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Mid 1970s on the Upper West Side: Rocking cars, red lights… too far north?

Mid 1970s on the Upper West Side: Rocking cars, red lights… too far north?

1970s Mid, FEATURED, Upper West Side

A man came running up to us screaming, “Did you see the person who just drove off in that station wagon? My car was just stolen!” This was an eye-opening experience, and as I started to pay more attention to my new neighborhood, I realized that ten blocks made a big difference in 1976, and I was not in “Kansas” anymore.

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Eras | Neighborhoods

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Lived in NYC, Now I Just Read About It...
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If you ever lived in New York City, reading about the city in books has SO much more resonance. S...

NYC books we've read

Rules of Civility
Astonish Me
The Bonfire of the Vanities
Triburbia
A Visit from the Goon Squad
Three Junes
The Interestings
The Age of Innocence
The Goldfinch
The Glass Castle
Netherland
Falling Man


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Featured stories

  • Mid 1960s on the Upper West Side: Nice Catholic girls, lava lamps, and small claims court

  • Mid 1980s on the Upper East Side: Dumping ground, dissed at Elaine’s, and an eviction

  • Early 1990s on the Upper West Side: Transient hotel, the Apology Line, and a general cacophony

  • Late 1980s in The Village: Sweaty nights, soap opera priorities, and a tennis-playing grandma

  • New York in 2013: Going back to the first apartments of future mayoral rivals

Recent comments

  • 1stAptNYC on Calling all nostalgists: Join the #SaveNYC movement
  • Laura E Kelly on Early 1970s on the Upper East Side: Cheap rent, back-stabbing roomies, and guilty memories
  • Mike P. on Late 1980s in The Village: Armless mannequins, double futons, and strange old men
  • Passer_Solomon on 1980s in Astoria: Lookalike burglars, tough mice, and a generous Greek guy
  • Ron on Late 1970s Madonna: The smell of NYC, rape on a rooftop, and inspired by Frida Kahlo

Eras | Neighborhoods

1960s Early 1960s Late 1960s Mid 1970s Early 1970s Late 1970s Mid 1980s Early 1980s Late 1980s Mid 1990s Early 2000s Late 2010s Mid Astoria Celebrity Neighbor Chelsea Debbie Harry Downtown East Village ERA FEATURED Financial District Madonna NEIGHBORHOOD NYC REAL ESTATE Soho STORY The Village Tribeca Union Square Upper East Side Upper West Side Yorkville

Ah, memories

eviction • Matt Lauer • garbage out window • toilet in the hall • burglar • pink bathroom • stolen car • loft • Woody Allen • West End Avenue • Saint Anthony's Feast • Steinway Street • crime • walk-in closet • young couple • John Guare • Elaine’s • too hot • saveNYC • Greek diner • walkup • expensive • sleeping loft • ladies of the night • noisy • uptown • elevator troubles • Soho • walk-up • giant African bullfrog • mice • nostalgia • red-light district • NYU • punk rock • Maxwell’s Plum • Bob Dylan • Astoria • illegal sublet • Yorkville • brownstone • laundry • Mafia • sausage and peppers • The Odeon • museum • roaches • upper east side • heat • railroad flat

About

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Laura E. Kelly is the storyteller-in-chief of this site. Read about the genesis of the site and visit Contact to send in your story or ask a question.

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