Halstead Property

Welcome to the official Halstead Tumblr Blog, where our local agents are your local experts. Halstead Property is the largest privately owned real estate firm in the New York Metropolitan Area and we strive to innovate and modernize your real estate experience. Through this blog, we aim to act as your neighborhood and real estate ambassador. We have daily contributors whose primary goal is to investigate and produce daily commentary and rich content that will give you a taste of the areas we service and you live in. If you have any feedback we invite you to contact us at social@halstead.com.

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HAPPY NATIONAL DOUGHNUT DAY, NYC STYLE! We wanted to add some New York City flavor to National Doughnut Day so after much research our Local Expert Agents in our SoHo Office won out with filling us in on this “Cro-Nut Craze”! It is half croissant/half doughnut and created by Dominique Ansel Bakery generating some serious foodie buzz along with very large lines outside the Dominique Ansel Bakery in SoHo. Word of advice - arrive early to the 189 Prince Street spot because they sell out quick! Trust us, we experienced that today!

HAPPY NATIONAL DOUGHNUT DAY, NYC STYLE!

We wanted to add some New York City flavor to National Doughnut Day so after much research our Local Expert Agents in our SoHo Office won out with filling us in on this “Cro-Nut Craze”! It is half croissant/half doughnut and created by Dominique Ansel Bakery generating some serious foodie buzz along with very large lines outside the Dominique Ansel Bakery in SoHo. Word of advice - arrive early to the 189 Prince Street spot because they sell out quick! Trust us, we experienced that today!

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READY TO TAKE OVER THE “SUMMER STREETS” OF NYC ? By Jennifer Roberts, Halstead Property Agent & Neighborhood Expert Summer usually brings fewer cars to the city on the weekends, but for 3 weekends in August nearly 7 miles of New York City streets will be 100% car free!  Summer Streets is an annual celebration of New York City’s most valuable public space—our streets.  The fifth annual Summer Streets will take place on August 4, 11 and 18 from 7 am to 1 pm. From the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park, along Park Avenue and connecting streets experience the city’s streets in a new way-all for free. Summer Streets is modeled on other events from around the world including Ciclovía in Bogota, Colombia and the Paris Plage. The event is part bike tour, part walking tour, part block party—a great time for exercise, people watching, or just enjoying summer mornings. The route extends from the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park, along Park Avenue and connecting streets, with easy side travel options on low-traffic streets to the Hudson River Greenway, Harlem, Brooklyn and Governors Island, allowing participants to plan a route as long or short as they wish. Activities at Summer Streets will be based at six rest stops, and are all free! The stops will host performances and activities for all ages, free bike rentals and water stations. There is the Uptown Rest Stop at Park Avenue and 51st Street, 40th Street Rest Stop at Park and 40th Street, Midtown Rest Stop at Park and 25th Street, Astor Place Rest Stop at Lafayette Street, Soho Rest Stop at Spring and Lafayette Streets and Foley Square Rest Stop at Duane and Worth Streets.  So come take a Yoga Class, see a Double Dutch Performance by National Double Dutch League, learn how to fix a flat on your bike or go rock climbing!   Learn more about the entire experience here. If you want something amazing to do each day in New York City, look no further than signing up for Jennifer Roberts’ monthly newsletter, to do so simplly click on this link.

READY TO TAKE OVER THE “SUMMER STREETS” OF NYC ?

By Jennifer Roberts, Halstead Property Agent & Neighborhood Expert

Summer usually brings fewer cars to the city on the weekends, but for 3 weekends in August nearly 7 miles of New York City streets will be 100% car free!  Summer Streets is an annual celebration of New York City’s most valuable public space—our streets.

 The fifth annual Summer Streets will take place on August 4, 11 and 18 from 7 am to 1 pm. From the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park, along Park Avenue and connecting streets experience the city’s streets in a new way-all for free.

Summer Streets is modeled on other events from around the world including Ciclovía in Bogota, Colombia and the Paris Plage. The event is part bike tour, part walking tour, part block party—a great time for exercise, people watching, or just enjoying summer mornings.

The route extends from the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park, along Park Avenue and connecting streets, with easy side travel options on low-traffic streets to the Hudson River Greenway, Harlem, Brooklyn and Governors Island, allowing participants to plan a route as long or short as they wish.

Activities at Summer Streets will be based at six rest stops, and are all free! The stops will host performances and activities for all ages, free bike rentals and water stations. There is the Uptown Rest Stop at Park Avenue and 51st Street, 40th Street Rest Stop at Park and 40th Street, Midtown Rest Stop at Park and 25th Street, Astor Place Rest Stop at Lafayette Street, Soho Rest Stop at Spring and Lafayette Streets and Foley Square Rest Stop at Duane and Worth Streets.

 So come take a Yoga Class, see a Double Dutch Performance by National Double Dutch League, learn how to fix a flat on your bike or go rock climbing!   Learn more about the entire experience here.

If you want something amazing to do each day in New York City, look no further than signing up for Jennifer Roberts’ monthly newsletter, to do so simplly click on this link.

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Introducing NYC Map: An App for the bustling streets of New York City  There are countless apps for the iphone to help you navigate the seemingly daunting streets of New York City. But, just in case none of those are as helpful as you were hoping (or needed…) this one should do the trick.  It’s currently only available for the iPhone, but the navigation possibilities and discoveries are endless with this one.  Created by CityMaps, you can search for nearby restaurants catering to your current craving and you can even go ahead and make a reservation once you find the perfect spot. Want to know what coffee shops make up the SoHo block you’re currently wandering around? Or if you’re heading to Batter Park City but don’t know where to get lunch? The app is equipped with all the hyper local information you’d ever need, right at your disposal.  It also lets you search for nearby movies playing and preorder your tickets, and if you don’t know how to get to all these newfound fabulous places – well the app will give you subway directions! Whether for a native New Yorker or an excited tourist, this app is sure to come in handy for everyone by providing both access and directions to almost 90,000 restaurants, stores, attractions, hotels and bars in all five New York City boroughs. More information about CityMaps and NYC Map can be found here. (Image: NYC GO)

Introducing NYC Map: An App for the bustling streets of New York City 

There are countless apps for the iphone to help you navigate the seemingly daunting streets of New York City. But, just in case none of those are as helpful as you were hoping (or needed…) this one should do the trick.  It’s currently only available for the iPhone, but the navigation possibilities and discoveries are endless with this one.  Created by CityMaps, you can search for nearby restaurants catering to your current craving and you can even go ahead and make a reservation once you find the perfect spot. Want to know what coffee shops make up the SoHo block you’re currently wandering around? Or if you’re heading to Batter Park City but don’t know where to get lunch? The app is equipped with all the hyper local information you’d ever need, right at your disposal.  It also lets you search for nearby movies playing and preorder your tickets, and if you don’t know how to get to all these newfound fabulous places – well the app will give you subway directions! Whether for a native New Yorker or an excited tourist, this app is sure to come in handy for everyone by providing both access and directions to almost 90,000 restaurants, stores, attractions, hotels and bars in all five New York City boroughs. More information about CityMaps and NYC Map can be found here.

(Image: NYC GO)

Source citymaps.com

MADE IN NEW YORK

If this video doesn’t prove the emergence of New York City as its own niche version of Silicone Valley East, I don’t know what will.  Over the course of the last decade, more and more of the smartest minds that are shaping technology and the web as we know it.  The best in developers, creators, and entrepreneurs are migrating to New York City so that more companies can be created and coded.  Hear from the voices of these individuals on why they choose New York City.  Made in the NYC!

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Your Neighborhood at a Glance: Halstead’s New Brooklyn Expansion   We have exciting news at Halstead Property, the company has acquired two real estate firms in Brooklyn: Cobble Heights Realty in Cobble Hill and Heights Berkeley Realty in Park Slope. Halstead now has five storefront offices in the borough, bringing the total number of tri-state offices to 23. The two new storefronts are in wonderful locations, one is at 76th Seventh Avenue at Berkeley Place in Park Slope, and the other is at 206 Court Street between Wyckoff and Warren Streets. As Halstead President Diane Ramirez says, “Halstead has experienced tremendous growth in the last few years and we are committed to growing the firm in a smart and strategic way. These two boutique firms are the perfect addition to our brand.”  We’ve talked to our local Brooklyn agents to get the scoop on the areas surrounding the two new storefronts, and there’s plenty to do. We’ve handpicked some neighborhood highlights:  206 Court Street, Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, NY 11201 This location is surrounded by fantastic restaurants and cafes. In the immediate vicinity is Nectar, an amazing juice bar and sandwich shop that has earned rave reviews, Café Pedlar, where you can find a perfect espresso or delicious cup of coffee, and Brucie, an intimate Italian restaurant with a warm atmosphere, top-notch service, and perfectly prepared dishes. For dessert, right down the street is Blue Marble ice cream shop, with some innovative flavors (cinnamon, pumpkin, and green tea) and offerings such as ice cream cupcakes, maple syrup toppings, and excellent sugar cones. Down the street is also The Chocolate Room, where you can satisfy absolutely any chocolate craving you have with unique handmade items.   You can also get your shopping fix after visiting this new Halstead location, Pink Pepper is a women’s fashion boutique with an assortment of stylish clothing, handbags, jewelry, beauty products and accessories. There’s also Serene Rose, another women’s fashion boutique that has upscale offerings that specializes in bridesmaid and specialty dresses. Then there’s the Community Bookstore, a neighborhood staple where you can find hidden treasures of books with the help of the personable and helpful owner who is always on hand.   Want to catch a movie? Cobble Hill Cinemas is right down the street.   76 Seventh Avenue, Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY 11217 Right near this new Halstead location is the Grand Army Plaza, which serves as the main entrance to Prospect Park. It’s perfect for those upcoming spring and summer days.   The restaurants and cafes in the area include Noella Brew Bar, a cafe that offers free WiFi and unique counter culture and bean brews of coffee, Oshima, a high quality sushi place that locals adore, the Olive Vine Café, an excellent BYOB Mediterranean restaurant, and the Santa Fe Grill, a bustling Mexican restaurant with great sangria and avocado fries. For dessert, you have to try Cousin John’s Café and Bakery, which offers decadent pastries and confections that are absolutely superb.   Around the corner is the Brooklyn Conservatory Concert Hall where you can catch some exquisite live classical music and many special events and musician’s workshops. There are also some excellent nightlife options in the area for you to enjoy, such as Bierkraft, which boasts an outdoor seating area, Cocoa Bar, a one-of-a-kind chocolate, wine and dessert bar, Union Hall, a 5,000 square foot bar, restaurant and live music hall, The Sackett, with it’s charming and intimate space and the best jukebox in Brooklyn, and Red, White & Bubbly, a fantastic wine shop.   And those are just some of the highlights in these extraordinary areas. Stop by one of the new office locations and let a local expert agent show you the neighborhood and all of the available properties.

Your Neighborhood at a Glance: Halstead’s New Brooklyn Expansion  

We have exciting news at Halstead Property, the company has acquired two real estate firms in Brooklyn: Cobble Heights Realty in Cobble Hill and Heights Berkeley Realty in Park Slope. Halstead now has five storefront offices in the borough, bringing the total number of tri-state offices to 23. The two new storefronts are in wonderful locations, one is at 76th Seventh Avenue at Berkeley Place in Park Slope, and the other is at 206 Court Street between Wyckoff and Warren Streets. As Halstead President Diane Ramirez says, “Halstead has experienced tremendous growth in the last few years and we are committed to growing the firm in a smart and strategic way. These two boutique firms are the perfect addition to our brand.” 

We’ve talked to our local Brooklyn agents to get the scoop on the areas surrounding the two new storefronts, and there’s plenty to do. We’ve handpicked some neighborhood highlights: 

206 Court Street, Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, NY 11201

This location is surrounded by fantastic restaurants and cafes. In the immediate vicinity is Nectar, an amazing juice bar and sandwich shop that has earned rave reviews, Café Pedlar, where you can find a perfect espresso or delicious cup of coffee, and Brucie, an intimate Italian restaurant with a warm atmosphere, top-notch service, and perfectly prepared dishes. For dessert, right down the street is Blue Marble ice cream shop, with some innovative flavors (cinnamon, pumpkin, and green tea) and offerings such as ice cream cupcakes, maple syrup toppings, and excellent sugar cones. Down the street is also The Chocolate Room, where you can satisfy absolutely any chocolate craving you have with unique handmade items.  

You can also get your shopping fix after visiting this new Halstead location, Pink Pepper is a women’s fashion boutique with an assortment of stylish clothing, handbags, jewelry, beauty products and accessories. There’s also Serene Rose, another women’s fashion boutique that has upscale offerings that specializes in bridesmaid and specialty dresses. Then there’s the Community Bookstore, a neighborhood staple where you can find hidden treasures of books with the help of the personable and helpful owner who is always on hand.  

Want to catch a movie? Cobble Hill Cinemas is right down the street.  

76 Seventh Avenue, Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Right near this new Halstead location is the Grand Army Plaza, which serves as the main entrance to Prospect Park. It’s perfect for those upcoming spring and summer days.  

The restaurants and cafes in the area include Noella Brew Bar, a cafe that offers free WiFi and unique counter culture and bean brews of coffee, Oshima, a high quality sushi place that locals adore, the Olive Vine Café, an excellent BYOB Mediterranean restaurant, and the Santa Fe Grill, a bustling Mexican restaurant with great sangria and avocado fries. For dessert, you have to try Cousin John’s Café and Bakery, which offers decadent pastries and confections that are absolutely superb.  

Around the corner is the Brooklyn Conservatory Concert Hall where you can catch some exquisite live classical music and many special events and musician’s workshops. There are also some excellent nightlife options in the area for you to enjoy, such as Bierkraft, which boasts an outdoor seating area, Cocoa Bar, a one-of-a-kind chocolate, wine and dessert bar, Union Hall, a 5,000 square foot bar, restaurant and live music hall, The Sackett, with it’s charming and intimate space and the best jukebox in Brooklyn, and Red, White & Bubbly, a fantastic wine shop.  

And those are just some of the highlights in these extraordinary areas. Stop by one of the new office locations and let a local expert agent show you the neighborhood and all of the available properties.

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Your Neighborhood at a Glance: The Oldest Attractions in NYC While NYC is constantly progressing, improving, and changing, the city’s rich history is always present and affecting. The five boroughs always seem to be looking ahead, while at the same time understanding the importance of the past. This sentiment is evident in the many landmarks and preserved establishments that are still standing today. Along with the help of local expert agent Keith Marder, we at the Halstead blog have compiled a list of some of the oldest sites in New York City. Oldest Pizzeria: Lombardi’s Licensed by NYC in 1905, Lombardi’s isn’t only the first pizzeria in the five boroughs, it’s the first pizzeria in the United States. Located in Little Italy, the coal oven pies that Lombardi’s produces are still fantastic. This establishment’s age and offered cuisine demonstrates New York’s cultural diversity and progressive attitude even in the early 1900s. Oldest Bar: Bridge Cafe Located in FiDi, right underneath the Brooklyn Bridge, this bar and restaurant was founded in 1794. It’s not only the oldest continually operating bar in NYC, but it was also once a brothel. Many of the architectural details, such as the ceiling, date back to when the wood-framed building was first built. They also serve some of the best soft-shell crabs in the city. Oldest Clothing Store: Brooks Brothers Founded in 1818, this fashionable clothing store has been at its current location, at Madison Avenue and 44th Street, since 1915. The store’s offerings have a definitive look and feel, a preppy country-club style. Abraham Lincoln actually work a Brooks Brothers coat to his second inauguration.   Oldest Jewelry Store: Tiffany & Co. (Shown Above) The pinnacle of jewelry stores was founded in 1837 and has been at its current location, 727 Fifth Avenue in Midtown East, since 1940. The store has been featured in films, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and produces the Vince Lombardi Trophy awarded to the winner of the Super Bowl every year. Oldest College: Columbia University Originally called King’s College, there were only eight students in the very first class held in 1754 in the vestry room at the Trinity Church. The school got its own building in 1760, and moved to its current location in Morningside Heights in 1897. The buildings on the campus were built in an Italian Renaissance style and the alumni from this prestigious university include such historical figures as Alexander Hamilton, Theodore Roosevelt, and Barack Obama. Oldest Newspaper: New York Post Founded by famous Columbia alumnus Alexander Hamilton in 1801, this newspaper is still popular today and is known for creative headlines, an excellent sports section, and a celebrity gossip section. In it’s early years, the publication’s liberal influence was substantial, including an early opposition to slavery and support of the 14th Amendment.   Oldest Museum: The New York Historical Society Located on the Upper West Side, at 170 Central Park West, this museum predates the Metropolitan Museum of Art by about 70 years. The museum is packed with art and artifacts that display the history of New York City and beyond. Some pieces included in the displays are Napoleon’s authorization for the Louisiana Purchase and the original watercolors for John James Audobon’s The Birds of America. Oldest Orchestra: The New York Philharmonic Founded in 1842, this orchestra is not only the oldest in New York City, but the United States. They performed the American premiere of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in 1846. In 2010, they played their 15,000th concert. These days, you can catch their performances mainly at Lincoln Center, but other venues as well, including some free shows in City parks. 

Your Neighborhood at a Glance: The Oldest Attractions in NYC

While NYC is constantly progressing, improving, and changing, the city’s rich history is always present and affecting. The five boroughs always seem to be looking ahead, while at the same time understanding the importance of the past. This sentiment is evident in the many landmarks and preserved establishments that are still standing today.

Along with the help of local expert agent Keith Marder, we at the Halstead blog have compiled a list of some of the oldest sites in New York City.

Oldest Pizzeria: Lombardi’s

Licensed by NYC in 1905, Lombardi’s isn’t only the first pizzeria in the five boroughs, it’s the first pizzeria in the United States. Located in Little Italy, the coal oven pies that Lombardi’s produces are still fantastic. This establishment’s age and offered cuisine demonstrates New York’s cultural diversity and progressive attitude even in the early 1900s.

Oldest Bar: Bridge Cafe

Located in FiDi, right underneath the Brooklyn Bridge, this bar and restaurant was founded in 1794. It’s not only the oldest continually operating bar in NYC, but it was also once a brothel. Many of the architectural details, such as the ceiling, date back to when the wood-framed building was first built. They also serve some of the best soft-shell crabs in the city.

Oldest Clothing Store: Brooks Brothers

Founded in 1818, this fashionable clothing store has been at its current location, at Madison Avenue and 44th Street, since 1915. The store’s offerings have a definitive look and feel, a preppy country-club style. Abraham Lincoln actually work a Brooks Brothers coat to his second inauguration.  

Oldest Jewelry Store: Tiffany & Co. (Shown Above)

The pinnacle of jewelry stores was founded in 1837 and has been at its current location, 727 Fifth Avenue in Midtown East, since 1940. The store has been featured in films, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and produces the Vince Lombardi Trophy awarded to the winner of the Super Bowl every year.

Oldest College: Columbia University

Originally called King’s College, there were only eight students in the very first class held in 1754 in the vestry room at the Trinity Church. The school got its own building in 1760, and moved to its current location in Morningside Heights in 1897. The buildings on the campus were built in an Italian Renaissance style and the alumni from this prestigious university include such historical figures as Alexander Hamilton, Theodore Roosevelt, and Barack Obama.

Oldest Newspaper: New York Post

Founded by famous Columbia alumnus Alexander Hamilton in 1801, this newspaper is still popular today and is known for creative headlines, an excellent sports section, and a celebrity gossip section. In it’s early years, the publication’s liberal influence was substantial, including an early opposition to slavery and support of the 14th Amendment.  

Oldest Museum: The New York Historical Society

Located on the Upper West Side, at 170 Central Park West, this museum predates the Metropolitan Museum of Art by about 70 years. The museum is packed with art and artifacts that display the history of New York City and beyond. Some pieces included in the displays are Napoleon’s authorization for the Louisiana Purchase and the original watercolors for John James Audobon’s The Birds of America.

Oldest Orchestra: The New York Philharmonic

Founded in 1842, this orchestra is not only the oldest in New York City, but the United States. They performed the American premiere of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in 1846. In 2010, they played their 15,000th concert. These days, you can catch their performances mainly at Lincoln Center, but other venues as well, including some free shows in City parks. 

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Your Neighborhood at a Glance: High Line Phase Three Unveiled The Friends of the High Line unveiled phase three of the High Line Park to the public on Monday. The plans were presented by architect Richard Scofidio and landscape architect James Corner. The duo outlined a multi-phase plan project that’s estimated to cost $90 million and be completed by 2014. Plans for phase three include three major segments: The first, the east-west stretch along 30th Street that will be built in its permanent form from the start, will incorporate a crossroads design where phase three meets phase two and the High Line jogs to the left, a grasslands section with seating areas for people to congregate, and the 11th Street Bridge overpass that separates the Eastern Rail Yards from the Western Rail Yards. The second segment is a curving half-loop that will extend north-south before curving back east that will be developed as an interim walkway before final improvements can be made. The third and final segment is a passage integration with the tower at the upcoming Hudson Yards complex. The Hudson Yards complex tower will also include public bathrooms.   To view our neighborhood tour of Chelsea and the current High Line watch our Halstead ProperTV Chelsea Neighborhood tour here.

Your Neighborhood at a Glance: High Line Phase Three Unveiled

The Friends of the High Line unveiled phase three of the High Line Park to the public on Monday. The plans were presented by architect Richard Scofidio and landscape architect James Corner. The duo outlined a multi-phase plan project that’s estimated to cost $90 million and be completed by 2014.

Plans for phase three include three major segments:

The first, the east-west stretch along 30th Street that will be built in its permanent form from the start, will incorporate a crossroads design where phase three meets phase two and the High Line jogs to the left, a grasslands section with seating areas for people to congregate, and the 11th Street Bridge overpass that separates the Eastern Rail Yards from the Western Rail Yards.

The second segment is a curving half-loop that will extend north-south before curving back east that will be developed as an interim walkway before final improvements can be made.

The third and final segment is a passage integration with the tower at the upcoming Hudson Yards complex. The Hudson Yards complex tower will also include public bathrooms.  

To view our neighborhood tour of Chelsea and the current High Line watch our Halstead ProperTV Chelsea Neighborhood tour here.

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You Know You’re From Stamford, CT When… Every locale has them; the quirks, the little known facts and tendencies that make where you’re from identifiable as home.  And every town, city, state and even nationality has its’ own list of idioms to identify it in the realm of pop culture.  Our agents from Stamford pointed out to us a fun list courtesy of the Stamford Advocate of 24 Things You Know if you are from Stamford, CT.  Enjoy! You and your friends laugh at the table next to you when they ask for a menu at Colony and complain that it is taking too long. You always tell people you live 45 minutes from the city but never go there. You can tell someone to meet you ‘in the Pit,’ and they will be there waiting for you when you get there. You were upset when they knocked down the diner to put up a bank. (Stamford Diner was torn down in 2004 and is now a T.D. North branch You remember when the Pitney Bowes sign used to be a landmark You’d wait in line for an hour for a DQ Blizzard. You know the nickname for the statue in front of Stark School. As a kid you relied on the St. Leo’s Fair to tell you summer was over. You still have tokens to the Varsity Club. You’ve gone sledding at Cummings and got hurt on ‘the bump.’ You wondered how Coconuts was in business after Tower Records open, then weren’t surprised when both closed. You’ve shopped for used cars at the commuter lot by the Merritt. You still don’t know what happened to Playwright. You’ve never been to the balloon parade. You knew that ‘going to Temple’ had nothing to do with religion. You read the police blotter in The Advocate to find out what your friends have been up to. You thought Crab Shell and Paradise are the same place You know you can always catch a cheap movie at the State…and there is only one person there to take your money, make your popcorn, rip your ticket, and play the movie. You remember when there was no Starbucks, Donuts Delight or Cold Stone. You’ve never actually wondered why there isn’t a grill at Colony Grill. Anytime someone mentions Bobby Valentine, Gene Wilder or Cindi Lauper, you say ‘they’re from Stamford’ like you personally know them. You’ve actually eaten at Curley’s. (Photo above) You know better than to get caught in the speed trap in front of Rippowam. You know Scalzi isn’t just a park View our neighborhood tour of Stamford on Halstead ProperTV by clicking here.

You Know You’re From Stamford, CT When…

Every locale has them; the quirks, the little known facts and tendencies that make where you’re from identifiable as home.  And every town, city, state and even nationality has its’ own list of idioms to identify it in the realm of pop culture.  Our agents from Stamford pointed out to us a fun list courtesy of the Stamford Advocate of 24 Things You Know if you are from Stamford, CT.  Enjoy!

  1. You and your friends laugh at the table next to you when they ask for a menu at Colony and complain that it is taking too long.
  2. You always tell people you live 45 minutes from the city but never go there.
  3. You can tell someone to meet you ‘in the Pit,’ and they will be there waiting for you when you get there.
  4. You were upset when they knocked down the diner to put up a bank. (Stamford Diner was torn down in 2004 and is now a T.D. North branch
  5. You remember when the Pitney Bowes sign used to be a landmark
  6. You’d wait in line for an hour for a DQ Blizzard.
  7. You know the nickname for the statue in front of Stark School.
  8. As a kid you relied on the St. Leo’s Fair to tell you summer was over.
  9. You still have tokens to the Varsity Club.
  10. You’ve gone sledding at Cummings and got hurt on ‘the bump.’
  11. You wondered how Coconuts was in business after Tower Records open, then weren’t surprised when both closed.
  12. You’ve shopped for used cars at the commuter lot by the Merritt.
  13. You still don’t know what happened to Playwright.
  14. You’ve never been to the balloon parade.
  15. You knew that ‘going to Temple’ had nothing to do with religion.
  16. You read the police blotter in The Advocate to find out what your friends have been up to.
  17. You thought Crab Shell and Paradise are the same place
  18. You know you can always catch a cheap movie at the State…and there is only one person there to take your money, make your popcorn, rip your ticket, and play the movie.
  19. You remember when there was no Starbucks, Donuts Delight or Cold Stone.
  20. You’ve never actually wondered why there isn’t a grill at Colony Grill.
  21. Anytime someone mentions Bobby Valentine, Gene Wilder or Cindi Lauper, you say ‘they’re from Stamford’ like you personally know them.
  22. You’ve actually eaten at Curley’s. (Photo above)
  23. You know better than to get caught in the speed trap in front of Rippowam.
  24. You know Scalzi isn’t just a park
View our neighborhood tour of Stamford on Halstead ProperTV by clicking here.
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Be A Part of a Live New York City Studio Audience - Part I There are tons of great TV shows that are filmed in New York City and it’s easy for you to be a part of the studio audience for some of the tapings. These fun opportunities are available to you free of charge and you get the chance to enjoy hilarious comedy, informative daily news shows, or to see huge stars in person. There’s even the chance that you will get shown on TV yourself! Tickets are usually available far in advance, by way of online application or writing snail mail, and that’s the best way to go about getting in on a live taping. There are also same-day standby options, but the lines are often very long, so that option should only be taken if you’re willing to wait. Either way, the chance to be a part of the live studio audience for the taping of a popular show is well worth any trouble. Here is the pertinent information for how you can be a part of several of our favorite shows filmed in NYC: The Today Show on NBC tapes Monday through Friday from 7am-11am on the ground floor of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, located at the corner of West 49th Street (between Fifth and Sixth Avenue). This morning news and lifestyle program features Matt Lauer, Ann Curry and Al Roker, among others. Fans gather outside on the plaza to watch the taping and hopefully be caught on camera. No tickets necessary. Live! with Kelly, now temporarily hosted by Kelly Ripa and a special guest host, is one of the most popular morning talk shows of all time and used to be co-hosted by the legendary Regis Philbin. The show airs live on weekdays from 9am-10am. The wait for tickets to a live taping is quite long (up to a year), but there are still chances to score same-day tickets. You can apply for tickets online or send a postcard with your name, address, phone number, email, dates of shows you want to attend, and number of tickets requested to: Live! With Regis and Kelly Tickets Ansonia Station P.O. Box 230-777 New York, NY 10023-777 To get same-day tickets, arrive at the southeast corner of Columbus Avenue and West 67th Street as early as 7am for a standby number. After ticket holders are seated, standby hopefuls are seated on a first-come first-serve basis. Ticket holders should arrive at the studio no later than 8am. Late Show with David Letterman airs on CBS and has been hosted by David Letterman since 1993. The program features top celebrity guests and musical acts, the nightly Top Ten list, and many comedic sketches. The show airs weeknights at 11:35pm and is filmed at 1697 Broadway, between West 53rd and West 54th Street. They film two shows on Monday at 4:30pm and 7pm, one show each Tuesday and Wednesday at 5:30pm, and one show on Thursday at 4:30pm. To get tickets, you can regsiter online or in person at the Ed Sullivan Theater box office Monday through Thursday from 9:30am to noon or on Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 6pm. Tickets from the box office are awarded on a lottery basis. A limited number of standby tickets are also available on the date of each filming, for those tickets call 212-247-6497 no earlier than 11am. Part II of this series will be posted tomorrow with more popular live shows you can sit in on that are filmed in New York City. 

Be A Part of a Live New York City Studio Audience - Part I

There are tons of great TV shows that are filmed in New York City and it’s easy for you to be a part of the studio audience for some of the tapings. These fun opportunities are available to you free of charge and you get the chance to enjoy hilarious comedy, informative daily news shows, or to see huge stars in person. There’s even the chance that you will get shown on TV yourself!

Tickets are usually available far in advance, by way of online application or writing snail mail, and that’s the best way to go about getting in on a live taping. There are also same-day standby options, but the lines are often very long, so that option should only be taken if you’re willing to wait. Either way, the chance to be a part of the live studio audience for the taping of a popular show is well worth any trouble.

Here is the pertinent information for how you can be a part of several of our favorite shows filmed in NYC:

The Today Show on NBC tapes Monday through Friday from 7am-11am on the ground floor of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, located at the corner of West 49th Street (between Fifth and Sixth Avenue). This morning news and lifestyle program features Matt Lauer, Ann Curry and Al Roker, among others. Fans gather outside on the plaza to watch the taping and hopefully be caught on camera. No tickets necessary.

Live! with Kelly, now temporarily hosted by Kelly Ripa and a special guest host, is one of the most popular morning talk shows of all time and used to be co-hosted by the legendary Regis Philbin. The show airs live on weekdays from 9am-10am. The wait for tickets to a live taping is quite long (up to a year), but there are still chances to score same-day tickets. You can apply for tickets online or send a postcard with your name, address, phone number, email, dates of shows you want to attend, and number of tickets requested to:

Live! With Regis and Kelly Tickets

Ansonia Station

P.O. Box 230-777

New York, NY 10023-777

To get same-day tickets, arrive at the southeast corner of Columbus Avenue and West 67th Street as early as 7am for a standby number. After ticket holders are seated, standby hopefuls are seated on a first-come first-serve basis. Ticket holders should arrive at the studio no later than 8am.

Late Show with David Letterman airs on CBS and has been hosted by David Letterman since 1993. The program features top celebrity guests and musical acts, the nightly Top Ten list, and many comedic sketches. The show airs weeknights at 11:35pm and is filmed at 1697 Broadway, between West 53rd and West 54th Street. They film two shows on Monday at 4:30pm and 7pm, one show each Tuesday and Wednesday at 5:30pm, and one show on Thursday at 4:30pm. To get tickets, you can regsiter online or in person at the Ed Sullivan Theater box office Monday through Thursday from 9:30am to noon or on Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 6pm. Tickets from the box office are awarded on a lottery basis. A limited number of standby tickets are also available on the date of each filming, for those tickets call 212-247-6497 no earlier than 11am.

Part II of this series will be posted tomorrow with more popular live shows you can sit in on that are filmed in New York City. 

Source halstead.com
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Your Neighborhood at a Glance: The Poetry of NYC New York City has been the home and inspiration to some of the greatest poets throughout history. Walt Whitman described his first sighting of the Brooklyn Bridge as “the best, most effective medicine my soul has yet partaken.” Kenneth Koch, Frank O’Hara and John Ashbery, names from the surrealist New York School of poets of the 1960s, all wrote poetry while employed at the Museum of Modern Art’s front desk. Many of the landmarks, homes, and frequented establishments of these poets still stand in New York City today. Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes’ former home in Harlem can be currently visited at 20 East 127th Street. The Cherry Lane Theater, New York’s longest continuously running Off-Broadway theater, was founded by Edna St. Vincent Millay in 1924. Here are some additional famous poet landmarks around NYC. Don’t worry, no poetic license necessary: Edgar Allan Poe moved to New York in 1844 in pursuit of success, and he certainly found it. He first lived in Greenwich Village, near Washington Square Park, at 130 Greenwich Street, but soon moved uptown to West 84th Street, which was at the time countryside. It was at 215 West 84th Street where Poe completed his most famous work, The Raven. It was also known that a section of Riverside Park known as Mt Tom was one of his favorite spots in the city. After his success, he moved back downtown to the site at 85 West 3rd Street, on which now stands the NYU School of Law’s Furman Hall. Eventually, Poe moved to the Bronx countryside into a small cottage where he wrote several more acclaimed works. The cottage still stands today and tours are offered. Emma Lazarus penned the iconic words that are at the base of the Statue of Liberty, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” Words that have become synonymous with the American Dream and New York City. A plaque with those words also adorns Lazarus’ former home at 18 West 10th Street and her memorial in Battery Park. Dylan Thomas was a Welsh poet who became well known among other famous creative-types while living in New York City. For instance, in 1950, Thomas performed a reading at the 92nd Street Y to an audience that included E.E. Cummings, who he befriended. Thomas lived at the Chelsea Hotel and he frequented many pubs and taverns in the area, his favorite famously being the White Horse Tavern, which stands as one of the city’s oldest venues still open for business today. The legend has it that Thomas claimed to have downed 18 whiskeys there one night in November in 1953, after which he was taken unconcious to a hospital and died. The Beat Movement of the 1950s was a group of poets centered around New York’s Columbia University who were all drawn together by their discontent with mainstream culture and politics. Primary figures in the movement included Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac and William S. Burroughs. Ginsberg lived in many apartments throughout the East Village, his mark in the neighborhood is still evident in events like the Howl! Festival in Thompkins Square Park held every summer. (partial reference: nycgo.com)

Your Neighborhood at a Glance: The Poetry of NYC

New York City has been the home and inspiration to some of the greatest poets throughout history. Walt Whitman described his first sighting of the Brooklyn Bridge as “the best, most effective medicine my soul has yet partaken.” Kenneth Koch, Frank O’Hara and John Ashbery, names from the surrealist New York School of poets of the 1960s, all wrote poetry while employed at the Museum of Modern Art’s front desk.

Many of the landmarks, homes, and frequented establishments of these poets still stand in New York City today. Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes’ former home in Harlem can be currently visited at 20 East 127th Street. The Cherry Lane Theater, New York’s longest continuously running Off-Broadway theater, was founded by Edna St. Vincent Millay in 1924.

Here are some additional famous poet landmarks around NYC. Don’t worry, no poetic license necessary:

Edgar Allan Poe moved to New York in 1844 in pursuit of success, and he certainly found it. He first lived in Greenwich Village, near Washington Square Park, at 130 Greenwich Street, but soon moved uptown to West 84th Street, which was at the time countryside. It was at 215 West 84th Street where Poe completed his most famous work, The Raven. It was also known that a section of Riverside Park known as Mt Tom was one of his favorite spots in the city. After his success, he moved back downtown to the site at 85 West 3rd Street, on which now stands the NYU School of Law’s Furman Hall. Eventually, Poe moved to the Bronx countryside into a small cottage where he wrote several more acclaimed works. The cottage still stands today and tours are offered.

Emma Lazarus penned the iconic words that are at the base of the Statue of Liberty, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” Words that have become synonymous with the American Dream and New York City. A plaque with those words also adorns Lazarus’ former home at 18 West 10th Street and her memorial in Battery Park.

Dylan Thomas was a Welsh poet who became well known among other famous creative-types while living in New York City. For instance, in 1950, Thomas performed a reading at the 92nd Street Y to an audience that included E.E. Cummings, who he befriended. Thomas lived at the Chelsea Hotel and he frequented many pubs and taverns in the area, his favorite famously being the White Horse Tavern, which stands as one of the city’s oldest venues still open for business today. The legend has it that Thomas claimed to have downed 18 whiskeys there one night in November in 1953, after which he was taken unconcious to a hospital and died.

The Beat Movement of the 1950s was a group of poets centered around New York’s Columbia University who were all drawn together by their discontent with mainstream culture and politics. Primary figures in the movement included Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac and William S. Burroughs. Ginsberg lived in many apartments throughout the East Village, his mark in the neighborhood is still evident in events like the Howl! Festival in Thompkins Square Park held every summer.

(partial reference: nycgo.com)

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Newly Opened Restaurant Round-Up The New York City restaurant scene is constantly expanding with brand new dining establishments opening every day. From gastropub grub joints to first-class fine dining, there is always a new eatery that New Yorkers are dying to try, and nobody is more tapped into the restaurant scene than our local expert agents. They’re constantly keeping up with their respective neighborhoods and filling us in on the great things that are happening.   Here are a few of the notable new restaurants our agents have spotted over the past week:  The Toucan & The Lion is a brand new gastropub in the East Village that is earning rave reviews from the local residents. The menu is inspired by Asian cuisine with an innovative American pub-fare twist, the selections are therefore creative and satisfying. The menu is currently small, with only six appetizers, four main dishes, and three sides, but they are all interesting and delicious. A few standouts include the espresso glazed pork ribs with a pumpkin seed brittle, meatballs in a curry Dijon with cilantro, duck confit mofongo, and the bacon doughnuts dessert. The clean white walls and plants hanging from the ceiling create a casual, yet upscale atmosphere, and the bartender knows how to make a customized drink to your particular tastes.  Super Linda just opened in TriBeCa and before commenting on the food and drinks, this bar and restaurant looks spectacular. The bi-level establishment features an 85-seat lower-level dining room and a 30-seat El Jockey lounge upstairs that is decorated with horse-racing memorabilia. “Linda” in Spanish roughly translates to “pretty” or “gorgeous,” and this place stays true to it’s name. The menu draws inspiration from authentic Latin American cuisine and chef John Martinez does a fantastic job. Beers are imported from South American countries and there are plenty of different margaritas.  The Pure Luck Tea Bar opened last week in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and is providing the denizens with tea time. This one-of-a-kind Kombucha bar offers six varieties of Kombucha tea from founder Brett Casper’s own brand and 15 different free-trade teas. It’s a perfect addition to the neighborhood and is housed in a LEED certified building and serves up very healthy options. There’s also a back patio that will be perfect when the weather warms. The green tea is already earning acclaim as the best in the city.    (Image Courtesy: Barney Taxel)

Newly Opened Restaurant Round-Up

The New York City restaurant scene is constantly expanding with brand new dining establishments opening every day. From gastropub grub joints to first-class fine dining, there is always a new eatery that New Yorkers are dying to try, and nobody is more tapped into the restaurant scene than our local expert agents. They’re constantly keeping up with their respective neighborhoods and filling us in on the great things that are happening.  

Here are a few of the notable new restaurants our agents have spotted over the past week: 

The Toucan & The Lion is a brand new gastropub in the East Village that is earning rave reviews from the local residents. The menu is inspired by Asian cuisine with an innovative American pub-fare twist, the selections are therefore creative and satisfying. The menu is currently small, with only six appetizers, four main dishes, and three sides, but they are all interesting and delicious. A few standouts include the espresso glazed pork ribs with a pumpkin seed brittle, meatballs in a curry Dijon with cilantro, duck confit mofongo, and the bacon doughnuts dessert. The clean white walls and plants hanging from the ceiling create a casual, yet upscale atmosphere, and the bartender knows how to make a customized drink to your particular tastes. 

Super Linda just opened in TriBeCa and before commenting on the food and drinks, this bar and restaurant looks spectacular. The bi-level establishment features an 85-seat lower-level dining room and a 30-seat El Jockey lounge upstairs that is decorated with horse-racing memorabilia. “Linda” in Spanish roughly translates to “pretty” or “gorgeous,” and this place stays true to it’s name. The menu draws inspiration from authentic Latin American cuisine and chef John Martinez does a fantastic job. Beers are imported from South American countries and there are plenty of different margaritas. 

The Pure Luck Tea Bar opened last week in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and is providing the denizens with tea time. This one-of-a-kind Kombucha bar offers six varieties of Kombucha tea from founder Brett Casper’s own brand and 15 different free-trade teas. It’s a perfect addition to the neighborhood and is housed in a LEED certified building and serves up very healthy options. There’s also a back patio that will be perfect when the weather warms. The green tea is already earning acclaim as the best in the city.  

 (Image Courtesy: Barney Taxel)

Source halstead.com
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Living off the grid in Wallabout, Brooklyn: Between Classon and Carlton Avenues from Flushing Avenue to Myrtle Avenue lies a 22 block neighborhood that shares a name with the nearby Wallabout Bay.  It’s a hidden and almost secret neighborhood that not many know about, mainly because of the lack of proximity to the subway and other forms of public transportation.  However, this vibrant and diverse neighborhood has a lot more to offer than meets the eye.   Filled with streets line by rustic and charming row house, it has a nice and removed country sort of feeling that you can’t find anywhere else in Brooklyn.   This buried neighborhood also boasts the largest concentration of pre-Civil War wood frame houses in the city.  Co-ops and town house prices reflect the true value of the neighborhood, and we can only expect prices to rise as more people and families discover the appeal this community has to offer.  Fort Green is only blocks away, yet the two areas offer something uniquely different for respective tenants.  Read this recent article in the New York Times to learn more about Wallabout, Brooklyn.   

Living off the grid in Wallabout, Brooklyn: Between Classon and Carlton Avenues from Flushing Avenue to Myrtle Avenue lies a 22 block neighborhood that shares a name with the nearby Wallabout Bay.  It’s a hidden and almost secret neighborhood that not many know about, mainly because of the lack of proximity to the subway and other forms of public transportation.  However, this vibrant and diverse neighborhood has a lot more to offer than meets the eye. 

 Filled with streets line by rustic and charming row house, it has a nice and removed country sort of feeling that you can’t find anywhere else in Brooklyn.   This buried neighborhood also boasts the largest concentration of pre-Civil War wood frame houses in the city.  Co-ops and town house prices reflect the true value of the neighborhood, and we can only expect prices to rise as more people and families discover the appeal this community has to offer.  Fort Green is only blocks away, yet the two areas offer something uniquely different for respective tenants.  Read this recent article in the New York Times to learn more about Wallabout, Brooklyn.   

Source The New York Times
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Your Neighborhood at a Glance: The 2012 COIL Festival The annual COIL Festival, held every winter, features 11 premieres from critically acclaimed artists, both from the U.S. and abroad. The presentations are described as “socially engaged, visceral, and groundbreaking,” making this year’s festival one you do not want to miss. The festival spans 25 days and features all genres of performance taking place in eight different venues across Manhattan. The event is being held in conjunction with Performance Space 122, a not-for-profit performance center in New York City, serving the dance and performance community. The former public school, PS122, located at the corner of First Avenue and Ninth Street, was abandoned and in disrepair when a group of artists began using the old classrooms as studios, workshops and rehearsal centers. Now it is a full fledged performance center which boasts two theaters, a national touring program, an active commission program, low-cost rehearsal space, and more. It’s name is synonymous with ground-breaking performance and the list of artists who can mark the beginning of their careers at PS122 is impressive. The event is running through February 4th, so act quickly to catch some of these amazing acts. Tickets are available now and can be purchased to single events or full session passes. For fans of theater and culture aficionados alike, this festival is must-see material!

Your Neighborhood at a Glance: The 2012 COIL Festival

The annual COIL Festival, held every winter, features 11 premieres from critically acclaimed artists, both from the U.S. and abroad. The presentations are described as “socially engaged, visceral, and groundbreaking,” making this year’s festival one you do not want to miss. The festival spans 25 days and features all genres of performance taking place in eight different venues across Manhattan.

The event is being held in conjunction with Performance Space 122, a not-for-profit performance center in New York City, serving the dance and performance community. The former public school, PS122, located at the corner of First Avenue and Ninth Street, was abandoned and in disrepair when a group of artists began using the old classrooms as studios, workshops and rehearsal centers. Now it is a full fledged performance center which boasts two theaters, a national touring program, an active commission program, low-cost rehearsal space, and more. It’s name is synonymous with ground-breaking performance and the list of artists who can mark the beginning of their careers at PS122 is impressive.

The event is running through February 4th, so act quickly to catch some of these amazing acts. Tickets are available now and can be purchased to single events or full session passes. For fans of theater and culture aficionados alike, this festival is must-see material!

Source nyc-arts.org
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Your Neighborhood at a Glance: NYC Restaurant Week 20th Year Celebration To celebrate 20 years of the finest dining institutions in the world, New York City is kicking off restaurant week on Martin Luther King Day, January 16th and it is running for 20 days through February 10th. Try out some of the the best restaurants NYC has to offer with excellent prix fixe menu deals. You can sample chef’s signature dishes from each of the three courses, so treat yourself and indulge in culinary bliss. Some of the acclaimed restaurants and must-try dishes: The new American BLT Bar & Grille, located Downtown, features a Grilled Spiced Shrimp appetizer and a fabulous Berkshire Pork Osso Bucco. In the mood for Italian? Head to the Flatiron District and check out A Voce – Madison Park and try the to-die-for Cappelletti, a garlic and ricotta filled pasta with chilies and parsley. How about treating yourself to some fantastic French cuisine? Try the authentic and trendy Café D’Alsace on the Upper East Side and enjoy a full three course meal of a pan-seared diver scallops appetizer, the duck two ways entrée and the classic French dessert, tarte Tatin. There is no shortage of options - Japanese, American Nouveau, Spanish, Steakhouse, Seafood, Chinese, Greek, Indian - whatever your taste may be, there’s something for you. Be adventurous and try something new, or enjoy an all-time favorite with good friends. This is New York City, home to the best restaurants in the world, no matter what you choose, your taste buds will be in heaven and your stomach will be satisfied. Start making your reservations this weekend, click here to learn more! Bon appétit!  

Your Neighborhood at a Glance: NYC Restaurant Week 20th Year Celebration

To celebrate 20 years of the finest dining institutions in the world, New York City is kicking off restaurant week on Martin Luther King Day, January 16th and it is running for 20 days through February 10th. Try out some of the the best restaurants NYC has to offer with excellent prix fixe menu deals. You can sample chef’s signature dishes from each of the three courses, so treat yourself and indulge in culinary bliss.

Some of the acclaimed restaurants and must-try dishes: The new American BLT Bar & Grille, located Downtown, features a Grilled Spiced Shrimp appetizer and a fabulous Berkshire Pork Osso Bucco. In the mood for Italian? Head to the Flatiron District and check out A Voce – Madison Park and try the to-die-for Cappelletti, a garlic and ricotta filled pasta with chilies and parsley. How about treating yourself to some fantastic French cuisine? Try the authentic and trendy Café D’Alsace on the Upper East Side and enjoy a full three course meal of a pan-seared diver scallops appetizer, the duck two ways entrée and the classic French dessert, tarte Tatin.

There is no shortage of options - Japanese, American Nouveau, Spanish, Steakhouse, Seafood, Chinese, Greek, Indian - whatever your taste may be, there’s something for you. Be adventurous and try something new, or enjoy an all-time favorite with good friends. This is New York City, home to the best restaurants in the world, no matter what you choose, your taste buds will be in heaven and your stomach will be satisfied.

Start making your reservations this weekend, click here to learn more! Bon appétit!

 

Source nycgo.com

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