Citi Habitats' exclusive Upper West Side Neighborhood Guide is an extensive then and now look at the Upper West Side.

The Upper West Side melds a mixture of families, single professionals, even seniors together into one desirable neighborhood. And with the proximity to Columbia University, it's not surprising that many current and former students want to live here. One can go out to eat in some of the city's finest world-famous restaurants, sip coffee in the trendiest cafes, browse the fashionable stores, or venture to Central Park West to enjoy an afternoon of activity or people-watching.

A 1990s renaissance of the Upper West Side has fed the neighborhood with continuously-opening bars, restaurants, comedy clubs and gyms, attracting more social and artistic residents. They are well-off enough to enjoy life's finest, yet the atmosphere is more relaxed. As for quiet, many of the side residential streets are very much so…but venture onto Broadway, and the streets are hopping all day and night.