Wards Is Rd, Manhattan

The traditional heart of Harlem, East 125th Street nevertheless lacks the charm and individuality of the centers of other, comparable ethnic neighborhoods. The glut of chain stores and fast-food restaurants lining this chaotic thoroughfare are but a more concentrated version of what could be found on 42nd Street or near Macy's. While this area is far from dangerous - Harlem's gentrification has certainly done much to wipe out that stereotype - it's not particularly charming, either. While the 125th St. station is convenient for uptowners looking to get out of town, there's little else of note in the area besides the usual stack of Old Navy's, McDonald's, Gaps, et. al. One exception here is the Apollo Theatre, still lively and worth going to after decades. Parts of Harlem are certainly well worth visiting, but the more scenic up-uptown townhouses are located a few blocks further south, closer to Central Park. Worth a visit in order to see the street-sellers offering all manner of tschotkes, a relative rarity in uptown Manhattan, but don't plan an outing here.

What can one say about 125th street!! Before I moved up here, I had no idea. There is every kind of store & more banks than you can think of their names. Between Broadway and Lennox, there are Citibank, Commerce, North Fork, Wamu, Chase, Bank of America, and two other banks right at Broadway. At St. Nicholas & 125th, there is a Danice clothing store, Old Navy & two smaller stores right next to Old Navy. Near Adam Clayton Blvd. there is an H&M and a Lane Bryant. The post office at Morningside and 125th is pretty decent, but like all post offices - it is understaffed & what staff exists aren't that friendly. The food on 125th street is mostly fast-food except for there's a Manna's at Lennox and also down by North General Hospital (Madison Ave.). Manna's is one of those carribbean restaurants where you can pick what you want from buffet-style warming trays. Though you do pay for your food by weight. The diner at Morningside & 125th should be avoided. In the past year it has been closed by the health department 3 times. This I know, because I've seen the sign right on the front door. Traffic on 125th is insane. It is best to walk - the buses are slow too. I would never drive down it, except for when the stores are closed, any time after 9:30pm. Overall, the street is very safe and I've not seen anything bad going on there. Though, I don't walk down the street late at night. Also, there are a ton of street vendors on 125th - selling everything from African spices/incense to spanish icees.

A colorful place. A twenty-four hour Pathmark Supermarket is there. It’s a shopping area so it is filled with people at all hours. There are African vendor selling a variety of products for skin and hair, as well as oils, incense, and other treats from the motherland. There’s also African hair braiding salons on this street. You WILL be asked if you want your hair braided, as the hairdressers come to the street to find clients. For lunch, stop at Gray’s Papaya. Churches line one side of the street, providing a unique touch to a block that seems familiar in East Harlem. There is a lot of car traffic, but transportation is available (4,5,6, M16 Bus)