East 74 St, Yorkville

As with much of the Upper East Side, East 74th Street passes through a variety of iterations as it stretches east from Central Park. West of Lexington Avenue you find the "Upper East Side" proper, with grand mansions, elegant boutiques (and even a hint of haute couture on Madison Avenue), and the doormen-attended co-ops lining Park Avenue, one of the city's oldest and most prestigious districts. Go further east, however, and the vibe is more laid-back and approachable - the eastern stretch of E 74th Street is home to casual, preppy, even a little dive-y (ironically) sports bars and places like Iggy's Karaoke (on 72nd). If Madison Avenue is staid, 2nd Avenue is decidedly laid back. "Posh" venues include Italian restaurant Caravaggio, located in a townhouse between Madison and Fifth, as well as Cafe Boulud, located two blocks uptown, but further east you'll find more relaxed eateries like JC Mellon's and Mezza Luna. While the eastern stretch of this street may not be as swank as Park Avenue, it's certainly nice enough - with a young professionals vibe that may suit some better than the staid family-feel of the UES proper.

Take a walk down East 74th Street and you'll find yourself in one of the most beautiful areas of Manhattan. Staid brownstones, tree-lined streets, and charming side-street cafes dot this family-friendly area, which reaches from Central Park and the elegant shopping boulevard of Madison Avenue all the way to the East River. It's excellently located near a number of good schools, among them the Lycee Francaise of New York, private Birch Wathen Lenox, Buckley, and Hewitt School, all of which are located within a few block of 74th Street (also a mere stone's throw, in the early '80's on East End Avenue, are Chapin and Brarley). This street is also fantastic for foodies. Nearby restaurants in the street's western area include charming Italian Via Quadrone, the high-end Cafe Bouloud, popular Candle Cafe, while head further east to sample ethnic delights at Persepolis Restaurant and A La Turka Turkish. While nightlife here is relatively subdued (2nd Avenue offers a few preppy dive bars in the area, including the eclectic Iggy's Karaoke on 75th and 2nd), it's nevertheless a pleasant, if expensive, family-friendly area. The best transport is the 6 train on Lexington Avenue and 77th Street