Once known as the ‘Silk Stocking District’, the Upper East Side still retains its position as the most affluent area of New York City.  No matter where you go, mention this neighborhood and it usually arouses images of luxury and extravagance.  It’s convenience to Central Park, multi-cultural museums & every high-end designer in a stones throw makes this area very desirable.

Museum Mile is the name for a section of Fifth Avenue running from 82nd to 104th streets in a neighborhood known as Carnegie Hill. The “mile” contains one of the densest displays of culture in the world.  Ten museums occupy the length of this section of Fifth Avenue, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Frick Collection, The Jewish museum, Goethe-Institut, Neue Galerie New York, Guggenheim, National Academy Museum, Museum for African Art, El Museo del Barrio, Museum of the City of New York and the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum.

An eleventh museum, the Museum for African Art, joined the ensemble in 2009 at 110th Street, the first new museum constructed on the Mile since the Guggenheim in 1959. In addition to other programming, the museums collaborate for the annual Museum Mile Festival, held each year in June, to promote the museums and increase visitation.

In the shopping mood?  You will not become bored with the array of shops in this stunning neighborhood.  Baccarat, Barney’s New York, La Perla, Versace, D&G, Prada, Moschino, Armani, Fred Leighton, Valentino & YSL are just a few names that call the Upper East Side home.

Nestled between these shops are great cafes and restaurants for the taking.  A favorite for mother’s and the children is Alice’s Tea Cup-a whimsical tea room with a health conscious menu and very kid-friendly.  The perfect location for a party or a family to take some time out of their busy day and relax in a comforting setting.  Other notable eateries include Fig & Olive, The Mark Restaurant by Jean Georges, Café d’Alsace, Beyoglu, Fishtail by David Burke, Parlor Steakhouse and Nica Trattoria.

Perfect for any age or family size, Central Park runs along the Upper East Side, giving residents things to do all year round!  Whether it’s ice-skating in the winter, checking out the Summer Concert Series in the summer, or taking a run in the morning, there is always something to do to keep you busy.  A favorite of locals is to be able to see the changing colors in the early Fall & the blooming of flowers in the Spring-the perfect scenery in your ‘backyard’.

There are a few new developments in the Upper East Side worth mentioning, the finest include Manhattan House, 515 E 72nd, Georgica, The Laurel and 1055 Park Avenue.

Located at 200 East 66^th Street,  Manhattan House is a landmarked Modernist icon that has been impeccably re-engineered by O’Connor Capital Partners to combine its Modernist heritage with quintessential elements of contemporary living.  Manhattan House was originally designed in 1950 by Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate architect Gordon Bunshaft of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and was designated a historic landmark in 2007 by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.  Bunshaft, the visionary behind such recognized buildings in Manhattan as Lever House and 9 West 57^th Street, based his design for Manhattan House on the Modernist principles of light, order and simplicity.  The building features gracious residences available for immediate occupancy.

515 E 72^nd Street offers a variety of homes which include one-, two- and three-bedroom residences featuring natural walnut floors and cabinetry with most boasting private outdoor balconies or terraces.  The Tower Residences, which include 45 luxury homes located on the uppermost floors, offer more expansive floor plans and sweeping East River and city views.

Located on tree-lined East 85th Street, Georgica is a brand new 20-story modern condominium offering 58 residences and the ease of just two to four residences per floor. Designed by award-winning architects, Cetra/Ruddy in a contextually sensitive palette of bronze, champagne and white, this elegantly modern aesthetic extends to the interiors by using refined materials and custom detailing.  Enter a stately 24-hour attended lobby, exercise in the modern residents-only fitness center and recreate in the Wii activity room equipped with a large screen television.

Soaring majestically over the East River on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, The Laurel Condominium rises 31 stories high with a serene facade of glass and Indiana limestone. Designed by award-winning architects Costas Kondylis & Partners, The Laurel’s facade and silhouette embody the grace and elegance of its LEED-certified construction and open, inviting layouts. Classic and contemporary, toned and refined, thought-out and full of life and spirit, The Laurel is everything you want from a Manhattan new condominium.

The Laurel incorporates a vast selection of eco-friendly elements in its construction materials as well as in the building’s many energy saving systems earning a LEED certification rating under the U.S. Green Building Council standards.  These elements include bike racks and bicycle storage, water-efficient landscaping, enhanced non-ozone depleting refrigerants and recycled content construction materials.

1055 Park Avenue is a new luxury condominium building located on the Upper East Side in the prestigious Carnegie Hill neighborhood. The building boasts floor to ceiling windows in all of its units, and residents enjoy eat-in kitchens and formal dining rooms, as well as master bedrooms and baths that are entered via a sculptural glass staircase.  1055 Park Avenue is an unparalleled rarity offering grand living on a distinguished corner, views of Park Avenue and a truly sophisticated modern design – including unique fritted glass exterior, homes with light filled-exposures and striking interior finishes