Okay, so I tried this topic on the main board and it never got past deleted, so here goes...

Can anyone recommend some really great areas of New York to live ?

I tried searching for apartments on NYT, but I didn't know which area to select. I want it to be in a safe area, close to lots of good restaraunts, etc. Not cheap, but not five bed penthouse either.

I assume Joel lives in the city, so where would someone like Joel, a man of means, live ? I don't want to be Joel's neighbour, just using him as an example.

Depends almost entirely on your budget.

I thought Joel lived in the west 80's somewhere.

Thanks for the replies so far, keep em coming.

Budget would be about $4000 per month, maybe more.

Whitepages.com gives a specific address for a Joel Spolsky in that general area.

Ooh, rich. You could probably live just about anywhere in Manhattan for that (unless that's $4000 between two or more).

Personally, I'd choose to live in Greenwich Village. Nice cafes, bars, restaurants, jazz clubs, etc.

Ok, so I haven't been to NY, but personally I'd prefer to live in a neighborhood where I can get some sleep at night. Being surrounded by bars and other attractions doesn't seem very conducive.

Okay, Dennis, you're just being freaky.

Flasher - it's not sleep, so much as pass out.

Let's see if Sathy can come up with Joel's home phone number.

"Flasher - it's not sleep, so much as pass out."

My point exactly. After three years in a dorm, I am now overpaying for an apartment in a mostly detached house area at the edge of town, and loving it.

Colm, thanks for the reply, I'll check that area out.

Sathy - fetch! :D

Sound file of Joel cursing in a sleepy voice for the win.

Freaky? You gave a general area where Joel lives, and out of curiousity the public directories give one in the same area. Personally I don't give a flying sexual-liason where Joel lives, but that was the context of the discussion.

Anywhere in Manhattan between Soho ("SOuth of HOuston" [pronounced "How-stun" not "Hue-Ston"]) to the south and 96th St to the north is pretty much OK. You can go north of 96th St on the upper West Side if you stay near Riverside Drive and Columbia University.

Avoid anything east of Avenue B in the East Village (Aves A and B are ok but the neighborhood deteriorates as you go further east).

If I had my druthers I'd choose between the West Village or the upper West Side (above 59th St) near Central Park.

If you can stand being outside of Manhattan, Brooklyn Heights is beautiful and right across the river.

Try the Bowery or Alphabet City.

Just joking. When I'm in the city, I always stay in the Upper West Side. Too many Nora Ephron movies I suppose.

Wtf - Dennis deleted Joel's address and phone number again. :P

I've always been mildly puzzled by the fact that in the NYC context, it's pronounced How-stun, whereas the town in Texas is Hew-stun.

West Village
Upper East Side

They're names, Flasher, not just words.

The West Village is great. So neighborhood like, and quiet. Depending on the specific block, of course.

Malcom Gladwell agrees.
http://www.gladwell.com/2000/2000_12_11_a_working.htm

Regarding the odd pronounciation of Houston St: http://www.forgotten-ny.com/STREET%20SCENES/houston/houston.html

An excerpt: "Most likely, though, Houston Street is named for a congressman from Georgia, William Houstoun, who married Mary Bayard: her father Nicholas owned the land in Greenwich Village through which he cut the street in the early 1800s, naming it for his son-in-law. Houstoun spelled his name with that extra 'u' and likely pronounced his name Howstoon or Howston. Over time the extra letter fell out while the pronunciation remained."

That's an awesome article MarkTAW. Thanks!

Thanks for all the great suggestions everyone. I've always loved NYC, and hope to be moving soon.