Avenue A, East Village

Avenue A is about as cool kid as you can get in the East Village. There is so much to do on Avenue A, you couldn't cover it in a week. It used to be the border of Meth town, but now, A is young and lively (read: loud). There are great little restaurants and bars and it's one of the few areas that maintains the energy and look of what you expect New York to be before you ever come here. I love this area.
A starts at Stuy Town which is a whole mess of a living structure. From about 14th to 12th, this area is ugly and kind of scary, so I'm gonna start my impression of A a little bit south of the Stuy. 11th and A marks a happening restaurant called Westville East. There are a couple of Westvilles and they are pretty jamming all the time. I've been to all of them (though the original is the closest to me) and I have never been disappointed. It is a fantastic lunch spot but I've enjoyed many dinners there as well. A block south of here at, you guessed it, 10th is Tompkins Square Park. It's a cute park that has great movie nights in the summer that are always NY themed. I wouldn't be at this park late at night but I rather enjoy it during the day.
There are a ton of little restaurants peppering Avenue A, and it's hard to tell which one is better than the next. So, Benny's and Two Boots are my recommendation for people who want to play it safe. I could be shanked for this, but Two Boots Pizza is actually my favorite pizza in New York. You can't go wrong with that deliciousness. 5th and A houses Sing Sing Karaoke. I have spent a lot of long hours here in karaoke booths with friends. I actually went here with a friend after some day drinking and we didn't emerge until we had covered all of Air Supply's greatest hits and it was pitch black out. Ahhh, Sing Sing. There's also a great bar just a few blocks down that has no sign on it. Everyone calls it 2A and it's definitely a local haunt but I've never had a boring time there. Most of the bars and restaurants on A are cheap and fun, but it's definitely a young, rowdy and grungier crowd than even other parts of the East Village. I love this area and I would totally live here -- but, I would live on a number street rather than the actual Avenue.

While much of the East Village has fallen prey to the Bridge and Tunnel emo set - with underage Goths in dark eyeliner and white face paint raiding once-great record stores (while several of the St. Mark's Street alternative clothing vendor standbys have gone under) - parts of this area maintain its bohemian charm. It's less the anarchic artistry of Rent, however, that makes this area still viable, than a quieter, funkier charm. The East Village, with its Ukranian population and selection of affordable, kitschy boutiques and flea market-style shops, has some of the city's best shopping and dining, and nowhere is this more evident than off the beaten track, on East 5th Street. A stone's throw from your doorstep, you'll have access to one of the city's best Moroccan restaurants (cafe Mogador), an outstanding Indian restaurant (Banjara), French (Chez Jules), and Ukanian (Veselka), all priced well under average for the admittedly upscale city. The area is not the most white-glove in the world, but it's certainly safe and has a welcoming community feel - a far cry from the heroin addicts and crack junkies that used to roam the streets. Sometimes gentrification can be a very good thing indeed.

The western beginning of "Alphabet City" the stretch of four north-south city blocks in Lower Manhattan, east of the traditional "numbering" system, Avenue A (memorialized in "Rent" as metonymy for East Village bohemia) has a long history of alternative culture and activism, mostly reaching a crescendo in the New York artistic culture of the 80's and 90's, where the region was a collection of slam poetry cafes, writers' watering holes, and drug houses, although the 90's saw the area experience massive gentrifications, and you're more likely to find a family brunch in plenty of former flop houses than you are to meet a drug dealer on the tree-lined streets. While the area's less gentrified (and expensive) than, for example, the West Village, it's reasonably safe, and Avenue A in particular is known for its varied and dynamic nightlife and restaurant scene, with such culinary options as the delicious Yuca Bar, semi-outdoors Sidewalk Cafe, still-going boho hangout Odessa Cafe, and low-key Porchetta LLC. The presence of Tompkins Square park nearby provides for some leaves and greenery, however limited, but overall this is still a neighborhood for the outgoing night owls, not babes in arms.

I must admit, I love the East Village! There is so much to do, see, eat, etc. all in a 3 mile radius! This is definitely the place to be to see all that's hopping. Avenue A and East 10th is where to go for your morning run in Tompkins Park. This park is like a little Central Park and is always teeming with activities, races, etc.
Now, the food. Where do I begin? There is food from all over that is accessible to you. Probably not the best place for older, or those with kids - it does get pretty loud at night - depending who is around you, of course.

The beginning of the alphabet, and a rightful start to your visit in Alphabet City. Avenue A has awesome cafes, restaurants, bars, a giant park, and a good chance you'll hear some live tunes. It's loud, often messy, and rowdy until all hours of the night - but totally worth going to. Westville on 11th St. serves up ridiculously good food. San Loco btw 9th and 10th is a Mexican delight. Enjoy it the way the locals would, cruising along in the bike line while wearing newly purchased clothes from the local vintage store. Rock on!

Even though as you walk through most of Alphabet City these days, you will notice that there is an influx of Polish and Ukrainian establishments, there are some rare gems in this area which makes it one visiting point that is not to be missed. Although the Lower East Side can be known as the Ukrainian Ghetto, it is still quite welcoming and you can find some surprisingly good Sushi here. If you’re in the mood for Mexican, Benny’s Burritos, although a little dirty, offers up some great make-your-own nachos or quesadillas specials! Not to mention the fun happy hour drinks to go along.

It was my lucky day today on Avenue A . RENT FANS: you are home! This street so beautifully expresses the character of the East Village: diversity, diversity, diversity! diversity in terms of housing: huge lofts or small overpriced bachelor pads. Diversity in terms of people: people of all races, creeds, ages, and lifestyles! Diversity in terms of food and fun... the following are my personal favorites: Niagara has a great sidewalk bar. Hi-fi bar (see my review of East 12th st) Samba Le (Brazilian and Italian fusion!), the Pyramid Club and the Yuca Bar!

Avenue A is close to the following metro: L at 14th and is accessible to many buses. Foot traffic is moderate, and it is a good neighborhood for all people!