UES vs. UWS

If you like the UES, stay on the UES. More school options through middle school, cheaper/sqft ft than UWS. Personally, I'm an UWSer for the following reasons:

1) Like to run - fast access to 2 parks
2) Like to shop for groceries daily
3) Feels more "open" and less congested than the UES (no bridge/tunnel where I am) or easy access to WS highway.
Many more low-rises, sig. chunks landmarked.

We don't yet have kids so cannot speak to the schooling issue but I have to say I absolutely love the UWS. You get two amazing parks--Riverside and Central (Riverside has some wonderful play areas for kids), great transportation (not holding my breath for that long-awaited 2nd Ave Subway), excellent stores and restaurants.

There's something stuffy and stilted about the UES, IMO--doesn't feel nearly as neighborhoody as UWS. Where on the UWS would you be looking, by the way? If you're willing to go slightly north (into the Morningside Heights area) there are some nice, spacious prewar apartments to be had. Also, take a good look at West End Ave for great bang for the buck.

I was in a similar spot as you. My wife is a diehard UWSer and I had been living on the UES for years before we married. I was anxious abuut the UWS but grew to enjoy the amount of space we got in a pre-war apartment. It feels much more like a residential neighborhood around West End and being in the 100's seems to makie it more so.
I can't say that shopping is easier than on the UES since we are a bit north of places like Fairway but can alsways find something at a Gristedes.
Good luck

Not familiar with neighborhoods East of 3rd but I can tell you that the UWS is very kid friendly. Easy access to the two parks would make your decision an easy one for me. We live in the parks when the weather allows. Also, transportation options on the UWS are MUCH better. I can't stand the 4,5,6.

Are you people mad? Have you ever seen West Side Story? Keep your children safe on the Upper East Side.

UWS is better for kids...i've live in both nabes. Also, no parks on UES at all so unless you live right near central park you won't have any place to go.

alan,
I was on the UWS and was accosted by a gang of well, pretty good dancers. They said,"When you're a Jet, You're a Jet all the way From your first cigarette To your last dyin' day. When you're a Jet, If the spit hits the fan, You got brothers around, You're a family man! You're never alone, You're never
disconnected! You're home with your own: When company's expected, You're well protected! Then you are set With a capital J, Which you'll never forget Till they cart you away. When you're a Jet, You stay a Jet!

They had missed last weekends game and I had not the heart to disappoint.

the danger was palpable, the choreography...superb.

Are those the same guys who come thisclose to kicking passengers in the head during dance routines on the subway? Man, they're irritating. I'd offer them a $20 to go to the next car...

I vote for UES. Better publics, easier commute to midtown, and georgous Carl Shurz park.

Another advantage to the UES is that you won't need to buy expensive pets: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/01/nyregion/01appraisal.html?ref=nyregion

Food shopping at Whole food and fairway. End of story.

Fairway is opening in Yorkville this year.

There appears to be better value, larger inventory, dollar for dollar, on the UES.

I can't speak for the public schooling issue, but am a diehard UESer (Yorkville) and feel that this area is still somewhat of a well-kept secret which has just recently been discovered by young families.
PROS:
prices still lowish relative to other areas
diverse population: young families, 20 something singles, old timers, wealthier types on East End or UES proper, French expatriates d/t LFNY, private school kids, residual Eastern European, Russian, etc
hasn't been overrun by chain stores yet a la Broadway on UWS
Carl Schurz, imho one of the most beautiful parks in the city
quiet peaceful residential feel
close to FDR so easy to get to upstate, Queens, Bklyn, LI
increasing amenities: Fairway coming, Target and Costco in East Harlem
Asphalt Green, fantastic gym, Olympic sized pool, great organized kids sports
close to great shopping: Madison Ave area, Midtown

CONS:
poor prewar apt selection; not very attractive architecture in general
far from subway

Just MHO but UWS proper feels a bit too yuppified and generic for me now...though further up north (Morningside Heights etc) still has the "old NY" feel which I love. Good luck with your choice!

Easier commute to midtown from the Upper East Side? In what New York is this?

From 96th street and below it is 10 - 20 minutes to midtown, depending on how far you live from the train, and there are two separate lines, the IRT and IND. Add another 7 - 7 minutes above 96th street. I live near the 96th street line and have gotten to 34th in about 8 minutes on a good day.

On the Upper East Side, you have the Lexington avenue line and that is it, and god help you if that is having problems because you don't have another option to get to Midtown. That is why the mythical Second avenue line is such a big deal.

oohaha- actually, the new 2nd avenue express bus, using the dedicated bus lane) is unbelievably fast from UES to midtown.

UES vs.UWS

1. How do you feel about the deodrant use of other?
A. Always Always Always = UES
A. I believe it's a personal choice = UWS

2. How do you feel about the dress code of those around you?
A. I put myself togethers before I leave the house as others should do = UES
A. I'm a schelp...who cares about such nonsense = UWS

3. How do you feel about your politics?
A. I talk up a liberal rant but, behind closed doors I'm a republican = UES
A. I am a soaked in gasoline liberal...lite me up like a buddist monk = UWS

4. I need to wait in line for hours for my smoked fish - UWS
I buy pre packaged lox tidbits in Gristedes - UES

5. I sit over one cup of coffee in Starbucks for 2 hours - UES
I sit over one cup of coffee in Starbucks for 6 + hours - UWS

6. My real estate broker lives in my building - UWS
My real estate broker lives in N.J. - UES

> 3) Feels more "open" and less congested than the UES (no bridge/tunnel where I am) or easy access to
> WS highway.

I think its the other way around. Leave out leaving in the low east 60s (which I would not recommend for anyone, it is awful).

UWS is narrower, and Broadway plazas cuts through a lot of it making for a lot of huge intersections. It is personally the biggest thing that turns me off about the UWS, it all funnels into the lincoln center area.

Whereas UES is much more of a grid, it is more evenly spaced, and it just spreads wider. You have more quiet blocks that way. The retail is more spread out.

And, did anyone get.... restaurant options on the UWS are pretty much the worst in Manhattan.

7. My children are smart and good looking = UES
My children are smart = UWS

8. I have a very attractive wife who stays in great shape = UES
MY wife.....I married young before I became successful = UWS

9. I have a very well educated husband with a fat income job =UES
I have a well educated fat husband (or way to skinny) = UWS

10 My sovereign is the papaya king = UES
My sovereign is Barney Greengrass the sturgeon king =UWS

falcogold - you are incredibly funny - UWS??? No?? - Brooklyn?

Falco - bravo. I don't have pom juice in the fridge but I do have 2 packs of lox left from Zabar's & 1/4 tub of whitefish salad.

SWE - I had this discussion before with nyc10022. In the 70s & 80s, Columbus & Broadway don't seem to have as much vehicular traffic as comparable avenue (3rd?) on the UES. Ditto Fifth compared with CPW. The Lincoln Center area really isn't the UWS to me (much as the E. 60s isn't really the UES).

UWS...if i could..

Yorkville vs UWS is no contest UWS. There's a reason it's cheaper.
But if you must live in Yorkville, I would advise you to get as close as possible to 86th and 2nd... that's where we kept finding ourselves walking to. And I think there's a bunch of new stuff up since I moved like Shake Shack, etc.

11. My psychiatrist is tweaking my meds = UES
I confide all my darkest secrets to my podiatrist = UWS

12. My lubrication comes in a blue box that says Tiffanys = UES
My lubrication...KY(on sale at DR) = UWS
My lubrication...astroglide = west village

13. My car is Lexus SUV = UES
My car is a prius = UWS

falcogold, I just spewed cupcake from Magnolia (UWS!) all over myself reading your posts.

Oh geez, I'd hate to see where falco is going to take "spewing" and "Magnolia"...

I see this has devolved... although both helpful and entertaining. To be clear... neither Yorkville not West 100s are options because of schools. On the other hand, we are absolutely considering East 60s (incredibly central/convenient, although arguably less of a neighborhood feel) and do include that in UES, whether people think of it as part of UES or not. Similarly, are considering Lincoln Center area, although have not seen many viable options there. Thanks again.

"oohaha- actually, the new 2nd avenue express bus, using the dedicated bus lane) is unbelievably fast from UES to midtown."

What happens when you hit the traffic for the 59th street bridge? I have been caught in that in a cab over there just recently and it took me almost 20 minutes to get through.

I heard those buses are an improvement. I had a pretty good bus experience from the mid 60's to 96th on the UES in one of those new fangled buses, but I think most people who want to make a 2-3 mile trip will choose a train over a bus.

I am a lifelong West sider though I have gone to school on the East side growing up. I always found transportation on the UES to be less convenient, more bus-driven. I understand they are trying to improve that, but I think that the UWS still gets the nod.

yorkville is a great neighborhood with lots of long term residents. very neighborhoody.

"7. My children are smart and good looking = UES
My children are smart = UWS

***

Not really. More like:

I think my children are gifted and good looking = UES

I think my children are gifted = UWS

The UES has way more high-rises (so way more people), more 1-way streets that are like highways, narrow sidewalks, and only 1 subway that is almost unboardable at rush hour.
The UWS is great for pedestrians, Broadway and the museum provide much needed relief from the grid, 2 real parks, more landmark quality blocks. There are great schools on each side. UES probably has more quality restaurants, though.

"SWE - I had this discussion before with nyc10022. In the 70s & 80s, Columbus & Broadway don't seem to have as much vehicular traffic as comparable avenue (3rd?) on the UES. Ditto Fifth compared with CPW."

Having lived near both, I'd say that is nowhere near being true. The fact that the streets intersect at angles on the UWS is much of the issue. 72nd and broadway is to me far more congested with people and cars than any one intersection on the UES.

"The Lincoln Center area really isn't the UWS to me (much as the E. 60s isn't really the UES)."
You and the the folks who reference Whole Foods and the restaurants in TWC and around Lincoln Center should sync up then.

"Yorkville vs UWS is no contest UWS. There's a reason it's cheaper. "
Transportation. Of course, that actually makes the area quieter, which some folks might want.

SWE: that only happens in 2 places (and 1 if you don't count 65th as UWS). It's really the horror of the 70th-72nd Ams-Bway that is annoying.

Addendum: I prefer the parts of the UES I can't afford to the parts of the UWS I can afford but I prefer the parts of the UWS I can afford to the parts of the UES I can afford.

Funny.

I prefer the parts of the UWS I nearly can't afford (or is it I don't want to afford?) to the parts of the UWS I really can't afford.

"My lubrication...astroglide = west village"

My lubrication...EROS 5L = HK

Why is the maintenance on the UES always too damned high?

14. My cleaning lady and, nanny are off the books = UES
My cleaning lady is off the books = UWS

15. My child must go to Havard = UES
My child must go to Yale = UWS

16. We fixed our daughters nose = UES
We fixed our daughters nose = UWS

"Why is the maintenance on the UES always too damned high?"

Most of the postwar buildings have underlying mortgages.

"Not really. More like:
I think my children are gifted and good looking = UES
I think my children are gifted = UWS"

LMAO. That's awesome!

uwsmom...hi

Hi Julia. Long time no see. Hope you are well :).

"Why is the maintenance on the UES always too damned high?"

More of the super high end white glove buildings.

"More of the super high end white glove buildings."

Unless they're using those white gloves to shine my shoes each day, a doorman is a doorman is a doorman, whether on the UES or UWS.

Falco. You are the man.

"Unless they're using those white gloves to shine my shoes each day, a doorman is a doorman is a doorman, whether on the UES or UWS"

If you think a doorman is the only employee in a white glove building, clearly you don't live in one..

I can't believe no-one has said that yet...sorry to close this funny thread down, but the obvious, only choice is to make your wife happy. UWS it is, end of discussion.

>> And, did anyone get.... restaurant options on the UWS are pretty much the worst in Manhattan.
What are the great superior restaurant options in Yorkville?

>>Transportation. Of course, that actually makes the area quieter, which some folks might want.
I know some quiet places in LI, NJ and CT. You didn't choose to live in manhattan to be in quiet... and a mile from the subway.
Have you done the grinding walk to subway on a daily basis from Yorkville? In the summers you're sweating... in the winters you're freezing. There's maybe 2 months of the year where you're not cursing your daily commute.

Thank you Maly. That was my first thought when the post started: "You like the UES and your wife the UWS, so I guess you will be living on the UWS."

falco, ur a celeb...

http://www.brickunderground.com/blog/2011/02/ues_vs_uws_rivalry_takes_a_comic_turn

I am slighted - this one was mine!!

My real estate broker lives in my building - UWS
My real estate broker lives in N.J. - UES

.......but falco deserves endless kudos. Where are you? - we need some more on this cold, wet, miserable day.

Who has sexier and better looking women ?

UWS or UES ?

What I really wanted to be when I grew up was Charlie Sheen.
Unfortunately, they gave that job to....Charlie Sheen.

So now I live the life of quite desperation, logging on to SE to feed my RE passion, objectify my neurosis and, give thanks for the reasonable mental health I have as compared to many of the other posters. I love the line from the Simpson's where Bart says, "this is the worst day of my life".
Homer replies, "Worst day..........so far".

"Who has sexier and better looking women ? UWS or UES ?"

Depends.

If you're into the skeletal over-"done" type whose only marketable skill is landing a rich man ... UES.

If you're into crunchy granola lesbian chic ... UWS.

@NYCMatt,

LOL, thanks for giving me the heads up, I'll never look at the NYC Social Diary page the same way.

Don't cha just hate it when some of your crushes get crush :)

UWS'ders will always tell you how much better theirs is and broadway reminds me of Branson Mo.

Two HUGE problems.

"Why is the maintenance on the UES always too damned high?"

Jimmy McMillan?

Any thoughts on the main differences between use and uws on the blocks in the 90's (91st to 99th)Since it's probably the most affordable section of the two.

What borders to the north of the 90s in the West is Columbia University.

What borders to the north of the 90s in the East is pretty damn ugly.

> What borders to the north of the 90s in the West is Columbia University.

Only if you close your eyes while you skip thse seas of projects first.

Sorry, but Columbia does not start on 99th.