Washington Heights

This neighborhood is certainly getting better each day. Tons of quality restaurants and places to shop. Rents are fair and Landlords are pleasant.

This area is about to explode.

It's a pretty tempting area. Apartments are spacious and many of them recently renovated. Lots of students and artists types and moving up there (especially musicians who need room for instruments and recording equipment). I'm sure there are some dingy apartments, but it's fairly easy to land a beautiful apartment at a good price--just be sure it's not above a bar or nightclub.

The parks and history of the area are also alluring, with greenery and historic sites and venerated businesses like Coogan’s Restaurant. The Columbia University Medical Center is one of the largest medical facilities in the US, and New York-Presbyterian Hospital is another excellent hospital.

Great apartments, natural beauty, good food, and excellent medical care? Why doesn't everyone live here?

The commute. The A is your only express train and runs local on the weekend...meanwhile the 1 train and the C trains are always running local, and those are your only 3 train options. Should anything disrupt service on those trains, you're not going to make your destination on time.

Crime rates aren't encouraging, but I wouldn't consider Washington Heights unsafe. Standard safety rules apply--don't walk down the street listening to your iPod waving cash around late at night. Be safe, be cautious, but don't be ruled by fear.

Wash Heights is not as far away from the rest of NYC as it looks...20 minutes to midtown by A express train. The neighborhood is young and lively thanks to Columbia University's large health sciences campus on 168th and Broadway, and the surrounding dorms. There is the wonderful Riverside Park just 10 minutes away, and biking and jogging is ever present throughout the neighborhood. Food choices are not incredible, but Plum Pomidor, In Vino Veritas, and the famous Tasty Deli for a delicious hero at lunch will do. Coogans is a great place to test out your Hotel California rendition on Thursday karaoke nights. Plus, rent is cheaper than anywhere else in Manhattan. I would seriously recommend this neighborhood for anyone looking for a pleasant, inexpensive up-and-comer.

Washington Heights is one of the northernmost sections of Manhattan. It is a hilly neighborhood that has spectacular views of the Hudson River and the Palisades. You will find lots of parks in this community. Stroll through the shady Fort Tryon Park, a 67-acre park designed by John D. Rockefeller, Jr., with its very own 3-acre Heather garden. The park is home to a very well known attraction, the Cloisters.

You will not find many hotel accommodations in Washington Heights. If you need a place to stay, try neighboring communities like Upper West Side, where you will find Hotel Belleclaire or Excelsior.

Stop by my favorite Cajun and Creole restaurant this side of New Orleans, the Baton Rouge. The seafood dishes are mouth watering and they even cater to your adventurous side – yes, they serve alligator!

For arts and entertainment, stop by the historic United Palace at 4140 Broadway offering a variety of theater events, live music, lectures and workshops.