condos.

Irving Plaza | 17 Irving Place

If you want to visit the same venue where everyone from the Ramones and the Dave Matthews Band to Eric Clapton and U2 have played, stop by this vaunted neighborhood performance space. Over the past 150 years, the building at 17 Irving Place has served many roles, including as a union meeting house and a Polish American community center that once hosted the future pope John Paul II. Now it is an intimate concert hall where the biggest names in music history and current stars like Lily Allen and pop sensation Meghan Trainor perform. Staying tuned to Irving Plaza’s lineup can pay off in spades: in 2015, a surprise concert by Paul McCartney was announced on the morning of the show.

Gramercy Theatre | 127 East 23rd Street

Much like New York City, the Gramercy Theatre has been reinventing itself since its inception. The Streamline Moderne-inspired, Charles Sandblom designed building has been a destination for art-house films, a dollar-movie discount theater, and an Off-Broadway venue. Its current incarnation hails as one of NYC’s best midsize concert venues. There’s a mix of seating and standing room, so those who want to “rock out” can air-guitar right up to the stage. There is sure to be an artist who will inspire you to experience Gramercy Theatre! After all, the Gramercy has hosted an eclectic range of acts over the years, from the Counting Crows and Steve Winwood to Jay Z.

Jazz Standard | 116 East 27th Street

Get some soul food with a side of soulful music at the Jazz Standard, a jazz club where musical luminaries, like the Dr. Onnie Smith Octet and the Mingus Big Band, lay down some killer licks as audience members indulge in the finger-licking fare provided by Danny Meyer’s award-winning BBQ joint, Blue Smoke, just upstairs. Your kids can even get in and jive with Jazz Standard’s music education program for youth. If you feel like staying in, order takeout from Blue Smoke and put on some music recorded live at the Jazz Standard by the likes of SFJAZZ Collective and Rene Marie.

Image courtesy of ©iStock.com/boygovideo

Living in one of the luxury condos at 88 & 90 Lex in NoMad means that you’re located next door to the best-of-the-best of Manhattan’s gastronomic delights. Across Madison Square Park, fresh pizzas and scoops of gelato are served all day at Eataly, Mario Batali’s bustling haven for food lovers. Around the corner, James Beard Award-winning chef Daniel Humm helms the kitchen at Eleven Madison Park, which, with three Michelin stars, is widely considered the finest restaurant in America.

While these celebrity-led establishments deserve all the plaudits they receive, New Yorkers pride themselves on finding some of the city’s most authentic—and soul-affirming—meals at off-the-radar gems. Sometimes tucked away on side streets behind unassuming facades and ultimately discovered through (closely guarded) word of mouth from devoted clientele, these neighborhood spots are perfect for weeknight dinners with the family, date night cocktails, or solo dinners at the bar with a good book and a glass of malbec. Here are a few future favorites

Lamarca Pasta | 161 East 22nd Street

Carbohydrate connoisseurs have been flocking to Lamarca over the past decade for its traditional take on Italian fare. This small, unpretentious eatery offers more than two dozen varieties of house-made pastas, from gnocchi perfectly smothered in a creamy, piquant Aurora sauce—a garlicky take on classic vodka sauce—to the ear-shaped Orecchiette All’-Arrabbiata with prosciutto, tomato sauce, and chili pepper. You’ll want to linger and digest the generous portions with a glass of their excellent wine or order a full bottle, which will set you back only $20—a nod to the affordable house wines that are de rigueur in the restaurants of Rome. Just make sure to plan these lingering visits for a weekday; Lamarca is closed on the weekend.

The Cannibal  | 113 East 29th Street

Don’t let the name deter you. A more apt descriptor for this low-key, meat-centric boite would probably be “The Carnivore.” (“The Cannibal” pays homage to the nickname of famed Belgian cyclist Eddy Merckx.) After working in New York City hot spots like Snack Taverna and Mario Batali’s Otto, owner Christian Pappanicholas wanted to open a restaurant that captured his love for traditional butchery and Belgian culture (especially the beer). The result is this charmingly homey butcher/beer hall/restaurant destination, with a selection of over 350 beers from around the world, as well as sausages, terrines, and all things meat, like the Cannibal dog, a hot dog topped with beef heart chili, and the General Tso’s pig’s head, a menu staple that got its own dedicated write-up on New York’s Eater.

Dear Irving | 55 Irving Place

Cocktails are on the menu, and time is of the essence at this neighborhood speakeasy. Opened by the team behind Chelsea favorite the Raines Law Room and inspired by the film Midnight in Paris, Dear Irving gives visitors a chance to do their own time-travelling via themed rooms. Use the old-school buzzers to get the attention of your server; then take a sip of master mixologist Meaghan Dorman’s cognac-based Bastille Day cocktail in the Marie Antoinette room or loosen up your tie with a whiskey on the rocks in hand, as you channel your inner Don Draper in the 1960s-themed JFK room.

Designed by Charles A. Sandblom and opened in 1937, the Gramercy Theatre is a Manhattan gem. Over the years, the artistically and culturally significant institution has transformed from a movie theater and art house to an off-Broadway playhouse and, finally, to its current incarnation as a hard-hitting concert venue.

Three blocks north, 88 & 90 Lexington’s new condos are delightfully contemporary, pairing well with the Gramercy Theatre’s rock & roll sensibilities, and NoMad residents with a penchant for distorted guitars will find themselves returning to the Gramercy Theatre again and again. Here, we look at some of the wildest shows booked for this summer.

Okilly Dokilly, June 2nd

You could easily mistake this act for a sardonic piece of performance art ready to accept a Tuesday night residency in a Bushwick warehouse. And yet, Okilly Dokilly is headlining the Gramercy Theatre on a Friday night. This metal band is inspired by (we are not making this up) Simpsons character Ned Flanders, with every member sporting the non-so-inimitable Flandersian uniform: glasses, green sweaters, pink button-downs, and bristly mustaches. Even if metal isn’t your cup of tea, the sheer novelty of Okilly Dokilly is worth the price of admission, and you won’t find this kind of musical weirdness anywhere else on this side of the East River.

Sister Hazel, July 20th

For a blast from the past that is sure to please almost any musical palate, check out Sister Hazel, who topped the charts in the 90s with an infectious blend of southern rock, folk, and pop. You probably know their hits “All for You” and “Happy,” but even the deepest of cuts are inherently optimistic and wonderfully melodic. Snag a ticket soon if you’re looking for a fun weeknight date activity or a nostalgia trip that doesn’t take you far from your NoMad apartment.

Pink Talking Fish, August 4th

If you’re in tune with New York City’s music scene, you are likely aware of the impending dreadlock invasion scheduled for much of the summer: Phish’s Baker’s Dozen residency will see them playing 13 shows at Madison Square Garden. Even if jam bands may not be your scene (we certainly wouldn’t blame you!), Phish’s presence this summer means that nearly every other venue will be upping its game with afterparty concerts. At the Gramercy Theatre, you can catch the one-of-a-kind Pink Talking Fish, who mix up covers of Pink Floyd, Talking Heads, and Phish to create a uniquely psychedelic experience. If you like one, two, or all three of their weirdly connecting source bands, this show is not to be missed!

Image Courtesy of ©iStock.com/dwphotos

When it comes to fitness, it’s hard to beat what NoMad has to offer. Residents of 88 & 90 Lexington’s NoMad condos enjoy convenient access to boutique spin classes, yoga, trampoline, barre, Pilates, HIIT workouts, aerobics, and boot camps.

If you’re a fan of the more popular names in fitness, 88 & 90 Lex is just 2 blocks from Equinox Gramercy and 3 blocks from SoulCycle.

And this is all in addition 88 & 90 Lexington’s state-of-the-art fitness center, which is raising the bar for in-home studios and gyms altogether. If you’re prioritizing fitness in your search for a new luxury condo, consider some of our favorite fitness options right in the neighborhood:

Shen Tao Studio

Shen Tao is a beautiful, serene studio that offers an array of classes. They are widely known for their ballet lessons, which include not only dance instruction but conditioning for ballet. Shen Tao also offers trampoline yoga and one- and two-hour special conditioning classes. The studio is filled with equipment you won’t find anywhere else, and, as a result, the fitness experience is truly one-of-a-kind.

Tapout Fitness

Maybe a zen workout isn’t your thing; instead, take a look at high-intensity boxing, spin, and interval training classes at Tapout. Tapout features a wide array of classes all aimed at providing an energetic and fun fitness experience. One night you could attend Zumba; the next could be cycling, or boot camp, or even “Insanity,” the max-interval class that is not for the faint of heart. The bottom line: if you’re looking to get that heart pumping, Tapout is a great choice.

Gramercy Pilates NYC

Gramercy Pilates is one of the most dynamic Pilates studios in the city. They provide 12 different classes that range from straightforward beginner, intermediate, and advanced, to butt camp class, EXO chair class, prenatal Pilates, Pilates for back pain, and even Pilates for “text necks.” Yes, that last one is a class specifically designed to combat neck and back pain related to smartphone usage—and people love it.

Barry’s Bootcamp

The famed Barry’s Bootcamp has a studio right around the block from 88 & 90 Lexington’s NoMad condos. The classes are designed to target every muscle: each class during the week targets a specific muscle group, while weekend classes are full-body events. If you’re serious about getting into great shape, Barry’s Bootcamp will do the trick. It’s intense, but the trainers are great motivators, and the vibe is tough but nurturing. If you want a challenge, give this a serious try.

The Fitness Center at 88 & 90 Lexington

By far the most convenient option of them all—given that it is located right at home—the fitness center at 88 & 90 Lex is filled with high-end machines, free weights, spin bikes, various areas for private training and small group classes, a steam room, and a sauna. Let’s not forget the 60 foot pool that’s perfect for taking a relaxing soak or getting your laps in.

It’s hard to imagine a luxury residence with a more robust menu of fitness options, just downstairs or around the corner. So if your workout routine is a top priority, 88 & 90 Lexington can help you save time with its conveniences, switch things up with its variety, and reach new levels of fitness with elite training and equipment.

Live in residential developments steeped in the history and elegance of the beaux-arts and prewar style.

New York City’s eclectic skyline of old and new is epitomized by 88 & 90 Lex, conjoining two distinct developments in the NoMad district. Workshop/APD architecture restored both the 1927 prewar and the 1958 postwar buildings, giving them their own unique character and contemporary upgrades. Access to 8,000 square feet of shared amenities space includes a 24/7 concierge and a 60-foot swimming pool under a double-height atrium.

The taller 88 Lex address offers spacious living areas for entertaining, art gallery walls, and high ceilings typical of the prewar style. Next-door, a new face-lift for 90 Lex offers oversize windows and a ’50s look and feel reflected in the mid-century-modern lines and sand-colored stone exterior.

Available residences at 88 & 90 Lex range from one to four bedrooms; 797 to 2,606 square feet; and approximately $1.25 million to $5.87 million through Corcoran Sunshine Marketing Group.