Month: December 2019

Known for theater, picnics, and vigorous recreation during the summer months, Central Park changes with the first snowfall into a picturesque land of skating rinks and snowshoe trails. As the transformation moves across the park like frost up a windowpane, New Yorkers recall childhood snowball fights and skating expeditions and hope to recapture the joy of friends and family gatherings in the seasonal cold. Luxury no-fee residences in nearby buildings—like ARO or The Pearl—make for the perfect home base from which residents can explore this wintry landscape, safe in the knowledge that they can quickly retreat for a mug of cocoa and a blast of central heating to warm up their frosty fingertips. 

Central Park features a pair of skating rinks, making ample space for New Yorkers whose preferred winter recreation takes place on the ice. In fact, New Yorkers have been skating in Central Park for more than 150 years, nearly the park’s entire history, although for the first century, daring skaters took to the frozen tops of ponds and lakes instead of gliding around dedicated rinks. Since 1950, Wollman Rink in the park’s south section—open late until 11 pm on Fridays and Saturdays through early April—has served as the city’s premier outdoor ice skating rink, as well as one of the best hot cocoa dispensers around. The north section of the park is home to the Lasker Rink, which was originally built in 1966 and was almost shuttered in the 1980s before being rehabilitated by a New York developer and turned into the modern, LEED-certified rink we know and love today. The holiday hours for Lasker Rink are extended until 11 pm on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays leading up to the New Year.

More serious winter warriors will enjoy the vast tracts of land around Sheep Meadow, where the terrain is perfect for strapping on a pair of cross-country skis and setting off through the trees to explore the familiar park now blanketed in six inches or more of snow. The less athletic among us may prefer to traverse the same ground on snowshoes, another Central Park tradition. One destination perfect for winter exploration is the Arthur Ross Pinetum, a stand of 17 coniferous species that creates a tiny evergreen forest just north of the Great Lawn. Especially during the winter months, this four-acre forest is a slice of another world, bringing trees from around the world into concert to create a place where time seems to stand still. 

Grab a pair of snowshoes, skates, or a travel mug of coffee or tea and head over to Central Park from your luxury rental apartment to make some winter memories.

Penthouses, by nature, offer the best views of any high-rise. In Penthouse 65A, atop ARO’s no-fee luxury apartment rentals in Manhattan, views of Midtown West, the Hudson River, and Central Park are certainly front and center, acting as a dramatic backdrop to world-class design. Curved glass walls, vaulted ceilings, oak floors, and a floor plan with a natural flow heighten the already sky-high views and make this luxury penthouse a rare find.

This penthouse apartment has not just one terrace, not two, not even three, but four private terraces—a fact that gets a lot of attention. The largest terrace, a long balcony just off the living and dining area, feels like a natural space for communal activities, such as brunching alfresco or watching the sunset over cocktails with friends. A more private terrace juts out from the corner of the master bedroom, offering views in both directions and providing a space for personal moments, like taking in the scale of the glittering city before you retire for the night or doing some morning stretches before you and the city are fully awake. On the upper level, two other terraces open up from the media room and bar, perfect for entertaining guests.

If the terraces are the shining stars of the penthouse, the unsung hero may be its thoughtful and highly livable floor plan. The kitchen, dining area, and living room flow together in an open, airy layout, leaving no corners untouched by the flood of natural light coming in through the windows. Even when you’re preparing an epic charcuterie board at the kitchen island and reaching for a bottle of wine from your private storage, you’re submerged in sky, water, and light. A long interior hall connects the four bedrooms so that each has its own view—and its own bathroom—and there’s no shortage of private space drenched in natural light. Even the grand staircase, which leads to the media room and bar, is wrapped in sweeping views.

These views, of course, include ARO’s neighborhood: Midtown West. The district is a hub of museums, concert halls, lush parks, fine dining, and, of course, shopping. The holidays are quickly approaching, which means people are seeking out the perfect gifts for their loved ones. For some, that means a long trek across the city, and for others, it’s easier to stay home and shop online. But residents of the no-fee NYC apartments at ARO are just a five-minute walk from an exciting new retail experience: the Nordstrom Flagship site on 57^th and Broadway. The store, encased in a glittering, reflective glass facade, is seven stories of high-end clothing, shoes, accessories, and home and beauty products, along with a collection of cafes, bars, and restaurants ready to fuel your shopping spree. The best part? They’ll wrap your gifts for you, so you can spend more time celebrating with your loved ones, back at the penthouse.

Inquire today about this high-floor penthouse home at ARO by calling us at (212) 213-1727.