A Lazy Afternoon on the Upper East Side

Enjoyed this post? Give it some love and share!

I was up early today. My new venture got me up and working out before 8:00AM (which is early for me), and without the kids. When I done, I was full of energy and inspiration for the day. I had a list of things we could do and imagined how well it would all work out with my being up so early.

However, the kids woke up sick. Sneezing and sniffling, tired and even a bit whiny. The 3.5 year old had a fever the night before, so he was still recovering. Thus, our day out would have to be left for another time.

We did manage to venture out in the ‘hood for a bit, but nothing like what I would’ve normally done on a day like this.

For example, it wasn’t too long on a beautiful day like this the family and I decided to take a trip to our old stomping grounds of the Upper East Side.

When people think of the UES, even most New Yorkers included, they think of “The Nanny Diaries” or of it being the socialites’ haven, and yes, this is in part some of what one can find, but that has changed a lot and the UES we grew to love and know was more laid back, with young families like ours.  I love the vast selection of bars and restaurants, both for entertaining out of town guests and for a night out with or without the family.  The shopping is fun and I loved taking my friends down Madison Ave. just to window shop.

We used to live on 82nd and 2nd which for us was absolute perfection. Walk a few blocks West and you were on the steps on the Metropolitan Museum and Central Park, walk a few blocks East and you were on the East River Promenade. It was heaven, and then they moved to WI.

When we last visited it was one of those fine New York City days. Sunny, not too hot, not too cold. We ventured onto the promenade right on 82nd street. Families were smiling, children running and playing. Before the younger ones were born, coming here and watching the smaller dogs play in the dog park was a pass time favorite.

The promenade extents up the East River and is a wonderful place for walks or even runs, as I used to often do back then.

The little ones enjoy Catbird Playground. We love the size, how they have the play areas for the little ones separated from the play area for the older kids, with seating areas for the parents with perfect a view of the children. The only thing I don’t like is that the bathrooms have only one stall each, which during potty emergencies can be somewhat of a problem.

The boys had a great time. They climbed and rolled and slid and swung. They even managed to find some chalk and got creative.

As often happens, the hours flew while the kids played and ran around. They became hungry and we headed out to grab a bite. The problem isn’t finding a kid friendly place in the area, but rather choosing from so many! We settled on Dorrian’s. Dorrian’s a local bar/restaurant where the staff is welcoming of family with kids. There was plenty of for our umbrella stroller, and we were given a great seating area snuggled nicely against the windows (for fire truck watching) and away from the bar. They have a great “bar food” menu of burgers and sandwiches, and a tasty kids’ menu as well.

The atmosphere is delightful. It was quiet, the cool breeze coming through the windows was refreshing, and the boys behaved wonderfully the entire time, flirting with the sweet waitress each time she came to our table. Afterwards, the boys and my husband split a frozen yogurt from Pinkberry before making we made our way back uptown.

The city is filled with these “hidden” playgrounds and parks. Sometimes it just takes getting off the beaten path a bit to enjoy them as the locals do.

Enjoyed this post? Give it some love and share!