Dec 07 2008
UWS!
What do you do when you have a day to kill? Well, do what I do, explore new parts of your city and see new things. I spent my day walking around the Upper West Side, and it was the nicest day I’ve had in a long time. I can’t say that I’ve spent too much time up there but from here on I certainly will. For sure. It is wonderful up there. Great stores (mainly smaller ones) och great restaurants. Since I actuallt don’t know all that much about the neigborhood I thought I would educate all of us.
The Upper West Side is the area between Central Park West and Hudson River above 59th street. The busiest streets to walk are Broadway, Amsterdam, Columbus, and Central Park West. The most busy spot must be the Verdi Square which is the corner of 72nd and, Broadway, and Amsterdam Avenue. The entire area is mainly a shopping and residential area with median households above the Manhattan average. The typical houses are 4-5 story brownstones but there are some villas along the Hudson River.
The UWS is a cool area with places like Columbia University, Barnard College, the American Museum of Natural History, Juilliard School of Music, Manhattan School of Music, Saint John the divine cathedral as well as the Time Warner Center at Columbus Cirlce with Lincoln Center and the Trump Tower.
One thing that really makes the area stand out is the collection of really, really great restaurants. If you like and appreciate good food in nice enviromnets, this is the place to be. We have some great places like the wonderful dessert cafe, Café Lalo at 83rd and Amsterdam which can be seen in the movie “You’ve got mail”, Edgar’s Café at 84th and Broadway where Edgar Allen Poe is said to have written his famous “The Raven”, the famous Tavern on the Green at 67th and Central Park West actually located inside the park, and Café de Artistes also at 67th and Park West (across the street) which is a magnet for celebrities with its low key, romantic french feeling.
The area is also a popular place for filmmakers and some of the most famous movies have been shot up here such as You’ve got mail, American Psycho, Die Hard, Ghostbusters, Home Alone 2, Eyes Wide Shut, Kissing Jessica Stein, Music & Lyrics, Panic Room, A night at the museum, The Spiderman, Vanilla Sky, and Annie Hall (just to name a few).
A place worth visiting? I think so, and this is my new No 1 in NY. It might change soon but for now, I will enjoy it 
