Brownstones are an indelible feature of New York City’s distinct architectural landscape. New York City has the largest compilation of brownstones in the United States—by far. They are the primary residential units in Bedford Stuyvesant and the Upper West Side. Harlem, Queens, and the Bronx also host a swath of the iconic homes. Brooklyn, in particular, is defined by its brownstones. They line the streets of Fort Greene, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, and Cobble Hill, and are scattered in bundles from Greenpoint to Red Hook. Many of these brownstones are now the most desirable (and expensive) properties in the borough.

Brooklyn, or New York’s other face ... It all started out in 1636 as the Dutch began to buy lands across the East River. Six small Dutch towns saw the light, among them “Breuckelen,” which was named after a small village in the Netherlands. The English soon took over and renamed these six towns as “Kings County” in 1664. Kings County’s streets have witnessed the Revolutionary War, and were occupied by British troops until the Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783. The county then enjoyed the proximity of New York City in the nineteenth century, with urbanization and industrialization taking precedence as more immigrants started to settle in the borough.

The Apthorp is the epitome of elegance on the  Constructed in 1908, the Apthorp reflects the dignified architectural sensibilities of the time. It covers an entire block between 78th and 79th streets; a three-story rusticated base complements the smooth and sharp upper floors. The rectangular and arched windows, along with the ornate roof top cornice, exude a subtle complexity. Gold gazelle heads stick out of wrought-iron gates, which open into a large courtyard. The courtyard features gardens and matching fountains.

Bounded by Central Park on the east and the Hudson River on the west, the Upper West Side stretches from 59th Street to 125th Street, including Morningside Heights. Known for its pre-war low rise historic buildings like the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, the Dakota Apartments, Columbia University, Lincoln Center, and several others, the Upper West Sidewas originally home to Dutch immigrants in the early and mid-seventeenth century.

As many of us already know, New York City today is barely recognizable when compared to how it was circa 1960. Streets, houses and entire neighborhoods have been renovated, altered or developed in such a way that boggles the mind of anyone old enough to remember the city that was. A brownstone on West 94th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue, however, has stood the test of time and, through meticulous nurturing, skyrocketed in value. The Upper West Side house, originally bought in 1960 for $18,000 by author Peggy Mann Houlton and her husband William Houlton, is now worth upwards of $5 million. 

Manhattan is well-known for its bevy of world-renowned cultural institutions. In any given neighborhood, there's little difficulty finding a museum to visit. In fact, sometimes there's just so much to choose from that it complicates things. We'll make it easy for you. Here are the top museums in the Upper West Side.

Neighborhood in the Nineties, a non-profit group representing residents of the Upper West Side between 90th and 97th have their claws out.

Like it or not, Summer will soon be coming to an end. The next couple of weeks could be your last chance to enjoy your food alfresco, so we've made your search a little bit easier. Here are our top five restaurants for outdoor dining in the Upper West Side.

While it goes without saying that affordable housing is nearly impossible to find in Manhattan, , the development project at 40 Riverside Boulevard is offering mixed-income housing with luxury condos and affordable apartments in the same building. Among the 274 planned units of the 33-story building, 219 will be luxury condos on the upper floors facing the Hudson River while the remaining 55 units will be designated as affordable housing units with a designated separate entrance, that has become known as the controversial “poor door.” The site’s developer, Extell, has sparked a classist controversy and outrage for this plan to have income-segregated entrances. Extell plans for a mixed-income building due to the potential tax breaks it will receive through the 421a tax exemption program, yet the perceived separate-but-equal logic of the segregated entrances has produced considerable backlash against Extell.