Indaco

E 2nd St runs from The Bowery to Avenue C. It is a residential and quiet street in the East Village. I think it is a good place where to live: It is close to the vibrant nightlife and restaurants of the Lower East Side and the Greenwich Village. One of my favorite places on E 2nd is the Russian restaurant at the corner with 2nd Ave.

Spring Street is in Soho, Manhattan. Everyday thousands of people visit its boutiques. Besides the shopping part, I find this street extremely nice. Of course, sometimes it is a little stressful to walk among all that persons but the street has nonetheless a nice atmosphere. The number of visitors is nothing if compared with the area around 42nd St and 5 Av.

Vesey Street is in the Financial District, in Manhattan. It borders the World Financial Center and the World Trade Center. Every day thousands of people pass by this street. Some of them are visitors, but the majority are commuters taking the NJ Path Train. This is not a residential area, since it mostly hosts offices. In any case, it is worth to take a walk in its surroundings, among the downtown skyscrapers.

Grand Army Plaza is in Brooklyn. It is an oval square that forms the main entrance to Prospect Park. At its center there is a beautiful Arc, similar to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Once passed through the Arc, the noise of the city is left behind and one can enjoy the beauty of Prospect Park. In summer great concerts are hosted here.

Park Place is a street in Brooklyn. I used to ride through this street on my way to Prospect Park. One thing that struck me was its greenness. It is a good residential area where to live: Close to different subway lines, and above all close to one of the best parks in New York City.

Division Ave is a street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. It stretches from Broadway to the East river. This street hosts the marvelous building of the Williamsburg branch of the Brooklyn library. I used to go there the first days I moved to Williamsburg to have free Internet access. This street is simply a perfect Brooklyn experience.

Metropolitan Ave is in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Some parts of this street are worth a visit. Between Bedford Ave and Union Ave, there are some nice restaurants and shops. My favorites are: Black Betty, Roebling Tea Room, and Spuyten Duyvil. New lofts and luxury condominiums have been built in the western part, close to the East River. The part of Metropolitan Ave close to the river is a nice area where to live in Williamsburg.

E 10th St stretches from 5 Av to Avenue D, in the East Village. My favorite part is around Tompkins Square Park. Twenty years ago, the park and its surroundings were high-crime areas. The increasing gentrification in the East Village has changed this area into a safe one. New Yorkers say that the neighborhood today has lost most of its attractiveness. It is probably true. However, my favorite Italian restaurant – Gnocco – is there. I think it is a reason good enough to sometimes visit E 10th St on Tompkins Square Park.

W 8th St is a comparably short street. It runs between Broadway and 6 Av. Like many other New York streets, it has many shops. It is not one of the nicest streets of the Greenwich Village. However, it is definitely in a great position: From here there is an easy access to New York cultural events and nightlife.

Astor Place is a single block between Broadway and Cooper Square. Many people walk along this street, because of the subway and its many shops. In the traffic island in the center of Astor Place there is a sculpture, known as the Cube, by Tony Rosenthal. This is a popular meeting place, particularly for skateboarders.

Greene St is a street in the Greenwich Village and Soho. It runs from E 8th St to Canal St. The northern part of the street hosts NYU and residential buildings. The part in Soho has nice boutiques, which are not included in the major tourist routes. I enjoy walking around Greene St: Indeed, it is in a beautiful area.

E 9th St runs from Avenue D to 5 Av. It is mostly a residential street and in its western side hosts some NYU buildings and offices. At the corner with 3 Av, there is an excellent bookstore, where one can find almost every book (at least for what concerns books in English). I find this street slightly noisier then other streets in the East Village.

W 22nd St in a street in Chelsea. It stretches from Broadway to the Hudson River. It is a residential street, with beautiful red brick buildings and townhouses. I walked there on a Sunday, and had a good feeling about this street. Between 8 Av and 10 Av, I mostly met families and people walking their dogs. That made me suppose that W 22nd St is a quiet street, perfect for families. Between 10 Av and 11 Av (where I was heading to) there is a long row of art galleries – the famous Chelsea art galleries. I am not sure whether there are apartments available in this part of the street, but it is worth to check it out.

Bond St runs from Broadway to The Bowery. It is a beautiful residential street. The part between Broadway and Lafayette retains its original Belgian block paving. New luxury condominiums have appeared between Lafayette and The Bowery. It is overall a quiet street but definitely has a typical NYC atmosphere.
I am not sure whether it is easy to find an apartment in this area, but, if one can afford it, it is definitely a good idea to live in Bond St.

W 11th St is a street in the Greenwich Village. It extends from 5th Ave to the Hudson River. This street hosts beautiful townhouses and is one of the quietest streets in the area. At the same time, it is strategically placed to have access to all the cultural events of New York City.
W 11th St is definitely a place where to live.

Christopher St is a street in the West Village. It stretches form 6 Av to the Hudson River. This is a street where I would like to live. There is a vibrant nightlife and is close to many public transportations (the NJ path train stops here). In a while, one can also reach the great greenway on the Hudson River. It can be a little noisy, but definitely a great street where to live.
For the ones interested in history: Christopher Street has been an important center of New York City’s gay rights movements.

W 57th St runs from 5th Ave to the Hudson River. One of the main reasons for a New Yorker to visit W 57th St is Carnegie Hall. It is a concert venue, renowned for its beauty and perfect acoustics. W 57th Street is also notable for its art galleries and restaurants. Furthermore, it is just two blocks south of Central Park.

It is a walking route and cycle path along the Hudson River. It extends from Dyckman St to Battery Park. It is simply great to bike on this path. There are no cars around and you have a great view of the Hudson River, the Washington Bridge and the Statue of Liberty. The path goes through the Riverside Park, the Hudson River Park, the Chelsea Docks and Battery Park.

Mercer St extends from E 8th St to Canal St. It is a nice street not too trafficked. In the part crossing the Greenwich Village, there is a beautiful bookstore that also sells records. In its southern part, Mercer St hosts Soho’s elegant shops. In this part, Mercer Street retains its original Belgian block paving and has nice buildings. Unfortunately, it is hard to find apartments available here.

Fulton Mall is a pedestrian street in Brooklyn. It stretches between Flatbush Av and Smith St. This is one of the largest commercial centers in New York City, and hosts an impressive number of stores. It is well connected to different subway lines (A, C, F, M, N, R, Q, 2, 3, 4, 5, G) and buses. It is also within walking distance from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade.

Delancey St is an eight-lane, median divided street in the Lower East Side. It stretches from The Bowery to the East River. This street was famous for being a main shopping street in the Jewish Lower East Side. Today, you can find cheap delis and shops. I am not sure about their quality, though. The surrounding area offers interesting options for going out at night, particularly, in Ludlow, Rivington, and Clinton streets. Delancey Street is where the Williamsburg Bridge starts.

Duane Street is a street in Tribeca. It runs from Greenwich St to Centre St. The area around is known for its lofts, award-winning restaurants, quiet streets, and good schools. It is a great place where to live. However, until recently this area was affordable only for the high-paid workers of the Financial District and few others (doctors, bankers, lawyers, etc.).

Washington Square Park is in the heart of Manhattan’s Greenwich Village neighborhood. It is a beautiful place where to spend time. In summer, excellent musicians play there, and interesting performances take place close to the park’s fountain. At the moment, the park is undergoing redesign, and only a small part of it is accessible. However, the works should hopefully end by this summer.

W 35th ST runs between 5 Av and 11 Av. It is within walking distance from The Empire State Building and Macy’s. It is a crowded and anonymous street, but I like it a lot. I used to spend some great Friday afternoons having drinks at Brendan’s. The good company helped shape my opinion of W 35th St as one of the nicest streets in Midtown Manhattan. There is also an excellent, low-price Korean Restaurant, Chi Dang Gol, which is definitely worth a try.

Front Street runs from Dover St to Old Slip St. This area was the center of NYC port activity, but has deteriorated over the years. However, the street is undergoing renovation and the surrounding area is home of new cafes and boutiques. This is a quaint street, which might soon become a good option for living in Manhattan.

W Broadway runs through Soho and Tribeca. I like to walk or bike along this street. It hosts very nice buildings, and, like the other streets crossing Soho, elegant boutiques and galleries. Its southern part (Tribeca) is home of excellent restaurants. I do not know which one is the best. My advice is to go there and try the ones that suit your taste better.

Bank St is a cobblestone street in the West Village. It runs from the Hudson River to Greenwich Ave. It is a beautiful and quite residential area. Its western side is, according to me, the most beautiful. It is close to the pedestrian path on the Hudson River. Its eastern side is surrounded by the boutiques and shops of Bleecker St. I would definitely live there. Bank St is in a great area and well connected to public transportation.

Jay St is a street in Dumbo. It runs under the Manhattan Bridge and ends at the East River. Here, one can enjoy a great view of Manhattan. Walking along this cobblestone street is a great experience. You can still see the old factories and lofts of Vinegar Hill, which are nowadays transformed in apartments and galleries for artists. There are partially covered tracks on the street. This is the remaining of the Jay Street Connecting Railroad: A small railroad operated in Dumbo.

Rector Street stretches from Joe DiMaggio HWY to Broadway. I walked along this street one morning while I was going to Wall Street. I went off at the 1 train stop Rector and walked toward East. I was surprised to find there a beautiful old church. The Trinity Church is between Trinity and Rector streets. On Rector St there is the burial ground of the church that includes the graves and memorials of many historic figures, like, for example, Alexander Hamilton and Robert Fulton.

Houston St is considered to be the landmark between the Greenwich Village and Soho, and between the East Village and the Lower East Side. It is a busy street that does not seem to offer anything special, since the nicer places are either on the North or South sides of it. However, there are two of my favorite cinemas on that street: The Film Forum (W Houston), a must go for fans of independent movies, and the Sunshine Cinema (E Houston), where all the best non-Hollywood movies are screened.

Bleecker St crosses the West and Greenwich Villages. Its western site is comparably quiet and full of elegant boutiques and delicious bakeries – try Magnolia Bakery. Passed 6 AV, you are entering the remaining of the legendary Bohemian Bleecker Street, once the favorite place of artists like Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, and Kool & the Gang. Places like The Bitter End and Le Poisson Rouge keep the music tradition well alive. Right close to that, the central plaza of the NYU Silver Towers contains a giant Picasso statue. After Broadway, Bleecker St becomes quiet again, making its east side a perfect place where to live (if you can afford it!).

Sullivan St is a typical Greenwich Village street, bordering Washington Square Park. Surprisingly, it is less crowded with tourists and NYU students than the nearby streets. One place, where I often go for a coffee or tea, is the V-bar. A perfect spot for getting some work done during the day, and relax later in the afternoon with a perfect aperitif.

Bedford Avenue is in Williamsburg, the ‘hipster’ neighborhood in Brooklyn. This street is one of my favorites in New York. You are far away from the noise and hectic life of Manhattan and yet you can find great restaurants, bar, and shops. There are so many places that I would not know which one to recommend.

My advice: Just get off the L train and walk Bedford for its entire length from N 13th Street to Broadway. When your feet start to hurt enter the first place you find and enjoy it!

It is almost as if Downing Street had not been included in tourist guides. It is right there in the heart of the Greenwich Village but few people ever pass by. The result is that Downing Street is perfect to enjoy the shape and color of its townhouses. However, its quietness comes with a little surprise, since there are good restaurants in this street. They are a perfect option for a pleasant night in the Village.

Wall street is an interesting street but only during the week when the Stock Market and its busy firms are open. From Monday to Friday you can have a glimpse into how the world economic leaders look like, and admire its magnificent buildings, among them the Trump Building and the New York Stock Exchange. During the weekend Wall Street turns into a desert, where only few tourists stop by for a picture. It is one of the few places in New York that is not open 24/7.

Everyone knows NYC, so I do not need to advertise it. One thing I just want to say it is that it is a great place where to live. I moved here three years ago, and I am very impressed of the things this city has to offer every day. At the same time, it is not a perfect city, thus, you do not feel like living in a boring amusement park.

Kent Av runs along the East River, in Williamsburg. It offers a great insight into the industrial past of this area, with old factories, among which The Domino building is definitely worth a visit. There is also a beautiful park right at the waterfront (on Kent and N10th) with a beautiful view of Manhattan: Instead of the ‘usual’ Downtown, you can have a look at the Williamsburg Bridge, the Lower East Side, the UN building and other midtown skyscrapers. Kent Av is a perfect street to live if you plan to live in Williamsburg. However, the apartment prices (old houses and luxury condos) will soon reach Manhattan prices.

Rivington St is the new upcoming street in the Lower East Side. Once a lower-class worker neighborhood, the Lower East Side is today a trendy place where to go at night. Rivington Street is becoming the geographical reference point for eating out in the area. My favorite spot is Loreley, a German restaurant/Bier garden close to The Bowery.

Riverside Drive is a serpentine route that runs from W 72 St to W 120 ST. It offers beautiful views of the Hudson Rivers, and delineates the limit of the Riverside Park. The Riverside Park is Manhattan’s most spectacular waterfront park. It is a great park for biking and walking. You can actually bike all the way from the Washington Bridge down to Battery Park along the river.

Elizabeth Street, formerly a part of Little Italy, is today an elegant street in NoLiTa (North of Little Italy). It is a quite street, full of nice boutiques and places where to eat. A café where I often go for a snack is Café Habana. It is a nice over-crowded hangout place that offers good Cuban food.

Everyone knows Prince Street in Soho. It is where you can find the best boutiques in New York: Chanelle and Prada are there. Even if you do not feel like shopping at Prada, the store is still worth a look: Its interior was designed by Rem Koolhaas, and it is a great experience to be in there. For the high-tech lovers, there is an Apple Store just at the corner with Mercer Street. Normally, when the stores are open and during the weekend Prince street is over-crowded with visitors. However, few people know that this street is even more beautiful at night when no one is around and you can enjoy the beauty of its buildings.

I have always liked to bike through Front St to enter Dumbo. From its higher point, there is a nice view of the taller buildings of Dumbo, and the houses in the street are really nice. I particularly like the part of the street underneath the Manhattan Bridge, where the shops start. It is definitely a safe and nice street where to live.

There is too much to write about Broadway. It goes from the southern tip of Manhattan to the Bronx, and it crosses many interesting place like, for example, the crowded Theater District. The part of Broadway that I like better is around the Columbia campus. The campus itself is worth a visit. Its contrast with the surrounding is amazing: A British-style College in Harlem. The landscape is also interesting; a series of ups and downs, which create an impression of open space. There are interesting bookstores up there, where you can find good bargains.

Get off the L Train at Bedford Ave and walk toward the river. Wythe Avenue is right there. It is a quiet street and a great place where to live. Within walking distance, one can find extremely good restaurants and great music. My favorite spots are the diner at the corner with N 3rd St and the Zebulon Café, where you can find great live music practically every night.

S 4th Street is one of those streets in Williamsburg that have not been completely gentrified. It still retains the atmosphere of a Hispanic neighborhood, with small delis all over the corners. I lived there for a while and enjoyed the familiar atmosphere. However, it is a quite anonymous street, particularly on the eastern side of the BQE.
The best part of the street where to move is between the East River and Havemayer St. After Havemayer St, S 4th becomes noisy and not too safe.

Once a high-crime and low-rent street, The Bowery has been reviving. Its new luxury condominiums should attract high-income people. However, The Bowery is a noisy and highly trafficked street. I would rather prefer to live in one of the smaller side streets and go to Bowery to enjoy one of its attractions: the Bowery Ballroom, the Bowery Poetry Club, and the New Museum of Contemporary Art.

P.S.: On Bowery, between Houston and Delancey Streets, you can find cheap restaurant equipment, and from Delancey to Grand you can shop for lamps.

Grand St is a quite street in Williamsburg. It is a perfect place to live: Free of the noise and crowd of Bedford Avenue, and yet close to many shops and nice bars and restaurants. The subway is just within 5 minutes walk. A tip for a great brunch on Sunday: Fiore, an Italian cheap restaurant that serves amazing food

Smith St is a street in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn. This neighborhood is a great combination between a small neighborhood and NYC cosmopolitan scene. Over the past few years, the number of restaurant on Smith St has dramatically increased. Some are better than others, but all deserve a look. Smith St is particularly interesting for its boutiques and local designers

Close to the Williamsburg Bridge is Havemayer St. This street offers an incredible number of bars and restaurants – at least the part between S 1st St and Metropolitan Ave – each of which is worth a try. When I was living in Williamsburg, I enjoyed spending my time in this street. I think it is a great place to live if you want to be in Williamsburg.

P.S.: If you were searching where to buy a New York City bike, the shop is right on Havemayer.

Walking down N 6th St from Bedford Av, one encounters local designer shops, restaurants for every taste, an artist flea market every Saturday, and great music venues. The Music Hall of Williamsburg and Public Assembly have interesting music programs. Notice that Public Assembly is a new entry in Williamsburg. It took the place of Galapagos, the art space part of the Williamsburg history that has now moved to Dumbo.

I think that N 6th is a great street where to live. It is not too noisy and it is close to the park on the East River.

Keap St connects Broadway and Metropolitan Ave in Williamsburg. It is not an outstanding street and is out of the Williamsburg’s nightlife scene. However, over the last years new constructions are attracting newcomers into this part of Williamsburg. The street is close to the L train stop Lorimer Street and JMZ trains stop Marcy Ave, restaurants (e.g., Black Betty), and clubs (e.g., the Union Pool).
I think it is a nice place where to live, at least between Metropolitan Ave and Grand St. From Grand St to Broadway, Keap St is too noisy.

Montague Terrace is right at the Brooklyn Heights Promenade. It is a short and mostly residential street. It is a quiet place where to live - if one can afford the price - and offers one of the most beautiful views of Manhattan. Montague St shops and restaurants and different subway lines are within walking distance.

There is a Broadway in Brooklyn, too. If you are driving from Manhattan, take the first exit after the Williamsburg Bridge or, if you are taking the subway, get off at the Marcy Ave stop on the JMZ trains: Broadway starts right there.
The area around Marcy Avenue is fascinating: Broadway is the border between the Hispanic and trendy Williamsburg and the Orthodox Jews Williamsburg. If you walk west towards the East river, some nice restaurants are waiting for you. Marlou and Son and the adjacent diner are great places for breakfast, lunch and dinner. In summer, you can sit outside and enjoy the calm of this part of the street.

W 42nd St runs from the Hudson River to 5th Avenue. It is famous for its theaters around Broadway. The lights of Broadway attract thousands of visitors each day. A quieter part is between 6th and 5th Avenues. Here, Bryant Park offers tables and chairs to take a break from the city life. In winter, there is a beautiful, free-admission ice-skating ring. A visit to the adjacent New York Public Library is a must.

E 42nd St would look like a typical busy and crowded New York City street if it were not for the Grand Central Terminal. The terminal is a city in itself: It contains restaurants, bakeries, newsstands, and the New York Transit Museum. Grand Central Terminal is famous for its elaborately decorated astronomical ceiling in the main concourse. A famous restaurant is the Oyster Bar, specialized in seafood. I went once there just for a snack and really enjoyed it.

There are too many things to do and see in 5th Avenue that is almost impossible to summarize them. Here is a quick overview of the major attractions: the MET, the Guggenheim Museum, Central Park, the New York City Public Library, the Empire State Building, the Flatiron Building, and all its famous boutiques and shops. A nice place to spend time in warm days is the Madison Square Park. There is one of the best New York hot-dog stand: Be prepared to queue to eat one of its hot-dog.

6th Avenue is a long New York Avenue. It runs from Franklin Street to the Southern tip of Central Park. On its northern part, the avenue hosts a famous row of shining skyscrapers. Around W 35th St, it turns into a shopping street - Macy’s is there - and becomes less pretentious in its southern part (Avenue de Las Americas). An interesting building is the Jefferson Market Library in the Greenwich Village.

Avenue C hosts my favorite venues in New York: The NuBlu, great music and DJs; The Stone, the perfect music venue ever; and Barraza, where, supposedly, the best Mojitos in New York City are made. I am not sure whether this is true but I definitely like them. The street offers also great housing options. However, keep in mind that the East side of Manhattan is not so well connected to public transportation.

Jackson Avenue is in Queens, NY. Its main attraction is PS 1, one of the oldest non-profit art institution in the US, now affiliated with MOMA. PS stands for Public School in the US, so do not get suspicious when you will enter a former school: It is where PS1 is! In the area around the museum, there are some nice places where to eat. I was once at Manetta’s Ristorante and was simply delighted by the food.

E 14th St runs from the East River to 5th Avenue. It is amazing the number of people that are around there everyday, particularly in the part bordering Union Square. It is definitely a busy street, but with extremely good vibes. In the area between 5th and 3rd Avenues you can have a good idea of how it is living in New York.

Greenwich Avenue is in Manhattan’s West Village. It runs from 6 Av to 8 Av. It is another typical Manhattan street, with restaurants and shops. I normally walk there to go to the video store, but I have never tried its restaurants. They seem to be less pretentious than the ones you find in the surrounding streets. The part between 6 Av and 7 Av is noisy and crowded with cars, but it gets quieter toward 8 Av. I think that one can easily live in that part of the street.

West Street runs along the Hudson River. It extends from Battery Park to W 14th St. Its southern tip hosts the downtown famous skyscrapers. It borders the memorial of Ground Zero and The World Financial Center. The last one is an interesting building. Inside there are many shops and restaurants, but the part I like the most is the winter garden, with its beautiful glass ceiling and high palm trees. This garden was severely damaged after 09/11, but it has now reopened and offers great live performances.

Carmine St is a short street in the Greenwich Village. It runs from Bleecker St to 7th Ave South. As many of the streets in this area, Carmine St is packed with restaurants and tourist shops. However, it also offers some places for a more ‘local’ crowd like, for example, Do Hwa. It is a nice Korean restaurant that can be a good alternative if one does not want to travel to midtown to have Korean food.
If one does not mind some noise then Carmine St is a good place where to live.

N 11th St is a street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. It runs from Union Ave to the East River. I love to go to Beacon’s closet there. It is a clothing exchange store where you can sell and buy cloths, and find great deals. It is a quiet street where to live, close to the L train stop, Bedford Ave, and the two nice Williamsburg parks: The McCarren Park (great place for sport), and the park on the East River, which offers a great view of Manhattan.

30th Avenue is a long street in Astoria, NYC. In the last years, this Queens northwest neighborhood has risen sharply. The first time I was there, I remember that I was pleased by this lively street. I was heading from the subway station to a friend place and, instead, I found myself sitting at the Athens Café for a coffee. It was so attractive that I could not resist it. I did not know, at that time, that this is a very popular place in Astoria. From there you can have a great view of the street life, and you can enjoy a slow-paced service. A friend of mine lives just around the corner, and she likes this area. Astoria offers bigger houses and better prices than Manhattan. It is definitely a place to consider if moving to NYC.

Washington Square VLG (WSV) is the name of the two driveways that pass under the NYU’s ‘superblock’ apartment complex with the same name. WSV is bounded by West 3rd Street, Bleecker Street, Mercer Street and LaGuardia Place to the north, south, east and west respectively. Once entered the superblock from one of the sideways you can find a quiet green small park, where to sit far away from the crowd of Washington Square Park. There is also a playground for children. For the ones searching for a parking spot in the Greenwich Village, there is an underground garage underneath the park.

This is a great area where to live. Unfortunately, it is hard to find apartments in the surroundings.

Manhattan Ave runs between the Morning Side Park and Central Park. A friend of mine lives there. Thus, I often take the subway, get off at 125th St and walk down few blocks on Manhattan Ave. I like the atmosphere of this street. This street has good vibes, and it is not too trafficked. It is definitely a good place where to live. I do not know too much about the part between W 110 St and W 100 St. I normally drive down that way on a cab.

E 1st St is a great street to go out at night. It is more for a younger crowd but some of its restaurants are excellent. The Elephant serves great Thai and French food. E 1st St is close to Ludlow St, another lively street full of bars and clubs.
This street is close to F, V, B, D and 6 train stations. It can be really noisy, especially the part close to The Bowery. Overall it is a great place where to live for singles or young couples.

Doyers St is a short street in Chinatown. It runs from Pell St to Division St. I found it one of my first days in New York, when I was randomly walking around Chinatown. This is my favorite street in Chinatown. It makes you feel as if you entered a quiet town street. There is also a good Vietnamese restaurant right there.

Centre St extends from Chambers St to Kenmare St. It hosts in its South part New York’s Municipal and Federal buildings. The town hall is right there, and it is where most of the New Yorkers and tourists get married! (New York is similar to Las Vegas in terms of marriage laws). There are also extremely beautiful buildings around there, worth a visit if you are interested in architecture: The Manhattan Municipal Building, The Manhattan Criminal Court Building, the Courthouse Building, and –close to them – the New York City Hall. The northern side of Centre St is, instead, a typical and crowded Chinatown street.

W 10th St extends between the Greenwich and West Villages. It is a residential street, quieter on the western side. I enjoy walking along this street. My favorite place is the Three Lives & Co bookstore: The perfect bookstore where to spend your afternoon. I think that I could easily live in this street. It is close to the main subway lines, and the vibrant NYC nightlife. It is also a safe street.

St Marks Place runs from Astor Place to Tompkins Square Park. If possible, I try to avoid walking along that street. Famous for its punk and alternative culture, today it mostly attracts tourists and teenagers in search of a thrilling experience. At any rate, just around the corner there is a really good bookshop that offers a wide range of books. This is a good reason to go to that area.

E 89th St is a street in the Upper East Side. This part of Manhattan is also known as Yorkville, a neighborhood inhabited by Czech, German, Hungarian and Irish immigrants at the beginning of the 20th Century. Like many of the surrounding streets, it is a residential street. Walking along this street, you encounter many people walking their dogs to the nearby Central Park. The Guggenheim Museum is also there. If one can afford it, it is a safe and nice street where to live. However, it is definitely not a vibrant place.

E 61st St stretches from the East side of Central Park to the East River. Like many other streets in the Upper East Side, it is a residential street surrounded by everything one might need. It is a safe and quiet street. It looks as if every building has a doorman. E 61st St becomes noisier close to the FDR drive and under the Queensboro Bridge.

W 110 St runs from the northwestern tip of Central Park to the Hudson River. It is well connected to public transportation and hosts many small and useful shops. However, it is definitely not a lively street. In any case, it is a good place where to live. Particularly nice is the part close to the Hudson River, where you can take a car-free stroll in the Riverside Park. For the one interested in historical building, the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine is right there.

Thompson Street starts at Washington Square Park and stops at Canal St. There is plenty of places to go for drinks and foods. However, I find it a little anonymous, and I hardly go there. It is a quiet street to take a walk to the downtown part of Manhattan, without the noise and crowd of the bigger avenues and the main Soho streets.

Little W 12th St is a street in the Meatpacking District. It extends from 12 Av to 9 Av. It is right in the heart of New York City stylish nightlife. Some of the most famous clubs are here. It also offers a wide choice of good restaurants. My favorite is Le Paradou (I am not sure if named after a beautiful village in Provence, France), where you can have good Provencal food. Besides its vibrant nightlife, this cobblestone street retains the charm of its past, when food markets were all over.

Chrystie St crosses Nolita and Chinatown. It stretches from Houston St to Canal St. I like this street because of the nice mix of Chinese shops, art galleries and performance places. The Box opened two years ago and offers interesting performances. It is also a comparably quiet street, with no many cars around. I think it is a good street where to live in Manhattan.

W 23rd St is a nice street in Chelsea, the neighborhood famous for its art galleries. I used to pass by W 23rd St on my way to the swimming pool. It hosts one of the most famous hotels in New York City: The Chelsea Hotel. Its twelve-story red brick building is the center of bohemian and artistic activities. Inside, it displays some works of its famous visitors.

Gay St is an alley in the Greenwich Village. It only stretches one block from Christopher St to Waverly Place. In that tiny space, there are beautiful houses. It is definitely a nice street where to live. It is one of the few streets in Manhattan where I did not hear a siren sound.
Gay St is in a perfect place, right close to different subways line, the NJ path train, and the bars and restaurants of the Greenwich and West Villages.

Waverly Place is a street in the Greenwich Village. It extends from Broadway to Bank St, bordering Washington Square Park. Between Broadway and 6th Ave, it is a lively street, mostly because of the presence of the NYU campus. In its western side, Waverly Place is quieter, and definitely a great place where to live.

Hester St stretches from Centre St to Seward Park, in Chinatown and the Lower East Side. It was historically part of Little Italy, but there is not much left of it besides some Italian shops amid Chinese markets. On the Lower East Side part you can find nice restaurants. I personally like Brown, a small and intimate restaurant.

Broome St. runs through Soho, Chinatown, and the Lower East Side. It is a very quiet street; something rare to find in Manhattan. At the same time, it has a great neighborhood atmosphere. Biking through Broome helps you take a break before facing Manhattan traffic.
I think it is a street to consider if one wants to move to Manhattan

Canal St. runs from the Hudson River to E Broadway. It is famous for its good deals on about everything one might need. On its western part, there are shops selling from jewelries to computers. I personally prefer the Chinatown part of Canal Street. It is a busy street with good Chinese markets and food. At the corner with The Bowery, there is a bright yellow building – the Mahayana Buddhist Temple – that is definitely worth a visit. After The Bowery, Canal Street becomes quieter.

I often go to the farmer’s market in Union Square. It is a pleasure in sunny days to walk around the stands and buy fresh food. But Union Square is also a vibrant place. Many subway lines stop here, and famous shops (e.g., Barnes and Nobles, and Whole Food) surround it. When the market is not there, then it is time for street performances. Union Square definitely offers a great NYC experience.

Lafayette St runs from Centre St to Astor Place. It is mostly an anonymous street crossing the Financial District, Chinatown and the East Village. I usually go there for ‘practical’ reasons: Taking the subway, buying wine at the Astor Wine and Spirits, which has daily offers, and sometimes to the Joe’s Bar. If you live around the corner, then it is a street that you cross from time to time, but definitely not one of the best in New York

There is no apparent reason to go to Borden Avenue in Queens. However, during summer this is an extremely crowded street. It hosts the Water Taxi Beach. It is a sand beach facing Manhattan, where you can relax and enjoy your time. Check before going, because depending on the time and day you might have to pay a fee to enter.

I like to bike on Avenue A on Sunday, especially in summer when Tompkins Square Park is full of people and music. However, at night Avenue A is somehow disappointing. The nightlife is nothing particular and the closer you move to Houston Street, the more Avenue A turns into a complete mess of taxis and cars, particularly on weekend nights. You can hardly bike among them!

University Place runs from the North side of Washington Square Park to Union Square. It is a typical New York Street: Full of every kind of shops and restaurants. It is mostly busy with NYU students. Probably because of that, you can find cheap places where to eat. Notwithstanding its great location, it is a street that can easily get unnoticed.

Among the famous streets of the Greenwich Village, La Guardia Place is the less crowded. This is what I call a ‘functional’ street. Almost everything one needs is there: A post office, a print shop, a laundy, etc. There are also some interesting places. The Center of Architecture constantly shows great exhibitions, and if you get hungry, right after the exhibition, you can walk to the Japanese restaurant right next door.

It is one of the few streets in Manhattan where you can walk without encountering anyone. Minetta Street looks like a dead end street. But it is not; it connects to Minetta Lane, which ends up in MacDougal Street. There are some uniquely shaped buildings that are worth a look. At the corner between Minetta Street and Minetta Lane, there is the Minetta Lane Theater, one of the few theaters in the neighborhood. Its quietness and the surrounding neighborhood make of Minetta Street a great place where to live.

Orchard Street runs through the Lower East Side between Division St and E 1st St. This street is perfect to find good bargains. Its shops offer discounted prices for leather, and designer fashion bags, belts and cloths. It is within walking distance from the restaurants, cafes, and clubs of Ludlow, Rivington and Broome Streets.

Washington Mews is my favorite alley in New York. It runs from University Place to 5th Av. It retains its original Belgian block paving, and the two-story buildings are primarily used as residences for NYU faculty or offices. I like to walk down that street, it feels like taking a stroll in an old European town. However, I am not sure if pedestrians are allowed to enter. It is a private alley, but I have never had any trouble to cross it.

For many people, this is just a quiet way to reach Washington Square Park from Broadway. The majority of the buildings (if not all) in the street belong to NYU. Here, you find the austere building of the Department of Psychology and Center for Neural Sciences, and close to the park, the Silver Building, where the Department of Philosophy is. The remaining buildings are rented to NYU faculty and post-doctoral fellow, so there is no real chance to get an apartment in this street.

W 32nd St is a busy street between 11 Av and 5 Av. It is where the Madison Square Garden and New York Penn Station are. It is also in the heart of Korea town, a primarily Korean business district, where you can find a great choice of Korean restaurants. The food, trains, and events at the Madison Square Garden are the main reason to go there. It is too a noisy and crowded street where to live.

Water Street is in Dumbo, an established artsy neighborhood. It runs under the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan Bridge. This street is a jewel: It retains the atmosphere of the old warehouses and has a breathtaking view of Manhattan. It borders the Fulton Ferry State-Park: A place for wedding pictures and kid parties. A good place to go for concerts and theater performances is the St. Ann’s warehouse.

P.S.: Dumbo is generally a great place where to live, especially if one has children

Less famous than the Manhattan Bridge and the Brooklyn Bridge, the Williamsburg Bridge offers a nice walk or bike ride into the Lower East Side (from Brooklyn to Manhattan) or Williamsburg (from Manhattan to Brooklyn). There is a great view of the other two bridges from here, and you can see midtown Manhattan’s skyline and the lights of Queens at night. It also has a more urban and less touristic atmosphere. It is worth to climb on it at least once.

If you have watched Sergio Leone’s Once Upon a Time in America, then the image of Washington Street should immediately pop out at you. It is a Belgian block-paved street in DUMBO, surrounded by red brick buildings, with a magnificent view of the Manhattan Bridge. A walk toward the waterfront reveals one of the most beautiful views of Manhattan. This street is definitely worth a visit.

In general Dumbo is a great neighborhood where to live. It is perfect for families.

Ludlow Street is a street in the Lower East Side. It is densely populated of fashion shops, art galleries, bars, restaurants, and clubs. A nice place to hang out with friends and listen to good live music is the Living Room. If, instead, you are searching for a club with great vibes, and a huge dancing crowd, then you should try Mehanata.

I am not sure whether it is a good street where to live. It can be very noisy and crowded, especially during the weekend.

Mott St. runs from Bleecker St to Chatham Square. Traditionally part of Little Italy and Chinatown, today is predominantly Chinese. This street has different characteristics depending on where you are. Between Bleecker St and Broome St, you find fashionable restaurants, cafes, and boutiques. Between Broome St and Canal St, there is a large number of Chinese vegetable and fish markets. I often walk down there to buy good quality food for an extremely cheap price. It is definitely worth the walk. South of Canal, good restaurants are available to delight you with Chinese specialties.

MacDougal Street is one of the streets in the Greenwich Village, close to Washington Square Park. Since NYU campus is right here, there is a good number of cheap places where to eat. My favorite place where to hang out is Cafe Dante. You can find a lot of great Italian cafés in the area but this is the best place to go if you are searching for a real old-fashioned Italian bar. MacDougal Street is also famous for its music scene. Cafe Wha? is an often very crowded place where to listen to good live music.

W 34th St extends between the Hudson River and 5 Av. This noisy and busy street offers everything a professional shopper needs. Here are Macy's and other famous brand shops.
It is not a good idea to live here: It is too a noisy and crowded street and you will not find any food besides the one served in the major chain shops.