Upper East Side
The
Upper East Side is home to some of the city's most exclusive shops, boutiques,
and salons, located on upper Madison Avenue, and gourmet restaurants are
tucked into its tree-lined side streets. The area is known for its excellent
public schools, including P.S. 6, which ranks number one in New York City
and number two in New York state. There are many specialized schools located
here as well. East of Lexington Avenue are more affordable neighborhoods,
where Third Avenue, Second Avenue, First Avenue, and York Avenue are popular
with middle-class families and young professionals. Primarily a residential
area, the Upper East Side features a variety of lively restaurants and
bars, particularly concentrated around Second Avenue. Access to the Lexington
Avenue subway lines makes this area desirable for Wall Streeters and midtown
commuters, and Hunter College is conveniently located on Lexington Avenue
and 68th Street.
The area between York Avenue and the FDR Drive is known as Hospital Row, which has a concentration of research and health-care facilities including the world-renowned Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, the New York Presbyterian Hospital, and Rockefeller University, one of the most prestigious medical-research facilities in the nation.
At East End Avenue and 86th Street is Carl Schurz Park, which overlooks the East River and houses Gracie Mansion, the official residence of the mayor of New York City. Two of the most famous and prestigious private schools are located nearby, making the Carl Schurz Park area a desirable place for families. Upper Eastsiders, as well as Westsiders, enjoy both the vibrancy and tranquility of Central Park. The park fills 834 acres and runs for 50 city blocks. Horse-drawn carriages, in-line skaters, bicyclers, and joggers make use of its pleasant and winding roadways all year round. The park features a children's zoo; the Wollman ice-skating rink; and, during the summer, its own Delacorte Theater presents festivals of Shakespeare, concerts, and many other summer programs.
Upper Fifth Avenue from East 70th Street to East 104th Street is known as the Museum Mile, home to some of the most famous cultural institutions in the world. Some of the museums are housed in landmark mansions, making the Museum Mile a cultural and architectural feast for the eyes. The world-famous Guggenheim Museum, with its spiral ramp reaching 90 feet above the main floor, is the only building in New York City designed by the great architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The largest museum in the Western Hemisphere, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, stretches from East 80th to East 84th Streets. Its massive terraced entrance and breathtaking Great Hall are strewn with visitors strolling amid elegantly landscaped flower and shrubbery arrangements. The Whitney Museum of American Art, the Jewish Museum, and the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum can also be found on Museum Mile. Additionally, The 92nd Street "Y," located at Lexington Avenue and 91st Street, can be considered a small city unto itself, offering many educational, cultural, and recreational activities. It began as a neighborhood community center and has become a nationally recognized institution. The "Y" offers lectures, theater, musical programs, computer facilities, and a health and fitness center that includes a 25-yard pool. It provides a parenting center, and programs geared specifically for children in art, music, dance, and sports. See also transportation and schools for Upper East Side.
See also transportation and schools for Upper East Side.
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