Opinon on area around West 97th Street and WEA?

We lived at 100/WEA for a few years and loved it - great place for families. The proximity to Riverside Park and the 96th St subway are great. There are plenty of services/places to eat up there, but that stretch of B'way (high 90's to 106 or so) is certainly not as nice as the 80's/70's if that matters to you (a lot more empty shops, etc.) We are now down in the 80's but would not hesitate to move back if we found the right place, as apts are less expensive north of 96 for sure.

Where are you moving from? We bought up here last summer and LOVE it. The big con, of course, is that even with the express train we have longer commutes than we used to.

Oh, and as discussed on another thread, there's no good Chinese food on the UWS.

ali r.
DG Neary Realty

How sad, Ali ... Bway near 97th used to be known as "Szechwan Valley".

Hunan Park at 95th & Columbus used to be great, but they changed management a couple of years ago, look dodgy now, and haven't received my custom since.

Here here, no good Chinese so sad. I order from Ollies or Hunan Balcony, both are average at best, BUT lots of other good restaruants, markets, etc. It is so beautiful up here, esp now that trees are all blooming. Its like Westchester in Manhattan

a sibling lived up there, and I have a doctor up there now. great for value, good for transportation IF you travel the red line.

But, as sf said, neighborhood is definitely not what the 80s is (and thats not the best in town either) and you definitely get a but shadier set up there. A lot more has come in, the yuppies definitely attacking, but it still has ways to go.

Lowndes, I believe that West End Avenue, uniquely, is beautiful and livable and gorgeous from 72nd to the end (106). Only one block from Broadway, and still only residential.
The buildings are mostly fabulous, the park is right there.

Great transportation: express train at 96th and cross town bus. Proximity to Central Park and Riverside Park. Great for runners, tennis players, and dog owners. WEA is beautiful all the way up but Broadway around there is not as nice as above 106th or below 90th.

somewhereelse, stop hanging out at Fenway Park.

But east of Broadway there is plain bad. With the exception of the Whole Foods (another plus!).

> somewhereelse, stop hanging out at Fenway Park.

nah, its Brooklyn that I say is like Boston.

> But east of Broadway there is plain bad. With the exception of the Whole Foods (another plus!).

Definitely. The projects are close. Totally different vibe when you cross over (and it bleeds onto broadway).

Wow, thank you all for the information. I am going to have to give it a look. I actually posted this in the wrong thread as I am going to be renting. I just noticed "the Paris" building and it looked nice. Never been to the area though.

Front Porch, I am not in NYC now. I'll be coming from Berkeley, California.

I've lived in NY 50 years. What's the "red line?"

There are some beautiful apartment buildings with spacious apartments up there, you are between Riverside Park and Central Park on quiet streets. What's not to like? Though I don't know the public schools there.

ali r,
as i have lived in this hood for about 5yrs let me share the important food destinations in lieu of the hoods poor chinese. i offer these choices also for those folks who only go south for more options.
1)absolute bagels on 107th and bway. the best bagel you will ever eat. go on sat or sun wait on the incredibly fast long line and enjoy.
2)sal and carmines pizza on bway btwn 101 and 102..sal passed away this year after 50yrs of throwing pie but still great. go find out why they don't need to deliver
3)thai market on amsterdam @ 108..best thai in the hood. really fast, reliable delivery. incredibly tasty.
4)indus valley on bway and 100th. really good indian. pricey but worth it..very fresh ingredients..they will also make things not on the menu my personal fave chana saag
sorry i know its a r.e forum but i can't help it...now go to absolute!!

I lived on the corner of 97th and WEA for 18 years, diagonally across from the Paris. It's a pleasant quiet family neighborhood, graced by easy access to Riverside Park.

A few things no one's mentioned:
If you should get a big snow, the hill down WEA from 98 to 96 makes great sledding.
BUT The wind down 97th St to the river in the winter can be brutal.
The 96th Street crosstown bus has its final stop at 97th and West End, so you get door-to-door service if you're taking it from the East Side,
BUT it's noisy turning down West End and around to 96th.
There's a beautiful garden, The Lotus Garden, on the roof of the Columbia Garage (97th bet Bway and WEA) It's open to the public on Sunday afternoons and a lovely place to take a cup of coffee and the newspaper, or you can buy a key for $15 and go any time you want for 2 years. You can also join as a gardener and get your own plot and meet very nice people.
Totally acceptable rotisserie chicken at Texas on corner of 97&Bway saved our lives many times!
Pearls Chinese has unlimited cheap white wine at dinner, and some terrific dishes
BUT order carefully. That American crunchy/sweet thing is creeping in.
Nice little public library on 100th and Amsterdam.

central park is a hike from there

moxie, I practically live at Absolute Bagels. Happy to do a meetup there.

have yet to check out the Thai place though, can't wait. And Lofty, thanks for mentioning the Lotus Garden -- do you know when it opens? i think we tried a month ago and were told "not yet."

ali

oh, and Lowndes, feel free to holler when you're in town. I can be reached at ali [st] dgneary [dot} com.

Put "streeteasy" in the subject line or I won't find it.

this is a beautiful area. used to live on 107 and CPW and also lived and absolute bagels. there USED to be a good chinese place, i believe it was golden garden, not sure if it's still there.

The Lotus Garden usually opens in early April. I haven't been there in a while, but the daffs should be blooming.

Lived at 97th and WEA for years. Great area. WEA is quiet and residential, yet you have Broadway one block away with restaraunts. You have: (i) the crosstown bus, (ii) express subway, (iii) entrance right there to the highway, (iv) Whole Food, Gourmet Garage, Gristedes, etc. etc., (v) great cheap eats that can be your local dives - Saigon Grill, Pio Pio, Hunan Balcony, good Indian place around 93rd or so

Honestly, it's an awesome location.