Magnolia House Saint George
Room in Staten Island, New York
- 2 bedrooms
- 4 beds
- Dedicated bathroom
Rated 4.87 out of 5 stars.199 reviews
Hosted by Danforth
- 11 years hosting
Listing highlights
In St. George, near the ferry
About a 5-min walk to Richmond County Bank Ballpark and Nicholas Lia Memorial Park
1830s Victorian with two private suites
Two interconnected suites, each with a queen bed, private bathroom, and parlor
Danforth goes above and beyond
Guests highlight Danforth as an exceptionally gracious and helpful host
After the Civil War, its owners gave it a name that evoked their native Virginia. Set within a 12-min. walk from the (free) Staten Island ferry that accesses Manhattan, Magnolia House is the headquarters of the widely distributed independent press, BLOOD MOON PRODUCTIONS, winner of a "Best of Staten Island" award and famous for celebrity biographies that have been reviewed in THE DAILY MAIL, the NY DAILY NEWS, the NY POST, and literary journals across the country.
The space
Magnolia House, former research and editorial headquarters of THE FROMMER GUIDES, provides a comfortable and historically authentic setting that's rich with associations from "The Heyday of the American Travel Industry."
Because it's the site where dozens of well-known biographies and travel guides were written, it's also rich in show-biz and literary references
Filling the building's entire street level (Apartment #1), your accommodation is large, comfortable, personalized, and well furnished. It contains two interconnected suites, each with a queen-size bed, a private bathroom, and a parlor.
PUBLISHING NEWS from MAGNOLIA HOUSE: Blood Moon announces the release of an illustrated, 230-page "GUIDEBOOK" to the building's history and celebrity associations. If you want one, I'll give you a copy. It describes the premises like this:
Dating from the 1830s, Magnolia House is a "grande dame" with a knack for nourishing high-functioning eccentrics. Many of them have lived or been entertained here since New York's State Senator Howard Bayne, a transplanted Southerner, moved in with his wife, the daughter of the Surgeon General of the Confederate States of America, in the aftermath of the United States' Civil War.
Since then, a gaggle of celebrities--some of them famous, many of them notorious--have whispered their secrets and rehearsed their ambitions within its walls.
They've included movie vamps from the silent screen, a heavyweight boxing champion, eccentric playwrights, faded film goddesses, avant-garde diarists, and a world-class Olympic athlete.
This "guidebook" tells the story of how this "Wise Victorian Lady"--in its role as the editorial headquarters for many of THE FROMMER GUIDES and later for BLOOD MOON PRODUCTIONS--adapted to America's frequently changing tastes, times, circumstances, and values.
Magnolia House is, indeed, "one of a kind."
******
Media Review: I had the distinct pleasure of staying at Magnolia House on Staten Island in 2010, on my first trip to NYC, at the behest of Danforth Prince and Darwin Porter, and I do not exaggerate when I say I was enchanted the minute I walked through the door.
Built in the mid-1800s and packed to the rafters with every book ever printed on movies and its stars, this is the ideal home for the notorious Blood Moon Productions and a must-stay AirBnB for film, art, and pop culture buffs. It should be as well known as the Chelsea Hotel right across the bay, for the number of famous and infamous guests and residents. Magnolia House's "guidebook," Glamor, Glitz, and Gossip is certainly the ultimate if-these-walls-could-talk collection of show biz histories too outrageous not to be real. It's a packed digest of Blood Moon's previous dishy and irresistible bios, and the perfect intro to the work of the obvious heir to Hollywood Babylon's salacious legacy.
Maggie Bloodstone, Seattle Gay News
Guest access
RIGOROUS effort, time, and attention is devoted to social distancing and deep-cleaning of public and private areas. Socialize with us if you can!
There's easy access (via a ten-minute walk or a very short ride on NYC bus nos. 42 or 52) to the Staten Island terminus of ferryboats to Manhattan
I live and work in the apartments upstairs, and I'm always be on-site to handle checkins and problems, as and if they arise.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS I'd value a conversation with you about the setup. Call me (Danforth Prince) at 718/556-9410). Cheers!
During your stay
I work and live on the building's upper floors, and except for routine errands and transits to my gym, I am on site throughout the day and evening. I'm always available, from my lodgings upstairs, with the understanding that guests have as much privacy, or as much extroverted conversation, as they need,
Other things to note
Magnolia House is deeply committed to social distancing and frequent anti-Covid cleaning and sterilization regimes, and guests--if they need it--have access to the owner's laundry facilities. Rigorous measures (cleaning, sterilization of surfaces, etc.) are always in place. Housetrained cats and dogs are welcomed (i.e., cherished and loved) as part of the Magic that permeates the place.
The space
Magnolia House, former research and editorial headquarters of THE FROMMER GUIDES, provides a comfortable and historically authentic setting that's rich with associations from "The Heyday of the American Travel Industry."
Because it's the site where dozens of well-known biographies and travel guides were written, it's also rich in show-biz and literary references
Filling the building's entire street level (Apartment #1), your accommodation is large, comfortable, personalized, and well furnished. It contains two interconnected suites, each with a queen-size bed, a private bathroom, and a parlor.
PUBLISHING NEWS from MAGNOLIA HOUSE: Blood Moon announces the release of an illustrated, 230-page "GUIDEBOOK" to the building's history and celebrity associations. If you want one, I'll give you a copy. It describes the premises like this:
Dating from the 1830s, Magnolia House is a "grande dame" with a knack for nourishing high-functioning eccentrics. Many of them have lived or been entertained here since New York's State Senator Howard Bayne, a transplanted Southerner, moved in with his wife, the daughter of the Surgeon General of the Confederate States of America, in the aftermath of the United States' Civil War.
Since then, a gaggle of celebrities--some of them famous, many of them notorious--have whispered their secrets and rehearsed their ambitions within its walls.
They've included movie vamps from the silent screen, a heavyweight boxing champion, eccentric playwrights, faded film goddesses, avant-garde diarists, and a world-class Olympic athlete.
This "guidebook" tells the story of how this "Wise Victorian Lady"--in its role as the editorial headquarters for many of THE FROMMER GUIDES and later for BLOOD MOON PRODUCTIONS--adapted to America's frequently changing tastes, times, circumstances, and values.
Magnolia House is, indeed, "one of a kind."
******
Media Review: I had the distinct pleasure of staying at Magnolia House on Staten Island in 2010, on my first trip to NYC, at the behest of Danforth Prince and Darwin Porter, and I do not exaggerate when I say I was enchanted the minute I walked through the door.
Built in the mid-1800s and packed to the rafters with every book ever printed on movies and its stars, this is the ideal home for the notorious Blood Moon Productions and a must-stay AirBnB for film, art, and pop culture buffs. It should be as well known as the Chelsea Hotel right across the bay, for the number of famous and infamous guests and residents. Magnolia House's "guidebook," Glamor, Glitz, and Gossip is certainly the ultimate if-these-walls-could-talk collection of show biz histories too outrageous not to be real. It's a packed digest of Blood Moon's previous dishy and irresistible bios, and the perfect intro to the work of the obvious heir to Hollywood Babylon's salacious legacy.
Maggie Bloodstone, Seattle Gay News
Guest access
RIGOROUS effort, time, and attention is devoted to social distancing and deep-cleaning of public and private areas. Socialize with us if you can!
There's easy access (via a ten-minute walk or a very short ride on NYC bus nos. 42 or 52) to the Staten Island terminus of ferryboats to Manhattan
I live and work in the apartments upstairs, and I'm always be on-site to handle checkins and problems, as and if they arise.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS I'd value a conversation with you about the setup. Call me (Danforth Prince) at 718/556-9410). Cheers!
During your stay
I work and live on the building's upper floors, and except for routine errands and transits to my gym, I am on site throughout the day and evening. I'm always available, from my lodgings upstairs, with the understanding that guests have as much privacy, or as much extroverted conversation, as they need,
Other things to note
Magnolia House is deeply committed to social distancing and frequent anti-Covid cleaning and sterilization regimes, and guests--if they need it--have access to the owner's laundry facilities. Rigorous measures (cleaning, sterilization of surfaces, etc.) are always in place. Housetrained cats and dogs are welcomed (i.e., cherished and loved) as part of the Magic that permeates the place.
Where you’ll sleep
1 of 2 pages
What this place offers
City skyline view
Kitchen
Wifi
Dedicated workspace
Free driveway parking on premises
Unavailable: Lock on bedroom door
7 nights in Staten Island
Sep 16, 2021 - Sep 23, 2021
4.87 out of 5 stars from 199 reviews
Overall rating
- 5 stars, 89% of reviews
- 4 stars, 10% of reviews
- 3 stars, 1% of reviews
- 2 stars, 0% of reviews
- 1 stars, 1% of reviews
Rated 4.4 out of 5 stars for cleanliness
Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars for accuracy
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for check-in
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for communication
Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars for location
Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars for value
Guest reviews mention
Where you’ll be
Staten Island, New York, United States
This listing's location is verified and the exact location will be provided after booking.
Neighborhood highlights
Historic Saint George, the former "playground" and summer retreat of the Vanderbilts and the Fox Brothers of filmmaking fame, is one of the most visible, newsworthy, and up-and-coming neighborhoods of Greater New York City. Loaded with historic treasures and a freedom-loving, hip, and highly individualistic population that values life at a pace that's more spacious and a bit slower than how it's played in nearby Manhattan, it's connected to the canyons of Wall Street by the world-famous Staten Island Ferry.
Meet your host
Where I went to school: Hamilton College, Clinton, NY
My work: President and Founder of Blood Moon Productions, an independent press specializing in Entertainment About How America Interprets Its Celebrities; and (former) co-author of many titles and editions of The Frommer Guides, for years, the world's leading Trav
Speaks English and French
Lives in New York, New York
I'm a liberal, media-conscious NYC writer, editor, and president of Blood Moon Productions, an independent press specializing in celebrity biographies. I'm the resident manager of an elaborate historic home with gardens and available space--both in my heart and in my agenda--for the housing, protection, and entertainment of temporary visitors to New York City. Whereas my office and residence are on the upper floors, AirBnB guests occupy the rather grand formal areas on the ground floor. Lower Manhattan is easily accessible via a ten-minute walk and a 22-minute (free) ferryboat ride. This is country living in the city, with lots of cultural, historic, and razzmatazz literary sideshows.
Magnolia House results from my 30-year role as co-author of many titles, and many editions, of The Frommer Guides, each of which included evaluations of the bed and breakfast inns of Europe.
Edgy media associations have always been part of the Magnolia House experience. Previous guests have included Tennessee Williams (“Magnolia House reminds me of Blanche DuBois’ lost plantation, Bellereve!”), golden age film personality Joan Blondell (a close friend of celebrity biographer and co-owner, Darwin Porter), Lucille Lortel (the philanthropic but very temperamental Queen of Off-Broadway), the very outspoken Jolie Gabor (mother of the three “Bombshells from Budapest” otherwise known as Zsa Zsa, Eva, and Magda) and a host of other stars, starlettes, and demi-mondains of all descriptions and persuasions.
“Conjoining this rambling old house with the hospitality trades is a logical move, considering how inter-related the memorabilia is.” Prince continued, “And after years researching and writing the world’s pre-eminent travel series, I’m alert to the hopes, dreams, and needs, and aesthetics of temporary visitors. Welcome to Magnolia House.”
Celebrity Associations: In the kitchen of Magnolia House, two fabulous women, Zsa Zsa's mother, JOLIE GABOR, working with the great European cabaret singer, GRETA KELLER, prepared lavish dinners based on recipes of the old Austro-Hungarian Empire. (Their favorite dish was roast goose with apricot and chestnut stuffing.) The indiscretions that accompanied the meal eventually re-appeared in the award-winning, widely reviewed THOSE GLAMOROUS GABORS, BOMBSHELLS FROM BUDAPEST, a biography co-authored by Magnolia House's resident managers and published by BLOOD MOON PRODUCTIONS, the independent publishing entity located upstairs. Ask us about it. It's only one of Magnolia House's hundreds of celebrity associations that illustrate the high-octane sweep of "THE AMERICAN CENTURY."
QUESTION: Why is one of the two bedrooms at Magnolia House named "The Roosevelt Room?" Because you'll sleep in the queen-sized bed that used to be owned by a former U.S. President, Theodore (Teddy) "Rough Rider" Roosevelt.
There a sense of magic in this wise, mysterious old house, and historic links to "celebrities" we're eager to "introduce you to. They include former First Lady Julia Gardiner Tyler, the pre-Civil War "Marie Antoinette" of the White House; important players in the early days of Silent Films; and household names from media, show-biz, pop culture, and politics.
Be welcome, be happy, and pleasant dreams, in advance, to all of you.
xxx from Danforth Prince, Innkeeper and Director of Development at Magnolia House in NYC.
P.S. Now, There’s a GUIDEBOOK to accompany your visit to one of Staten Island’s Most Intriguing Historic Landmarks:
Blood Moon Productions proudly announces the release of an illustrated history of Magnolia House, a historic home in Saint George that’s internationally famous for its associations with celebrities.
Its authors, celebrity journalists Darwin Porter and Danforth Prince, describe it as a 230-page “pamphlet,” the first in their new series about how travel writing for THE FROMMER GUIDES evolved into a celebrity adventure.
STATEN ISLAND’S HISTORIC MAGNOLIA HOUSE: CELEBRITY & THE IRONIES OF FAME is available now through Amazon, Barnes&Noble, and as a free giveaway to anyone overnighting or stopping in for an “Experience” at Magnolia House as organized by Airbnb. For more information about either the book or the “AirBnb Experience” with the same name, search the internet for “Celebrity & the Ironies of Fame.”
As stated by Danforth Prince, Blood Moon’s President and Director of Development, “Whereas a conventional autobiography of either of us would have been too boring and too embarrassing, we opted instead to filter this memoir through the lens of the historic monument that witnessed—up close and intimately—some of the most widely celebrated characters of “The American Century.”
Staten Island’s Historic Magnolia House, Celebrity & the Ironies of Fame:
A Memoir About Travel Guides, Tabloid Exposés, & the Landmark Where They Were Produced.
Softcover, 6” x 9”, with 230 pages, at least a hundred photos, and scads of gossip about who did what to whom during the course of 50 years as the world’s pre-eminent travel journalists. ISBN 978-1-936003-65-5.
Our conclusion? Magnolia House is NOT the typical AirBnb--nor is it anything remotely like a Hilton or a Day's Inn. It's a private home with stories about the aftermath of the Civil War to convey. It's unique in America, and it's eager to show you its secrets.
WHAT IS MAGNOLIA HOUSE?
The name it bears has been on record with Staten Island’s Borough Hall for at least a century, as it’s a byproduct of owners who, in the immediate aftermath of the Civil War, gave it a name that evoked their native Virginia. Dating from the 1830s, it’s a Grande Dame with a knack for nourishing high-functioning eccentrics.
Many of them have lived or been entertained here since New York’s State Senator Howard Bayne, a transplanted Southerner, moved in with his wife, the daughter of the Surgeon General of the Confederate States of America, in the aftermath of that bloodiest of wars on North American soil, the War between the American States.
Since then, many dozens of celebrities—some of them notorious—have whispered their secrets and rehearsed their ambitions within its walls. According to some, a few of them remain on site, working through the issues that tormented or perplexed them during their earthy and raucous experiences in the here and now.
This is the story of how this “Wise Victorian Lady”—in its role as the editorial headquarters for many of THE FROMMER GUIDES and later for BLOOD MOON PRODUCTIONS—adapted to America’s frequently changing tastes, times, circumstances, and values.
This new "Guidebook," from a writing team well-versed in the nuances of writing guidebooks, is available now through internet purveyors everywhere, it's the first in Blood Moon’s MAGNOLIA HOUSE series, books that explore the oddities, and “only in America” eccentricities of THE AMERICAN CENTURY and how they unfolded within Staten Island’s most media-centric historic landmark.
Come stay with us! Magnolia House (which has always been associated with the South) is eager to meet y'all.
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