New York Family Guide to Lower Manhattan by Green Ivy Schools

The

ULTIMATE GUIDE to

FAMILY LIFE LOWER MANHATTAN in

Karilyn Sanders

SPONSORED BY NEW YORK FAMILY

Karilyn Sanders

LOW& BEHOLD By Eric Messinger “This is heaven,” says local mom Eva Folch as she enjoys a parent break, sitting along a low-slung concrete wall while her 2-year-old son entertains himself in one of the nearby sand pits at the Imagination Playground in Lower Manhattan. When the playground opened to much fanfare five years ago, it was praised for its maritime elements and intuitive handson features, like its oversized and temptingly stackable blue blocks. But on the sunny and temperate Saturday afternoon in early June when I interviewed Folch, a native of Spain who works as a marketing executive in the fashion industry, she wasn’t only commenting on her restful moment in the park. The heaven she referred to was her new neighborhood—the Financial District—as well as the adjoining ‘hoods of Lower Manhattan including Battery Park City and Tribeca to the West, and the Seaport to the East. After she and her husband spent their first year as parents living near Midtown, she still seems a bit in awe of what a difference their move has made. “The pace, the mood, the vibe reminds me more of Europe than it does other parts of the city,” she says. “It’s just very easy— and as a family, it feels like I have everything I want, including more room and lots of other families with young children.” That’s for sure. For all of its storied history, the future of Lower Manhattan was a big, anxious question mark after 9/11, of course. But in the years since then, the area has enjoyed what I’ll describe as a steady explosion of families and family life, including more schools, parks, shopping, restaurants, extracurricular activities and enrichments, and new or newly-renovated buildings with lots of children’s playrooms (“Best idea ever,” Folch says of her building’s playroom). The population of Lower Manhattan has doubled since 2000 and that growth has primarily been driven by families. You see it everywhere: From the beehive of activity at Hudson River Park’s Pier 25 (with its playground, mini-golf course, volleyball court, soccer field, and sailing classes) to the playfully decorated classroom windows of the Pine Street School overlooking Chase Manhattan Plaza; from the big Kidville banner strung across Gold Street to the façade of the newest area public school, the Peck Slip School, scheduled to open in its permanent home in the heart of the Seaport in September. “What’s not to love?” asks Andy Biggers, a father-of-three living in Battery Park City, who took a break from playing a self-contained game of street hockey with his 10-year-old son in a quiet corner of Rockefeller Park to chat with me. And, actually, he did have one serious concern which is not uncommon: The rising real estate prices (for both condos and rentals) that have no sign of abating. Biggers has friends who recently moved to New Jersey because of these rising costs. He thinks that his family likes the area too much to move themselves. As the editor of New York Family magazine and a city

parent myself, I’ve watched, listened to, and reported on the family growth in Lower Manhattan for years, but I feel like the big difference these days is how so much of what families want and need has actually come to fruition (or is palpably on the way). In years past, the deep affection for the area was there, but the caveats loomed larger. Yes, families liked living near the water and appreciated the quiet and the low crime rates—the feeling of being in the city and also being a little bit apart from it. But the public school shortage was deeply worrisome, and the private options after nursery school were few. Depending on where you lived, there was a paucity of convenient grocery stores, good restaurants, and children’s activities and enrichment classes. The parks and playgrounds were good, but there was room and a need for more.

“What’s not to love?” asks a Battery Park City dad. These days, however, the caveats are fewer and less intense. If anything, the big message from local parents like Folch, Biggers, and the many others we interviewed for this article, is that family life in Lower Manhattan is flourishing—wonderfully in Battery Park City and Tribeca, and increasingly in the Financial District and the Seaport, where the prevailing sense is that it’s already pretty good and it’s only going to get better. While his 4-year-old daughter climbed on one of the stone boulders on Peck Slip and his baby watched from the confines of his arms, I spoke with another local dad about how the Seaport area has changed over the years. “Instead of a rugged fish market, we have an upscale doggie spa,” he says with an affectionate laugh, pointing to the Salty Paw, a noted local doggie emporium. “I miss the old fish smells, actually. But I like this a lot,” he adds, pointing this time in the other direction toward the Peck Slip School, where his daughter will start in September. This father had another insightful comment about the neighborhood: “Back in the day, when my friends heard that I lived near the Seaport, I’d get a weird look. But now, it’s like: ‘Ah, cool! I’m interested. Tell me more.’” This family guide is for the interested, for those new to Lower Manhattan, those actively thinking about moving there, and those who just want to know more. It’s a selective and explanatory overview, filled with the highlights, key trends, and hidden gems. If you’re still interested after reading it, the next step I recommend is to do what I did: Walk the area, talk to parents, and see for yourself what’s going on. Eric Messinger is the editor of New York Family. He can be contacted at emessinger@manhattanmedia.com.

Asphalt Green

WHERE FUN MEETS

ENRICHMENT

children’s classes Kidville

Manhattan Youth

Church Street School for Music and Art

As families have flocked to the tip of Manhattan, activities for kids have followed. Whether you’re seeking instrumental music instruction or a place to take swimming lessons, there’s something (and likely more than one thing) for children of all ages in this vibrant corner of the city. As a sampling, we’ve put the spotlight on five programs that offer something unique to families in Lower Manhattan. Something For Everyone (Parents Too): Ask any Green Ivy Schools leader and they’ll tell you that they’re just as committed to providing an amazing curation of the city’s best enrichment offerings to their neighbors as they are to expanding education options for their students at Pine Street School in FiDi and Battery Park Montessori. “Part of our mission is to bring exceptional NYC partners and institutions from all over the five boroughs together under one roof for afterschool activities, summer camp, family events, and adult classes,” says Jen Henriquez, Green Ivy Schools’ enrichment director, of the 85,000-square-ft space at 25 Pine Street which opened last September. Program Highlight: On any given day, you’ll find a host of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics) programs and other enrichments for kids of all ages—offered either on a drop-in basis or as a series—from notable partners like Music Together, Chef Toni’s Cooking Adventures, RoboFun, and even the New York International Children’s Film Festival (which has stop-motion animation for tweens). Parents, meanwhile, can let loose at tango lesson nights—with on-site childcare provided! Swimming in Fun: The arrival of Asphalt Green in Battery Park City two years ago signalled that downtown’s time had come, especially for

families seeking AG’s signature instructional swim lessons, which begin at the age of 4 months, and fitness programs, including group classes, water exercise classes, and more. “We’re different from our uptown campus because we’re more neighborhood based,” says Bryan Beary, director of Asphalt Green’s Battery Park City campus. “While uptown attracts a wide range of users from all over the city, this campus includes more than 70 percent of members who join as a family.” Program Highlight: Summer camp is a big draw for local residents, and you don’t have to be a member for kids ages 4.5 to15 to attend camp here, Beary says. “The campers have access to our swimming pool, gym, and ball fields.” Dedicated to the Arts: The founders of the non-profit Church Street School for Music and Art have been teaching downtown kids since long before Tribeca became the chic family neighborhood it is today. After 25 years of focus on providing top-notch instrumental music instruction and art classes, co-founder and executive director Lisa Ecklund-Flores is as committed to the school’s original mission as the day the doors first opened on Warren Street. “What we do is support what we believe is the natural artistic capability of every human being,” she says. Program Highlight: Summer programs at Church Street are flexible—and there’s something for everyone. This includes toddler music and art classes; a preschool arts program and Creative Art Workshop; a six-week program for kids ages 5 to12 that includes drawing, sculpture, and painting; and museum and music experiences like piano and recorder lessons.

Carving Out Community Space: For Sadia Brangan, a long-time FiDi resident and mom of three, having a relaxing space for new moms was something she wished she had access to when her kids were younger. Now as “mayor” of the Kidville on Gold Street, which opened last November, Brangan is on a mission to create a community space for young families in this ever-evolving neighborhood. Program Highlight: At this 4,100-square-ft space, you’ll find a preschool alternative. Other offerings include yoga, tennis, karate, and, in the fall, language classes, including Spanish, French, Italian, and Mandarin. “We have a lot of people from all over the world working in our neighborhood,” Brangan says. “We want to make sure their needs are met.” Afterschool Engagement: When Bob Townley, founder and executive director of Manhattan Youth, dreamed up the program 28 years ago, the goal was (and still is) to provide affordable recreational and childcare opportunities for families. Today, Manhattan Youth operates 15 afterschool programs, a plethora of classes at the Downtown Community Center, and several extracurricular programs on Pier 25 and in Hudson River Park, all of which serve 2,000 to 3,000 kids daily. Program Highlight: During the Outdoor Adventure Summer Program in August, kids enjoy five days of outdoor fun led by Townley. –Beth Smith Asphalt Green asphaltgreen.org/bpc Church Street School for Music and Art churchstreetschool.org Green Ivy Schools greenivyschools.com Kidville kidville.com/fidi Manhattan Youth manhattanyouth.org

Tribeca, Hudson River Park

BIG BLOOM THE

With the addition of over 40 acres of open-area green and park space over the last 20 years, Lower Manhattan gives a new lush and watery meaning to the phrase “Urban Jungle.” From the family point of view, its unusual mix of high-quality parks, playgrounds, and programming near the waterfront (or within walking distance) provides an unparalleled mix of verdant fun amid gorgeous vistas. “To be able to walk out of your front door and be at the water’s edge in a few minutes is really appealing to people,” says Jessica Lappin, the president of the Downtown Alliance (the business improvement district for Lower Manhattan). “Appealing” is an understatement—here are just some of the great green highlights: One of the stand-out outdoor oases is the cluster of parks that makes up the Battery Park City (BPC) parks—a network of smaller areas that includes Rockefeller Park, Teardrop Park, West Thames Park, and Wagner Park, as well as four water play areas, three playgrounds, two basketball courts, a handball court, a permanent outdoor ping pong table, and more! Citing their advanced design and eclectic landscape, Battery Park City Authority president and chief operating officer Shari C. Hyman states: “Battery Park City parks are ideal for families and children of all ages.” The other lure is the exceptional programming provided by the BPC Conservancy, which ranges from special events like the Swedish Midsummer Festival and Shakespeare performances by the New York Classical Theater, to the addition of new and demographically appropriate happenings like teen nights and sunset yoga programs, to long-time favorites like drop-in chess at Rockefeller Park. It would be remiss to mention the BPC parks without giving a special shout out to Teardrop Park, one of the city’s most special small-scale bucolic

havens and playgrounds. This minipark also has special programming like the free Wednesdays in Teardrop Park program, which features lawn games and creative art projects for kids. Right around Chambers Street and River Terrace, the Battery Parks pass the fun torch to the Hudson River Park Conservancy, whose own top-tier mix of waterfront parks and recreation, stretching all the way up the West Side of the city, adds up to the longest waterfront park in the country. In the Lower Manhattan section of Hudson River Park, the family attractions include playgrounds, a mini-golf course, and the many offerings of Pier 25, as well as the nearby basketball courts, skate park, and tennis courts. Then, a little farther north is Pier 40, with a full-size soccer field and the city’s one and only outdoor trapeze school. Of course, the other side of Lower Manhattan also has a public play area of some renown in the form of the Imagination Playground in the South Street Seaport. Designed by famed architect David Rockwell, Imagination Playground is a site-specific, interactive park that prompts children of all ages to manipulate their environment and create a play space of their own with sand, water, and loose parts. “The goal of Imagination Playground is to enable kids to do the work they do best: Build, invent, and create. The concept has three key components to achieve this: An environment that children can physically manipulate; a huge array of loose parts, including Imagination Playground Blocks; and Play Associates— a trained staff that manages the play space and maintains the loose parts,” says Rockwell, a 10-year Tribeca resident himself. “I think the area blossomed in a pretty incredible way. There’s now a real sense of community, and many more parks and public spaces where people can gather and connect,” he adds.

Andrew Schwartz

Rockefeller Park

Imagination Playground

Oh my—in our exploration of this quintessential downtown “Urban Jungle” we didn’t even mention the SeaGlass Carousel (opening this summer in the Battery Park), the Elevated Acre (a green escape in the sky at 55 Water Street) or the free ferry to Governors Island, with its own incredible landscape for families to enjoy. –Mia Weber

Teardrop Park

WHERE TO PARK IT Battery Park City Parks bpcparks.org & bpca.ny.gov Elevated Acre 55water.com Governors Island govisland.com Hudson River Park hudsonriverpark.org Imagination Playground imaginationplayground.com SeaGlass Carousel thebattery.org/seaglass

Andrew Schwartz

Karilyn Sanders

parks & recreation

Pine Street School

GETTING SCHOOLED

ON THE THREE P’S

(PUBLIC, PRIVATE, AND PRESCHOOL)

education

PUBLIC SPACES Anchored by the pillars of P.S. 234 and P.S. 89, Lower Manhattan has always had great public elementary schools. What it didn’t have was enough space to comfortably accommodate all the interested local families. So there were waiting lists, and make-shift classrooms, and then eventually some notable progress in getting more public schools. The list now includes the Spruce Street School (in the Financial District), P.S./I.S. 276 (a K through 8 school in Battery Park City), and the Peck Slip School (in the Seaport). So how’s the space issue going now? Well, some schools no longer have substantial waiting lists, but some do. “I liken the situation to when they build another lane on a popular highway,” says Matt Schneider, a Battery Park City father-oftwo and former Parent Association president of P.S./I.S. 276. “We desperately need the lane, but it may both relieve traffic and attract more traffic—and eventually, you may need another lane, or maybe another highway.” Currently, Schneider’s school, P.S./I.S. 276, is the local school with a big, painful waiting list for Kindergarten spots—with more than 40 families on the list. Last year, the families who didn’t get in were offered spots at less convenient schools in the area. As for P.S./I.S. 276 itself, classroom space is at such a premium that even grade 1 is filled to the max of 32 children per class. For a year and a half now, there has been public money set aside for another public school in Lower Manhattan to address the next wave of residential development, especially in the Financial District and the Seaport. But the fate of that school is still largely a bureaucratic mystery, even to neighborhood watchdogs and planners like Tricia Joyce, the chairperson of Community Board 1’s Youth and Education Committee. Speaking for herself as a local mom, Joyce notes: “There’s concern that, once again, the city is lagging way behind residential development in seriously siting and building the new school—and that, once again, we’re going to end up with serious school space issues—and subsequent wait lists.” –Eric Messinger THE RISE OF ANCHOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS As a part of Lower Manhattan’s growth as a family hub, a rising number of prestigious private schools now call the area home. In 2013, Green Ivy Schools’ Battery

Park Montessori preschool opened in the south end of Battery Park City, and was followed a year later by the Pine Street School, serving ages 2 to grade 8, which took up residence in an 85,000-square-ft space overlooking Chase Manhattan Plaza in September 2014. They joined notable private institutions such as the Blue School, a pre-K to 8 progressive school in the Seaport; and Léman Manhattan Preparatory School, a pre-K to 12 school with an international bent in the Financial District, which has separate downtown campuses for its Lower and Upper Schools. While Lower Manhattan has many established independent preschools, until now local families interested in an ongoing private education had to look farther uptown to find well-regarded schools like Friends Seminary (Union Square), City and Country (West Village), Grace Church (East Village), St. Luke’s (West Village), Village Community School (West Village), and Little Red Schoolhouse (SoHo). But with the recent establishment of several prestigious schools in the immediate area, families can now choose from diverse and appealing options close to home. Inspired by her own experiences with school overcrowding and the dearth of independent options as a Lower Manhattan parent of a 7-year-old, Green Ivy Schools’ founder and CEO Jennifer Jones brought her expertise in opening schools nationwide to the area. With Green Ivy Schools, a large part of her mission, in fact, was to offer best practices in education—such as Montessori and the International Baccalaureate curriculum. “It definitely feels much more like a neighborhood than I might have imagined 20 years ago,” says Blue School head Allison Gaines Pell. “There’s a lot of attention being placed on education downtown, which is great, of course.” Attracted by the area’s booming family population, including many international families, as well as its rich history and vibrant waterfront atmosphere, the new Lower Manhattan private schools have quickly become an indivisible part of the

area’s family flavor—and like the great local public schools, they make the most of the neighborhood. The Blue School takes advantage of the area through partnerships with local institutions, like Imagination Playground and St. Margaret’s House. Similarly, at Léman, students do everything from raising food in the Battery Park Community Gardens to walking the floor of the New York Stock Exchange; and the Pine Street School’s partnership with the Children’s Museum of the Arts (CMA) allows the school to host its own artist-in-residence. “The potential for using the city as a classroom is an integral part of our curriculum and education philosophy around giving children tangible, hands-on experiences,” says Pine Street’s head of school Eileen Baker. The area’s international makeup also contributes to these schools’ commitment to education with a global perspective. “Our neighborhood is incredibly international, because, in part, of our proximity to the financial industry,” says Green Ivy Schools’ CEO Jennifer Jones. The cost of private school education in New York City can vary from about $15,000 to $25,000 per year for preschool, and from $25,000 to $40,000 for an ongoing private education. Lower Manhattan has many affluent families who typically attend area preschools (which now number around 20) before deciding whether to continue in private education or to go public. For now, at least, on the private front there seems to be enough spots to accommodate local interest at the preschool level and beyond. “It’s exciting to be part of a community that’s really growing,” says Kate Delacorte, the co-director of one of the area’s long-time preschools, the Downtown Little School. “There are many new schools in the downtown area, and I think it’s fair to say there are plenty of spaces available for everyone.” –Lauren Vespoli THE MONTESSORI RESURGENCE Though the Montessori Method has been around for more than 100 years, this childLéman Manhattan

P.S. 343 Eric Messinger

There are many kinds of public schools, private schools, and preschools in Lower Manhattan, but there is one characteristic which, remarkably, they all seem to share. To say it plainly, they’re all very good schools, buoyed by experienced educators and engaged families! In this overview, we’ve focused on a few trends and concerns in education and admissions that are especially relevant locally, though of course there are similar reverberations throughout the city.

education

Andrew Schwartz

Blue School

centric educational approach has recently enjoyed a resurgence in New York City, both through the establishment of new schools and as an influence within non-Montessori programs. “As everyone talks about 21st-Century learning, and what schools need to be in order to produce students who can do well… Montessori has come back around,” says Martha Haakmat, head of the Brooklyn Heights Montessori School (BHM). And it certainly hasn’t hurt Montessori’s reputation as an incubator for creative success stories that people like Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, and even pop superstar Taylor Swift, attended Montessori programs as kids. “A lot of parents who come in for our tours…[come in] having read books about brain development, and specifically about new paradigms within the workforce,” says Sara Bloomberg, the director at Battery Park Montessori. “The intellectual environment is one of curiosity and wonder,” explains Marlene Barron, chief academic officer for Etonkids educational group (a leading early education provider in China) who has worked in Montessori for more than 45 years. “That’s why people like the Google guys or the Amazon guys give credit to Montessori.” Developed in Italy by Dr. Maria Montessori, and based on her behavioral observations of young children, the mission of a Montessori education is to enable children to become independent, thoughtful learners by harnessing their natural talents and abilities within a carefully constructed and aesthetically appealing environment. This goal is achieved through multiage learning groups, concentrated periods of work time, guided choice in their work activities, and the famed Montessori learning materials— designed specifically for children to use as they explore and deepen their understanding of key concepts. At Lower Manhattan’s Green Ivy Schools, the Montessori approach not only anchors Battery Park Montessori, for children ages 2 to 6, but it is also part of the early founda-

tion of the Pine Street School, which goes from ages 2 to grade 8, along with the International Baccalaureate curriculum. “The Montessori practice provides tools and resources for children to learn abstract concepts concretely, and then the IB allows them to go from there to explore big ideas,” says Jennifer Jones, Green Ivy Schools’ founder and CEO. At Pine Street, the Montessori Method runs concurrently with parts of the IB at the preschool level, with IB practices starting to dominate around age 5. With the support of both pedagogies, children begin their engagement in dual language immersion, athletics, dance, drama, music, violin, and other instrumental instruction in preschool, and follow through with them over the course of their educational career. “Montessori has always been the gold standard for early childhood education,” says Pine Street head of school Eileen Baker. “It was the first program where somebody actually studied young children and developed a program that would help them at their particular stages of development.” –Lauren Vespoli A TRULY GLOBAL EDUCATION Many of Lower Manhattan’s top private schools share a global focus. In addition to encompassing curricular requirements like language immersion, they aim to provide a learning experience that will arm students with the cognitive tools to understand and empathize with differing perspectives, and empower them to tackle problems on both a local and global scale. “Parents who look at our school realize that we’re an international school, helping students understand that they have a responsibility to be global citizens,” says Drew Alexander, the head of school at the Financial District’s Léman Manhattan Preparatory School, which serves students in grades pre-K to12. Jennifer Jones, the Green Ivy Schools’ CEO, notes the growing popularity of international offerings. “You’re hard-pressed to find a new school that isn’t offering multiple languages, [or] an international curriculum of some kind,” she says. This global perspective can be imparted to students in a variety of ways: Through international networks of sister schools, specially commissioned academic courses, or through the International Baccalaureate curriculum. Green Ivy’s Pine Street School is a prime example of this trend as a current candidate school for the only International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program in Lower Manhattan. Léman offers

the IB’s Diploma Program for students in grades 11 and 12. Created by educators in 1968, the International Baccalaureate curriculum is offered in 147 countries worldwide and implemented through a continuum comprised of four programs for students ages 3 to19. Across all ages, the IB’s official mission is to “develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.” “We believe…that learning is done best when it’s engaged with worldwide issues,” explains Dr. Siva Kumari, the IB Director General. In the Primary Years Program, this engagement is achieved through foreign language study, transdisciplinary themes that provide schools with the opportunity to incorporate local and global issues into the curriculum; and in the later years, through core foci that include service and a study of how knowledge develops. The IB approaches students through the lens of its learner profile, which is comprised of 10 attributes that the program strives to impart in its learners, including “inquirers,” “communicators,” and “risk-takers.” “The thing that excites us [about the IB program] is that we are able to thread technology throughout our interdisciplinary studies in a way that reinforces international-mindedness,” says Eileen Baker, Pine Street’s head of school. “Science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics are practiced together, as students seek answers to questions that they find personally interesting within a global context.” Prior to becoming the director of Pine Street School, Baker was an IB school inspector and teacher trainer for 16 years in Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Americas regions. She has opened six schools in as many countries, and stresses the importance of being able to select families by their match to the program’s philosophy around Global Citizenship. While curriculums like the IB provide the essential underpinning of any global education, there are other facets, too, such as the IB’s active exchange program, or having sister schools in your own network, like Léman does. “[They] encourage this basic understanding that everything that we do locally impacts others globally,” says Alexander, the head of school at Léman, which has sister schools in China and Switzerland. And, really, that’s the big goal of all the schools embracing global education. –Lauren Vespoli

The Blue School blueschool.org Downtown Little School downtownlittleschool.com Green Ivy Schools greenivy.com Léman Manhattan Preparatory School lemanmanhattan.org Public Schools—New York City Department of Education schools.nyc.gov

Karilyn Sanders

shopping, dining & essential services

WALK

THIS WAY Balloon Saloon

With the wave of growth in Lower Manhattan family life comes an expansion in the mix of local shopping, dining, and neighborhood service offerings in the area. The choices available to families are notable thanks to their variety—you can find high-end boutiques side-by-side with accessibly priced chains. And while Lower Manhattan sometimes requires a stroll from one ‘hood to another in search of exactly what you need, parts of the area also offer at-your-doorstep convenience. Whether you take a walk from FiDi to Tribeca in search of the perfect shop or restaurant, or you walk out your door and into your destination, the range of retail and service choices is sure to delight! We’ve rounded up a selective list of familyfriendly retailers, restaurants, and other neighborhood services like parent groups, childcare, and healthcare providers. –Mia Weber

SHOPPING Babesta Cribz babesta.com/Cribz Babesta Threads babesta.com/Threads Balloon Saloon balloonsaloon.com Barnes & Noble Tribeca barnesandnoble.com Bit’Z Kids bitzkidsnyc.com Boomerang Toys boomerangtoys.com Century 21 c21stores.com Color Me Mine Tribeca tribeca.colormemine.com Egg Baby egg-baby.com

Fulton Stall Market fultonstallmarket.com It’s Sugar itsugar.com Jade’s Toy Box (212) 343-8881 Koh’s Kids (212) 791-6915 L.O.L. Kids (646) 791-0497 My Little Sunshine mylittlesunshinenyc.com Mysterious Bookshop mysteriousbookshop.com Playing Mantis friendlymantis.com Polarn O. Pyret polarnopyretusa.com Posman Books posmanbooks.com Torly Kid torlykid.com Rosie Pope Maternity—The Lab rosiepope.com Shoofly shooflynyc.com

The Odeon theodeonrestaurant.com Pier 17 (for the food trucks) southstreetseaport.com Pier A piera.com PJ Clarke’s pjclarkes.com Ruchi’s Indian Cuisine ruchicuisine.com Seaport Smorgasburg smorgasburg.com Shake Shack—Battery Park City shakeshack.com Smorgas Chef smorgas.com Sophie’s Cuban sophiescuban.com Sprinkles sprinkles.com Tribeca Treats tribecatreats.com ‘wichcraft wichcraft.com

DINING

OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES

Alfanoose alfanoosenyc.com Amish Market amishintribeca.com Black Seed Bagel blackseedbagels.com Blue Smoke bluesmoke.com Brasserie Les Halles leshalles.net Bubby’s bubbys.com Cercle Rouge cerclerougeresto.com Cowgirl Seahorse cowgirlseahorse.com The Doughnut Plant doughnutplant.com El Vez elveznyc.com Financier Patisserie financierpatisserie.com Kitchenette kitchenetterestaurant.com Landmarc landmarc-restaurant.com Le District ledistrict.com Little Muenster littlemuenster.com Mighty Quinn’s BBQ mightyquinnsbbq.com Ninja New York ninjanewyork.com Num Pang numpangnyc.com

Battery Park City Library nypl.org Brookfield Place brookfieldplaceny.com Bright Horizons Child Care explore.brighthorizons.com The Downtown Alliance downtownny.com Downtown Pediatrics downtown-pediatrics.com FiDi Families fidifamilies.com HRP Mamas hrpmamas.com Lower Manhattan Cultural Council lmcc.net New Amsterdam Library nypl.org NewYork-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital nyp.org/lowermanhattan The Salty Paw thesaltypaw.com TKTS tdf.org Tribeca Pediatrics tribecapediatrics.com Washington Market Pediatrics washingtonmarketpediatrics.com

50 West

WHERE TO LIVE NOW

real estate The Beekman

Sterling Mason 101 Wall Street

DOWNTOWN DREAM BUILDINGS 50 West 50westnyc.com 101 Wall Street 101wall.com The Beekman thebeekman.com The Sterling Mason thesterlingmason.com

In some ways, thinking of Lower Manhattan as a conglomerate of distinct neighborhoods doesn’t quite tell the whole story. No matter where they live, families will always seek out other parts of the city beyond their immediate surroundings to fulfill specific needs; but on the other hand, each neighborhood has its own distinct flavor and amenities. We spoke with local real estate experts to get the scoop on what you’ll find in each area. TRIBECA: THE JEWEL IN THE DOWNTOWN CROWN What you’ll find: Known for its spacious renovated lofts tucked onto side streets, Tribeca, once a warehouse district, is about as family-friendly as they come. “The sprawling lofts and the character you’ll find in the old, industrial, refurbished warehouse-types of buildings make this neighborhood a huge draw,” says Danny Davis, a sales agent at Town Real Estate who specializes in downtown properties. “The high-end family-friendly restaurants, great schools, and Washington Market Park are other pluses.” Spotlight on: The Sterling Mason. With 33 oversized residences on 71 Laight Street, ranging from two- to five-bedrooms, a library lounge, a fitness studio, and the first playroom created with the help of 92nd Street Y experts, this luxury condo building is a definite family pleaser. Tribeca Stat: $4.9 million three-bedroom sale (from streeteasy.com). FIDI: COBBLESTONED STREETS AND CONVERTED OFFICE BUILDINGS What you’ll find: This burgeoning

residential neighborhood is less expensive than Tribeca (and in some cases, up to 30 percent less expensive than the rest of Manhattan, according to triplemint. com), but still offers proximity to great parks and transportation, plus epic views—most apartments here were converted from office high-rises. While once considered more of a 9-to-5 business district, locals here are finding more and more things to do when the workers go home. “The quality of life and the restaurants here are getting better and better every day,” Davis says. “Being near work is a draw, too. I think this neighborhood is a great investment for young families.” Spotlight on: The Beekman. A two- or three-bedroom home in this tower, which will open in early 2016 adjacent to the Beekman Hotel, promises 360-degree views from river to river, and a few added pluses for busy parents: In-residence dining by Tom Colicchio and Keith McNally, and personal training in the on-site fitness center. FiDi Stat: $2.6 million threebedroom sale. BATTERY PARK CITY: THE BEST IN PARK LIVING What you’ll find: The sheer amount of green space can’t be beat in this waterfront neighborhood. “There are incredible parks and playgrounds, basketball courts, and so much green grass here,” Davis says. But it’s hardly boring, and foodie families will love the offerings at Brookfield Place and its Le District food market. “Relative to Tribeca, you still get better value in this neighborhood,”

Davis adds. The local amenities are another attraction for busy families, says John Tashjian, a principal at Centurion Real Estate Partners and a developer of River & Warren, a 28-story condo building located right on the river. “Families like Battery Park City because it offers the perfect mix between suburban amenities and city living.” Spotlight on: 50 West. Prices start at $1,960,000 for a one-bedroom in this 64-story tower, but it’s the amenities that will soar to new heights when the building opens in the fall of 2016. The 20,000 square feet of amenity space include a kids’ playroom (with outdoor space), an arts and crafts room, a game room with a ping pong table, a pool table, and foosball, as well as a 60-ft indoor pool with a lifeguard. Battery Park City Stat: $3 million three-bedroom sale. THE SEAPORT: A MARINER’S DREAM What you’ll find: History lovers—and those who enjoy a quieter spot to call home— will want to consider the Seaport, a neighborhood filled with landmark buildings and winding cobblestone streets that’s perched between FiDi and the East River. “The playgrounds, especially Imagination Playground, are favorites of the families who live here,” Davis says. “It’s a pleasant neighborhood that’s as full of history as it is walkable.” Spotlight on: 101 Wall Street. Opening in the summer of 2016, this converted-to-condos office building, which dates to 1931, offers a cozy playroom, a training studio, sweeping water views, and a mix of two- and three-bedroom homes. Seaport Stat: $2 million threebedroom sale. –Beth Smith

FROM THE

HISTORICAL TO THE RIGHT NOW

culture South Street Seaport

From historical treasures to modern marvels, Lower Manhattan serves up a big variety of cultural experiences for families that draws from both the past and the present. Families can enjoy both time-honored landmarks as well as sleek new performance spaces, museums, and event venues. Here is just a sampling of the cultural sites and attractions that Lower Manhattan has to offer!

Statue of Liberty

Tribeca Performing Arts Center

The Tribeca Performing Arts Center is “the longest operating performance venue in lower Manhattan.” What makes the programming unique at Tribeca PAC is the diverse slate of entertainment presented for both children and adults—from jazz to comedy to children’s theatre. This year’s upcoming performances include “The Berenstain Bears LIVE!,” Dr. Seuss’ “The Cat in The Hat,” and more. Whether you are taking a boat ride on the Circle Line, enjoying the wonder of Imagination Playground, or shopping at the Fulton Stall Market, the South Street Seaport has a lot to offer. You can also visit the Maritime Craft Center and explore historic ships at the South Street Seaport Museum, which offers a high level of interactivity. “Fundamental to all we do at the Seaport Museum is the concept of living history,” says Captain Jonathan Boulware, the museum’s executive director. In addition to being one of the premiere private colleges in the city, Pace University has become a popular cultural hub for neighborhood families, with the Schimmel Center offering a menu of world-class performing artists as well as top children’s entertainers (this year they

Federal Hall nps.gov/feha Museum of American Finance moaf.org National Museum of the American Indian nmai.si.edu National September 11 Memorial & Museum 911memorial.org New York Stock Exchange nyse.com Pace University pace.edu South Street Seaport southstreetseaport.com Statue of Liberty - Ellis Island libertyellisfoundation.org Tribeca Film Festival tribecafilm.com/family Tribeca Performing Arts Center tribecapac.org

“From historical treasures to modern marvels, Lower Manhattan serves up a big variety of cultural experiences for families.” also featured a special “Nutcracker” performance with the Gelsey Kirkland Ballet). What’s more, the Pace School of Performing Arts has become a fresh new creative force at Pace University and in the neighborhood as an unofficial community theater with its repertoire of Shakespeare, classic musicals, and new student productions. The National Museum of the American Indian is a designated National Historic Landmark and a New York City Landmark, offering a wide variety of exhibitions, film and video screenings, and programming. “Our museum is the best of the best when it comes to teaching about Native peoples,” says Kevin Gover, the director of the museum. “Parents who come to our museum are opening the door for their kids to be part of a bigger story.” One of the most memorable places to visit in Lower Manhattan is the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center. “The programs we run aimed at younger visitors are a great way to introduce them to the story in a sensitive, appropriate manner,” says Cliff Chanin, the 9/11 Memorial vice president of education and public programs. The Stories & Art program contains a theme tied to 9/11 and concludes with an optional hands-on art activity. Drop-in activity stations are designed to spark conversations between children and their parents/guardians.

The Museum of American Finance appeals to older kids with classes like “Real Fake, with Inspector Collector,” an interactive performance with a hands-on display and discussion of different types of money. A new high-tech exhibit just opened called “America in Circulation,” which features 250 of the most beautiful and rare pieces of American paper money in an interactive environment. One truly awesome thing about this museum is that it has a Title 1 Program sponsored by ING, which allows students from Title 1 Schools (the vast majority of NYC schools) to receive free admission, a class, lunch, and transportation. You might only end up visiting them once or twice, but these iconic landmarks permeate the character of the neighborhood, not to mention American history: The Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the New York Stock Exchange, and Federal Hall with its statue of George Washington. Notable Mention: Tribeca Film Festival: We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention that each spring, the Tribeca Film Festival’s Family Festival turns the neighborhood upside down with family entertainment. Considered to be the “ultimate street fair and family celebration,” parents can partake in a host of free activities and performances. –Danielle Sullivan

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