"Quick way to get downtown"
Chrystie is a great connection to 2nd Avenue if you're heading downtown (and an obvious one). It's fast moving but usually the traffic isn't bad at all, which makes things better for the hundreds of cyclists who use it to get to the Manhattan Bridge in the summertime. Chrystie is known for nightlife, which is a more recent development. Further downtown it still serves as a commuter hub for those boarding charter or Chinatown buses and commuter vans. Avoid these areas late friday night if you're driving.