Lenny Kravitz Visits UES Block Where He Grew Up

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY – Did you know that Lenny Kravitz spent some of his childhood on the Upper East Side, just steps away from the Metropolitan Museum of Art?

"This is 5 East 82nd Street, where I grew up on the Upper East Side," Kravitz said, in a video posted to the social media app Instagram on Monday.

“We lived on the third floor, and it was a one-bedroom apartment. My parents gave me the bedroom and they slept on a couch in the living room," he explained.

Kravitz’s parents, who have both passed away, were actress Roxie Roker – most famous for her portrayal of Helen Willis on “The Jeffersons” – and Sy Kravitz, a reporter and television news producer.

Apartment 3 at 5 East 82nd Street, which may be the third-floor apartment Kravitz described, was rented for $11,000 in April 2024, according to StreetEasy.

“I have so many beautiful memories of this place,” Kravitz continued, in the video, which appears to have been captured at either dawn or dusk.

“So one of the beautiful things about living in this neighborhood and on this street was that I had the Metropolitan Museum of Art as my backyard“ Kravitz added, shifting the camera toward the museum, which is visible down the block.

“This building right here, 3 East 82nd Street, is where Joe Namath lived,” Kravitz continued, referring to the legendary former New York Jets quarterback.

“Right through that window was the parlor floor where I used to see him, inside, partying,” Kravitz recollected.

“And right here at the end of the block is a place that used to be called the Copper Lantern, it’s an old diner” Kravitz noted, referring to Nectar, a cafe located at the corner of 82nd Street and Madison Avenue.

“Right there at the bar is where I tied my shoe for the first time,” he added, zooming into the restaurant. “And directly across the street is the school I went to school, P.S. 6.”

“So that’s it, just wanted to show you where I came from,” Kravitz concluded.

That’s the Lenny Kravitz tour of East 82nd Street.

Do you have any memories of famous Upper East Siders out and about in the neighborhood that you’d like to share? Email michael.mcdowell@patch.com.