CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Blue Fin; Taylor Hicks; Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnilo; Heather Tom; Jeremy Piven; Larry David; Esca; The 505.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
ATELIER
The far West Side is still a work in progress, which means big construction sites and a scarcity of life’s conveniences within walking distance. Luckily, the soaring 46-story Atelier was designed to keep residents home and happy. The resortlike tower has a skylit indoor pool, basketball and volleyball courts, a sundeck, and a rooftop lounge. Add stunning water views and you’d almost think you’re in Miami, not Manhattan. 635 West 42nd Street, 212-563-6635; ateliercondos.com.
THE 505
The great outdoors doesn’t necessarily spring to mind when debating the finer points of Hell’s Kitchen (if you’ll recall, the Jets and Sharks tussled on asphalt, not grass), but this new addition to the historically gritty West Side ’hood allows buyers a breath of fresh air. The 505 is made up of two mid-rise brick buildings connected by a leafy private courtyard, and almost half the 109 apartments have terraces, balconies, or rooftop gardens. 505 West 47th Street, 212- 505-9378; the505hk.com.
PLATINUM
This new 43-story glass and steel tower on Eighth Avenue has an extravagant lobby outfitted with a 26-foot-long fireplace, a trickling moat, and plasma screens displaying “mood-enhancing” art videos. And the amenities floor—called the Zone—features a soundproof room with massage chairs, a wraparound terrace with cabana lounges, and an indoor golf simulator to help straighten out that drive without damaging property. 247 West 46th Street, 212-616-6611; platinumnyc.com.
NEIGHBORS
CURRENT: Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo, Rosie O’Donnell, Heather Tom.
FORMER: James Blake, Larry David, Taylor Hicks, Felicity Huffman and William H. Macy, Lindsay Lohan, Jeremy Piven, Maggie Rizer, Bruce Willis.
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED
BLUE FIN
Contrary to popular opinion, Red Lobster is not the only Times Square seafood option. Located in a bi-level space that’s as sleek and modern as its W Hotel Times Square surroundings, this fish-centric stunner puts its 400 diners front-row center for the action: schools of tourists swimming through the square, becoming a sort of Broadway show of their own. 1567 Broadway, 212-918-1400; brguestrestaurants.com.
ESCA
Italian sashimi? Leave it to Mario Batali to make it a hit, and his tasty crudo is just one delectable catch in a sea of opportunity at this southern Italian restaurant. Though Molto Mario is the big name behind Esca, it’s chef Dave Pasternack— dubbed “the fish whisperer” by The New York Times—who’s reeling ’em in. 402 West 43rd Street, 212-564-7272; esca-nyc.com.
