Looks like we will be relocating to New York in the near future. We are a couple in their early 50s with all of our kids grown.

Our perfect neighborhood would be one that has a few low-key bars and restaurants that we can visit along with shopping, etc within walking distance. We also want to be fairly close to the subway for easy access to different places in the city.

It looks like my office will be in Midtown East. We don't necessarily have to live in Midtown though.

We will be looking for a 1 or 2 BR place with at least 1.5 baths (would be nice to have the extra). I think a doorman building would be nice to have. Our budget will be around $5k/mo or so. We have no pets, so that shouldn't be an issue.

The perfect hood sounds like a town in Westchester County. Visit and fio. You'll get great opinions here -- but you need to be in the midst of the human blood clot and figure out which zip code will work for you.

Thanks for the suggestion, but we are really thinking about being in Manhattan. If we are going to be in the city, we want the city experience.

Upper East

East 50's is great - close to everything, quiet, lots of good values. The area around the 59th St Bridge can be a little loud, but lots of nice quiet streets with doorman buildings between 48th and 57th Sts and 3rd Ave and the river.

Pros:

Can walk to the theater and to work
20 min from LGA and 40 min from JFK
Lots of subways at 53rd and 59th
Lots of resturants and places to grab a drink
Great doctors and dentists within walking distance
Food shopping will improve when Whole Foods opens on 57th
Close to just about everything in Manhattan - no more than $20 in a cab gets you anywhere from here

Cons:

A little "businessy" because it is in midtown
Less character than UWS or even UES
Proximity to the UN can be a distraction a few times a year
Traffic on 1st and 2nd Aves
Parking is expensive - you are competing with well off people who drive to work for garage spaces

$5k per month would get you a great place in this neighborhood.

I would not live in midtown - very soulless. Walk around the east and west 60s, 70s, 80s. Probably the best for a new NYC couple - the park is a great resource.

"We also want to be fairly close to the subway for easy access to different places in the city. It looks like my office will be in Midtown East. We don't necessarily have to live in Midtown though."

Stick to the East Side, otherwise you'll be spending half your life in the dreaded west-to-east-back-to-west schlep. But stay as close as possible to the Lexington Avenue corridor, if you're hoping to be "fairly close" to the subway.

Otherwise, I'd recommend Brooklyn Heights. Perfect for your demographic, tons of restaurants, and it's one of the most attractive (if not THE most attractive) neighborhood in the city. And easy access to virtually every subway line in the city puts you just about anywhere within a matter of minutes.

I agree with Lanzz - east 50's puts you in easy access to theater, restaurants, museums, and shopping. You don't need schools, so why do UWS or UES, which are not really in easy access to all of that.

East of 2nd (or 1st) has some very lovely, charming streets, with lots of pre-war if that is your desire. And some very good values.

Others on this board have suggested Central Park South, which is one of the most non-NY neighborhoods I can think of. But is probably one of the best for a pied a terre in the city because of access to so much the city has to offer.

East 50's through East 70's. Close to all you want, plus museums, routes out of city if you drive, plus close to best hospitals and docs in NYC should you ever need that. You can walk everwhere, take many bus routes or subway, cabs are plentiful.

Another vote for Midtown East. Between First Ave and Sutton Place, South of 57th Street. Lot's of mom and pop stores on First Ave along with banks, supermarkets, movie theaters, and every other store you can think of for daily living. Lots of restaurants, diners and Pubs on First and Second Avenue. Bed Bath and Beyond, T.J. Maxx, Container Store, Home Depot, Whole Foods, Bloomingdales, and Saks all within a short walk.

I'll Throw in a vote for the Village/West Village. If you stay close to the E train at either West 4th or 14th you will have an easy commute to midtown east (at 53rd street E runs East into Queens and stops on on the avenues). Another option for you to explore.

@matt a lot of restaurants in Brooklyn Heights?

Keith Burkhardt
The Burkhardt group

">T.J. Maxx, Container Store

But NOW you are talking!!"

We know you're much to high class to shop in stores like that. Make me laugh. LOL!

"East 50's, west of second Ave"

I think you meant EAST of Second Avenue.

>Brooks- 50SPS (your favorite price chopper building) is not the entirety of the East 50's.
I don't live there and I still think it's near a lot that NY has to offer (and I am not 80, not even close)

Possibly you can't afford the pre-war classic 6 or 7 that you would like in the neighborhood.

"Third Ave. is west of second ave. East 50's still on the East side , until you cross Fifth Ave., where it becomes west 50's.

First Ave. is east of Second Ave.The East River is east of First Ave."

So you're recommending that they move right into the heart of the business district as opposed to the residential area of Sutton Place which is EAST of Second Avenue. Great advice!

Brooksie can't afford to live in Manhattan, that is; until the market crashes and he scoops up all the deals at $200 a sqft. LOL!!!!!!!

Keep waiting it ain't happening not even in Midtown East. LOL!!

Check out Eastern Brooklyn (East New York, Brownsville, City Line, Cypress Hills), you can probably find some deals there, more in your price range........... Ha, Ha, Ha!!!!!!

Brooksie: "Additionally, 1st ave in ME reminds of the Bronx, with many vacant burnt out buildings. "

Give me some addresses of "Many vacant burnt out buildings" on First Avenue in the East 50's. You must be hallucinating again! LOL!

You be suprised how many people would love to have Home Depot within a few block walk of their front door, especially someone moving into a new apartment. But for Bon Vivants, like you, they can shop in Bloomingdales and Saks! LOL!

Have you noticed all the new stores and restaurants that recently opened within 10 blocks, Nealy's, The Smith, Bon Chon, Off The Wall Yogurt, Grata, Dopo Teatro East, Siros, Sprigs, Brabrant Belgian, Tony DiNapoli, 1 Bite Mediterranean, new and expanded Jubilee, additionally 3 new restaurants opening on 2nd Ave in the next month or two and another 2 on First Avenue, new high school, new grade school. And I'm sure you know a 59 Story building with 78,000 sqft of retail, in addition to Whole Foods, is going up on 2nd Avenue and 57th Street.

Sounds like a real "graveyard".!

Check out Brooklyn East, more your style. LOL!!

"Go take a walk south down 1st have starting on 59th go to 49th, you'll see them all as you take your Southerly stroll."

Just as I thought, can't list one address. Ha... Ha... Ha.....!

It's not Smith, it's "The Smith", hotspot on the Lower Eastside, Midtown East and soon to be across the street from Lincoln Center. The Midtown East branch is mobbed day and night, try it some time. LOL!

I guess lots of builders build 59 story buildings in a "graveyard".

Check out Brooklyn East, it's in the "Outer Boroughs" (not boros) more your speed. LOL!

"The Latin CORNER is in ME, isn't that where a former famous NY Giant shot himself? Night life is good though"

ha...ha....ha....ha.....

The "LATIN CORNER" ??????

SO DUMB!!!!

What CORNER is that on??? LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"APPLOGIES, got the MAME wrong on the "Latin.,, whatever" point is ITS MOTt a NEIGHTNIRHOOD crowd, NEITHET does the Smith, The smith on the LES is mobbed too, but you are not touting that because you don't live there.
ME is a SH1T hole. Face it"

Lost your spell check or just flustered?? Ha...Ha.. HA...!

"ME is a sh1t hole." Don't be so hard on yourself! LOL!

"Think it's 47th n 3rd btw, not sure you tell me"

I think the "LATIN CORNER" is in Spanish Harlem. LOL! LOL!

Still waiting for that list of "burnt out buildingS" on 1st Avenue. I might want to buy one! HA..HA..HA!!

"Placico Buress accidentally shot himself asshole!"

I didn't know that's where he shot himself, I thought it was in his leg. LOL! LOL!

Brooksie you're making a fool of yourself!!! Ha....Ha....Ha.....!

"Otherwise some small stores/delis but not much.
Home Depot is on Third Ave. and The Container Store is on Lexington Ave."

Don't forget the banks, dry cleaners, supermarkets, Duane Reades, all the stores you need on a day to day basis, while the big box stores are a short walk away from the residential area between 2nd and Sutton. Thats my preference but to each his own.

Amazing how my simple question degenerated to this.

"as if banks, dry-cleaners, Dags, Duane Reades are in short supply elsewhere in Manhattan."

The point was most people want the convenience stores near their homes and not the big box stores, those most prefer to have a few blocks away not to mention all of the office buildings west of Second Avenue. The best part of living near Sutton is that you are in a residential enclave but have quick access to all Manhattan has to offer withing a short walk, not to mention a quick escape out of the city via the 59th Street Bridge. As I said to each his own.

The one low key bar I can think of that caters to the older set-or, more accurately, the nearly departed
-only one place comes to mind: The Townhouse Bar on East 58th Street.

It's low key, all right-in the 6 feet under sense of the term, "laid out" if you will, like a funeral home.eeeven

One quick glance inside (that is, if you dare), & you'll immediately know why.

The clientele, in various states of dementia &/or decomposition, either sit at the front bar in a near catatonic state, while others who may simply be going through their last twitches "sing" by the piano in the back area, aka the embalming room.o

As far as the aforementioned front group goes, the only thing that can rouse them from their reverie is the occasional unsuspecting twink who stumbles in.

You have never seen so many heads turn in unison, with a very audible crack as they do so. How they don't snap their vertebrae is nothing short of a medical miracle.

They do feature weekly specials. A very popular one is "Dependsday Wednesdays", where everyone is encouraged to bring their own bedpan, which are banged like tamborines by the piano in a singalong that makes Roseanne sound like Maria Callas.

The 1st patron to void from excitement wins an exotic Fibercon cocktail-just one of the many drink specials featured.

Of course, given the composition of this drink, it only causes even more voiding, which in turn causes the winner to win yet again (&
again & again), eliciting jealousy & bitterness from the others not so fortunate.

They actually have a disclaimer out front, stating any resemblance between them & Frank E. Campbell is purely coincidental.

Now that you know all this...by all means-er..."suit up" & "go" have a wonderful time there!

God, so many pure evil people on this board.

Truth: Of course not...hell no! And it better not be-as I'm in that very age range myself!

Just trying to inject a little humor (not botox) into the conversation; what I was attempting to point out was the complete antithesis of the usual 20-something venue.

Of course there's everything else in between, & quite familiar winh them at that.

Back in December, a neighbor & I dined at La Mediterranee; in March, another neighbor introduced us to Irish Exit.

We had a great time in both places, & I know they're tons of others which always seem to be doing very well, with multi-aged crowds.

I live a little south of the Mason-Dixon line (Murray Hill/Kips Bay), where I'm very age concious walking my dogs on a Friday night down Third Avenue, lest the revelers think ol' gramps here is looking for action!

So I'm not quite ready for the Mausoleum club, & too old for post-frat insanity dives.

Geesh-Boy are the fifties a difficult age...

...& if I ever even ATTEMPTED the Watusi, with ANYONE-nubile or not-suffice it to say the place would clear out in record time-that is, of course, if it didn't get raided first!

Sure is...they even provide blank trust, will & power of attorney forms gratis on the console in the vestibule.

After all-preparation is key-& not just of the H variety!

cruznmore:"Amazing how my simple question degenerated to this."

When you see contributors with thousands of posts, you can pretty much disregard anything they say. They hang out on these boards and while the hours away causing conflict and give misleading and downright wrong information. Be particularly careful of Brooks2 and take anything he says with a grain of salt.

Here's an excerpt from an article in the New York Times about the Sutton Place area in Midtown East, although it goes back to 2003, it's hasn't changed much in these past 9 years, only for the better in my opinion.

"ELEANOR AND LEONARD GARBIN raised two children on a 14-acre property in Pound Ridge, a picturesque Westchester town on the Connecticut line. But when a three-year stint living in downtown Cincinnati convinced the two that they were city dwellers at heart, they embraced the convenience of a Manhattan co-op apartment just a few steps from the East River.

They have changed apartments in the 60-unit building, but the two Brooklyn natives have not looked back in the 22 years since they moved to Sutton Place, a tidy and somewhat out-of-the-way Manhattan enclave that runs from 53rd to 59th Streets between First Avenue and the East River.

''It's almost like living in Europe,'' said Mrs. Garbin, whose 13th floor two-bedroom apartment offers glimpses of the river and lots of light. ''There are little mom-and-pop stores, tailors, shoe repair places and cheese stores. I walk to the river and sit in the parks, and we have a garden in our building.''

Comparisons with blocks of London mews houses and Eaton Square abound around Sutton Place and Sutton Place South, the section of the street below 57th Street. The dozen or so town houses and numerous luxurious co-op apartment buildings on the thoroughfare, one of the borough's most prestigious addresses, as well as the east-west streets, have historically been home to luminaries of all stripes."

You can find the rest of the article at the link below:

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/15/realestate/if-you-re-thinking-living-sutton-place-prestigious-address-with-villagelike-feel.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm&gwh=82E68CEF7D529181489A5C511545AFF2

Brooksie: Should cruznmore listen to you, "the poster of B.S." or the New York Times, "The Paper Of Record"?? LOL!