Tag: Downtown

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Dining Featured Living NYC Restaurants Uncategorized

BROOKFIELD PLACE WELCOMES BACK ITALIAN DINING AT PARM

Brookfield Place is one of downtown’s go-to locations since its redesign after 9/11. The 14-acre, 5-building complex on the Hudson River is home to some of the world’s most innovative companies and one of New York’s most celebrated experiential, culinary, cultural, and shopping. DOWNTOWN’s Founder, Grace A. Capobianco, recently had the pleasure of visiting the newly redesigned Parm Brookfield Place, created by renowned chefs Mario Carbone and Rich Torrisi, and restauranteur Jeff Zalaznick.

Parm’s original location opened in New York City’s Little Italy in 2011, offering classic Italian dishes. They are renowned for everything from their prized Chicken Parm, and homemade meatballs, to Rigatoni Carbone-dishes that the Michelin-starred chefs Mario Carbone, and Rich Torrisi ate growing up. Their goal has always been to make the best versions of recognizable dishes we’ve all come to know while remaining faithful to their history.

The newly redesigned space in Brookfield Place offers a light modern design, with an expanded bar with counter seating and tables. The menu has had some updates, but don’t worry, your favorites are still offered, and much more.

“My guest and I enjoyed experiencing everything on the menu during our visit,” says Capobianco.

Dishes from Parm

“Some of our fave starters, the Pizza Knots, are a must, perfectly cooked with pizza spices, garlic, and butter, served with a side of tomato sauce. Also loved the Fried Calamari with Italian green peppers, with a little kick, and Momma Maria’s meatballs. These delicious meatballs will have you wanting more; you can’t eat just one, no fillers, just fresh pork, veal, beef with their secret ingredients.”

Parm’s Mamma Maria’s Meatballs
Parm’s Pizza Knots

“We’re not done yet, on to the pasta dishes. We sampled the Penne Carbone, in a spicy pink vodka sauce, and Rotini Genovese, with basil pesto, and creamy burrata. This was a nice twist on pesto.”

Penne Carbone, with Spicy Pink Vodka Sauce.

On to the main course, a Skirt Steak Pizzaiola-grilled skirt steak, covered with roasted tomatoes and peppers. Their Lemon Garlic Chicken is served as a half organic chicken, cooked in a cast-iron pan covered in lemon, garlic, and parsley.

Parm’s Lemon and Garlic Chicken
Skirt Steak Pizzaiola

“Desserts. A bit of advice, remember when ordering to save room for dessert. We did not!”

“Leave the gun take the cannoli,” The Godfather.

“We savored the Gelato Sundae with pistachio, mascarpone, & cherry gelato topped with whipped cream & a pizzelle cookie, and Mario’s Cannolis, comes with 3 to an order, and the Nutella Brownie served warm with mascarpone gelato & Nutella caramel.

We were rolled out of Parm, with bags of leftovers to savor for the next few days. To be honest, it did not make it past our staff’s eyes.

Parm is not only a great go-to neighborhood restaurant but also for global visitors. You have the option of dining in and or ordering delivery or pop in for a takeaway.” For more information, visit parmitalian.com

Categories
Culture Outdoor

Help Save The Elizabeth Street Garden

Art by Noel Cuvin for the Elizabeth Street Garden's Call to Artists.
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Art by Noel Cuvin for the Elizabeth Street Garden’s Call to Artists. The video and all quotes below are courtesy of the Elizabeth Street Garden. 

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The Elizabeth Street Garden has been a favorite outdoor spot for so many people in Little Italy and Soho for nearly 200 years. On top of offering a respite from busy city life for the residents of Downtown Manhattan, the garden also offers rentals for video and photo shoots as well as weddings and private events. 

But the garden may not be with us for much longer. The city has proposed the sale of this land to Haven Green (Pennrose Properties, Habitat NYC, and Riseboro) to make way for affordable housing, retail locations, and office space. The Garden states on their website that “the affordability is not permanent,” and that the residence can eventually “turn into market rate housing.” 

The Elizabeth Street Garden has offered numerous alternative sites for affordable housing developments in an effort to save the community’s garden and green space, with these sites providing “more than 10x the amount of affordable units.”

To help save the garden, visit The Elizabeth Street Garden website today!

 

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Categories
Featured News

Innovative Leadership at Four Seasons Downtown

Four Seasons Downtown manager Thomas Carreras

Building on the Four Seasons Downtown

WHEN THE FOUR SEASONS ARRIVED Downtown years ago, there was a conscious decision to adapt one of the world’s most luxurious and recognizable brands to its new neighborhood. In July 2019, when Thomas Carreras took the helm as general manager, he continued that mission. “When I arrived I recieved all the things the Four Seasons sent and then I sent it all back. I said, ‘I don’t like the cutlery. I don’t like the linens. I don’t like the dishes or the glasses. I don’t like the spa products.'” Carreras wanted something more distinctly Downtown. He continues, “Downtown has a strong identity. The minibar should look like a speakeasy. Everything inside should say ‘home.’ And this applies to everything we do. If you want pancakes at 8pm you can have them. We started a noodle soup menu—real Asian comfort food. On the second day we had 30 orders. People catch on to what we do because it feels different.”

Hiring the Right People

Carreras took a similar dissenting view towards hiring his staff. When he arrived they did the usual mass recruitment event and saw over 5,000 people. “We signed about 10 people from that event, and some of those had never worked in hotels. Two of our best people at the front desk had been teachers. One told us that it had been his dream to work in hotels but was never given a chance because in New York they are looking for transaction experts. We aren’t. I want people who actually care about other people. The guests feel the difference.”

Supporting the Four Seasons Downtown Community

Carreras’s worldview is a perfect fit for Downtown, where the mood is hip, active, and community-centric, and the demographic is getting younger and more creative every day. And the hotel’s clientele reflects its vibrant neighborhood. Says Michael Law, Director of Marketing, “We get a lot of athletes and celebrities who know the brand, but also who want to be part of this incredible neighborhood.” He continues, “Every guest that walks through our door is Downtown’s guest. We succeed or fail together. There is a great sense of optimism for the future.” Carreras adds, “The people who live and work here really care about Downtown. There is an emotional connection to this place.” That is why, as part of the staff orientation, Carreras takes them to the 9/11 Memorial for a moment of remembrance. “The rebirth of Downtown is not just the buildings, it’s the people. This isn’t just a job. This is about building a community, and it comes with a sense of responsibility.” He continues, “I want our staff to feel part of the rebirth.”

fourseasons.com

Categories
Featured NYC Real Estate

The Real New York with Emanuele Fiore

“Emanuele identified a real estate niche market amongst his fellow models who had moved to Milan”

At the age of 18, Emanuele Fiore, left Torino, Italy for Milan to start what would be a very successful modeling career, and he did just that and more.

While in Milan, Emanuele identified a real estate niche market amongst his fellow models who had moved to Milan from around the World to try their luck in the Fashion Capital. Emanuele started a real estate agency chain “CASA IN” handling rentals and sales throughout Italy as well as partnering with other agencies throughout Europe.

Having traveled the world for work as a model, Emanuele established a very strong and successful network in the fashion world, celebrities, politicians, and business leaders who are keen to be in the New York Real Estate market.

Being fluent in 4 languages, Italian, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Emanuele has successfully par-laid that international experience into a discerning NY real estate career. Emanuele now with over 10 years of experience in the USA real estate market, can guide you through notable condominiums, cooperatives, and townhouses. He has worked with private individuals and developers to identify a townhouse for purchase, renovation, and resale at significant profits in addition to working with individuals to identify townhouses as long-term homes.

He is adaptive to client needs, discreet, and known for his careful negotiations on their behalf.

DOWNTOWN had the opportunity to interview Emanuele Fiore

DTM: What do you like most about being a broker in New York City?

EF: Being a broker in New York City, is probably the most difficult and competitive city in the world.. a good thing is that the price point of real estate is high compared to everywhere else, so once the hard work is done and the deal is sealed, the commission is worth the immense effort. I very much like being a broker here in New York, the properties are spectacular!

EF: Casa Cipriani,Piccola Cucina, 6 bond Street

DTM: What is your go-to place to just hang out on the weekend in New York City?

EF: Dumbo House

DTM: Share some of the properties this week?

EF: Unit 56 at 23 East 22nd Street in Flatiron entered contract this week, with the last asking price of $16,995,000. Built-in 2009, this gut-renovated condo spans 3,310 square feet with 4 beds and 3 full baths. It features a 360-degree park, river, and city views, a private foyer with a south-facing view, a primary suite with an en-suite bathroom and walk-in closet, hardwood floors, and much more. The building provides a full-time doorman and concierge, a state-of-the-art fitness center, an indoor pool, a steam room, a parlor room, and many other amenities.

Compass – Unit 56 at 23 East 22nd Street

Also signed this week was Unit 36B at 15 Central Park West on the Upper West Side, with the last asking price of $15,250,000. Built-in 2007, this condo spans 2,367 square feet with 2 beds and 2 full baths. It features unobstructed park views, floor-to-ceiling windows, custom white rift oak shelving and storage throughout, a paneled wall that accommodates a gas fireplace, an open eat-in kitchen with high-end appliances, a west-facing primary suite with an en-suite bathroom, and much more. The building provides a large fitness center, a lap pool, a private restaurant/catering, and many other amenities.

Unit 36B at 15 Central Park West
 
Looking for the perfect broker, while finding just the right home, look no further!

Emanuele Fiore
Licensed Real Estate Salesperson
M: 516.653.8279
efiore@compass.com

Cover photo – https://richardsteinbergteam.com/properties/36-e-69th-street-unit-4-ab-newyorkcity-ny-10021-olrs-1968085

Categories
Art

Chinon Maria at the World Trade Center

Chinon Maria at World Trade Center

Artist Chinon Maria at the World Trade Center’s New Gallery

“CREATING PUBLIC ART in the World Trade Center has been one of the most humbling and emotional experiences of my life,” says Colombian-born street artist Chinon Maria at the World Trade Center

Chinon has four large-scale murals that call the World Trade Center home. Her latest, One World, Our Childrenwill be placed at the future site of 5 WTC and features faces of nine refugee girls from around the globe. Maria asked 1,500 children from 40 countries to mail drawings and descriptions of their dreams for the future, which she incorporated into the mural, with the help of 350 local student volunteers.

Drawing Inspiration Worldwide

“I like to think New York has a place for all these cultures, and all these ideas that I love from all over the world,” Chinon explains. “My artwork is vibrant, colorful, hopeful with an underlining message of unity, healing, and social activism.”

Chinon’s high-energy work has been comissioned for public spaces around the world, and always within her preferred medium—public domain.

“Public art is so important to me, that accessibility, you can’t put a price tag on it,” she says. “It has the ability to actually change space with positive reinforcement and the resurgance of hopeful attitudes.

Taking It Home to New York

“While new projects take her to Mexico and beyond, it’s in lower Manhattan where she feels most at home and spiritually connected.

“In Downtown, you can walk on any block and at any moment you can see people from all over the world and that’s, for me, really inspiring as an artist.”

Art’s transformative power is especially meaningful to Maria’s downtown work., as she aims to positive contribute to the area’s rebirth.

“Art has a power to bring together people from different cultures to identify with a piece of work, to enjoy a piece by just being able to see it on the street and getting the community involved,” Chinon says.

Murals at 4 World Trade Center

To do just this for 4 World Trade Center, Chinon wanted her mural to depict the rich history of New York City in an inviting way, and also sat down with children from the community to talk about the future of the city.

“It was not only 9/11, the tragedy that happened here,” she says. “There were so many other things that have made this city what it is today—good and bad—so I wanted to make sure we could honor that through a piece of artwork.”

“To end it on a hopeful note, I worked with community children to say the future of New York City is going to be bright, and beautiful, and filled with diversity and color.”

Visit the work of artist Chinon Maria at the World Trade Center at wtgallery.com/chinon-maria

Categories
Living

Ships Ahoy! All the Ferry Service You Can Take To and From Lower Manhattan

NY Waterway
NY Waterway

Reproduced with permission from the Downtown Alliance.

NY Waterway

More than a decade ago, Mayor Michael Bloomberg called New York City’s waterways the “sixth borough.” While that certainly was less controversial than all the times Philadelphia was saddled with that moniker, the designation still seemed ambitious. Bloomberg was trying to bring attention to New York’s often-overlooked status as an archipelago, a city surrounded, and divided, by water — water, he said, that should be treated as part of the city, not just a boundary to cross.

Eleven years and two mayors later, the dream of the sixth borough is becoming a reality. As of February 2022, recent service expansions have made Lower Manhattan accessible via 18 different ferry routes. Waterfront access now outnumbers the area’s robust share of subway service, making it the most-connected neighborhood by ferry in the city. The following is a list of all the ferry services you can take to and from Lower Manhattan, whether you’re going to the Bronx, the Rockaways, New Jersey or just a little bit uptown.

NYC Ferry

The big ferry stop at Wall Street Pier 11 on the east side of the neighborhood is a hub for most ferry routes, meaning you can get just about anywhere along the East River and beyond, from as far north as Throgs Neck in the Bronx all the way out to the Rockaways; and from Bay Ridge in Brooklyn up to Astoria in Queens.

Governors Island is open year-round for the first time this year, and the NYC Ferry launched long-awaited, year-round service there in January.

On the West side of the neighborhood, the Battery Park City stop will get you to Staten Island, or up W. 39th Street. See the full routes and schedules here.

The Staten Island Ferry

The biggest passenger boat in the waters of New York City is also one of the city’s finest free attractions. Regular service resumed in summer 2021, which means you can catch the free ride from Whitehall Terminal about every 30 minutes (or faster during rush hour), all day and night long. You’ll get a great view of the Statue of Liberty too, and you can always hit up the onboard bar to help pass the 25-minute journey. See the full schedule here.

NY Waterway

The neighborhood’s multiverse of ferry options serve those coming from outside the city too. NY Waterway operates routes to Pier 11 from points in New Jersey, including Belford, Hoboken, Liberty Harbor, Jersey City, Weehawken and Edgewater; some of those routes go up the Hudson to Brookfield Place too. See the full schedule and routes here.

Seastreak

The Seastreak is an express boat to and from parts of New Jersey not easily serviced by NJ Transit or the PATH train. The ferry travels from Highlands and Atlantic Highlands to the Battery Maritime Building and E. 35th Street. See the full fares and schedules here.

photo: iStock

Governors Island Ferry

No longer just a summer treat, Governors Island and its ferry are now operating all year long! Boats operate out of the Battery Maritime Building (10 South Street) from 7 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Monday to Sunday; the last boat off the island leaves at 6 p.m. Tickets cost $3, see the full schedule here.

In addition, the newly added South Brooklyn route is now a permanent stop in between Sunset Park/Brooklyn Army Terminal and Red Hook/Atlantic Basin. Check out ferry.nyc for a full list of ferry schedules, and start planning your wintry Lower Manhattan skyline selfies.