East 49th St, Turtle Bay

East 49th starts off on the East River with the UN Plaza on the south side of the block and One Beekman on the north. The UN Plaza is a series of apartment buildings presumably for UN employees. One Beekman is a very expensive, luxury co op built by the Rockefeller family. It's a very high society building and the nicest one off of Beekman Place. You have to have big money to live in this building and if I had that kind of money I would probably live in a different neighborhood all together but that's just me. The next block is also entirely comprised of residential buildings that are nice but not nearly as nice as Beekman. There's nothing to do or eat for the entire two block stretch and that's a deal breaker for me. I feel like it takes away from any neighborhood kind of vibe.
The block between 2nd and 3rd is a really beautiful block which is rare in this part of town. There are brownstones that still stand on the south side of the street that used to be home to Katherine Hepburn, Stephen Sondheim, Tyrone Power, and the founder of Time magazine. I would kill to be at a block party back around the 50's. How cool would that be? Across the street is Amster Yard which was a beautifully built artists colony started in the mid-19th century. It was demolished and rebuilt to look exactly like the previous community which is one of the most bizarre landmark destruction project in Manhattan that I've ever heard of. Not too many artists live in the current, very expensive complex and maybe that was the point. I think it did this street such a disservice because it's so pretty but the neighborhood feel is lacking compared to other streets that are this lovely. Smith and Wollensky, the big tourist attraction of a steak house is on the corner of 49th and 3rd which is nice, I guess for throwing a little food and flair into the neighborhood but it's too bad that there isn't more of a local joint right here.
There's one gorgeous block on 49th in Turtle Bay and it is a pleasant street all around in Turtle Bay . . it's just really boring. It's not a bad street to live on at all but it's definitely more for the older and wealthier set.