The production company has taken over two abandoned buildings at the west end of Chelsea at 530 West 27th Street, which they have transformed into the spooky and dimly lit McKitterick Hotel, where we observe a largely wordless (but by no means silent!) rendition of Shakespeare’s Macbeth in an erotic and intense display of acrobatics, choreographed vivant tableaux, and mysterious dancing, running, crying, laughing, and screaming as the actors run through the hotel, while you are free to follow them and observe what they do for as long as you like.

No two theatergoers will have the same experience, as they can go to any part of the hotel and are free to come and go as they please. This means no one is guaranteed to see everything there is to see, and it could take hours to experience the thrill of the play to its fullest.

Such experimental theater has become de rigeur in New York City, where theatergoers are difficult to please and performance standards are through the roof. Still, Sleep no More sets a new standard for experimental theater and has quickly become the talk of the town. With tickets still available, there is still a chance to experience one of the city’s most thrilling and exciting new cultural experiences.

One such fact that blew me away was the figures; the park took over $100 million in private donations to renovate the space, which has probably increased the property values in the area enough to raise nearly half a billion dollars in property taxes for the city. Such an increase in value demonstrates how a bit of conservation, public investment, and elbow grease can transform a neighborhood.

And it also demonstrates how there is energy in abundance to make such transformations in New York City. It is a typically NYC development: take an old piece of rusting infrastructure and transform it into a new, lush, gorgeous refuge from the urban jungle around it—all the while celebrating the urbanity of the space. Robert Hammond, one of the men who got the project off the ground and has written a story about the experience, told NPR that the project was about celebrating the past as well as creating a new green space in the city: “this was the magic we wanted to save. Like right now, we’re alone. It’s just us, up here [in] this private garden right in the middle of New York.”

Now that private garden is transforming Chelsea and the Meatpacking District along 10^th Avenue.

More work is to be done as the High Line isn’t completely finished, and I’m certain that this is just the start of a number of similar projects throughout the city. The High Line has transformed a derelict freight train line that opened in 1934 into a new park that both celebrates the historical roots of the space and creates a brand new, modern getaway for current residents.

What will be the next High Line in Manhattan? Why not come take a tour of the island for yourself with one of our agents and see for yourself. Or give them a call at 1-877-852-6636 to see what properties are available near this amazing space—and the many other amazing spaces in Manhattan.

I’ve already written about the developments on the west side of Manhattan. The newest park on the island is continuing to expand. High Line provides a lush walkway for amblers who want to wander up and down Soho and Chelsea while taking in views of the Hudson and the downtown skyline. It’s fast becoming one of my favorite spots in the city.

It seems that it’s becoming a favorite of developers, too. Curbed is reporting that a new development may be in the pipeline at 11th and 23rd street (the area pictured left). The lot is owned by Richard Born, hotelier and co-owner of the Mercer Hotel, amongst other high profile properties in the city. According to the New York Post, Born might be selling the lot to investors who will develop some luxury loft apartments and a new event center–although with such proximity to the many spaces in Chelsea, I can’t imagine it getting much use. On the other hand, it seems clear that this area is going to see more residents and, presumably, more demand for events and activities.

The sale is slated to complete by August 2012, and the new developers will probably start construction as fast as possible to recoup the expense of buying the lot and building on it.

If the new developers go ahead with the lofts, they will probably be rentals, which will lower the supply of condos for sale near the High Line and increase demand accordingly. As if prices weren’t already going up at a fast enough pace, this new development is going to make luxury properties even costlier in the next few years. Buyers would be well advised to buy quickly to anticipate the rise in prices that has already started all over Manhattan.

Would you like to invest in Chelsea? Do you want to see what’s available near the High Line? Give one of our agents a call at 877-852-6636 or check out the listings on our website. We can help you save thousands on your commission, so give us a call!

Metropolitan Museum of Art

For those looking for a cultural experience, there’s always a New York City museum that offers changing exhibitions to surprise and wow the visitor. New York City has some of the greatest museums in the world and they’re only a short distance from just about any neighborhood.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is easily one of the best known places to see a diverse display of artwork from all over the world. Sections in the museum include Asian, African, and British art amongst others. Currently, the museum is offering exhibits for the summer and fall.

One specific exhibit on display from now until August 14th is Pastel Portraits: Images of 18th-Century Europe. According to the site, “By 1750, almost 2,500 professional artists and amateurs were working in pastel in Paris alone. Portraits in pastel were commissioned by all ranks of society, but most enthusiastically by the royal family, members of the court, and the wealthy middle classes.”

Museum of the City of New York

At the Museum of the City of New York, now through October 30th, visitors can view The American Style: Colonial Revival and the Modern Metropolis which offers a look at furniture, decorative pieces, and photographs of items from the 1890s until today. This exhibit may offer some ideas for those looking to find decorating ideas for their new home. Other ongoing and summer exhibits are also on display now at the Museum of the City of New York.

For those interested in learning more about world religions, the Rubin Museum of Art is showcasing Pilgrimage and Faith which explores three major faiths: Christianity, Buddhism, and Islam and their journey of pilgrimages, growth, and spirituality. This neighborhood offers this exhibit until October and is close to Union Square and all of the restaurants and bars of Chelsea.

The High Life. 2010. China. Directed by Zhao Dayong

Interested in contemporary art? nothing beats the MoMA. An ongoing exhibit for those interested in Asian Film is ContemporAsian which presents Asian films that may be off the beaten path. To find out more about this genre; this is the exhibit to see! This is Asian culture at its best and if you’re lucky, maybe your new condo won’t be too far away.

Whitney Museum of American Art

Another modern art lovers dream museum is the Whitney Museum of American Art. Right now, this East Side favorite has an exhibit of their founding collection. They always offer the latest and most unique American art around. The show called Breaking Ground: The Whitney’s Founding Collection features heiress Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney’s starting collection and objects from around the 30s when the museum opened its doors. This is sure to be a look into some of New York’s finest art.

Wherever you are in New York City, the cultural epicenter is sure to have something for your taste. As you make your way around the City, be sure to contact us when you decide which neighborhood you love the best so you can find a new place to call home! Call 877-852-6636 to speak with a representative today!

Photo by Jonathan Flaum

Last week, The High Line opened Phase 2 of this ambitious new project, and New Yorkers are already celebrating. This is the newest park to come to Manhattan, and as a modern development, it is a highly experimental project and celbrates the quirky mix of urban architecture and daring landscaping that has made Manhattan the envy of the world.

So what is The High Line? To call it a park is to miss the uniqueness of this project. It is a public lounge, art space, public garden, walkway, fountain, plaza, and woodland. The High Line has opened in two phases; the first section opened to the public in June 2009, and stretched from Gansevoort Street at the edge of the West Village to the edge of Chelsea at W 20th Street. A stroll along The High Line brought amblers to the Chelsea Market, over the trendy Meatpacking District, and to the many art galleries that have made Chelsea the hottest neighborhood on Manhattan.

Now two years later, Section 2 has opened to the public, extending the High Line into the heart of Chelsea at W 30th Street. In just two weeks The High Line has become the staple park of Chelsea, being for it what Riverside Park is to Morningside.

More is coming. Section 3 is under construction, which will bring The High Line up to 34th Street and 11th Avenue. When Section 3 is complete, the value of property in west Chelsea is sure to go up, so now is a good time to start looking for condos in the area. Why not see what’s available now, and enjoy Chelsea’s high life today? To speak with a CondoDomain representative call 877-852-6636.

The cautious word about town is that the New York City real estate market may be revitalized. “No, it’s not like the wild days of 2007,” admits Katherine Dykstra of the New York Post, “when dozens of new-construction buildings dotted much of the city.” And it cannot be denied that many of the buildings resulting from that boom remain largely vacant. But available units are now beginning to sell, and new development, stagnant for the last few years, seems to be swinging back into action.

The elegant Ladies Mile building at 650 Sixth Avenue (recently dubbed The Cammeyer) is becoming a sought-after residence (with units still available), and the nearby new structure at 305 West 16th Street will be available soon.

Number 534 West 42nd Street (known as The Deuce – co-opting a Jazz Age nickname for the intersection of Broadway and 42nd Street) was recently considered a lost cause, but it is now a going concern – as well it should be, offering “priced to move” apartments in a neighborhood which can only be described as the center of human civilization.

And if the picture is looking better in midtown and downtown Manhattan, everything’s coming up roses in Harlem, where a rash of developmental activity (on pause since 2007) has resumed.

As is often the case, though, better times for homebuyers is not necessarily good news for renters. The apartment vacancy rate in New York is now as low as 2.8%,  and average rent has accordingly increased in the last few years. Take advantage and schedule a viewing to buy your NYC condo or loft! Call 877-852-6636 today!

Would you rather live at 650 Sixth Avenue, 50 West 20^th Street, or The Cammeyer? Before you answer – they’re all the same building. This 1892 Ladies Mile monolith, traditionally identified by its Sixth Avenue address, has recently become The Cammeyer (which used to be the name of a shoe store on the premises), which is evidently thought by someone to be most appealing.

Toward the end of 2010, it was reported that more than 50% of the available units in The Cammeyer had been sold – a marked improvement over recent years. To some, this has suggested that the name change has had its desired effect. My guess is that the 17 percent tax break, announced last summer, has more to do with it.

After all, there’s nothing wrong with the building. It’s a beautiful, historic Manhattan structure, gracefully renovated, well-situated. Its prices, for the area, are not unreasonable – they start with 700-square-foot studios ($895,000) and work their way up to 2,134-square-foot penthouses (considerably more).

“This was the epicenter of fashionable living, of forward-thinking design, and an all-things-possible attitude,” The Cammeyer’s website breathlessly informs us. “It is the same now, yet completely reimagined.”

No comment is necessary – though it may be hard to resist, for anyone in possession of an all-things-possible attitude. But don’t blame the building. Look at it. Love it. Live in it. And refer to it as 650 Sixth Avenue. Because if there was anything in rebranding, we’d be calling it 650 Avenue of the Americas.

I used to think that if I had a time machine, I’d use it to prevent the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, or to meet Groucho Marx in person. But no. The obvious priority, for anyone endowed with the ability to travel through time, would be to secure a miraculously inexpensive New York City apartment – as these read-‘em-and-weep real estate listings (from the June 7, 1924 New York Evening Post) make clear.

Yes, the Manhattan of 1924 was a place where if you wanted to “Avoid the Subway Crush” (and who doesn’t?), you could “Live in the Residential Section of OLD CHELSEA” – in a four-room apartment “In New Modern Building,” no less – for $85 to $95 per month. Now, that sounds very reasonable. Just call James N. Wells’ Sons at Chelsea 5266.

Looking for a co-op in Greenwich Village? Well, who isn’t? Here we have a brand new elevator building with playgrounds, tennis courts, and exposures on three sides, and it’s only one block from New York University. The rent is $16. There’s only one catch: It’s not really in Greenwich Village, because in 1924 NYU was in the Bronx. But wouldn’t you live in the Bronx if your rent was $16? Call Vanderbilt 9431.

But maybe you have a family, or a large collection of pewter windmills, and you need more room. Perhaps I can interest you in a spacious six-room, two-bath duplex at 137 East 66^th Street. This Lenox Hill charmer costs its owner $1,520 per year, and has an annual rental value of $4,000 – in 1924, of course. In 2011, you can still live in this same elegant building, but buying an apartment there will now set you back about three million dollars.

Okay – I can see you’re a discerning customer, and if it has to be luxury, you can’t do any better than the elegant Bradford, at 210 West 70^th Street. This “Distinctly Unusual” building is “distinct in combining all the best features of a home and a hotel, unusual in the perfection of this combination.” Got it? Distinct and unusual. Come and take a look at these two- and three-room suites. Each has one or two baths, “superior maid service,” “a completely equipped serving pantry” (I love a good serving pantry), “unusually large rooms” (the key word here is unusual), “spacious closets” (very unusual), and an “owner managed restaurant on premises to insure perfect cuisine.” The only problem is that there’s a bit of a wait – it’s not ready for occupancy until September 1, 1924. Call Endicott 6271. The 1924 advertisement doesn’t list any prices, but we can assume it was a good deal less than the $8,250 per month being asked for rental units at the Bradford today.

Every so often, we receive breaking news of a so-called “new New York City neighborhood.” In recent decades, we’ve been asked to add TriBeCa (the “triangle below Canal Street”), NoHo (“north of Houston Street,” modeled on the forty-year-old designation of SoHo, “south of Houston Street”), and even DUMBO (“down under the Manhattan Bridge overpass,” believe it or not) to our local lexicons. Even more recently, there have been attempts to brand NoLita (“north of Little Italy”), CanDo (“Canal Street downtown”), and BoHo (“Bowery south of Houston Street,” whose nickname at least has an appropriate double-meaning, as in bohemian).

These designations underline the fact that in New York, the neighborhood – as opposed to the city, county, or borough – is the relevant local unit. Unless he or she is out of town (or speaking to out-of-towners), you rarely hear a New Yorker say “I live in Manhattan.” Rather: “I live in Chelsea” or “I live in Harlem.” Some of these neighborhood identifications arise organically, assigned to areas of the city by people who live there; others are the calculations of marketers and developers looking to imbue a neighborhood with unearned cachet. Regardless, these designations often prove fleeting, and any survey of the city’s history is also a survey of neighborhoods and names which have come and gone with the passage of time.

The phrase new neighborhood is generally a misnomer, actually describing a neighborhood which has been there all along, but now has a new name. Usually, neighborhoods don’t simply appear, but they have been known to disappear. San Juan Hill was once the name of a thriving working class neighborhood on Manhattan’s west side; it was obliterated in the 1960s to make way for Lincoln Center. (It lives on in art as the setting for West Side Story.) Little Syria was once a similarly authentic Middle Eastern neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, but in the same era, it was demolished to clear space for the entrance to the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel. Some of Little Syria’s population relocated to the southern portion of Brooklyn’s Atlantic Avenue, just as the German residents of what was once Little Germany (now the East Village) moved uptown (to what is now Yorkville) following the havoc wreaked upon their families by the General Slocum steamboat disaster in 1904. In the Civil War era, before the development of Harlem, the city’s preeminent African-American neighborhood was a section of Greenwich Village known as Little Africa.  A cool site to see NYC Neighborhood Reviews.

Along with these defunct ethnic enclaves, there have been business districts which lost their names when they lost their businesses. Park Row, east of City Hall, was called Newspaper Row when the city’s press was based there, in the nineteenth century; the future World Trade Center site was known as Radio Row before its cluster of electronics stores was decimated to make way for the towers.

Sometimes, old neighborhood names have been abandoned in an effort to dispel an area’s unsavory reputation. The Five Points (now the cusp of Chinatown and the municipal district) was such a notorious slum in the nineteenth century that its name was forsaken when it was rehabilitated. On the west side of midtown, the Tenderloin was similarly known for crime and corruption, but renaming it Hell’s Kitchen hardly seems like an act of euphemism. Still, this neighborhood’s residents persist in using that richly evocative expression, rather than the area’s colorless official name, Clinton.

As long as New York City exists – which, judging by the daily news, should be for at least another few weeks – it will be cleverly divided into distinctive neighborhoods, and these neighborhoods will be given names, reflective of their character, residents, purpose, or location. These can be expected to come and go, as they always have. In the early 1990s, the New York Times held a contest to rename the southern portion of the extreme West Village. The winning entry, WestHo, never caught on. One wonders if more lasting success would have been granted to one of the runners-up: AssHo.

It was another snow day here in New York City, and I don’t know if you noticed but the day was a perfect for heading to New York public parks for some fun in the snow. Minus the transit troubles, the city was beautiful. Just check out my friend Gillian’s view outside her balcony on East 89th Street, a tree line shot right to Central Park:

If you are a new comer to New York, or you are planning to buy a new condo in the area, here are some tips for adjusting to the harsh New York winters.

1) Make sure you have serious snow boots that can take the deep slush puddles on every corner as the snow slowly melts. Great snow boots are key to wintering in New York.

2) Make sure you have the proper socks, jacket, hats and gloves because you are going to need it. You never know when a the subway is cancelled or the buses get cancelled and you need to do a little more walking.

3) If you have a car, I would suggest parking it in a garage for the winter. Digging your car out in New York can be impossible. Just check out my friend Marley’s car in Chelsea:

It took my friend several hours get this car out.

4) Watch out for falling trees, icicles and the over abundance of salt eating away at your shoes. Check out what happened on my co-worker Anna’s block, a tree could not handle the weight:

I feel like I see way to many people out there that are unprepared. If you are new to town or planning on moving to New York in the future, you will look like a natural with my tips.

If you need help in your process of buying your piece of New York, contact one of our agents. We can help you save money that you can use to buy your stylish winter gear.