I'd be happy to talk neighborhoods with you. The critical bit in NYC is not the "Avenue" (the streets that run North/South, including Broadway, Lexington, etc.), but the Cross-streets (mostly the numbered ones): i.e., Riverside Drive at 79th is very posh . . .Riverside Dr (aka RSD) around 135th, not so much. Doesn't mean it's not safe, but it's a totally different neighb.

I'd prefer to take this offline. So email me at my Official edress (Kushner.Ellen and then the gmail dot etc.) and we can talk specifics. LJ-er "rm" is also a very good resource for all this, as she's a lifetime New Yorker.