Avenue B, East Village

The further East you go in downtown Manhattan, as a general rule, the further you'll get into bona fide bohemia. This is a bit of an overstatement, of course, as very little of Manhattan is truly "bohemian," these days (even Brooklyn's by and large highly gentrified), but certainly the cafes and shops of Avenue B, in the heart of New York's "Alphabet City," are far less over-priced and more "neighborhoody" than the chic fare on offer in Greenwich Village. That isn't to say Avenue B doesn't have its share of gentrification, of course. Former women's Settlement House "Christadora" is now a condominium, and Iggy Pop is no longer titling albums after the area. But that said, there's plenty to see and do here. Fantastic, affordable ethnic finds like Casimir (where you can see and be seen with arty celebs), and the popular Zum Schneider Biergarten dot the landscape, as do standbys Buenos Aires and the Serbian Kafana - each reflecting an element of New York's diversity. Lovers of greenery will be gratified; the area is nearby not only Tompkins Square Park, but also the charming, tiny Avenue B community garden, a testament to the area's eclectic spirit.

This street is a comfortable part of the East Village – when compared to parts of the East Village closer to Washington Square it isn’t much to look at, but it still maintains a neighborhood appeal. It’s not exactly cheap to live here, though it may have been at one time. The street is populated with an assortment of characters ranging from the upscale Chinese restaurant, the hookah bar, to the deli that every neighborhood has.

I used to work at a bar on this street and the entire street was surprisingly busy at night.

The East Village is one of the least explored gems of New York City, probably due to the fact that there isn't a lot of easy subway access here. However, many buses do come here from the L stop at 14th street. The Southern reaches of Ave, particularly below Tomkins Square Park reveal an area that feels almost as though it is no longer in the city. The skyscrapers of midtown and downtown are barely visible, and there are actually low houses and trees scattered about. On Ave B and 6th street is PS 64M, which is a safe, well preserved school, where children are encouraged to develop their literary and creative skills.

Besides being safe, Ave B is also home to some of the most homey and comforting restaurants, some of which have been here for generations. It is predominantly known for being and independent/artist area, and consequently you will find many venues such as Le Souk, which is quickly becoming one of the top places for independent performers.