How will you spend your Thanksgiving break?
Tucked away in the southeast quadrant of Manhattan, the land of Alphabet City sounds better suited for a fairy tale than a New York neighborhood — many,though, call it home. Alphabet City, a section of the East Village, is bordered by 14th Street to the north and Houston Street to the south. Its name comes from the four single-lettered avenues (Avenues A, B, C and D) that begin after First Avenue and stretch to the East River.
Though Avenue D is mostly residential, the others have plenty to offer to any member of the younger, college-age crowd. With plenty of eclectic shops, restaurants, bars, music and more, Alphabet City never ceases to offer something new. And though it's not the cheapest on all fronts (is any part of Manhattan "cheap"?), it does come across as lower-priced than its neighbor to the west, Greenwich Village.
Alphabet City is also home to Tompkins Square Park, a 10.5 acre gem with offerings as wild as its surrounding neighborhood. If you're not interested in the basketball or handball courts, chess tables or just good 'ol fashioned people-watching, try coming during one of its many shows: the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival, the Howl Festival (commemorating Allen Ginsberg) and the outdoor drag festival Wigstock are just a few of the exciting, wacky get-togethers that occur in the park.
