As Matt and I get older, we constantly think about our future, one day starting a family, and when and if we will make the move outside of New York City. We both grew up in the suburbs and know that eventually that is where we want to settle, but with both of our careers it currently makes sense to be close to the the city. We both dread the thought of a long commute! Our lease is up on our current apartment in February, so we have been chatting a lot about next steps and where that may take us. While I always imagined our next step would be renting a two bedroom apartment somewhere in the city, the truth is the rent is outrageous for a two bedroom and it kills me to think about just “tossing” all that money away with no return. When thinking about renting a new place you’ll want to take into consideration the help you can apply for from different mortgage brokers, if you think you’re in a bad spot and you won’t be legible for any financial help, take a look at this case study and you’ll realize there will always be options to you.
Recently I had the opportunity to to check out a new luxury building, 550 Vanderbilt, that is finishing up being built in a charming area of Brooklyn. If you asked me two years ago if I would have ever considered moving to Brooklyn it would have been a quick “no”. I always told myself that I wont be in New York City forever, so while I am here I am living smack dab in the middle of Manhattan. Fast forward a few years, a dog, a marriage and children in the future, I am now discovering the appeal and beauty of Brooklyn and why it makes sense to look into buying and investing in a piece of property right across the bridge (the building offers everything from a studio up to 4-bedroom apartments and a gorgeous penthouse). They also have an incredible amenities package in which I could see myself never leaving the roof deck with the skyline view of Manhattan, but I think Hadley would say the best amenity is the 8-acre brand new Pacific Park that the building sits within.
While I am a bit familiar with the different neighborhoods in Brooklyn from when Matt attended law school in Brooklyn Heights, it truly wasn’t until my recent visit across the bridge that I started to appreciate the appeal and hype about living in this neighborhood. When heading across the water to check out 550 Vanderbilt, I took advantage of exploring the surrounding neighborhood, as I find that’s just as important as loving the building itself. Vanderbilt Avenue is filled with the cutest restaurants, bars, ice-cream shops and gorgeous brown-stones. Everything is within a 5-8 minute walk from 550 Vanderbilt and the building itself is nestled at the intersection of five of the borough’s most desirable neighborhoods. There are families of all ages, lots to see and do and a quick trip away from being back in the heat of Manhattan. Walking distance from the property there are 11 subway lines and the Long Island Rail Road, making getting in and out of the borough extremely convenient.
<the tall building behind me is 550 Vanderbilt, located in the center of everything!>
The first place I stopped when visiting the building was the quaintest little grocery shop called R&D Foods. While I opted for an iced coffee and donuts to start off my morning, they have a great selection of meats, cheeses and fresh breads that would make a perfect meal for a picnic in Prospect Park which is right down the street.
The brownstone lined streets are beautiful in this part of town. I love getting lost walking down the side streets and taking in all the natural charm. I can fully imagine settling down in this neck of the woods my little family.
If looking for a restaurant with outdoor seating, White Tiger is just down the block serving traditional Korean food with a twist. Their deviled eggs with fish roe was a favorite snack choice! Sitting outside there, you also get a great view of 550 Vanderbilt off in the distance.
Finally, I ended the day in no other way but by curing my sweet tooth! I popped into the cutest bakery called Little Cupcake Bakeshop. The entire store was made to instagram and the double strawberry cupcake was out of this world! I had fun snapping polariods on my own throughout the day as a way to remember the neighborhood, places I visited and what I enjoyed most.
Photography by Christina Emilie
Off the Shoulder Top // Distressed Denim Shorts // Wedges (more sizes here) // Aviators // Everyday Earrings // Leather Tote
A big thanks to 550 Vanderbilt for partnering on this post!