Suburbs of Manhattan

Posted on May 26th, 2015

About one month after I moved into my beloved apartment, I was at a cocktail party when asked where in the city I lived.  I mentioned my address, to which the person responded, “But you’re so young—why would you want to live there?  The Upper East Side is like the suburbs of Manhattan.”

If I was cool and trendy, I would tell you I was shocked and hurt by that statement.  But a) I had already realized this and b) it was something I saw as desirable.  I grew up in the suburbs.  In college, I had been so grateful to have a car so I could occasionally escape 8 miles away from campus for some calm, wholesome experiences.  Somewhere where vagrants are not smoking cigarettes in the produce section (yes this happened), a place where you can right-turn-on-red, a place where you can park your car for free.  Is that so much to ask?

Of course, the Upper East Side isn’t at that extreme, but I can see where those sentiments arose.  Compared to Midtown, the sidewalks on the Upper East Side are deserted.  You are far less likely to come into contact with a stranger’s body fluids, for example.  There are plenty of restaurants, but to find edgy ones, or funky late night spots, you’re better off hopping on the Lexington line to go downtown.

Most importantly (to me), there are FAMILIES.  Working near Bryant Park and being completely surrounded by crazed Yuppies it can be easy to forget that there are real people living real lives in New York.  Just this morning, I saw a kindergartener dressed in her red and white gingham pinafore (announcing her affiliation to Sacred Heart) holding her dad’s hand and walking to school.  It’s amazing to see that kind of humanity, too, even amongst the bazillionaires and workaholics who haven’t left the office before 9pm since 2007.  And because there are families, there are friendly people who have a little perspective in life and do things like say hello to you as you go by—something that would be essentially unheard of on the Avenue of the Americas.

I could tell you other things I love about living on the UES (proximity to Central Park, museums, etc.), but it really all comes back to the attitude.  Let the record show that this Midwestern girl loves families and people who say hello, sees no reason to go to a club at 11pm, and values personal space.  So sue me.