Three Savvy Broads: 027 Moving

A ‘Moving’ Experience

Remember Alistair Cooke, posh-voiced, British reporter of 20 years for Masterpiece Theatre? It is he who best said that which I feel about New York City: “New York is the biggest collection of villages in the world.”

Take a look at the NYC map. New Yorkers are identified in part by where they live. Our daughter, who has been in the city half of her life, is a West Side apartment dweller. Over the years she has moved uptown from 49th Street (Hell’s Kitchen), then to 75th and now to 84th Street. Both of the latter are known as the Upper West Side (UWS).

The UWS is a residential neighborhood filled with young professionals in an area that allows them to avoid the tourists of Midtown and Times Square. Still, it is very close to all the attractions: just a block or so from Central Park and the convenience of Broadway as it winds its way through the neighborhood north and south. It’s a nice hike down to 60th at Columbus Circle and nearby Lincoln Center. Not only that, there is an AMC 6 movie complex across the street, Harry’s Shoes, a Zabar’s deli, and upscale fashion, along with burger joints (Five Napkins Burgers) and Zagat reviewed restaurants.

Our daughter and son-in-law, both city attorneys, outgrew their 75th Street one bedroom apartment.

In the heart of the UWS on 84th Street is a seven-story building called Eagle Court, which does have an eagle or two on the front. Built in the 1920s, it was once part of the Borden Company with a mid-century conversion to living space. More importantly for Eagle Court, is that it is SAID to be the site where Edgar Allan Poe wrote “The Raven.” To some literati, Poe (b. 1840-d.1849) was considered New York’s first Bohemian poet.

Front of Eagle Court at 84th Street with Poe plaque

While you are trying to remember some of the famous lines from “The Raven,” consider this point: It was just over a century ago that the UWS was still open country with farms, summer mansions for the barons like the Vanderbilts, and shanties of the poor.

Although today’s street grid plan had been developed in 1811, the actual cutting and leveling of the land did not begin until after the Civil War. This is the reason that Eagle Court is only the “reputed” home of Poe when he lived in NYC.

BUT back to moving. I spent almost a week playing “momma” and helping pack and then unpack from one apartment to the other. Good moving company--efficient and quick. Praise to daughter and son-in-law for organizational skills. I was handed a spreadsheet with each box numbered and contents listed. Why didn’t I think of this when we last moved? Numbers are so much easier than just a room name on the box.

The most interesting experience, however, was while the van was being loaded. The apartment building on 75th Street is not only a one way street but also a taxi route from Amsterdam Ave, across Broadway to West End Ave. BUSY! I sat in the van driver’s seat while the trucks, cars, and taxis inched by on my left. We did not want a traffic ticket for blocking the street. And police did come by--I just nodded like I knew what I was doing. Felt very superior and New York-ish.

The new apartment is much bigger and lighter with 20’ ceilings. Daughter bought herself a present to help them decorate. It’s a 22’ multi-telescoping ladder. Hoping I can add a photo someday of its use rather than a picture of said daughter in traction in NY-Presbyterian Hospital.

They have a real kitchen with a DISHWASHER!!! Garbage disposals in the city are usually a no-go and dishwashers rare. Just like George Jefferson, they are “movin’ on up.”

And check out the shelving….ladder may be needed to retrieve wine from purple wine rack (this across the room from the VERY HIGH windows).

I had really dreaded this move in Manhattan. But it was relatively easy for me. Maybe not so for the two young people who still have much to arrange, wait for cable people, etc., and still go to work all day every day. BUT they really did just move within their own neighborhood. The state of NY has approximately 20 million people with over 8 million of them in NYC boroughs and 1.75 million in Manhattan. The UWS has roughly 230,000. Puts it into perspective, I think.