Small-Town NYC: Elana Schoppman on the Warmth and Wonder of the Upper East Side

By David Graver View the full issue. Elana Schoppmann was born and raised in enchanting Carnegie Hill. Schoppmann left to attend university and returned home to the Upper East Side where she now raises her children. Schoppmann—a Pinnacle Award Winner in 2023 for rising to the number 11 agent by sales volume in New York City—has a leading role in the sale of upscale cooperatives and new developments. What are the most appealing attributes to Upper East Side living? I love the neighborhood feel of the Upper East Side. My family all lives here. I have two young daughters. We’ve created such a warm community with other parents that live here, even our husbands have become friends. We’ve really created a nice group of people that we can rely on. Paint a picture of the neighborhood you live in. What does it look like? When I walk out my front door, it feels so homey. Everybody says hi to one another. It doesn’t have the hustle and bustle of Times Square. There are trees. There are playgrounds. We have a dog and there are dog parks. It’s user-friendly for my lifestyle. Would you say that the Upper East Side defies stereotypes? As a young mom, I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. It just feels like it’s the best of both worlds: you have access to amazing programs for the kids and within a few blocks of where you live, you will find something to do with your whole family. Everywhere I go, I bump into someone I know and I love it. Can you shed some light on your listings? Because I grew up here and because my network is really on the Upper East Side, that’s probably 75% of my business. I love helping first-time home buyers find their apartments. I think that’s so exciting because it’s the biggest purchase most of these people have ever made. I love helping people like me, who are growing their family and need more space, who might be moving out of their current home because they need another bedroom. We can go find them their dream home. I also love helping with estate sales. These sales require extra love and care because I am helping when families are selling apartments after they lost a family member and they want to find a buyer who will love a space as much as their family member did. The space has a history and connection for them. Is there anything extraordinary of note? There is so much history on the Upper East Side. One of my recent listings is in a historical building where Jackie Robinson had an office at one point in time. 17 East 63rd Street is a duplex apartment within a limestone brownstone. It is almost 5,000 square feet. It has a ballroom-sized living room and a ballroom-sized bedroom. You almost want to wear a ballgown to sit on the couch and watch TV. It used to be a single-family home back in 1901. Over time, it became a co-op. When you enter, you are transported back in time. Do you have any thoughts on UES architecture? I love pre-war. Pre-war architecture got it right. You have high ceilings and closet space. You have square rooms, which are the perfect shape for decorating. The Upper East Side has that history, which you just can’t duplicate. Is there something you feel like people need to know about the Upper East Side? We are getting all the cool new restaurants. They’re opening here. You get so much more for your quality of life. And yes, you’re close to Central Park but you’re also close to Carl Schurz Park. It’s a well-kept secret. Do you have any personal recommendations you’d like to share? One of my favorite restaurants is Elio’s. I went to school with Elio. For Mexican, Toloache is my go-to. I love to go back to many of the same places. Alice’s Tea Cup is a really cute place to take my kids. It’s like a little tea party. When you have two kids under five, you find your places. We also order in. We love Delizia for pizza and Bagelworks for bagels. Bel Ami is the best hot chocolate and coffee and sugar cookies, which our kids all love.