What NYC Rooftop Bars are Open in Winter?

One of the main perks of living in the skyscraper central of Manhattan is the option to enjoying a nice cocktail from a rooftop bar that overlooks the city. Thing is, when winter descends upon New York City and brings freezing temperatures with it, most of your go-to after work drink spots close until the weather gets warmer. Who are we kidding, though? This is the city that never sleeps. Here are some NYC rooftop bars that are open during winter.

• The Delancey: This Lower East Side rooftop is decorated with relaxing palm trees and white chaise lounges, creating the opposite vibe than you’d get a few floors down. If you venture here on a Saturday between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m., you’ll be met with a space packed-full of large group reservations. (The early, and apparently organized, bird gets the worm here.) Try out this spot on a Sunday or Monday to take advantage of the two-for-one well-drink special.
• The Lodge at Gallow Green: This cabin-themed watering hole takes the cake when it comes to cozy NYC bars. Located at the McKittrick Hotel, this rooftop bar allows visitors to snuggle up on bunk beds, browse through books and specimens, or sit at a desk covered with pine cones and parchment paper. Top it all off with a firepit and a small forest of surrounding evergreens, and you’ll feel like you’ve escaped to a mountain getaway.
• Le Bain: Although getting past the doorman at the Standard Hotel may not be the easiest of tasks, it will be well worth the effort when you see the breathtaking view this bar offers of the Hudson River and downtown Manhattan. Trendy as ever, the space is equipped with an alfresco bar, garden chairs, and large pouf ottomans. The first floor even has floor-to-ceiling windows and a jacuzzi to enjoy your drink in.
• Empire Hotel Rooftop: If you are itching to feel like a big business tycoon, this is the spot for you. Backed by restaurateur, Jeffrey Chodorow, this 3,000 square-foot outdoor space offers three levels with views of Lincoln Center and Central Park. Although they can get pricey, drinks here include yummy mixes like the Oran’gin the Mood. (You’ll have to go there to find out what’s in it.)

Looking for more facts about NYC buildings and activities? Connect with AMAA on Facebook and Twitter! We are your source for special inspection and related services in New York and the entire metropolitan area. With over 50 years of experience, we are known for both our high standards and specialized services. We have supported the work of some of the largest and most prestigious developers, retailers and more. Call us today at 212.867.6720 or visit our website for more information.

Development in Flushing Brings New Movie Theater

Get excited, Flushing-dwellers! What was once the Flushing Mall, between College Boulevard and Prince Street, will now be a 1.2-million-square-foot development project called Tangram. It will be made up of four 15-or-16-story towers set atop a 225,000-square-foot, two-level retail podium, and will include a movie theater, an Asian-style food hall, and high-end international fashion retail shops. The buildings will also house 300 luxury residential condominium units, 80,000 square feet of office space, a hotel (although a specific one has not been decided) and a three-level parking garage with over 1,000 spots.

The Movie Theater

The addition of a movie theater was a serious consideration in planning the development. Flushing has not had a downtown movie theater since the historic RKO Keith’s Theater closed in 1986. The new theater is anticipated to have between six and eight screens and seating for 500 to 800 people. SCG Retail, one of the developers on the project, is toying with the idea of building “experimental” theaters that could include luxury dining, but there have been no specifics mentioned.

PC: F& T Group

The Food Hall

The new food hall with be a 24,000-square-foot site with 15-30 vendors, which will be decided based on the ratio of sit-down restaurants to stalls. A representative of SCG Retail, Geoff Bailey, explained, “[The food] will be more than just street foods.” The food hall will feature “chefs that are ushering new Asian concepts and other concepts to a new level- brand names, up-and-comers and local people who have strong reputations.”

The Retail Podium

The retail site will feature up to 30 shops in 1,500-square-foot to 5,000-square-foot spaces; there will also be two spaces that will be 10,000-square-feet to 15,000-square-feet. As of now, the retail space has an asking price of $150-200 per square foot. In terms of brands, developers are targeting well-known names such as Coach, Zaria, and White House Black Market, but they are also hoping to bring in retailers from shopping districts in Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Seoul. This portion of the site is expected to open in mid-2018.

While there is a bit of a wait before this site is up and running, you can bet that it will give Flushing and the surrounding area a whole new meaning to the words “luxury” and “entertainment”.

Looking for more facts about NYC buildings and construction? Connect with AMAA on Facebook and Twitter! We are your source for special inspection and related services in New York and the entire metropolitan area. With over 50 years of experience, we are known for both our high standards and specialized services. We have supported the work of some of the largest and most prestigious developers, retailers and more. Call us today at 212.867.6720 or visit our website for more information.

Second Avenue Subway- Open for Business

New year, new subway! Governor Cuomo rang in the new year by opening New York’s first subway system expansion in 50 years. The MTA hosted a celebratory party attended by MTA workers who worked on the project as well as local community members, elected officials, and a few members of President Obama’s Cabinet.

The Second Avenue Subway services the Q line, which can now run from 96th Street, 86th Street, 72nd Street, and 63rd Street, through Manhattan, and into Brooklyn, to Coney Island. The line also features a new low-vibration track to allow for smoother, quieter subway rides. The station itself is handicap accessible and climate controlled and is designed with high, column-free ceilings.

Photo courtesy of  Rew-Online.com

A major feature of the station is its display of the largest permanent public art installation in New York’s history. There are now large-scale, dramatic pieces done by notable artists at each new station on the line. There are also plans to continue the installation to Hanover Square in the Financial District.

The Second Avenue Subway also provides New Yorkers will more convenience. It’s two-tiered mezzanine design improves the flow of riders and reduces crowding on the platform, improving the overall experience of riding the subway. The new station entrance at 63rd Street and Third Avenue allows riders to enter the renovated station for the new Q line service there, and includes a connection to the existing F train.

Chairman of the MTA, Thomas Prendergast, was proud of the station’s completion, saying: “With this achievement, we have recaptured the bold ambition that made the Empire State so great, proving that government can still accomplish big things for the people it serves.”

AMAA is committed to accomplishing feats for the people our company serves. With over 30 years of experience, we are known for both our high standards and specialized services. We have supported the work of some of the largest and most prestigious developers, retailers and more. Call us today at 212.867.6720 for more information.

Most Iconic Broadway Theaters

“Give our Regards to Broadway!” This famous New York entertainment hub draws in millions of people who come from all over the world to have “Some Enchanted Evening.” Thing is, Broadway theaters themselves offer “Something Wonderful,” too. Check out some of the most iconic Broadway theaters of NYC.

Booth Theater

Opened in 1913, the theater was built back-to-back with the Schubert Theater and designed with a Venetian-Renaissance façade. Named after the famous 19th-century actor, Edwin Booth, this small theater has held intimate performances like The Glass Menagerie, as well as larger, long-running musicals like Next to Normal. It just gave a home to new musical Significant Other, and you can bet that no matter what show you see in the Booth’s Theater, “It’s Gonna Be Good”.

New Amsterdam Theater

As Broadway’s oldest continuing functional theater, the New Amsterdam Theater one of New York’s first examples of Art Nouveau, with flowers and vines reaching across the ceiling. It’s claim to fame was Florenz Ziegfeld’s annual production of Follies (s5ome say the theater is haunted by the ghost of one of his showgirls). After being turned into a movie theater during the Depression, the theater was able to say “I’m Still Here” after Disney took out a 99-year lease and restored the space. Holding names like The Lion King and Mary Poppins, the New Amsterdam Theater is now home to Disney’s Aladdin.

Richard Rogers Theaters

This venue has been home to a shocking number of Tony-winning musicals and plays like Guys and Dolls and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Upon its opening in 1925, it was the first Broadway theater to employ democratic seating in which everyone comes in through the same doors, and other steps lead to less expensive seats. It seems to be a favorite of composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, too. His first Tony award-winning Best Musical, In the Heights, played here and the theater currently holds his new show- the most Tony-awarded musical of all time- Hamilton. We bet the next production to use this theater will be thinking, “This is ‘My Shot’.”

We love hearing new bits of history about our city, especially when it’s such a vibrant part of our culture. It just goes to show: “Anything Goes” in Manhattan.

We are your source for special inspection and related services in New York and the entire metropolitan area. With over 30 years of experience, AMAA is known for both its high standards and specialized services. We have supported the work of some of the largest and most prestigious developers, retailers and more. Call us today at 212.867.6720 for more information.

Surprising Facts about the Empire State Building

The Empire State Building is the most famous building in New York City and is known worldwide for its stature and colorful light display. However, there are a few things you may not know about one of the tallest buildings in the world.

1. It Was Built in the Middle of an Architectural Race: When NYC’s economy was at an all-time high in the 1920s, builders were in a wild hurry to erect the world’s tallest building. The Empire State Building took the lead in 1929 when mayor, Al Smith, announced that it would be over 1000 feet tall. Upon its completion in 1931, at 1250 feet, it stood as the tallest building in the world - before losing the title to the first World Trade Center in 1970.
2. It Was Built in Record Time: Regardless of its massive structure, the Empire State Building’s planning and construction were completed in just 20 months! In a total of 410 days, the contractors used an assembly line process of 3400 men each day to build the skeleton, averaging four and a half stories every week. The building ended up being finished ahead of schedule and under budget.
3. It Was Considered a Financial Flop: The 1929 stock market crash gave the building a less than successful start. After having less than 25% of the space occupied, the building earned the nickname “Empty State Building,” and the owners resorted to publicity stunts to entice renters. It wasn’t until World War II that the building finally gained momentum and profit.
4. There Was an Entire Floor Dedicated to Napping: Even busy New Yorkers can appreciate naptime. Between 2004 and 2008, the 24th floor of the Empire State Building hosted an area where tired workers could snooze in futuristic-looking pods for twenty-minute intervals. The pods provided varying darkness levels and ambient sounds to help people relax. Unfortunately, they were removed when the building’s visitor policy changed.

From its inception to its current fame-claiming design, the Empire State Building has created a name and legacy for itself that is impossible to ignore. The next time you look at the color scheme displayed on the building’s upper floors, remember that there’s always more to find out about New York City’s most famous structure.

Looking for more facts about NYC buildings and construction? Connect with AMAA on Facebook and Twitter! We are your source for special inspection and related services in New York and the entire metropolitan area. With over 50 years of experience, we are known for both our high standards and specialized services. We have supported the work of some of the largest and most prestigious developers, retailers and more. Call us today at 212.867.6720 or visit our website for more information.

Smoke Alarm Importance

Did you know residential fires take 2,000 lives every year? Three of those five deaths occur in homes without smoke alarms. Having working smoke detectors in homes, schools, and offices is crucial to saving lives in the event of a fire.

During a fire, smoke and gas spread through buildings more quickly than heat, meaning they will reach you well before you may see the fire itself. In homes, this is especially dangerous since half of home fires occur while family members are sleeping. Your smoke alarm keeps vigilance around the clock, alerting you to danger and giving you enough time to safely exit the building. You should be aware of the proper protocol of having smoke alarms in your homes and office buildings.

The U.S. Fire Administration advises having a working smoke alarm in every bedroom, outside sleeping areas, and on every level of your home. For the best protection, have interconnected smoke alarms installed so that when one goes off, they all go off. When it comes to smoke alarm maintenance, do not wait to replace alarms - check the date on the back. It is important to replace each alarm every ten years. Additionally, every month, make sure the alarms are functioning properly by pressing the test button. If it doesn’t make a sound, you need to replace it.

By having working smoke alarms, you cut the risk of dying in a home fire by 50%; but what about saving lives in office buildings? You may find it difficult and time-consuming to check every smoke alarm and fire safety system in a sixty-floor skyscraper. That’s where AMAA comes in. We understand the threat fires pose on lives, so we provide smoke control systems, maintenance for fire sprinkler systems, and more.

AMAA has supported the work of some of the largest and most prestigious New York City developers, retailers and more. Call us today at 212.867.6720 or visit our website for more information.