Living in the West Village, Manhattan

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The West Village is currently one of New York City's trendiest and most expensive nighbourhoods. Living in the West Village comes with an artsy reputation and hoards of tourists so be prepared to share your streets with temporary arrivals along with old mainstays. While most of the young artists have vacated due to high rents, the area still retains a 'place to be' type feel and living in the West Village will be lively and interesting. The West Village's borders are 14th Street to the north, Houston Street to the south, Sixth Avenue to the west and the waterfront to the east.

Living in the West Village brings with it some of the highest rents in the city. While occasionally one can find a studio or one bedroom for under $2,000, most places rent for $3,000 and up. Three-floor and four-floor brownstones line many streets in the neighborhood, although there are several luxury buildings and multi-apartment dwellings.

Due to the large number of rich types and celebrities, the West Village doesn't have the same friendly vibe that can be found in other New York City neighborhoods. While young people pour into the area for the great vibe and trendy hangouts, it's not really known as being an area for young people due to the high rents. People are out at all hours of the night and the area is very safe because of that.

The jogging paths next to the West Side Highway offer some of the best views in Manhattan, and there is some grassy space to sit and take it in. The Bleecker Street Park on 11th Street is frequently littered with cupcake wrappers (due to its proximity to Magnolia Cupcakes, see below), but it is a great place to give your feet a rest, enjoy the scenery, and watch kids play on the playground. On the eastern border of the West Village is Washington Square Park, the largest park below 14th Street. Washington Square Park, formerly a seedy locale of drug deals and homeless residents, is now a sweet place to catch some rays, watch the dogs in the dog park, and listen in on NYU guitarists' jam sessions.

Greenwich Avenue is lined with high-end boutique shops along with thrift shops and funky indy book stores. In short, you can find it all here as far as shopping goes. The West Village Thrift Shop which is owned and operated by Housing Works is one of the best kept secrets in the area. Wealthy people drop off the things they don't want anymore and bargain hunters snap them up from the thrift store. The White House Tavern is a popular watering hole among locals who long for the neighborhood's bohemian roots (567 Hudson Avenue); it serves good drinks and solid pub fare. Fiddlesticks (56 Greenwich Avenue) is a favorite pub among fratty, recent grad types, and just across the street, Maracas is a high-energy Mexican restaurant/bar with good food, drink specials, and decor. Splash, a gay bar, is a favorite of many with great drink specials and dancing, on 17th between 5th and 6th Avenues. The Meatpacking District (which some say is the northernmost part of the West Village, whereas others say is its own neigh

The West Village is serviced by several subway stops: 14th Street (A,C,E,L), Christopher Street/Sheridan Square (1 train), West Fourth Street (A,C,E,B,D,V,F), and Houston Street (1 train). The West Village is serviced by the M8, M14, and M21 buses. Because the West Village is a generally wealthy area, cabs are fairly easy to find. The PATH train to and from New Jersey has stops at Christopher Street and 9th Street.

Overall the area is trendy, busy and expensive but it is also the center of the action. If you can afford to live here you will no doubt have a great experience and have your finger on the pulse of what is happening in Manhattan.