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Name: Sarah Coffey
Location: North end of the Upper West Side (96th Street)
City: New York, New York
My Home: One-bedroom apartment in a brick walk-up
I'm new to my neighborhood, having moved to New York from Chicago last spring. Although I'm not yet an expert on the Upper West Side, I've walked, shopped, and eaten my way through a lot of it, and I thought I'd take the plunge and kick off our new feature, in which we're calling on readers to give us a mini tour of their favorite neighborhood stores, sites, and hang-out spots.
Sarah's Guide to the Upper West Side
1. Favorite Neighborhood Home Store
- GRACIOUS HOME: 1992 Broadway (at 68th Street)
The prices are on the high side, it's far from my apartment, and they actually went bankrupt recently so who knows how long they'll be there BUT I still love the selection at this UWS home store — it's like Bed, Bath, & Beyond, but everything's a couple notches nicer.
2. Go-to Shop for Gifts
- ZABAR'S: 2245 Broadway (at 80th Street)
The 2nd floor of Zabar's has a great selection of kitchenware — I like to go there for wedding presents — they have lots of Le Creuset cast iron and good knives.
3. Best Vintage Shop, Thrift Store, or Flea Market
- GREENFLEA: Columbus Avenue (Between 76th & 77th Streets)
This Sunday flea market is one of the biggest in Manhattan, it's open year-round, and it's always good for people watching.
4. Favorite Bookstore
- WESTSIDER: 2246 Broadway (between 80th and 81st Streets)
It's a tiny store with books piled high to the ceiling — a nice stop when you're on your way to Zabar's / H & H Bagels (my favorite).
5. Favorite Coffee Shop, Café, or Restaurant
- B. CAFÉ: 566 Amsterdam (between 87th & 88th Streets)
My favorite restaurant changes every week — there are so many good ones in New York — but right now, it's this Belgian brasserie, where they have amazing fries with mayonnaise dips and a nice Eggs Benedict for weekend brunches.
6. Best Hardware/Paint Store
- GRAND METRO HARDWARE: 2554 Broadway (at 96th Street)
This place is right around the corner from my building, the staff is helpful, and they have everything from Benjamin Moore Paint to Stockholm organizational boxes.
7. Best Place to Pick Up Groceries
- WHOLE FOODS: 808 Columbus (at 97th Street)
It's convenient, and since this is Manhattan, it's the same price or cheaper than a lot of other nearby grocery stores.
8. Best Place to Buy Flowers
- GOURMET GARAGE: Broadway and 96th Street
I really just like walking up Amsterdam or Columbus and buying flowers from street vendors, but if I'm going to give a specific place, I've had good luck with the flowers at G.G. — they seem to last a long time.
9. Best Neighborhood Park
- CENTRAL PARK
I walk my dog there almost every day. With no outdoor space, it's become my shared lawn (along with thousands of other people).
10. Best Spot to Take Visitors
- RIVERSIDE PARK
I love taking out-of-town friends to the Riverside Park Café at 105th Street (where you can have a beer and a burger INSIDE the park — not the best food ever, but a great laid-back atmosphere), and my current favorite random spot in all of NYC is the Joan of Arc monument at 93rd and Riverside.
Photos: Sarah Coffey
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Whole Foods? Not Fairway??? Or Citarella? or Barzinni's? Or West Side Market???
I've been an upper westsider for for 35 years -- Whole Foods is for you newcomers.
But otherwise some very good observations for a newbie!!!
I love Riverside Park and all its different levels. Nothing like sitting at the water on a hot evening and watching the sun set. For better park food, try the boat basin at 79th, though it is more crowded than 105th. I also love Westside Market at either 110th or 77th - esp. for cheeses and produce. And then all the small, yummy restaurants in the area that are so cheap (Symposium, Noche Mexicana, Pearls, Charm, The Heights)... I lived in the area for 10 years and can wax a little nostalgic!
I agree with Frank - Fairway is the way to go. I used to make a bi-weekly pilgrimage when I lived up in West Harlem. Now that I'm just around the corner I'm there at least twice a week. The aisles are... cosy, but it has great selection, reasonable prices, and charm (like this http://nyti.ms/cF5LAA).
Frank — I think the Whole Foods has more to do with location. A 22 block trek to Fairway is a lot!
22 block bike ride is nice though.
But back to Fairway... I know it's 22 blocks away, but they have the best breakfasts in the (Mitchell London's) Fairway Café. Everything is perfect -- the fresh-squeezed orange juice, the toast, the corned beef hash (on weekends). The pinnacle of their breakfast offerings are Elaine's Special Pancakes (I think she is his mom): 6 tiny pancakes rounds of pure heaven. (I think they removed the reference to Elaine in the menu, but they're still her pancakes) My husband and I have spent years trying to figure out and copy the secret... we think we might be close... But still, it would be even better to be on the UWS and be able to consume them when the mood strikes!
Aaron - Well, it is about neighborhood, not specific distances, no? But if it needs to be close, I'd go to Gourmet Garage or Barzinni's as first choices.
One minor bone to pick (after re-reading the post) -- no one says "north' in Manhattan -- 'uptown' or 'upper'. 96th Street is solidly and simply Upper West Side -- don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Now my block, 107th, may qualify as "upper upper" - but that never stopped me from enjoying NYC!
I live 6 blocks from Whole Foods and 30 blocks from Fairway, and I'm still Fairway all the way!! Actually, conveniently located between both Fairways (is there anything better than The Cold Room?!).
Riverside Park is the best park in NYC, hands down. Also have to give some restaurant love to Flor de Mayo.
Home body--glad you mentioned Noche Mexicana...everyone gets sidetracked by the gimmicky Mama Mexico but the REAL food is around the corner!
Hello!! 190's and Broadway is Upper Upper (or Washington Heights, or Upstate Manhattan) -- it is much like what the Upper West Side used to be like when I lived there.
However, to your list of best places, I have to add Silver Moon Bakery at 105th Street -- leave your diet at home!
@UWSretreat - once we went to Noche Mexicana for an early dinner only to find a large table of the Mama Mexico staff eating there!
UWS: No Barney Greengrass???? Go tomorrow and experience New York.
this whole "newcomer" talk is ridiculous.
i've always spent a lot of time in this neighborhood, and moved here 7 months ago. It is an ideal location (my commute is basically crossing Central Park), and one of the few livable areas of Manhattan, but this is NOT a small town. Don't nobody own nothing!
also, I prefer Whole Foods to Fairway; because it has a MUCH better selection and often more reasonable pricing. Fairway, is always overcrowded and you're always bumping into some kind of grumpy.
Also, "best" anything subjective (food, drink, entertainment) really don't mean a thing.