East 84th St, Yorkville

Gracie Square reminds me of Sutton Place a lot. It's equally as beautiful and somewhat resembles a real neighborhood with free standing houses instead of massive skyscrapers. This area is a welcome respite on the Upper East Side seeing as the UES is predominantly massively tall, new buildings. Gracie Mansion is in Gracie Square and it is really quite a sight. It's odd to see so many beautiful old homes in the midst of all of this steel when you're coming down the river or the highway. They seem like they don't belong and at the same time, it's very New York.
Whenever I think of this area, I think of Gossip Girl (don't judge me). I think it's because the two big time private schools for which their school is based are both in Gracie Square. One is called Chapin and the other's name eludes me. But, these are the cream of the crop high schools where only the elite go and most of the kids are pretty much guaranteed entrance into an Ivy College. The tuition of these schools rivals that of a private university so only the rich kids can go there. I would be afraid to send my kid to a school with a bunch of other kids that have no concept of money, but then again, I wouldn't want my kid going to school in New York at all. You have to start sending in applications for preschool when you're kid is still in the womb which is just crazy. But, that is pretty telling of the kind of people that live in this neighborhood. It's really beautiful but it is incredibly snooty. It's only old money (in my opinion) whereas at least some actors and athletes have been known to live in Sutton Place.
The other thing that is less than desirable about Gracie Square is that it is really isolated from restaurants, shopping, bars and any sort of convenience. Being that most people walk everywhere in the city, if you live here, you had better have a driver. Luckily, to live here, you would have to be able to afford one . . .

Carl Schurz Park , which starts at Gracie Square and goes up past Gracie Mansion, along the East River, is one of Manhattan's less-known treasures. The park has a great Parks Department gardener, well-supported by donors, neighborhood volunteers, and the non-profit Carl Schurz Park Association.
In April there are thousands of daffodils. They were planted in autumn, 2001, part of a gift to the city from Dutch bulb growers and the city of Rotterdam, as condolence for September 11. In May comes the flowering of a famous colonnade of cherry trees at the eastern end of 86th street. At all times of year, on sunny days, you'll see people sitting on benches along the East River esplanade. A half-mile jog or bike ride north takes you to a bridge to Randall's Island, which has bike paths, soccer fields, and new Parks Department plantings along the river.
Asphalt Green is one of the good points of the neighborhood. Good yoga, pilates, and other classes, plus weight rooms and machines. It has the best swimming pool in Manhattan.
Prices in the area are good right now. One Gracie and Ten Gracie are the legendary buildings. Irving Berlin lived at One Gracie when he was writing the words and music for Annie Get Your Gun. Madame Chiang Kai-Shek lived in Ten Gracie until her death at age 105.