Back in 1995, a good friend of mine lived near 86th and Amsterdam, which is in the Upper West Side. That's exactly the area that comes to my mind for what you are describing Lynn -- attractive, interesting, safe area. Nice enough that a couple of young, single, professional women would want to share an apartment there, but not so expensive that they couldn't afford it. (Especially since they were subletting a rent controlled apartment from a friend of a friend -- a fairly common practice in my understanding.)
Kathy
