East 37th St, Murray Hill

East 37th starts off pretty depressing, but, unlike a lot of the streets in the neighborhood, it actually turns around. There are a couple of luxury high rises right on the East river that I'm sure are lovely with great views, but there's something about not having any sort of neighborhood convenience or local spots that turns me off to living on a block like this. It's just a couple of apartment buildings and then not much else. I also think that makes for a somewhat dangerous block. When there aren't people out at night on the street, it's a little bit scary.
The Queens Midtown tunnel takes up the street until 3rd Avenue which sort of adds to the nothingness of the street at the start. I also think it adds to the scare factor of having to walk home if you live in one of the buildings on the water. And, there's also an insane amount of traffic -- there's just no pedestrian traffic to speak of. Once you cross 3rd, though, a bit of neighborhood starts to take shape. There's a cool southern cooking restaurant and a little wine shop right on the corner as well as a lone standing, beautiful brownstone and a burger joint.
Across Lex, there are a series of gorgeous brrownstones mixed in with a couple of pretty apartment buildings. This block almost looks like a Village block and it's really a delightful surprise when walking from the east. And, the block at Park is even more beautiful. Almost the entire block is tree-lined and filled with brownstones and townhouses though many of the homes are no longer private residences. This is the area that the Murray Mansion used to be (the namesake of the neighborhood) and much of the original "neighbors" have remained. One of the townhouses is the home to the Union Club which is a weird sort of Republican club with alumni that include the likes of Teddy Roosevelt. The Morgan Musuem is also in one of the townhouses. This museum is a fantastic little treasure trove of original manuscripts from Dickens, Thoreau, etc and the building itself is quite the sight. This block is so beautiful, it's hard to imagine that you're this close to midtown.
There are a few little bars in the area and the architecture is great. It's not one of my ideal streets to live on but it's definitely one of the best in the neighborhood.

Just a few blocks south of the United Nations, this street gets increasingly residential as you head towards the East River, with the western end of the street clustered with office and commercial buildings. The atmosphere is laid-back, with plenty of preppy bars to appeal to the Murray Hill set, (check out Better Burger and Margarita Murray's or two places to reminisce with old Deerfield buddies), as well as slightly classier venues designed to appeal to the diplomatic types hanging about the UN, such as the Wharf Bar and Grill. The atmosphere here is, by and large, not family-friendly, although the United Nations International School is popular with diplomats' kids. Rather, you're more likely to find young twenty-somethings who all know (and have hooked up with) each other, living on a cushy combination of finance-job bonuses and parental support. It can be fun, for those into the lifestyle, but those seeking either Old World elegance or arty bohemia would be advised to look elsewhere.

Making its way towards the city's unofficial diplomatic village, East 37th Street's character is largely defined in terms of its proximity to the U.N. The crowd here is international and cosmopolitan - sophisticated enough to enjoy a drink or two, but hard-working (and often old) enough to want to be in bed by midnight. This gives rise to a curiously mature bar and restaurant scene scene, with old standbys like the Rare Bar and Grill, the kitschy-but-established Duke's New York, the Silver Leaf Tavern, and the bar at the Kitano - places that, while by no means "trendy," nevertheless draw a consistent crowd. Proud parents will celebrate the proximity to the prestigious United Nations School, while foodies will enjoy the cheap, trattoria-style dining that fills this neighborhood, including Sarge's Deli and Josie's East Side. The area may not be the most happening in town, but it's a well-situated family and young couple neighborhood that's particularly convenient for diplomatic- and U.N.-types.