East 57th Street/ Sutton Place

I live in the area. It is very child friendly. There are a few parks in the area and a few play gyms (like a gymboree). It's not terribly "interesting" like downtown but it's an easy place to live with kids. I thought the Whole Foods (and entire PS 59 school renovation was on hold). Did you hear recently that it was still on?

I called Whole Foods and they said yes, but progress is just slow. PS 59 is moving ahead as well. What about local food shops and restaurants? Do you walk to CP a lot?

I lived there for many, many years in various buildings. I like the area a lot but it's kind of dull. Nothing exciting about the restaurants although it has definitely improved over the years. I believe the renovation at PS59 is ongoing (I passed by 2 days ago and they were working on it.) I went there a few years ago (never mind how many...) and they had amazing teachers at the time.

Good for very young kids. My friends with grade schoolers recommend against it as there is no easy place for outdoor playdates.

very kid-friendly. All the side streets are dead ends, and they're pretty cool for bike-riding, etc. Plus, lots of small parks when you go down a few steps. A nice little "niche".

But, yes, dull.

Granted, 2nd ave in the 50s has an ok set of bars, and ok restaurants (think Murray Hill type vibe), and there is a lot within walking distance. I call it the Irish Riviera. plus the waterfall park.

Good to hear about Whole Foods - any idea what their timetable is? I don't get to CPW but if we were more motivated, we certainly could. I agree with everyone else. Restaurants pretty dull. I lived in downtown for ten years and up here for seven. I still miss downtown. However, since I've had a kid, I've been happier in this neighborhood. We don't go out as much and there are some decent restaurants and movie theaters for when we do.

for everyone who is calling the east 50's "dull" i am curious as to know what neighborhoods everyone finds "exciting" or whatever they would think the opposite of dull is. thanks

also, i had no idea that there is a whole foods planned. can someone fill me in there?

thanks again

I find most areas downtown or in brooklyn more interesting. It's because midtown/midtown east is so full of chain stores, chain restaurants etc. I tend to like smaller stores and restaurants that have more flavor and less of a corporate feel. However, when I was looking seven years ago, the apartments were cheaper and bigger in this neighborhood.

interesting...when i think of chain restaurants, i usually think of pf changs or something like that. i dont really know of many chain resturant in the east 50's. i think, especially east of 2nd that "quiet" would define most of the neighborhood well. and it is awesome for kids

I guess I'm thinking of starbucks, Duane Read, gap, banana republic. I know they are everywhere in the city, but there aren't a lot of "independents" mixed in. You have starbucks downtown but also lots of great small cafes as well.

there are certainly trendier neighborhoods...but i absolutely love living here. im on east 52nd all the way over by the river and it just fees like a classy old money place to live. and the fact that you can walk to bloomingdales, saks barneys and bergdorf within 5 minutes or so...and the school is great. i had no idea about a potential whole foods however

There is a beautiful tower being built at 250 East 57th. 3 Floor Whole Foods, new state of the art PS 59 and High School of Art and Design. Check it out on the web under 250E57. It was stalled for a bit but now is back on track.I lived in the village for most of my life but tired of it now. I think the East 50's may be on target for a renaissance. It may be dull seeming but it seems there's lots going on close by in every direction. We would be moving in with a toddler.Apartments are large for the money it seems.Any good Chinese delivery?

"interesting...when i think of chain restaurants, i usually think of pf changs or something like that. i dont really know of many chain resturant in the east 50's. i think, especially east of 2nd that "quiet" would define most of the neighborhood well. and it is awesome for kids"

Yeah, I'm not sure this person quite knows the neighborhood. I used to be nearby, and it really was not a place for chain stores... outside of maybe the barnes & Noble. 2nd ave was filled with small one-off places.

> I guess I'm thinking of starbucks, Duane Read, gap, banana republic

We're really not going to count starbucks, are we? There are tons everywhere, including court street, the best drive in Brooklyn.

Gap... I don't think there IS a gap in this neighborhood. Are you counting next to bloomingdales, all the way over on Lex (and 59th). The area in question doesn't have any of that.

and lets not forget... the original Rosa Mexicana right there... Mr Chows is always fun, too. And is Gustavino still there?

There is a reason Sutton Place has been real $$$ for a long time. Some really pretty streets, but in proximity to a lot more.

melisloan
about 1 hour ago
ignore this person
report abuse There is a beautiful tower being built at 250 East 57th. 3 Floor Whole Foods, new state of the art PS 59 and High School of Art and Design. Check it out on the web under 250E57. It was stalled for a bit but now is back on track.I lived in the village for most of my life but tired of it now. I think the East 50's may be on target for a renaissance. It may be dull seeming but it seems there's lots going on close by in every direction. We would be moving in with a toddler.Apartments are large for the money it seems.Any good Chinese delivery?

we like mee's noodles on east 49th and 2nd. also peking duck house on east 53rd and 2nd.
thanks for the info regarding the whole foods. thank god it's on east 57th.

somewhereelse
44 minutes ago
ignore this person
report abuse "interesting...when i think of chain restaurants, i usually think of pf changs or something like that. i dont really know of many chain resturant in the east 50's. i think, especially east of 2nd that "quiet" would define most of the neighborhood well. and it is awesome for kids"

Yeah, I'm not sure this person quite knows the neighborhood. I used to be nearby, and it really was not a place for chain stores... outside of maybe the barnes & Noble. 2nd ave was filled with small one-off places.

> I guess I'm thinking of starbucks, Duane Read, gap, banana republic

We're really not going to count starbucks, are we? There are tons everywhere, including court street, the best drive in Brooklyn.

Gap... I don't think there IS a gap in this neighborhood. Are you counting next to bloomingdales, all the way over on Lex (and 59th). The area in question doesn't have any of that.

I agree. It's like lumping in the mess at union square with the pretty parts of gramercy and the beautiful parts of the center village off 5th.

Great location!
It's not the UES when it comes to kids but, still excellent.
reasonably priced....check out the monthly costs.

falco, what do you think of the current school situation, though? i know they're doing something going forward, but i've heard very mixed things about the currect option.

i love the area, actually. would be my second choice after east village/flatiron/union square/east chelsea/nolita areas. really pretty. quiet and family friendly. close to much, and with enough locally to keep you interested and happy when you don't feel like branching out. might be harder with multiple kids, because easy immediate access to playgrounds is a bit limited in many areas.

I was talking about the gap and banana republic over on Lex. You are right, they are not in the immediate vicinity of Sutton place. I'm a big walker though. I cover a good ten blocks in either direction so I consider my neighborhood to be from Sutton to Lex - I live on second. There are no real chains on Sutton place, but I still don't find the area as interesting as other parts of the city. Just my opinion - I have friends in the neighborhood who like it just fine.

The truth is I'm not an afficinado of the school situation in Sutton. There is the little park on the FDR but, no that kid friendly. I'm between 1st and York on the UES and, given that, we still utilize Central Park more than any other. So, how far is Sutton from CP?
There's always good, better, best.

it takes at least 10 mintutes to get over to CP. there are a few parks on the river, but they aren't super easy to access especially with a stroller. always trade-offs.

probably about the same amount of time it takes to get to central park from york actually

but york has the parks on the east river as well. john jay (with its pool) and carl schurz. CP is an option, but certainly not a necessity.

sutton would've been an easy hike for me to CP, because i have one kid and i'm very mobile. but for others i could see how it wouldn't be ideal unless the budget allowed for taxis quite frequently.

its true. my kid isn't playground age yet, but i can't think of a playground other than the one on york and east 61st. there is a great park for kids on 1st and 66th.

To me, the area gets a real neighborhood feel once you get to Second Avenue and further east. From Third Avenue and further west, it feels more like midtown with the department stores and the beginning of office buildings. I remember there was a very nice place to have coffee called Columbus Bakery and next door was the Metropolitan Cafe, both of which are sadly gone from the neighborhood. I've seen quite a few young children playing in the small park at the very end of East 57th Street by Sutton Place. It's such an elegant looking street- Sutton Place. And the M31 bus as well as the M57 bus run up and down East 57th Street if you don't want to walk.

> I was talking about the gap and banana republic over on Lex

If you're calling that the neighborhood, you might as well also call central park the neighborhood. But thats really quite a ways away... AND across 57th, which is a pretty major dividing line (as would third). That neighborhood really switches over from 2nd to 3rd.

And its not like there's nothing on the way. All the stuff on first and second... there is a *lot* of it, and most doesn't fit the "chain store" bill. The 50s on 2nd ave isn't my favorite part of town, but its definitely got a lot going on.