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Center City, Philadelphia

Ariel view of Center City, Philadelphia

Center City Philadelphia is one of the most important financial districts in the country and is home to a number of big name companies to show for it. Center City includes other neighborhoods in Philadelphia, the most notable of which is the central business district. 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.

Located West of Old City and Society Hill, Washington Square West is home to a diverse option of restaurants, cafes, and shops!

Washington Square park is mixed commercial, residential, and industrial, this is why most of their row-houses are either 3 to 4 stories high. Many of these buildings are Condominiums, Apartments, Hospitals, and even offices, they even sometimes include their own ground-level retail place.

Washington Square West is also known for being one of the most gay friendly neighborhoods in the area. The neighborhood constantly holds different LGBTQ+ friendly events, such as Outfest, Tabu Drag Brunch, Code:Black, and many more.

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.

Washington Square Park came to be as recently as the 1950’s, this was because of Edmund Bacon’s redevelopment program in Center City. Multiple neighborhoods were redeveloped including Washington Square West and even Society Hill. The plan was unfortunately put on hold due to a massive decline in the early 20th century.

After this the area would be redeveloped anyway, city officials had hoped that by redeveloping the area, it would lead to a boost both economy and citizen morale. The main authority that was pushing for the redevelopment of the area was the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority. However the agency would act like a double edged sword for the neighborhood. During the beginning years of the 1970’s, the redevelopment agency owned almost 20% of the neighborhood, but with the purchases of so many properties they began to run out of money.

In the mid 1970’s the federal fund that was used to redevelop the area had run out, and the agency simply stopped building. This left a ton of empty lots and the neighborhood was once again left to rot. During the late 70’s to the 80’s the area would slowly build itself back up. Then in the 1990’s the area began to see a complete economic boom thanks to its new mayor. The new mayor at the time, Ed Rendell, helped bring investment into Center City. Gentrification took over the neighborhood, and by the 2000’s Washington Square West had turned itself around. Washington Square West is known for its very gay friendly attitude, even having an area in the neighborhood called The Gayborhood. The Gayborhood has been around since the 70’s, and throughout this time it was even a red-light district. The area actually went through several attempts of rebranding and gentrification however despite all of these attempts it still remains the Gayborhood. Washington Square West was also home to a few pop culture figures as well, one of which was director M. Night Shymalan.

As is implied by the name, Market Street is one of the most important locations for Philadelphia’s commerce and business. Market Street actually has a rich history, with various famous historical figures having lived on Market Street. Some of these famous figures include both political figures, actors, and even directors!

Benjamin Franklin had a house on one of the intersections, and would perform his kite flying experiment there. Thomas Jefferson had actually drafted the Declaration of Independence in the Graff on Market Street. Robert Morris also lived on Market Street, Robert Morris helped fund the Revolutionary War. For a while, the President’s House was once located on Market Street; it was used by both George Washington and John Adams. Now a days some of the most well known agencies and companies in the United States are located on Market Street. These companies have either constructed new buildings or overturned old buildings to meet new requirements.

Some of these buildings are Independence National Historical Park, The Liberty Bell, The National Constitution Center, and many more. There are also a few television and radio networks scattered about the neighborhood. WTXF-TV 29 (FOX) is located on Market Street along with Audacy property 94 WIP.

Market Street is also home to the National Museum of American Jewish history. Market Street also houses the Fashion District Philadelphia Shopping Mall. There is also a former railroad station, Reading Terminal, that now serves as an entrance to the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The first International Style building built in the U.S is located on Market Street, named the PSFS Building. Philadelphia City Hall is also located on Market Street, along with One Liberty Place and many more historic buildings.

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. 

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.

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. 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! 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.

Ariel view of Georgetown University’s campus in the sunlight

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. 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! 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 area 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

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. 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 the construction of Downtown Brooklyn’s skyline, the 9 Dekalb building, and its bustling Avenues

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, however non are as recognizable as the Apple store that directly over looks The Barclay’s Center.

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, Adidas, Banana Republic, Burlington, Foot Locker, Flight 23, H&M, GAP, Macy’s, Nordstrom Rack, Target, and even Uniqlo. All of these shops can be found through 2 major malls in the area, one of which is Atlantic Terminal Mall, and the other is the recently completed City Point.

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 also contains multiple books stores, apparel shops, and restaurants to choose from along with its own movie theater and even weekly giveaways and has a strong community. Atlantic Terminal Mall on the other hand is two shopping malls combined 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 two 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. 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

Hudson Yard the Edge

Welcome to the Hudson Yards! New York City’s newest edition to Manhattan and 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. 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.

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.

Construction of the Hudson Yards

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. However despite it being the most used system in New York it is not very reliable at times. Luckily New York has an abundance of different high luxury transportation companies. New York City car services are every where in the city however there are only a few good limo services in New York. While you can opt to use an app based transportation companies, often times those vehicles are dirty, have unvaccinated drivers, and aren’t even registered as licensed drivers in New York. Luckily their are car services in New York that operate on a much more serious level, working as black car service rather than just a regular service. An example of this is My Destiny Limo, who constantly check all of their drivers for any health issues, clean their vehicles every chance they get and, like most limo services in NYC, can go for long distance trips out of state. Often times these companies can go as far as New York to New Jersey, New York to Pennsylvania, and even New York to Connecticut. Some limo services will take you even further out, New York to Washington D.C., or even New York to Massachusetts. So if you’re worried about finding a way to get to and around the Hudson Yards, no need! New York has plenty to offer.

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 Manhattans elites and known for its for its media reference in multiple shows. 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. 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 stores and designer shops throughout Madison Avenue and many elegant apartments and hotels. Lenox Hill also hosts many cultural sites and most of its art galleries, one of the most well known art galleries is The Frick Collection, an art collection known for its European paintings and fantastic decorative arts all located inside The Frick building. The Frick building is a repurposed mansion which boasts an early-1900’s aesthetic to it. 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. However, 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, cafes, and Italian and French Restaurants. 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 also led to many mansions alongside the street to be demolished. This was done in order to make way for a more high rise residential buildings, these buildings went up in the 1980’s. This lead to an influx of residents who looked to live in wealth inside of New York City and choosing Yorkville for its stunning visuals and expensive entertainment around the area.

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, with the exception of California, will use vehicles to travel around rather then the subway. 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 the Upper East Side has a multitude of things to do 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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SoHo, Manhattan, New York

Great view of SoHo at street level with Manhattan in the background

Located in Lower Manhattan, covers 0.3 miles of Manhattan and has a population of over 18,000 (as of 2019). SoHo has been at the forefront of national and international chain stores, trendy boutiques and is the location for many different lofts belonging to artist and their art galleries’. SoHo also has a massive historical significance and is an example of Inner-city regeneration. The area of SoHo was actually named that because the area is located “South of Houston Street” and was conceived in 1962 by Chester Rapkin. The boundaries covering the neighborhood are actually quite interesting, it is agreed that the Northern boundary is Houston Street and the Southern boundary is Canal Street. However where things get complicated is when deciding the Eastern and Western boarders.

During the colonial era the area of SoHo was used as part of a grant, this grant had farmland given to freed slaves. This established the first ever black settlement on Manhattan Island, marking a historic moment for New York City. During the American revolutionary war SoHo became an area with numerous fortifications. After which the area of Soho mainly lie dormant, no development and a lot of the area had to be mortgage because of the war. During the mid 19-century the section began to remodel itself and changed its entire aesthetic. tearing down the Federal and Greek revival homes and made way to a new style of building, this includes solid structures of masonry and cast iron. The area slowly began to reinvent itself, new grand hotels began to go up in the city, new commercial establishments where opened. The streets themselves became lively and the addition of new theaters and food destinations helped its growing popularity. The area itself began to change and it caused the middle-class to be driven out of the area and made way for the small manufacturers. This includes locksmiths, book publishers, makers of fine china, cabinet-makers, makers of glassware, and many more.

Street view of the SoHo neighborhood in Manhattan, New York City
Street View of SoHo Manhattan, New York City.

This shift led to many more middle-class residents moving out of the neighborhood, this led to a 25% drop in population between 1860 to 1865. Then came the Civil war and the Panic of 1873 which led to large textile firms and other merchandise companies to move into the neighborhood. The area began to develop very quickly after this and soon that section of the city became the wholesale dry-goods and mercantile trade center of Manhattan. However, as the center of the city began to move uptown the quality of the area in SoHo declined rapidly. Soon the area began to become vacant and housed a lot of empty buildings. This was the direct effect of World War II, after its end the textile companies that previously resided within SoHo moved down south. This left many buildings empty and where either repurposed or torn down to make way for parking lots, garages, repair shops and gas stations. In the 1950’s the area became known as Hell’s Hundred Acres, this was due to the area essentially becoming an industrial wasteland. SoHo at the time was filled with nothing but sweatshops and small factories, however because they only ran during the day time at night the area would be empty and lifeless. In the 1960’s a resurgence in interest occurred in the area, and suddenly artist began to move back in leading to a change in the SoHo area.

With the new influx of artists and residents looking to expand their creative minds the area itself needed to become much more “livable”. This brought upon the birth of the Cast-Iron Architecture throughout New York City, Cast-iron was quick and cheap to make and was perfect for a resurgence in a previous hellish area. Currently there are 250 Cast-Iron buildings in New York City and most of these are in the SoHo neighborhood. The cast-iron design is actually a façade and was actually a ploy to make the warehouse structure more visually pleasing, in reality, cast-iron was very brittle. The architectural style of cast-iron buildings was inspired by Classical French and Italian architecture. While these architectural designs would usually use stone, cast-iron was favored due to its “easy to mold” nature, that when combined with neutral colored paint, such as beige, it can become something with a visual similarity. The iron itself made the material very pliable and could be molded very easily despite this it is still a very strong metal. This meant that the window frames within the buildings could be made with significant height, this allowed for more sunlight to fill the rooms that were rented out to artists and the such. At one point, cast-iron was seen as more viable then steel, it was also believed that it was fire proof, all of this was not correct. The truth is that cast-iron has a set of big problems, one of these being that when exposed to heat the material would buckle. in addition the cast-iron material would also crack under the cold, this meant that in the event of a fire, the sudden change in temperature when trying to put out the fire can cause buildings to collapse. at one point in the 1960’s the SoHo area became threatened by a project that would have built a highway directly through the neighborhood, destroying most of its historical significance. This caused major uproar among the community and led to multiple architects and historical preservation movement fighting against the highways construction.

The Interior of SoHo apartments feature an Industrial design and a lot of open air.

Finally after the proposal to essentially destroy SoHo simply to build a road was put away, artist began to come in. Many artist favored the industrial style buildings because it helped motivate and inspire their work because of how open the space always was. However this cause problems among the city and specifically with its zoning laws and the fear that the building may be needed again for manufacturing. This led to the city creating the Artist Tenant Association and then the SoHo Artist Association. Instead of keeping the area strictly industrial the city opted to allowing artist to live within their work quarters under certain permits. The SoHo area had then finally received landmark designation as the SoHo-Cast Iron Historic District in 1973.

SoHo Began to change in the 2000’s and in 2005 became a victim to gentrification and the entire area began to change. Former artists that lived in SoHo began to move to Chelsea during the 1990’s, as of 2013 only a few art galleries remain in SoHo, this includes, William Bennett Gallery, Martin Lawrence Galleries, Terrain Gallery, Pop International Gallery, and a few more. SoHo became very pleasing to be people due to its location, living spaces, Architecture, and its known reputation of being favored by most artist led to more people coming in. The combination of struggling artists, repurposed industrial buildings, unique architecture, and exquisite fashion made SoHo a popular destination for both tourists and buyers. SoHo has many different shopping chains around the neighborhood however most of these shops are in the Northern Area. Those who Manhattan visit frequently know that despite the area, SoHo is always scattered with street vendors trying to vend you anything from purses to jewelry and even off brand clothing.

  • Street view of one of the many industrial style buildings
  • The interior shops exhibit a massive space inside

SoHo is insanely popular all over the world because of its artsy style, unique architecture, lively streets, and the endless stores to shop in. This means that there is a strong desire to travel to the neighborhood in New York and this creates demand for transportation. New York City is no stranger to transportation and has no shortage of it either, however with so many different car companies it can become difficult to know which is the best transportation company for you. If you are simply trying to get from one point to another then any black car service can help transport you to your destination. However when in SoHo, most tourist and visitors prefer going around the neighborhood for multiple hours. Luckily there are certain limo companies in New York City will let you rent out a car with a driver for multiple hours at a time for a certain price. These New York City black car services have different vehicles available to you, from Cadillac Escalades, to Tesla’s, to even Sprinter Vans. If you are coming in out of the borough then no problem! every single car service in NYC goes throughout all 5 boroughs and some even into New Jersey. However, if you are coming in from out of state then you have nothing to worry about either, certain limo services will go out of state for clients wiling to pay. These transportation companies can go out as far as New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Massachusetts, and even Washington D.C..

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The Lincoln Memorial

The front view of the Lincoln memorial

Built in order to honor the 16th president of the united states The Lincoln Memorial is located on the western end of the National Mall in Washington D.C.. The Lincoln Memorial is also built in a neoclassical form and was made by architect Henry Bacon. Along with Henry there were many others who helped in the project as well. The designer of the memorial was Daniel Chester, the Lincoln statue was carved by the Piccirilli Brothers, The painter of the murals inside was Jules Guerin, and finally the epithet above the statue was written by Royal Cortissoz. The Lincoln Memorial is one of many different memorials built in order to honor an American president. It has become both a tourist attraction and a symbol for racial equality since the 1930’s and remains that way to this day.

The Lincoln Memorial was actually constructed in the 20th century, this was due to many problems with how and where the memorial should be made. Another one of these issues was the lack of funds, despite people wanting the Memorial to be made most people would not put money forward for the idea. this eventually led to the project being dormant for a while until it was picked up again by Shelby M. Cullom, the senator of Illinois. When they where planning out the design for The Lincoln Memorial they took many details into account and one of which was Abraham Lincolns character itself. President Lincoln was seen as a very humble man, this meant that the memorial to honor him cannot be too ostentatious.

The interior of the The Lincoln Memorial is divided into three different chambers and has different columns supporting the cabin itself. Every single column is about 50 feet tall, 15 meters, and is over 5 feet in diameter. the memorial itself has many different symbolic features and structures, this was all done in order to honor not only the president but also the United States itself. some of which include; 36 columns to represent the states in the union upon his death, inscribed within the structure is President Lincolns principles of life. The ceiling contains bronze and oak leaf decorations, this is combined with Alabama Marble. in addition to this, flood lights were added into the roof in a way that could be concealed, this was done in order to counter the lack of light in The Lincoln Memorial.

The Statue of President Abraham Lincoln.

This led to the matter being settled through the selection of a simple log cabin shrine, after the West Potomac Park was chosen as the place to build the memorial. The memorial itself was built almost exactly on schedule, however there where a few changes through the build. One of these changes was to make the Lincoln statue bigger so it doesn’t get overwhelmed by the cabin itself, This meant that the statue was increased from its original size of 10 feet to 19 feet. Despite this sudden change during the construction of the monument it was still completed on time and was celebrated upon its completion. During the grand opening, many people where invited including 78 year old Robert Todd Lincoln, president Lincoln’s only surviving son. African Americans where also invited to the opening ceremony, however to their dismay, they were put into a segregated section of the ceremony.

The Lincoln Memorial is located in Washington D.C., specifically on the west end mall, and getting transportation to or from Washington D.C can be rather difficult, especially if you live in another state. If you are attempting to get to The Lincoln Memorial from a different state but don’t want to take a plane or train for privacy, some car companies can take you into Washington D.C.. This includes companies that can be from different states such as car companies in New Jersey, and car companies in Pennsylvania. Their are some car companies even farther that might be willing to make the trek if you’re willing to pay the fees. This can range from car companies in New York City, and car companies as far out as Connecticut or even car companies in Rhode Island. Most car companies in todays day are typically clean and inspected before there drives, however sometimes its best to be safe. This means that most people would rather take a limo service, or a black car service for more comfort and safety.

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Atlantic City, New Jersey

Ariel view of Atlantic City coast line

Welcome to Atlantic City! with a population of just under 40,000 and located in New jersey Atlantic City is known for being a resort type city. Atlantic City is home to Casinos, Boardwalks, Beaches, and Resorts, its also known by the local areas and states around New Jersey as the place to go during the summer. Atlantic City has gone through many different changes and different era’s made visiting Atlantic City a new experience every time!

The Tropicana Casino in Atlantic City.

Atlantic City has been seen as a prime real estate for a resort city since 1854, this was because of its location in South Jersey and how it is right against the Atlantic Ocean which leads to a lot of tourism as well. The first boardwalk was officially built in the 1870’s and it was actually built along the beach in order to keep sand out of hotel owners main entrances. After a while the boardwalk would slowly be removed and replaced and overtime it was made wider and longer in order to make it more comfortable. However in 1944 a hurricane hit the city and completely destroyed the boardwalk to the point the entire length had to be reconstructed. Atlantic City saw its biggest explosion in popularity during the early 20th century and had multiple hotels and boarding houses be built in order to house visitors. During the prohibition tourism was at its peak, this was because prohibitions was never actually enforced in Atlantic City. While people would still go into backrooms and hide the fact they where drinking, it was largely ignored due to the nature of the city. During this time a conference was called where major organized crime figures had come to create the National Crime Syndicate. This conference was actually attended by Al Capone and numerous other crime families.

After which from the 1930’s to the 1960’s it was an economic heyday as the city began to move into its nightclub era. Keep in mind that during this time segregation was still very strong and it was definitely seen in Atlantic City. In the white-populated side of the city, this being the south side and included places like The 500 Club, The Clicquot Club, and The Jockey Club. On the other end of the spectrum you would have the north side of the city which was home to many different African Americans, and many different entertainment in the segregated city through mainly Kentucky Avenue. Some of the most popular entertainment include four major nightclubs, Club Harlem, The Paradise Club, Grace’s Little Belmont, and Wonder Gardens. These four major clubs had actually drawn in every type of people whether black or white, and during the summer season, tourist enjoy jazz and R&B music along with soul food throughout the avenue.

During World War II Atlantic City became riddled with crime and poverty and followed the trend of struggling east coast cities. Interestingly enough it was the mass creation of the automobile that caused Atlantic City to fall into a state of crime and over crowdedness. This led to the city being known as a playground for criminals and the typical person who would come daily. This eventually led to the vacancy of many hotels in Atlantic City, this lead to an economic decline in the city and forced the city to demolish hotels.

Traymore Hotel in Atlantic City 1930’s.

In 1976 New Jersey passed a law to legalize gambling in casinos, this was done in an effort to revive Atlantic City. Funny enough, moments after this law was passed, The Chalfonte-Haddon Hall Hotel was converted into the Resorts international. it became the first legal casino in the eastern United States and opened on May 26. Donald Trump had actually helped Atlantic City gain popularity by bringing in big names, Mike Tyson being one of these people. Mike Tyson had numerous fights in Atlantic City during the 1980’s, this helped the city become famous not just around the area but throughout the entire nation. This was followed up by the legalization of sports betting in Atlantic City, this made New Jersey the third state to legalize sports betting.

Transportation to Atlantic City has always been important to the city and its development, while before people would rely on the trains coming in and out of the city now most people can just drive there or even order a car. There are certain situations however where a person might live too far from Atlantic City and find it difficult to go there. Luckily, now a days most car companies make long distance trips for your convenience, this is assuming you can afford it of course. Most car companies can take you to or from any area around Atlantic City, this including New York, New Jersey, and possibly Pennsylvania. However, there are some car companies that may go even further than that. Some car companies will take from places like Rhode Island to Atlantic City, or even Washington D.C. to Atlantic City. If you happen to live further out and don’t want to take a train or plane then some limo companies can take you even further out. Some Black Car services will bring you from Connecticut to Atlantic City, and from Massachusetts to Atlantic City.

Coast Line view of Atlantic City.

Atlantic City has 9 current casinos that have been up and running since the late 1970’s, the most recent one being opened in 2018. Resorts, the oldest casino, it was opened in 1978 and was located in the uptown section of Atlantic City, it is also features a Roaring Twenties theme. Caesars, opened in 1979 and is located in the Midtown section of Atlantic City, like the name suggest it is based off a Roman Empire theme. Bally’s, this was the last one to open in 1979 and is also located in the Midtown section of Atlantic City, its theme is modern based. Harrah’s is the first of three to be opened in the 1980’s, it is located in the Marina section of Atlantic City and features a Marina Waterfront theme. Tropicana was opened in 1981 and is located in the Downbeach section of Atlantic City, this casino has a Old Havana theme. Golden Nugget, opened in the 1985 and like its name suggest its based off the Gold Rush Era, this casino is located in the Marian section of Atlantic City. Borgata is the first casino to be opened in the 2000’s, it is also set in the Marina section of the city and has a Tuscany Theme for its design. The Hard Rock casino is one of the two opened in 2018 and is located in the uptown section of the city, like its name suggest it has a Rock and Roll theme. Finally, Ocean and like its name suggest it has a Ocean theme and was the other casino to open up in 2018 and is located in the uptown section of Atlantic City.

Overall, Atlantic City has slowly built itself up multiple times and has proven that its perseverance throughout the times leads to success. Atlantic City is now considering a hot vacation and gambling spot for tourist and locals of the East Coast. With its perfect blend of Casinos, Resorts, Shopping Malls, and Exhibits there’s something for everyone in this tourist city. If you plan on going there anytime soon then be sure to book the perfect car transportation company and get there safely and comfortably.

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The Washington Monument

Distant view of the Washington Monument

Located within the National Mall in Washington D.C., the Washington Monument is an obelisk built in order to commemorate George Washington. The monument itself is located east of the reflecting pool and the Lincoln Memorial and is one of the world tallest obelisks, measuring at 554 feet and 7 inches tall (not exact height). The Washington Monument once was the tallest object in the world from 1884 to 1889, it was then overtaken by the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

The Washington Monument has fifty American flags surrounding it, one flag for every single state. However, these are just American flags and not the state flag, every single flag is flown 24 hours a day. The monument itself is made of marble, granite, and bluestone gneiss and is actually the worlds tallest object that is mainly made of stone. In 2011 an earthquake that had hit Virginia had reached a magnitude of 5.8 and had actually damaged the Washington Monument. Certain blocks where dislodged and cracks had been found on several stones, the inside of the monument was also damaged. Inside there where numerous stone chips, pieces of stone, and paint chips that had come undone and practically littered the floor of the inside and the stairs. This immediately sparked not only a reconstruction but also renovation of the inside and outside of the Washington Monument.

Construction of the Washington Monument
Construction of the Washington Monument

The Washington Monument is located in Washington D.C. and is one of the most recognizable landmarks in American Culture. However one of the main issues when visiting any landmark is transportation and finding a way to get there without any problems. If a visitor is coming overseas then obviously they would have to take a plane to the U.S. in order to visit the landmark however once in the country you have to find a way around. This is why its good to have different options, you could resort to public transportation such as trains or buses but those can present a problem if you don’t know where you’re going.

Luckily there are plenty of different ground transportation companies that allow for quick and convenient travel that is hassle free and relaxing thick and through. If you need a car service in Washington D.C. then there are plenty around that will provide you the service you need. There are also car services from airports if you need, this includes car services from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and car services from Washington Dulles International Airport. However, if you are out of state and do not want to take a plane to Washington D.C. then there is no need to worry, there are plenty of ground transportation companies that can take you to Washington D.C.. This includes whether you are coming in from the outskirts of the city or if you are coming in from a different state entirely. For example you can take a car service from NYC to DC and it would be no issue at all.

The Washington Monument is a national wonder and it stands as a symbol to American culture. The Washington Monument has appeared in many different forms of media and is one of the most recognizable monuments in the world. While it may not be the most “unique” structure in the world, it still stands tall in American history and should be seen by anyone who visits the country.

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LaGuardia Airport

Ariel view of LaGuardia International airport

Located in East Elmhurst, Queens New York City, and covering over 600 acres of land LaGuardia Airport is the third busiest airport in New York City and the 20th busiest in the world. The airport is actually named after the 1953 New York City mayor, Fiorello La Guardia and is mainly used for American Airlines and Delta Airlines. LaGuardia Airport is the least upkept airport of the main 3 in NYC, outdated facilities, lack of cleanliness, a cramped design for the building, poor customer service and is among the worst airports in the United States. This has actually caused the state to begin a reconstruction project for LaGuardia Airport that began in 2016 and is scheduled to be completed in 2022. LaGuardia Airport currently has four different terminals and 86 gates in total, the terminals themselves are all connected via different buses and walkways.

Terminal A is known as the Marine Air Terminal, this is because terminal A used to originally be the terminal for overseas flights. However, now terminal A, like the other terminals, seems to almost exclusively Delta Airlines and American Airlines. Inside of terminal A is also a 12 foot high mural and was made as a part of the Great Depression-era Works Progress Administration. Interestingly enough Port Authority of New York and New Jersey had actually painted over the mural in the 1950’s. Port Authority also has a tendency of stopping drivers coming in to pick up fliers, this combined with the renovations being made to LaGuardia can make getting in and out of LaGuardia Airport a challenging task. However, good car services to LGA can make this trek without an issue, even nearby black car services to LGA can make it to the airport extremely quickly. Some limo services to LGA even offer services from further out then just NYC some even offer limo services from Pennsylvania to LGA and even limo services from Connecticut to LGA. Though most of the time fliers simply need a nearby NYC car service to LGA and the city has many services to offer.

Terminal B is known as the Central terminal Buildings and serves LaGuardia’s airlines the most. While American Airlines is the dominant operator for this terminal it still gives access to different types of operators. Such operators that work within terminal b are American Airlines, Air Canada, Southwest, and United. Terminal B was made in 1964 and was made to accommodate over 7 million passengers every year. Terminal B has actually been rebuilt a few times and in June 2020 a new headhouse was added. Like Terminal A, terminal b has been going through remodeling and with it operating more than just United Airlines and American Airlines it can become slightly overcrowded and traffic bound. However, just like terminal a, multiple NYC limo services to LGA are all around the city. Foreign fliers can also rest easy knowing there are also car service with meet and greet available to them if they can’t use there cellphones in a different country. Overall transportation in and out of Terminal B should be no issue at all for anyone, especially with some of the best car services from NYC being available to everyone.

Terminal C was designed by William Nicholas Bodouva and associated architects and planners. The terminal was opened on September 12, 1992, had a cost of $250 million and is 300,000 square feet. Terminal C acts as Delta Airlines main hub, however Terminal C was actually originally made for Eastern Air Lines. Terminal C has had certain gates demolished in order to be restructured and the construction of the new gates are currently underway. Terminal C, like any other airport terminal, can be rather difficult to navigate for first comers and even regular fliers. This is why it is always good to find good nearby car services in NYC, even limo services further out are available to fliers who live outside of the NYC area. sometimes even car services in Pennsylvania or car services in Connecticut are able to drive out to LGA.

Terminal D was opened in June 19th, 1983 and cost about $90 million to complete, it was also designed by William Nicholas Bodouva and his associates. Terminal D also runs directly with Delta Airlines and like Terminal C is currently going through a demolishing and reconstruction in order to make navigating the terminal’s easier for fliers. Ironically enough this construction has made coming in and out of Terminal D an absolute nightmare to navigate. The construction has forced Terminal D to be directly connected to Terminal C making it so that people who arrive or depart from Terminal D have to take a nearly 8 minute walk to Terminal C just to exit the airport.

LaGuardia Airport is used by many states around New York, the airport is also used by many different airlines. This means that most of the time even if you are going to a state that is not New York, you’re still likely to land in LaGuardia. This means that most of the time you will have to find a car service to take you outside of the state from New York City. This includes going from LaGuardia to New Jersey, a state that is normally associated with New York. LaGuardia to Pennsylvania, this includes more than just Philadelphia but the entirety of the state. This also includes LaGuardia to Connecticut, where despite its length some New York car services will go out to places even like New London. The furthest some New York limo companies will go is places like Massachusetts and Washington D.C.. However there are black car services in New York city that can provide services as far out as Massachusetts, West Virginia and for those willing to pay even as far out as Tennessee or Ohio. If you happen to need this kind of a service and don’t know where to start a good company to use is My Destiny Limo. Otherwise there are quite a few companies in New York City that can provide a good quality service for your pleasure.

In terms of transportation to or from LaGuardia airport you’re met with the standard, multiple bus routes that a visitor can take and various car/limo services. While people that travel a lot will know exactly what bus routes to take, most people opt to take a limo service to NYC. a great car service would be your best choice when navigating LGA and especially when booking a ride home.

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