72nd Street (1, 2, 3)

This antique-styled station brings you to the point where Amsterdam and Broadway cross over each other, creating a wide X shape that allows for broad views of the very large buildings in the area, the bottom floors of which host big stores like a Trader Joe’s and a Bloomingdale’s Outlet.

Spot the station entrance - it’s the only squat building in the picture!

The people buzzing about this stop are mostly residents who range from early-career professionals to white-haired elders. In general, the architecture has a slightly-fancy, old-money feel.

Visible from the station, The Ansonia apartment building has fancy architectural details that are worth seeing up close if that’s the kind of thing you like.

Many of the sidewalks seem to be permanently scaffolded. How did I come to this conclusion? Because the scaffolding was there 10 years ago, and I’m pretty sure it’ll still be there 10 years from now. After all, why take down the scaffolding when invariably another window will need washing?

I liked it here.

To get a real feel for the area, I recommend visiting Picky Barista. It’s a cute cafe with good wifi and seating, and it feels like a true local hangout spot. Due to the white/high-SES demographic of the area (except for the construction workers that, like the scaffolding, seem to be a permanent fixture of the area), I prejudged the Picky Barista to be a hub for white professionals.

However, I was pleasantly surprised to see multicultural patrons including construction workers and people of varying races. There was a mix of people chatting and working, so whether you bring a book or a friend, you’ll fit right in.

The interior of the Picky Barista.