Renters and buyers who are keen to find an apartment in Manhattan but who may have a more frugal budget might want to consider the quickly gentrifying Morningside Heights, as the area is still a relative bargain compared to other Manhattan neighborhoods. For starters, this New York neighborhood features two famous colleges, two notable churches, two seminaries, and the answer to a perennial trivia question all within walking distance of each other.
Get off at the 116th Street stop on the 1 train and you'll find yourself at Columbia University, Manhattan's contribution to the Ivy Leagues. The college's self-contained campus is both sizable and surprisingly verdant, with well-manicured lawns that rival some of the smaller parks in the downtown area. Directly adjacent to the Columbia campus is its "sister" school, Barnard College. Originally begun as an alternative to Columbia's now-defunct all-male admissions policy, the school is still strictly female.
Mere blocks away from Columbia and Barnard, you'll find the immense Cathedral of St. John the Divine and the smaller Riverside Church. For those looking to gain more spiritual insight than just a visit to a church, either the Union Theological or Jewish Theological Seminaries should be just right for you. As its name suggests, Jewish Theological teaches strictly Judaism, while the liberal Union Theological is one of a growing number of nondenominational seminaries.
Finally, the answer to the trivia question is: Grant and his wife, Julia. Grant's Tomb has recently undergone extensive renovation, and the domed structure is now free of the graffiti that had made it an eyesore. If you want to know more about the history of the monument, there are knowledgeable park service employees on hand willing to help.
Because this neighborhood is further removed from its downtown counterparts, it tends to draw less of the bridge and tunnel crew on weekends. The nearby campuses ensure that things pick up when class is over for the week, and both St. John's and Riverside Church host numerous community events throughout the year. With all the area offers, it is fast becoming one of the true gems of the West Side and a fine neighborhood in which to seek an apartment in New York.
