It has an artistic soul, a love for gourmet, is very athletic and it adores children. On an online dating site, it would have a great success. We virtually present you the lucky one, the Chelsea neighborhood. Warn your mother right now, you're going to fall in love at first sight.
Chelsea and its art (of living)
Chelsea is the leader of art in Manhattan. Why ? Because, previously, Chelsea was a large retail trading center, with streets loaded with warehouses, large garages, and slaughterhouses (a bit further down in the Meatpacking).
Today, these large buildings have been transformed into hotels, restaurants, and art galleries. There are so many contemporary art galleries (more than 200) that the neighborhood has earned a world-renowned reputation of unmissable art. If you want to know the latest trends in contemporary art, visit the W20th and W30th Street on Thursdays evenings, where openings are organized there. Lelong Gallery, Alexander Gray Gallery and Matthew Clarks, one of the oldest, are highly recommended.
To make things less contemporary, you can visit the Rubin Museum of Art, dedicated to the art of the Himalayas and its surroundings, or to the Hotel Chelsea, for a pilgrimage in the footsteps of celebrities who’ve rocked and rolled (Bon Jovi, "Midnight in Chelsea"), the ones who’ve shot movies (Andy Warhol, "Chelsea Girls"), and the one who was murdered ( Nancy Spungen, ex girlfriend of a Sex Pistols’ member).
That’s enough paintings for today, so go to the Joyce Theater to dance at the Irish Repertory Theater for a beautiful theater (Irish-style), Pike's Opera House for a movie or The Kitchen for a show.
Chelsea is alive, gourmand and a change of scenery
Alive, because Chelsea is partly made of offices that inhabit its streets; We will give you the most obvious example: Google is comfortably installed on a whole block, in a building that originally housed a terminal in the port of New York and New Jersey. The Starrett-Lehigh Building, recognizable by huge windows, houses offices, and soon the Hudson Yard will dominate the neighborhood, as its 16 skyscrapers are expected to rise by 2025, and will accommodate homes, businesses, and offices.
Gourmand, because Chelsea has attracted many restaurants from all over the world, fine boutiques, and must-sees of the area; For example, the Peter McManus Café, one of the bars run by the oldest family in the city, and the beautiful Chelsea Market, where everything and anything can be found. This old factory now houses many boutiques, bakeries, wine cellars, a fish market, and many options to eat on the go from the 4 corners of the world. It’s impossible to leave with an empty belly.
Change of scenery, because Chelsea is not only made of its beautiful red-brick buildings that are so identifiable. In addition to its lively artistic and cultural scene, Chelsea attracts environmental enthusiast, with the well-known High Line Park, this old railway line has been converted into a flowery promenade that stretches over about 15 blocks. For a bit more exercise, run to Hudson Park, a large park on the river, or Chelsea Piers, a big sports complex where you can golf, climb, or skate ... So in Chelsea, everything is within easy reach.
An ideal neighborhood for families
With a very good location, a little set back from the river, Chelsea attracts families who appreciate its dynamic, but also its intimate side. Children are delighted to go to one of the many public schools, including the large complex of about half a dozen schools, the Bayard Rustin Educational Complex, or private, such as Xavier High School.
Later they will be able to study at the Fashion Institute of Technology and the School of Visual Arts, where they may be able to set up their design, fashion or art studio a few blocks away. What a future!
Chelsea is the future, and it’s yours if …
- You change your wall decorations every month
- You like to do everything on foot
- You can see the future, and yours is clearly in Chelsea