Think you’ve seen all of Central Park? Guess again -
Most NYC visitors have no idea there’s a hidden castle waiting to be explored! 🏰 ✨
🌳 Tucked away in the heart of Central Park, perched on its highest point (Vista Rock), Belvedere Castle offers elevated views you won’t find anywhere else!
Here are some interesting facts about this hidden gem in NYC. 💎
•Belvedere means “beautiful view” in Italian. 👀 🇮🇹
•The entire complex (castle, terraces, and pavilions) was completed in 1872 🏰
•In 1919 the U.S. Weather Bureau converted the castle to a weather station. New York’s temperature, wind, and rainfall are still measured here today. 🌡️ 💨 ☔️
• the castle offers visitors incredible views of Turtle Pond, The Great Lawn, and the Ramble, and even has a gift shop inside! 🎁
💡 How to get there: Belvedere Castle can be reached from a variety of paths and directions. The quickest way to get there is to take the A, B, or C train to the 81st St - Museum of Natural History station, then head east into the park for a 5-10 minute walk.
#newyorkcity #centralparknyc #belvederecastle #centralpark #upperwestsidenyc #uppereastsidenyc #centralpark
This private club will cost you up to half a million dollars to join 🤑
BUT…you don’t have to be a member of @casacruznyc to experience one of their two restaurants located in a stunning six story Beaux-Arts townhouse on the Upper East Side 🤫
We came to check out Frances, the year-round rooftop terrace that just opened last month…one of the very few of its kind in the area. (🗣️ More rooftop bars and restaurants in the UES PLEASE! 🙏🏽)
The light coastal Mediterranean menu offers small plates and bites by a Michelin star chef and the best cocktails we’ve honestly ever had 🏆
The polished interiors and alfresco dining experience gives relaxed elegance, thanks to the designs of @johannaortizofficial ✨
This is a perfect spot to stop and grab lunch or drinks while you’re out shopping or visiting the Upper East Side 👌🏽
👉🏼 Follow @smoothtrips for more elevated experiences!
#elevatednyc #casacruz #uppereastside #nycinsiders #nyocals #elevateddining #rooftopbarsnyc
🤯 Which designer just opened her ONLY US store??
🇨🇴 Colombian designer Johanna Ortiz just opened her flagship store in NYC earlier this month, her first and only store in the country 😮
Located in an iconic 1910 landmarked pre-war building on Madison Ave, the first floor showcases ready-to-wear, accessories, and decor that transports you out of the city and into a tropical paradise 🌴
Upstairs you’ll find vacation ready resort pieces, the to-die-for home collection, and breathtaking gowns 👙🍽️💃🏽
Her design and overall aesthetic is inspired by the beauty and lushness of her native country and her artisanal craftsmanship is immediately evident as soon as you enter the space 🤩
She is a master at making you look elegantly effortless, which is why she is my favorite designer. Who doesn’t want to look chic AF and, at the same time, look like you’re not trying at all 💁🏽♀️
The dressing room itself is a must-see…it’s more like a suite, complete with a sitting/lounge area…perfect for the men 😂
Share this with a friend and go check it out!
📍 799 Madison Ave
Between 67th and 68th
#johannaortiz #elevatednyc #nyclocals #nycinsiders #fashionlovers
🇺🇸 🥁A historic tavern older than the United States itself, served as a headquarters for George Washington and was a favorite watering hole of many of America’s founding fathers. 🍻
The building at 54 Pearl Street in lower Manhattan is most famous for being the site where, on December 4, 1783, General George Washington gave an emotional farewell to his officers after his defeat of the British Army in the American Revolutionary War. 🇺🇸🎇
The only firsthand account of the meeting, recorded by Benjamin Tallmadge, is on display in the Museum above the tavern. 📜
Originally built in 1719, the building was purchased by Samuel Fraunces in 1762, where he began operating the site as a tavern. 🍽️ 🍺
The Tavern became a place where the Sons of Liberty would meet to secretly plot against the British government. 🕵🏻♂️
🧨In August of 1775, after Alexander Hamilton started dismantling British canons at the battery, the British Navy responded by firing a cannonball through the roof of the tavern. 🎯
In fact, Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr both attended a dinner at the tavern on July 4th, 1804, one week before their famous duel. 🔫
This tavern not only served as a pre-revolution place of plotting and scheming, but also provided a venue for peace negotiations with the British. ✌️
When you visit Fraunces Tavern, be sure to try George Washington’s favorite, the chicken pot pie, and wash it down with a pint of Samuel Fraunces Ale! 🍗🍺
👉🏼 Follow @smoothtrips_nyc for more interesting #nycfacts
#frauncestavern #revolutionarywar #georgewashington #nycinsiders #nyclocals #historybuff #historicalnycbar
10 insane facts you didn’t know about the worlds most famous building!
Yes, with over 2.8 million rentable square feet, New York City’s Empire State Building is so massive it actually has its own zip code! But that’s not all… here are 10 more mind-blowing facts about NYC’s most iconic building.
1. New York City’s Empire State Building is struck by lighting an average of 25 per year! ⚡️
2. 2011 Cornell university researchers did an analysis of over 1 million photos to determine that the Empire State Building is the most photographed building on Earth 📸
3. Since 1978, The Empire State Building has held an annual race from ground floor to 86th floor observation deck. The Record time for the 1,050ft climb (1,576 stairs) is an astounding 9 minutes 33 seconds, set by Australian cyclist Paul crake in 2003 🏃🏻♂️⏱️
4. At 1,454 Ft (443m) the ESB is the 4th tallest building in New York, the 6th tallest building in the US, the 43rd tallest tower in the world. 📏🏢🌎
5. There are 103 floors (1,860 stairs) from ground floor to the 102nd floor observation deck. 💯+
6. The Empire State Building houses 73 Otis elevators! 🛗
7. Construction began in 1930 and was completed in only 410 days 📆👷🏼♂️
8. The Empire State Building receives around 4 million visitors per year, making it Trip Advisor’s #1 attraction in the U.S.! 👩🏽🤝👨🏻👫👩🏿🤝👨🏾
9. In 2018 ride share company Uber revealed The Empire State Building was its #1 destination of it’s 75+ million riders! 🚙
10. On a clear day, you can see six states from our observatories: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Delaware. 🔭 🗺️
Which fact impressed you the most?
Follow @smoothtrips_nyc for more highlights from NYC! 🗽✨
#newyork #newyorkcity #empirestatebuilding #discovernyc #ilovenyc #amazingfacts
You’re going to want to save this for your next night out! 🌃
Did you know this off-the-beaten-path rooftop bar has one of the most stunning views in all of New York?! 😍
The Panorama Room on Roosevelt Island offers an unmatched vantage point of the Manhattan Skyline, including views of Billionaires Row, the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, One World Trade, more! 🏙️✨
This is the perfect spot to take a Magical NYC sunset. The most unbelievable part? You don’t even have to leave Manhattan! 🤯
Well, sort of. Roosevelt Island, considered part of the borough of Manhattan, sits nestled in the East River between Manhattan and Queens. 🌉
But getting there is one of the best parts!
🚡 Sure, you could take the F Train. Or the Astoria Line Ferry, which is actually has amazing New York skyline views, and is a great option on a beautiful day. BUT the way to go is definitely by taking the Roosevelt Island Tram. 🚇⛴️
Catch the Roosevelt Island tram at E 59th & 2nd Ave. All you need is Apple Pay or a metro card to hop on. You pay $2.90 per person, at the turnstile, just like getting on the subway. The trams run about every 10 minutes. Easy! 🍰
The tram ride only takes about 5 minutes and offers its own stunning views of the Queensboro Bridge, the Manhattan Skyline, the East River, and Brooklyn. 🌇
Once you arrive on Roosevelt Island from Manhattan, turn left at the street, and walk about 2 minutes to the Graduate Hotel. 🏨
The front desk and they will direct you to the elevators and up to the Panorama Room on the 18th floor! 🌟
The Panorama Room opens at 5 pm Wed. - Fri., and at 12 pm on Sat. & Sun. for their weekend brunch. It closes up shop at midnight each night it is open. ⏰
Reservations are recommended but not required. 21+ except for weekend brunch. 🍽️
The Panorama Room has a dress code they describe as “elevated chic.” 👗👔
💡 Pro Tip: If you are coming for sunset, get there early to ensure you grab a
🚗💨 Our weekend escape to the Hamptons!
🔆 Memorial Day weekend is the official kickoff to summer, where New Yorkers exit the city every Friday in droves for their weekend getaways.
🏡 The Hamptons make up about 20 towns or villages in total, spanning the length of the eastern end of Long Island. It can take 2-5 hours to get there from NYC, depending on which town you’re going to and how much traffic you hit.
🍹 🍝 We had dinner and drinks at @crowsnestmtk in Montauk, the eastern most tip of New York State, and the last town of the hamptons, known for its beaches and sunsets 🏄♂️ 🌅
🎂 We also celebrated multiple friends’ birthdays and got to spend time with them and their families. There was lots of love, laughs, and tequila! The hangover today is worth it 😵
We hope you enjoyed your MDW as much as we did! 🙃
What’s your favorite town in The Hamptons? Let us know in the comments so we can share more content with you! 👇🏽
#mdw2024 #thehamptons #montauk #thecrowsnest #sagharbor
