Riverside Drive

riverside drive is not noisy from the highway and the park is beautiful. because of the curves of the drive, some of the blocks between riverside and west end are very long and can be very cold in winter, but others are short. the short blocks are infinitely preferable, as they make the shops and subways along broadway close. i don't love the 86th street area--prefer the low 80s and the low 90s--but certainly it is all a prime neighborhood, safe, and convenient.

i grew up on the UWS, now i live downtown. downtown is better, obviously, but much more expensive.

The park is gorgeous and less crowded than Central Park. There are tennis courts at 96th and 119th streets, and amazing ball fields in the lo 100's. Awesome dog runs at 88th street and 103rd. (103rd also has a cafe in nice weather. It's like Europe). Riverside Drive is safe with fantastic pre-war buildings all the way up. The low 100's through Morningside are great and if you're investigating the 90's, you shouldn't overlook it. The best bakery on the Upper West Side is Silver Moon on 105th and Broadway,and they have a restaurant on 101st as well. Henry's Restaurant on 105th is a local hangout with a great bar, and one of the best jazz clubs in NY is smoke on 105th.

The only negative is that it can get very windy.

At the center of your target zone, 173-175 (89-90th) and 180 RSD (90th) are fantastic buildings with beautiful apartments. There's a big premium for Hudson River views, of course, so you have to decide what that's worth to you. Unfortunately, 90th is one of those long, cold, windy blocks happyrenter mentioned. On the plus side, the curves along Riverside allow more windows to see the river, the park, the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, the George Washington Bridge, or some combination.

Noise from the highway is not an issue at all, even on low floors. Riverside Park is a pretty wide buffer. Riverside Drive itself does get a bit of traffic at rush hour (avoiding the highway), plus the occasional #5 bus.

Restaurants: Docks is reliable for seafood. Ouest is well-regarded, perhaps because the UWS is not blessed with a lot of upscale dining options. There's decent Vietnamese and Japanese within a few blocks. Chinese and Indian on the UWS are abundant, but mostly terrible; most places at least one thing well, so you get to know their strengths. For Italian, slim pickings: Carmine's is disgusting but popular. Deli-wise, Murray's has possibly the best smoked fish in Manhattan, and Barzini's is pretty good for the stuff Murray's doesn't carry, like fruit and veg. Zabar's is legendary, and it's only a half-mile away. The kosher place on the far side of Broadway at 90th has interesting stuff, including good, cheap rotisserie chicken. There's a Gourmet Garage at 96th. Bakeries: Hot & Crusty at 88th is OK for basics if you don't feel like schlepping to Zabar's.

Anything else? Oh - Gotham Wine & Liquor at 94th is excellent.

Something tells me Nan has an exclusive listing in the low 100s. ;o)

That was supposed to be a joke, but lo and behold:

http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/sale/346361-coop-325-riverside-drive-manhattan-valley-new-york

Bingo. 105th and Riverside.

Which I didn't mention although I easily could have. Even if I didn't have a listing there, I would have suggested the 100's on RSD, as it is one of my favorite parts of town....Please don't make it look like there's something sleazy when I'm just giving my opinion....and the listing is very nice, but we have offers already...

Sorry, that came off much cattier than I intended. At worst, nshipley is just doing her job. I admire her energy and initiative. Always have.

And to be fair, her firm also has a listing at 186 RSD, so I think her enthusiasm for the low 100s is sincere.

Enough broker babble. A few more neighborhood notes about the area around 90th:

The Hippo Park is an excellent playground, though it does get crowded. There's a bike/jogging/walking path just west of it, with lovely flower gardens in the spring/summer. There's another good playground, River Run, a the south end of the path around 83rd. North of 91st, there's a beautiful orchard of flowering fruit trees, great for spring picnics. Not much culture in Riverside Park - a bit down at the south end in the 70s, but nothing big-time like Shakespeare in the Park or the big Summer Concerts that you get in Central Park. No carousel. No Zoo. No Museums. No Great Lawn or Sheep Meadow. It's just a nice neighborhood park, albeit a fairly big one.

PS166 is just OK. Not sure how PS84 is doing these days.

""Please don't make it look like there's something sleazy when I'm just giving my opinion....and the listing is very nice, but we have offers already...""

Sure you do.

Ok, back to the topic... Personally I prefer Riverside Park to Central Park. Much less frenetic, and has a lovely promenade feel. If you're lucky you'll spot the local red-tailed hawks working the skies.

Highway noise not an issue, as others have said. Do be prepared for extremely windy and cold conditions in winter, though - the wind off the river will literally take your breath away (and not in a good way). You might also consider WEA, which has the benefit of being near the river, but also closer to the shops and restaurants of B'way.

Squid: Love the hawks! Saw them over River Run this summer. They are majestic. It should be said that RSP has its share of less seemly wildlife too. The rats' nests in the 80s are truly prolific.

Agree about West End. If you can't find/afford a river riew, I'm not sure there's any particular advantage to RSD over WEA.

ditto ditto ditto to all postings.

Watch (again) the moive "You got mail", both apartments shot on 89th bet west end and riverside. The flower bed part in the park is at 90th. The movie in general was shot in the area you are looking at.
Gives you a good feel for the area.

One of my favorite features of Riverside Park is that it has multiple levels, and nearest to the Riverside Drive buildings, well between upper Riverside Dr. and lower Riverside Dr. are some little islands with dirt paths, e.g. St. Joan of Arc island. If you walk across the street along the border of the park where the benches are, you get to hear birds singing. Descend into the park you reach the next level where the ball fields and gardens that people have previously mentioned are located. One more level down and you are walking by the river. It's such a different park than Central Park. A real beauty and feels safe to me, and I walk a lot from the foot of the park at 72nd St. to 116th St.

We can't forget Georgia's Bakery on 89th and Broadway. While it's fairly new and not yet an "institution" like some of the previously mentioned establishments, it has (in my opinion) the best freshly made pastries, cakes and coffee in the neighborhood. No offense to the Hot & Crusty.

While RSD is generally a residential street with rows of stately old co-ops, it does hide a few surprises like the New York Buddhist Church (at 106th St). You will also find a lot more brownstones in the 100's, some of which are quite spectacular.

Agree, love Riverside Drive in the 90s. I'm sure that I post enough that you know my thing about needing to be in a good PS zone.

aptometrist: Good call on Georgia's. My oversight.

I looked at Riverside Drive a couple of years ago and couldn't get past the wind in the winter. Or the distance to the subways. Your mileage may vary.

there always has to be one

I live in the mid-90s on RSD where I was initially attracted to a cheap apartment and a Hudson River view. Years later, I can honestly say that ready access to Riverside Park, the promonade, the 91st St garden and bike path are the main attractions IMO. Commerce on broadway, which may be near or far depending on your block (and the serpentine nature of RSD), is adequate but not the main appeal of this neighborhood.

Riverside Drive is absolutely beautiful, anywhere from 72nd street-116 street. Stunning. In my opinion, there are no bad sections.

If you are craving greenery or children or quiet and want to stay in the city it beats downtown. If you crave downtown then it doesn't.

There may be no 'bad' sections per se, but for my money I'd rather be below 96th, or if push came to shove, 103rd. Once you get higher up the Drive, especially when you hit the Columbia area, the infrastructure really begins to drop off.

I might also be concerned that during a significant economic downturn some of the areas higher up the Drive could start becoming a bit more sketchy, as they certainly have been in the not-so-distant past.

Agreed. I would prefer 73rd - 85th myself, although there is a lovely stretch in the low 90's. But there is more happening when you walk east in the lower blocks.

Broadway is better in the 60s and low 70s (where the riverfront is mostly horrid). WEA and RSD are better in the 80s and low 90s, and some of these blocks have good access to transportation.

West81st - If you are looking for good Italian between 90-100 it exists! I would go for Gennaro's, Regional and Aqua in that order. Aqua is a bit less reliable, but they have their own brick oven and the bread is amazing and fresh. Also go for their oven-baked eggs at brunch, at $9 a far superior egg dish than you will get at all the cookie-cutter diners on Broadway.

As for Indian you should try Indus Valley on 100th. Definitely a step, if not two or three, above the average cheap take-out indian fare in the neighborhood.

I lived 8 years on 89th and WEA and now 9 years on 100th and WEA. I hated moving but now prefer my new neighborhood to the '80s.

AvUWS: Thanks. We used to live in that area too, and moved in the opposite direction at about the same time you did (not quite to the street in my misleading pseudonym, but close). So my knowledge of the high 80s/low 90s is stale. I've heard good things about Gennaro's, and will definitely try it.

Gennaro's is good, but noisy (odd acoustics). Also, doesn't take credit cards (at least not when I was last there--been a while, tho). I actually like Carmines, esp the linguine and clam. Indus Valley is very good, as is Turkuaz, just across the street. And of course, who can forget Gabriella's? They make a mean tequila mojito.

I'm actually off to the open house at the Normandy; first time they've done an OH for this apartment and I'm curious as to whether anything's been done to make the place more palatable (was an utter wreck last time I looked).

"Please don't make it look like there's something sleazy"

A broker saying "please don't make me look sleazy" is like a frog saying "Hey! Please don't make me look green!".

KGG - i am in fact greenery or children and quiet and want to stay in the city. I also would prefer a house, or at least something subdivided, over an apt. What might a 2-3BR home on RSD go for at today's pricing?

Carmines?! really?!

Gennaro is noisy when crowded but excellent! Celeste is also fantastic Italian (also all cash and noisy when crowded). The cheese plates for dessert come with a lecture from the owner on each cheese.

Other faves in the 'hood:
Noche Mexicana. ZERO environment but the food is really cheap and out of this world good.
Turkuaz - good, but the service can be slow so don't go there hungry. Also a big space with fabric on the walls/ceiling, so not too noisy. Belly dancing on Fri/Sat nights at about 10-10:30.
Mama Mexico - Great food though the environment is very loud and party-like. Good brunch too.

Regarding brunch there are lots of alternatives to the long lines at Sarabeth's/Popover/Barney Greengrass in '90s and 100's:
Aqua - cheap. great coffee. brick oven baked eggs and oven baked bread/pizza.
Henry's - reasonable, lovely environment, great food.
Mama Mexico - good coffee. Look at the bottom-back of the menu for brunch selections. Great Mexican egg dishes.

Others with good brunch - Toast, Cafe du Soleil, The Heights (Columbia U bar) especially on nice days on their roof deck.

PS I haven't made it rich yet so I still value low prices! :)

Squid - I have to disagree with you. The broadway neighborhood from 110th- 116th is great (because of Columbia) AND is much better than anything between 96th to 106th. Everyone I know who lives on RSD from 110th - 116th looked at the 80's and decided that the Columbia area was actually a nicer place to live. It has a very rare but real 'community' feel and because WEA ends at 106th, RSD is only one block to Broadway.

KGG - meant to say i am in fact seeking greenery and quiet and want to stay in the city...

Grunty--the nabe is nice, yes, but as with any university area it caters primarily to college kids and profs. It lacks the higher-end restaurants, stores and food markets of the 80s and low 90s. You won't get a Murray's there. Nor a Gari. Forget anything resembling a Ouest.

This is all, of course, personal preference. But again, for my money, I'd rather be farther south.

Squid: The Terrace?

Also, great pizza at V&T on 110th and Amsterdam, but some of the roaches there are older than I am.

Community on 113 is great, Samad's on 111th has the best hummus anywhere. Locals revere the West Side market on 110th, and Absolute Bagels on 108th beats H and H hands down.

West Side Market is amazing - open 24 hours and the prices and selection are incredible.

I agree- RSD above 106th is great since West End cuts off, you're only a block from Broadway. If you are near 110, or 116, you are a one minute walk from the subway entrance. And in this environment, who is taking cabs?!?!?

""Squid: The Terrace?""

Meh.

""Also, great pizza at V&T on 110th and Amsterdam, but some of the roaches there are older than I am.""

Not my fave, but I do know a number of fans. A real dump, though--not exactly fine dining ;)

""Locals revere the West Side market on 110th""

That is true.

""Absolute Bagels on 108th beats H and H hands down.""

Oh, fie and for shame!

Most bagels beat H&H hands down. Most overrated and overpriced bagels in the tri-state area.

Speaking of H&H, one of the rats' nests I referred to earlier is located in the stoop of the adjacent apartment building entrance on 80th, right next to the open doorway to the baking area, where the H&H trucks load and unload.

It's enough to make you swear off bagels, baker's dozen or no baker's dozen.

Eww. Well, generally these days I prefer to load up on bagels and bialies at Murray's.

I swore off H&H's bagels in the mid-80s, when they changed to a Wonder Bread recipe. Hot doesn't cut it.

I heard/read awhile ago that they were decking over the highway near the Soldiers & Sailors Monument. Did that happen already? Cancelled?

It's up fairly high, but I love MaxSoHa, slowish (relaxed) service, incredible food at incredible prices.

I'll quadritto the H & H yuck factor. They are awful and have nothing on them. I like Murray's too and Tal - and I love Slim's bialies from Queens - we stop on the way out East. If you haven't tried them you must. They have garlic ones in addition to onion.

Repeat after me - Montreal bagels are the best. New York bagels suck! I like the bagels at Zabar's and Greengrass. H&H is overrated but I usually buy them when we have guests just to round out their culinary experience.

Nobody likes Fairway? I love Fairway. Crowded, but fair prices. The bagels there aren't bad either.

I love Fairway, but it's a bit far south for this discussion. Of course, they deliver...

Walkable markets in the area we are talking about include Barzini's (good), Garden of Eden (very good) and Gourmet Garage (ok).

I love Fairway but end up shopping the Harlem one mostly.

125th street Fairway is great especially if you have a car. After shopping at Gristedes (yuck) for years or overpriced markets, I LOVE fairway.

Siggy98 - I agree with Squid & KKG, although RSD and WEA are lovely in the low 90's +, the other avenues aren't as forgiving (and they're only a couple of blocks away). There's a reason why you can get more for your money as you hit the 90's. If you're serious about moving to that area, I would highly recommend walking through the neighborhood, crossing all avenues. Determine your own comfort zone.

IMO, nothing compares to central park, but riverside is a nice second.