All posts by Andy

About Andy

Andy grew up alongside water all his life -- which made calling Battery Park City home an easy decision after coming to New York City over a decade ago. His favorite part of the neighborhood is the movie theater, where he enjoys being able to stroll in and watch a movie without taking a subway or cab.

Conde Nast Flagship Building Will Move to Ground Zero World Trade Center

Conde Nast Moves Headquarters To New World Trade Center

Buildings, Real Estate, , , , , ,
Conde Nast Flagship Building Will Move to Ground Zero World Trade Center
Conde Nast moves its headquarters to the new World Trade Center site

If you build office space, someone is bound to move in. Conde Nast has confirmed they signed a tentative deal that would move from their flagship Times Square location into the building formerly known as the Freedom Tower.

According to NY Magazine, employees were emailed a memo regarding the move today:

‘We have been evaluating real estate opportunities that would allow us to house all our brands in a single, state-of-the-art headquarters, as some of you may already know.As part of that process, we are in active discussions regarding 1 World Trade Center, a development project underway with the Durst Organization (our 4 Times Square landlord) and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

While a final decision is several months away — and a move itself unlikely before 2014 – we wanted to keep you apprised of the status of this project. We also wanted to alert you, since it is now highly likely that we will move from 4 Times Square, whether to 1 World Trade Center or another location, that we will be reviewing our present and future space requirements for each of our businesses. More information about that process will be communicated shortly.”

It was speculated that Conde Nast would be one of the first tenants at the World Trade Center site after Durst was confirmed as one of the of two developers overseeing the reconstruction of the World Trade Center site. Durst’s relationship with high profile tenants was seen as an advantageous by the Port Authority.

This is the second announcement of publications moving into the lower manhattan area. The Daily News, America Media Inc. and Manseuto Ventures have recently called our area their new homes.

blt bar and gril w hotel downtown

NOW OPEN: BLT Bar & Grill at W Hotel Downtown (PHOTOS)

Food, Restaurant Reviews, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
blt bar and gril w hotel downtown
Food scene grows in Battery Park City with the opening of our own BLT

Are you looking for a great dinner option tonight, and have gotten tired of the restaurants around you?
You’re in luck because today marks the opening of the long awaited BLT Bar & Grill at the new W Hotel Downtown on Albany Street.

“We are pleased to partner with the W and become a presence in Lower Manhattan,” says Jimmy Haber, owner of the BLT Restaurant Group, “The BLT Bar & Grill concept was tailor-made for the neighborhood, offering a variety of dining options under one roof for friends, businesses and locals.”

The BLT enterprise has been testing our downtown palates with their GO Burger trucks at the South Street Seaport for a while, you can consider that they’ve done their homework on our neighborhood. With the rumored openings of Shake Shack and Blue Smoke in our neighborhood, Battery Park City is set to be a veritable foodie fiefdom.

According to the press release the restaurant bills itselve as “a modern tavern — offering modern American bar food with a wide selection of cocktails, beer and wine” with Executive Chefs Christophe Bellanca and David Craine at the helm of the cuiisine. The restaurant seats 23 at the bar, and has two levels of seating, including a private dining room and an outside patio area.

As BLT is billing itself as “affordable fare for everyday dining, ” that may be considered fighting words for our beloved Gatehouse, which has been the only other restaurant offering everyday pub-ish fare on Albany Street for years.

In terms of the menu, include the following selections:

Breakfast:
Brioche French Toast with cinnamon-caramelized apples
“Downtown” Burrito, cheddar scrambled eggs, peppers and onion tomato salsa.

Lunch:
Eggplant & Taleggio Panini with caper aioli
Cuban Sandwich pressed with pork belly and speck.

Dinner:
Spiced Rotisserie Chicken with cabernet honey and chicken jus
Fish & Chips with zesty tartar sauce
Filet Mignon, Bone-In Ribeye and NY Strip steaks.

There are daily specials being offered and to find out more check out their breakfast, lunch, dinner, and bar menus here.

The restaurant is open daily serving breakfast from 6:30AM -10:30AM, lunch from 11:30AM – 2:30PM and dinner from 5:30PM – 10PM. The bar is open from 11AM-1AM, which includes its own special bar menu.  Lucky condominium residents and guests of the W Hotel can count on BLT to provide them sustenance at their beck and call for “in residence dining”, including offering food options at Living Room Bar and Terrace location within the hotel.

Sean Kimerling Foundation Annual Golf Tournament

News, What's Happening, , , , ,

To everyone in plain sight, Sean Kimerling was the bastion of health. The local WPIX sportscaster and Mets pre-game announcer exercised daily, ate healthy and enjoyed playing golf whenever he could.

The Battery Park City resident had it all, good looks a great career but also didn’t know he also had cancer. After suffering through which he thought was exercise induced back pain, Sean Kimerling was diagnosed with testicular cancer and after fighting a short battle — succumbed to the disease. He was 37.

It was during his battle that he wanted to make a difference by bringing preventative care awareness to men. Armed with his wishes, his family set up the Sean Kimerling Foundation and nearly 7 years later the organization continues to help fight the disease through awareness in honor of the late sportscaster and fellow Battery Park City neighbor.

Testicular cancer is the most common cancer among young men between the ages of 15 and 40. It also has one of the highest cure rates of all cancers, with a survival rate of over 95 percent if detected and treated early . Our goal is that all men will have the information they need about the disease, its symptoms and what to do about them so that more cases will be diagnosed early, and lives saved.

The 7th Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament and Dinner which is held in honor of Sean, himself an avid golfer, will take place on August 9. For more information on how you can join this event who’s guests include Rick Ackerman, Ottis Anderson, Ron Darling, Darryl Strawberry and other sports legends, please vista their website here.

Conrad Hotel USA

New Details Released On Conrad Hotel in Battery Park City

Buildings, Real Estate, , , , , , , ,
Conrad Hotel USA
Conrad Hotel in Chicago is a peek into what's to come in BPC

In a new interview published by Hotelworldnetwork.com, details are coming forth about the new Conrad luxury hotel slated to open in Q4 2011.

The interview with head of luxury brands John T.A. Vanderslice discusses the Hilton’s luxury brands strategy in opening up its 5th United States location in Battery Park City.

According to Vanderslice, “Conrad’s forthcoming entry in the New York City market is indicative of the brand’s formidable development pipeline which also includes future properties in other important global cities such as Dubai and Beijing With regard to the timing of the Conrad New York announcement, our development decisions are made for the long-term and there are many indications that the luxury segment is rebounding with demand on the rise. Additionally, there is currently a relatively low luxury supply in New York’s Financial District so we hope to satisfy an important and growing market need.”

Considering there is a Ritz Carlton and a W hotel within a two block radius of Ground Zero, we’re not certain we agree with that sentiment.

Vanderslice also goes on to point out features of this new luxury hotel,

“A distinguishing feature of the Conrad New York will be the hotel’s typical room size. Typical rooms will average between 500 and 550 square feet, which is extremely generous by any standard, let alone by the space-conscious standard of New York hotels. Additionally, like all Conrad properties, the Conrad New York will feature the smart luxury, flawless service, and technological sophistication that enable guests to enjoy the rare luxury of being themselves.”

Keeping true to the hotel brand’s philosophy, “The luxury of being yourself.”

In a press release for the hotel, the proximity of the hotel to the Freedom Tower is being heavily touted. As well as a noted commitment to providing high end amenities and dining establishments within the hotel,

“The soaring, sunlit 15-story atrium lobby features a dramatic Sol LeWitt art piece rising 13 floors above the check-in desk.  Each luxuriously appointed guestroom will feature an average of more than 550 square feet, a minimum of two flat panel televisions and a full complement of contemporary electronic features.  Conrad New York will also feature upscale dining and beverage outlets that are consistent with Conrad’s global definition of luxury.  Interior design is being styled by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, Office dA and Remedios Studios.

In addition, more than 17,000 square feet of flexible meeting space will ensure that guests can stay connected and meet in comfort, supported by state-of-the-art technology and meeting facilities.  A 6,000 square foot Grand Ballroom is designed to accommodate conferences and social gatherings for more than 600 participants.

Existing Conrad properties in the United States include Conrad Miami, Conrad Chicago, Conrad Indianapolis and Conrad San Juan.”

Battery Park City Community Comments

Week in Review: You Said It! (Community Comments)

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Battery Park City Community Comments
Check out this weeks neighborhood comments!

We’ve been humbled by the response we’ve received on the site through comments and suggestions, and so we’ve decided to create a weekly feature called “Week in Review.’ Every week, we’ll highlight  selected comments from the site. We urge you to find and add more comments to all our articles as we hope that this keeps the conversation going! As always, feel free to leave suggestions/comments for the rest of us on the site and in our posts.

Art Vendors in Battery Park
Battery Vendors

In ‘Battery Park to Have Fewer Art Vendors,’
John wrote: “what about the counterfeit luxury bags dealers? between the art vendors and the counterfeit luxury bags dealers, i’d rather see the art vendors stay, and the counterfeit bag dealers go. one group is selling legal merchandise, the other is clearly trading in illegal merchandise. and they make neither commitments NOR investments in our neighborhood. their shady way of operating is the real blight on our streets.”

45-47 Park Place Debris
9/11 Debris

In ‘Mosque Hearing Update and Religious Turf War,’
Dr. John A. Pagnani wrote: “It seems to me that the part of the reconstruction site that is not dedicated to commerce should be a nondenominational space to promote healing and rememberence, not division. I would vote to keep all organized religions from seizing this ground so everyone is able to feel comfortable there. I do not think it should be used to promote any specific religious perspective other than what people bring to the site in their hearts.”

liberty court 200 rector place
Tire Swing Woes

In ‘Liberty Court Residents New Tire Swing Victims,’
M Wood Wrote: “…Of course for the last year or so we have been living through another reconstruction of West Street. In addition, those of us facing West Thames Park just experienced many months of construction, starting early in the morning, sometimes 7 days a week. I think a little context might help make others a little more understanding and actually appreciative of those residents who have stayed here despite these challenges. By the way, my own pet peeve is the ugliness of the new “arbor”, but that is nothing after what we have been through here.”

MTA Cuts greatly affect Lower Manhattan
BPC MTA Changes

In ‘MTA Cuts Ream Lower Manhattan: What This Means,’
Kate S. wrote: “Battery Park City is a wonderful place to live–except when they take away key services like the W train and the M9 bus. The M9 was a link to being able to go out by myself at night and feel completely safe coming home late. What a shame that we, who do not have all the amenities of the rest of NYC, are cut off from the few things that made life here a bit easier.”

NYTimes Panoramic View of the World Trade Center Memorial Pool

Panoramic Look at the World Trade Center Memorial Pool

News, What's Happening, , , ,
NYTimes Panoramic View of the World Trade Center Memorial Pool
NYTimes.com's Panoramic View of the WTC Memorial Pool (Credit: Fred R. Conrad/NYTimes)

As construction at the World Trade Center site continues, the semblance of one recognizable landmark at Ground Zero is near completion.

The New York Times has launched their panoramic view within the Memorial Pools — which will mark the footprints of the original Twin Towers.

Check out the interactive piece at NYTimes.com.

Battery Park City Fourth of July Fireworks

July Fourth: Best Picks for Battery Park City

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Battery Park City Fourth of July Fireworks
Battery Park City is a great place this year for Macy's Fireworks viewing!

Depending on the year, we either have the best views of the famed Macy’s fireworks in Battery Park City — or we’ve got nada.

Lucky for us… this year is a phenomenal year for the Macy’s Fireworks!!

The fireworks are set to begin at 9:20 p.m. and will have six barges along the Hudson River. The theme of the show this year is “American Harmony” which will feature music that emphasizes the glory of American history.

The New York Pops Orchestra and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir will perform, and there will be unique versions of classic patriotic tunes performed by Straight No Chaser, Broadway Inspirational Voices, U.S. Army Soldier’s Chorus, and United We Sing. The music will be performed in sync with the fireworks and can be heard on 1010 WINS. For those who prefer an HD and air-conditioned view of the show, NBC will broadcast the fireworks live beginning at 9 p.m. EST.

For those who are interested in being closer to the action uptown, be mindful of the following street closings:

Fireworks will be launched from six barges in the Hudson River. 12th Avenue will be closed below 59th beginning at 4 p.m. for viewing. Pedestrians can access the 12th Avenue from 11th Avenue at 24th, 26th-30th, 34th, 40th-44th, 47th-52nd and 54th-57th streets. The West Side Highway will be closed to vehicular traffic from 22nd-59th Street starting at 4 p.m.

However, the Macy’s Fourth of July fireworks are viewable from anywhere you have an unobstructed view of the sky above the Hudson River.

Some other events worth noting this weekend are:

Rosanne Cash Concert at Governors Island:
An outdoor concert with Grammy award-winning singer and songwriter Rosanne Cash — bring a picnic and discover Governors Island!Free ferry service starting at 10am from the Battery Maritime Building at 10 South Street between Whitehall and Broad Streets, adjacent to the Staten Island Ferry.

The Battery 4th of July Concert and Family Festival – Dan Zanes Jam & Jubilee: Enjoy a free performance by Dan Zanes Jam & Jubilee in Battery Park at 2 p.m. Details and directions available on their website. Space is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Revolutionary War Walking Tour:
Big Onion Walking tours will have a 1 p.m.  walking tour of sites related to the Revolutionary War in Lower Manhattan. Fraunces Tavern, the graves of Alexander Hamilton and General Richard Montgomery, and Federal Hall are among the sites featured on the tour. Admission: Adults $15, Seniors & Students $12. Meet at the intersection of Broadway and Murray Street, at gated entrance to City Hall Park.

Spirit of New Jersey July 4th Dinner Cruise:
See the fireworks while you enjoy dinner, open bar, and live music on Spirit of New Jersey’s cruise from 6 – 11 p.m. (5 p.m. boarding) for $263.90 per person departing from Chelsea Piers. (Price does not include taxes, fees & required gratuities, which add about $80 per ticket.) Consult their website for details and reservations.

Circle Line Downtown’s Zephyr Cruise:
The Zephyr boards at South Street Seaport Pier 16 at 6 p.m., sailing from 6:30-11:30 p.m. Tickets are $165 and $120 for children, and include live DJ and buffet dinner with a cash bar available.

Where’s The Best Sushi for Battery Park City?

Food, Restaurant Reviews, , , ,
A map looking for the best sushi in Battery Park City
Where is the best sushi in our neighborhood? (Courtesy: A Small Array)

Where is the best sushi in Battery Park City? This has been a conundrum for residents and visitors of the Downtown Manhattan area.

What is more confusing is that according to a map released by the site Very Small Array, we in Battery Park City primarily eat Japanese, Italian and French food. Say wha…Huh?!

Off the tops of our heads we can only think of a handful of sushi places in our area. Including Yushi and Kaijou — the latter gets honorable mention for being here the longest and having the best views from the restaurant… but a claim to best sushi in the neighborhood is arguable.

So it’s even more boggling that apparently to the rest of the people outside of our area — we are now known for this cuisine. Don’t we have more American/Irish Pubby type of food down here? We digress and must focus on finding the answer to our original question.

In order for us to put this sushi question to rest and we’re present an informal and unscientific poll to help vote on where the best sushi is. We’ve added a handful of the closest restaurants to our neighborhood as choices– but welcome write-in nominations in the comments area! Quite frankly, if we knew more sushi restaurants we wouldn’t be putting out a call to action such as this one !

So vote on and may the best sushi place prevail!

[poll id=”2″]

What's Happening: Wednesday, April 22, 2010

What's Happening

Happy Birthday Earth Day! Today is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day and in celebration of this occasion there will be all-day events in and around the neighborhood. Being that our neighborhood is considered one of the greenest in the nation, we cannot back down on festivities. Events which include everything from Bird Watching with the BPC Parks Conservancy to arts and crafts event at the NYPL for children, there is something for everyone today. Find out more about the events with our rundown.

    [pods name=”event” where=”t.event_month=’Apr’ AND t.event_day=’22′” template=”event_list_post”]