I love this little life with you
The frame, in real life
In the reel: A couple slow-dancing in a lit apartment window with string lights, fire escapes, snow falling, the Empire State Building glowing in the skyline.
This is a Brooklyn or Long Island City window looking back at Midtown. You can get the frame two ways: a hotel room facing the Empire State Building, or a winter rooftop bar in NoMad/Chelsea where the tower fills the sky.
When to go
Mid-December to mid-February. First snow usually lands in December; the Bryant Park and Rockefeller rinks are open.
The hour: Snowfall is the magic. Watch the forecast and keep the evening free: the Empire State lights come on at sunset.
Avoid: Christmas week if you want any reservation; late February slush.
What it costs (USD)
Shoestring: 150–220 per night (Pod or Long Island City)
Mid: 300–450 per night
Splurge: 700+ for a direct Empire State view
Where to stay
4 stays, one of them is the view in the reel.
Archer Hotel New York
Spyglass rooftop bar faces the Empire State Building head-on; higher-floor rooms share the view. The closest hotel version of the reel.
The Ravel Hotel
Across the river: the full Midtown skyline from the rooftop and east-facing rooms. This is the 'looking back at the city' angle of the illustration.
1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge
Floor-to-ceiling river views of Lower Manhattan; the rooftop and the Brooklyn Bridge Park snow walks.
Pod 51
The shoestring pick with a rooftop deck; 15 minutes' walk to the Empire State Building.
Exact shot locations
Washington St, DUMBO
exact spot, hour and how-to in the plan
230 Fifth Rooftop
exact spot, hour and how-to in the plan
Gantry Plaza State Park, Long Island City
exact spot, hour and how-to in the plan
Top of the Rock
exact spot, hour and how-to in the plan
Get the full plan
The stays with booking links, the exact spots with maps, the hour, the day-by-day plan, local spots, eSIM and insurance.
This plan is part of the collection: every episode so far and every new one for a year, one license key.
Or comment SOMEWHERE on the reel and it lands in your DMs.