Editorial Living: Where Fashion, Art, and Real Estate Meet on the Upper East Side

BY DAVID GRAVER

Patricia Greene Isen Lic. R.E. Salesperson Douglas Elliman

With an impeccable sense of style informed by more than 30 years in fashion and editorial, Patricia Greene Isen transformed a career as the Fashion Director for Bloomingdale’s, Director of Licensing at Calvin Klein, and as an Editor at Harper’s Bazaar into a leading role in real estate. Isen marries the learnings of her chic tenure with that of her heritage—as the daughter of a power-broker mother who excelled in the business for over 52 years—to visualize the path of her clients, and help their story unfold. Born and raised on the Upper East Side, Isen currently resides there.

What do you think makes the Upper East Side a quintessential New York City neighborhood?

You can walk forever and enjoy everything it has to offer, whether it’s the museums, shopping on Madison or Lexington Avenues, exploring the side streets which can be so charming and offer so much. I personally love all the art galleries. I love poking my head into the museums. My day is often spent showing apartments and I will break it up by stopping into a museum or an art gallery.

“The Upper East Side has all these smaller side streets that are tree-lined with old, beautiful townhouses, and unique stores.”

Why do you think the Upper East Side continues to find new residents?

The Upper East Side has all these smaller side streets that are tree-lined with old, beautiful townhouses, and unique stores. I find that although I love downtown, you can just get a lot more on the Upper East Side—and it’s quieter.

Do you have any personal recommendations for restaurants or shops and stores, even galleries, activities?

The galleries that I love to go into are Salon 94, which is the best, and Hauser & Wirth, David Zwirner, White Cube, Lévy Gorvy, Mnuchin, Gagosian, Skarstedt. They’re all on the Upper East Side.

For stores, I love Creel and Gow, KRB, Jennifer Miller Jewelry, Prada, Nili Lotan, and Clic. Then for restaurants, I love Sette Mezzo, Fleming, Elio’s, E.A.T., Kappo Masa, Three Guys, Bilboquet. I have a newsletter called CityNotes. I talk about the newest local art exhibitions, the best restaurants and the newest stores, and it’s a great go-to tool.

Can you tell me a little bit about what you see inventory- wise on the Upper East Side?

If you’re willing to renovate, that’s the opportunity right now, because you’ll get the most amount of space in a pre-war co-op building. In terms of inventory, things that are renovated are going rather quickly, but things that aren’t are sitting, creating opportunities for buyers.