I Heart Exploring: Upper West Side

I Heart Exploring: Upper West Side 

Corner of W65th and Lincoln Sq

New York is one of those places that you can always find something new to explore. Even as someone who enjoy  exploring, I have not been to the Upper West Side until recently. One day on a trip to New York, I took a day to walk all over the Upper West Side. This was a great way to see a part of the city I had yet to explore.

Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Centre 

I started my adventure at Lincoln Center and walked all the up to Columbia University in Morningside Heights . As I worked my way up Broadway, I discovered a number of gems.

A Beautiful Building on W71st and Broadway 

One of my favourite parts of this adventure was architecture. There were a number of large-scale buildings that were very much reflective of the early 20^thcentury. People were moving out of homes and into large scale apartment buildings. Architecture at this time was the early indicator of modern living in New York. 

 The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies Ever! Photo Courtesy of @LevainBakery 

Levain Bakery

Continuing on my adventure, I was able to try the infamous Levain Bakery. Known for their amazing baked goods, I now finally understand the hype. The melt in your mouth chocolate chip cookies the size of your face are much too good to share. These morsels of yumminess are better than any gourmet cookie you have had before.  

The  Infamous Dakota Building 

The Dakota

Another thing I finally got to check off my New York bucket list, was seeing the Dakota building. This building was one of the first luxury buildings on the Upper West Side in the late 19^thcentury. The Dakota is known for having a very picky co-op board and have turned away number of celebrities including Madonna. The Dakota was originally built to be a luxury building with all the amenities of a hotel. In the beginning, they offered twenty-four concierge service. It is also known for being the place John Lennon was assassinated by David Chapman in 1980. Every year on the anniversary of his death, fans go to Strawberry Field and sing Beatles songs. I was fascinated by this building and the history behind it. 

Hotel Empire on The Upper West Side 

New York is the type of city that you can live in your whole life and never see it all.  You need to take the time to explore the unknown parts of the concrete jungle. There are so many amazing  things  to discover especially in New York. The city  is filled  with a rich history and hidden gems in every corner and a Starbucks. My advice next time you’re in New York and you feel like you have seen it all, pick a new place to discover in the concrete jungle.