January 6, 2003: Where you should live
So you are new to the big city and don't know where to live. Who should you listen to? The crooked real estate brokers who will try to tell you that Elmhurst is the hot new neighborhood, or that the G Train is the line that all the cool kids are riding? Absolutely not. You should listen to me. I've lived in this city for 26 years, first in Brooklyn and for the last 8 in the great borough of Manhattan. I've prepared this map to guide you towards your new home. Sure, some of these neighborhoods might seem strange or unfamiliar- but who ever thought DUMBO lofts would be selling for millions of dollars a piece? I did. That's who. So trust the map- anywhere in the green circles should be fine.
Choosing a neighborhood in New York is a bit like selecting a religion- everyone on the outside is going to think you're crazy, and everyone who has already converted is going to eye you suspiciously. Don't be alarmed- that's just one of the perks of living here. What are my top choices? Well, if you don't mind dropping a couple of thousand a month on rent, my top choice in the city is West SoHo, followed by NoLiTa, and then Chinatown. For those with less money to burn, I recommend the rough and tumble neighborhood called East Park Slope, or, if you are really strapped, Windsor Terrace or Kensington. You say you are a bit of a hipster? Go south of Broadway in Williamsburg to avoid congregating with the rest of your kind. Looking for a loft? DUMBO it is. Or a little worse, Long Island City, preferably on the north end.
Comments
I think I probably should have drawn the circles smaller- but the fact is, even in the circles there are some neighborhoods which are still pretty wack.
apparently i live right on the fringe or acceptableness (24th and park), while it seems the high society in red hook is living large....
Yeah- 24th and Park is nowhereseville. What have you got up there but a Ranch One, two crackhouses, and Credit Suisse First Boston?
Re: I live on the Upper West Side, not that hip, but I do spy a circle. There are two parks and great grocery stores, plus lots of movie theaters and Lincoln Center.
But why is any of the Upper East Side in a circle?
Come on- that little part on upper 5th avenue is pretty damn nice.
I notice my house is distinctly un-green.
if you can deal with hipsters, Williamsburg is not a bad option (Bedford, Lorimer, Graham stops). you can't beat it for convenience--it's a wiff away from the East Ville and a hop from Union Square. you can get a 1-bedroom for a $1000 if you go through a broker. don't let them push you out to greenpoint and have to take a bus to the L train. or worse yet, have to take the G. the food isn't fantastic, but you do have options. Thai, Mexican, Indian, Polish, Falafel takeout. The Chinese food and Italian food around Bedford sucks ass. you'll need to go to the Graham stop for good Italian and decent Chinese-American takeout. unfortunately, I don't think there are any good corner DELIs on bedford (I mean one that makes good sandwiches). no real diners around neither. there's Relish and Broadway diner but those aren't real diners. good food at Broadway diner, so-so at Relish. the local video store (Reel Life) is excellent. there's a dude who works there who may give you a free rental on a certain Ethan Hawke movie for its utter crappiness. bar/nightlife is good but you'll need take a big gulp of irony before you move into the neighborhood, or else you'll turn blue and pass out.
i love williamsburg but i don't think i could ever live there. there's something about being on bedford and n7th that reminds me a little too much of college- i find myself checking out all the people and seeing if i know them. i want to live in a neighborhood where i see no-one from the past- in this way, soho is actually an extremely good neighborhood for me. most 26 year old hipsters would rather eat their pumas than be seen walking on prince street, which hasn't been hip since 1986.
This post (and site) sounds a little sudo bohemian to me; whatever happened to leading an authentic life without 3rd grade analysis of every single insignificant daily going on? Indeed, I almost forgot, it's the internet.
Anyway I don't mean to sound too critical, but the whole "cool" place to live map ticked me off...
The site is interesting so I don't mean to dis-courage you.
Hey i am in the process of looking for a loft in broooklyn, right now im leading towards east williamsburg and red hook.. can u give me some info on those ares, are they safe? thankss
East Williamsburg is getting very gentrified and is pretty safe I'd say
red hook...not so much
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