Moxy hotels, an urban concept by Marriot, recently opened one of its newest properties, in Brooklyn, New York.
Adding to its existing stable of five locations across Manhattan, Moxy Brooklyn Williamsburg is situated across the East River at 253 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, in the buzzy district of Williamsburg.
Reminding me of Hoxton in London, Williamsburg is New York’s creative art district, with a long and fascinating history. Regarded as the Big Apple's hottest up-and-coming neighbourhood, it faces the Lower East Side, making it ideally placed for those looking to see Manhattan from a new perspective.
The welcome
After a seemingly endless taxi ride from the Upper East Side of Manhattan it was good to finally get out of the car. Because it was my first visit to Brooklyn, I was a little unsure of what to expect – I am old enough to remember the days when the borough had a less than glamorous reputation. Evidently, those days are long gone, and the converted warehouse feel of The Moxy is upmarket and intriguing. Despite being very busy when I visited – just a week after the hotel had launched – I was greeted by name by the front desk team, who were welcoming and charmingly informal.
The neighbourhood
Having once lived in Hoxton, London, during its up-and-coming days, I really enjoyed the buzzy atmosphere of Williamsburg, where high rubs shoulders with low, creating a raw, exciting energy. Williamsburg is the hottest district of New York right now, and is filled with Manhattanites who cross the East River to make the most of its shops, markets and restaurants. There are brow bars, nail salons, bike shops and music stores, and Williamsburg Cinema is just around the corner from the hotel. If you fancy a dip, the nearby indoor Metropolitan Swimming Pool is ideal.
It is also bursting with vintage shops, with the likes of Rabbit’s Vintage Fashion, Brooklyn Vintiques and The Attic, all a short walk from the hotel, while farther afield is the oddly named 10ft Single by Stella Dallas, and Stella Dallas Living, two back-to-back treasure troves of 1930s dresses, 1990s consignment fashion, old Mexican blankets, vintage fabrics and hand-sewn quilts. Anyone who is into vintage clothes or fabric will be in heaven, and I bagged a length of 1950s patterned fabric, perfect for re-covering a chair, for just $30.
Williamsburg also runs up to the East River, where the once-abandoned Domino Sugar Refinery is gearing up to reopen as a revamped office and retail space. Heading in the opposite direction will take you deep into Williamsburg's Caribbean history, including Graham Avenue – a place still marked on some maps as Puerto Rico Street.
The room
I was given a King Executive room, with a view over Brooklyn and some rather natty warehouse apartments next door.
The room was compact, but functional thanks to some clever design work. A huge window provided plenty of light, while the room is filled with space-saving ideas such as fold-flat wall pegs instead of a wardrobe, under-bed storage and a flip-down desk that ensure the room feels cute, not cramped. Decked out in light birch wood and steel, the vibe is modern and streamlined, while the retro dial telephone adds a quirky touch. Wi-Fi is free and fast, and the flat-screen TV is set up for Netflix, YouTube and HBO. The bed was exceedingly comfortable, with crisp white Egyptian cotton sheets.
The service
Moxy Brooklyn Williamsburg is clearly aiming at a laid back, personable style of service, so if you prefer something more formal, then perhaps this is not the place for you. If, like me, you prefer the casual ease of being called by your first name, and the open-ended approach of asking for something rather than it being automatically laid on, then you will enjoy this easy-going mentality.
The scene
Designed by New York architect firm Stonehill Taylor, the Moxy Brooklyn Williamsburg is a 216-room, 11-storey building that still feels like a boutique hotel. Rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows, and the lobby has a lofty 6m height, and is filled with artwork. The space is dominated by a piece by Rare Culture, that rises up from behind the check-in desk and rolls on to the ceiling. Made from thousands of carefully-arranged coloured crayons, it depicts the underside of the nearby Williamsburg Bridge at sunset. On a side wall there is an artwork of a half melted ice cream, called The Drip, while another wall is decorated with skateboard decks, painted by local artists. Outside, a mural by British street artist D*Face reads, “Get me to the Moxy”.
The food
There are three in-house dining options at the Moxy. In the lobby is Bar Bedford, an all day cafe and cocktail bar, that serves free coffee every morning, including an excellent soya latte. At the time of my visit, Bar Bedford was offering a very simple breakfast of bagels and jam, but this was just for the soft-opening stage (the property launched in March). There is also Mesiba, serving Levantine food, while rooftop bar and lounge Lilistar is a year-round space with breathtaking views across Brooklyn and the lower Manhattan skyline.
Highs and lows
The location is excellent with the buzz of Williamsburg on your doorstep. Being able to stroll across Williamsburg Bridge to the Lower East Side of Manhattan is fabulous, with pedestrian access to the bridge just a few steps from the hotel. I took about 45 minutes to amble across, with numerous photo stops.
Overall, I am huge fan of warehouse interiors and the mix of utilitarian with comfort that features at the Moxy, but this can have some drawbacks. In the name of compact design, the hand sink in my room was actually that – inside the room. Although it looked great, in stainless steel and dark green subway tiles, it splashed water everywhere, so I quickly gave up and used the fully enclosed shower each time I needed to wash my hands.
The verdict
This is the perfect place to stay if you are looking for something a bit out of the ordinary. Youthful and funky, but very welcoming, it definitely allows a total newcomer to immerse themselves in the buzzy energy of Williamsburg. Well served with three subway lines (J, Z and M), two ferry terminals (at North and South Williamsburg) that connect to Manhattan, taxis aplenty and even an option to cross to the Lower East Side on foot, it opens up a whole new approach to the city that many visitors would not otherwise sample.
The bottom line
Rooms at the Moxy Brooklyn Williamsburg start at $325 per night, including a daily destination fee which is redeemable as a $25 daily credit against food/beverage, laundry and fitness classes; www.marriot.com
This review was conducted at the invitation of the hotel and reflects hotel standards during this time. Services may change in the future.
if you go
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
The bio
Studied up to grade 12 in Vatanappally, a village in India’s southern Thrissur district
Was a middle distance state athletics champion in school
Enjoys driving to Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah with family
His dream is to continue working as a social worker and help people
Has seven diaries in which he has jotted down notes about his work and money he earned
Keeps the diaries in his car to remember his journey in the Emirates
Results
Ashraf Ghani 50.64 per cent
Abdullah Abdullah 39.52 per cent
Gulbuddin Hekmatyar 3.85 per cent
Rahmatullah Nabil 1.8 per cent
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UFC Fight Night 2
1am – Early prelims
2am – Prelims
4am-7am – Main card
7:30am-9am – press cons
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88 Video's most popular rentals
Avengers 3: Infinity War: an American superhero film released in 2018 and based on the Marvel Comics story.
Sholay: a 1975 Indian action-adventure film. It follows the adventures of two criminals hired by police to catch a vagabond. The film was panned on release but is now considered a classic.
Lucifer: is a 2019 Malayalam-language action film. It dives into the gritty world of Kerala’s politics and has become one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of all time.
Evacuations to France hit by controversy
- Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
- Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
- The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
- Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
- It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
- Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
- Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.6-litre V6
Transmission: nine-speed automatic
Power: 310hp
Torque: 366Nm
Price: Dh200,000
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
RESULTS
Lightweight (female)
Sara El Bakkali bt Anisha Kadka
Bantamweight
Mohammed Adil Al Debi bt Moaz Abdelgawad
Welterweight
Amir Boureslan bt Mahmoud Zanouny
Featherweight
Mohammed Al Katheeri bt Abrorbek Madaminbekov
Super featherweight
Ibrahem Bilal bt Emad Arafa
Middleweight
Ahmed Abdolaziz bt Imad Essassi
Bantamweight (female)
Ilham Bourakkadi bt Milena Martinou
Welterweight
Mohamed Mardi bt Noureddine El Agouti
Middleweight
Nabil Ouach bt Ymad Atrous
Welterweight
Nouredine Samir bt Marlon Ribeiro
Super welterweight
Brad Stanton bt Mohamed El Boukhari
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
More on Coronavirus in France
A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
Timeline
1947
Ferrari’s road-car company is formed and its first badged car, the 125 S, rolls off the assembly line
1962
250 GTO is unveiled
1969
Fiat becomes a Ferrari shareholder, acquiring 50 per cent of the company
1972
The Fiorano circuit, Ferrari’s racetrack for development and testing, opens
1976
First automatic Ferrari, the 400 Automatic, is made
1987
F40 launched
1988
Enzo Ferrari dies; Fiat expands its stake in the company to 90 per cent
2002
The Enzo model is announced
2010
Ferrari World opens in Abu Dhabi
2011
First four-wheel drive Ferrari, the FF, is unveiled
2013
LaFerrari, the first Ferrari hybrid, arrives
2014
Fiat Chrysler announces the split of Ferrari from the parent company
2015
Ferrari launches on Wall Street
2017
812 Superfast unveiled; Ferrari celebrates its 70th anniversary
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How Alia's experiment will help humans get to Mars
Alia’s winning experiment examined how genes might change under the stresses caused by being in space, such as cosmic radiation and microgravity.
Her samples were placed in a machine on board the International Space Station. called a miniPCR thermal cycler, which can copy DNA multiple times.
After the samples were examined on return to Earth, scientists were able to successfully detect changes caused by being in space in the way DNA transmits instructions through proteins and other molecules in living organisms.
Although Alia’s samples were taken from nematode worms, the results have much bigger long term applications, especially for human space flight and long term missions, such as to Mars.
It also means that the first DNA experiments using human genomes can now be carried out on the ISS.
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
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What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
Mountain Classification Tour de France after Stage 8 on Saturday:
- 1. Lilian Calmejane (France / Direct Energie) 11
- 2. Fabio Aru (Italy / Astana) 10
- 3. Daniel Martin (Ireland / Quick-Step) 8
- 4. Robert Gesink (Netherlands / LottoNL) 8
- 5. Warren Barguil (France / Sunweb) 7
- 6. Chris Froome (Britain / Team Sky) 6
- 7. Guillaume Martin (France / Wanty) 6
- 8. Jan Bakelants (Belgium / AG2R) 5
- 9. Serge Pauwels (Belgium / Dimension Data) 5
- 10. Richie Porte (Australia / BMC Racing) 4
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
RedCrow Intelligence Company Profile
Started: 2016
Founders: Hussein Nasser Eddin, Laila Akel, Tayeb Akel
Based: Ramallah, Palestine
Sector: Technology, Security
# of staff: 13
Investment: $745,000
Investors: Palestine’s Ibtikar Fund, Abu Dhabi’s Gothams and angel investors
Naga
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'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
