East 3 St, Bowery

East 3rd Street starts off with a bang at the Bowery Hotel. I love this place. Granted, I've never stayed there . . .because I live in the city so I don't really stay in hotels. But, the hotel has done a pretty magnificent job of duplicating the decor of the old style of buildings that used to be the dominant aesthetic of the neighborhood. You really feel like you have stepped back in time when you walk into the lobby. The back patio and the front great room are both amazing places to meet friends for drinks -- depending on what season you're in. Gemma is the restaurant attached to the hotel and I love this place. It has great food, a great vibe and it manages (like the hotel) to mix this new rocker vibe with the old world. The building is pretty great all around. The corner of 3rd and 2nd Ave is exciting to me because out of the all of the old and beautiful buildings on this block, this is where Phillip Glass lives! I'm pretty obsessed with his music. I even endured The Bacchae at Shakespeare in the Park last year because he composed for it -- anyone who saw that can concur, it was boring as hell. I'm not going to stalk him, but maybe someone else will as my proxy.

The New York headquarters of Hell's Angels is at 77 3rd street. You can't miss it. I hear that these boys aren't as dangerous / scary as they were in the days of yore. But, I don't know that I'd want to live anywhere near them all the same.

Once you get into Alphabet City, there are a lot of little bars and restaurants that are usually packed with the young and hip that took over the neighborhood. Mama's food shop is on the corner of B and 3rd. It's a pretty well kept secret in the neighborhood. I don't think I've ever seen a tourist in here. The prices are still unbelievably low. And, the place is very cozy. There's also a taco shop across the street that's pretty great.

Nuyorican Poets is right here as well. I've never actually been to see the poetry but I go for The Moth all the time and it's one of my favorite things to do in the city. The Moth is a must-do for any New Yorker in my opinion.

It's a pretty eclectic street and a little dirty but if you're young, it's a pretty happening street.