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Elevated Acre at 55 Water Street
Rating Details »
Categories: Venues & Event Spaces, Parks [Edit]
Neighborhood: Financial District55 Water St
New York, NY 10041
(212) 963-7099
- Nearest Transit:
-
Wall St-William St (2, 3)
Broad St (J, M, Z)
Whitehall St (R, W)
- Hours:
Mon-Sun. 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
16 reviews for Elevated Acre at 55 Water Street
For those that feel like everything in Manhattan is over-crowded and want to "discover" their own place, this could be your answer. It's small, sure, and the view's really not that great. But it's quiet, it's surrounded on three sides by office buildings and opens to a wide view of the East River. The elevated acre provides a nice sliver of escape to when everyone else rushes to the South Street Seaport or Battery Park.
Bring a blanket, a picnic, and enjoy your sunny (or rainy) summer days. Try not to make the office workers too jealous.
These four things I know are true:
1. Its right next to my office.
2. Its a nice place to watch a sunrise (i don't like to talk about how I know that. Alcohol was involved, obviously)
3. The grass is fake.
4. Excellent view of Brooklyn.
It is NOT
-A good first date
-An acceptable date at all
-Preferable to come to the Financial District, for any purpose, ever. If this were elsewhere I'd give it five stars.
I totally happened upon the Elevated Acre at 55 Water Street by chance, but I'm glad I did. It's kind of like a much smaller version of The High Line, except with better plant life and less people.
My only knock on it would be that, while you have a great view of the water, you're mostly looking at cranes (the construction kind, not the bird).
For all of you cheap guys out there, this is your hope..for all you broke guys out there, this is your hope...The perfect place for the perfect first date..
I always wondered where those escalators on 55 Water St led to...now I know....it is almost like a mirage..this secluded, tree-lined area overlooking the water has a romantic and refreshing aura to it. Just went there for a free screening of The Seven Year Itch (think Marilyn Monroe, skirt flying). It is not as hyped as the other summer movie screenings in the city and that's what I love about it. Catch other classics here this summer.
The only downside was that the bathrooms are set up way down near the FDR drive - which makes taking an emergency leak mid-movie a bit problematic.
Come on boys, treat your girls right - the best things in life are always for free!!!
When I used to work at 77 Water, they started building this acre, but at that time I didn't know what it was for. And I would have to admit this is my "secret" place that I love to stop by just to sit and collect some thoughts. Of course I can't leave out the opportunity for picture taking here. It's a really beautiful area, especially when you want to read a book without too many distractions. And it's cute place for a lunch date with an awesome view of Brooklyn. Every time I stop by here it's not crowded, so I guess not that many people know about this place, which to me is pretty neat.
This place is great, especially if you want to doze off during work wher e no one will find you. Solace is what you will find here. That and dirty pigeons.
Part of me is afraid to even review this if only because this is one of my "secret" spots. A true gem in a wild and crazy city such as ours, the elevated acre, tucked neatly away under the Standard & Poors building at 55 Water street, provides a great use of space that would please even Jane Jacobs.
The elevated acre is an acre of space made up of paths around trees and flowers, outdoor tables for lunch, benches, and a sick view of the south waters beyond Manhattan facing Governors Island and Brooklyn.
Best part about this place is the River to River festival movies that play throughout the summer. I caught a great viewing of the original Fountainhead (1949) last year that was truly enjoyable. So what if there's fake grass. Not often can you find great (well utilized) public space in this city.
Definitely tricky to find so here's the lowdown. Walk on waters st. to building 55. The building says Standard & Poors from the outside. Locate the escalators and take them all the way up and walk towards the back of the building. And Voila! There is the elevated acre.
Here is the link to the movie schedule. http://www.rivertorive...
4 stars for a great use of public space. Often not crowded (as long as you don't tell EVERYONE) Come for lunch, come to enjoy the view, come to enjoy great film. I guarantee you'll enjoy this spot.
One more reason for avoiding having to inflict bodily harm on myself due to my terrible, terrible, terrible job.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/18/2008
Just sat out there again today for lunch. Spread my toes through the Astro turf, baked a little in… Read more »
Great spot to pick up some Leo's on a lazy Sunday morning and eat at the one of many tables spread out on the brim of the 'acre'. Sure beats dirty British Gardens (aka Hanover) park and surely makes you feel that much more civilized to sit at a table and eat like a human. Plus, the escalators are off on the weekends so none of the tourists want to trek up the 50 odd stairs to get to the 'secret garden'.
Came here tonight for the free screening of "Breakfast At Tiffany's". It's part of the River to River Festival, and there's a new movie showing every Tuesday here at the Elevated Acre.
The space itself is incredible. You take an escalator or two to get upstairs. But when you get up there, its breathtaking. Its an open area, with grass so people can lie down and whatnot. But when you get there, you will see that its not grass at all. I guess its some sort of Astroturf, but its still very soft and comfortable. I swear, if i had a pair of cleats, i would've started playing futbol there and pretend i was david beckham. Only not as good looking and about 300 pounds heavier. But i digress...
When you walk up to the little platform, you get a great view of the East River, Brooklyn and the FDR Drive. There you can also get FREE popcorn and FREE water. Yes, all refreshments were free.
So take THAT Bryant Park. August 27th is "On the Waterfront" and I'm already penciled that in. Its just a wonderful place. To quote Brando "this place could be somebody, it could be a contender".
The Elevated Acre is, quite literally, an acre of paths, gardens, and a fake grassy field about 30 feet above the street. With sweeping views of the East River and Brooklyn, it's a great place to bring out-of-towners for unique photo opportunities and an interesting perspective on the geographical layout of the city.
This is a cool spot to walk your dog, or eat takeout, or just sit and bask in the sun. Try to ignore the roar of FDR as it rushes by below you; you're there for the view, so bust out that iPod and soak it all in.
Ah! What a place. I'm glad I came for the last screening of the summer, this place is definitely a contender like Roderick says; it could knock the wind out of Bryant Park if it had a better PR agent or if it hired Roger & Cowan.... I mean, you take the electric escalators and, even though you are not in the 40th floor or something, you are still up there, with a panoramic view of the Financial district, the river, the bridge....perfect!!
Now, I came expecting just the lawn and the big movie screen, but what was my surprise when I see this sort of gardens adjacent to the lawn, with nice benches and bivouacs, paths to stroll down or smoke a cigarrette; this is what I call CONSIDERATION!! If you are here on a romantic date, or if the movie made you horny, you can easily walk in these deserted paths, sit on a lonely bench and engage in a make-out session! Further. The sound system is great; you can clearly listen to the movie even if you are 10 feet away from the main area. Finally, they have popcorn and water for free, and yes, you can BYOB or BYOF; discreetly though, that way we give the staff plausible deniability.
So yeah, I was sitting there, seeing Marlon Brando when he was my age, and enjoying this beautiful summer day...
on the Waterfront.
You're in lower Manhattan. You need a quite repose to contemplate how the bubble gum got to the bottom of your shoe. Where do you go? The rooftop garden on top of 55 Waters St. Go between 55 and 53 Waters st., and look for the escalators and go up them until you see park benches and green trees. It's amazing up there! The skyline is not so great, but hey, that's urbania. Enjoy the fact that you are playing in a public park on top of a building in lower Manhattan. Weird. Beautiful. Surreal.
Photos at http://www.flickr.com/...
An oasis in the midst of busy financial district. Really enjoyed the nightly view of the Hudson river in the cool midsummer night breeze. Oh yes, how could I forget the awesome viewing of "Breakfast at Tiffany's" at night! We had a great time lounging and snacking away on a picnic blanket as we savored every scene of the quintessential NYC film.
Definitely one of the many NYC treasures I will be sure to miss if I were to move to another city. Places like this really make your urban heart flutter.
i would love to work in one of these buildings that surround this acre of elevation. lol. seriously, the space is truly amazing. i came here to watch Breakfast at Tiffany's... and what better way to watch it than on a inflated movie-screen in an enclosed, but open-air elevated acre?
it's tricky getting here, though. make sure you read the address more than the Yelp's google map locater. i was lost as a mutha! Maritess and i were walking all over the pier... trying to figure out why we couldn't find it. truly... it IS a hidden gem of some sort... secluded and a little wonderland of atro-turf. it's absolutely charming and accessible. you take the escalator up, find yourself a good spot to picnic/chill, and relax! it's the perfect environment for a small group of friends, family, and of course... a date. very romantic indeed.
one reminder, though. if you're ever thinking of going to a FREE event here- go early... we came here like 15 minutes late, and the place was filled with people. you walk through a crowd of people sitting in the stadium-style seats and they snicker and whine that you're blocking their view... so please, in order to avoid that- come EARLY. tis all.
the grass is fake, but the cool refreshing ambiance is totally real...we call this place "the grassy knoll" and i have to say there isn't a better setting to enjoy Friday lunch with your colleagues on a warm summer day.
