Amsterdam Ave Between 88th St and 90th St

   

I was surprised how unlike the Upper West Side these blocks felt. The housing projects which fill the east side of the street make it feel more like the outer reaches of the east village or even the Bronx. I normally (and perhaps foolishly) associate this part of town with expensive high-rises, fancy town houses, and the performance culture which radiates from Lincoln Center 20 blocks to the south–practically none of these feel present here.

The blocks are fittingly eclectic with a wide variety of architectural styles and a pleasant mixture of different stores and restaurants. Though Amsterdam has a few trees here and there, the streets which branch off are simply overflowing with them, creating tunnels of greenery to stroll down. Sitting directly between Central Park and the Hudson River you can feel a bit stranded, but it's not nearly as hopeless as 3rd Avenue is on the east side feels.