orochi

Intervale ave is a stop on the 2 and 5 train lines in the Bronx. It is not really picturesque and the stairs accessing the elevated platform are a steep nightmare to climb, but you can get a good bird’s eye view of the area. There’s a good donut shop to your left if you exit the train at the Westchester Ave exit. You can also get a tasty egg sandwich here. Near Westchester and the Bruckner expressway the street is kind of crumby and industrial, but as you go north it gets a little nicer.

This area is alright. I used to work on this street and there are a couple things to see. There is a memorial mural at the corner of Mapes ave and East Tremont Ave that is cool for a photo. On the opposite end of Mapes ave is an alright restaurant called Dina’s that serves a good lunch. Also on this street is PS 234, so it can get pretty jammed with noisy kids at times.

I used to work in this area and it wasn't picturesque. In the springtime the side streets get pretty because many of them are tree lined, but the main drags are the pits. They’re inhospitable to foot traffic because it is not the best place for shopping unless you’re looking for a liquor store, and the buildings are uninspired. I saw quite a few junkies and pan handlers on my way to work. It is on the 5 and 2 lines though, which will get you to Manhattan quicker than you’d think; about 30 minutes. There are a lot of good restaurants in Tremont. Most of them are Mexican or Caribbean, and though they’re not fine dining establishments know for their décor the food is fantastic. The Bronx Zoo and Botanical Gardens are nearby and both are worth the trip.

I had an apartment in the Lower East Side until rent became too expensive, but it’s still my favorite neighborhood in Manhattan. That is to say, it is one of the neighborhoods which still feel a little like NYC before the gentrification turned the island into a mall for the wealthy. I know people who manage to live in cheap places in the LES, but they pay the price of living in slightly dingy and small spaces. The things that keep me returning to this neighborhood are the nightlife, the galleries and the proximity to Chinatown. For nightlife the LES can’t be beat. There are plenty of hip bars which don’t yet cost an arm and a leg, and where people are still friendly. The gallery district around Chrystie street is still active, and although much of the work is crappy, most things you see in Chelsea galleries are just more polished crap. And finally, if you walk to the bottom of Chrystie you’ll be in Chinatown, with all the great fish markets, scamming street vendors and activity. In short, a great place for people watching.

Cypress Hills is an alright neighborhood, albeit a little far from the Manhattan. This is made up for by its proximity to the Broadway Junction station, which will give you access to the A, L and J trains. This is great for commuting, and it opens the option of an easy commute to Long Island as well because you can catch the Long Island Railroad from the Atlantic Avenue station. The quality of life here is varied. If a block is near an undesirable element like a major highway or right beside a train track, it’s usually a little run down and inhospitable. Otherwise, the north of Cypress Hills is bordered by cemeteries and parks, which provide a nice quiet backyard to many streets. On a related note, Harry Houdini is buried in Machpelah cemetery in Cypress Hills, and this is worth a visit for those touring New York cemeteries.

The worst thing about living in Ridgewood is telling everyone that you live in Queens. If it was Astoria or Long Island City it would have a little name recognition. Instead, people visualize the suburban hinterlands of Queens ala the King of Queens, that crappy tv show. Ridgewood is actually just past Bushwick on the L line and about 35 minutes from Union Square. It usually takes about the same to get to the lower east side via the M train. Crime is low – the occasional broken car window. Most of the streets are lined with trees, and rents are lower plus the apartments are larger than their Brooklyn counterparts. There isn’t a lot to do on the weekend, but finding something to do on Friday night isn’t a problem when you’re a half hour from Manhattan.

Before the housing market tanked, the Bronx was the next area which developers had in there sights. At the corner of Nelson and 168th street you can see evidence of this; a brand new condo. This neighborhood is safe and feels like any other in the inner, outer boroughs. You can see the Empire State building from here as well. It wouldn’t be a bad place to live.

This street is in part of Queens which feels pretty suburban. The most notable thing on this short road of only two blocks is Glendale Company. This place is super friendly, and the people who work here are really knowledgeable. If you tell them what you're looking for they can advise you, and they have a guy in the back who can make cuts for you if don't have power tools. Also, they'll deliver to your house for free so you don't have to carry everything on your back.

On the corner of Gates Ave and Forest Ave is a great hardware store. It has everything that you need and at a good price. It’s the local hardware store from yesteryear. Not like an impersonal big box store, and better than the crummy selection at the dollar store. The guys that work here are friendly and knowledgeable, and if you tell them you’re trying to do a project on the cheap, they won’t make you feel like a fool but will help you find the best solution.

This road is also a shortcut between Myrtle ave and Metropolitan ave, so cars are always tearing up the asphalt. There are a couple churches and some houses with nice yards. It almost feels like the suburbs because of this. There is also a Korean market. It’s not the greatest and the prices are sometimes weirdly high, but it’s a good place to get cheap ramen. Next door is a dry cleaner’s that does nice work. I think it’s owned by the same family.

The most interesting thing about this road is the style of house you’ll see. In Queens, some of the homes have driveways in the basements. It is an odd looking but functional aspect of city living. Most of the homes on this road have converted their basement garages into rooms, but you’ll still see a few on this street. Further east off of Woodhaven Blvd they’re pretty prevalent as well. Otherwise, it’s a quiet street with 4 way stops, so traffic can’t tear through too fast.

This is right around the corner from where I used to live. There’s nothing really special about this street. It has a Laundromat and a hair styling salon and a few residences, but most of the house fronts are on the streets running perpendicular to this one so you don’t see much activity. Aside from cars, that is. Lots of drivers use 60th lane as a shortcut between Myrtle ave and Metropolitan ave, so they really need some speed bumps on this street.

There is not much to 65th place except a few houses and Glen Ridge park. The park is alright. It has handball and basketball courts and a children’s playground. There is also a huge football/soccer field, but it is artificial turf which I can’t stand. Another problem with the park is that it is surrounded by the M and L train lines. This doesn’t create a sound nuisance so much as make it feel a little seedy.

At the corner of Fresh Pond road and Madison street is Valentino’s, the best Italian vegetable market around. The fruits and veggies are cheap and fresh. The main problem with the place is that it’s small and popular, so you can’t stop moving while you’re shopping. They also have a fantastic olive bar. I know a lot of places with olives, but this one is above the rest as far as flavor, and it is only 4 bucks a pound. Across Fresh Pond road is a Dunkin Donuts if you want your carbs and coffee. Across Madison is a small park, and you never see any homeless.

Living on 68th road is the best of both worlds. You get the good access to public transportation by living near the M and L lines, without all the detriments of living in Bushwick: run down houses, high rent, bed bugs, crime, and noise. Many of the neighbors are elderly, which means that they take care of their homes and watch out for the neighborhood. It also means that many of the houses will become vacant in the next decade so the neighborhood is going to change.

Fairview Ave is runs from Cleveland park and ends at Forest Ave. Cleveland park is nice and large, often a little crowded with families and dogs. Where Fairview runs into Forest ave is a stop for the M train. You can use it to connect to the L train at Myrtle/Wycoff. The station is funky and kind of old, and underneath is a good restaurant: Bosna Express. If you eat here try the Bosna Burger. It’s halfway between a gyro and a burger, and got a good review in the Village Voice.

This part of Fresh Pond road isn’t very picturesque. The intersection of Fresh Pond and Metropolitan is ugly and designed for the car, not the pedestrian. You can really feel the transition from Brooklyn to Queens because of this. Anyway, at this intersection you are equidistant from two M subway stops; one down each road. There is also a butcher shop with a giant pig on the side a little ways down Fresh Pond, called Karl Ehmer quality meat, which is worth a photo.

This section of Queens is like Greenpoint east, in that there is a growing Polish community. As a result, there are quite a few Polish delis with a great selection of Polish sausages if you're into meat. There is also an M subway stop, which will take you to the L line at Myrtle/Wycoff if you need to get to Brooklyn. It's not a bad neighborhood. There are still quite a few senior citizens around, which makes it quiet and neighborly but a little boring.

When I saw this street on the map I was curious because of the name. Mother Gaston was a Brooklyn community activist who lived to be 96 years old! Unfortunately, the street that got her namesake is kind of run down. It has some massive high rises that have seen better days, and some delis and stores but nothing nice, and it’s not quiet and residential like some of the surrounding streets. Maybe it’s too close to the Broadway Junction station. I wouldn’t want to live here and there is not much of a point in visiting.

Sumpter street seems like it should be in Queens, because the houses are strange little set ups with driveways to park your car. And the cars are pretty nice too, which tells you that it can’t be too crimey. People won’t park their nice rides on streets where they’ll lose them. The headquarters of Urban Strategies is on Sumpter, which made me wary when I was apartment hunting. I didn’t want to live on a street with a halfway house… but I actually met someone who worked there and they were so nice it dispelled any misgivings that I’d had.

An apartment on Aberdeen St. would be a commuter’s dream come true. This weird little street runs for 1.5 blocks, and is intersected by Bushwick Ave, where there’s a gas station. It’s also right near the Broadway Junction station and the Bushwick Ave/Aberdeen L station. You’d have access to the L, A and J trains but you might go insane from the noise. A good part of the street is occupied by a Catholic school, which would make it noisy when the kids were coming and going from school.

The western half of this street is mixed. There are some nice looking Brooklyn brownstones, but also some 6-7 story housing units. Still it's pretty safe, and the street has speed bumps to keep traffic from tearing past. The easternmost end can get pretty noisy, however, because there’s a fire station and it is right by the Broadway junction train station. It’s a good location for commutes though because you have quick access to the A, J and L lines.

Weirfield is a street that I’d choose to live on, and it’s probably a good idea to walk it looking for rent signs in the windows. Many of the houses have been refurbished, there are plenty of trees, it’s near the J and L trains and a park called Irving square runs along one side of it for a long block. It’s in a quiet, safe part of Bushwick.

Linden Ave is another street that runs from Bushwick into Ridgewood, Queens. The majority of this street is plain and kind of ugly, except the few blocks which are nearest to Bushwick Ave. Otherwise it’s worse than several similar streets nearby because it has some big housing units that aren’t as nice as the 3 family and 6 family buildings that you usually see around here.

Like Bleecker, Menahan is a nondescript street running from Bushwick to Ridgewood, Queens. But it just isn’t as nice. There aren’t as many trees, for one thing. And though I don’t live there, I ride my bike down it periodically and I swear the traffic is busier than the streets running parallel. It is a little more verdant when you get north of Wycoff Ave, and it is near JMZ and L line stops.

Bleecker runs from Bushwick into Ridgewood, Queens. Any apartments here will be within 15 minutes of the JMZ or the L subway lines. The middle section is between Myrtle and Cypress Aves, and this is the least scenic section. There are more delis and shops, but it looks like any other nondescript Bushwick neighborhood. The extreme north and south ends are nice though. Here the streets are lined with trees and it’s pretty quiet.

This street is a great place to live if you can get a place in the block right next to the cemetery. First of all, this section is paved with cobblestones, which is very nice. Second, being next to a cemetery means quiet. Third, the street is one-way running south, but at the end of the block it switches to one-way running the opposite direction. So nobody uses it to cut through! No fast moving cars on this steet. You can own an outdoor cat!

George street isn’t the most scenic place to live. It’s surrounded by Myrtle, Bushwick and Flushing Aves so it’s a little noisy and a little gritty. The best reason to live here is that you’re within a 10 minute walk of the Morgan Ave L stop and two JMZ stops on Myrtle. The neighborhood is pretty safe, but most of the flats are crappy, run down and look a little bed-buggy.

South 13th is alright. It’s not sketchy or unsafe, like some streets become when you get into south South Philly. Being in Passyunk it’s right in the middle of a great shopping area full of fantastic restaurants. At S. 13th and Dickinson street you’ll find Ippolito’s Seafood. This place has the best crab cakes in South Philly. Just one block south and a few blocks east on Passyunk Ave is Izumi, which is amazing simply for being something other than Italian food. I found it to be a little pricey but tasty, and I lived in Japan for three years so I know what I’m talking about.

At the end of 11th street where it intersects Ellsworth is a great pub called Devil’s Den. I’m not saying that it’s great because of the food, which is mediocre. What makes it great is the atmosphere (it has a fireplace) and the drink specials. At happy hour all drafts are half price, and the have 16 taps. This encourages a good crowd and it’s a great place to get to know people in South Philly if you’re new to the area.

I lived at Tasker and 15th street for about a year when I was 23. It was just a block from Broad street and the subway stop. That made it a little noisy but I didn’t mind at the time. I probably wouldn’t live there now though. Lots of bored teens hanging on the stoops, but what else is new, it’s Philly? I never had any trouble but I minded my own business.

A friend of mine lived off of Gold Star Park, on S. Marshall street. I visited frequently and it was a nice neighborhood, mainly because of the little park. Some of the neighbors were crazy and rowdy but it was pretty safe. I wouldn’t recommend living south of Federal for families though. More appropriate living for grad students. The subway was less than a fifteen minute walk away.

Snyder street was the most sketchy street near my house when I lived in Philly. The gas station near 11th street attracts some shady characters that wait for the bus. There was also the occasional panhandler/junkie and I knew someone that was robbed at gunpoint by some teens. Otherwise, I never really felt unsafe because there were always people around looking out for the neighborhood.

I used to live on Tree Street, and it wasn’t bad. It was safe. The neighbors were friendly and watched out for each other. It was also close to public transportation, which was great because I didn’t have a car. It’s also near Passyunk and shopping centers as well. While I was there several houses were reclaimed and refurbished. I hope it’s still as nice as it was when I was in Philly.

A while ago, a friend took me to The Blue Comet on South Easton Road. It was a great Rockabilly bar that felt like something out of the 1950s. Tasty and greasy food, patrons with slicked back hair, rockabilly tunes on the juke. The house drink was called the blue comet, and it was some kind of alcoholic blue beverage that I don’t recommend. I heard a rumor that this place had closed. Can anyone verify this? Thanks.

Latimer street runs in segments through the middle of Philly. The area I like is between S. 17th and S. 15th streets. It’s near the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and Rittenhouse square so it was a great place to take the family when they came to visit. Also, right by the intersection of Latimer and S. 15th there’s a cool bar called McGlinchey’s which is a hang out for artsy types.

The area full of bars near I 95 and Richmond street has really gone downhill since I lived here. It’s alright in the day but watch your back at night. It’s worth mentioning that there is a place called Moe’s Tavern on East Palmer and Moyer streets, which is kind of like Moe’s on The Simpsons. Like the cartoon, it’s not much for ambiance but worth the trip for a photo op.

This street is obviously named for the 38th parallel which divides Korea, and this is where you’ll find the memorial to veterans of the Korean War. It’s a nice little spot that’s a tribute to the “Forgotten War,” and worth the trip. When I visited there were some vets there, and they really appreciated seeing others who showed interest. Walk a few blocks down to South street, and you’ll find a shop which sells flowers that you can leave as a nice gesture.