Westside Market: NYC

Jerry Hoff: 19th Apr 2004 - 16:42 GMT

I like your photography.You really have an affection for NYC.
I'm from Rochester,but I lived six years in NYC,5 on Thompson & Spring,1 at Park Slope.The whole time I lived there,except to maybe pass through,I never spent time in the Upper West Side.
Sure,I went to museums,visited Strawberry Fields and had coffee at Tavern on the Green--I've walked along CPW and over to the Subway,but I never ventured into the neighborhoods off the Park;never walked along Amsterdam or West End,never got north on Broadway from Julliard.
I'm going to be in NYC at the end of May,staying at a hotel on 77th/B'way,and will be immersed in the W Side for a week.
What goes on there?Are there any interesting folk/blues/jazz bars,any neighborhood hangouts in that area?
What's good to eat,who has the best burger or pizza,or breakfast?Where's a good area to see architecture?If you had a rainy day to kill on the Upper West Side ,what would you do?
I'm non-gay,non-rich and fifty,and I shun touristy things.I love to walk around the City,taking photos of things that catch my interest.
For three days of my visit,my son,daughter-in-law and 2 grandkids are going to be in the City,but they're staying near Times Square,just 2 or 3 Subway stops away(freakin' tourists),and we will be going to several of the museums near my hotel.
Mostly,I want to hang out in the area,checking out the architecture and looking for Seinfeld's Porsches,learning about a part of Manhattan that I am unfamiliar with.
Any tips,hints or direction would be greatly appreciated.
Email me at jerryhofocala@cs.com

...Thanks...

Peter: 19th Apr 2004 - 17:18 GMT

hi jerry... thanks for the compliments. i do truly have an affection for this city- that probably stems from moving up here from down south about 10 years ago- i literally had to fall in love with the city- it was either that or grow to hate it.

although i have since moved to midtown, i spent over 8 years living on the upper west side and going to school there. ill always love that part of town- far enough uptown to be quiet, but having enough community to never feel like you have to run downtown to catch the action.

I lived up at 108th... so most of my familiarity is in that area... Columbia University has a lovely campus at 116th and b'way- worth a see (gotta plug my alma mater, also!) as is grant's tomb, which is in that area- liek 121 and riverside. There's a rather good (for uptown standards) jazz joint on 106th and b'way called 'smoke'- the music is truly top notch.

Koronet's Pizza- on the east side of the street next door to the market i took the above photo in, between 110th and 11th on broadway is THE best pizza in nyc. TRUST ME. just go there. their pies are about 3.5' in diameter, and the slices are almost two feet long... fun! cheap! a definite neighborhood hangout if there ever was one.

on the southeast corner of 108/bway is absolute bagels, a place zagat's has rated the best bagels in nyc year after year- and for a good rason- they are the best. check it out, perhaps on your way to koronet's :) the diner, westway diner, on the northeast side of 108th and bway is good for breakfast/brunch. their split pea soup is not to be missed.

architecturally speaking: riverside church is quite a place to see also. search it out online, as i forget its exact street, but its lovely neogothic style and tall steeple make a mark on the upper west side.

if the weather is good, take a walk through riverside park... especially down by the river. so pretty and balmy on a lovely day.

then, of course there's strauss park- in the middle of bway at about 106th street... thats where i proposed to my wife, so it always has significance for me :)

good luck! let me know if i can offer any more advice!

Jerry Hoff: 21st Apr 2004 - 19:08 GMT

Peter,thanks for your reply.While most of what you described is a bit north of my future stomping grounds,I may venture up that way to check Smoke out(can you smoke in Smoke?).
I'll probably confine my wanderings to an area of about 10-12 blocks around my hotel(B'wy/77th).
But,hay,if Koronet's pizza is THAT good...

Peter: 13th Jul 2005 - 17:26 GMT

i moved out of that neighborhood in 2003... the thing i miss the most? probably koronet pizza ;)

B.B. Melbourne australia: 13th Jan 2006 - 12:56 GMT

Hi Peter I lived @504W 126ST. N.Y.C. for 18 months but being a British Merchant Marine I had to return to the U.K. much to my regret. I now live in OZ.but theres not a day goes by without my thoughts on Wonderful N.Y.C.I have only just found your contribution to this site and enjoy your great photography Do you have any photos of the neighborhood around Harlem and W 125 St. as I used to visit there very often .( I think I should inform you that I am 78 years old and my happy time in N.Y. was in 1944/45.
)Your photos give me great delight as I spend lots of time on the Internet 90% of the time reliving that magical period in my life.
my. Regards to all you lucky New Yorkers. Wish I were There.

B.B. Down Under. e.mail address on reqest

E. mail on request.

ellen: 18th Jun 2007 - 03:17 GMT

I love Harlem too, we just moved to Lenox Avenue and 129th Street and its growing like mad and just so alive and so much fun! I learned alot from the people at newnewyorker com and I plan to add to all sites on harlem so people begin to realize how wonderful it can be. COme back soon to visit...