Living in SoHo, Manhattan

Soho stretches from Canal Street to Houston Street and lies between the Hudson River and Lafayette Street and is the cultural center of Manhattan. It is pulsing with activity and life 24 hours a day with tourists and locals alike jostling for position among the narrow streets.

Soho only takes up a quarter square mile of the city but it has over 250 art galleries which should give you an idea of the type of vibe this place has. It also has four museums, 200 restaurants and 100 shops crammed within its borders. The nightlife here is busy and there's something to do at any hour of the day. If you're looking for a place to get a drink, try the Anchor Bar for its festive atmosphere or Antarctica for somewhere a little less pretentious that most places in this area. Greenhouse is the first environmentally friendly nightclub in New York, whatever that means. Or try the infamous Madam X, a bordello-style lounge with private party rooms and intimate nooks.

Avenue Q

SoHo isn't widely popular for its parks and recreation, with visitors normally frequenting this part of town more for other forms of entertainment, namely its bars, clubs and live music. The SoHo Park is one place that provides a respite from the hustle and bustle of the city, with its innovate garage-garden offering an escape from fashionistas and tourists while indulging one in great food and drinks. Not a park in the true sense of the word, this little piece of heaven provides much needed quite-time that any outdoor park would.

SoHo is very well served by public transportation, both buses and the subway. Many subway lines travel through SoHo: A/C/E to Canal or C/E to Spring Street; 1/2/3 to Houston and Canal Streets; R/W to Prince Street; N/R/Q/W to Canal Street, 6 to Canal and Spring Streets; J/M/Z to Canal Street. For buses, the M1 goes cross town to Houston Street and the M1 and M6 run down Broadway with the M1 going back up Lafayette and the M6 up 6th Avenue. The M20 goes up Hudson Street and down Varick Street. If gives plenty of options for anyone who lives here to get around town. Although if you can afford rent in this area, chances are you can also afford to take taxis everywhere!

SoHo is one of the most famous areas of New York and living here would put you in the center of all the action. If you can afford it, living in SoHo will give you a great flavor of what living the high life is like.

Living in SoHo, Manhattan

Kirsty runs a website about living in New York with tips for new arrivals heading to the city. It also has information on what living in SoHo is like.

Living in Kensington, Brooklyn

Kensington is a neighborhood in Brooklyn located near Prospect Park and Greenwood Cemetery. It is a mix of art-deco buildings, row houses and detached, single family Victorians. It is one of the few neighborhoods in the area that has yet to be gentrified and living in Kensington will give new arrival to New York an authentic look at life in the city.

Housing in Kensington isn't nearly as expensive as in other nearby neighborhoods but it is still pricey given that it's in New York. One-family houses start at around 0,000 but one-bedroom condos can be had for as little as 0,000. If you are looking to rent, a one-bedroom apartment will cost around ,500 obviously depending on the exact area and the current state of the accommodation.

Avenue Q Pantages

Living in Kensington you will meet a very diverse group of people from all walks of life. People here come from all kinds of places including Bangladesh, Pakistan, China, Albania, Russia, Mexico and the Caribbean among other countries. The suburb is made up largely of middle class families who are moving away from the more gentrified areas found in other parts of Brooklyn. While generally safe, certain areas have crime rates that are higher than the rest of Brooklyn. The neighborhood side streets can get quiet fairly early so be alert and you shouldn't have any problems.

Kensington doesn't have a decent sized park of its own but it is only a short walk or shorter bike ride to the southern part of Prospect Park which has tennis courts, baseballs diamonds, and soccer fields. If you would rather spend your time indoors, Shenanigans Pubs on Caton Avenue has a great neighborhood vibe to it with an Irish flavor, outdoor seating and karaoke on Saturday nights. Denny's Steak Pub is another good local choice with a 2 for 2 happy hour. The restaurant scene in Kensington reflects the diverse community with everything from Eastern European fare to Indian food to choose from.

The main shopping district in Kensington is Church Street with a busy, but downscale shopping area. It has everything you could need and, if it doesn't, there are some smaller shopping areas along Ditmas Avenue and Cortelyou Road. There is a recently expanded Foodtown supermarket on McDonald Avenue for all of your grocery needs. The travel time on the F train to Manhattan is around 45 minutes and longer on weekends. The Q train is a longer walk but offers an express service. Fortunately there are also many bus routes to get you where you need to go.

Kensington isn't a flashy neighborhood but it is a good example of what living in a New York suburb should be like. Living in Kensington will give any new arrival to New York a good flavor of what the city is all about with its diversity.

Living in Kensington, Brooklyn

Kirsty runs a website about living in New York with tips for new arrivals heading to the city. It also has information on what living in Kensington is like.