Welcome to Carnegie Hill
The “Uptown Village”
Welcome to my blog regarding Carnegie Hill. It is a beautiful neighborhood with quiet, tree-lined streets, top private schools, well-preserved architecture, and fine dining options.
I moved to Greenwich Village after graduating from college and stayed until I had my first child. My wife and I loved living downtown. Yet, once we had our first child and started strolling her around the uneven blocks and into our favorite restaurants, we realized that we were suddenly less welcome! We got the impression that another oversized stroller and a crying baby are no longer the desired customer! Hostess disapproval aside, we knew we had to move for more space, schools, and a family-friendly environment, and Carnegie Hill, the neighborhood from the upper 80s to the mid-90s from 5th Avenue to 3rd Avenue, became that ideal fit!
On a typical morning, the outside of our home is quiet. There is not much traffic. With our windows open, we do not hear horns or sirens. Our children are excited to start the day. Despite finishing breakfast at home, they insist that we run over to the local coffee shop to see their friends before school opens. They love their hot cocoa and freshly made Nutella croissants.
Brich Church
The kids are excited for their day – it is a field trip to one of our local museums, The Cooper Hewitt, which was formerly the home of Andrew Carnegie. They will explore the interior of the mansion, and then study the building’s Georgian architecture from the expansive garden behind the museum. I love that garden; it is open to the public, and often we make it our special place for picnics and small celebrations.
Our night is finished, but we have a weekend to look forward to in our village. As a “city-kid,” I always wanted to live in the city, yet I always wanted to leave for the weekends! I do not, however, feel rushed to leave when Saturday morning rolls around. As soon as our children get up from bed, our favorite bagels await us at Grabsteins. With our bagels in tow, we’ll usually walk over to the newly renovated playground on 96th Street and 5th Avenue. After the swing sets and jungle gyms, we will make our way through Central Park and head north to the waterfalls in the North Woods and then to Conservancy Gardens, where my children can play around the fishponds surrounded by blooming flowers. This Saturday, however, the Guggenheim is having a family day; we will go there instead, and maybe this time, they will let my kids run down the sloping rotunda at top speed!
The Guggenheim
Our day comes to an end, but gladly, continues to the next day and weekend. As you can see, life in Carnegie Hill is somewhere between the hustle and bustle of New York City and the serenity of the country. It is a cozy village full of life and friends. It is calm, peaceful, beautiful, and clean. More than just a place to visit, it is home.