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Christ and Saint Stephen's Church

Christ and Saint Stephen's Church 1 Churches Lincoln Square Midtown West Upper West Side

I had no idea, when I saw a little red-roofed church nestled among the skyscrapers, that I was entering the oldest church on the Upper West Side. Christ and Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church is the result of a series of mergers between some of the oldest parishes in the city. St. Stephen’s Church was founded in 1805 and later merged with the Church of the Advent in 1873. In 1897, the congregation moved to its current location. For a long time, St. Stephen’s was a rival of the nearby Christ Church, since they were both episcopal churches and geographically very close to one another. In 1975, however, after noticing dwindling numbers among the congregations, the two churches combined.



I immediately felt a sense of calm upon entering the quiet space. There is no lobby, and so visitors enter straight into the main body of the church. Eerily glowing stained glass windows line the walls and function both as decorations and memorials. Many of the windows have the names of deceased congregation members worked into them. I was surprised and pleased to find some stained glass at the back of the church commemorating members from the 1800s. The church is clearly a place of history, harmony, and serenity.

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Christ and Saint Stephen's Church 1 Churches Lincoln Square Midtown West Upper West Side
Christ and Saint Stephen's Church 2 Churches Lincoln Square Midtown West Upper West Side
Christ and Saint Stephen's Church 3 Churches Lincoln Square Midtown West Upper West Side
Christ and Saint Stephen's Church 4 Churches Lincoln Square Midtown West Upper West Side
Christ and Saint Stephen's Church 5 Churches Lincoln Square Midtown West Upper West Side
Christ and Saint Stephen's Church 6 Churches Lincoln Square Midtown West Upper West Side
Christ and Saint Stephen's Church 7 Churches Lincoln Square Midtown West Upper West Side

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Lost Gem
Le Charlot 1 French undefined

Le Charlot

Opened by Bruno and Thierry Gelormini in 1995, Le Charlot offers the tastes and sights of French-owned Corsica complemented by "French attitude. " Light music plays, rattan chairs surround white-clothed tables, and a plethora of natural light consumes the outdoor seating, pushing inside through open windows. Locals and others strolling in from Central Park are happy to dine in this relaxed environment. Loyal to the French bistro image, Le Charlot offers fresh, colorful dishes. A favorite to many, the mussels sit in a white wine sauce, waiting to be ripped open for their concealed treasures. The artichoke special with champagne vinaigrette bares its petals, enticing one to savor every morsel while peeling away to the tender heart. Reds, whites, and greens share a plate for the Caprese salad. Adding to this calm, tasteful atmosphere, the international staff emanates with charm and good spirits, and the manager told me he was "a part of the furniture, " having worked in this restaurant from the bottom to the top. It was clear the staff had become very close, as they laughed and put their arms around each other throughout my stay. "We are a family here, " one explained, "And we are having fun serving people. "When the aspirations of the staff align with the aspirations of the guests, a restaurant is immediately more invigorated, and with bites and an ambiance resembling that of a Mediterranean island, this is the perfect side street gem to evade the fast pace of Manhattan for a little while.