jetty987

I lived on Union Square West for a year and greatly enjoyed the accessibility to public transportation, my workplace, shopping, and the variety of restaurants in the area. In Union Square, virtually every subway you could need is located and buses also run frequently through the area. Grocery shopping is extremely easy with a Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Food Emporium, and several other chain stores within a few blocks. Many places around here are open 24 hours for lots of convenience and the Union Square farmer's market is frequently taking place so you can get fresh produce and other local products easily. The trade-off of all of these conveniences is the fact that this area is incredibly busy and can be very loud at times. I frequently fell asleep to the sound of drunken fights, musicians, and cars honking at all hours of the night. Union Square itself used to have a decent playground and some green area to hang out in, but due to recent construction it is not as pleasant or child-friendly as it used to be. Overall, if you don't mind the crowds, noise, and the fact that it is relatively expensive, the convenience and trendiness of Union Square is unbeatable.

I moved to Greenpoint from Union Square about a year ago and have found it to be a breath of fresh air. Although it is close enough to Manhattan that it does not take long to get to school or work, it is much quieter and family oriented. Greenpoint Avenue offers a fun nightlife area (if you don't mind hipsters) and the area is sprinkled with gems of bars throughout. The Polish community is heavily present and adds a unique vibe, especially in restaurants and food stores in the neighborhood. Although crime is reportedly on the rise here, I have never felt unsafe, even at night. The G train can be a pain late at night, but if you are close enough to the L train to walk, commuting into Manhattan is really easy and quick. The neighborhood is also close to McCarren Park and several other smaller parks and the architecture of many of the apartment buildings make it a quaint area to wonder around on nice days. Overall, I would recommend this area for people looking for a hip place to live that is not as bustling as Manhattan, but still with the conveniences of everyday living (and yummy food!).