NEW YORK, NY – Jan. 27, 2010 – You’d be amazed at the differences between the people on the Upper East Side and the Upper West Side! While the bulk of the businesses are farther downtown, most of the residences are uptown.
They are physically separated by Central Park, a strip of land in the middle with only a few cross streets linking the two. I rode a city bus uptown yesterday on my way to Barnes & Noble on East 86th. An author named Lorraine Diehl was speaking about her new book Over Here. It’s about New York City during World War II.
As I looked out the bus window, a decidedly different scene presented itself as compared with the West Side. The biggest difference was in the types of shops. Many, many greengrocers, their fruits and vegetables laid out neatly in a colorful pattern. Very reminiscent of the open markets in France. Not thrown into a bin as in a third world country.
And the home furnishing shops. Gracious Home appears to be the leader. They’ve expanded to both sides of Lexington Avenue. Must be a sign of success because the rents here are mega-expensive.
And finally, the people. Better dressed. Even the homeless.
It’s Birkenstocks on the West Side versus Guccis on the East side.
I feel more at home on the West. Down deep¸ maybe I’m still a bohemian.
Copyright 2010 James C. Lewis
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