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I had posted before inquiring about schools in Hastings, etc.
My daughter and I were up over Memorial Day weekend and spent some time in Hastings. I looked at a rental apartment and a co-op (to buy). I decided to go with the rental because I can get it quicker - the co-op wouldn't close in time to get my daughter registered for school.
Even though I spent the majority of my time in Hastings on Memorial day itself, there were some merchants open and people were generally friendly and started conversations with us. People walking in the residential areas were friendly (we drove around quite a bit checking out the area). I met the educational consultant I worked with and she was just as great in person as she's been long-distance. She spoke to the director of special ed in Hastings about my daughter, who seemed fairly receptive of our situation, but we have to get moved in and be residents before we can register and do anything official.
My friend took us to Stew Leonards. I really loved that place! We have a local family run grocery chain down here that I will miss somewhat (excellent "home cooked" prepared foods, etc.), but SL's may be a decent replacement. It was mobbed, and my friend told me it was a "light" crowd for a weekend.
I think something I like about Hastings is the fact that it is a bit sleepy and uncongested, so it will be a good respite from coming home from work in the city or battling the roadways running errands on the weekends.
My daughter takes latin ballet here in Virginia, and I found the Ballet Hispanico in the upper west side of the city. In the fall the young kid's classes are all on Saturday, so that will be our weekly jaunt together into the city.
anyway, thanks for all the advice. I hope this all works out as well as I think it is.
I'm sure my friend in Hastings can help me with this, but as I posted my last thread, I feel compelled to ask this "brain trust" - what is the best way to get to W. 89th St. in the City from Hastings on Saturdays?
My daughter will be taking dance at the ballet hispanico there on Saturdays. Hastings has a metrorail north stop but in the city it only stops at 125th street in Harlem and Grand Central. I am thinking that I would just as well off to drive in, I can probably find free parking on the street in that neighborhood on a Saturday?
driving in is really easy. you just take the sawmill parkway straight down (turns into henry hudson parkway) and get off at 96 street exit and you're right there. you can probably find metered parking in that neighborhood. Totally free parking is booked usually on weekends. The drive is about 20-25 minutes with no traffic.
I had posted before inquiring about schools in Hastings, etc.
My daughter and I were up over Memorial Day weekend and spent some time in Hastings. I looked at a rental apartment and a co-op (to buy). I decided to go with the rental because I can get it quicker - the co-op wouldn't close in time to get my daughter registered for school.
Even though I spent the majority of my time in Hastings on Memorial day itself, there were some merchants open and people were generally friendly and started conversations with us. People walking in the residential areas were friendly (we drove around quite a bit checking out the area). I met the educational consultant I worked with and she was just as great in person as she's been long-distance. She spoke to the director of special ed in Hastings about my daughter, who seemed fairly receptive of our situation, but we have to get moved in and be residents before we can register and do anything official.
My friend took us to Stew Leonards. I really loved that place! We have a local family run grocery chain down here that I will miss somewhat (excellent "home cooked" prepared foods, etc.), but SL's may be a decent replacement. It was mobbed, and my friend told me it was a "light" crowd for a weekend.
I think something I like about Hastings is the fact that it is a bit sleepy and uncongested, so it will be a good respite from coming home from work in the city or battling the roadways running errands on the weekends.
My daughter takes latin ballet here in Virginia, and I found the Ballet Hispanico in the upper west side of the city. In the fall the young kid's classes are all on Saturday, so that will be our weekly jaunt together into the city.
anyway, thanks for all the advice. I hope this all works out as well as I think it is.
Good schools. Very cliquish. Kids and parents. Bit of an eclectic mix of people which makes it interesting though. Also, you can basic ally walk anywhere in town.
The special ed department was good but essentially had a one-size fits all approach that didn't work for us.
The best way to get to the west side on a Saturday is probably to drive if you're going someplace you can park. Half hour by car maybe.
Train is probably 38 minutes to Grand Central then another 20 minutes to get to UWS depending where you're going.
I love Stews. I have never been unhappy with anything purchased there. There is such a quick turnaround that everything is always super fresh.
Hastings is a pretty laid back place to live though.
Kevrltr - my real estate agent and the ed consultant both said you have to be actually residing before they'll register you - apparently they've had problems with people trying to get kids in from other places - both they both said HOH is very strict about that. Besides, even if I did put in a contract for the co-op, we wouldn't have any place to live until we closed.
I'm thinking we can move up, get settled, get a job, and if that co-op is still on the market then buy it. my realtor said "any lease can be broken!". it probably helps that he's the broker for the apartment!
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getting to the upper west side from Hastings
