Summer has arrived in New York City, bringing plenty of sunshine and a welcome opportunity for some much-needed leisure. Summer is also the best season of the year for exploring, or simply rekindling an appreciation for, the city’s cultural institutions, parks, restaurants, and the sights and sounds that make New York the greatest city on Earth. Residents of the 555TEN luxury rentals are just a few blocks away from one of New York City’s most famed and beloved destinations — the High Line. A walk through this 1.45-mile-long elevated park, which stretches from Gansevoort Street to 34th Street along the West Side of Manhattan, promises scenic viewing spots, newly commissioned art installations, and glimpses of New York’s history.

Groundbreaking on the High Line started in 2006, but its first visitors were welcomed in 2009. The park continued to expand farther north, with the Rail Yards section, which runs between West 30th to 34th Streets, completed for visitors in 2014. But the High Line’s origin story stretches back to the 19th century — when freight trains still operated at street level, causing perilous conditions for pedestrians. Years of improvement projects aimed at making the area safer led to the construction of an elevated rail line. The “West Side Elevated Line,” as it was originally known, debuted in the 1930s and carried goods to factories like Nabisco’s, better known today as the building that houses the ever-popular Chelsea Market.

With the advent of trucking, the High Line fell into disuse, and by the 1980s, it was headed for demolition. In fact, former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani even signed a demolition order in 1999. Enter the Friends of the High Line. Inspired by the natural beauty of the secret garden of wild plants that had sprung up there, the group was founded to advocate for the repurposing of the space for public use. The organization commissioned a competition for ideas to reimagine the old rail line. With community support and planning, the High Line was born — and has since become one of the city’s most popular sites and an exemplar of landscape architecture the world over.

While proposals to extend the High Line north to Hudson River Park have already been announced, 555TEN residents can easily make the short stroll to the 34th Street entrance. From there, they can enjoy a walk through the Interim Walkway, which offers panoramic city and Hudson River views. At 30th Street, the Pershing Square Beams pay homage to the High Line’s industrial past with preserved steel beams and girders, which have been repurposed as a safe area for play and exploration. Also found at 30th Street is the Spur — an open-air space that houses the High Line Plinth, which is dedicated to large-scale public artworks. Currently on view is “Untitled (drone)” by Sam Durant — an abstract fiberglass sculpture in the form of a drone aircraft, which Durant fashioned to bring visibility to usually invisible drone warfare and surveillance.

Farther south on 26th Street is a dedicated viewing spot, as well as stretches of trees and other greenery along the Philip A. and Lisa Maria Falcone Flyover. Still farther down, you’ll find the lush Chelsea Thicket between 21st and 22nd Streets. For a moment of rest during your visit, engage in a bit of people watching on the 23rd Street Lawn and Seating Steps or the 10th Avenue Square & Overlook. Cool off with the water feature and sundeck between 14th and 15th Streets, or, in the evening, pause at the partially enclosed 14th Street Passage, which offers a curated rotation of art videos and other programming.

Residents of 555TEN can make the most of the High Line all summer long. And why not? This treasured piece of New York history is right in their own backyard.

As the weather warms up in NYC, New Yorkers want to get outside and seize the summer days with gusto. After a year of being indoors, this summer is set to be one when everyone appreciates the fresh air more than ever. Think: outdoor dining at fabulous restaurants, meeting up with friends at a park, and long walks through the city. Residents of 555TEN luxury rentals have easy access to almost every al fresco activity Manhattan affords. These no-fee NYC rentals are just a five-minute stroll from the High Line, an even quicker walk to Hudson Yards, and two blocks away from the Hudson River. But you don’t need to look any further than home to get a healthy dose of outdoor fun — 555TEN has plenty of that for you.

Get the sunscreen ready!

The outdoor amenities at 555TEN are as exquisite as each of the homes inside. You could pass a sizzling summer day in the temperature-controlled splendor of your home, enjoying the striking views and taking advantage of every modern convenience one could ever ask for. Then again, you could also throw on your bathing suit, grab a towel, and take the elevator up to the rooftop pool. While rooftops abound in this vertical city, none are as sleek and stylish as this one 56 stories above Midtown West.

Imagine spending a day with family and friends luxuriating in a cabana or reclining on a chaise lounge in between soothing soaks in the pool. Float all of your cares away 650 feet in the air. As the sun begins to set, take in jaw-dropping vistas as you gaze toward the south and the Hudson River. Who needs to get tickets to the nearby Edge observation deck when this rooftop gives you views that are just as stunning? Watching the sunset from this unobstructed vantage point is nothing short of breathtaking — and it’s something you can see on any day. When night falls, head to the rooftop club for a drink at the bar, and gather around the indoor/outdoor fireplace.

At 555TEN, it’s not just people who get to enjoy world-class outdoor amenities: Dogs have their own outdoor area to play and get some exercise. No more dragging your pup to the dog park blocks away in inclement weather. Thanks to 555TEN’s covered outdoor dog park, both you and your furry best friend can get in some playtime whenever the mood strikes.

Enjoy all that New York City has to offer — both indoors and out — from these well-appointed, customizable, and amenity-filled homes. Want to see more of what 555TEN has to offer? Contact us today and make an appointment for viewing.

Hudson River Park runs an impressive four miles along the western shoreline of Manhattan — and right past the luxury rentals at 555TEN. As NYC reopens for summer, make the most of this uniquely repurposed industrial waterfront, with its charming lawns, restaurants, and community activities, that sits on the doorstep of 555TEN’s Midtown West apartments.

Lazing on Lawns

Sometimes all a sunny afternoon calls for is a patch of lush, green grass for relaxing. Hudson River Park has plenty. Recline with a good novel at Linda’s Lawn, or top up your tan on nearby Locomotive Lawn. Pier 96 is home to Clinton Cove — walkable from 555TEN’s no-fee rentals, and it’s the perfect spot for picnicking. Walk around a bit and you’ll discover some of the park’s many public artworks. Particularly worth seeking out is Malcolm Cochran’s “Private Passage.” It’s a sculpture of an oversized wine bottle with an interior that mirrors a stateroom from the Queen Mary ocean liner.

Take to the Water (Or Stay on Dry Land)

You needn’t be a seasoned sailor to take to the Hudson River. Wander down to the waterfront from 555TEN to find Manhattan Kayak, offering kayak and paddleboard lessons and experiences — there’s even an after-dark excursion. Next door, on Pier 83, is Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises. Be a tourist for a change, and drink in Manhattan skyline views by day, or watch the city twinkle after dark on the Harbor Lights Cruise. Prefer to remain on dry land? Join the scores of joggers who use the park’s pathways for their daily routine, or hire a bike from Pier 84, and take off along the Hudson River Greenway.

Waterfront Drinking and Dining

On balmy evenings, nothing rivals refined cocktails followed by a meal under the stars. Try The Press Lounge for stunning views over the Hudson River, paired with summery sips, including pink negronis and spiked lemonades. Or, gorge on freshly caught seafood and prosecco aboard the North River Lobster Company‘s floating restaurant. Both are within comfortable walking distance of the luxury rentals at 555TEN.

Be a Volunteer

Want to give something back to this incredible park? Sign up to be a member of the HRPK Green Team. Twice-monthly sessions take place throughout the summer, inviting you to slip on your gardening gloves, and dig into planting, weeding, pruning, mulching, and various other horticultural activities. Not only is it a great way to keep the park looking fine and dandy, it’s another wonderful way to bask in the beauty of the waterfront — not to mention meet fellow New Yorkers.

Spring is in the air, and New Yorkers are ready to get back outside and explore a reopening and reinvigorated city. One of the most beloved and quintessentially “New York” pastimes might be strolling through Central Park and admiring storied landmarks and architectural marvels. Residents of 555TEN’s Midtown rentals are close to some of New York’s most famed attractions, including the city’s latest destination and engineering masterpiece: the Public Square and Gardens at Hudson Yards.

Just a few blocks south of 555TEN and at the center of Hudson Yards, the square features parks, gardens, and space for taking in some fresh air in the shade or enjoying a morning paper and coffee from the shops and restaurants nearby. But the Public Square and Gardens is a bona fide 21st-century destination. In addition to fast Wi-Fi throughout, the square was built atop a working railyard and deploys state-of-the-art horticultural technology to deliver nutrients, irrigate and drain, and allow root growth to its thicket of trees and tens of thousands of diverse plants across five acres. Wildflowers throughout the park offer a colorful tableau of spring’s brightest—and also attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators to maintain plant life across seasons.

Visitors can enjoy the park year-round—with plants and greenery supported with temperature regulation control. As part of a sophisticated ventilation system, tubing embedded within the platform beneath the tree roots circulates cooling liquids to combat the heat emanating from the train yard below, while the roots of the large trees throughout the park are supported with soil beds to allow them to grow and stay healthy and aerated. The 60,000-gallon stormwater storage tanks irrigate the park’s greenery while limiting the greenhouse output of pumping extra water throughout—a commitment to providing a sustainable, all-seasons destination.

At the center of the Square is the Vessel, designed by Heatherwick Studio. This honeycomb structure is now one of New York’s most recognizable architectural triumphs. But the striking design of the Vessel isn’t meant to be taken in passively. Visitors can explore the interactive design by ascending the structure’s 16 stories through over 150 interconnecting flights of stairs and taking in the view at one of the designated viewing points high above the city.

Though 555TEN residents can enjoy the comforts of home in their exceptional NYC luxury rentals, stepping outside to the Public Square and Gardens at Hudson Yards is a perfect reminder of the best of New York in the spring.

There’s no question that the past year has been a time of adjusting, adapting, and getting through hard times. But New York City has been the center of resilience and innovation and has transformed its streets and public spaces to let people walk, bike, dine, and be out and about in the city like never before. Residents of Midtown rentals at 555TEN are ideally located to take advantage of the city’s new Open Streets program and to visit the still-flourishing small businesses, safely socialize with friends and family, and enjoy the warm weather for an afternoon or evening in the neighborhood.

The Open Streets program creates both Temporary Limited Local Access and Temporary Full Closures in areas throughout the city during designated hours throughout the week. Limited Local Access limits most through traffic, while Full Closures create open streets and block all vehicle access and parking. Both programs make streets and public spaces easier for pedestrians and cyclists to navigate and allow streets to be used for outdoor dining, retail, or other programming to support the city. 555TEN residents can enjoy limited Local Access and Full Closures on nearby 46^th Street or along Broadway from 36^th Street to 42^nd Street and 47^th to 53^rd Streets to the north.

The program is designed to allow residents a chance to explore the city and get out and rediscover the offerings of their neighborhoods—and beyond—throughout the city’s boroughs. 555TEN residents can rediscover or create a new morning ritual with a stroll through the streets and grab an espresso and a pastry from their local cafe. While the exclusive 555TEN dog run is still in business for four-legged friends to enjoy, a long walk exploring the sights and sounds (and new smells, for your pets) will bring an exciting change of pace. Or it may be time to take the bike and helmet out of storage for a ride through Midtown to the East River or north to Upper Manhattan that will lend a whole new perspective on the city. Residents can also opt to dine out at their favorite local Italian, tapas, or seafood spot nearby or indulge in a Michelin-star meal for a celebratory occasion, then venture over to Broadway to see the landmarks and attractions at the heart of the Theater District.

While the city continues to adapt and make its streets more open and traffic-free for everyday enjoyment, residents of 555TEN can take advantage by visiting their beloved neighborhood shops, restaurants, and sights and discovering new favorites as they explore the city anew. And if you don’t live here yet, now is also an excellent time to explore our luxury Midtown Manhattan apartments.

Residents of the Midtown luxury apartments at 555TEN are in awe of the wealth of amenities the building offers at every turn. The doorman-attended building is home to a state-of-the-art gym, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a bowling alley, a rooftop deck, and a covered dog run, perfect for getting those furry friends some convenient exercise. Inside each apartment, residents can enjoy an in-residence washer and dryer, as well as stunning city views. Just steps from the building’s front door, residents also have easy access to the best the city has to offer, from restaurants like Empanada Mama and Totto Ramen to the bright lights of Times Square and the peaceful sanctuary of the High Line.

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We’re fully embarked on the third decade of the 21^st century, and New York City and its people have exciting decisions to make about how we’re going to grow and thrive in an increasingly complex and sophisticated society. Residents of the luxury Midtown rentals at 555TEN will reap many of the benefits of living in our world city/cultural mecca, including the beauty of Hudson River Park to the west and the attractions and delights of the Theater District seemingly everywhere around them. A walk of just over 20 minutes to the east will also bring them to CUNY Graduate Center, one of the academic institutions that help define New York City.

Like many colleges and universities, CUNY Graduate Center has a public programming component. Its Public Events Email List keeps interested New Yorkers apprised of future happenings at the school, and a tax-deductible Community Membership allows them to support and “receive special access” to the programming, which is often free to the public.

The Center’s spring semester 2021 public events are virtual, although many require an RSVP. On April 21st at 4 pm, “What Matters Now? CUNY Teaches Living History” discusses “transformative activism” as a response to health emergencies like COVID-19. Later in the evening (at 7:30 pm), “City of Science” will reveal the ethical dimensions of artificial intelligence.

In May, there will be an exploration of hip hop activism (on May 7th), a dissertation showcase (on May 19th) in which Graduate Center students are challenged to present their scholarship “in language for a general audience,” and a presentation (on May 20th) on Asian American New Yorkers’ contributions to “educational equity and diversity.”

The Graduate Center’s YouTube channel is a resource for live broadcasts and archives of past events like the recent four-part “Rethinking NYC” series, which discussed bias in the city’s criminal justice system, economic “opportunity escalators” to move the city forward, the central role of the city’s “abundant cultural activities and its magnificent public spaces,” and the challenges of leadership as the city prepares for the mayoral election.

In the coming months, CUNY Graduate Center will continue to serve as an anchor and icon in Midtown. Its Italian Renaissance Revival building, located on a stretch of Fifth Avenue, is itself an example of NYC reinvention. For decades, it was the site of B. Altman & Co., one of the most elegant of the Midtown department stores in the 20^th century. Evolution is surely a constant in the city, and learning and reimagining your own place in New York City (both metaphorically and physically) will keep you engaged in its transformations. If you want to inhabit a stylish home in a neighborhood with deep history, a vibrant present, and a strong sense of the future, contact us to find out more about the Midtown Manhattan apartments at 555TEN.

Hollywood may still be the film capital of the US, but NYC’s Theater District is the theater capital. Midtown West is also the home to many institutions and organizations that have supported the performing arts and performing artists and creators, both within and outside the theater world. The neighborhood of the luxury Manhattan rentals at 555TEN is teeming with performing arts history and backstory, and we’ve created a brief guide to just a few of the nearby buildings of interest. With 555TEN as your starting point, it won’t take you long to track them down. In fact, you may pass them every day.

Feeling utterly alone in a big room with a large audience of strangers, actors have been known to pray (silently), and that may be why the Actors’ Temple and the Actors’ Chapel are so close to many performers’ Broadway workplaces. After its establishment as the West Side Hebrew Relief Association more than a hundred years ago, the Actors’ Temple/Congregation Ezrath Israel, located at 337 West 47^th Street between Eighth and Ninth Avenues, began to attract famous performers like vaudeville’s “Red Hot Mama” Sophie Tucker.

Ultimately, everyone from Jack Benny, Milton Berle, and Harpo Marx to Shelley Winters (and at least a few of the Three Stooges) worshipped at this synagogue. Proud of its heritage, the Actors’ Temple welcomes members from all walks of life and doubles as an off-Broadway theater.

Meanwhile, Saint Malachy’s Church/the Actors’ Chapel, housed in a Gothic Revival-style building between Broadway and Eighth Avenue on 49^th Street, became the place of worship for Catholics in the entertainment industry in the same era that the Actors’ Temple became popular. In recognition of the “unusual hours” worked by performers, the chapel even “sought and received special permission to celebrate Mass at 4 am, a practice that was banned by canon law at the time.”

The church has been the site of celebrity weddings and funerals, including a funeral service for Rudolph Valentino in 1926, and its parishioners have included Bob Hope, Gregory Peck, Rosalind Russell, Florence Henderson, and Chris Farley, to name just a few. It continues its theatrical tradition via weekly workshopping of material by college-age participants and meetings of the Saint Genesius Society, a gathering and “gym for actors, writers, directors, and comics, but sadly not jugglers (as the ceiling is too low).”

Performing a more secular—but no less significant—role in the entertainment community, The Actors Studio, between Ninth and Tenth Avenues on 44^th Street, has for more than 70 years been a celebrated (and, yes, sacred) gathering place for actors, playwrights, and directors who seek to hone their craft, including the famous “Method” of acting,  alongside their peers. Brando, Monroe, and Dean were just a few of the many illustrious members of the Studio.

When you step out from your Midtown apartment,  you’ll find an abundance of buildings—some glittering, some modest—that make up the story of NYC. They’re all about all the people who have passed through their doors. At 555TEN, we’re excited about the history of our neighborhood and eager to help you find your place in it.

The Midtown West neighborhood just south of 555TEN’s luxury rentals has recently experienced a lot of exciting, future-forward changes. In just the last 15 years, the High Line broke ground and evolved from an intriguing idea into a model for modern urban parks around the world. Meanwhile, the new Hudson Yards features many public attractions, including 14 acres of plazas and green spaces. Now the neighborhood boasts a transportation hub worthy of its sophisticated and increasingly international audience: the Moynihan Train Hall. And it’s within easy (15-minute) walking distance for residents of 555TEN who are traveling light.

The Moynihan Train Hall, named after New York Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, who began promoting its construction in the 1990s, has been a long time coming, and it literally builds on some of the area’s most beautiful architecture. The historic grandeur of the original Pennsylvania Station, designed in 1910 by “legendary” architectural firm McKim, Mead & White, is, in fact, the subject of a permanent glass-wall photography exhibit in Moynihan Train Hall called Penn Station’s Half Century. The new hall, which connects to the current Pennsylvania Station, regains the glory of that first station via a redesign by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill of the Beaux-Arts James A. Farley Building (also originally by McKim, Mead & White) that served as the city’s main post office for more than a century.

The new concourse’s 92-foot-tall skylight, with a huge four-faced clock hanging from the center, will dazzle and energize travelers. Also suspended from the ceiling is a sculptural homage to skyscrapers, The Hive by Elmgreen and Dragset. Go by Kehinde Wiley captures the movement of New York through illuminated stained-glass renderings that evoke the spirit of breakdancing, a fundamentally New York art form.

While clearly in graceful competition (or conversation) with Grand Central Station on the East Side of the city, this extension of the West Side’s train hub is also a practical accomplishment that doubles the size of the concourse space. Not only is the ambitious hall a recognition of the renaissance of rail travel as part of a sustainable regional and national transportation network, but it is a “beta test for adaptive reuse projects in the LEED for Transit category” of the United States Green Building Council. A food hall is scheduled to open later in the year, offering a touch of day-to-day comfort in the impressive surroundings. There’s even free Wi-Fi to make waiting more productive.

How easy—and now how exhilarating—it is to pack a few things in your Midtown Manhattan apartment at 555TEN and head out for a weekend on Long Island or possibly a longer trip (all points Amtrak) from Moynihan Train Hall! And, if you’re not living at 555TEN yet, you should contact us ASAP for a 21st-century upgrade to your lifestyle itinerary, just up the street from “the” station.

Pet parents and their canine companions living in the Midtown Manhattan apartments for rent at 555TEN won’t have to brave the brisk New York City weather to get in a walk this winter. The Extell-developed tower is home to plenty of enviable pet-friendly amenities, including a covered, heated dog run on the building’s 12th floor, where pooches can get in some exercise.