NabeWise

This neighborhood is interesting. I moved there without any history of the area and just had to make the discoveries as I went. The area is located on the lower east side of Manhattan. The transportation in and out of the area is primarily just by the L, 4, 5, and 6 trains, as well as buses. While the area is very disconnected from the subway system in many areas, it does have its perks. Rent in the area is usually lower than most other neighboring areas.

The area is also very old, as many of the buildings have yet to remodeled. The same tenants could easily have been in the buildings for decades. My building alone was at least 100 years old when I moved into it. If you are looking to move to this area you can benefit from this. Finding a roommate who has been living in the same apartment for years in Manhattan means that the rent is usually substantially lower than it would be if you were to walk in as a new tenant.

As for crime in the area that is debatable. Online crime maps do not paint a pleasant picture for the area, but the area is improving. Avenues A through D used to be known as Alphabet City years back, and at that time crime was rampant in the area. This is no longer the case, though crime does still exist. I know that even my six-story walk-up apartment was robbed through the fire escape a few years before I moved in.

As for walking outside though I almost always felt safe. I am a small female, so I wouldn’t have moved to the area if I didn’t feel comfortable walking around outside at any hour of the night. While I wouldn’t go for a stroll on Avenue C & D still, the rest of the East Village doesn’t give the same impression.

When I first moved to the area it felt like the area was dead and that it was purely residential. It wasn’t until I went out late in the evening that I found how wrong I had been. The streets are full of late-night establishments and restaurants that cater to students and young professionals.

So, overall I would say that the area isn’t a bad place to live. If you don’t mind a hike to the subway in the morning you should definitely consider this area.

I live on 11th St, across from Webster Hall, so basically the line between the villages. It is a great location, super cool and serene. There is always something going on, but you can always escape to Tompkins Square Park or Alphabet City if you want. Not to mention how much cheaper the East Village is than the West Village, for just as much activity and culture! I really wouldn’t want to live anywhere else, and it is by far my favorite place to walk around. As for safety, don’t go past Avenue C at night and you will be fine.

East Village has a great vibrancy to it – mostly stemming from the energy of the young and musical types that hang out on the streets and bars 24-7. Although chain stores and restaurants are creeping in and adding a bit of dullness to the edgy and punky scene that dominated this neighborhood for ages, it still retains it’s identity as a place to be for upcoming bands to get their start, for locals to get a cheap drink in dim-lit dive bars, or for a tourist getting a souvenir at a local tattoo shop.

Regardless of the punk-rock image it wears so well, it’s completely safe and the crime it experience din the past is no longer a lingering black eye for this area. It’s more of a tale told by the locals that have lived there for twenty plus years and are appreciating how far the neighborhood has come. That said, nearby Thompkins Square Park has a great dog run but it’s best to avoid it’s dark paths after 10 pm at night.

If you are under 25 and consider yourself independent or against the grain in any way, this is where you’ll spend way too many of your weekend nights. Enjoy it, there is never a slow night in the East Village. It will turn the most novice newcomer into a true New Yorker in no time.

Pretty much everyone comes to East Village to hang out at one point or another. It’s often said that upper East/West siders come down to pretend to be “slumming it”, though the rents can be just as expensive. Edgier Brooklyn types may also scoff at how played out it is, but there’s no way they’re not here for a gallery, show, meal or drinks on a regular basis. I still think it’s the center of NYC cultural life. Plus, all the transient partiers and scenesters keep alive the crazy, unpredictable vibe for which this place is famous.
Living here is great as well. There are all kinds of people here, and it’s friendly to everyone from families to rockers. I’d add that with the recent trouble in the economy, the area has actually taken a turn for the better. There’s a bit less people going absolutely nuts down here on the weekends, while rents have become (just a little) better for the creative set.

I spend a lot of time around the East Village, having worked around there a few years ago, and I love it. There’s so many awesome bars that feature excellent craft beer, and just as many great little restaurants. `Smac is a must for anyone who like macaroni and cheese, and Jimmy’s No. 43 is one of my all time favorite places for a pint. I’m not sure that I could ever afford to live here, or that I would really enjoy living here, but it’s sure a fun place to spend a Friday night.

One of the first places I’d ever been when I came to New York as an adult to visit friends was the East Village. We specifically went down to hit Pommes Frites because what is better than fries right? My experience down there is that there are a ton of great places to eat, bars to hit like McSorley’s (seriously, even if you’ve lived in the city your entire life you need to be at McSorley’s), and things to do. East Village is the kind of place you think of when you’re thinking of Manhattan.

What happened to the East Village? All these hipsters with their skinny jeans and coke habits walking around really get on my nerves. Luxury condos? Whole Foods? This neighborhood has completely lost its edge. It used to be a great place for artists, and now you can only live here (or anywhere in Manhattan, for that matter), if you’re one of the ten people that still make millions on Wall Street. Good for developers, bad for everyone that used to live here.

Everyone is so stylish around here. I love the East Village, especially hanging out around St. Marks. My dorm is right on Second Avenue, and I can get anything I want within five blocks. I’m right by Union Square for shopping, plenty of restaurants on 2nd and 1st, and there’s lots of little hideaways in Alphabet City.