Upper West Side - Upper West Side

Upper West Side is a district of Manhattan in the city of New York.

To know

The area ofUpper West Side (included Morningside Heights) covers a large portion of Upper Manhattan sandwiched between 59th Street to the south, 125th Street to the north, the Hudson River to the west, and Central Park and Morningside Park to the east. This large area covers four distinct neighborhoods: Upper West Side, Morningside Heights, Bloomingdale's and Manhattan Valley, and includes one of the most beautiful parks on the island, Riverside Park, which runs along the river from 59th Street to 125th Street.

Often considered an area that represents the quintessence of Manhattan, it is characterized by beautiful residential streets, the facades of old hotels on Central Park West and Riverside Drive, two of the most important city markets (Zabar's and Fairway), one of the major museums (l 'American Museum of Natural History), an Ivy League university (Columbia University), and the neo-Gothic cathedral of St. John the Divine. The area is a joy for architecture enthusiasts thanks to its historic buildings (especially in Morningside Heights) built before WWII and some even dating back to before WWI, although the area is changing due to the construction of new apartments south of 110th Street. The Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, from 62nd Street to 66th Street, is home to the Metropolitan Opera; the New York State Theater, home of the New York City Opera and Ballet; Avery Fisher Hall, home of the New York Philharmonic; the Juilliard School; and the New York Public Library's Library for the Performing Arts.

West to East the Upper West Side is oriented along Riverside Drive, West End Avenue (also called 11th Avenue south of 59th Street), Amsterdam Avenue (called 10th Avenue south of 59th Street), Columbus Avenue (9th Avenue), and Central Park West (8th Avenue). All of these avenues change from number to name north of 59th Street. The 66-block line of Broadway forms the main artery of the Upper West Side and cuts diagonally across the avenues; starts at the intersection with Central Park West at Columbus Circle (59th Street), crosses Columbus Avenue at Lincoln Square (65th Street), crosses Amsterdam Avenue at Verdi Square (72nd Street), and then joins the West End at Straus Square (called also Bloomingdale Square, at 107th Street).

Its name comes from its location, being in the upper part of the island of Manhattan (upper), and on the left side of the park (west side). Like theUpper East Side, the West Side is originally a residential and commercial district, whose inhabitants work in the areas of the Midtown he was born in Lower Manhattan. The neighborhood has a reputation for being the area of ​​New York City with the most cultural and artistic workers, while the East Side is traditionally the district for the workers of business and commerce.

Geographical notes

It joins Central Park with the Hudson River. Its borders are considered to be 58th street in the south and between 110th and 125th street in the north. The Upper West Side borders 58th Street to the south, with Central Park to the east, Hudson River to the west. Although the northern border is historically referred to as 110th Street, which sets the borough along Central Park, it is now commonly considered 125th Street, including Morningside Heights and the more popular Manhattan Velley.

How to orient yourself

From north to south, the West Side avenues are: Riverside Drive (12th avenue), West End Avenue (11th avenue), Broadway, Amsterdam Avenue (10th avenue), Columbus Avenue (9a avenue), Central Park West (8a avenue). In the neighborhood, Broadway runs 66 blocks long, forming the backbone of the neighborhood: up to 72nd street it crosses the avenues and streets diagonally, then begins to be parallel, forming a grid with the streets. The street enters the neighborhood at the intersection formed by Columbus Circle, which is the southwest corner of Central Park and Central Park West. In Lincoln Square (65th street) it crosses Columbus Avenue, and after having also passed Verdi Square (72nd street) and having also crossed Amsterdam Avenue, Broadway begins to run parallel to the other avenues, encroaching towards Harlem.

How to get

By subway

The main subway lines that pass through the Upper West Side are the local line 1 in addition to 2 and the 3 express, which pass under Broadway. All three lines stop at 72nd St and 96th St, 1 also stops at 59th Street (Columbus Circle), 66th Street (Lincoln Center), 79th Street, 86th Street, 103rd Street, 110th Street, 116th Street (Columbia University) , and 125th Street. 1 continues north along Broadway, while 2 and 3 go east north of the 96th Street stop to get to central London. Harlem.

There are also lines TO, B., C., is D. which instead run under Central Park West (called 8th Avenue north and south of Central Park), although express lines A and D usually stop only at 59th Street (Columbus Circle) and 125th Street (in St. Nicholas Avenue), except after midnight when A goes local until 5:30. The B (weekdays only) and C stop at 59th Street, 72nd Street, 81st Street (Museum of Natural History), 86th Street, 96th Street, 103rd Street, 110 Street, 116th Street and 125 Street.

By bus

There are numerous buses that run through the Upper West Side.

On foot or by bicycle

A walk or a bike ride are two very pleasant ways to get to and around the Upper West Side (if the weather is nice), perhaps crossing Central Park fromUpper East Side or heading north from Theater District.

How to get around

The district is crossed longitudinally by two different subway lines:

• lines 1, 2 and 3 (lines 2 and 3 are express and stop only at 72nd and 96th stops) run along the Broadway route
• Line B and C run along Central Park West

Buses cross the city from north to south and back and from west to east and back through Central Park.

What see

• Strawberry Fields Memorial. Strawberry fields are a section of Central Park of 10,000 m². Access to Strawberry fields is on Central Park West, at 72nd Street and the Dakota Apartments, John Lennon's home and site of his murder. The circular mosaic with the only written word, Imagine (the singer's famous song), is a reproduction of a mosaic of Pompeii of craftsmen Italians and gift of the city of Naples. 

• 40.78358-73.980521 Apthorp, 2207 Broadway and 390 West End Avenue. Stunning early 20th century luxury residential building, it covers an entire block between 78th and 79th Street between Broadway and West End Avenue. Its twin, the Belnord, covers the entire block between 86th and 87th Street between Broadway and Amsterdam. Both buildings were completed in 1908, at a time when the Upper West Side was still full of large free spaces. 
• 40.77652-73.976332 Dakota Building (Dakota Apartments or The Dakota), 1 West 72nd Street (Central Park West). This impressive residential building has been and still is the home of many celebrities. Its fame today is linked to the fact that it was the last residence of John Lennon, the former Beatles member who was killed right outside the building on the evening of December 8, 1980 by a deranged named Mark Chapman. Lennon lived in Dakota with his second wife, Yoko Ono, who is still a resident here. A memorial to the missing musician can be found in adjacent Central Park. Among the still numerous John Lennon fans, the Dakota Building is always a pilgrimage destination. 

• 40.76836-73.98263 Time Warner Center, Columbus Circle (Broadway and 59th Street; metro: lines A, C, 1, B, D to Columbus Circle). There is the Mandarin Oriental Hotel for dinner, a few drinks and Chihuly chandeliers. It also has a small, super-luxurious shopping center with high-end shops and Botero sculptures. In the basement there is a large Whole Foods Market, with seats to try their salads (it costs less than the restaurant). Or, better on sunny days, grab a ready-made meal and cross the street to Columbus Circle or Sheep's Meadow in Central Park and eat al fresco. 

Museums

• American Folk Art Museum, 2 Lincoln Square (Columbus Avenue at 66th Street; subway: 1 to 66 Street-Lincoln Center), ☎ 1 212 595-9533, fax: 1 212 595-6759, @[email protected]. free. Tue-Sat, 12-19: 30, Sun 12-18: 30, closed on Mondays. 
• 40.78075-73.973164 American Museum of Natural History, 79th Street and Central Park West (metro: B (weekdays only) or C to 81st Street-Museum of Natural History), ☎ 1 212-769-5100. offer (suggested $ 22 adults, $ 17 seniors and students, $ 12.5 children); special exhibits have an extra cost. every day 10-17: 45. It has one of the largest and most important collections in the world, well displayed and designed on the 5 floors of the building, covering astronomy, biology, geology, anthropology, climatology and paleontology. If you want to see everything you will need a full day. Some of the most important things: Rose Center for Earth and Space at the north-east corner of the building, where the glass cube of the Hayden Planetarium is located, a large sphere suspended above the rooms where there is a "cosmic path"; the halls with the numerous diorama habitat on the first, second and third floors, which recreate plants and animals of theAfrica, ofAsia he was born in North America as well as the oceans, including a life-size model of a Blue Whale suspended above the Ocean Life Hall; the hall Hall of Minerals and Gems, which contains splendid and rare specimens such as the largest sapphire in the world and pieces of meteorite; large anthropological rooms on the first, second and third floors with rooms dedicated to the peoples of Asia, Africa, Central America, the Pacific and Native Americans; and the natural history rooms on the fourth floor, with one of the largest collections of dinosaur skeletons in the world. 
• New York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West (near 77th Street). Adults $ 18 seniors / educators / serving military $ 14 Students $ 12 children (5–13 years) $ 6 children under 4 free; free offer from 6pm to 8pm on Fridays. Tue-Sun 10 am-6pm. Here you can admire Audobon's watercolors and other American art. 
• Nicholas Roerich Museum, 319 W. 107th Street, ☎ 1 212 864-7704. Tue-Sun 14-17. 
• Children's Museum of Manhattan, 212 West 83rd Street. Founded by Bette Korman under the name of GAME (Growth Through Art and Museum Experience). 

Churches

• Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, 1047 Amsterdam Avenue (near 112th Street). every day 7: 30-18. The largest neo-Gothic cathedral in the world. 
• Riverside Church, Riverside Av. And 122 St. (just south of Grant's Tomb). A large and important Protestant church, also home to social and political activists. 

Educational institutions

• Columbia University, between Broadway and 116 Street, a famous Ivy League university for a long time in New York.
• Barnard College, from Broadway west, is a major college (part of the "Seven Sisters") and is affiliated with Columbia University.
• Teacher's College on 120th Street between Broadway and Amsterdam. Teacher's College is an architectural masterpiece with a facade that covers an entire block in the neo-Gothic style.
• Juilliard School of Dance, Drama, and Music, on 65th Street between Amsterdam and Columbus, one of the most important conservatories and dance and acting school in the United States of America.
• The Mannes College of Music, on 85th Street between Amsterdam and Columbus, conservatory of classical music.
• Manhattan School of Music, on 122nd Street and Broadway, another major conservatory.
• Fordham College at Lincoln Center, on 60th Street between Columbus and Amsterdam, a branch of Fordham University.

Monuments

• Grant's Tomb, Riverside Drive and 122nd Street (subway: 1 to 125th Street), ☎ 1 212 666-1640. Thu-Mon 10-11, 12-13, 14-15, 16-17. General Grant National Memorial. General Ulysses S. Grant are interred in this impressive mausoleum, the largest tomb in North America. 
• Shinran Shonin, 331-332 Riverside Drive (between 105th and 106th Street). The statue of Shinran Shonin, a 13th-century Buddhist reformer, seems to be gazing thoughtfully at those passing through Riverside Drive. The statue stood in Hiroshima and witnessed the devastation of the atomic bomb. Today it is located between two buildings near the New York Buddhist Center. 
• Soldiers and Sailors Monument, Riverside Drive 89th Street. A memorial to the fallen in the Civil War, built in 1902. 

Prestigious buildings

• The Dorilton, 171 West 71st Street. 

• The Ansonia, 2109 Broadway (between 73rd and 74th Street). 
• The San Remo, 145 Central Park West New York, NY 10023, United States. 
• The Eldorado, 300 Central Park West. 

What to do

• Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, between West 62nd and 66th Streets and Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues (subway: 1 to 66th St or walk off lines A, C, B, and D at 59th St. Rose Hall is in Time Warner Center, Broadway and 60th Street). The largest cultural space in the world where you can attend theatrical performances, classical music concerts, ballets, films, exhibitions and events or simply stroll admiring the architecture. They are modern buildings that house theater companies and the famous Juilliard School of Music. Inside is also the New York Public Library's Library for the Performing Arts, which contains thousands of extraordinary documents some of which are very rare. 
  • ^{[link not working]}Metropolitan Opera. "". Sometimes called "the Met" (like the Metropolitan Museum of Art but that's another thing), New York's leading theater company has been based in Lincoln Center since 1966, behind five magnificent glass arches and white walls. Two murals by Marc Chagall decorate the foyer. The hall has magnificent acoustics and is finely decorated. 
  • Walter Reade Theater. Headquarters of Film Society of Lincoln Center. A great place to watch the latest film releases from Africa, Spain, France, Italy, Israel and Asia. The company organizes the annual New York Film Festival at nearby Alice Tully Hall (at the Time Warner Center) between September and October. 
  • David H. Koch Theater. Headquarters of New York City Ballet. The Nutcracker staged every December is a holiday classic, much loved by New Yorkers and tourists alike. 

• Riverside Park, west of Riverside Drive. Riverside Park has its own unique charm, thanks to the spectacular views of New Jersey and the breeze that blows along the river. During the summer you can also attend concerts and the screening of films outdoors. 
• Morningside Heights Walking Tour. Morningside Heights remained a somewhat bucolic area until the early 20th century due to its relative inaccessibility; most of the apartments here were built between 1900 and 1910. Many buildings have survived due to the fact that elevators were introduced at the time, so they are 10 or 12 storey buildings rather than terraced houses. Strolling here is a must for architecture enthusiasts. 
• Lincoln Square 13 Cinema, 1998 Broadway (subway: 1 at 66th St.), ☎ 1 212 336-5020. $12-$16. First shows around noon, the last ones around 11pm. Multiplex 2 blocks from Lincoln Center, also has an IMAX screen. 

Shopping

The Upper West Side area, especially the Morningside Heights portion, is full of excellent bookstores.

• Bank Street Bookstore, Broadway - 112th Street. Associated with Bank Street College, is one of the best places to buy books, educational games and other educational materials. Courteous and competent staff. 
• Book Culture, 112th Street (between Broadway and Amsterdam). Formerly known as Labyrinth Books, Book Culture is a school bookstore focusing primarily on science and art. On the second floor there are tables full of books on sale. They have another store on Broadway at 114th Street. 
• Columbia University Bookstore, Broadway - 115th Street. Run by Barnes and Noble, the best place to find travel guides and more as well as products signed by Columbia University. 
• Barnes and Noble, 82nd / Broadway. Great Barnes and Noble bookstore. 
• Westsider Rare and Used Books, Broadway between 80th and 81st. Specialized in used books. 

How to have fun

Shows

• Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Lincoln Square. 

Night clubs

• Abbey Pub, 105th Street (off Broadway). Old pub popular with Columbia University students. 
• Smoke Jazz Club and Lounge, 2751 Broadway (between 105th and 106th Street.). Live jazz every night. Musicians often hang out even late at night so go late to hear them improvise. 
• Amsterdam Ale House (75th and Amsterdam). Pub specializing in craft beers. 
• George Keeleys (84th and Amsterdam). Excellent selection of beers. 
• Trader Joe's, 2073 Broadway, ☎ 1 212-799-0028. $. 8-22. A local market specializing in gourmet foods, really great products and a small institution in the area. Staff courteous and able to advise you. 

Cafeterias

The Upper West Side has many bars and cafes, many of which have been here for a long time. Of course there is no shortage of Starbucks, but to try something really good:

• Cafe Lalo, 83rd Street between Amsterdam Avenue and Broadway. In business for nearly twenty years, Cafe Lalo is always busy until late at night. Excellent desserts and pastries, but also coffee, different varieties of teas and much more. 
• Max Cafe, Amsterdam Avenue (Between 122nd and 123rd Street). A quiet place for a coffee and snack in the Columbia University area. 
• Oren's, Broadway (Between 112th and 113th street). A local chain. Good coffee and tea. 
• Alice's Tea Cup, 73rd and Columbus. "". Great selection of teas and 'scones' in an Alice in Wonderland inspired setting. 
• Levain's Bakery, 74th and Amsterdam. Very famous bakery for its biscuits. 
• Crumbs, 75th and Amsterdam. Bakery specializing in pastries. 
• Magnolia, 69th and Columbus. Part of the Crumbs bakery chain listed above. 

Where to eat

Moderate prices

• Amir's Falafel, Broadway (Near 114th Street). Good falafel, shwarma, kebabs etc. 
• Ayurveda Cafe, 706 Amsterdam Ave (Near 94th Street). Ideal for vegans, vegetarians and celiacs. 
• ^{[link not working]}Big Nick's, 2175 Broadway (at 77th Street), ☎ 1 212 362-9238. $7-$15. Open 24 hours. One of the best places in Manhattan to eat classic burgers, Big Nick's is a kind of diner but with superior quality food. The menu is huge, it has something like 15 pages. Big Nick's also has another location at 70 W 71st Street (at Columbus Avenue). 
• El Malecon, Amsterdam between 97th and 98th Sts.. Dominican restaurant famous for chicken a la brasa, but they also have special menus for lunch and dinner. 
• The Heights, Broadway and 111th Street. Tex-Mex. The bar is the best part. 
• Jerusalem Restaurant, 2715 Broadway (between 103rd and 104th Street). Good falafel at ridiculous prices. The poto isn't great but the food is good. 
• Le Monde, Broadway (Between 112th and 113th Street). Fake French cuisine but great selection of beers and great burgers. 
• Metro Diner, Broadway and 100th. It has everything you can look for in a diner's menu. 
• The Mill, Broadway at 113th. Excellent Korean restaurant. 
• Massawa, Amsterdam at 121st Street. One of the oldest Ethiopian / Eritrean restaurants in the city, no frills but good food and great service. 
• 40.80545-73.965461 Tom's Restaurant, corner Broadway and 112th (near Columbia University). The restaurant of Seinfeld. Actually off the Upper West Side, frequented by fans of the series but for the residents it is just a normal diner. 

On the road

• Halal Cart, 116th and Broadway. For lunch chicken, vegetables and lamb with rice. Coffee and bagels in the morning. 
• Italian Ice Lady, 110th and Broadway. $0.75-$1.50. Only from late spring to early autumn. 
• Fruit Stands, 116th and Broadway, 110th and Broadway, and 112th and Broadway. From spring to autumn. 
• The Taco Stand, 96th and Broadway. Only at night. 

Average prices

• Kefi, Columbus between 84th and 85th Street. $ 30-35 / per person for dinner. Excellent Greek restaurant, reservations recommended especially for dinner. 
• Indus Valley, Broadway and 99th St.. Elegant restaurant with Northern cuisineIndia. 
• Pio Pio, Amsterdam and 94th Street. Elegant restaurant of a Peruvian chain. 
• Sookk, Broadway between 102nd and 103rd Streets. Nice Thai restaurant that combines tradition and modernity. 
• Turkuaz, Broadway and 100th St.. Famous for Turkish cuisine, sometimes chaotic due to crowds and belly dancing performances. 
• Fatty Crab, Broadway and 75th St.. Southeast Asian cuisine. 

High prices

• Masa (in the Time Warner Center). Probably the most expensive restaurant in New York. Who has been there says that it is better to sit at the sushi bar. Reservation required. 
• For If (in the Time Warner Center). New York restaurant of Chef Thomas Keller of the French Laundry of Yountville, located in the Napa Valley in California. Chef Keller is one of the best of the United States of America. highly recommended booking. 
• Sapphire Indian, Broadway between 60th and 61st Street (near Lincoln Center). North Indian cuisine restaurant. 

Where stay

Moderate prices

• 40.78878-73.975251 Belnord Hotel, 209 W 87th Street. Close to Broadway it includes two adjacent buildings with hotel rooms but also dormitories. Luggage storage and internet. Laundry available. 
• ^{[link previously not working]}Broadway Hotel & Hostel, 230 W 101st Street, ☎ 1 212 865-7710. from $ 30 / night. 
• 40.79843-73.966782 Hostelling International New York, 891 Amsterdam Ave (at 103rd St; subway: 1 to 103rd St or B / C to 103rd St), ☎ 1 212 932-2300. Dorms from $ 45 / night in the summer. One of the largest hostels in New York. Close to the metro, internet, 24-hour reception, laundry, lounge, small bar and no curfew. Old building but clean and in good condition. 
• Newton Hotel, 2528 Broadway. Recently renovated with also microwave ovens, mini fridge and flat screen TV. 
• Jazz Hostels (subway: 1, B or C to 103rd St .; Bus: M10 from Penn Station to West 103rd Street and Central Park West), ☎ 1 212 932-1600. Bar, 24 hour internet and reception, ATM, laundry and no curfew. 
• ^{[link not working]}Marrakech Hotel, 2688 Broadway, ☎ 1 212 222-2954. recently renovated, close to Columbia University and jazz bars. No lift. 
• ^{[link not working]}Morningside Inn Hotel, 235 W 107th Street. 
• Riverside Tower Hotel, 80th Street and Riverside Drive, ☎ 1 800 724-3136. 
• Royal Park Hotel. 
• West Side YMCA, 63rd Street between Central Park West and Broadway. A little more expensive than regular youth hostels but still cheaper than other parts of Manhattan. 

Average prices

• Central Park Inn, 19 W 103rd St (at Manhattan Ave; subway: B / C to 103rd St), ☎ 1 212 678-0491, ☎ 1 877 727-5233, fax: 1 212 678-0453, @[email protected]. Recently refurbished for longer stays. 
• Comfort Inn Central Park West, 31 West 71st St. Free internet, breakfast included and gym. 
• Milburn Hotel, 242 West 76th St. Spacious with rooms that are truly modern studios. In the lobby there are sofas, reading rooms and there is also a gym. 
• Union Theological Seminary. under $ 150, less for Columbia University affiliates. Beautiful rooms around a cloister. 

High prices

• Excelsior Hotel, 45 West 81st Street (between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue; near the American Museum of Natural History). 4-star hotel in French style. 
• Lucerne Hotel, 201 West 79th Street. Recently renovated hotel in one of the historic buildings of the city. 
• Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 60th Street and Broadway (Time Warner Building). The hotel has a spa, great food in Asiate, great views, and a fitness center. 
• On the Avenue, 2178 Broadway (near 78th street), ☎ 1 800 509-7598. $200-$250. Large rooms for Manhattan standard. 
• Trump International Hotel Towers, 1 Central Park West, ☎ 1 888 448 7867. Elegant 52-story hotel designed by architects Philip Johnson and Costas Kondylis. 

How to keep in touch

Internet

• Columbia University. Free Wifi throughout the area (better on campus). 
• New York Public Library. The Public Library in Morningside Heights (114th and Broadway); Bloomingdale (100th Street between Columbus and Amsterdam); St Agnes (Amsterdam Avenue and 81st Street); Riverside (Amsterdam Avenue at 65th Street); and the Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center (Amsterdam Avenue between 64th and 65th Streets) all have free-to-use terminals (no need to be a member of the library). 
• Pinnacle Pizzeria, Broadway and 115th. Has a few computers available. 

Other projects

• Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Upper West Side
• Commons contains images or other files on Upper West Side

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