If you could live anywhere in UWS...

So, assume every single UWS address is your dream apartment. What address would you pick?

CPW 73-76, park, peaceful, close to things our family does, close to amenities, but not on top of them, no cross town traffic, close to public transportation, but not on top of it.

25 West 81st Street, or anywhere within a one block radius. Being that I can't afford that particular block, big fan of 80 through 82 between Columbus & Broadway. Proximity to Central Park, Riverside Park, Zabar's, Nat. History Museum, restaurants, both train lines, etc. is key for me.

RSD, b/t 96th and 110th. It's lovely, but close to B'way. It's more of an intangible thing. I like the way it (and the areas adjacent) feels. Although in my heart I'm a downtown girl, this is my second choice.

70th to 79th bet. columbus & cpw. Love the proximity to shops, transportation, low-rise (in general) aspect of the area. Feels like you're not in the city.

you mean 70th to 77th

Between 74th and 82nd Streets, with either a Central Park, museum, or river view. To me, that's the heart of the west side, and everything else in the neighborhood is easily reachable via foot.

Gold Coast (WEA in the 80's). Beautiful and quiet area near 2 parks (Riverside and Central Park). One block over to Broadway with all the amenities and subways. CPW is too touristy and crowded.

Apparently, nyc10023 enjoyed "Night at the Museum".

I'll go with RSD or WEA between 75th and 85th. The Apthorp would be OK. Hey, why not? The Beresford and San Remo went for pennies in the Depression.

Uggh. you guys are killing me! Right now we're mid 70's right off Columbus, close to the park (and everything else). We LOVE it so much. We're moving this summer and don't want to leave. I wasn't expecting to get so much love for my current hood. How can I leave it (sniff, sniff). Hoping we won't have to.

Anywho, this is fun. Thanks.

Anyone else care to weigh in??

Sort of - I wanted to include 78th between Columbus and Amsterdam, but too lazy to type that all out. Here goes -
70th to 77th bet. Columbus & CPW and 77th to 78th between Amsterdam & Columbus.

Also some lovely stretches along RSD, love the lower 80s and some of the 90s but hate the wind factor in winter and difficulty in hailing cabs.

I typed that before reading the WEA fan responses. I think I really like WEA...might be my second choice.

uwsmom - the trouble with including whole blocks is that there are many buildings I wouldn't want to live in - for example, I included 72nd but really wouldn't want to live on 72nd (except Dakota). Mid70s off Columbus is so perfect - close but not on top of Fairway/Citarella, subway foot traffic, close to eats, parks.

If our employment status remains the same and we don't descend into some kind of lawless pit, I don't think I'd move more than a few blocks for the rest of my life (signed, your neighbor in the 70s).

I also like 67th-69th bet. Bway and CPW.

yes, all great spots for townhouse lovers. I recently stumbled upon W80 (i think) between Columbus & Amsterdam. Lovely monumental streetscape ;)

I hesitated before typing 80th, don't love the Amsterdam end. 81st is nice too but has cross-town bus traffic.

uwsmom: Some of us are old enough to remember the 100s block of 80th Street as a fairly active crack alley.

nyc10023: You get used to it after ten or fifteen years (*sigh*).

yes, my first apartment was on 82nd off CPW. Lovely location, interesting surrounding neighborhood.

Well, the brownstones on that block (at least close to Columbus) held up nicely.

There's a fascinating NYMag article about the gentrification of the UWS, and how West 80th was a good microcosm of the changes. One side crack dens and the other yuppies.

http://nymag.com/news/features/47182/ from June 1969

this is very long but interesting to see how UWS has changed since 1985:

"The Yupper West Side" http://books.google.com/books?id=ysUBAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA47&lpg=PA47&dq=nymag+upper+west+side+gentrification&source=bl&ots=1XA_DAStBm&sig=vMGoBys2F8JP21774eF9pDRDnO0#PPA32,M1

There is an ad in this issue for Mayflower hotel which was demolished for 15CPW.

OMG - we STAYED at the Mayflower hotel once before we moved up here. It was truly horrifying!! This was before my husband and I were engaged. Have no idea how he found the place...probably was cheapest in the neighborhood. Truly scary!!
Thanks for the articles :)

W67th btwn CPW and Columbus. I like the buildings on that block, very architecturally interesting. It is close to Lincoln center and close enough to the express stop nexus at 59th and CPW.

P.S. uwsmom you live right near me. Having Fairway right down the street is quite convenient.

nyc 10023,
great one! really took me back!
See you a Lucy's for a shark bite.

uwsmom:

My criteria for a perfect location are:
- within a 5 minute walk to the 2/3 express train (gets me to the office in less than 20 minutes door-to-door)
- close to Fairway, West Side Market (for those last minute ingredients that are not worth tackling Fairway for) and the soon-to-be Trader Joe's on 72nd
- close to the parks and, in the summer, that outdoor cafe on 70th & the river (give me that over the boat basin any time)
- close to the gym (NYSC in my case)
- close enough to the office that I can walk it in a pinch (or on a nice day), for example when we had the subway strike, the power outage, the steam pipe explosion in midtown, and, sadly, 9-11
- far enough from Lincoln Center, Broadway, Amsterdam and the 72nd/79th street transverses so as not too suffer from the noise and traffic
- close enough to the office that I can hop in cab and be home in 10 minutes when I work late (a pretty frequent occurence)
- within the Land Thai Kitchen delivery zone
- pretty and scenic

Which makes my perfect location almost any block the mid 70s WEA to RSD or east of Amsterdam as long as it's sufficiently removed from the schools, funeral home, fire house, etc. to avoid the noise and crowds. I now live in the mid 70s between Broadway and West End, a near ideal location. I plan on moving next month and have not been able to find a suitable apartment in my favorite zone. It looks like I may be venturing into the low 80s, which is not a bad compromise but still leaves me a bit sad about all the conveniences I will be losing.

nyc10023: That shot of 96th and Broadway with Fowad's in the forefront brought back memories! If anyone figured out a way of printing that article, let me know!

OntheMove - hey neighbor! I can safely tick off all the items you've listed, which is why I'm not moving (except maybe a tad closer to CP or personal economic reasons). I don't love Land Thai - Wondee Siam beats them hands down (but sadly doesn't deliver to most of UWS).

Also a big fan of 78th b/w Columbus & Amsterdam. Some may be turned off sharing a block with PS 87 but the townhouses and foliage are quite lovely. I seem to remember reading somewhere that it was voted one of the nicest blocks in Manhattan.

Also agree that 80th b/w Col/Amst is picture perfect - I think Christopher Walken owns a townhouse on this block.

In response to 10023's post about the bus on 81st, it's only one way (vs. 2 way on most other blocks that it travels), and the new buses are actually very quiet. Also, the only access is off Amsterdam (one way in the other direction going West of Amsterdam), so traffic is very light, and because the street is extra wide, a bus can actually pass a parked garbage truck, so no honking.

Little neighborhood trivia, Jerry Seinfeld lived for years at 123 West 81st and began writing Seinfeld while there. On the show, his fictional address is the same (although the facade shot is actually from a building in LA). When he receives mail/deliveries, etc., on the show it is to that address. He is now down the street at the Beresford.

Huge fan of my current location which is WEA between 81st and 82nd.

One block from Riverside Park
One block from Zabars
2 Blocks to H&H Bagels
Fairway and Citarella less then 5 blocks
Short walk to Central Park
Block from Starbucks
Block from Barnes and Noble
One block from NYSC
2 Blocks from Subway 1,9 at 79th - short walk to 72nd if I want to take express
79th Street provides cross town access (bus or cab) and an entrance to the West Side Highway
Short walk to Boat Basin

WEA is awesome because there is no city bus traffic. Not as cold as RSD in the winter. Plenty of cab access. Doorman bldgs line WEA so it is very safe with friendly watching eyes.

At one point, I lived on 74th b/w CPW and Columbus. It's a great block, very quiet and great access to everything (oh man, now I'm missing the days when I could stroll right out for a run in the Park - that was GREAT). I also like 74th b/w Columbus and Amsterdam, though it's a bit noisier.

78th b/w Columbus & Amsterdam is really lovely. love the double blue townhouse on the north side close to columbus. I think it makes the street. I also read that it was one of the most picturesque uws blocks. wonder where we read that? while we're at it, i also enjoy the sage green townhouse close to dovetail on 77th. maybe it's the color. i always find myself gazing at it. Great facades on the south side of 74th b/w Columbus and Amsterdam...blah blah blah :)

I think the most heartwrenching part of no longer living in this area (aside from central park and fairway) is no longer being around the corner from Lenny's! It's the most frequently stated con in our conversations about moving :). Maybe La Rochelle will lower their 3 bedrooms by 50%.

I know there's a crapload of UWSiders on here. Would love to hear your thoughts. All is warm and fuzzy in here.

LOL...so if you ever wonder if you run into SE folk on the street, I'm the one who runs into you while pushing the baby stroller b/c I'm too busy staring up at buildings ;)

uwsmom: I think you're referring to 113 W. 78th - it has a spa on one side and apartments on the other side, right? I looked at a triplex there a few weeks ago with a little terrace from which you could see the AMNH. The owner had it listed on craigslist and that listing is gone, but Halstead still has a listing here: http://www.halstead.com/detail.aspx?id=768309. I didn't take it because the kitchen was too small and I did not want to do the walk up thing if I didn't have to.

nyc10023: you could well be my neighbor next door! scary! so where do YOU get food delivered from?

Hehe. Maybe. The food aspect is the thing I like least about the UWS. Each restaurant that we order from has a couple of things on the menu that are tolerable but not great (I'm picky), not great - crying shame, really. We order from Earthen Oven, Pomodoro, Rigoletto, Penang, China Fun, Ollie's. I go out more than I order in, because Asian (or food claiming to be Asian) suffers from delivery.

Great article on the townhouses on 78th. The double blue (or is it triple) townhouses are actually co-ops. And there was a townhouse (one of the Moorish red and white ones) for sale at 3.25m last year with one RC tenant (3rd flr back).
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A0CE3D9103EF936A15756C0A9659C8B63

I lived on W. 80 btw Columbus and Amsterdam a few years ago and I concur it is a beautiful block with great townhomes and thankfully not much crack.

10023, the food issue is what's kept me away. Love the East Village.

However, tried to get into Fatty Crab at 77th and Broadway the other day. 5:00, just opened, empty, wouldn't seat us because the tables were all spoken for. Unlikely, unless they have only two seatings, but I'll give them another try later.

Good news! FC is open, have been waiting for them to open forever. And the sad thing is, FC isn't all that. Has a couple of great items, couple of good items, the rest of the menu is okay. But UWS is so starved for dining options. Maybe we'll go there tomorrow night.

UWS - it's a triple blue townhouse, the middle one lost its stoop.

I grew up on CPW and 84th...wish I could get back there but prices would need to come in about 300% more!!

239cpw?

or 240?

239

10023, have you tried Bao yet? The one down here is more casual, inexpensive, but it's good.

So, had to do another walk by while running errands. Yes, its a triple blue on West 78th...107, 109...i think.

Re W 80th b/w Col & Ams - I especially like how its nicely tucked away right off of AMNH. I think it's one of my new favorite streets. Also like W 70th and W 76 between CPW & Col. Lots of renos on W 76th right now.

OntheMove - too bad that place didn't work out.

aboutready, thanks for the tip about Fatty Crab - kids & I just grabbed dinner there at 5pm. No issues with tables.

Bao is mediocre up here.

No takeout from Fatty Crab now, but they anticipate takeout availability in April! Yay.

re: W 80th, also less traffic than many streets because it doesn't go all the way through to CPW. 'Cesca and Isabella's are pretty good, but not cheap.

239 CPW has the 3 bedroom for 1.8, http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/sale/364312-coop-239-central-park-west-upper-west-side-new-york

has this one been discussed? looks like nice bones, lousy views.

Level Club, 253 West 73rd. Best building on the UWS.

Stop, are you Lawrence Scheier. Level Club has a great facade, but it (and the Pythian) has crappy layouts and no prewar details.

uwsmom - yep, 239CPW discussed a while ago.

HA, not Lawrence but he is quite the boob. Not sure what you are talking about regarding the layouts, some are not so great but some are fantastic with double hight ceilings and unique features.

Walk into the lobby and tell me there is no prewar detail.

The one and two bedroom layouts are fine, but the larger apts are very weird combinations in general.

I wish 239 CPW had at least a bit of a view. I love the apt itself. I know I'm in the minority, but I also love that kitchen. It woul just e hard to live in a dark apt.

As for neighborhoods, I love the AMNH area (that apt for sale on 20 W. 77th just needs to come down another 700k or so and then I'd grab it). Also love,love,love Riverside Dr, from 97th-120th (it still feels like sort-of hidden treasure up there)and all those low townhome/mansions in the 70s.

lostintransit: 20 West 77th scares me. Small, rather shabby-looking coop with a lot of people selling. Hmmmm... Also, have you seen #4A? It's in pretty bad shape. Bid $700K under and you might own it.

I need to check out RSD up north. Maybe a nice walk today...but the isolation at night is a big turn off for us (unfortunately).

I think 239 looks like a great space, and I don't mind the kitchen at all based on the pics. It would/will be a great apartment for someone who isn't home much during daylight or for a heliophobe.

Can someone familiar with UWS condos please explain to me why the Park Millenium seems to be able to still fetch an enormous premium

What about 262 CPW? One under contract, the other still available.

in the shake shack with a permanent table.

central park west between 68th and 82nd

rbs - that is THE spot, isn't it ;). I would have to agree.

west 8oth btwn amstr and colubus for its proximity to the great burrito, hands down best mexican in the city.

RSD all the way up to 116th.

The great burrito rocks but I have never been inside. It's my once a week delivery chicken taco fix. Tried West Branch this past weekend and felt it was way overhyped. Not bad but nothing special. How can a thread with a bunch of UWSiders not mention Levain's bakery? The best chocolate chip cookie in the world bar none! Anyway, to answer the OP's question I would have to say 70th - 78th east of Broadway less 72nd.

10024 - fan of the great burrito, but if you want true high end Mexican, try Maya.

RSD is FREEZING in winter. The Indian name for it was "The place that's too windy and nobody goes there."

Level Club
Now Lawrence...that is the broker to keep away from.
He is one of the most hated in the business.
He'd kill his mother for a nickel...trust me I know!

We've lived in the neighborhood for almost 5 years and I have never set foot in Levain's. Walk by it all the time though. Recently saw a TV segment on their sticky buns. They only make them on the weekend, is that correct? Will need to try them. Saw a kid eating a chocolate chip cookie from there today. LOL...made me want one! Definitely need to stop in!

yes uwsmom, stop by and get a fresh out of the oven chocolate chip cookie. You will hate me for suggesting it! Haven't tried the sticky buns, maybe this weekend.

Levain's cookies are amazing and pretty much worth the price (they're not cheap). I bought a dozen for a picnic once, which ended up being canceled, so I got to keep the cookies. Man, these conversations are way better than the rent vs buy crap.

Trinityparent: Your disdain for Riverside Drive appears disingenuous and tainted by interest.

Juiceman: At 800-900 calories a piece, the Levain cookies are best savored in extreme moderation! It's not a bad thing that Levain is not on my radar screen in the ordinary course.

i live on 81st bw amsterdam and broadway ... great building but awful block- get woken up basically every night by people spilling out of the bars around the corner. was previously on 82nd bw CPW/columbus, miss it

"At 800-900 calories a piece"

Is that a fact? I think I was better off not knowing but regardless try to limit myself to 1 every two weeks.

"I bought a dozen for a picnic once, which ended up being canceled, so I got to keep the cookies."

I don't know how I would get through a dozen but it would be fun trying. Only in NY can you legitimize buying a dozen cookies for $45.

Brokerage101, I've heard the same thing!

JuiceMan, I did have a little help, and it wasn't exactly done in one sitting either. They should use them for those eating competitions though.

Juiceman:

I initially read about the calorie count last year, but I can't remember where. I think it's an estimate (perpetuated here: http://aftertastebysherry.wordpress.com/2008/03/05/levain-bakery-believe-the-hype/). But even so, it's quite credible because Levain's is a 6-oz cookie and the "standard" 1-oz chocolate chip cookie is anywhere from 130 to 180 calories.

A Beard Papa cream puff is a much more reasonable indulgence at 220 calories (http://www.muginohousa.com/main.php?nav=nutritional_values). Even their little chocolate bomb is a *mere* 370 calories, less than half a Levain cookie. That's why I'd rather live closer to Beard Papa than to Levain. It would be a different story if I were a calorie starved triathlete like the Levain ladies (http://www.levainbakery.com/about/default.aspx).

killer cream puff!

Hehe. Very simple. I buy one Levain cookie (double double chocolate chip) & split it among the 4 of us (3 kids & mom). That's how I stay skinny.

UWSdweller i live on 81st btwn amsterdam and columbus (across from the bus stop) and share your complaints about the frat style bars around the corner. what's really disturbing is that two of the four corners in our intersection have been vacant for awhile now and graffiti has now sprung up everywhere. I can't believe that that four way intersection with all of the foot traffic can't support businesses. Its either that or that the landlords have jacked the rents up to an unreasonable level. I wonder if there is anything a community can do to force a landlord to rent out their space because it becomes a blight on the community. ????

Thanks for the link OnTheMove. My favorite line "I dare you to stop yourself from eating the whole thing though." I can't stop, I always eat the whole thing. Good thing I live near Central Park, that's about a 4 mile run to burn off the calories of one cookie. Fair trade to me.

Ah, unfortunately I'm small enough that I only burn 100 calories/mile. So I'd have to run 8 miles to burn one cookie off.

run? no way! You only live once and I don't want to die skinny!!

It's the rents and also, foot traffic there doesn't support just about any business - has to be the right kind of retail. BTW, I love what Jerry Seinfeld said once about the UWS, something to the effect that UWSers are cheap and won't support chichi Madison Ave type stores even if they have the $ to spend. What those 2 corners need are restaurants that serve tasty food at $12-17 levels and come across as hip enough that people won't escape downtown (like us!) for date night.

Regarding those corners, the SE corner has been empty for almost 2 years - I think they are trying to empty the building and do a massive overhaul. I don't think they are actively shopping the space around - I have called the 917 number on the window about a dozen times and have not received a return call.

As for the SW corner, Roppongi just closed down 3 months ago - I hope something moves in soon. I agree that a mid-price restaurant would be the best option for both corners. Interestingly, Jerry Seinfeld lived for years at 123 West 81st, and is now a block down at the Beresford.

Juiceman: I've never eaten a whole Levain cookie but yes, they're hard to resist if they're lying around. I don't have kids to share my cookie with, but the bf is quite obliging. We start out with the best of intentions but within 15-30 minutes find ourselves nibbling our way through the whole thing.

nyc10023: Kids, career, mid-W. 70s apartment, hip downtown dinners, exercise and skinniness. Wow. Can I have your life?

P.S. Does anyone else miss Monsoon on 81st & Amsterdam?

Monsoon was HORRIBLE. I can't believe what passes for "Asian" food on the UWS. So I don't miss Monsoon.

Yes, I'm very lucky. But who knows, things can (and will) change on a dime tomorrow.

LOL, Monsoon! I was trying to remember what was on that corner. Yes, that's been empty forever. That area of Amsterdam could use a nice facelift. The bars (and patrons) make it very unappealing.

Re Levain cookies - I'm disappointed that the regular chocolate chip cookies have walnuts in them. I may not try one afterall. Hate my c.chip cookies w/ nuts! Have to stick to the cream puffs (I've only ever had one so I may be due for another).

nyc10023 - "Yes, I'm very lucky. But who knows, things can (and will) change on a dime tomorrow." - - Like eating an entire Levain cookie and NOT jogging it off!! ;0 Be bold, be dangerous! LOL, regarding career, I'm curious, since you've renovated a townhouse before, was it personal or business?

nyc10023: Totally agree about Monsoon. I thought it stunk, in every sense of the word. Those doughy little pancakes reminded me of the kids' menu at IHoP. On the other hand, my hard-working spouse loved the place.

The uptick in vacant storefronts along Amsterdam, Broadway and Columbus in the low 80s is worrisome.

Gosh, the comments about Monsoon have me second guessing my recollections! A friend and I started going there when we were studying for exams eons ago. Maybe the nostalgia is coloring my memories of the food (notably pickled veggies, grilled eggplant and a vegetarian stew with ginko nuts).

Along that stretch of Amsterdam I like the Momoya. Am I the only one?

nyc10023: All the power to you! You have my admiration.

It's cyclical. Part of the reason it looks so bad is because both Monsoon & that corner bodega got emptied to make room for Harrison/Linden sales offices. Not exactly high-traffic type places. If I think back to 1997/98, that stretch of Amsterdam was pretty crappy too - as in, not that useful for me, but good for college frat boy types (ahem, I may have caused a few drunken scenes myself in B. Jimmy's ...) I think the stretch has actually improved significantly even with the empty storefronts in the last 10 years. The children's retailer is next to go I think. Scharffenburger's demise was easily predicted.

West81 get off my case. When I was apartment hunting I got blown out of my shoes walking up Riverside. It's windy enough on West End. (And I read the Indian thing in a book about the history of Manhattan.)

i agree that the childrens store is next to go, along with the framing store that's next to the barber shop that's been empty for at least a year as well. I'd be surprised if the tapas place next to hampton chutney stays open much longer as well. i like momoya but the bodega that used to be there was a key part of the hood.

Regarding Monsoon, it WAS great... before the renovations. Afterwards, they raised prices, reduced the portions and changed the menu I think. If you don't know what renovations I'm talking about, then you obviously went POST renovation because it was closed for a while.

Regarding Mexican food, I LOVE Cafe Frida. A bit pricier, but wifey and I love going there after a rough week.

aifamm: That's true about Monsoon. They hooked my hard-working (and obliviously loyal) spouse pre-reno.

10024: Other than the bars, I'm not sure there's a whole lot between 80th and 85th that's secure. Land, maybe? At this point, I wouldn't even want to lose Cozy, though I'm not a big fan of $40 haircuts for toddlers.

Trinityparent: RSD between 95th and 97th is uniquely unappealing: there's traffic from the highway entrance and total exposure to the elements because Riverside Park is almost non-existent there. Granted, all of RSD is windy, but many parts are much better protected. Besides, there's a reason Riverside Drive has more luxe and mid-luxe sales than any UWS avenue except CPW. If the Lenape didn't like the area in the 1620s, it's probably because 50, 90, 110/118, 173/175 and 180 hadn't been built yet. If they had seen those co-ops, they might not have sold the island, let alone for sixty guilders.

Is anyone familiar with the building at 112 W. 72 St? I am considering getting an apt there.