Ave C, Stuyvesant Town

While much of the East Village has undergone major gentrification in the last few years, the eastern part of Alphabet City still very much resembles the neighborhood from around the time of Rent. It's pretty gritty still. Having said that, there are a lot of hole in the wall eateries and bars that are still inexpensive, lively and pretty good. It's a lot more expensive here than it was just three years ago, but you can find pretty cool apartments for not much, rent-wise. And, the weekends see a vibrant nightlife scene. One of my best friends lives off of Avenue C and she has a great apartment. But, it's across the street from a project and I was pretty scared walking out of her building on a weeknight after 12. It was completely dead on the streets and this neighborhood is still pretty ugly. But, the buildings are old and cool, and if you're young, it's a fun place to hang.
The back end of Stuy Town and Peter Cooper Village are marked by Avenue C. The apartments in this developments are huge and not terribly pricey considering the square footage and amenities. But, the surrounding terrain is pretty scary. The Con Edison building is right here, leaving the neighborhood looking like an industrial wasteland. Not picturesque to say the least. . .
The Village East Pizzeria has been around for a while now, and I have to say, the pizza is pretty good and I'm a tough critic. It's far better than anything the west village has to offer, in my opinion. There's a little tavern just down the street (on the corner of 10th) that's pretty low key and I have often enjoyed myself there. There are also a couple of latin based cuisine holes that are always crowded and I keep reminding myself that I have to try. The block between 8th and 9th is covered in great restaurants and bars. And, the apartment buildings in this area are lovely if maybe a little bit run down. There are a lot of trees, a few gardens and Tompkins is just a block away. If you can do walkups, this is a great place to live.
The intersection of C and 5th used to be the biggest heroin dealing block in the city. Now it has a beautiful garden, a bunch of great music venues and a couple of lively little restaurants. This area just reeks of cool. There are always people around and they're all pretty young. If you want a place to hang out and go bar hopping, I will always recommend this area over the Lower East Side. It's, somehow, cleaner and though it is equally as crowded, it just seems a little bit less hipster and punk kid ridden to me.

A recent return trip to the East Village provoked, alongside a sense of nostalgia, a sense of extreme disappointment. Restaurants I had once loved and recommended to friends as a prime example of what "real" New York was like - hidden, inexpensive holes-in-the-wall serving phenomenal food from unlikely cultural fusions - had jacked up their prices; "bohemian" hideaways were now filled with established thirty-something couples brunching and discussing kitchen renovations (The cost of a studio on East 10th street? $2395, well on par with UES rentals). The East Village, while its relative lack of aesthetic charm still suggests some grittiness, has officially become gentrified. That said, if you head a bit further east, Alphabet City still offers some of what the East Village proper has finally given up for good: fabulous culinary options, an authentic neighborhood feel, and rents that don't rival the Upper East Side. A thriving Puerto Rican community gives the East Village a genuine family feel that other nearby avenues lack - with everything from two community gardens to an authentic "punk squat". Sports fans will appreciate the avenue's painted bike lane, one of the city's best outside of the West Side Highway. With charming restaurants and a laid-back feel, Avenue C is one of the last remaining "bohemian" spots in Manhattan...for now.

With a rich Hispanic heritage Avenue C houses some amazing Spanish-themed restaurants and interesting artwork. The Avenue also is home to community gardens that are nicely maintained. Street fairs are often hosted on the street giving a nod to it's true community feeling. It's nice, if not a bit off-the-wall, and overall it offers great entertainment and food.