Local History

Any woodsy or leafy suburban neighborhood you've seen in the movies or TV series has more than likely been the UWS.  Have you seen You've Got Mail, Seinfeld, Gossip Girl or most recently The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel?  Then you've seen parts of the UWS. 

​

We have a rich history of celebrities that have populated and currently live in our area including right here on 68th! One of our most notable 68th Street residents was America's "Rebel Without a Cause", James Dean.

​

Current celebrities in our area and seen walking our streets, eating and shopping our local establishments include;

​

Alan Alda
Amy Schumer
Anne Hathaway
Antonio Banderas
Bob Balaban
Bob Costas
Bobby Flay
Bono
Bruce Willis
Christian Slater
David Duchovny
David Hyde Pierce
Denzel Washington
Donna Karan
Ellie Kemper
Eric Schneiderman
Estelle Parsons
Gayle King
Georgina Bloomberg
Howard Stern
James Spader
Jeff Daniels
Jerry Seinfeld
Joel Coen and Frances McDormand
John Oliver
Jordan Peele
Joy Behar
Keanu Reeves
Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon

Lady Gaga (Stefani Germanotta)
Leslie Stefanson
Madonna
Mark Ruffalo
Maury Povich and Connie Chung
Megyn Kelly
Michael C. Hall
Michael Strahan
Misty Copeland
Rajiv Surendra
Randy Rainbow
Richard Kind
Samantha Bee and Jason Jones
Sonja Morgan
Steve Guttenberg
Steve Martin
Tim Gunn
Tina Fey
Tony Danza
Tony Shalhoub
Trey Anastasio
Yoko Ono

​

The influx of cultural diversity in the fifties and sixties has kept the area demographically diverse. Because of the diversity, the Upper West Side has retained a liberal constituency and a mostly bohemian attitude. Urban renewal, started by Robert Moses in the mid-fifties, began the UWS revival. Through mass unpopularity in the 1970s, the neighborhood retained a community and neighborhood feel, which attracted artists, writers, and young families.

​

Today, amid the grand apartment buildings of Central Park West, the UWS is a place where you can frequently see families pushing strollers, walking dogs and, on weekends, settling in for brunch.  of course, it's not all residential. There's culture, in the form of the American Museum of Natural History, the Beacon Theatre and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.  And plenty of shopping, eating and nightlife as well.