Is W 139th St. NY, NY a safe hood for two european mid 20s girls to stay?
July 25, 2010 9:46 AM Subscribe
Haven't been in NYC for a bunch of years...two female friends (mid 20s) on an overseas trip to the City are wondering if W 139th Street is an alright hood to stay in? I know Manhattan is more or less safe...but is there anything you could say that wouldn't recommend that they stay there?
Are you maybe talking about the Harlem Renaissance House B&B?
posted by elizardbits at 9:52 AM on July 25, 2010
posted by elizardbits at 9:52 AM on July 25, 2010
Response by poster: Looks like it's close to Lenox Ave.
posted by talljamal at 9:52 AM on July 25, 2010
posted by talljamal at 9:52 AM on July 25, 2010
It's a little out-of-the-way to most of the places they will probably want to go. I wouldn't say it's a dangerous neighborhood, but depending on where it is on 139th, it is not really the best neighborhood, especially if they aren't familiar with NYC or big cities in general.
posted by millipede at 9:58 AM on July 25, 2010
posted by millipede at 9:58 AM on July 25, 2010
It's far, so they'll have a bit of a trek into the city, although not as bad as Astoria, for instance. They also might run into trouble if they don't speak English.
I looked the area up on Google Maps and I can't tell if that's project housing on that intersection (and also on the way to the 135th 2/3 stop, which is the train they'll be taking,) but if it is, I'd advise against them staying there. I've lived in/near the projects long enough to unequivocally say that if you have anywhere else to live, even if it is a bit costlier, do it.
posted by griphus at 10:02 AM on July 25, 2010
I looked the area up on Google Maps and I can't tell if that's project housing on that intersection (and also on the way to the 135th 2/3 stop, which is the train they'll be taking,) but if it is, I'd advise against them staying there. I've lived in/near the projects long enough to unequivocally say that if you have anywhere else to live, even if it is a bit costlier, do it.
posted by griphus at 10:02 AM on July 25, 2010
I wouldn't be worried about safety, as long as neither one goes wandering around alone late at night, but that's a pretty long subway ride if they want to hang out downtown (especially since the 2 goes local late at night). If there's no pressing reason why they need to be in the borough of Manhattan, I bet they could somewhere in Williamsburg or near Downtown Brooklyn that would be closer to downtown and just as affordable.
posted by oinopaponton at 10:03 AM on July 25, 2010
posted by oinopaponton at 10:03 AM on July 25, 2010
It definitely depends on the place, but I'd probably stay there. But I'm also a New Yorker who has lived in East Harlem before, and knows how to stay safe.
They're not going to be living here, right, just vacationing?
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:04 AM on July 25, 2010
They're not going to be living here, right, just vacationing?
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:04 AM on July 25, 2010
In that area, it's kind of block by block. Some blocks are alright, other blocks are sketchy. They should be fine during the day if they exercise judgment. I wouldn't do a ton of wandering around there at night. Mainly, if they stay around a lot of people and avoid desolate stretches, they should be fine.
posted by Ashley801 at 10:04 AM on July 25, 2010
posted by Ashley801 at 10:04 AM on July 25, 2010
It depends what you consider safe, but 139th is not going to be the safest part of the city by anyone's standards. Once you get north of columbia (around 116th) and before you get to Inwood (200th-ish), you're in grey territory. It's definitely far safer than it used to be, and there's lots of cool stuff going on around there, but harlem and washington heights don't really count as "manhattan" when people say "manhattan is safe"...
It's equivalent to much of brooklyn in most socio-economic ways. Actually there are a lot of parts of brooklyn that are probably more upscale these days. None of this is to say you shouldn't stay there, but it is not equivalent to staying in the upper west side... it's "up and coming" and "authentic" but may be slightly less comfortable for you if you're not familiar with new york to start with.
posted by mdn at 10:07 AM on July 25, 2010 [3 favorites]
It's equivalent to much of brooklyn in most socio-economic ways. Actually there are a lot of parts of brooklyn that are probably more upscale these days. None of this is to say you shouldn't stay there, but it is not equivalent to staying in the upper west side... it's "up and coming" and "authentic" but may be slightly less comfortable for you if you're not familiar with new york to start with.
posted by mdn at 10:07 AM on July 25, 2010 [3 favorites]
The housing project map is at http://gis.nyc.gov/nycha/im/wmp.do.
The block of buildings at the intersection doesn't appear on the NYCHA map as a public housing project, though, FWIW, there are some nearby.
posted by chengjih at 10:11 AM on July 25, 2010 [1 favorite]
The block of buildings at the intersection doesn't appear on the NYCHA map as a public housing project, though, FWIW, there are some nearby.
posted by chengjih at 10:11 AM on July 25, 2010 [1 favorite]
I know Manhattan is more or less safe
(Just wanted to say that this is not totally true, all over Manhattan you'll find unsafe patches in almost any neighborhood. Harlem is relatively high in those patches for Manhattan. The cross-street actually does make a difference. Also, I assumed in my post that these girls are relatively streetwise/traveled and have been in big urban centers before. If not, I don't think they should stay in that neighborhood on their first outing.)
posted by Ashley801 at 10:14 AM on July 25, 2010
(Just wanted to say that this is not totally true, all over Manhattan you'll find unsafe patches in almost any neighborhood. Harlem is relatively high in those patches for Manhattan. The cross-street actually does make a difference. Also, I assumed in my post that these girls are relatively streetwise/traveled and have been in big urban centers before. If not, I don't think they should stay in that neighborhood on their first outing.)
posted by Ashley801 at 10:14 AM on July 25, 2010
Looks like it's close to Lenox Ave.
That's right next to public housing. Take that into consideration. I wouldn't want to live there, and I've lived in Manhattan all my life and I'm male.
posted by dfriedman at 10:15 AM on July 25, 2010 [1 favorite]
That's right next to public housing. Take that into consideration. I wouldn't want to live there, and I've lived in Manhattan all my life and I'm male.
posted by dfriedman at 10:15 AM on July 25, 2010 [1 favorite]
chengjih: "The block of buildings at the intersection doesn't appear on the NYCHA map as a public housing project, though, FWIW, there are some nearby."
Yeah, looks like it is sandwiched right in between two sets of projects housing on the north and south, with the Lincoln projects right near the train station. So, if these are young girls who plan to go to clubs at night, I'd again advise against it unless they plan to cab it back every night.
posted by griphus at 10:15 AM on July 25, 2010
Yeah, looks like it is sandwiched right in between two sets of projects housing on the north and south, with the Lincoln projects right near the train station. So, if these are young girls who plan to go to clubs at night, I'd again advise against it unless they plan to cab it back every night.
posted by griphus at 10:15 AM on July 25, 2010
I recently stayed in midtown on 35th between and 7th and 8th Avenue for $150/night and it was both safe and super convenient to many different subway lines. Unless there is some pressing need to stay way up there then I'd say they could do much better.
posted by mmascolino at 10:42 AM on July 25, 2010
posted by mmascolino at 10:42 AM on July 25, 2010
is there anything you could say that wouldn't recommend that they stay there?
You're not just asking about safety, right? You're asking if there any good reasons for them not to stay there?
Sure: they're probably not going to want to spend much of their trip way up in Harlem. They'll want to spend a lot of time around 14th St. or lower, and from 139th St. to 14th St. is a long way. Overall, they'll spend a lot more time on the subway -- or, if they take cabs, those will be more expensive. Can't they find relatively low-budget accommodations in midtown or lower Manhattan, or in a nice area of Brooklyn? If that's going to raise their costs, I would even consider shortening their trip if that's possible.
posted by Jaltcoh at 10:48 AM on July 25, 2010
You're not just asking about safety, right? You're asking if there any good reasons for them not to stay there?
Sure: they're probably not going to want to spend much of their trip way up in Harlem. They'll want to spend a lot of time around 14th St. or lower, and from 139th St. to 14th St. is a long way. Overall, they'll spend a lot more time on the subway -- or, if they take cabs, those will be more expensive. Can't they find relatively low-budget accommodations in midtown or lower Manhattan, or in a nice area of Brooklyn? If that's going to raise their costs, I would even consider shortening their trip if that's possible.
posted by Jaltcoh at 10:48 AM on July 25, 2010
I wouldn't stay there. It would probably be fine but it's a hike from anything that they'd want to see, and I wouldn't want to come back to that neighborhood late at night. I (female in my 20s) have walked in that neighborhood at night and lived to tell the tale, but I didn't enjoy it.
posted by oryelle at 10:49 AM on July 25, 2010
posted by oryelle at 10:49 AM on July 25, 2010
If they're on a very tight budget, I'd recommend checking out Hostelling International. It's in a slightly marginal/ inconvenient neighborhood, but one that I've always felt safe in.
posted by oryelle at 10:57 AM on July 25, 2010
posted by oryelle at 10:57 AM on July 25, 2010
I wouldn't stay there if you had any other alternative. Not because of saftey, but because of convenience - its not near anything. You'll waste a LOT of time (and probably money) getting to and from there. You can do much better. Even staying just over the river in NJ would be an improvement. There are at least 6 hotels in my town, right on the direct bus route to the city. 20 minutes and you're there - it'll take you a lot more than that to get from The Battery to 139, for sure.
posted by blaneyphoto at 10:58 AM on July 25, 2010
posted by blaneyphoto at 10:58 AM on July 25, 2010
I stayed at the Jazz Hostel in that area, at 104 West 128th Street. It might even be the exact place you're talking about. The neighborhood didn't have as many cheap little ethnic food places as I'd hoped for, and it's definitely a hike to downtown. Those are the drawbacks.
As far as safety, if you're walking between the hostel and the subway, almost the whole walk is on a well-lit major street. I felt safe. But then again, I'm a male who has lived / worked in homeless shelters before, and I'm hard to sketch out.
As far as I can tell, the only reason to stay in that area is to save money (that was my motivation) but I didn't realize how much extra time it would take to stay up there. So I guess I wasted a good chunk of my pricey trip, so in a way I wasted money.
Saving a few bucks is probably not worth it, if you're just gonna end up worrying and feeling unsafe the whole time - even if nothing happens to you.
Hit me up if you have more questions, or if you want to hear more about that specific hostel.
posted by Sfving at 11:06 AM on July 25, 2010
As far as safety, if you're walking between the hostel and the subway, almost the whole walk is on a well-lit major street. I felt safe. But then again, I'm a male who has lived / worked in homeless shelters before, and I'm hard to sketch out.
As far as I can tell, the only reason to stay in that area is to save money (that was my motivation) but I didn't realize how much extra time it would take to stay up there. So I guess I wasted a good chunk of my pricey trip, so in a way I wasted money.
Saving a few bucks is probably not worth it, if you're just gonna end up worrying and feeling unsafe the whole time - even if nothing happens to you.
Hit me up if you have more questions, or if you want to hear more about that specific hostel.
posted by Sfving at 11:06 AM on July 25, 2010
Just chiming in that NJ would absolutely NOT be an improvement. The cost/time spent waiting for a bus is awful, no matter where you stay.
There's a hostel on W. 103 right by the park that's pretty new.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:15 AM on July 25, 2010 [1 favorite]
There's a hostel on W. 103 right by the park that's pretty new.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:15 AM on July 25, 2010 [1 favorite]
This crime map may be too much information ...
posted by alittleknowledge at 11:39 AM on July 25, 2010
posted by alittleknowledge at 11:39 AM on July 25, 2010
I lived at 139th + Riverside for a year with no problems except for the corner boys calling me "white girl" sometimes. I think that's a great spot to live - near the hudson, riverbank park, fairway, and now Columbia's impending transformation of the blocks immediately to the south. But it's probably not the most fun place for tourists.
posted by yarly at 11:59 AM on July 25, 2010
posted by yarly at 11:59 AM on July 25, 2010
Yeah, looks like it is sandwiched right in between two sets of projects housing on the north
It is called "Savoy Park" these days as it has been turned into a condo complex, used to be known as Delano Village, a middle income housing building, not a project.
Lenox Avenue (aka Malcom X Blvd) from W 132 to W 139 is a business district so during the day lots of activity and relatively safe. The NYPL's Schomburg Center is on Lenox across from Harlem Hospital (between W 135 & W136). I can recommend a day trip there without hesitation.
However, some of the streets off the avenue are so-so, and at night walking back from the train, eh, I think you and your friend would do better in another part of Manhattan.
here is a link [pdf] to the NYPD 32nd police precient crime stats for that area. 2009, 11 murders, 24 rapes, 264 robberies and 302 felony assaults.
For context, the 24th precient [pdf] that covers W 103 street, where someone recommended a new hostel, had 3 murders, 9 rapes, 177 robberies and 136 felony assaults in 2009.
posted by mlis at 1:46 PM on July 25, 2010
It is called "Savoy Park" these days as it has been turned into a condo complex, used to be known as Delano Village, a middle income housing building, not a project.
Lenox Avenue (aka Malcom X Blvd) from W 132 to W 139 is a business district so during the day lots of activity and relatively safe. The NYPL's Schomburg Center is on Lenox across from Harlem Hospital (between W 135 & W136). I can recommend a day trip there without hesitation.
However, some of the streets off the avenue are so-so, and at night walking back from the train, eh, I think you and your friend would do better in another part of Manhattan.
here is a link [pdf] to the NYPD 32nd police precient crime stats for that area. 2009, 11 murders, 24 rapes, 264 robberies and 302 felony assaults.
For context, the 24th precient [pdf] that covers W 103 street, where someone recommended a new hostel, had 3 murders, 9 rapes, 177 robberies and 136 felony assaults in 2009.
posted by mlis at 1:46 PM on July 25, 2010
although not as bad as Astoria
Astoria is a lot closer to the Midtown/Downtown Manhattan action than Harlem is. At least in terms of subway access and travel time.
I've lived in/near the projects long enough to unequivocally say that if you have anywhere else to live, even if it is a bit costlier, do it.
While I'm equally iffy with this location as a choice for tourists unfamiliar with the city, I don't necessarily find that to be true for New York. Or at least not as true here as it was in New Orleans.
If there's no pressing reason why they need to be in the borough of Manhattan, I bet they could somewhere in Williamsburg or near Downtown Brooklyn that would be closer to downtown and just as affordable.
This is generally untrue. Firstly, none of the reputable hotels or B&B's I'm familiar with in Brooklyn are significantly better value for money than their Manhattan equivalents. Secondly, there is only one hotel in Williamsburg and I would categorically NOT recommend that anyone who isn't intimately familiar with north Brooklyn stay there. If you had the choice of 139th street and the location of this particular Williamsburg hotel, I'd pick 139th. At least there isn't a major freeway abutting 139th and Lenox...
I very much agree with Jaltcoh, in that I think it's not so much that it's a terribly dangerous area, or that you have to avoid projects with a 10-foot pole (there are projects within a few blocks of pretty much anywhere in New York, and yet most of the city is extremely safe). But if I was coming to New York as a tourist for the first time, it wouldn't be the most advantageous location.
I would also add, re safety in general, that New York City on the whole is one of the safest large cities on the planet, I believe the safest in the US. If your friends are concerned enough about crime that they are digging into annual crime stats for different precincts, they should probably choose a travel destination that caters more to the suburbanite set. I hear Orlando is great this time of year.
posted by Sara C. at 2:56 PM on July 25, 2010
Astoria is a lot closer to the Midtown/Downtown Manhattan action than Harlem is. At least in terms of subway access and travel time.
I've lived in/near the projects long enough to unequivocally say that if you have anywhere else to live, even if it is a bit costlier, do it.
While I'm equally iffy with this location as a choice for tourists unfamiliar with the city, I don't necessarily find that to be true for New York. Or at least not as true here as it was in New Orleans.
If there's no pressing reason why they need to be in the borough of Manhattan, I bet they could somewhere in Williamsburg or near Downtown Brooklyn that would be closer to downtown and just as affordable.
This is generally untrue. Firstly, none of the reputable hotels or B&B's I'm familiar with in Brooklyn are significantly better value for money than their Manhattan equivalents. Secondly, there is only one hotel in Williamsburg and I would categorically NOT recommend that anyone who isn't intimately familiar with north Brooklyn stay there. If you had the choice of 139th street and the location of this particular Williamsburg hotel, I'd pick 139th. At least there isn't a major freeway abutting 139th and Lenox...
I very much agree with Jaltcoh, in that I think it's not so much that it's a terribly dangerous area, or that you have to avoid projects with a 10-foot pole (there are projects within a few blocks of pretty much anywhere in New York, and yet most of the city is extremely safe). But if I was coming to New York as a tourist for the first time, it wouldn't be the most advantageous location.
I would also add, re safety in general, that New York City on the whole is one of the safest large cities on the planet, I believe the safest in the US. If your friends are concerned enough about crime that they are digging into annual crime stats for different precincts, they should probably choose a travel destination that caters more to the suburbanite set. I hear Orlando is great this time of year.
posted by Sara C. at 2:56 PM on July 25, 2010
Just chiming in that NJ would absolutely NOT be an improvement. The cost/time spent waiting for a bus is awful, no matter where you stay.
We stayed a at hotel near the Meadowlands and a bus picked us up in from of our hotel and dropped us off two blocks from Times Square for less than two dollars a day. I don't remember waiting more than fifteen minutes max for the bus so I'd say it was worth it. Plus we got to see some of the sights on the way in; it was great. We used the subway to get around the rest of the day and took the bus back. It worked just fine and we were pretty green tourists from Texas.
posted by tamitang at 3:09 PM on July 25, 2010 [1 favorite]
We stayed a at hotel near the Meadowlands and a bus picked us up in from of our hotel and dropped us off two blocks from Times Square for less than two dollars a day. I don't remember waiting more than fifteen minutes max for the bus so I'd say it was worth it. Plus we got to see some of the sights on the way in; it was great. We used the subway to get around the rest of the day and took the bus back. It worked just fine and we were pretty green tourists from Texas.
posted by tamitang at 3:09 PM on July 25, 2010 [1 favorite]
While I'm equally iffy with this location as a choice for tourists unfamiliar with the city, I don't necessarily find that to be true for New York.
Some aren't as bad as others; I was in the Coney Island ones, for instance, which aren't nearly as bad as, say, the South Bronx or Canarsie or East New York. Between an area with projects nearby and an area without, the latter will (almost) unanimously be more comfortable and certainly safer.
We stayed a at hotel near the Meadowlands and a bus picked us up in from of our hotel and dropped us off two blocks from Times Square for less than two dollars a day.
These are two young women from Europe. Bars and clubs close at about 4 AM. I do not envy anyone trying to get into Jersery in anything but a car at 4 AM.
posted by griphus at 3:15 PM on July 25, 2010
Some aren't as bad as others; I was in the Coney Island ones, for instance, which aren't nearly as bad as, say, the South Bronx or Canarsie or East New York. Between an area with projects nearby and an area without, the latter will (almost) unanimously be more comfortable and certainly safer.
We stayed a at hotel near the Meadowlands and a bus picked us up in from of our hotel and dropped us off two blocks from Times Square for less than two dollars a day.
These are two young women from Europe. Bars and clubs close at about 4 AM. I do not envy anyone trying to get into Jersery in anything but a car at 4 AM.
posted by griphus at 3:15 PM on July 25, 2010
Here's an affordable hostel two blocks from the Bedford Ave stop (10 minutes from the East Village) that has glowing reviews, especially from young women, and offers private 2-bed rooms.
posted by oinopaponton at 3:21 PM on July 25, 2010
posted by oinopaponton at 3:21 PM on July 25, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks people! I think the headline here for me is that the travel time back and forth will be a downer.
I had prepped my friend with the usual precautions of NYC and street-smarts, not that they are naive or aloof, and also shared that it might be worth looking east or west instead of so far north.
+'ing what Sara C. said. I don't find the crime stats really helpful either way. It's hard to know how accurate they really are (e.g. it could be a lot worse in an area where people just aren't reporting the incidents for whatever reason).
They're meeting up with a Couchsurfer with a ton of great references, so I think they'll be good to go.
Appreciation all around :)
posted by talljamal at 3:29 PM on July 25, 2010
I had prepped my friend with the usual precautions of NYC and street-smarts, not that they are naive or aloof, and also shared that it might be worth looking east or west instead of so far north.
+'ing what Sara C. said. I don't find the crime stats really helpful either way. It's hard to know how accurate they really are (e.g. it could be a lot worse in an area where people just aren't reporting the incidents for whatever reason).
They're meeting up with a Couchsurfer with a ton of great references, so I think they'll be good to go.
Appreciation all around :)
posted by talljamal at 3:29 PM on July 25, 2010
I would be really, really careful about staying in unlicensed dorm-style "hotels" in Williamsburg.
I can't tell, from the website, whether this is a totally legit hostel (and if the OP's friends want to stay in a hostel, it seems like it would maybe be OK?), or whether this is a poster child for the "not really a hotel" scamfests I keep reading about.
What I will tell you is that for years I have frequently spent time on the very block this "hotel" is supposed to be located on, and I have never seen a hotel there. That should be a red flag - even the seediest hostels have signs and prominent entrances.
Oinopaponton, do you personally know the young women who stayed here and raved about it? I looked it up on HostelWorld, which I know to be a reputable site, and it has it's fair share of reviews, all positive. But in light of what I've heard about places like this, I'm wary.
posted by Sara C. at 3:36 PM on July 25, 2010 [1 favorite]
I can't tell, from the website, whether this is a totally legit hostel (and if the OP's friends want to stay in a hostel, it seems like it would maybe be OK?), or whether this is a poster child for the "not really a hotel" scamfests I keep reading about.
What I will tell you is that for years I have frequently spent time on the very block this "hotel" is supposed to be located on, and I have never seen a hotel there. That should be a red flag - even the seediest hostels have signs and prominent entrances.
Oinopaponton, do you personally know the young women who stayed here and raved about it? I looked it up on HostelWorld, which I know to be a reputable site, and it has it's fair share of reviews, all positive. But in light of what I've heard about places like this, I'm wary.
posted by Sara C. at 3:36 PM on July 25, 2010 [1 favorite]
More info about Williamsburg "loft" "hotels", with a specific mention of Zip112.
posted by Sara C. at 3:43 PM on July 25, 2010
posted by Sara C. at 3:43 PM on July 25, 2010
Just chiming in that NJ would absolutely NOT be an improvement. The cost/time spent waiting for a bus is awful,\
posted by roomthreeseventeen
Disregard this nonsense.
posted by blaneyphoto at 7:53 PM on July 25, 2010
posted by roomthreeseventeen
Disregard this nonsense.
posted by blaneyphoto at 7:53 PM on July 25, 2010
These are two young women from Europe. Bars and clubs close at about 4 AM. I do not envy anyone trying to get into Jersery in anything but a car at 4 AM.
posted by griphus
According to the NJ Transit trip planner, there's a bus leaving Port Authority at 4:30am. If they've been out that late, another half hour won't kill them - particularly in exchange for the lower cost and safety of staying in the Carlstadt/East Rutherford hotels.
posted by blaneyphoto at 8:14 PM on July 25, 2010
posted by griphus
According to the NJ Transit trip planner, there's a bus leaving Port Authority at 4:30am. If they've been out that late, another half hour won't kill them - particularly in exchange for the lower cost and safety of staying in the Carlstadt/East Rutherford hotels.
posted by blaneyphoto at 8:14 PM on July 25, 2010
there's a bus leaving Port Authority at 4:30am. If they've been out that late, another half hour won't kill them
This is what's always killed me about the "New Jersey Is Just As Good" argument. Everyone I know who lives in Jersey has to be really careful about scheduling when they go out. It's a non-stop debate between "We have to go! There's a bus in 20 minutes!" and "No, let's stay for one more drink, we'll get the next one..."
I like that, as someone who lives on the MTA transit system, I can leave the party whenever I'm good and ready and there will be a bus/train within 5 to 10 minutes.
posted by Sara C. at 6:25 AM on July 26, 2010
This is what's always killed me about the "New Jersey Is Just As Good" argument. Everyone I know who lives in Jersey has to be really careful about scheduling when they go out. It's a non-stop debate between "We have to go! There's a bus in 20 minutes!" and "No, let's stay for one more drink, we'll get the next one..."
I like that, as someone who lives on the MTA transit system, I can leave the party whenever I'm good and ready and there will be a bus/train within 5 to 10 minutes.
posted by Sara C. at 6:25 AM on July 26, 2010
There's a 2/3 express stop on 135th and Lenox. 24-minute ride to Times Square. No transfers, perfectly easy, well-populated station day or night. The places a bit farther south (e.g., on 104th) are actually a longer commute from Midtown (it's all about express vs. local trains and reliability). Ignore the nonsense above about this costing more -- any train leg anywhere in the city costs the same.
Needless to say, I'll nth the "NJ is NOT more convenient" response.
Half a block south of that 2/3 stop is Manna's -- excellent, cheap, healthy buffet/salad place (the kind of place I dearly wish were near every hostel I stayed at). Good, very cheap grocery stores too.
So I recommend this area to your friends if they found a place that looks good. (Note: most objective site for hostel reviews -- doesn't allow any editorial control from the hostels themselves -- is hostelz.com.)
posted by kalapierson at 9:50 AM on July 26, 2010
Needless to say, I'll nth the "NJ is NOT more convenient" response.
Half a block south of that 2/3 stop is Manna's -- excellent, cheap, healthy buffet/salad place (the kind of place I dearly wish were near every hostel I stayed at). Good, very cheap grocery stores too.
So I recommend this area to your friends if they found a place that looks good. (Note: most objective site for hostel reviews -- doesn't allow any editorial control from the hostels themselves -- is hostelz.com.)
posted by kalapierson at 9:50 AM on July 26, 2010
(Since others are giving these details, I have to balance by saying I was also white-female-20s when I lived near 139th and Lenox a few years ago. Most importantly, as in any neighborhood anywhere, one's own safety on an individual level depends more on common sense than on an area's racial demographics. I wonder how many people know that Harlem officially isn't majority-Black anymore? It's still a center for Black history and culture, but it's an ever-changing neighborhood just like any in NYC.)
posted by kalapierson at 11:11 AM on July 26, 2010
posted by kalapierson at 11:11 AM on July 26, 2010
I guess based on some of these responses, I now know why my NJ neighborhood remains convenient, safe and WAY less expensive than NYC. I've lived in NYC for many, many years so I realize why some of you are determined to insist that the ride to/from NJ is inconvenient.... but its completely unfounded. Any of you ever taken the R to Bay Ridge at 4am? Now that's a hassle - getting to NJ by bus is piece of cake.
posted by blaneyphoto at 7:35 PM on July 26, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by blaneyphoto at 7:35 PM on July 26, 2010 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:48 AM on July 25, 2010