Definately the sidewalk !
Cyclists are trained that sidewalk riding is bad for
some reason and think whatever that badness might be it
applies to all sidewalks everywhere just like whatever works
for their commute in California should work perfectly for yours in NYC.
Nothing is absolute. If you need the sidewalk, use it. You are obviously
an intelligent and aware person, the hypothical horrors of sidewalk riding
will not apply to you.