Introduction
Welcome to the Upper West Side of Manhattan, a neighborhood that might feel familiar to you even if you've never visited. It's the New York City of Woody Allen and Nora Ephron movies, Seinfeld, and where the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade begins. Here, you practically expect everyone to make witty conversation and have floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. In truth, the area is tonier than its bookish reputation suggests. High real-estate prices have pushed out the mom-and-pop shops, and much of Broadway is occupied by chain stores. Old-timers complain that the neighborhood has lost some of its soul. Perhaps that's true, but it remains culturally and intellectually rich, thanks to Lincoln Center and Columbia University. And with Central and Riverside Parks close by, there's still a sense of living in a picture-perfect corner of Manhattan.
Transportation
The Upper West Side stretches from 59th Street at the southernmost point to 110th Street, Central Park to the east and the Hudson River to the west. The northern boundary is debatable, sometimes including Morningside Heights up to 125th Street. The area is served by the 1/2/3 subway lines beneath Broadway and the C and B trains on Central Park West. Going north and south is easy by subway, but going across town requires the M96, M86 or M72 buses.
Livability
Sandwiched between Riverside Park and Central Park, the Upper West Side is one of the leafiest neighborhoods in the city. A plethora of green spaces is part of what makes the area so attractive. Riverside Park covers 330 acres along the Hudson River, with soccer and baseball fields, tennis courts, dog runs and a bike path that runs the length of Manhattan. Summer ushers in extras such as free kayaking and outdoor movies. The even larger Central Park offers rambling paths, birdwatching, endless picnic spaces and lots of special events. Dogs are allowed off-leash in much of the park before 9am and after 9pm.
Families gravitate to the Upper West Side. Many streets in the neighborhood are quiet, and there's a sense of community. Besides enjoying the parks and playgrounds, families also appreciate indoor amenities like the , the children's history museum at the , the and Lincoln Center, which offers a variety of family-friendly programs, including young people's concerts at the and at Jazz at Lincoln Center.
