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Park Slope, Brooklyn, New York City

Sidewalk view of Brooklyn

Welcome to Brooklyn’s most desirable neighborhoods to live in! Park Slope is not only one of New York’s wealthiest neighborhoods but is also full of activities for visitors to enjoy. While most of New York City is going to a redevelopment period, Brooklyn has managed to maintain some of its old architecture. This is large in part because of the efforts of conservationists in the area. Park Slope is lined with brownstone houses and apartment buildings that were built as far back as the 1880’s. Most of these old buildings were renovated during the 1960’s and are now home to over 60,000 people in the neighborhood.

Today, the neighborhood is littered with top-rated restaurants, lively bars, and many different kinds of shops. Park Slope’s collection of clothing stores and foreign cuisine make it excellent for a vacation. If you truly want to experience Park Slope at its best, come down during a holiday. Whether it’s Halloween, Christmas or just a nice sunny day, you’ll find the neighborhood is always lively with vibrant culture.

The area that is now Brooklyn was originally settled by the Canarsee, a former Native American tribe. In the late 1630’s, early European settlers purchased the area and used it as farmland for the next two centuries. However the area still remained largely undeveloped, soon the land would be split up, sold, and turned into more farmland. During the 1830’s Brooklyn would be incorporated as a city and the Park Slope area saw a few key additions. Large parts of Brooklyn were actually owned by lawyer and land developer Edwin Clark Litchfield. Litchfield purchased these tracts of land back when they were used for farming, he would then sell them off during the Civil War. During the 1860s Park Slope would be further developed thanks to the addition of Prospect Park.

Many of the Victorian buildings you see today were built during the boom of the 1880’s and 1890’s. There were also a number of brick and brownstone buildings that would be constructed during this time.

Once the park was developed horse-drawn rail cars would help bring many wealthy New Yorkers into the neighborhood. In the early 19th century transit improved in the area and most of the roads in Flatbush and Jamaica would be widened. Locomotives would be added to Brooklyn thanks to the development of the Brooklyn and Jamaica Railroad, however this did little to increase residential growth. Park Slope’s proximity to Prospect Park and easy access, thanks to public transit, made it a favorite amongst wealthy individuals visiting New York. Brooklyn would eventually be added into what is now the City of Greater New York back in 1898.

It was in the late 1940’s that Park Slope would see a population increase, largely due to Colonel Daniel Richards. Richards made many proposals to the New York Legislature in an effort to renovate Park Slope. The construction of the Brooklyn Bridge further helped in the development of the neighborhood, allowing residents easier transit into Manhattan. while before the only way to get in was through having a driver take you to Park Slope, that soon changed. This meant many wealthy and upper-middle class residents moved out of Park Slope and into the outer neighborhoods. Most of the previous residents would move to places like Westchester County and even New Jersey. The residents that chose to stay within the city would move to places like Greenpoint and most famously the Upper East Side.

Eventually the adoption of the automobile allowed Manhattan to gain socio economic dominance over the rest of New York City. With New York experiencing a population boom Park slope began to renovate its Victorian mansions into apartment complexes and houses.

This caused the neighborhood to become much more working class and led to the development of more upscale apartment buildings. With automobiles becoming more commercially viable, you could even take a taxi to the neighborhood. Many of the previous residents moved out of the area with only a portion of the wealthier residents remaining in the neighborhood. Eventually in the 1950’s the neighborhood would consist of mainly working class Italian Americans and Irish Americans. Then in the 1960’s Park Slope would see an influx of Black and Latino residents, many of the previous white residents would move out into suburbs during this time. The neighborhood would face violent hate crimes due to the influx of different cultures. In the early 1970’s the neighborhood would begin a renovation trend that helped Park Slope regain its desirable status.

Many young professionals began to buy up the housing stock and brownstones in order to renovate and restructure them.

Rooming houses would be converted into duplexes and family homes during this time with many of them given landmark status thanks to preservationists in the neighborhood. This led to the beginning of a gentrification boom in the late 1970’s and it would increase in the 1980’s. Sadly, New York would see a massive crime wave during this time, with muggings and shootings occurring in Park Slope daily. The increase of gentrification in the 80’s and 90’s has caused Park Slope to return to its status as one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Brooklyn. Largely thanks to many upper middle-class families being pushed out of Manhattan and into the outer borough.

Today the neighborhood has retained its historic brownstone architecture while still keeping up with trends of the time.

Park Slope is filled with greenery, sidewalks are tree-lined, and most buildings have a front garden. Residents are some of the friendliest in the city and will welcome you with open arms into their neighborhood. Park Slope’s main streets are lined with restaurants, and cafes, most of them being found on 7th avenue and 5th avenue.

7th avenue is filled with multiple sushi spots, and even libraries for anyone visiting. From great italian food and pizzeria’s to mediterranean food 7th avenue will have something for everyone to enjoy. If you want to take a tour of the avenue you’ll be glad to know that their are limo service‘s that offer hourly tours, so enjoy shopping!

If you decide to take a stroll down 7th avenue you’ll also notice that the avenue is lined with churches with the most noticeable one being the Old First Reformed Church. 7th avenue may be the more traditional street of Park Slope but it is still lined with upbeat shops and restaurants for visitors to enjoy.

Further down you’ll come across 5th avenue, a street packed with upbeat bars, unique restaurants and all sorts of shops for anyone visiting. If you need to get some work done then you’ll be happy to know that 5th Avenue has plenty of cafes for you to sit in.

There are also all types of cuisine for anyone looking to experience something different, whether that be Colombian food, an Oyster Bar, or maybe just an old fashioned steak house! Both avenues are packed with places to dine, it may not hurt to take transportation down to Park Slope to try different cuisines. Thrift stores, record shops, and many other shops are also plentiful in the avenue, with new stores popping up every day. There are also a number of boutiques and vintage clothing shops scattered around the area. You can find many different types of stores in 5th avenue, however it is also home to many historic buildings as well.

Many of the buildings in Park Slope have retained their architecture, meaning you’ll find some of Brooklyn historic landmarks here. Some great examples of this are the 14th Regiment Armory, which houses the Park Slope YMCA Branch. The Litchfield Villa, a mansion that was built in Italianate architecture, now houses the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.

Park Slope is also home to a few local event venues, the most well known being Union Hall. The hall is a 5,000 Square foot venue used for music events and comedy shows and features an indoor restaurant and bar. You’ll also find that Union Hall has outdoor seating in the gardens, and even a fireplace!

This combined with the hall’s small library can make for a cozy spot for anyone looking to relax with a book in hand. Union Hall also hosts events for the holidays, so if you’re taking a vacation to New York take a car service down to Park Slope and get a feel for the local events!

The main branch of the Brooklyn Public Library is also located on Park Slope, specifically on Grand Army Plaza. Original construction of the Central Library began in 1912 along with construction of Grand Army Plaza. Completion of the Central Library would be slowed due to political infighting and would remain in limbo until the 1930’s. The project would be picked back up by different architects and would be redesigned into an art deco style. The building would be completed in the late 1940’s and the second floor in 1955.

The Central Library now employs 300 employees and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. The Library now offers many programs and services including meeting rooms, passport services, and even technological classes. The Central Library also houses an auditorium with over a hundred seats called the Dweck Center for Contemporary Culture. The facilities auditorium hosts lectures, readings, musicals, and even performances, along with a number of outdoor events during the summer.

Park Slope has gone through many changes yet has managed to retain its desirable status. its historic architecture makes it an excellent example of pre-war brownstone and brick buildings. You can experience all types of cuisine just by walking down the avenue, with some streets being packed with restaurants. Other streets are littered with boutiques, vintage stores and even thrift stores! Though if you just want to sit down with a book, you’ll love Park Slope’s cafe’s, and libraries. Park Slope will always have an event to enjoy, so take a limo down to Brooklyn, and enjoy visiting Park Slope.

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Downtown Jersey City, Jersey City, New Jersey

Ariel view of the Jersey City

If you’re looking to get some shopping and dining done then there’s no better place to do it then Downtown Jersey City. Considered to be one of Jersey City’s most desirable neighborhoods to live in, the area has gone through major redevelopment. Largely due to The Historic Downtown Special Improvement District, who worked in conjunction with property owners and local businesses to improve the neighborhood. Today, Downtown Jersey City is made up of the city’s historic downtown section and The Waterfront, which connects the neighborhood with Newport. Thanks to the efforts of both the residents and the local government Downtown Jersey City is now safer and cleaner. The city is now filled with activities that can range from dining, retail, fitness, to even services. With so many new things to do, we recommend taking a vacation to Downtown Jersey City.

Much of Downtown Jersey City’s history is similar to the rest of the state’s. The area would be occupied by the Lenape tribes until the first European settlers would come to the America’s. The neighborhood would be used during key battles during the American Revolutionary War.

Much of the neighborhood would be developed during the 19th century, with many brownstone buildings lined in the area. There would also be a number of industrial buildings constructed in the area, most of these buildings would be converted or redeveloped into residential apartments, a good example of this is the Dixon Mills.

Some old warehouses would even be turned into art districts, such was the case with The Powerhouse Arts District. Most of Downtown Jersey City’s high-rise buildings would go up during the 2000’s, flooding the neighborhood with retail stores and restaurants. However certain neighborhoods have managed to keep their historic buildings, most are lined on Harsimus which lies in between Van Vorst Park and Hamilton Park.

Harsimus Rail Station

Harsimus is a neighborhood within the Downtown Jersey City District and is lined with 19th century row houses. Like the rest of Jersey City, it was previously inhabited by the Lenape, though most of its buildings would be constructed during the 1830’s. Much of Harsimus’ urbanization was done by John Coles, a merchant who expanded the neighborhood during this time. The city’s proximity to its shoreline allowed for the neighborhood to develop into a busy port city.

Harsimus would truly flourish thanks to the development of the railroad industry. During the 1870’s the neighborhood would be land-filled to make way for the addition of railyards. The addition of railroads and terminals allowed for huge stockyards to be built along the waterfront.

The neighborhood would face a wave of political corruption beginning in the early 1900’s. From 1910 to about 1950 Harsimus would be the site of gerrymandering, slowing down any further process of development. Between 1950 and 1970 the area would suffer from massive economic and population decline. Largely due to Port Newark’s development, which is now the main shipping dock of the Greater New York Metropolitan area. It was in the 1970’s that Harsimus would finally go through a redevelopment phase.

Slums would be cleared and many new housing projects would go up, most of which are aimed at middle and low income residents. This renewal had no effect on the 19th century row houses previously built in the neighborhood, largely due to a preservation movement. While the preservation managed to protect the row houses in Harsimus the surrounding area would be redeveloped. Mass transit and affordable rents attracted many artists to the area, many of whom converted their buildings into live/work spaces. The influx of wealth led to High-rise residential buildings being constructed within the area. Most artists would continue their work in the Powerhouse Arts District. The main road running through Harsimus is Newark Ave which houses a pedestrian mall.

The Newark Ave Pedestrian Mall is home to many shops and restaurants, the Mall also hosts a number of seasonal events too. There are current plans to develop the pedestrian mall further, including widening the streets.

West of Harsimus lies a small but wonderful historic neighborhood called the Village. The Village houses many historic buildings that have been preserved thanks to efforts by the local community. The neighborhood was once known as Jersey City’s very own “Little Italy”, many of its roots are still there today.

The neighborhood is littered with many restaurants and cafes for anyone needing some quiet time in the city. You’ll even find a wine tavern in the Village, filled with different types of cheeses and cocktails. The Village is also home to the oldest polish speaking parish in New Jersey, with many Polish worshipers attending the church daily.

Built in order to serve Polish parishioners, the St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church serves as the neighborhoods main building of worship and doubles as a historic attraction. Before its inception polish Catholics would often have to take a ferry to the other side of the river just to attend service. The construction of the building allowed residents convenient access to a house of worship. St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004 and is now one of the centerpieces in the Village.

Another one of the Villages historic buildings is the White Eagle Hall, which has been used as a community center since 1910. It was originally built by Polish immigrants who were led by Rev. Peter Boleslaus Kwiatowski. Rev. Kwiatowski would help establish many parishes around New Jersey. Ownership of the hall would be transferred over to the St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic church in 1934. The hall would serve as a bingo hall and practice center for a local basketball team called the Friars, coached by Bob Hurley.

In 1968 White Eagle Hall would serve as the stage for multiple band competitions, Frank Infante would begin his career here. This would go on until about 1975, eventually the building would be put up for renovation. It wasn’t until 2013 that the building would finally see a restoration period, the hall would then be reopened in 2017.

The Powerhouse Arts district is a name given to a district in Downtown Jersey City that was previously occupied by industrial warehouses.

The district itself is located on the Jersey City waterfront overlooking the Hudson River. The Powerhouse Arts District would be converted after many artists began to move into the area due to cheaper rent. Most artists would prefer to live in the same area they worked, this led to the city proposing new zoning laws that would allow people to work where they lived. Unfortunately the districts were never zoned and with a boost in the local economy the neighborhood began to favor high rise buildings. Many of these old buildings would still remain in the area, the most well known being the powerhouse. The main arts center is located in a renovated generating station named the Hudson and Manhattan Railroad Powerhouse, this is where the district would get its name.

Today, the Powerhouse Arts District is being looked at by many in the real estate business. There are current plans to build a new 900 foot skyscraper in the area, which would make it the tallest building in New Jersey. However many believe the area should stay as is.

The Powerhouse Arts district is now filled with shops and restaurants for residents to enjoy. its collection of bars, grills, and breweries make it an excellent spot for a vacation! So take a limo down to the neighborhood for a visit, but be warned, with so much to do you may want to have a driver for more than a few hours!

Another mixed-use community in Downtown Jersey City is Newport, which was redeveloped in 1986 by The LeFrak Organization. The district is now home to many retail and entertainment facilities situated on the Hudson Waterfront. The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail also has a stop in Newport, connecting it to the local neighborhoods though if you’re looking for more reliable transportation try taking a taxi instead. Newport is home to a variety of restaurants, whether you’re looking for burgers, bakeries or bars!

From 1985 to 2009 the neighborhood would undergo a major real estate development. High-rise rental apartments and condominiums were built allowing for the additions of many new households.

Newport‘s redevelopment plan also allowed for the construction of new hotel buildings, with some hotels using remnants of old warehouses dating back to 1989. The neighborhood also contains a great number of office spaces, over five million square feet of it, with many big named companies residing within the neighborhood. Some of the most well-known companies include L’Oreal, Citigroup, Forbes, and even JP Morgan Chase. Newport is packed with both local shops and big name retail stores that tend to coexist in mixed use spaces.

The Newport River Market is a perfect example of this due to its dining, retail, and service options. The market is located on a river front and is home to stores like Target, Sears, Staples, and many more. If you’re looking for a quick bite, you’ll find the neighborhood loaded with pizzeria’s, cafes, and even houses a steakhouse!

Another great shopping area in Newport is the Newport Centre, better known as the Newport Mall. The mall would open in 1987 with over a million square feet of space and attracted buyers from all over. The Newport Mall was the first of its size in Hudson County and is home to over 150 stores and services.

The mall itself has three floors and is part of the Newport Complex, which stands as the sixth tallest building in Jersey City. The mall also houses AMC Theaters, JCPenny, Macy’s, and Kohl’s, the mall was also home to Sears back when they still operated. Today, the Newport Mall attracts visitors from as close as Bergen-Lafayette to as far as Atlantic City, making it an excellent place to shop for anyone visiting.

Another district that overlooks the Hudson River is Paulus Hook.

Paulus Hook is an elevated neighborhood in Downtown Jersey City that derives its name from the Dutch word for “point of land”, Hoeck. Like much of New Jersey, Paulus Hook was originally settled by the Lenape, then managed by the Dutch and English until the American Revolutionary War. During the American Revolution Paulus Hook would be the site of many operations, with many key forts built in New Jersey, one of which was located on Paulus Hook.

Paulus Hook would see a major construction boom following the addition of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail. The rail helps connect Hudson County with other neighborhoods in the city, such as Bergen-Lafayette. After the September 11 attack the neighborhood would see major investments going into expanding the area.

The neighborhood is a popular shopping destination with lines of restaurants on Morris Street, and Washington Street. Both these streets are packed with excellent cuisine, from European to Parisian, any visitor will find something they enjoy.

Paulus Hook’s waterfront faces the Hudson River, you’ll find that the waterfront has phenomenal views to offer. Vacation goers will find that many of the locals are from the surrounding neighborhoods, many of who use the light rail for easy access. If you’re looking to avoid the public transit, you’ll be happy to know there are a number of limo services that can take you around the neighborhood.

Another popular stop off the HBLR is Exchange Place, Jersey City’s very own Wall Street, or even Wall Street West.

The district sits on a piece of land that was created by landfilling the shore on Paulus Hook. The neighborhood itself has been a transportation hub for much of its history dating back to the 1760’s. Exchange Place was the original site of the first steam ferry service, which stood at the head of a highway to Newark. The ferry would be established in 1812 and would influence the location of certain terminals built in Jersey City. From 1838 to 1892 the Pennsylvania Railroad would purchase and remodel the terminal in order to expand it. During this time the neighborhood was not referred to as Exchange Place but instead as the Pennsylvania Railroad station.

The addition of the New Jersey Railroad and construction of a new intermodal terminal helped propel the neighborhood into an important transportation center on the East Coast. Local transportation in Jersey City would be the first to refer to the neighborhood as Exchange Place, in order to better identify where passengers wanted to go. At the turn of the century the station would be given to the city, where it would be expanded and renovated. The Hudson and Manhattan Railroad would open tunnels in 1910, and in 1926 the station would officially adopt the name Exchange Place. In 1949 business began to dwindle, ferry service was being discontinued and buses would replace rail lines. Then finally in 1962 the station would officially close down and be demolished, with many of its railyards being eliminated. Now a days most residents would prefer to take a taxi down to Exchange Place, sometimes even as far out as Pennsylvania.

Exchange Place is also home to a waterfront with fantastic views of New York City and still operates as a private terminal. Many trolleys and buses still start and end at Exchange Place and there are still a few ferries that run to it.

Newark Avenue allows easier access to EWR by providing a direct road to the airport. The Hudson Bergen Light Rail still operates out of Exchange Place making it easy to travel from Bergen-Lafayette or any other local neighborhood. If you’re planning on going further out you’ll be happy to know the PATH still has terminals at Exchange Place, so have fun visiting Atlantic City! Exchange Place isn’t just a terminal however, it’s also home to two of New Jersey’s tallest buildings, 99 Hudson and the Goldman Sachs Tower. With a plethora of restaurants, rooftop bars, and even vintage shops visiting Exchange Place should be on your list. 

North of Harsimus lies Hamilton Park, a quiet, Victorian aged greenspace surrounded by 19th century row houses. The park itself was constructed around 1827 and was founded by a man named John B. Coles. John B. Coles was a federalist from New York who laid out the groundwork for Downtown Jersey City’s foundation. He would name the park after Alexander Hamilton, who on top of being a founding father was also the founder for the federalist party. Hamilton Park is about 5.4 acre square that houses a wide selection of shops, boutiques, and restaurants. Inside the Park you’ll find many activities when visiting, ranging from children’s playground, basketball courts, and even dog parks. Hamilton Park even features a splash pond and sprinklers for little ones to enjoy during the summer!

The park also has a number of events as well, during the summer the community hosts the Hamilton Park Festival where visitors can enjoy music and food in the park. The Park also hosts outdoor movie nights, the schedule can be found on a banner in the entrance, or simply online. Hamilton Park is also home to a Gazebo that has a farmers market set up every Wednesday from May to December. Visitors can enjoy some iced cold lemonade, popcorn, and fresh produce sold in the market. The farmers market also sells jams, green vegetables, and even Empanadas!

The park also has its own preservation group that maintains Hamilton Park clean and safe for all ages. Hamilton Park Conservancy is dedicated to protecting the park’s natural beauty. Hamilton Park is also surrounded with different activities for all ages to enjoy whether that be ice cream shops, gyms or even instrument and dance classes.

You’ll find the park is engulfed with Victorian era buildings with colorful murals all over the neighborhood. If you’re looking to get some food while at Hamilton park grab a bite at Carmine’s Pizza or sit down at a restaurant for some Korean food. Hamilton Park also features a bar and even an hotel in the area, appropriately named Hamilton Inn. If you’re planning a calm vacation, try visiting Hamilton Park; its beautiful greenery and friendly residents make it an excellent spot.

Further south of Harsimus is Van Vorst Park, while very similar to Hamilton Park its history is different to the park up north. The park itself was a centerpiece of a township that used to exist in the neighborhood, appropriately named, Van Vorst Township.

The name itself comes from the Van Vorst family, who acted as supervisors to the land and helped in its development during the 1630’s. Van Vorst Park would begin to build row houses in the 1800’s. The Van Vorst family would manage the settlement throughout generations until about 1862, During this time the family would employ local florist, Peter Henderson, to landscape the park. Van Vorst Park would be renovated in the 2000’s thanks to a $2 million fund being raised by the Friends of Van Vorst Park. The park is now filled with playgrounds, sandboxes, a gazebo, and even sprinkler parks!

Van Vorst Park is very similar to Washington Square Park located near SoHo, New York City. However the park in Downtown Jersey City features much more traditional architecture. Today the park is mainly a residential area with many brick row houses and Victorian architecture. While there are still plenty of shops and restaurants for visitors to enjoy, the neighborhood is much more of a visual treat. It’s traditional architecture and friendly residents make it a perfect place to escape from the noise, and with so many transportation options to or from New Jersey, getting to Van Vorst Park can be a hassle free experience. While you may be tempted to take public transit to Downtown Jersey City, don’t be afraid to take a taxi. Now a days the Tri State area is filled with limos and drivers that are more than willing to take you to Jersey City.

If you’re planning on doing some shopping in the area than it might be best to contract a limo service. most limos in the area are willing to provide an hourly service for anyone doing a tour of the city.

If you’re coming from out of state then you’ll be happy to know that most car services can go as far out as Pennsylvania or even Connecticut. This makes visiting New Jersey not just a possibility but a must.

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Bergen-Lafayatte, Jersey City, New Jersey

Overpass

Welcome to Bergen-Lafayette, one of the six major neighborhoods in Jersey City and home to a number of mix-used residential complexes. The neighborhood used to be home to many industrial facilities but has seen a lot of renovation projects to make it what it is today. Bergen-Lafayette even went through a few name changes, during the early 1800’s it was called Bergen, then Bergen City. It wasn’t until about 1870 where the neighborhood would officially be incorporated into Jersey City. The merger with Jersey City would lead to a massive renovation project that would take years to finally settle. Today, the city is filled with malls and shopping centers for visitors to enjoy, so if you’re planning on Visiting Jersey City, take a taxi down to Bergen-Lafayette.

North of Bergen-Lafayette is Journal Square, a multi-use business and residential area that is currently being redeveloped. New high-rises are allowing for wealthier residents to move in. Don’t be surprised if you see a few residents having a driver in their limo.

Journal Square used to be home to many farmhouses and manors, most of which were passed down from the previous residents of the “square”. During the early 1900’s many of these houses were demolished to make way for more modern buildings. Many of Journal Square‘s current buildings were constructed around this time, including the Public Service building and the Labor Bank Building. The Square itself was built in 1923, and was named after the Jersey Journal, who had their original building demolished to make way for Journal Square. From the 1920’s to the 1960’s Journal Square became a hub for vibrant culture and arts within the city. It was known as the “crown jewel” of the city, with many commercial and entertainment districts located in the area. Many of Journal Squares buildings would be constructed during this time, some of the buildings being built as far back as before WWII. The mayor of Jersey City has made it clear that he is looking to change the area. Journal Square is now looking to develop high rise buildings made for commercial and residential use.

If you’re looking to visit Bergen-Lafayette then you’ll be happy to know that transportation to the neighborhood is very convenient. The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail offers transit for anyone visiting, whether you’re coming in from Newport or even Downtown Jersey City! Bergen-Lafayette and Downtown Jersey City are also connected by the Lafayette Pool & Aquatic Center. The aquatic center has 2 pools, the main pool and the kiddie pool, its also one of three pools in the neighborhood. If you’re planning on visiting on a colder day than you make want to take a taxi down to the Liberty Science Center. The science center offers all kinds of exhibits, from 3D films to even a planetarium.

Bergen-Lafayette is packed with parks and recreation centers. This makes it perfect for farmers market’s and any nature lovers planning a visit. Arlington Park Farmers Market is one of the many option available during the spring. You’ll find plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables to eat, making a vacation to Bergen-Lafayette a must. Arlington Park also holds a number of events during the seasons, making it that much sweeter.

Many urban planners and architects are beginning to flock to the square, most famous of which being the Kushner Real Estate Group. Redevelopment on the square hasn’t begun yet but with residential demand going up so will high rise buildings. This will also lead to load of new shops and restaurants opening in the neighborhood.

Bergen-Lafayette has recently had a few new small businesses open up in the neighborhood. Many of these businesses are either shops or restaurants offering all kinds of services and cuisines. Such is the case with places like Isla Pillipinas, who recently opened their doors to anyone looking to enjoy Filipino food. Most of these shops are part of Jersey City‘s push for its tourists to buy local during their visit, this has allowed for Bergen-Lafayette to expand its collection of shops. Whether its for the dining or shopping, we’re sure you’ll find a reason to hop on the light rail or take a limo down to Bergen-Lafayette.

Bergen-Lafayette has a number of roads that run from north to south through the neighborhood, many of these roads being built along the Hudson Palisades.

The Hudson Palisades is a strip of land well known for its steep cliffside that stretches about 20 miles north of New Jersey. The cliffside is one of New York City’s most famous natural landmarks and is a popular destination for hikers and campers. You’ll often find many New York residents taking transportation to the cliffside around spring times. Whether that be through New York’s extensive rail network or taking a car service to the cliffside.

The cliff also helped map out many road patterns used today. The Palisades first documentation would be around 1541, where it would appear on a European map of the new world. Giovanni Da Verrazzano would describe the cliffside as a “fence of stakes”.

During the American Revolution the cliffside would aid in buying time for general George Washington to regroup his men in Englewood. Then from 1798 to 1845 the cliffside would be the site of many duels, most famous of which being a duel between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton. During the 19th century there was heavy lobbying to preserve the Palisades. This was in response to many railroad companies looking to the cliffside for heavy quarrying. For 20 years there would be many unsuccessful motions to preserve the park until about 1909, where the Palisades Interstate Park Commission was created. For a while, the Palisades would be scouted for multiple building and relocation projects, however each time companies would be met with strong resistance from conservationists. In addition, many powerful people would join in the efforts to keep the Palisades a natural landmark, such as Mary Williamson Averell and even John D. Rockefeller Jr. Thousands of acres of land would be donated to the Palisades in order to keep them safe. One of the only additions made to the cliffside is the addition of George Washington Bridge, which opened in 1931. The bridge would help connect New Jersey with Upper Manhattan, and the palisades would help developers design the city.

Most of these roads make up the Bergen section of the neighborhood. A residential district lined with old Victorian mansions, row houses, and some impressive art deco designs. Some of the buildings here where remodeled for residential use.

Most famous of which being The Beacon, a mixed-use development that went through major changes in the early 2000’s. The building itself was designed during the great depression as a medical center, but after many years it was redeveloped into what is now known as The Beacon. There’s also a shopping district filled with old storefronts located within the area on Monticello Avenue. Bergen has a few buildings that are considered landmarks in the neighborhood, such the YMCA’s Renaissance Revival building and the Fairmount Apartments.

The Fairmount Apartments are an example of early 20th century architectural design. it was designed by the Newman and Harris firm and was built around the 1910’s. The Fairmount Apartments would be added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995 and would be renovated in the same year.

Today Bergen is filled with shopping districts and early 20th century buildings however not all of them stood the test of time. Some sections of Bergen-Lafayette have been around since the earliest settlements of North America. Such is the case with Communipaw, a historic district in Bergen-Lafayette that merged with New Jersey around the 1860’s. Communipaw was urbanized at the end of the 19th century, however most of its buildings were constructed during different time periods.

Whitlock Cordage is an old industrial complex built in the early 1900’s that has been repurposed. Originally, Whitlock Cordage was a rope factory that spanned more than 7 acres of land. The factory would operate from about 1909 to 2003 before a judge ruled for its demolition and resale. Whitlock Cordage was then purchased and renovated into over 200 affordable residential apartments. Whitlock Cordage is not the only industry building that was converted into a residential complex. Ficken’s Warehouse was built in 1910 and was used as a stable until being renovated for residential use around the 2000’s.

Berry Lane Park is another example of a former industrial ground being converted into a residential area. The area was formerly filled with auto shops, warehouses, rail yards, and plenty of industrial facilities. Some of those factories were major contributors to metal contamination throughout the local environment. The former industrial district was renovated from 2012 to 2016 and was opened for public use in June 2016.

Bergen-Lafayette is being reshaped and remodeled into a brand new residential and commercial district. not just filled with commercial business but also packed with parks for visitors to enjoy. Its commercial districts are going through high rise booms leading to an influx of visitors looking to get some shopping done in the area. If you are coming down to visit you’ll be glad to know that Bergen-Lafayette is filled with coffee shops and restaurants, you can even get Caribbean food in the city. Some New York residents already take a limo service down to Atlantic City so its no surprise that they’re stopping by Bergen-Lafayette to do some sight seeing.

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Hartford, Connecticut

Ariel view of Hartford Connecticut

Welcome to the Insurance Capital of the World! Hartford, Connecticut is not only the state capital but also the fourth largest city in the state. The city managed to snag this nickname thanks to its abundance of big name insurance companies and its illustrious medical universities. Hartford is the main city of the Greater Hartford metropolitan area, and has a population of over 100,000. It’s also one of the oldest cities in the United States, this means the city is filled with rich history for any visitor to enjoy.

The city houses many of the country’s oldest buildings, some of which include the oldest art museum’s. the oldest park is also located in Hartford, making it an excellent location for anyone visiting.

Hartford was also where Mark Twain would raise his family, he would remark about how he found the town to be beautiful. For a while, Hartford was one of the richest cities in the United States, many of its riches coming after the American Civil War. This was because Hartford was the home of one of America’s most famous arms makers, Colt’s Arm Manufacturing Company.

Hartford is now in a strange situation, while the Greater Hartford Area is one of the richest in the country, most of its population lives below the poverty line. Though you’ll find this is true of most major cities. You’ll often find most of Hartford’s younger residents enjoying the nightlife, while the older residents take a limo home. Despite this, Hartford is filled with vibrant culture for any visitor to enjoy. Greater Hartford‘s is also filled with both high ranking universities and manufacturing companies, however Hartford is most known for its top tier insurance companies.

While an odd nickname, Hartford Connecticut is known for being the insurance capital of the world.

Many insurance companies built their main operating bases in Hartford due to its location. Connecticut is in between New York and Massachusetts, making it an ideal location for companies looking for a work force. With both New York‘s and Massachusetts’ concentration of workers, Hartford is perfect for insurance companies who mainly rely on blue collar workers. Recently, New Jersey has also become a prominent location for insurance companies, as it sits in between New York and Washington D.C.. now a days you’ll find many big name executives taking limos to places like Downtown Jersey City in order to extend their reach. Don’t be too surprised if you find a car service going to or from New Jersey and Connecticut.

During colonial times Hartford operated as a trading center for both the Dutch and the English. For a while, Hartford would be sold around until 1636 where Hartford’s boundaries would be officially set. Then new docks were built, helping explode the trade market within the city.

Hartford would also have a prominent role during the industrial revolution. The city would begin to specialize in manufacturing precision parts used in automobiles, clocks, and even rifles. Colt’s Arm Manufacturing Company was stationed in Hartford Connecticut. Hartford was also known for its innovation, with many modern pieces of technology coming from that time. Some of these include rotator cuffs for machinery, gear transmission for vehicles, and even chucks that are used for drills.

In the early to mid 1900’s Hartford was hit by a flood and then a massive fire that killed over a hundred people. Then after World War II, a number of Puerto Ricans moved to Hartford, this drove a lot of its original residence to outer suburbs. This led to a decline in the main city, causing insurance companies to move their offices out.

Hartford would storm back into power following the establishment of the Hartford Graduate School. The city would then kick off a 4 decade long rebuilding process beginning with the reconstruction of the Cathedral of St. Joseph. Multiple colleges, and company buildings would be constructed, and many houses were turned into museums. Transit hubs were built and many skyscrapers began to pop up around the city, the most notable being City Place I. Connecticut’s insurance giants would move back in during this time, most famously the Phoenix Life Insurance Company. Most company’s would build their offices on Constitution Plaza.

Constitution Plaza is a mixed use development that is occupied by both retail and office buildings.

It was seen as the ideal urban environment and was often used as an example for what urban growth should look like. a mixed urban plaza were both vehicles and pedestrians can co-exist safely, while still allowing access to the road should any resident want to take a taxi home. The plaza is surrounded by a number of mid-twentieth century buildings that were mostly designed by Charles Dubose. Such buildings include the 100 Constitution Plaza, 200 Constitution Plaza, and many more. Though most residents would agree that the Phoenix Life Insurance Company Building is the staple of the plaza. Constitution Plaza also features a freestanding pavilion used by Trinity College as part of their campus, and a U shaped court that was repurposed to luxury apartments by the company Spectra in 2015. The plaza itself is connected via well kept walkways and has numerous large pedestrian areas that include pools, fountains, and even a clock tower. Constitution Plaza is now home to many restaurants and shops, turning it into a retail hotspot for anyone visiting Hartford.

Hartford’s main place to stay is currently the Marriott.

The Greater Hartford area is a name that is used to define a large boundary that covers both Hartford and even parts of New England. While Hartford is known for being home to insurance companies it has recently expanded its specialty. Recently Hartford is becoming one of the leading entities in the tech industry thanks to its location.

Connecticut ranks as the 3rd most educated state in the country, making it prime real-estate for both universities and tech companies. The Greater Hartford Area is home to many universities that specialize in many aspects. While mainly known for its medical universities, Hartford has recently expanded to other areas.

Hartford is now home to schools that specialize in areas such as tech, and manufacturing. Some of Hartford’s universities now specialize in healthcare. Some of these universities include UCONN, Trinity, and even St. Joseph’s. This has also made Hartford one of the best states for tech companies wanting to put to use the skills of graduates.

If you consider yourself a museum goer than you’ll be happy to know that Hartford is packed with them. From the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art to the Mark Twain Museum, Hartford is worth visiting for the history alone! Most people like to visit a new place for the shopping and dining and Hartford is no exception to this. Whether you love pizzerias or Halal food, you’ll find something for anyone, including a few taverns. If you’re Still looking for a reason to take a limo to Hartford than look no further then its collection of breweries. Phantom Brewery, Thomas Hooker Brewery, the Hanging Hills Brewing, and so many more. If Breweries aren’t your thing then you’ll be glad to know that Hartford also features a number of wineries as well.

As of late, The Greater Hartford Area is becoming prominent in manufacturing and even aerospace. Some of these manufacturing companies include Reno Machine Co., Novo Metal Finishing Equipment, Hebert Engineering & Design and plenty more, including a couple of solar companies. While most manufacturing companies in Connecticut fabricate heavy machinery and metal framing, they also conduct plenty of precision manufacturing as well. Companies such as Synectic Product Development, focus on developing medical products for hospitals and clinics. Hartford’s expansion into tech and manufacturing has led to an explosion of vibrant urban culture in the city.

Hartford is now home to many different types of arts, whether that be music, writing or even performing arts. Hartford has many different genres of music for anyone to enjoy, from salsa, jazz, blues, indie, composer and even electric! The city also has plenty of shows for any visitor interested in Street Performances, acting, or even comedy shows! Hartford has a number of parades for anyone looking to vacation on a holiday. Some of which include, St. Patrick’s Day, Veterans Parade, and even a Puerto Rican Day Parade!

Hartford has many activities for any visitor. If you’re planning a vacation to Connecticut soon, it’s important to have good transportation there. Now a days most limo service’s will provide an hourly service for anyone looking to take a shopping trip. Hartford is also home to one of the oldest parks in the United States.

Bushnell Park was conceived in the 1850’s and is a made up of 50 acres of green land. Today the park hosts many events including park tours and even a carousel. During Hartford’s winter fest Bushnell Park offers free ice skating classes for anyone visiting.

Hartford is also packed with residents who work in the city, so you’ll often times find them taking a car service or taxi in order to avoid public transit. Most drivers in the city are very reliable, however if you want to be absolutely sure than you can also order a limo. Overall any visitor planning a visit to Connecticut should absolutely give Hartford a chance, but remember! Connecticut may be the insurance capital of the world but it has much more to offer for any visitor. If you’re looking to get away from all the noise then you’ll be glad to know Connecticut has plenty of quiet towns to enjoy, our personal favorite being Old Greenwich. So if you’re looking for your next vacation spot, give Connecticut a try!

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Old Greenwich, Connecticut

Welcome to Old Greenwich, one of Connecticut’s most popular vacation spots! With a population of over 6,000 people, those visiting will find plenty of shops and restaurants to enjoy. So if you’re planning a peaceful getaway then visiting Old Greenwich should be first on your list, so take a limo down to one of Connecticut’s most beautiful spots. Old Greenwich is managed by the town of Greenwich, a town consisting of different sections that are separated by zip code. Old Greenwich is filled with different activities for visitors to enjoy, whether that be visiting one of the local athletic fields in the town, or even going out boating!

Old Greenwich is located right next to the water! Meaning you can ride the ferry or even explore the marinas. If you’re more interested in history, then be sure to visit the Old Greenwich Bruce Museum of Arts and Science. Overall, Old Greenwich has plenty to do for anyone visiting.

Old Greenwich also includes a couple of parks, such as Binney Park Master Plan and many more playgrounds for anyone to enjoy. Old Greenwich is a part of Greenwich Point, which was purchased in 1640 by a woman named Elizabeth (Fones) Feake Hallet, who was originally the niece of John Winthorp. For a while, The town was actually named “Elizabeth Neck”, after the woman who originally purchased the land. It was eventually changed to Greenwich Point, which is where Old Greenwich stands today.

Old Greenwich Station is a commuter railroad system that is located in Greenwich, and is managed by Amtrak.

The rail system works directly with the New Haven Line, a rail system that runs from Connecticut to New York City. The Station itself was built in 1872, it was originally named Sound Beach Railroad Station however this was eventually changed to Old Greenwich Station. The building that the station operates in was built in the late 1800’s and still holds some of its exterior Victorian architectural style. In 1989, the station was registered as a historic place in the nation, however it was registered under the old name the “Sound Beach Railroad Station”. Old Greenwich Station was remodeled as recently as 2009, where it was made to accommodate for longer trains among other renovations. Overall, the project took over $14 million, and was just completed in 2019.

Greenwich Point is a popular beach site that sits in close proximity to Long Island. You’ll find most locals jogging or walking around the area, some visitors will even fish or swim in the water. Greenwich Point sits right on top of Long Island Sound, a body of water that sits between Connecticut and Long Island. The beautiful beaches can make taking a limo service totally worth it.

The land was first occupied by the Siwanoy Indians, who would use the land during the summertime in order to fish. In 1640 a man named Robert Feake bought the land for his wife, Elizabeth Feake, and named it Elizabeth’s Neck. They would then build their home nearby, where they would retain the land for more than a hundred years.

The land would then be purchased by a man named John Kennedy Tod, a Scotland born, American raised banker, who renamed the point to Innis Arden. In his early days, Tod was actually a Rugby player, who would represent multiple teams throughout his career, one of which being the Glasgow District. He also represented the West of Scotland District and even played internationally, where he represented Scotland against England.

He then moved to New York were he would begin a new career as a banking partner. Tod would form the J.Kennedy Tod & Co. banking group; he also became involved in restructuring railway properties. Tod would eventually die in 1925, passing away in his Innis Arden summer home.

After the death of Tod and his wife, Innis Arden was given to the Presbyterian Hospital of New York. Innis Arden would operate as a getaway for nurses until the beginning of World War II. Then, in 1944 the land would be sold to the Town of Greenwich, were it would be renamed to Greenwich Point. Greenwich Point is open to anyone who has beach passes, the area is typically open from 6:00 AM until sunset. Greenwich Point has a number of picnic tables, grills, showers, snack bars, restrooms, and plenty of benches to sit at.

Old Greenwich would begin its industrial presence in the 1920’s, where Conde Nast would operate a facility dedicated to printing top selling magazines. Some of these magazines would include Vogue, Vanity Fair, and House & Garden. Old Greenwich also had a bit of an industrial presence during the 50’s, it was home to a vacuum manufacturing facility, operated by Electrolux.

Today, the town is known for being very friendly and community based! so if you’re planning a relaxing vacation, Old Greenwich might be the place for you. You’ll often find the locals walking their dogs or relaxing in front of their porch, ready to mingle. Old Greenwich has a ton of associations dedicated to maintaining a safe and clean neighborhood! Old Greenwich also has a farmer’s market that operates throughout the summer season, the market is typically located on 38 West End Avenue, Old Greenwich.

Old Greenwich is riddled with all kinds of sellers during their farmers market. From fresh produce to even baked goods you’ll find anything and everything! take a limo up to Connecticut, we guarantee you wont be disappointed.

Binney Park is a 33 acre park that was donated to Old Greenwich by Edwin Binney, an American entrepreneur. Binney Park is filled with walking paths, stone bridges, and even a gazebo, the park also features tennis courts, and even baseball fields. The park is great for picnics and quite popular among photographers, they also host a number of nightly concerts during the summer. Binney Park is a great spot for couples! as the beautiful waterways and stone walkways make it a perfect romantic setting for anyone visiting Old Greenwich.

If you’re looking for a place to do some gift shopping, or if you’re simply looking for a meal, then you’re in luck. Old Greenwich has a handful of cute shops with plenty of souvenirs for visitors to choose from, the town even includes a thrift shop!

If you start getting hungry then you’ll be glad to know that Old Greenwich has plenty of restaurants and cafes to choose from. For the most part, the restaurants around the area are locally owned with a quant menu, the most popular of which being Le Fat Poodle. However two of the most popular restaurants serve Italian cuisine, Applausi Osteria, and Lugano.

Old Greenwich is a fantastic place for those looking for a quiet getaway with the family, and getting there can be just a hassle free. While you can opt to using public transit, it’s often unreliable and is not readily available in the area. most visitors will often take transportation to the neighborhood via car service or even a limo service. though if you’re looking to take a taxi to the area then its best to go with a black car service. some drivers are willing to provide transportation from longer distances, whether that be New York to Connecticut or even New Jersey to Connecticut. So if you’re looking to take a limo out to Old Greenwich, we suggest researching in order to find the right transportation company for you.

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Center City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Ariel view of Center City, Philadelphia

Center City Philadelphia is one of the most important financial districts in the country and is home to more than a few big name companies to prove it, but don’t let that fool you. Center City is located in one of the nations best states to take a vacation, especially if you’re looking to get away from big city noise. Center City includes other neighborhoods in Philadelphia, the most notable of which is the central business district. Center City has become a key player in the worlds economy mainly based off its location. Pennsylvania‘s neighbors with New York, and New Jersey, making it a perfect location for companies wanting to be closer to the greater area. Center City can be split into four different sections, South Street, and Vine Street covering the South and North borders of Center City. Delaware River covering the East, and the Schuylkill River to the west of Center City. In total, Center City is made up of about 7 different neighborhoods. Within this section of Center City is the home of multiple big named companies. Some of these companies include Sunoco, Aramark, Comcast, Lincoln National Corporation, and many more. There are also a number of Diplomatic offices in the neighborhood. Most of the Educational Institutions in Center City are private schools, and have been that way since even the 1940’s. Center City also has a number of hotels that one can stay at, not just the Marriott but beautiful hotels like The Bellevue Hotel, Sofitel Philadelphia, and many more.

Within Center City lies the historic Old City, one of the oldest cities in Philadelphia and used to be one of the most important neighborhoods in the U.S.. Old City is also where Quaker and William Penn first settled, and for a while was one of America’s most important financial centers. After the central business district moved west, the area became littered with warehouses and light industry. During the 20th century the area was restored thanks to the development of the Independence National Historical Park and United States Bicentennial. During the 1980’s the area went through some extensive gentrification, many warehouses were converted to art studios and galleries.

Old City contains a lot of Greek Revival and Italianate architecture, along with a few cast-iron warehouses scattered about. Old City is popular for its nightlife as well, housing multiple lounges, bars, and restaurants.

One of Old City’s best attractions is the Spruce Street Harbor Park, a colorful park filled with floating barges, craft beers, shuffleboard, a waterfront boardwalk and many more activities for any visitor to enjoy. Spruce Street Harbor Park has LED lights strung up as well, wrapping around trees to make the nightlife look spectacular.

Most of the park’s food and drink services are located at the boardwalk. Old City is also home to many boutiques, galleries, and even local businesses. Old City also hosts an event called First Friday, where art galleries and shops hold open houses for art, and fashion. Old City has a number of restaurants that are actually owned by some celebrity chefs. Some of these restaurants are Cuba Libre, Amada, Buddakan, and many many more.

Right next to Old City lies Society Hill, and like its neighbor, it’s also one of Philadelphia’s oldest neighborhoods. Society Hill had been established as far back as the 1680’s.

Society Hill also holds many 18th and 19th century style homes and was named after the Free Society of Traders. The Free Society of Traders was a group of merchants and landowners with personal business in the area. Society Hill had direct access to the Delaware River meaning that it became one of the most populated areas in the state. The neighborhood became flooded with many churches, market halls, taverns, and brick houses.

Society Hill used to have a creek in it, Dock Creek, eventually it became polluted and was filled in by the city. Dock creek would eventually be renamed to Dock Street, which now houses its own brewing company! During the 19th century the area began to expand but at the cost of its quality, after the 1940’s Society Hill turned into a slum. Then in the 1950’s the neighborhood turned over a new leaf thanks to an urban renewal program.

Many houses were restored and bought out by the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority. Many new parks, walkways, and townhouses were built and replica 18th century streetlights and sidewalks were added to bring together the colonial aesthetic. Eventually the area was bought in the late 1950’s, this time by 3 separate companies looking to redevelop Society Hill.

The three companies looking to change the area are; The Redevelopment Authority, the Philadelphia Movement, and the Old Philadelphia Development Corporation. Certain parts of the neighborhood were demolished or relocated, the cleared up area was then used as the site for the Society Hill Towers.

During the mid 1960’s the area would go through another redevelopment, this time being led by architect I. M. Pei, a Chinese-American architect who was raised in Shanghai. Pei’s team would introduce a townhouses and towers project into the neighborhood; the plan was completed in 1977. Waverly Court and Penn’s Landing Square would eventually be built by architect Louis Sauer, an American architect. Louis Sauer’s team would eventually go on to design several row houses for the neighborhood. Louis Sauer’s team would eventually go on to design several row houses for the neighborhood. Louis Sauer’s team would eventually go on to design several row houses for the neighborhood.

Society Hill is also connected to Old City through the Spruce Street Harbor Park.

Penn’s Landing is a waterfront that goes alongside the Delaware River and is a great visiting spot for any visitor looking for a great view. Penn’s Landing can be seen as the city’s main event center, you’ll often find many celebrations or concerts at the center.

The area itself is named after William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania and the man that established the city in 1682. The area is managed by the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation, a company made to handle the development since 2009.

Penn’s Landing has a multitude of historical ships and docks for any historian to enjoy. Some of these ships have been turned into Museums or even restaurants. Some of these ships have been turned into Museums or even restaurants. Some of Penn’s Landing’s most well known memorials are the Irish Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and the Korean War Memorial.

Washington Square West also holds some of the nation’s oldest buildings. Such buildings include one of Philadelphia oldest Jewish burial grounds, the oldest hospital in the nation, and even The University of the Arts. Washington Square West is also home to Thomas Jefferson University, one of the best medical universities in the country and the leading health care center.

Penn’s Landing actually used to have a trolley system running through it, it was unfortunately shut down in 1995. Penn’s Landing also has a Rink, during the winter it’s an ice skating rink, then during the summer it’s used as a roller-skating rink.

Penn’s Landing has a ferry system that allows travel from New Jersey to Pennsylvania called the Riverlink Ferry. The Riverlink Ferry began operations in 1992, and operates from April to October.

Chinatown is made up of Asian Americans and is actually still growing in size! As of 2018 Philadelphia’s Chinatown has continued to grow mainly due to large migration from New York City. The area is supported by Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation, PCDC for short. Chinatown came to be when in the mid-late 19th century, Cantonese immigrants moved near Philadelphia’s commercial wharves. The first business was opened by Lee Fong in 1871, a laundry mat, and soon after the rest of ethnic Chinese followed. Throughout the Early 1900’s the area began to consist mainly of restaurants, and one grocery store. In the mid 60’s a large number of families began to move to Chinatown, this led to the area going up for a renewal program.

Parts of Chinatown had to be demolished in order for the city to build a new highway, though this isn’t the only thing that was built. The Pennsylvania Convention Center was also constructed in that area. While this may have helped the neighborhood develop it was still very controversial. 

This led to the creation of the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation which gave local businesses a say in local development matters. In the late 90’s, Chinatown began to expand, including not only Chinese immigrants but also Korean, Vietnamese and even Taiwanese. Soon Chinatown became more commercially viable, However this led to an unforeseen issue.

The commercial success caught the eye of the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team who began to run a campaign to try to build a new area where they could play baseball. For a while they were planning on demolishing several buildings in Chinatown to make room for this new ballpark. This proposal was met with strong opposition from the PCDC, who felt that a ballpark would destroy Chinatown. Multiple rallies and protests were held by many different ethnic and religious groups in order to help stop the ballpark from being constructed. Eventually the ballpark was built south of Philadelphia instead of in Chinatown. This ballpark was opened in 2004 in the South Philadelphia Sports Complex. Chinatowns most recent addition was in 2012, with the addition of an Eastern Tower Community Center. It was quickly approved by the city, construction began in 2017 and it was officially opened 2 years later on November 8th.

Chinatown had to deal with constant renovation programs, highway proposals, and demolishing plans trying to get rid of the neighborhood. Despite this, the area is thriving and is still growing to this day! Today, Chinatown is filled with shops, restaurants, factories, and other industrial businesses.

If you’re looking for a drink you can go to Dragon Beer Garden or to the famous David’s Mai Lai Wah. While the area may be called Chinatown it is far more diverse than the name would have you believe. Chinatown is filled with Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, and many more diverse Asian cuisine restaurants. Chinatown is also lucky in that it is near many of Center City’s hotels, making it an ideal area to visit. Chinatown also hosts events, one of the most well known being “Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival”, an illuminated fest where lantern artisans come together to present their work. Their work includes handcrafted lanterns, pandas, whales, dragons, and many more. The event also includes performances of acrobatics, martial arts, folk dancing, and more. Chinatown is also home to one of the oldest public markets in the United States, Reading Terminal Market. Reading Terminal Market is filled with many different cuisines, such as soul food, Asian cuisine, Middle Eastern cuisine, and even authentic Philly Cheesesteaks. 

Initially, when Center City was first established most of its development was based on the east side. The proximity to both major cities and key river points made it perfect for business to develop rapidly.

With Center City’s business district developing east, much of its residential district began to develop west. Most of these homes were built during the 1800’s by wealthy businessmen in the area. However the area truly came into being in the 1950’s, when the neighborhood would be redeveloped into a high-rise residential district. Center City West began to construct bigger buildings, attracting wealthier residents to the neighborhood. Such buildings include Penn Center, and the One Liberty Place which broke Philadelphia’s unofficial height limit. This allowed for Center City‘s economic and popularity status to skyrocket.

Such buildings include Penn Center, and the One Liberty Place which broke Philadelphia’s unofficial height limit.

This is largely due to the city’s proximity to the Greater New York Metropolitan Area. Pennsylvania is one of the best states for someone looking to work but still enjoy the quiet time. Center City West is made up of 3 different residential and commercial squares.

Rittenhouse Square is the name of both the public park in the middle and the neighborhood around it. The neighborhood is one of the highest income neighborhoods in the country, and forms a historic district with Fitler Square. Rittenhouse Square is maintained by a non-profit group, The Friends of Rittenhouse Square.

Rittenhouse Square was renamed in 1825 after David Rittenhouse, a clockmaker, and someone who lent a great hand in the American Revolution. David Rittenhouse was also a descendant of William Rittenhouse, the first paper-maker in Philadelphia. William Rittenhouse’s Paper-mill is still standing in Philadelphia to this day, now it’s known as Rittenhousetown. At the start of the 19th century Rittenhouse Square would become a very sought after neighborhood, thanks in large part to one man, James Harper.

James Harper was recently retired from U.S. congress and had been a merchant and brick maker before that. James Harper decided to use his wealth to set the tone for Rittenhouse Square; he would proceed to buy most of the north side and begin construction on his own house. James Harper would keep buying land in Rittenhouse Square, dividing it up and then reselling them.

After his death, the James Harper house would become the home of the Rittenhouse Club. From the late 1800’s to early 1900’s a number of well known and well off families would live in Rittenhouse Square. Such families include John Wanamaker, Edmund Bacon, and even his son at one point, Kevin Bacon.

In 1913, Rittenhouse Square would begin to add French architecture to the neighborhood. Thanks to Paul Philippe Cret, a French architect, who redesigned parts of the square to resemble Paris and French gardens. Paul added stone additions to pools and fountains, and constructed new entryways that had a much more classical look. Post World War II Rittenhouse Square began to add modern architecture to its neighborhood. Apartment complexes, office spaces, and condominiums began to pop up around the neighborhood, along with shopping malls  and high-rise buildings. Rittenhouse Square would still keep most of its Italianate, and Art Deco styles, but the majority of its Victorian mansions were replaced by residential buildings.

Paul Cret’s redesign was well received among the community, despite how many additions he made the park still remained largely the same, just more modern. His redesign was so popular that it actually caught the attention of several journalists who sought to interview him. Rittenhouse Square would become much more Centered and intricate, and despite many proposed changes, has stayed this way ever since.

Rittenhouse Square is littered with luxury apartments, an office tower, and restaurants scattered around. The park itself has many benches where people can eat, fountains, statues and even doggie bag dispensers. Rittenhouse Square has many historical and cultural institutions around the neighborhood. Among these institutions are many civil war and underground railroad museums in the area. Along with the Curtis Institute of Music, the Philadelphia Art Alliance and even the Wine School of Philadelphia! The neighborhood is also lined with many different Civil War-Era style mansions, oftentimes being used for the set of Hollywood movies. Rittenhouse Square features a number of events throughout spring, These events typically start at the beginning of May.

Northwest of Center City is Logan Square, a district that combines new high-rise corporate buildings with long standing historic houses. The Square is home to most of the nation’s buildings that are registered on the National Register of Historic Places.

Logan Square has a number of restaurants, cafes, and shops for anyone planning to visit. Most of the square’s restaurants and grocery stores are at a walkable distance. Logan Square is also home to a number of colleges and museums as well, making it an excellent stop for anyone taking a vacation in Philadelphia.

Fitler Square is the name of a public park in Philadelphia and the neighborhood around it. Named after Philadelphia’s 19th century mayor, Edwin Henry Fitler. The park is maintained by both the Fitler Square Improvement Association and the Department of Parks and Recreation. Fitler Square is located west of Rittenhouse Square, oftentimes both neighborhoods are associated with one another, eventually garnering the nickname “Rit-Fit”.

Before the 50’s the neighborhood had fallen on harsh times, much of the city was overwhelmed by urban blight, and the park itself was just a wasteland of drunks and druggies. Finally the city managed to get Mayor Joseph S. Clark Jr to help improve the neighborhood through a petition. Mayor Clark began to free up money that allowed for the construction of new homes. At one point the neighborhood was almost removed in order to add a new crosstown expressway. Fitler Square also has a river to the west, Schuylkill River. Today, the neighborhood is mainly residential and houses single families that moved to the area.

Center City Philadelphia is packed with activities for any visitor, whether you want to visit its historic monuments or astonishing skyscrapers. Though getting around the city is often going to be your biggest issue. This is why its important to have a good transportation service that can get you around Center City hassle free. Often times you’ll find car services scattered throughout the city but it’s always good to know the good car service from the best car service. A good driver will even know the history of the city like the back of his hand!. One of the best wats to find an elite car company to drive you around is to narrow down your search. It’s best to look up black car services or luxury transportation services in Philadelphia, this way you can always find the best car services to get you around town. One of the best transportation services is My Destiny Limo, they can not only get you some of the best chauffeur service around but they also do long distance transportation. so next time you’re looking to visit Center City, don’t hesitate to book with a good car service to get you around.

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Georgetown, Washington D.C.

Located Northwest of Washington D.C., and founded in the mid 1700’s, there lies a neighborhood called Georgetown. With a population over 70,000 Georgetown has a rich history from the day it was first founded. Today, Georgetown is home to some of the most fabulous restaurants in the country and some of the best shops as well! This makes it worth visiting for any tourist, so make sure you have transportation to the neighborhood to enjoy your stay. From its busy M Street to the beautiful Georgetown Park, there are plenty of things to do for anyone wanting to visit. Georgetown is also flooded with historic areas from both the 19th century and the 20th century. This can include things such as the Washington Harbor or even some of its historical schools. Georgetown is not just known for its high end shops and restaurants but also for its education. The neighborhood has consistently poured its resources into its education system landing them one of the most prestigious schools to attend, Georgetown University. Georgetown is a wonderful place to visit, and while it used to be more well known for its unattainable status. Though, recently its become much more accessible to the public, with more shops and restaurants for anyone to enjoy.

Georgetown was may have been founded in the mid 1700’s but its history goes all the way back to the 1600’s. In 1632 Henry Fleet, an English fur trader, documented a village of the Nacotchtank people called Tohoga, this is where modern Georgetown is now located. Henry Fleet had actually spent 5 years as the Nacotchtank’s prisoner, he was later freed for ransom. Henry Fleet saw the advantage that Georgetown had for shipping due to its connection to the ocean via the Potomac River. This lead to a port being build in the area and trade was then established. The port of Georgetown is actually about 40 years older than the city of Washington. Then in 1745, a tobacco inspection house was constructed alongside the Potomac River by a man named George Gordon. George Beall Jr. was also a prominent figure in the neighborhood, he was the grandson of George Bell who was a strong political figure among other things. In the 1750’s the 60 acre area was purchased by the Province of Maryland, this was done to turn the neighborhood into Georgetown. Robert Peter then became the first mayor of the town, Georgetown then began to build, using the river to its advantage by building ports and warehouses. After which the establishment of the federal capital helped Georgetown become its own independent district.

View of Georgetown University in the 19th century

In the early 1820’s the Potomac River became so filled up with ports and silt that it became hard to navigate up to Georgetown. This was becoming such an issue that it became difficult to trade in Georgetown. The solution was to build a new canal going from Harper’s Ferry to Georgetown, however the introduction to the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad altered that. To start with, the railroad was finished before the canal could be done, and it was much cheaper than the ferry. This practically killed any hope for a ferry to bring in money. While the canal was still built it was not as profitable as they had hoped, this was due to the train being much cheaper and much faster. There was an upside, the canal was originally made to allow for civilian boats to pass but with most residents now taking the train, it gave another route for ships and cargo boats to take. This wound up being extremely helpful as it helped clear up some congestion and provided a boost for the economy in the town. Georgetown would follow the trend of the evolving industries throughout the decades; during the 1820’s they traded tobacco, sugar, salt, and even hemp, later incorporating flour, and even coal. For the next 40 – 50 years the area would remain largely self governed, while this was good for expanding business it would eventually become a problem. Georgetown eventually had to deal with its original problem, constant shipping of coal leading to the area becoming silted. To make things worse in 1889 a storm at the end of May washed away a poorly managed dam in the area. This nearly destroyed Georgetown, it took years for the area to finally begin to rebuild. Georgetown not only rebuilt but also expanded. This led to the expansion of the railroads and allowed for new factories to be built in the neighborhood. Georgetown’s waterfront became more industrialized, with warehouses, and apartment complexes going up in the area. None of these apartments were actually well kept. By the end of the 19th century, Georgetown was a mix of industry along the river, and “projects” for the workers to live in. However, older homes remaining unchanged though most of them would remain abandoned for a while.

The opening of the Buffalo Bridge in the early 1910’s helped connect Georgetown with Rock Creek Park. then in the 1920’s construction began on large apartment complexes along the edge of Georgetown. The C & O Canal would deal with a series of floods throughout the years until it was eventually sold to the National Park Service in late 1938.

The area would then remain largely industrial until about 1968, a series of freeways then allowed for some commuters to avoid Georgetown altogether.

Georgetown has some of the best schools in the country and for good reason. With money constantly moving in and out of the area it allowed for schools to be well founded. Georgetown is home to many university-preparatory schools, the first being Columbian Academy. Georgetown was not just fueled by wealth but also its desire to properly educate the young. Georgetown contains multiple private schools such as; Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School, Georgetown Day School, and many more. The schools themselves also contain some interesting history for anyone willing to read. Georgetown does contain some public schools, and most are operated by the District of Columbia Public Schools or (DCPS) for short. There are also a number of public libraries in the area, mainly due to the District of Columbia Public Library operating there. However the most well known university is without a doubt Georgetown University.

Georgetown University is one the oldest schools in the United States founded by bishop John Carroll in 1789. It stands as the best private research university in the country and is consistently ranked among the top universities in the United States with highly picky admissions. It stands as the oldest Catholic institution of higher education in the United States however the majority of its students do not follow the religion. The school’s alumni include more U.S. diplomats than any other university in the United States. Georgetown University’s main campus is identifiable by Healy Hall, a National Historic Landmark. The school now houses about 10 undergraduate and graduate schools.

Georgetown University is one the oldest schools in the United States founded by bishop John Carroll in 1789. It stands as the best private research university in the country and is consistently ranked among the top universities in the United States with highly picky admissions.

It stands as the oldest Catholic institution of higher education in the United States however the majority of its students do not follow the religion. The school’s alumni include more U.S. diplomats than any other university in the United States. this means that visiting the university is not as easy as getting on a bus, often times the students take a car service to the school. This means that unless you have the funds, Georgetown University is very difficult to tour. Georgetown University’s main campus is identifiable by Healy Hall, a National Historic Landmark. The school now houses about 10 undergraduate and graduate schools.

Georgetown has 2 main roads going through it, one of them being M street and the other being Wisconsin Avenue. Wisconsin Avenue is part of the Maryland suburbs and is often being used as the main road in the neighborhood. Wisconsin Avenue actually starts in the Georgetown and passes through a lot of parks and neighborhoods. Wisconsin Avenue passes through Glover Park, Cathedral Heights, Cleveland Park, Tenleytown and Friendship Heights. Eventually the road goes into Bethesda and forms into one of the main streets in the area. M street is split apart into 4 different section. All of these sections are named after their direction Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, Southeast. The Northwestern section carries heavy commuter traffic as it connects Pennsylvania Avenue with Key Bridge and Canal Road. The Northeastern section of M street contains the Gallaudet University. Finally the southern sections of M street lead to both the Washington Navy Yard and a few National Parks.

One of Georgetown’s best tourist destination is Georgetown Park. Georgetown Park is a mixed use area, consisting of both a shopping mall and condominium use. Often times, taking a taxi is your best option for getting around the neighborhood. After all, your feet will get tired from all the shopping you’ll do! it also went through some of the most renovations throughout the decades. parts of its structure where actually used from old tobacco warehouses in the area, these parts can date as far back as 1838. In the 1850’s Georgetown Park was bought by John E. Reeside and Gilbert Vanderwerken, during which it was used to hold their Omnibus line. After it was used to hold the Washington and Georgetown Railroad, it was then converted into a machine shop for streetcars. At one point the building served as the United States Defense Communications Annex E. Donohoe Construction Co. acquired the building in 1975 and was tasked with developing the area into a combined housing and commercial complex.

Washington Harbor is also one of Georgetown’s most famous destinations as well. Washington Harbor is a mixed used development that was designed by Arthur Cotton Moore. The complex contains luxury condominiums, offices, retail space, and restaurants. Washington Harbor has a postmodern architectural style. Washington Harbor has a set of floodgates designed to help protect it against river floods; the gates were later renovated after 2010. During its initial days it was mainly used as a commercial harbor, however this changed during the Industrial Revolution. At first Washington Harbor had to close because of a decline in commercial sales. This led to numerous Manufacturing plants and industry to be built in the area. After the 1960’s Washington Harbor went through numerous proposals but none were acted upon for almost a decade. Many Georgetown residents strongly opposed plans to build a series of highways throughout the city. Ironically enough the plan that eventually went through was a plan to tear down the already existing freeway. Washington Harbor was inevitably saved by President Nixon in 1971. Construction of the actual area began in the 1980’s and was opened in phases, the first phase being in 1986.

Today, the Potomac river contains multiple waterfront dining options, many of which can give you a fantastic view of The Kennedy Center. Some of the better options for seafood in the area are places like Sequoia, Nick’s Riverside Grill, and Tony & Joe’s Seafood Place. Georgetown is also home to some of the most famous restaurants in the country, so famous even presidents eat there! 2 of these restaurants are Farmers Fishers Bakers, and Fiola Mare, who have had the luxury of having guests like Joe Biden and James Bond. Some luxury hotels offer restaurants of their own, all of these restaurants offer top cuisine options for all their guests. Places like Bourbon Steak, and CUT by Wolfgang Puck can offer you a variety of Steaks and red meat options to satisfy your meat filling. There is also a restaurant called The Alex, named after Alexander Graham Bell, which features a Steampunk aesthetic for its visitors to enjoy. You can enjoy some Italian Cuisine at the Cafe Milano and Filomena Ristorante, or an all-American menu at 1798. Georgetown also features a number of stylish bars such as Richard Sandoval’s El Centro D.F., which serves up authentic Mexican food all day!

There’s also Greg Engert’s The Sovereign, where one can fill up their Belgian food desires. If you’re looking to enjoy a good cocktail check out Konditorei + Kafe Leopold. For those who just want to grab a quick bite to eat, you can check out places like Sweetgreen, or Good Stuff Eatery. There are also a number of clothing shops in Georgetown as well.

If you’re planning on visiting Georgetown its good to know the best way to get around the neighborhood. Unfortunately, there are no direct bus or train routes that go in and out of Georgetown, luckily there’s another solution! Washington D.C. has many great transportation services and one of which being My Destiny Limo! My Destiny Limo can provide you with a black car service to take you in and out of Georgetown. So if you’re looking for a safe car service, they have both the safest and most relaxing car services available to you. If you’re coming in from out the Washington D.C. area, or if you’re just visiting family, then you will be happy to know that some car companies can accommodate for that. My Destiny Limo can go as far out as New York City to Washington D.C. if you needed it.

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Downtown Brooklyn, Brooklyn, New York City

Downtown-Brooklyn.4

Welcome to Downtown Brooklyn! one of the oldest cities in the United States and yet despite its history it’s a new city compared to the bustling Manhattan. As of 2010, Brooklyn houses over 2 million residents who all commute, live, and work in Downtown Brooklyn. The neighborhood is located Northwest of the Brooklyn Borough and has become New York City’s central tech hub over the years. Currently, Downtown Brooklyn contains 3 separate malls, its own arena, new high rise buildings, its own industrial zone along with plenty of schools to choose from and even has a couple of well known buildings in the area. This means that Downtown Brooklyn is currently filled with shops for visitors and even a stadium, this makes it an excellent choice for your next vacation! Two of its main buildings are the Williamsburgh Savings Bank and the MetroTech Center complex. One of the main reason that Brooklyn has began its ascension into the business side of New York is through how close Brooklyn is to Lower Manhattan. Downtown Brooklyn is one of the first neighborhoods you can go into right out of Manhattan, this has helped propel Brooklyn into the third largest central business district in New York City, this was later confirmed by a report done by the Regional Plan Association. The man who helped with Brooklyn’s new rise to dominance is Howard Golden, who believed that Downtown Brooklyn should work together with Manhattan because of its proximity.

Until about 1814, the Downtown Brooklyn and Brooklyn Heights are would remain sparsely populated. This would come to change due to a man named Robert Fulton, Who also believed in what Howard Golden did, helped Brooklyn rise to what it is today. To start, Brooklyn was made into a suburban area at first, though it would eventually become a new commercial center in the city. During the 1850’s certain Brooklyn churches went against slavery, some would even act as a safehouse in order to help the Underground Railroad movement. The 19th century growth of the Port of New York caused shipping to influence the City of Brooklyn. This led to Brooklyn being initially used as the manufacturing district of New York City, it would become filled with different warehouses and factories. This was a direct influence of the construction of the Manhattan and Brooklyn bridge, and helped further Brooklyn’s rise in business. There was a complete revamp of the area following World War 2, this was done to widen its streets, add major housing projects and allowed the Brooklyn Bridge to be modernized. During the late 1960’s a plan was completed by the city that was made in order to help Brooklyn have more commercial and office spaces available. The City Planning Commission then stated, “Downtown Brooklyn’s economy is vital to the borough and important to the entire metropolitan region.”.

Ariel view of Downtown Brooklyn during the middle of the day.

after Robert Fulton transformed the neighborhood to a commercial hub, Brooklyn was no longer meant for residential living, at first, this meant that a massive rezoning of the Downtown Brooklyn area had to be done. However the rezoning took a very long time to come through and was only really done in 2004, despite this it has allowed for more denser residential areas to develop. The area has seen the arrival of new condominium towers, townhouses, and office conversions and has led to more than 30,000 new residents to move into Downtown Brooklyn. The city was also seeking to improve the connections between downtown and the neighborhoods of Cobble Hill, Boerum Hill, and Fort Greene. In March 2012 the area was going through heavy remodeling, 2 years later an affordable housing plan was put into place with over 400 new units put into place.

Downtown Brooklyn now features multiple well known shops, Most of which are located near the acclaimed Barclay’s Center. Which is smacked in the middle of Downtown Brooklyn.

The Downtown Brooklyn area contains multiple municipal buildings, halls, and courthouses along with a handful of schools to choose from. The Borough Hall at times is used as a farmers market and contains fresh produce from farmers around the New York area. Downtown Brooklyn also has multiple options for shopping, dining, and drinking with almost 200 options in bars and restaurants. Multiple 7-eleven’s, Multiple pizza shops, a variety of coffee shops and bakeries, and a lot of different Asian cuisine and burger places to choose from. Downtown Brooklyn also has multiple apparel and beauty shops to choose from along with a few art exhibits to enjoy. Adidas, Banana Republic, Burlington, H&M, GAP, Macy’s, Nordstrom Rack, Target, and even Uniqlo making a visit more than worth it. Downtown Brooklyn is also home to a few malls and even art exhibits for anyone looking for some inspiration.

Downtown Brooklyn is currently looking to expand its awareness through unique art and culture. Such is the case with Bradley McCallum’s “witnessing” art, which is on display in Downtown Brooklyn until January. With the help of Jacqueline Tarry “Witnessing” takes old emergency call boxes typically located on street corners and transforms them through the addition of light and video. The call boxes feature animated videos of victims of police brutality along with audio of their testimonies to educate those visiting from out of state..

City Point is a mix of both residential and commercial use for the Downtown Brooklyn area and it was completed as recently as 2020. City Point contains multiple books stores, apparel shops, and restaurants to choose from along with its own movie theater and even weekly giveaways. The mall had technically been established in 2004 but it wasn’t until an influx of tourist visiting Brooklyn that paved way for the opening of the mall back in 2015. This helped the neighborhood build a stronger community thanks to the explosion of vibrant culture in the area. While City Point is Downtown Brooklyn’s newest mall it’s not its biggest, that title belongs to Atlantic Terminal Mall. Atlantic Terminal Mall is a combination of two shopping malls into one which is why there appears to be two entrances. Both Malls are connected via an enclosed bridge from a Target inside. In addition, Atlantic Terminal Mall is also an office building and part of the ticket office of the Long Island Rail Road. The Downtown Brooklyn area was also approved for another rezoning project which allowed for the revamp of the Fulton Mall. The area is a walkable transit mall that has been around since the 1980’s and redesigned for the commercial and residential influx. The Fulton Mall was revamped once again during the mid 2000’s and now holds Macy’s, H&M, Gap, GameStop, Foot Locker, and Finish Line. The Fulton area is also going through its own revamp with the construction of the 625 Fulton, which aims to create in additional 79 floor mixed-use skyscraper. In total the mall contains over 230 stores and even has its own dedicated bus lanes, at the center is a mall and an open space known as Albee Square.

Shopping and dining are not the only options available to the public for entertainment. The Downtown Brooklyn area is also home to the Barclays Center, a multi-purpose indoor arena. The arena is home of the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Liberty basketball teams and also hosts concerts, conventions and other entertainment events. on occasion, the stadium will host graduations for its nearby universities and colleges. The Barclays Center was also a part of an over 4 billion dollar future business and residential complex. The arena was brought forward by Bruce Ratner, and despite it being stuck in development hell for almost a decade prior, the arena finally opened to public during September 2012. However if you’re looking for something more modest you can also visit the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM). BAM is a performing arts venue, known as a center for progressive and avant-garde performances. The venue was originally located in the Brooklyn Heights and its first performance was in the early 1860’s. The facility was burned down in the early 1900’s which led to the facility being moved to Fort Greene and from 1906 to 1908 a series of openings would occur for the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

Some areas in the neighborhood seem to be empty, this is due to the city of Brooklyn rapidly expanding.

Downtown Brooklyn also hosts the New York Transit Museum, which displays historical artifacts of New York City; subway, buses, and commuter rail systems in the greater New York City metropolitan region. The museum is located within a subway station which was originally called Court Street and on July 4, 1976, the New York City Transit Exhibit was opened in the decommissioned underground station as part of the United States Bicentennial celebration. Old subway cars as well as models and other exhibits are displayed in the museum, it had originally not been planned to be opened this long but so many people enjoyed the display that it remained. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority had acquired the museum during the mid 1990’s which helped expand the museum’s display of trains. While it seems that Downtown Brooklyn went through a major remodeling that changed the landscape entirely, it still holds some of its old industrial roots.

In the Northeastern corner of the neighborhood there is an area called Bridge Plaza. Previously connected to Vinegar Hill, it is a now an isolated region of Brooklyn that is a mix of garages and auto shops with a few warehouses scattered around the area. This was the effect of both the construction of the BQE and the surrounding area only allowing industrial zoning. Bridge Plaza is known for having a notable home (167 Concord Street) which is famous for being the only “pretty” house in that area.

Overall, Downtown Brooklyn has many shops and restaurants you can visit, not to mention the plethora of bars in the neighborhood. This makes transportation a priority when visiting the neighborhood and New York has many transportation options. The majority of New Yorkers opt to use the subway, and while the trains and buses might be the most commercially available system, New York offers far better options. By far the safest way to get around NYC is by car, and luckily New York City offers many car services and limo services to get around the city. New York City limo services are some of the most professional in the world, and they offer variety of services. If you’re planning a fun day of shopping, or simply exploring the city certain car services allow for an hourly service or even road shows. Other limo companies do long distance transportation, this can be from places such as New York to New Jersey, or even New York to Connecticut. There are also some car companies that can go from New York to Philadelphia, or even New York to Washington D.C.. If you happen to live even farther out, there are a handful of luxury car companies that can from New York to Massachusetts. Regardless of how far you may think you are, New York will always find a way to bring and tourist to visit, and the rising Downtown Brooklyn is a great place to find something new to do!

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The Hudson Yards, Manhattan, New York City

Hudson Yard the Edge

Welcome to the Hudson Yards! New York City’s newest edition to Manhattan that spans from 43rd street all the way down to 30th street. It’s also located on the western part of the island and is currently going through a major reconstruction meant to reshape the area into a more modern residential and commercial area. This has actually lead to the area being seen more as a modern Millionaires Row because of the massive upscaling the neighborhood is going through. So don’t be surprised if you see a few residence opting to take a taxi rather than the train. If you’re planning on taking a vacation to NY then you’ll also be happy to know that part of the reconstruction has actually gone into remodeling the railway. This means you’ll be able to access all of the neighborhood with ease! The lead developers of this reconstruction project is Oxford Properties and The Related Companies, however most of the planning, funding, and construction was set up under agreements by the State of New York, City of New York, and Metropolitan Transportation Authority (better known as the MTA). There are also a number of foreign companies are large investors as well. This reconstruction is being done in order to expand the business district that is originally located in Midtown Manhattan. The redevelopment is being done right over the Long Island Rail Road train storage yard, located over the West Side Yard. The city plans to revamp this area into a what can be considered “the next step into the city of tomorrow”. While this can be seen as just fancy talk they are actually delivering on there promise. The Hudson Yards has only recently opened and despite opening right before the pandemic hit, it is doing well and slowly building its reputation within the city.

The Hudson Yards was designed by a number of architects who all had their own vision as to how they wanted to create the Hudson Yards. The main architect firm was lead by Kohn Pedersen Fox, who helped design the entire plans for the site. Other architects involved are Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill (SOM), Thomas Heatherwick, Foster + Partners, Roche-Dinkeloo, Diller Scofidio + Renfro. All these architects helped design the major buildings there, including office buildings and residential space. The office spaces in the Hudson Yards are occupied by well known companies such as CNN, Sidewalk Labs, BCG, and even a fashion company Tapestry. Construction of the Hudson Yards began in 2012 and the opening was in 2019 on March 15th.

Ariel view of the Hudson Yards in Manhattan, New York City

The Hudson Yards was previously looked at in order to build a brand new stadium that was meant to be the home of the New York Jets. Not only the new home of the Jets but the stadium was also meant to host the 2012 Olympics. This stadium was actually in development since the early 2000’s and was named the New York Sports and Convention Center, the shorter name being the West Side Stadium.

Despite the plans eventually falling through because of legal and political disputes there was still a clear vision. Eventually there was an agreement between the local government, the MTA, various other investors, and the state of New York. This agreement eventually led the way for the development of the Hudson Yards that is known today.

Along with new modes of transportation being made available in the Hudson Yards there are also new stores. If you’re looking for some new clothes try popping into Psycho Bunny, Hudson Yards is even including $50 gift cards for visitors making large purchases, making it more than worth taking a taxi there.

The redevelopment and reconstruction of the Hudson Yards was funded by multiple corporate and private investors from all over the world. One of the primary investors is the Mitsui Fudosan Group, a Japanese real estate developer that has bought stake from New York City before. Mitsui’s had acquired the Exxon Building back in the 1980’s and has now invested up to $1.25 billion into the Hudson Yards. This investment is the largest overseas project by a Japanese real estate company in history. Following the Mitsui Group their are also a number of investors via the EB-5 investment Program, which allows foreigners, whether corporate or private, to invest a minimum of $500,000 into New York City real estate. Most of the investors via the EB-5 program are from Chinese based companies, not just in the newly built Hudson Yards but in many other New York real estate. This has actually sparked some controversy within the city however it is undeniable the good that the Hudson Yards does for New York City.

The new additions to the city via the Hudson Yards are meant to provide New York with new financial incentives. There is now a 3 million square foot commercial office space, 24 million square feet of new office space in total, in the Hudson Yards. 1 million square feet of new retail space and 200 retail stores along with dining and a 24 hour market, Mercado Little Spain. Among these these new stores include Dior, Dunhill, Faherty, Banana Republic, Brooks Brothers, and many others. The Hudson Yards also features an abundance of new jewelry shops such as; Marli New York, Messika, Monica Rich Kosann, Panerai, Pandora, Tiffany & Co, and many many more. There are also a number of health and beauty stores in the Hudson Yards, not just a Duane Reade, but stores such as Keihl’s, Molton Brown, M.A.C Cosmetics, Sundays, Sephora, and so many more. Sundays provides more than just beauty-care but also practices self-care and a “..wellness-inspired nail care…”. This is one of the many entertainment services that are provided by the Hudson Yards for its visitors. Some of the other forms of entertainment provided are done so by companies such as; Genesis Studio, Strictly Cycling Collective, The Conservatory, and a number of more. Most of these shops are spread around the Hudson Yards and in order to find were everything is they have a directory online. Finally there’s also 2 million square feet of new hotels, including a new headquarters hotel for the Javits Convention Center.

Multiple level Mall inside the Hudson Yards
Inside view of the Vessel
Most of the shops in the Hudson Yards are located in one building overlooking the vessel

Apart from all the shops they have available at the Hudson Yards there are also a number of outdoor areas that you can visit as well. Development of the Hudson Park & Boulevard (Bella Abzug Park) was planned all the way back in 2005 and has lead to a new, 4 acre system of tree-lined parks and open space. This development was done in order to help transform the area from its old industrial neighborhood to new, pedestrian-friendly mixed-use district. The new additions to the park include, grassy areas, walking paths, farmers markets, and even outdoor movies. The park will also honor the civil rights activist, Bella Abzug (1920-1998). Bella Savitzky Abzug was a lawyer, social activist, U.S. representative, and feminist.

With the area expanding there was also a demand for an expansion of the subway line in order to get transportation into the Hudson Yards. One of the train lines that was expanded in order to accommodate for this was the 7 track. The line was extended from Times Square (42nd Street) to West 34th street and 11th Avenue. This was done in order to make the 7 subway line just a 10 minute walk from the Hudson Yards. They also added new ventilation buildings in the area in order to help keep the subways safe. The new additions meant that a new platform would be needed in order to support the buildings and parks.

The city has built a 13 acre platform on both the Eastern Rail Yard and the Western Rail Yard. This platform is being supported by 300 Caissons which can take the weight of the platform, the buildings, and the people walking around. The platform itself took a very long time to complete due to the nature of the build and the surrounding area. The platform being built over the railway they could only build for around 2 hours at a time.

The expansion of the railroad was done to help with the influx of visitors, with so many new people coming in the neighborhood there needed to be a manageable transportation service. Most New Yorkers opt to use the MTA subway system which is why the city had chosen to expand it. Though some of the wealthier masses of New York may choose to take a taxi.

While the Hudson Yards may be relatively new when compared to the rest of the high rises of Manhattan however this doesn’t mean it lacks in events. The Hudson Yards will often do its best to keep up with the holidays and Christmas is no exception. If you’re taking a vacation to New York during the holidays consider taking a car service to the Hudson Yards. Its incredible display of seasonal decorations and light up trees make it unforgettable for anyone visiting. The Hudson lights have quickly become a favorite amongst visitors, and with many of the surrounding stores offering discounts during the holidays, its a perfect spot for a date.

Despite the MTA’s best attempts at making a reliable transit service, its not as safe or reliable as one would hope. Most New Yorkers would prefer taking a taxi to get around however in this city its best to have a car service on hand. If you’re planning a day of shopping or simply enjoying the Christmas lights you’ll be happy to know that most New York limo service‘s can accommodate you with a driver for a full day of fun. So if you’re planning a visit to the big apple then consider taking a limo up to the Hudson yards, the combination of breath taking skyscrapers and classic shops will blow you away.

The Hudson Yards may have had controversy during construction and despite its difficult planning and funding it still serves as a vision for the city of tomorrow. Not just as with its technological wonders and fascinating artistic structures but it also leads the way to new housing projects. The Hudson Yards has its own affordable housing plan which allows people to sign up for a lottery that gives them a chance to live in the new buildings in New York City. This is another great way New York City is getting more people to visit the Hudson Yards. With all the stores and plazas in the Hudson Yards anyone can find something to do in the Neighborhood.

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Upper East Side, Manhattan, New York City

Ariel view of the upper east side in Manhattan

Welcome to the Upper East Side! It is home to some of Manhattan’s elites and known for its for its media reference in multiple shows. Though most of its residence would prefer to vacation in the Hamptons it is undoubtably the home of some of the wealthiest people in the world. The upper east side is made up of several other smaller neighborhoods with three main ones surrounding it. The first of the three main neighborhoods is the Lenox Hill neighborhood and it forms the lower part of the Upper East Side. The second main neighborhood is Carnegie Hill and is located North-West of the Upper East Side and makes up the top side of the Upper East Side. Finally, the third neighborhood is Yorkville, located North-East of Carnegie Hill and overlooks the East River. Ironically enough, the Upper East Side does not actually have set boundaries in New York City, however it is widely accepted that the south boundary is 59th street, and the north boundary is 96th street. Some real estate agents will even refer to East Harlem as the upper east side regardless of it being beyond the boundary, this is done to avoid any sort of negative connotations from the name of the neighborhood.

Before the state of New York was ever even colonized, the Upper East Side was a collection of streams that most Native Americans would fish out of at the time. Then in the 19th century the addition of railroads, commercial and residential began to come in. The Upper East Side caused attraction due to it overlooking the East River, and with that it began to attract much wealthier people. This eventually led to Villas, country houses, and different luxury homes being built the wealthier population. These town houses did not last however, eventually due to the fast growing population, the first apartment building went up and soon after many others followed. This led to more transportation being made to compensate for the influx of more people from different areas. For a while, the Upper East Side had an elevated railway that would cause noise pollution around the area. Eventually the railway was demolished and replaced by the Second Avenue Line in 1919. This brought in new commercial and residential buildings, soon the construction of high-rise apartment blocks began in the 1950’s.

Street View of Madison Ave and 93rd St, Upper East Side, Manhattan

The Upper East Side is home to the majority of New York City’s wealthy, and as of a 2002 census stated that the Upper East Side had the highest price per square feet in the United States of America. This influx of wealth in one area means that the majority of its landmarks and cultural institutions are located in the Upper East Side. another sight of its wealth is also its residence, often times your won’t see them get into any old taxi, even if they Can afford it. The residence of the Upper East Side prefer a more prestige car service, even opting to limo services to get them around. Nicknamed Museum Mile, Once known as Millionaire’s Row, the Upper East Side host multiple Museums, Art Galleries, Hotels, Houses of Worship, and even Diplomatic Missions. All of these landmarks and buildings are spread around the Upper East Side and located all over the three main neighborhoods.

The lower portion of the Upper East Side is named Lenox Hill, the name came of a combination of the hill that the neighborhood was built upon and a Scottish immigrant who owned about five miles (8 Km) of land. Lenox Hill has numerous luxury apartments and hotels along Madison Avenue. Lenox Hill is home to many cultural sites and most of its art galleries, the most well known being The Frick Collection, an art collection known for its European paintings and fantastic decorative arts. The Frick building is a repurposed mansion which boasts an early-1900’s aesthetic to it, which was reformed to hold those art pieces. Along with this art gallery the neighborhood of Lenox Hill also hosts the Asia Society and Museum, Central Park Carousel, the Park Avenue Armory, and many more.

Lenox Hill is filled with a lot of great spots to park up and eat, whether that be getting a quick sandwich or sitting down to eat. There’s also a lot of great spaces for people looking to get some work done whether that be somewhere cozy like the Local Café or even a brand store like Starbucks!

Lenox Hill itself is located near the bottom middle of the Upper East Side, this tends to mark it as one of the most expensive neighborhoods to live in. However, that doesn’t apply to its retail stores! You’ll find that most places in Lenox Hill are very reasonably priced, though you should keep in mind that you won’t find most of its retail stores on maps. Lenox Hill is filled with neighborhood friendly shops that rely more on word of mouth instead of advertising. This can make Lenox Hill a great place for anyone looking to explore new places on the Upper East Side. Though try not to act to surprised when you see a few taxis pulling in for tourists on vacation.

Though, Lenox Hill is known for its progress in the medical aspect, Lenox Hill is home to The Lenox Hill Hospital which is at the forefront in research and treatment in neurology, neurosurgery, sports medicine, cardiovascular care, orthopedics, head and neck surgery, child health and internal medicine.

Carnegie Hill is the second of the three main neighborhoods and is located at the North-End of the Upper East Side. Carnegie Hill got its name from the owner of one of its most remarkable mansions, the owner being Andrew Carnegie himself. Andrew Carnegie’s mansion is now a historical landmark and currently the Mansion has been converted to a branch of the Smithsonian Institution. Carnegie Hill features apartment buildings alongside Park Avenue and Fifth Avenue. The neighborhood also has multiple condos, co-ops, a few brownstones scattered around, townhouses, and what remaining mansions do exist have been converted into museums or schools. Carnegie Hill overlooks the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir within Central Park, it also holds many of the neighborhoods art venues, wine bars, and various cafe’s. There are also a variety of cuisine options in the Upper East Side. If you’re looking for Italian then try taking a taxi to Parma Nuova, located in-between Lenox Hill and Yorkville, they offer excellent Italian cuisine. However its most well known for its most famous art venue, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.

Yorkville covers the the literal upper east side of the Upper East Side, going from the top of East 96th St down all the way to East 72nd St. Yorkville has many different historical buildings and architecture, this is due to the neighborhood being a major part of the Revolutionary War. For most of the late 19th century into the early 20th century most of the families that came over where German and over time it became Irish, Polish, Hungarian, Slovak, Czech, and many other races. In the 1950’s the city began to remodel Third Avenue El by demolishing most of its cafe’s and commercial buildings.

The dismantling of the avenue led to many mansions being demolished. This was done to make way for a more high rise residential buildings, such buildings went up during the 1980’s. This lead to an influx of wealthy residents that looked to make New York City their home.

Yorkville is also home to multiple shops and markets for visitors to enjoy, some markets even hosts holiday events. Such is the case with Nobody’s Darling, who hosts a holiday market from 2 PM to 6 PM on December 4th. The market covers 86th and 87th street there you’ll find plenty of shopping, dining, and even drinking. Most markets on Yorkville provide indoor dining for visitors who want to grab a bite after shopping. Isle of Us is a great example of this as they’re both a café and a home goods shop for anyone looking to visit.

The Upper East Side features many different landmarks and historical districts that can be explored throughout the neighborhood. Multiple museums are located in the area including Jewish Museum of New York, El Museo del Barrio, Andrew Carnegie Mansion (repurposed to a Smithsonian Design Museum), its most famous one the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, and many many more. The neighborhood also features many Hotels, Art Galleries, Houses of Worship, and many historical districts. With so much to do the neighborhood can be rather overwhelming to get around the Upper East Side for any visitor. Luckily if you are planning a day out and figure you need transportation New York City has many options to get around town. While most of the residents of New York City would rather use the subway as it is very convenient this does not always apply with the Upper East Side. With most of the residents being some of the most important and wealthiest people in the world, most residence will opt to either hail a taxi or use a car service. This means that New York City has an ungodly amount of car transportation companies but more importantly, high-class limo services. This is all too important when visiting New York City but more important when going to the Upper East Side and with so many different limo companies to choose from its nice knowing you will never be left stranded in the city. Many New York executive car services can take you around town on an hourly service or even if you’re just going from one point to another. If you’re coming in from out of town then there is no need to worry, most New York black car companies can drive you long distances, this can mean more then just from New Jersey to New York, or Connecticut to New York. Now a days most luxury car companies can drive you out even further, such as Philadelphia to New York, Washington D.C. to New York, and even Massachusetts to New York. If you happen to be booking a trip and need a recommendation on a car company we suggest My Destiny Limo.

View of the Upper East Side from Central Park

Overall, no vacation in New York City is complete without at least one trip to the Upper East Side. After all the prestige’s area has many activities around the three headed neighborhood. Luxury shops with clothes that can put you in debt just by looking at them and cafes that make you feel like you’re eating the best food in the world. Apartment high rises with a fantastic view of not only the other boroughs but of Manhattan itself. The Upper East Side is one of the United State’s most expensive places to live so if you ever wondered where most of the worlds wealthiest people live. It’s right here on The Upper East Side.

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