Area Information
Living in New York City's East Village means having your social life at your doorstep. Many of Manhattan's best happy hours, cheap restaurants, and fun bars are right here. People move here to go out, not to hunker down, which is hard to do given the constant hum of a party. Despite its gentrification, the area is still a little grungy and eclectic, and indisputably cool. Your eyes are often drawn to something new: a little wine bar, basement consignment shop, hidden garden or a statue in a second-floor window. The street life has grown increasingly upscale, but it's still as vibrant as ever.
Transportation
The East Village is bordered by 14th Street, Houston Street to the south, Avenue D to the east and the Bowery/Third Avenue to the west. Subways run along the edge of the neighborhood but not through it, and that can mean a good 15-minute walk to a station. The #6 train stops at Astor Place (East 8th Street and Fourth Avenue), the F train at Houston Street and Second Avenue, and the L train at 14th Street and First or Third Avenues. Just a little farther away, Union Square also has the 4, 5, R, Q and N trains. Several buses, including the M15 running up First Avenue and down Second Avenue, and the M8, which goes crosstown on 8th and 9th Streets, can make life easier when they arrive on time. Given the limited transportation options, CitiBike, the new bike-sharing system, is especially valuable here.
Livability
Tompkins Square Park is the neighborhood's heart. Long downtrodden, it has spiffed up along with its surroundings, but still sees its share of drifters. There's always some activity, whether a drum circle, yoga class, game of chess or the Sunday greenmarket. It also has a sizable and popular dog run, with separate areas for large and small dogs, plus benches for owners. Speaking of pups, scores come out for the area's annual Halloween Dog Parade, a canine costume contest that is the city's biggest. The far East Village also has several community gardens that were built on empty lots in the 1970s and 1980s. Each is only open about 10 hours a week, but they're nicely landscaped and generally quiet, providing perfect spots to read and relax. There's even a weeping willow at East 9th Street and Avenue C.
While Tompkins Square Park has a nice little playground, the East Village is not exactly family-friendly. On weekends, when the college kids pack in, the streets can be noisy at all hours. Narrow and crowded sidewalks make it challenging to push a stroller. If you're looking to raise a family downtown, the more grown-up or would be a better bet.
