August news highlights include restaurant openings and announcements, new office tenants, and hotel construction progress. Stay in the know with the latest Flatiron News.

Restaurants & Bars

• Black Barn Restaurant reopened in NoMad (via Gotham Magazine).
• NuLeaf opened it first location in Flatiron (via Eater NY).
• Chef Toshio Tanahashi from Eleven Madison Park is featured in a Q&A about the plant-based menu (via Green Queen).
• Hawksmoor, Tortazo NoMad, and Zaytina are featured in 'The most exciting restaurants opening in New York City this fall' (via Crain's New York).
• Eric Finkelstein and Matt Ross leased Eisenberg's luncheonette location and plans to "bring [Eisenberg] back from the brink" (via Grub Street).

District Businesses

• Mastercard Inc. renovated its 150 5th Avenue offices including telephone booths and Zoom-friendly conference rooms for the hybrid work enviroment (via Bloomberg).
• Life Time's fitness app, TB12, is mentioned in 'The 5 best free and paid fitness apps for men and women to try in 2021' (via New York Post).
• Alo Yoga became an official wellness partner of New York Fashion Week and plans to host events in Flatiron and SoHo from Sept. 6 to 12 (via WWD).
• GlossLab, a membership-based nail studio, opened an additional location in the Flatiron District (via Beauty Packaging).
• The NoMad Hotel opened a London location in the formerly Bow Street Magistrates’ Court and Police Station (via Forbes).

Real Estate

• Chainalysis, a cryptocurrency and blockchain startup, leased 40,000SF HQ at 114 Fifth Avenue (via Crain's New York).
• Welcome Homes, a digital home building firm, leased a 4,700 square foot office at 41 Madison Avenue from Handler Real Esate Organization (via Real Estate Weekly).
• Richmond Hill Investment Co. moved into a 4,400 square foot office at 381 Park Avenue South (via Commercial Observer).
• Jeff Bezos purchased more space at the pre-war 212 Fifth Avenue for $119 million (via Architectural Digest).
• The former Desmond’s Tavern space at 433 Park Avenue South will become a 2,400-square-foot music venue (via Commercial Observer).

Around the Neighborhood

• NYC Homecoming Week highlighted Maya Lin's Ghost Forest as "a symbol of climate change" (via Patch). 
• Madison Square Park's origin history of Manhattan's original potter's field is mentioned in 'Serveral of NYC's public parks got their starts as mass graves before become green space' (via Brooklyn Based).

Header Photo Credit: Mastercard
Thumbnail Photo Credit: Black Barn
Main Page Photo Credit: Zaytinya

The Flatiron Partnership is excited to welcome NuLeaf, a fast-casual plant-based restaurant setting out to satisfy your cravings made with organic, locally sourced ingredients at 23 West 23rd Street! NuLeaf believes being plant positive is better for your health and the environment. The eatery strives to make you feel good about what you're eating and contribute to the larger earth friendly movement. 

"The Flatiron was home to our first concept Terri, a popular restaurant of ten years which closed during the pandemic (formally on 23rd street). The same co-founders are very excited to return to the area and open our new plant-based restaurant, NuLeaf, for Flatiron residents. NuLeaf features an all-day menu that includes fresh, seasonal menu items and we are proud to serve organic and locally sourced produce. Our restaurant offers plenty of seating and boasts one of the largest living plant walls in New York City, featuring more than 1,800 tropical plants," says Owners Craig Cochran, Mike Pease and Molly Hellring.

Co-owner Craig Cochran curated the menu based on a plant-based reinvention of his favorite childhood recipes. The majority of the produce featured in menu items is sourced locally from New York and New Jersey farms. The NuLeaf team partners with reputable companies like Blackbird Foods for quality ingredients. Additionally, NuLeaf only uses compostable packaging and corn-based utensils.

NuLeaf's menu is divided into three sections: bowls, salads, and a variety of sides. Some featured menus items are the Chorizo Fiesta Bowl with Blackbird seitan 'chorizo,' seasoned rice, cashew 'sour cream, guacamole, black bean & corn salsa, tortilla chips, and lime-cilantro vinaigrette; the Grilled Peach Salad with mixed baby greens, jicama, herbed 'goat cheese,' sweet & spicy candied pecans, and maple balsamic dressing; and the Chickpea Tuna Sandwich with chickpea 'tuna,' 'cheddar,' tomato, red onion, and mayo served on focaccia.

NuLeaf's Flatiron location includes 46 indoor and 16 outdoor seats. The restaurant features a signature plant wall installation with touches of wood and black steel throughout. The lively plant wall homes more than 1,800 tropical plants. Customers will be able to eat beneath lush greenery for a welcomed break and change of scenery. For pick-up and to-go orders, the shop has a dedicated area in front of each store for ease. 

Guests can also pick from 14 smoothie and shake options. NuLeaf's signature drinks include the PB Cookie Dough Shake made with cookie dough' ice cream', peanut butter, chocolate syrup, and soy milk and the Green Power Smoothie made with kale, banana, pear, almond butter, and soy milk.

NuLeaf is open Monday to Friday from 10:30 am to 9:30 pm and weekends from 11:30 am to 9:30 pm.

NuLeaf, 23 West 23rd Street, (Between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue), @eatnuleaf

Food Photography Credit: Maria Be via NuLeaf
Interior & Exterior Phtoogrpahy Credit: Robert Bredvan voa NuLeaf

We are thrilled to welcome Bambū, a Vietnamese-inspired beverage shoppe with locations across the U.S., Canada, and the Philippines. Located at 38 East 23rd Street, Bambū offers over 70 drink varieties of boba teas, smoothies, yogurt parfaits, signature coffees, and their specialty Vietnamese Chè.

"We chose this location because it is a very diverse area and we're very excited to share Bambu with as many people as fast as possible and this location has extremely high foot traffic, from tourists, to locals, to students and offices," said Co-Owners Tracy Liang and Samuel Tsang.

Chè is a Vietnamese word for traditional homemade beverages, dessert drinks and puddings. Bambū's Chè is made to order and uses freshly cut and drained coconut water, house prepared coconut milk, and a unique selection of homemade, healthy ingredients. Bambū's menu is 100% vegetarian and can be easily upgraded to vegan-friendly. 

Guests can choose from several Chè creations including their customer favorites like the Bambū Special made with fresh coconut, pandan jelly, longan, basil seed, and coconut water and the Taro Lover Khoai MÔn BÁnh Lot made with house-made taro, pandan Jelly, and coconut milk. 

Along with Chè drinks, the shop's menu features freshly brewed fruit teas, milk teas, coffees, smoothies, yogurt parfaits, and fresh juices. Bambū uses premium brewed tea leaves and house-made pure can sugar, and guests can select the preferred sweetness level for their teas.

Bambū's coffee drinks are made with french roasted beans and chicory, and can be hot, iced, or blended. And their real fruit smoothies are thick, creamy, and refreshing. Premium smoothie options use fruits like lychee, jackfruit, avocado, and durian. Along with an array of signature creatiions, guests can make their own drinks and experiment with different flavors and toppings.

Crowd favorites include the Lavender Bubble Tea with boba, the Traditional Vietnamese Iced Coffee with coffee jelly, the #10 Bambū Favorite (made with red tapioca, grass jelly, pandan jelly, and coconut milk), and the classic Taro Milk Tea with boba. Additionally, Bambū is famous for their pandan waffles. Ice cream mochi treats are also available. 

We're excited to have Bambū's one-of-a-kind dessert drinks join the neighborhood! Bambū is open Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday from 12 pm to 7 pm, and Friday and Saturday from 12 pm to 8 pm. 

Bambū, 38 East 23rd Street, (Between Madison Avenue and Park Avenue South), @bambu.madisonsquarepark

Photography Credit: Bambū

The Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership's Flatiron Fitness Series, which concluded on August 4th, presented eight weeks of outdoor workouts in support of local fitness studios and gyms. Attendees worked out on rooftop terraces at nearby hotels Tuesday mornings and at Flatiron's signature “Wellness Wednesday” evening classes on the Public Plaza at 6 pm. All classes collected donations and 100% of donations were directed to fitness studio and gym partners. In total, we partnered with 10 studios and gyms, two hotels, and eight food and retail shops. 

Starting Juune 15th, the program spanned eight weeks. Overall, approximately 250 attendees particpated (*class capacity was limited this year to maintain social distancing) and $1,429 in donations was collected from attendee. Additionally, for each fitness class, "Attendee Perks" email featuring deals & promos from local businesses was sent. The program was popular on social media with over 100K social media impressions earned. 

Check out the full program recap and stats here. 

Shout out to our partners for a successful program this year: 

• MADE Hotel
• Mondrian Park Avenue Hotel
• DanceBody
• bode nyc
• Dharma Yoga
• Life Time
• LL Studio
• PMT House of Dance
• Pop Physique
• Power Pilates
• SLT Flatiron
• Y7 Studio
• Bombay Sandwich Co.
• maman
• Mangia
• Milu
• Standard Dose
• Sweetcatch Poke
• Taïm
• Veggie Grill
• Vita Coco

And a big THANK YOU to everyone who participated and donated to support neighborhood fitness studios and gyms!

>> For a full program recap of the FLATIRON FITNESS SERIES, CLICK HERE.<<

Warm welcome to MS. KIM'S Lounge & Private Karaoke, an upscale karoke bar and lounge. Located at 6 West 28th Street (on the second floor), the lounge sets out to reinvent a traditional karaoke bar to offer an exciting escape to New Yorkers looking for a fun night out. The lounge features Korean and Japanese-inspired cuisine and cocktails in a chic new space.

“My salon (Blinglash) and my offices are right on 23rd Street in the heart of the Flatiron District, and I live in NoMad. I love it here! NoMad has this vibrant energy that reminds me of the New York I dreamed of one day visiting when I was growing up in Korea. When I had the idea of MS. KIM’S, I knew it had to be in NoMad. I didn’t look anywhere else. Now more than ever, it’s so important that we allow ourselves to connect, have fun, and live more fulfilled. I hope you will give yourself permission to close the screen and go have fun at MS. KIM’S. I think you deserve it," says Founder and Owner Anna Kim.

MS. KIM’S has a range of soundproof karaoke rooms for various group sizes to privately eat, drink, dance, and sing the night away. Each room is fully serviced and includes state-of-the-art sound systems. The rooms are situated to have stunning views of the district, including the Empire State Building. In the lounge, patrons can enjoy a full-service bar for after-work drinks or date night. As well as enjoy weekly live jazz nights featuring musicians like Kihong Jang.

MS. KIM'S offers a food menu with Korean and Japanese-inspired dishes featuring Shrimp Tempura, Fried Chicken Karaage, and Dragon Rolls. Their beverage menu includes wine, beer, soju, and signature cocktails like the Butterfly made with Butterfly Pea Flower Tea Infused Tequila, Lavender Syrup, Lime, and Soda Water, and the Royale Negroni made with Cognac, Campari, Montenegro Amaro, and Orange Bitters

MS. KIM'S is open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 6 pm to 1 am, Thursdays and Fridays from 6 pm to  2 am, and Saturdays from 7 pm to 2 am. You can make reservations here.

MS. KIM'S Lounge & Private Karaoke, 6 West 28th Street, 2nd Flr., (Between Fifth Avenue and Broadway), @ms.kims.nyc

Photography Credit: MS. KIM'S

July news highlights include restaurant openings and announcements, new office tenants, new hotel construction's making progress. Stay in the know with the latest Flatiron News.

Restaurants & Bars

• Junoon reopened and relocated after closing for a year (via Eater NY).
• Sona, an elegant Indian cuisine restaurant, was featured in "The 15 Hottest New Restaurants in Manhattan, July 2021" (via Eater NY)
• Bambu, a Vietnamese-inspired beverage shop, opened at 38 East 23rd Street (via Patch).
• Both Eataly's Serra by Birreria and Glass Ceiling NoMad were featured in "Five New rooftops for business-friendly outdoor dining" (via Crain's New York).
• Pastry Chef Dominique Ansel opened his new Dominique Ansel Workshop featuring Ansel's famous Viennoiseries and croissants (via New York Times).
• Little Mad, a Korean-American spot lead by Executive Chef Sol Han opens on 110 Madison Avenue. The Korean-American menu is made with French and Italian techniques featuring beef tartare with shiitakes, soft shell crab, and Shin Ramyun-inspired crispy duck noodles with umami foam (via Time Out New York).
• Cote lands a spot of "19 Places to Find Refreshing Frozen Cocktails in New York City" (via Eater NY).
• Honeybrains was profiled and discussed their neuroscience-influenced menu (via THE CITY).
• Mark's Off Madison owner Mark Strausman expands food offerings to four menus (via New York Times).
• Mista Oh, a woman-owned Korean restaurant, is featured for its Korean barbecue, fried rice, and soft tofu stew (via Forbes).
• Bounce Sporting Club, an upscale sports bar and club, sets the perfect environment to watch the Olympics with "Hail Mary" drinks, chicken strips, and pig in a pretzel (via Gotham).
• Sarashina Horii, one of Tokyo's oldest soba shops, opened at 45 East 20th Street (via Eater NY).
• Hill Country Barbecue Market was featured in "Where to Find Iconic Texas Dishes in NYC" (via Eater NY).
• Giorgio's of Gramercy's Baked Alaska with strawberry and gelato was featured (via Untapped Cities).
• The Breslin at The Ace Hotel reopened with a new menu of Bone Marrow Butter, Fried Head Cheese, Stuffed Pig's Foot, and Charred Lamb Burger (via Gothamist).
• Mister French will relocate from Lower East Side to 14 East 21st Street this September. L'Adresse opened their second location at 1184 Broadway offering contemporary American fare of burgers and seafood dishes  (via Real Estate Weekly).
• Local restaurants Cote and Milu were featured on the "Restaurants Are Upping Their Soft Serve Ice Cream Game in NY" list (via Thrillist).
• Gramercy Tavern is mentioned in "NYC Restaurant Week is back this summer and here’s what you should order at its best spots" (via Time Out New York).
• Danny Meyer, Restaurateur and CEO of Union Square Hospitality Group, Eleven Madison Park, and other spots have required all employees to get vaccinated to work. Additionally, customers too need to be fully vaccinated to dine (via Washington Examiner).
• NuLeaf, a “plant positive” restaurant, opens its first of two locations on 23 West 23rd Street (via Time Out New York). 
• Star pastry chef Eunji Lee has signed on with Hand Hospitality Group to open a pastry shop near the Flatiron Building. Details about the shop, including its name and exact address, are still under wraps. The pastry shop is slated to open in February of next year (via Eater New York).

District Businesses

• Bungalow 5, a modern furniture and lighting company, relocates to 933 Broadway (via Commerical Observer).
• Harry Potter NYC flagship store debuted two immersive Virtual Reality experiences. Fans can enjoy flying over Hogwarts in Wizards Take Flight and explore the school in Chaos at Hogwarts (via Yahoo! Entertainment).
• The James NoMad offers 10% discount for every night guests can go without their phones to incentives "digital detox". The discount comes with a package featuring mediation and yoga classes (via Business Insider).
• The Ritz-Carlton Residences plans to launch sales the first week of August and open later this year. The hotel building features 16 homes on the penthouse floors and will feature a culinary program by José Andrés, and access to the gym, spa, and rooftop bar (via Architectural Digest).
• INNSiDE by Melia New York NoMad hotel offers "Gossip Girl"-themed hotel package for guests to experience Blair Waldorf and Serena Van Der Woodsen (via Travel + Leisure).

Real Estate

• Flexport a freight and customs firm moves in at 50 West 23rd Street 4th floor. The space conisists of nine conferences rooms, eight breakout rooms, six phone booths, and a kitchen (via Commercial Observer).
• Flatiron Building owners filed a petition with New York State Supreme Court to sell the property ( via Real Estate Weekly).
• Owners of Mondrian Park Avenue Hotel, Cushman & Wakefield arrange the sale of the building (via NY Business Journal).
• Simplebet, a global sports betting technology firm, plans to relocate to 373 Park Avenue South on the 9th floor (via Real Estate Weekly).
• Avalanche Studios Group, a Swedish video game developer and publisher, signed a lease at 1245 Broadway and plans to move in early 2022 (via Real Estate Weekly).
• One Madison Avenue completes demolition work and structural reinforcement is underway. The property will add an additional 27-story office tower on the existing building (via New York YIMBY)
• Flatiron District is ranked second highest square footage leased in the second quarter (via Commercial Observer).
• Publishers Weekly and JB Drax Honoré signed a lease at 49 West 23rd Street with roughly 6,000 square feet each (via Commerical Observer).
• Electra America Hospitality Group and AKA acquired the Roger New York hotel. The 194-room boutique hotel was sold for $19 million and is planned to open mid-2022 (via REBusiness Online).
• Boston Properties acquires 360 Park Avenue South, a 20 story office property (via Boston Real Estate Times).

Around the Neighborhood

• Music on the Green is a series of free concerts by Carnegie Hall's Ensemble Connect hosted by Madison Square Park Conservancy. The performances pair with Maya Lin's "Ghost Forest" and other nature-inspired works by Claude Debussy, Aaron Copland, Duke Ellington, Caroline Shaw  (via Time Out NY).
• "Ghost Forest" by Maya Lin in Madison Square Park features dead Atlantic white cedars from New Jersey to spark converstations about climate change (via CentralJersey.com).
• CUNY's Baruch College opened its Pedestrian Plaza on East 25th Street between Madison Avenue and Park South Avenue this month. The plaza was in the works for a full decade (via Patch).
• Coming early 2022, Brier Patch will open his installation of 100 intertwined wood desks in Madison Square Park (via The Architect's Newspaper).

Header Photo Credit: NYC Council Member Carlina Rivera
Thumbnail Photo Credit: Sarashina Horii
Main Page Photo Credit: Carnige Hall