The Lower East Side is even more of a hipster mecca than Williamsburg and is one of the trendiest neighborhoods in the city. The neighborhood’s boundaries run from East Houston Street to the Manhattan Bridge and from the East River to the Bowery. Once an area known for being largely Jewish, the Lower East Side is now home to galleries, high-end boutiques, and armies of hipsters. It’s one of the few areas of Manhattan that retains a certain level of grit.
Moving to the Lower East Side means cheaper rent than many other areas of Manhattan. Most of the buildings are tenement-style antebellum structures, but more recently many new luxury buildings have sprung up to cater to the wealthy people moving to this area. The older buildings are often pedestrianized, which means there is no elevator, so bring your walking shoes. The streets here are noisy and the area is always busy and full of life, and Chinatown also spills into the neighborhood, providing an interesting complement.
There are many types of artists and many people who pose as types of artists. There are still Spanish families with their children hanging around, which adds an authentic touch to the neighborhood. There are also some young yuppies moving in, but it’s hard to tell because they dress like the artists. So the people here are kind of a fresh, creative, young (although it’s starting to feel manufactured) crowd of ideas. People from uptown come here on the weekends, so it becomes more mainstream like weekends, but when Monday rolls around, you’ll see a lot of people wearing those trendy metal studded belts and girls with ” vintage dresses” with sneakers. If you want to be surrounded by creative people in Manhattan, then living on the Lower East Side is one of the few options left.
This area is full of characters and you will probably come across strangers talking about you even during a brief walk through the area. It’s charming and people are generally friendly, but be careful of your surroundings, especially at night in the quiet streets. Other streets have so much going on that all you have to worry about is the screaming drunk who falls on you. On a scale of 10 (with 10 being the safest), I would give it a 7. For the most part, people will leave you alone.
The nightlife on the Lower East Side is one of the area’s biggest draws. There are many places with live music and many bands started here. Bowery Ballroom, Arlene’s Grocery, and Pianos are some good options to enjoy live entertainment. There are plenty of fringe type shows in this area, as well as some interesting bars.
The area is a bit left out when it comes to transportation, with just one stop on the F/V subway line that runs through the neighborhood. Overall, the Lower East Side is a fantastic place to live, especially if you want a taste of modern New York life.