Gotham West and Hell’s Kitchen: A Home for All Seasons
December 6, 2016
Just to the west of the frenetic lights of Times Square and Broadway lie the mellow confines of Hell’s Kitchen. Uniquely local in its texture, but pleasantly tony in its rich offerings of cuisine and culture, the neighborhood provides a respite from the heavily beaten path of Midtown’s 24-hour glitz. While you’ll find that your luxury oasis at the Gotham West apartments in Hell’s Kitchen situates you in unique proximity to the art galleries of Chelsea to the south, Broadway and the theater district to the east, and the Upper West Side museums and classical music venues to the north, the true value of these Midtown West luxury rentals is found in the immediate neighborhood. Hell’s Kitchen offers the best of New York, in every season, right in your own backyard.
When the sleigh bells start to ring just after Thanksgiving and snow teases the city for the winter ahead, you know that Christmas is soon to be upon us. While the iconic market canyon of 6th Avenue is a short trip, why fight the crowds? For those looking for a truly unique gift for that special someone, Hell’s Kitchen offers a celebrated alternative in the Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market (HFKM). There, antique hunters, fashionistas, celebrities, and your neighbors prowl the stalls together looking for vintage clothing, estate and new jewelry, furniture, and home décor, negotiating prices and snatching up deals at every turn. If you have a penchant for haggling and are looking for one-of-a-kind items, HKFM is not to be missed.
When the sun shines in the spring, and it seems like the entire city has arrived to bask in the rays at Central Park, skip the Sheep’s Meadow and instead head west from your apartment to Hudson River Park, Hell’s Kitchen’s very own playground. What was once a strip of parking lots overlooking a stretch of crumbling piers has now become a premier example of what urban parks strive to become. The four miles of shoreline that make up the longest waterfront park in the United States attract 17 million visits each year. The riverside setting is ideal for any number of watersports, including seasonal kayaking and swim races at Pier 96. For those who are looking for a more leisurely activity, Pier 95 has a “get down”: a shaded terrace that brings park-goers an opportunity to get closer to the water, relax, or even do a bit of fishing. For land lovers, take a day to walk the length of the park all the way to the Battery or rent a bike at Pier 84 for an afternoon of wind in your hair. Don’t forget to take some time to stop for a break at any one of the park’s many art exhibits. These unique installations offer spots to rest and lose yourself in a few quiet moments of reflection.
Foodies love spring in NYC, and Hell’s Kitchen is just the place to be. May brings The Ninth Avenue International Food Festival, the oldest and largest continuing food festival in New York City. Stretching from 42nd Street all the way to 57th, this festival seeks to promote the merchants of Hell’s Kitchen by showcasing their culinary delights along 15 blocks of deliciousness. The taste fest offers a chance to savor some of the best that NYC has to offer in a casual, open-air environment. Don’t forget to take notes on your favorite restaurants so that you can take in the full dining experience at a later date.
If the summer heat becomes unbearable, it may be tempting to hunker down in the comfortable confines of your Gotham West luxury rental, but resist the urge. Instead, get out and make your way to the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum. History and technology are in abundance during your tour. The USS Intrepid, a retired aircraft carrier, forms the centerpiece of the museum. Commissioned in 1943, it survived five kamikaze attacks during World War II, saw service in Vietnam, and was a NASA recovery vessel in the 1960s. While at the water’s edge, stop to visit the submarine Growler. This strategic-missile, diesel-powered submarine is the only one of its kind open to the public and offers a rare glimpse of what life was like at sea aboard this formerly top-secret vessel. And not to be missed is the Space Shuttle Pavilion housing the first space shuttle, Enterprise. Walk under the craft to see its shielding and climb atop a platform to get an up-close view unique to the Pavilion. When you’ve had your fill, cap your day off with a refreshing drink and watch the sun set across the Hudson from the vantage of any number of local rooftop watering holes.
Fall sees the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with its bands and superhero balloons. But if “favorite characters” are what you’re after, then don’t wait until November. Instead, head over to the Javits Center in October for the annual New York Comic Con. Billed as the “East Coast’s biggest and most exciting popular culture convention,” Comic Con draws fans of comics, graphic novels, toys, video games, and manga for a weekend of character encounters, previews of new movies and television shows, and memorabilia unlike any other. Your luxury, no-fee apartment at Gotham West puts you on the doorstep of this event and smack dab in the middle of the comic book capital of the world—Gotham City.
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