Cristina Velocci, an assistant editor at TONY, can sum up why she loves her laid-back ’hood in a single word: puppies! “Aside from the adorable pooches that distract me every 50 feet, there’s plenty more to love about the Upper West: The wider, less crowded blocks give me the illusion of having personal space in the city; three subway lines on my street make commuting a breeze; and the leafy trees everywhere are bookended by the greenery of Riverside and Central parks. Though I like to go out downtown and I work in midtown, at the end of the day, this part of uptown just feels like home.
Read about the places she loves after the jump.
Her favorite restaurants:
Kefi 505 Columbus Ave between 84th and 85th Sts (212-873-0200, kefirestaurant.com) “Everything on the menu is reasonably priced and delicious—it’s gourmet Greek food at its best. The sheep’s milk ravioli ($9.95) melt in your mouth and the chicken souvlaki ($11.95) is juicy and flavorful. One gripe: If the bi-level restaurant is so cavernous, what gives with the difficult-to-get reservations?”
Aroma Espresso Bar 161 W 72nd St between Columbus and Amsterdam Aves (212-595-7700, aromaespressobarus.com) “I’m smitten with the whimsical decor and the house-roast coffee that fuels the frothy lattes at this Israeli import. On sunny days, you can park yourself at an umbrella-shaded table on the second-floor roof deck, but the best perk is that every coffee comes with a piece of creamy chocolate!”
Buttercup Bake Shop 141 W 72nd St between Columbus Ave and Broadway (212-787-3800, buttercupbakeshop.com) “Having Buttercup and Magnolia within a five-block radius of my apartment is both dangerous and this future-diabetic’s dream come true. Unless I’m hankering for banana pudding, my sugar rushes—usually in the form of a red-velvet cupcake ($2.25)—come from here.”
Shake Shack 366 Columbus Ave at 77th St (646-747-8770, shakeshack.com) “It’s the same juicy Shack burgers, crisp fries and custard-based shakes, minus the lines plus indoor seating. To the poor saps in Madison Square Park: Suckas!”
Her favorite shops:
Fairway 2127 Broadway between 74th and 75th Sts (212-595-1888, fairwaymarket.com) “I’ve become such a spoiled food snob just by shopping at this high-end supermarket. There are entire sections dedicated to olives, cheeses and freshly ground coffee, and it’s open until 1am, so I can squeeze in food shopping on less-crowded weekday nights, even when I work late.”
Loehmann’s 2101 Broadway between 73rd and 74th Sts (212-882-9990, loehmanns.com) “I’m a bargain shopper who won’t sacrifice quality for price, so I love scouring the racks of discounted designer goodies here. It’s a rare occasion that I don’t score, so I proceed with caution.”
Her favorite drinking spots:
Dive 75 101 W 75th St at Columbus Ave (212-362-7518, divebarnyc.com) “I’m not much of a drinker, so when I go to a bar I like to be entertained. There’s a selection of board games on hand and cups stuffed with miniature Snickers and Milky Ways set out for the taking. It would earn an even more special place in my heart if the photo hunt here were erotic.”
Prohibition 503 Columbus Ave between 84th and 85th Sts (212-579-3100, prohibition.net) “Every night of the week there’s a live band and the only cover is of the musical variety—usually songs by the Strokes, Sublime and Tom Petty. It’s a popular neighborhood bar, so when the front area gets crowded, you can shoot pool in the less populated back room.”
