PROS: Ian Schrager design, style & vibe…read moreClean, beautiful lobbies & rooms (and great views from higher floors) Great location (Chrystie & Houston) convenient to subway and EV Loved the recessed/back-lit room, the smart controls for lights, shades and climate, as well as the modern shower with 1-way mirrored glass CONS: has a bit of a party/club atmosphere (especially if you like a quiet hotel). ex: starting at 5pm there is a stantion and bouncer for roof bar access more/less self-serve Yes, please note, while there is staff, you essentially check yourself in online and then at a kiosk upon arrival to get your key and similar for check-out (simply a key drop box), which is fine as long as you are aware. Unsure if you could get help with your luggage when arriving or leaving, but for sure don't expect that. Overall, a good stay and will come back.

I really enjoyed my stay at the public. The walkway up is a little hidden, with a nice garden that…read morefeels very serene. When you come in, you are greeted by a very aesthetically pleasing interior including the iconic escalators that were designed with care. I was a little frustrated because our room which was supposed to be ready at 3 pm wasn't ready till closer to 3:15 as it was going through cleaning inspections. I will say the room was VERY clean so at least there's that. We stayed in the loft and it offered a great amount of room, esp for a New York hotel. The floor to ceiling windows are gorgeous. I appreciate that you can fully black out the rooms with curtains for quality sleep. I loved the lighting in the rooms and the bathrooms. I also loved that the shower had a single on/off control button and full sized products in lieu of minis. The room comes with the basic towels, tp, iron and then also includes a steamer! There is an amenity room on each floor where you can get more towels, an ironing board, and filtered water. The lobby bar is so fun to hang out at in the evenings. I loved the large couches. The staff was also really nice both and check in and check out. They held our luggage on both ends and were very nice to deal with. Finally, the location is amazing. You are close to so many bars and restaurants without being stuck in the hustle and bustle of midtown. Overall I really enjoyed my stay at the public. I would recommend to anyone traveling to New York!

Amazing public art. Also, the area is also very well kept & nice. I enjoyed coming here. Adults &…read morechildren alike like going underneath the art work to enjoy it also.

Banksy popped into my radar one day and I bookmarked it. I forgot all about visiting this public…read moreart until today when it showed up nearby in my search. It's unusual so I felt lucky I saw it as I passed by. It's been covered in plexiglass for protection against the weather. It appears people and businesses are rallying to keep it from removal. It fun to photograph public art or as some call his work Graffiti. I'm glad I have the photos in my collection. It's my first Banksy.

Banksy made this public art in 2013 and it's still intact. It's covered by an acrylic shield…read more Pretty hard to find unless you're using a map app or Yelp. Check it out on the UWS and get some cool pictures in front of here. The art doesn't look like it's complex, more of like a commentary that's the more complex thing about this. It somehow has become a thing to check out, because it's one of the few surviving pieces of Banksy public art. Officially it's titled Better Out Than In #20, and was part of a series. These appeared on the UWS in October 2013 and most disappeared soon after that. An acrylic panel protects it from graffiti artists...such as Banksy. So ironic. Zabar's put up the protection and has made the public aware of this. Cool that a great place like that takes an interest in art. They have some of the best bagels so be sure to go get some. As Banksy has gone onto bigger things it's cool that one of his older projects is around. It's at Broadway and 79th on the side of a building. This is a few blocks from Zabar's.

Before today, my review would've likely been glowing. The artwork in that's been associated with…read morethem in NYC is almost always spectacular and a welcome addition to the city-scape. Unfortunately I found out recently that they're actually quite shady and manipulative. They don't actually create or curate the art in Little Italy - they pretend to support it, plaster it on their social media, and try to profit from it. At the expense of the actual artists that create the art they're showcasing. They've gotten into legal action with artists over marketing rights for the art that they claim to "support", but essentially want to mooch off of and shake down for $$$. A lot of the gorgeous art, such as the Audrey Hepburn picture on Mulberry St, are examples that they claim to be big endorsers of - but have actually fought the artists over, to win sole rights to commercializing posters etc. They've tried to destroy murals & privately commissioned public art without consent or notification to the artists themselves. Again, mostly for the chance to bring in new art and profit from online sales of merchandise / picture rights. And they're more than happy to block/ban/remove you from any of their social media if you even think of leaving a vaguely negative comment (even a politely-worded one). A word to the wise: good, wholesome, community-minded organizations NEVER block or throttle people into silence because they might disagree with them. And they NEVER treat artists like they're disposable sources of income. This organization does not represent Little Italy in the slightest. Be very, very careful if you're ever asked to work with them. Better yet, stay clear of them altogether.

The L. I. S. A. Project NYC…read more I'm not sure about the politics of what's behind this organization. There appears to be some controversy in the Yelp Reviews. I'm just a huge fan of graffiti. I love the color it adds to the city. I love the smile it puts on my face. I like the happy feeling I get inside when I see it. I also like the legal authorization of the activity. For many years it was an offense to express yourself and your artistic talent in this manner. I'm glad Little Italy has embraced this organization and the art they promote. Please Visit Little Italy and keep your eyes open for the murals. They are here, there, and everywhere! I'm posting photos I've taken in the past couple years. I hope you enjoy. I can't wait to return!

Even though it was closed because it's under construction I was able to go into the entrance and…read morethey still had the palm trees up and I was able to see through the mesh covering to see how beautiful the seating area is and it's still going to be an amazing place to sit and have lunch or dip into away from the rain. It stated they will be reopened by this year in the summer maybe the end of the summer. I can see it will be worth the wait

Nice place to sit and chill over coffee. The breakfast croissant was very good. Very spacious and…read morethe waiters were attentive. Nice ambiance.

OK, if you do the research on the LES/ East Village Community Gardens, you can't help but be…read moretouched. This one, in particular, was started by an apparent Superwoman named Francoise Cachalin, who defended this Safe-Haven from Ye Ole gentrification and didn't live to see the fruits of her labor. I'm so glad she fought for it. *Especially* during COVID/ post-lockdown era, I and other New Yorkers I've observed have come to appreciate the sacred outdoors. In the NE, we don't have good weather often, so Summer is the *best* time to take advantage of the lil free NYC perks like these. Anyway: I stumbled upon this place during my recent exploratory strolls through the East Village. What a cute gem. Ample seating for such a small space, mild greenery (we're not talking a jungle and that's OK). Some lil trinkets and garden art throughout. Totally serene, I don't see any justification for negative reviews. IF I lived down here I would *definitely* be in a place like this every. single. morning. PS: They have great deals for membership if you have a green-thumb and want to literally cultivate this atmosphere. Also, you can have group gatherings here for a *very* reasonable price, which I think is a great resource during these dark days of anti-socialization.

I wish I had one of these little gardens nearby right now because today has been one big bucket of…read morestress. But if you *do* live (or travel) near Creative Little Garden, you're in for a treat. This place is adorable and oh-so tranquil in the middle of a concrete heaven. I'm not sure who maintains this sweet little place, but it's charming, well-groomed, and the perfect spot to hide out in for an hour or two and shed all your worries. Check it out! I'm sure the set-up is ever-evolving.

Another one of those oddities in the line of 'world's biggest ball of yarn', and/or 'world's…read morebiggest thermometer'. Diagonal from the Astor Place Theatre, this is a simple yet fun visit. It's supposed to rotate, but it didn't move for me, maybe I wasn't pushing hard enough, but it also started to pour when I was looking at it, and I didn't want to get soaked trying.

A popular meet up spot, you can't miss this bronze cube set precariously on its corner, on the…read morenorthern corner of the block of Astor Place between Cooper Square and Lafayette St. It invites you to interact, a push and it spins, just be careful to keep your balance as it goes around! Titled "The Cube" or "Alamo", this 15 foot tall, 2400 pound rotating cube was the first contemporary sculpture purchased by the City of New York, and also the first sculpture that artist Tony Rosenthal created as a public art piece not commissioned by an architect. Interesting enough, this cube was originally supposed to be installed in Ann Arbor, where the University of Michigan is located and from where Rosenthal was an alumnus, however Cooper Union students petitioned to keep the sculpture in NYC. So he created a second one installed in 1968 in Michigan and commissioned by the U of M Class of 1965, officially titled "Endover." Fun fact: in total there are not only two--but actually three versions of the rotating cube, one in New York, one in Ann Arbor and another in Miami. More info at: https://tonyrosenthal.com/the-alamo/

Philly girl driving down a random street in Brooklyn when I looked to my left and saw a mural of…read moreBiggie on the wall! I did a quick u turn and luckily found a parking space to take a picture! Nice to see Brooklyn paying respect to one of the great hip hop legends.

The King of NY... Brooklyn, to be exact!…read more I walked past the mural initially because there's a big tree in front of it obstructing its view, so it's really easy to miss, but after doubling back around the block, I found it. It's a great mural, and I feel fulfilled that I was able to finally see it. Ig:thefunfluencer

This is an amazing, shiny, impressive structure and piece of art tinged with the sad history of…read morewhat's happened here on too many occasions. It is currently closed for the season, but you can still walk pretty close to it, take photos, and hang out in the grounds of Hudson Yards. Going doing the weekday and during the day is probably best to avoid crowds. I love how each angle gives a different unique background of the New York buildings! Definitely a spot to stop by if you're in the area!

The Vessel is located in a convenient area, right outside the Hudson Yards Mall and nearby…read morerestaurants and shops. We walked on the High Line to get here. It is a cool structure and was nice to see in person. We didn't go to the top, but I'd imagine the views are pretty nice from up there. However, for the fee it costs to go to the top, I'd rather spend the money on an experience like Top of the Rock or the Edge, where you are higher above the city and have better views. Worth seeing once or if you are in the area, but I personally wouldn't recommend someone to go out of their way to see this.

We had a fabulous time at the Color Factory in NYC. Color Factory is an interactive museum and…read moreevery room is informative or an activity. I love that they have a coach check so you don't have to carry your coats around the experience. Another plus is you can move throughout the experience at your own pace. My favorite rooms were the confetti, silent and birthday room. They also offer gelato and ice cream. I love the wrist bands you get to take pictures during the tour.

We spent a nice, chilly afternoon at this spot and the kids loved it. This is similar to the selfie…read moremuseums out there like the Ice Cream Museum, Museum of selfies, etc. But I enjoyed the explanation of all of the colors, and shades. There were so many interactive elements and we all loved the confetti room. You're also given a QR code where you can scan it and get copies at the end (after purchasing them). The location in Soho is fun, with so many great shops and restaurants nearby. The hit of the place was the ball pool at the end (again, similar to the sprinkle pool at the Museum of Ice Cream). My kids spent hours here. The ball pool kindof smelled like poop. Not gonna lie, it was definitely a stinky spot. There was a sign nearby that explained the balls were disinfected by some type of filtration system. Okay! Regardless of the poop smell, we all had a great time! And used lots of hand sanitizer afterwards.