Top Ten Best Movies About NYC

As with any relationship, sometimes you just need a moment to rekindle the romance. If the sticky summer weather and the fresh aggregation of tourist foot traffic has you wishing you were elsewhere, any of these films will remind you why we heart NY.

Manhattan, 1979 (dir. Woody Allen)

Nothing can rouse your New York sentiment like the grand opening of Woody Allen’s cinematic ode to his favorite city, “Manhattan.” As black-and-white images of Manhattan’s most iconic landmarks play in sequence to the sounds of George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” you can’t help but fall in love with New York all over again. And cue the fireworks.

Do the Right Thing, 1989 (dir. Spike Lee)

In this brilliant interpretation of racial tensions in Brooklyn’s Bensonhurst neighborhood, Spike Lee likens the strained relations between the area’s African American and Italian communities to a heat wave about to break. With a colorful opening dance sequence reminiscent of the sweeping intro to “Manhattan,” one can’t help but think if he was influenced by Allen’s style.

Taxi Driver, 1976 (dir. Martin Scorsese)

No one can capture the gritty, criminal underbelly of New York City’s mean streets like NYC native, Martin Scorsese. Known for its famous line, “You talkin’ to me?” the film follows a disturbed Vietnam veteran turned taxi cab driver played by Robert DeNiro.

Wall Street, 1987 (dir. Oliver Stone)

Oliver Stone’s interpretation of the ruthlessness of Wall Street is right on the money. In the aftermath of a financial crisis brought on by behavior similar to what's portrayed on-screen (shady business deals, anyone?), the 1980s film takes on an eerie relevance today. Michael Douglas will reprise his role as greedy broker Gordon Gekko in “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps,” slated for release September 2010.

Age of Innocence, 1993 (dir. Martin Scorsese)

Scorsese's adaptation of Edith Wharton's classic novel takes us back to the time of 19th century New York high society. Daniel Day Lewis is Newland Archer, an elite young lawyer who pushes social boundaries when he falls for his fiance's cousin, Countess Olenska (played by Michelle Pheiffer). Great pick for a rainy day.

Moscow on the Hudson, 1984 (dir. Paul Mazursky)

A feel-good comedy starring Robin Williams, the film follows a Russian clown trying to make it in New York City. Local or not, we can all relate to the challenge to succeed in a city like ours.

New York Stories, 1989 (dir. Woody Allen, Francis Ford Coppola, and Martin Scorsese)

New York Stories, "One City. Three Stories Tall," is a collection of three films from renowned filmmakers (and self-proclaimed New York City lovers) Woody Allen, Francis Ford Coppola, and Martin Scorsese. Though each director choses a different tale to tell, they come together in that each offers a slice of life that is so characteristically New York.

King of New York, 1990 (dir. Abel Ferrara)

In this modern-day twist on "Robin Hood," Christopher Walken plays Frank White, a former drug lord who returns from prison determined to exterminate his competition and distribute his profits among New York City's lower class.

Mean Streets, 1973 (dir. Martin Scorsese)

Yet another great film about New York from Martin Scorsese, “Mean Streets” is set against the background of Manhattan’s Little Italy. Stars such on-screen tough guys as Harvey Keitel and Robert DeNiro.

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, 1992 (dir. Chris Columbus)

It may be a children’s movie, but "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York" is an NYC-film no-brainer. Come on, who wouldn’t want to be a kid lost in New York City, set up in a swanky suite at the Plaza, with unlimited funds?

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Miron's Founder Discusses the Return of Post-Grad Renters to NYC

Welcoming back grads -- at least some: Post-college renters are back in the city, but activity not as strong as some expected

June 02, 2010

By Candace Taylor

In New York, springtime usually means a flood of fresh-faced college graduates ready to start their first job and live together in their first rental apartment.

Last year, much to the dismay of many brokers, that flood was more like a trickle, thanks to the recession. Now, with the economy improving, agents and landlords are expecting the much-hyped return of renters to the market.

"In 2009, there was an eerie lack of the annual stream of recent grads moving to the city for their first job," said Jeff Schleider, founder of Manhattan-based brokerage Miron Properties. "It's reassuring to see that these grads are back."

Buoyed by good news about the real estate market and the economy, landlords and agents gleefully primed themselves for the return of these newly minted renters. Over the last several months, as The Real Deal has reported, many landlords raised their rents and scaled back concessions, such as a month's free rent. For example, Glenwood -- one of the city's major landlords -- spread the word that beginning June 1, it would no longer offer a month of free rent at any of its buildings. (The company will continue to pay brokers' fees, for the time being at least.)

Jared Wiener, the director of sales and leasing at Platinum Properties, estimated that rents are around 5 percent higher than last year at this time. "This season, the landlords are coming out with guns blazing," he said.

But they may be getting ahead of themselves. Some rental agents reported last month that despite the buzz, activity has actually been slower than expected so far this season.

"Rental transactions have been steady since April," said Takeshi "Takk" Yamaguchi, an agent at DJK Residential. "That being said, it's nowhere near as hectic as I thought it would be."

While "landlords are taking away incentives in certain neighborhoods and buildings," he said, "they should not get too carried away in areas like the Upper East Side and Midtown."

Wiener agreed. "May is slower than anticipated, which is surprising," he said. "Clearly the job market is not helping."

That, or renters are reluctant to sign on the dotted line because they're displeased with the deals they're finding. "It's tough when their friends were able to get a similar apartment six months ago for a lower price and a free month's rent," Miron's Schleider said.

Buyers are having a similar experience. Expecting to find a slow market where they'll have their pick of deeply discounted apartments, they're surprised to find intense competition instead.

"Buyers can't believe that there are multiple offers and bidding wars happening so regularly, until they experience it firsthand," said Ari LeFauve, a vice president and associate broker at the Real Estate Group New York.

The competition is being fueled by a continued shortage of well-priced inventory, brokers said, as well as a large number of bargain-hunting buyers all reentering the market at the same time.

"Buyers are coming out of the woodwork," said Ali Jafri, an agent at Prudential Douglas Elliman. "There is a release of pent-up demand."

As a result, "everyone is going after the same listings," said Rob Jackson, a salesperson at the Corcoran Group.

The competition also intensified this spring thanks to the end of the federal homebuyer tax credit program on April 30, and those buyers are now racing to make sure their deals close before the deadline of June 30.

"The government stimulus tax break definitely gave even more urgency for buyers," said Fumiyo Hayashi, a vice president at Barak Realty. "What's difficult right now is the pressure of making sure that things are moving so that the buyers can close by the end of June to capture the tax break."

In general, buyers who don't make offers quickly enough are finding that, often to their great displeasure, they are getting outbid on the properties they want -- sometimes multiple times.

Others can't find homes at all, which can be frustrating.

"In the large-apartment segment, meaning eight to 12 rooms, there is simply no inventory," said Deborah Komarow, an agent at Warburg Realty Partnership, noting that few of these large homes have come on the market recently because sellers want to avoid discounting them. "Now that the market has stabilized, the large-apartment buyer has come back into the market, and there is nothing to show them."

Some buyers simply aren't able to accept that the crisis may be over, said Judi Desiderio, the CEO of Hamptons-based Town & Country Real Estate.

"You have the half-empty/half-full mentalities," she said. "Some are playing it like Chicken Little, 'The sky is falling,' and expect a double-dip recession with housing taking another tumble. Others -- and this is the majority -- believe we have bottomed out and are ready to buy."

One lingering concern for many is the economic turmoil in Europe.

"The Euro zone crisis may still yet spill over into the global markets, which in turn will hit New York real estate values, and this is of serious concern," said Schleider.

Still, conditions are markedly improved for brokers.

As John Reinhardt, president and CEO of Fillmore Real Estate, said, "It's great to be busy again."

"If we're taking vacations, we're not staying away too long," he said. "This is the right environment for a salesperson."

About Miron Properties:

Miron Properties (www.MironProperties.com) is a full service Manhattan real estate brokerage and a green building specialist. This socially and environmentally sustainable brokerage offers sales and rental properties in New York City. It is the only brokerage that is a member of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce’s Green Committee. A portion of all proceeds generated by Miron Properties are donated to charity.