This summer, visitors and residents can retreat to the rooftops to not only take in spectacular views of our City from many different vantage points, but also enjoy some excellent food and drink,” said George Fertitta, CEO of NYC & Company.

Manhattan skyline viewed from Long Island City

Not sure where to go?  Here are some great views, in Manhattan and the boroughs, to get you thinking:

• 230 Fifth – Manhattan’s largest rooftop bar has a Champagne Party Brunch on weekends, 11 am – 5 pm daily, year round.  The roof top is palm decorated and has a full enclosed lounge – so there’s rooftop dining rain or shine.  Brunch features a menu selection of more than 40 choices, most priced between $8-12, along with some specialty cocktails.  Signature dishes are the Liquored Up French Toast and the Matzah Brei.  Spectacular views of the city accompany the food.
• Hotel Gansevoort – Part roof-deck party, part dining experience, the Get Up Get Down Brunch features 360-degree views of the Hudson River and Manhattan, indoor and outdoor terrace seating, and a garden.  Brunch is served noon – 4 pm on weekends, and is a 3-course prix fixe menu ($36) that include specialty items like a grilled Black Angus burgers, steak frites and eggs, and mini cupcakes.  The rooftop brunch is offered through Labor Day.
• Groovedeck – Located at the Hudson Terrace, this rooftop lounge is along the Hudson River, offering up wonderful views of the river.  Brunch is served Sunday, 2-8 pm, and includes assorted traditional brunch choices.  Chocolate chip muffins are a real treat, as are the brunch cocktails, which include red and white sangria, as well as mojito pitchers.
• Peninsula Hotel – Offering exquisite luxury, the Peninsula’s Salon de Ning rooftop bar offers Sunday Brunch on the Terrace on the 23rd floor.  Enjoy the 3-course brunch while overlooking Fifth Avenue and enjoy the spectacular view of the city.  The set menu changes weekly, but always offers delicious choices.  Champagne cocktails are available, including the signature Beijing Rouge, made of pomegranate juice, citrus vodka, and champagne with a raspberry garnish.  Brunch is served Sunday 11:30 am – 2:30 pm, through Labor Day.  Luxury doesn’t come cheap!  Brunch is $49/person, excluding beverages, tax and gratuities.  I love the Peninsula Hotel, and used to frequently meet a friend here for drinks after work.
• Alma – Head off to Brooklyn (Carroll Gardens) for brunch at Alma, offering views of the Manhattan skyline.  Served weekends 10 am – 2:30 pm, brunch is served year round and offers Mexican cuisine, accompanied by cocktails and tequilas.
• Ravel Hotel – This new luxury boutique hotel is located along the Queensboro Bridge in Long Island City.  A buffet brunch is served on Sunday, 10 am – 2 pm, along with endless mimosas till 3 pm.  DJ music accompanies the view of the Manhattan skyline, across the East River.

Do you have a favorite NYC rooftop brunch?

Photo credit:  jl welsh @flickr

Post from: Blisstree

New York City Rooftop Brunches

Home to the Prospect Park Zoo, a 90-acre meadow, Brooklyn’s only forest and a 60-acre lake, it’s truly a green paradise. You can enjoy a day of fishing, birdwatching, picnicking and much more.

Image: Prospect Park Lake

Prospect Park is also home to many outdoor concerts, nature tours, festivals, activities for kids, horseback riding, boating, sports and other outdoor fun. In the wintertime, children and adults alike flock to Wollman Rink for a day of ice skating. The rink is locating in Prospect Park between the lake and Concert Grove.

To learn more about Prospect Park, visit their website at prospectpark.org, where you can find their monthly event calendar and other details.

Prospect Park Audubon Center

Images: wallg – Flickr

Post from: Blisstree

Brooklyn’s Prospect Park

Except… I take a break on Sunday night around 12 to 1am or so (I keep weird hours) and watch whatever is on for an hour. For the last few months that was the Food Network Challenge (I know, it’s like a disease). So, Amy wins, I have no show.

Until what should appear? Why HGTV Design Star! I am totally addicted and we’re what, three shows in, four?

Are you watching it? Anyhow, as you can likely tell from the picture above; I like Josh Johnson, ’sparkle’ Josh. Here’s why. He looks flamboyant and like your worst snotty design nightmare but he’s actually so nice and chill. I don’t like the fake and bake and I dislike the color pink, but I like that he’s kind, offbeat and chill. Perfect for me and this blog and thus will remain the official Offbeat Homes blog pick for the win until further notice.

To increase luck; tonight we were so close I almost had a flipping heart attack, I found some Josh minded homes.

The nicest pink home shot I could find. By a talented fellow, Pachelbel Canon.

For pink, it’s almost not obscene, the shot’s so nice.

The most offbeat pink home I could find.

I have no clue? It almost looks like a paper cutout on top. I hear that it’s located in Saigon but the details are sketchy. It’s so odd though. The more I look at it, the more one dimensional it seems.

And a dash of sparkle.

These photos are from a fascinating blog, Brooklyn Record. I’m not sure what the allure is since I don’t live in nor have any desire to live in Brooklyn. It must be because the pictures are great and the writing is very ’slice o’ life’ I like it.

Anyhow, this brownstone is something of a controversy because the artist lady who lives / lived (?) there decorated it painstakingly with sparkles. Which I guess ruins the architectural integrity of a brownstone in some people’s minds. Kara, who posted this says, “the photos don’t do it justice,” and you can see she’s right but that it’s probably amazing in person. Any Brooklyn dwellers here?

I like it. But I would. What do you think?

So let’s hear it for Josh… I just know he’s going to make a smashing comeback next week!

Post from: Blisstree

Pink & Sparkling Television

Adam intended for the posting to have been a gag, but within a week, he’d received over 30 responses from interested renters, vacationers and even some prospective buyers. He was asking $150 for the rental. No mention of whether that was per week or month.

Article at wnbc.com is here.

Post from: Blisstree

Gotham Treehouse For Rent