UPPER WEST SIDE — If you're not the type of New Yorker to flee the city every weekend during the summer, an Upper West Side day-date may be the perfect alternative.
If you're feeling active, love antiquing, fancy some culture or you're a foodie, there's plenty in the neighborhood to fill up your day.
Dining
The Upper West Side hasn’t always been a top dining destination, but things have changed. For a day-date that centers on the taste buds, start with a coffee at Joe on Columbus Avenue and West 85th Street. Take the extra time to get a pour-over coffee or savor a creamy latte while you people watch.
After that, head around the corner to Jacob's Pickles for brunch. Here you will enjoy Southern-inspired comfort food, as well as an extensive craft beer list.
Jacob’s Pickles, 509 Amsterdam Ave.
Culture
Take in an off-Broadway matinee at the Second Stage Theater, on Broadway and West 76th Street. "Engagements," a dark comedy about engagement parties, opens July 18 with tickets priced at $29.
After the curtain drops, you can discuss the show over cocktails a few blocks away at the Boat Basin Cafe, which overlooks the Hudson River and provides sunset views.
Second Stage Theater, 2162 Broadway
Boat Basin Cafe, West 79th Street in Riverside Park
Active and Healthy
For an energized day-date, try in-line skating in Central Park. Start with a juice from Juice Press at West 55th Street and Sixth Avenue. The JP Fuel blend is a good option for building natural energy with the caffeinated leaf guayusa.
Then head to Central Park Sightseeing at West 56th Street and Sixth Avenue, where you can grab a pair of in-line skate rentals for $25 per day. If it's been awhile since you've skated, some teamwork may be required to keep you and your date vertical.
If you survive, head to Peacefood Cafe on Amsterdam Avenue and West 82nd Street. The vegan cafe and bakery has plenty of raw food and gluten-free options.
Central Park Sightseeing, 56 W. 56th St.
Peacefood Cafe, 460 Amsterdam Ave.
Antiquing
Start at the GreenFlea Market, located in the school grounds at West 77nd Street and Columbus Avenue. The market is open every Sunday year round starting at 10 a.m. It's best to get there early before the one-of-a-kind items get snapped up.
Then head north to John Koch Antiques on West 84th Street, where you will find a mix of home-decor items ranging from mid-century modern to antique and vintage. If all that shopping has left you famished, head a few blocks north on Amsterdam Avenue to Barney Greengrass, a deli that has been serving the neighborhood for more than a century.
After a bite, move on to More and More Antiques on West 78th Street. Here you will find European and American antiques ranging from statues to chandeliers.
Your last stop with be the Housing Works Thrift Shop on Columbus Avenue, featuring one of the better-curated selections around where you can unearth some bargain treasures.
GreenFlea Market at 100 W.77th St.
John Koch Antiques at 201 W. 84th St.
