The UWS (or Upper West Side for those of you non-New Yorkers) is actually a hot bed of interesting and cool– here’s what you need to know.
The Upper West Side of Manhattan is known mostly as a mellow enclave for families and artsy types– but with that comes one of the deepest concentrations of delicious food and culture on the face of the Earth. Here are 5 things not to be missed:
1. The Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Whether you’re a Catholic or not, anyone can appreciate the world’s largest Gothic Cathedral– especially when it’s surrounded sandwiched between some of the best pizza and Central Park.
2. Zabar’s. Soak up the Eastern European Jewish fusion cuisine that makes the UWS so special. Matzah ball soup, borscht, pancakes– whatever, they’re all legendary.
3. Taste EVERYTHING. Once a year you can taste just about the entire Upper West Side. Celebrity Cruises sponsors a giant, eat-it-all event that brings together all the best restaurants from the neighborhood. This year’s event featured icons like Blue Ribbon Sushi, Ed’s Chowder House, and Candle Cafe. Ticket holders were treated to unlimited food and wine sampling from their faves (and new faves), live music, acrobatics, and celeb sightings.
4. Go natural with your nails. Nail polishes, chemicals, and salons are often mega toxic to your health. Polished Beauty Bar on the UWS has special ventilation to draw fumes up and out of the salon, triple free polishes, and state of the art green and sustainable practices. It’s a great choice for health nuts, pregnant women, moms, and kids. Where else can you find that? Nowhere!
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5. Pomander Walk. Did you know there’s a secret, possibly mystical little complex of 27 buildings that look straight out of Europe in the west 90s? Pomander walk is just that, a landmarked collection of Queen Anne mansions. You can visit the area yourself by heading to West 94th Street between Broadway and West End Avenue.
