How many things do we expect from a new year, right? We all have those goals and dreams – getting a new job, to marry, traveling… and if your destination in 2017 is New York, you should know that the city will have many new things! I never tire of saying: I am always amazed at the speed of things in the city, in the power of reconstruction and renovation of this place. New York is really that city you can visit every year – and do different things every time! Let’s check some of the news? Obviously there are many other trillions of things going on in the Big Apple, but I think these are very striking here and I thought they would interest you.
After almost a century, the Second Avenue Subway finally opened (more precisely last week, January 1st). This line will optimize transportation in the Upper East Side – which only had the green line, (4, 5 and 6 trains). For the inauguration of this subway line, some modifications were made to the subway map. The Q line, which used to go to Astoria after 59th St., now climbs to the Upper East Side with stations at 72, 86 and 96th Streets. For the future, the idea is to expand the Q-Line to Harlem on 125th St. Particularly, I loved it! I live in the neighborhood and now I need to walk very little to the subway. Oh, and if you want to explore the area, here’s a post about the Upper East Side.
Primark is famous in Europe for super low prices. The chain arrived in the United States about two years ago, and this year, more precisely on March 16th, will open the first store in New York. The store is located on Staten Island at the Staten Island Mall (2655 Richmond Avenue), a little out of the way for the tourists visiting the city. To get there, you need to take the free ferry and then a bus. Primark also already has a confirmed store for Kings Plaza, a mall in Brooklyn (no opening date yet).
It’s amazing to see the rise of other boroughs of New York – after all, the city is not just about Manhattan. Brooklyn has been gaining the spotlight in recent years – some neighborhoods have more expensive rents than Manhattan. Another proof that the region will grow more and more is the number of new hotels opening there. Last year, Williamsburg got The William Vale Hotel and, on February, the 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge opens its doors. With Brooklyn Bridge Park as a backyard, the hotel has rooms that offer views of the Brooklyn Bridge, the Manhattan skyline and even the Statue of Liberty, as well as a farm-to-table restaurant, rooftop , Spa, pool and gym.
Anyone who has traveled to other cities of the United States probably knows Ulta Beauty. It is a giant beauty chain, with a massive presence in the country. In New York, Ulta’s only location is at Rego Center, Queens. But, this will change this year. Ulta announced the opening of its first location in Manhattan, more precisely in the Upper East Side. The address is 184 E. 86th St, between the third and Lexington Avenue – in a 12,630-square-foot space in a region filled with cool shops. The store is expected to open in the Fall.
2017 will also be the year of the opening of the first New York outlet (remember Woodbury and Jersey Gardens are not located in the city!). Empire Outlets opens in November in Staten Island with approximately 100 stores (Banana Republic, Gap Factory, Nordstrom Rack and Toy R Us are some of the names confirmed), a food court and a hotel with 190 rooms.
And we also have the Pier 17 opening, scheduled for the end of this year. The Howard Hughes Corporation (HHC) is responsible for the pier renovation project. With an incredible view and extensive area, the Pier will have contemporary design and will include open spaces, a rooftop and several shops and restaurants. Two of the pier’s great highlights will be a seafood market and a restaurant overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge under the command of chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. Pier 17 will also feature a location of the famous vegan restaurant By Chloe, the first American location of the famous 10 Corso Como Milan boutique, a McNally Jackson bookstore, and a Scotch and Soda store – plus many other names to be announced shortly .
Do you like it? And I already have a list of news for 2018 … how not to love this city?
Laura Peruchi is a Brazilian blogger, author, and entrepreneur. She has lived in Manhattan with her husband since 2014. Since then, she has shared on her blog varied content about the Big Apple. From travel tips, including unusual things to do, shopping tips, etiquette, restaurants, and a lot more, her blog has become a reference in Portuguese (also available in English) for anyone planning a trip to New York City.
