1st Ave, East Harlem

When you go down 1st Ave, especially between 27th St. and 30th St., you will find it to be businesslike and commercialized. The biggest attraction is that there are two hospitals a few blocks apart. There is Bellevue Hospital and New York University Medical Center. There are also many deli's and one large department store. Vendors are seen on the street, especially where the hospitals are located.

When you go there, the one attraction is the huge park that is owned by Bellevue Hospital. It is located across the street from the Hospital.

Overall, if you don't mind a hospital or two being in the area, but you like to relax and rest from time to time, you might find the area on 1st Ave., to be one place you can go to. I need to forewarn you though. It is not exactly a quiet place. There is a lot of traffic going down the avenue, and people coming and going.

Walking down 1st Ave from the Barrio, you'll encounter many sights. The locale isn't quite as fancy as 5th Ave or Lexington, and you won't get nonstop sights and sounds like on 7th Ave, but if you have the time, it's worth a look. Ample retailers and restaurants are available, but more impressive are the glimpses you'll get of the river or the bridges that span the gap. The UN building is also accessible from 1st, a sight you'll want to see. It's worth your time, and has a vibe that is distinct from its more western counterparts.

In the East Village, First Avenue hosts a long list of restaurants and places best visited at night. If you’re looking for a quiet place to live, this isn’t it. But if you want to live in a place that is constantly busy but not overwhelmingly trendy, you should check out First Ave. If you’re just visiting, I can vouch for the bar Three of Cups – it’s just your standard pub, but I never had a bad time.

A friend of mine worked for a few months on 1st ave and 13th street, and it is really a fun area to be in. It is full of great restaurants and bars that are open into the late hours of the morning, even on weekdays. On 1st ave and 10th street, there is a really grat Sushi restaurant that offers 50% of all sushi, all the time. In my college heydays, i would frequent this place. The food there is pretty decent and you can eat more than your fill for a relatively small paycheck. The bars in this area tend to follow a Mediterranean theme with many of them offering hookah smoke and hummus platters. This area is truly fun, and very easily accessible via the L at 14th street. This is great if you live in Brooklyn along the L line because the trip into Manhattan is not cumbersome, and you are pretty much guaranteed a good time. I highly recommend a small Venezuelan restaurant called Caracas on the corner of 7th st and 1st avenue for some of the tastiest arepas in the city! Beware, however, this place is closed on Mondays.