Good areas to live in New York?

Hi all, it looks like I'll be transferring to my company's Manhattan office at the end of Feb - so exciting times!

I'd asking for some advice on some good areas to live on a mediumish budget. I'd probably like to live in an area similar to Shoreditch, or Old Street, but in NYC, if thats possible - so coolish with a little bit of an edge. I've been doing a bit of research and have been advised to look at East VIllage, Hoboken, and Brooklyn... but at the moment these places are just names to me.

Any advice much appreciated as always!

brooklyn's where it's at... living in manhattan sucks. try williamsburg, though it's a bit like shoreditch sponsored by mtv. i lived in carroll gardens and really liked it. in manhattan, the lower east side is good fun, but it drove me craaaaaazy living there.

in manhattan, the lower east side is good fun, but it drove me craaaaaazy living there.

Thanks for the response. Can you tell me more about what drove you crazy living in Manhattan?

I'm thinking Brooklyn might be the place for me.

I'm thinking Brooklyn might be the place for me.

You'll definitely love Brooklyn, but try to avoid areas such as East New York and Brownsville ( the projects especially ), unless you already have friends over there.
Also try this forum, tons of info about everything you may like to know: http://www.city-data.com/forum/new-york-city/ ;)

williamsburg is nice but full of hipsters

http://www.city-data.com/forum/new-york-city/ ;)

Thanks a lot for that mate. Wicked

Isn't Greenwhich Village the place to be? It's where NYU is so lots of students etc?

Isn't Greenwhich Village the place to be? It's where NYU is so lots of students etc?

Can't believe I was born there and know so little... :'(

Oh, forgot to ask, how much do you reckon it'll cost to ship 2 bikes over there? Any recommendations who to use?

I know Delta are charging quite a lot ... should be free of charge if using BA ( well, for 2 bikes don't really know ).

williamsberg..... and buy the bike over there, much cheaper. fu*k the hipsters, make your own space.

East Village/Alphabet city/Williamsburg/Fort Greene are all pretty decent-yet-hip.

And also not to forget: http://www.fixed.gr/ , a must if you're in NY ( and even elsewhere).

I'm gonna go another way with this. Bottom edge of spanish harlem. Massive, lovely apartments, for super cheap prices. Takes no time to get anywhere in Manhattan by bike anyway. I'd go 93th to around 100th.

And also not to forget: http://www.fixed.gr/ , a must if you're in NY ( and even elsewhere).

Yes I looked at the site but I need an invitation code thing to apply to become a member. Are you a member? Could you recommend me?

new york is great, but it's a constant onslaught. what i hated about living in manhattan is that you can never get away from it. as soon as you leave your door, it's a battle through crowds to get to wherever you're going and there's always someone in your face. at first it's exciting. then it's just annoying. at least in brooklyn it calms down a bit and you can shut off. i dunno how else to explain; it's a small thing, but as soon as i moved out to brooklyn, my life instantly seemed less stressful. plus there's parks and such out there, and just generally a bit more space.

^^True that, one of the things London doesn't suffer from.
Although I thrive off cities like NY.

flying with bikes depends on your airline. shipping them depends on your company of choice and speed of delivery.

williamsburg isnt as bad about the hipsters as it used to be from what i hear, I thoroughly enjoyed that area. Good night life. There is an awesome pub right near the underground steps that is run by a british guy too. east village and brooklyn are also worth a look.

I guess it all depends on how much you have to spend. And even if you live somewhere transportation is easy enough especially with a bike. As long as you can get to a good area, being just outside cant hurt?

oh. plus, riding over the brooklyn bridge into manhattan always made my heart race... every. single. day. even after two years of living there.

brooklyn's where it's at... living in manhattan sucks. try williamsburg, though it's a bit like shoreditch sponsored by mtv. i lived in carroll gardens and really liked it. in manhattan, the lower east side is good fun, but it drove me craaaaaazy living there.

+1 My sister lives in Carroll Gardens and it's great. The surrounding areas are nice, too. It's probably all a bit too expensive now, though.

Williamsburg sucks.

oh. plus, riding over the brooklyn bridge into manhattan always made my heart race... every. single. day. even after two years of living there.

Wow that is awesome, a great start to the day! If you live in Brooklyn do people tend to go out and stay around that area, or do they venture out in Manhattan at all? What about visa versa? Do manhattan types just stay on the island or do people socialise across the river regularly? I just don't want to be too far out of all the action.

people that live in manhattan generally won't venture into brooklyn to go out unless there's a really good party on. people in brooklyn hit manhattan without qualms. the subway runs all night, so it's not really an issue. but i actually preferred going out in brooklyn; fewer assholes and tourists. brooklyn is hardly out of the way... it's like living in shoreditch and going into soho to go out.

i did though meet a woman when i lived in carroll gardens who was in her 60s, had lived there all her life, and had never been to manhattan. i was pretty impressed by that.

look, quit your company and stay in London.

NYC is full of muppets and neer do wells.

it's like living in shoreditch and going into soho to go out.

So I could think of it like Brooklyn=Shoreditchish and Soho/East Village=Soho?

I'd never live in Soho in London, it'd be nuts. I'd much prefer Shoreditch or Old St. (I'm in East Dulwich / Forest Hill now but thats too far out in my opinion). I'll be working in Manhattan so that'll give me my central NY fix, then I can chill out in Brooklyn. Its coming together!

This advice is brilliant, so thanks a lot everyone.

What do you do, if you don't mind me asking?