A weekend on the Upper West Side can mean anything from a trip to the Natural History Museum and a night out at one of many bars and restaurants to an art-house movie and a bike-ride through the park. This is where serene residential streets intersect with the energy of the city, including dozens of playgrounds, shopping destinations, music venues, and famous gourmet markets like Fairway, Zabar's, and Gourmet Garage.
A daytime stroll around Columbia University's many coffee shops and bookstores can give way to a night at the ballet and dinner at a four star restaurant in a matter of hours.