Trip has them rated very high and says the neighborhood is great, but every top hotel they say is in a great neighborhood. With that said I'm a New Yorker, I wouldn't say 78th and 5th is in the thick of things, but 78th and 3rd is.
For Soho, what are some solid blocks? Excited to go and I truly admire you for going out of your way to help ppl enjoy BA. Thanks.