Out with the OLD in with the UPPER WEST SIDE!

As sad as it is for me to leave the UES I cannot express how delighted we are to move to the UWS. After five years I am finally saying goodbye to a neighborhood I loved to hate. I remember the first year (2003) I moved to 78th and 2nd (my cramped but cozy studio) and someone asked me where I lived. When I told him, his is response was something like, "you don't have to look behind your back all the time and is generally safe."

Though somewhat true, I would have probably opted to live elsewhere if the opportunity arose. What I will miss is the recent business/friendship I made at the Personal Affairs boutique on E. 80th between 3rd and 2nd. I will also terribly miss some of the restaurants and stores that I frequented on a regular basis such as Cafe Evergreen, Ali Baba Bodega, Sassy Slider's, Sunny's Chinese, Citarella, Orwasher's Handmade Bread, Sable's, Choux Cafe and so on. Of course I cannot forget the ever so friendly tailor on 78th who would sing to Noah when he was first born.

The UES was isolating at times because it was majority white although honestly, as mono-racial as it was, it was to an extent my comfort zone. In the end I outgrew the neighborhood and especially the apartment. Our closets were jammed with excess boxes and containers and piles of our belongings began to grow around us.

I also learned that the owners of the building were slowly pushing people out of our apartment (or in one case, waiting for our neighbor below us to "move on." She is 102 years old and has a rent controlled apartment in which she pays $350 a month. Eventually they want to demolish it and build a luxury high rise. Go figure.

Our move went smoothly for the most part. We did not spend one cent on boxes and as you may know they go for $4-8! Oz Moving guys were hard working and meant business considering they had to manage the boxes down 5 narrow flights of stairs in a pre-war building with out an elevator. There was one guy from Nepal who insisted on carrying items without shoes or socks. The heat did not help although I made sure they were hydrated!

We must have had a hell of a lot of things because the movers told us our boxes and furniture filled 3/4 regulation size moving truck. The morning was exhausting but to even consider the move into our new apartment and having to unpack gave me a headache. We did have one scare in which the 2 of the 4 legs of our couch was missing. It was a miracle that it was found in the empty moving truck after every box was removed.

Our new apartment has so many things in close proximity. The 1 train is half a block away from us. The Riverside Park is 2 1/2 blocks away with a plethora of thematic parks for Noah to jaunt around in, Central Park is 4 blocks away, Columbia University and its domain is 13 blocks away, there is a fruit stand beside a coffee and bagel vendor on the corner of the street, Planet Kids around the block, and the list goes on.

The apartment building itself has an elevator, laundry facilities, a storage pod for our future bikes and seasonal clothes and lots more floor space for our future visitors (wink.)

I heart the UWS!















<< Our slanted kitchen. It was so annoying to cook since the stove was also lopsided, always making for an entertaining experience when cooking.

















<< The former living room looking into Noah's room. Can you see the slant of the floors - it is not the camera!


















NEW APARTMENT! Wall to wall built in bookshelves that will easily be filled by John's collection of books along with my small library and magazines!

















<< The sunken living room!