East Harlem

East harlem:
Historic Manhattan rich with cultural influences.

East Harlem is a living, breathing, collision of vibrant immigrant communities. East Harlem has become a cultural haven, from its title as the birthplace of the salsa and the graffiti movements, to the home of dining landmarks such as Rao’s and Patsy’s Pizzeria.

What to expect:
A day-to-day lifestyle steeped in local-feeling routine and community pride.

Despite economic and population flux, East Harlem’s present-day education system is home to some of the best and most innovative programs in the city. The primary school trio known as Central Park East (Central Park East I, II, and III, respectively) boast competitive admissions standards and reputations for creative, comprehensive, socially-insightful approaches to learning.

 

 

Those who live here also fall in love with the abundance of playgrounds and public green spaces like The Conservatory Garden in Central Park.

 

 

Meanwhile, the Upper East Side’s Museum Mile -- home to The Jewish Museum, Cooper-Hewitt, the Guggenheim, and more -- are all within walking distance of neighborhood cultural gems such as the Museum of the City of New York.

 

 

The lifestyle:
Casual and familiar. Family-owned restaurants and businesses add to the “know-your-neighbor” vibe.

No Spanish Harlem stroll would be complete without a sight, smell, or sound of Latin America or the Caribbean islands -- from soulful fusion supper clubs such as Camaradas, to sidewalks lined with carts selling Puerto Rican-born plantain mofongo and hand-blended Mexican “licuado” smoothies.

 

 

The newly-developed East River Plaza at 116th Street -- home to Target, Old Navy, and an adjacent Costco -- boasts suburban convenience that lures both locals and midtown Manhattanites.

 

You'll fall in love with:
The balance of cultural tradition, community-friendly spaces, and sense of growth.

Through decades of cultural influx and socio-economic challenges, East Harlem has endured as a home for authentic cultural expression. From progressive after school and public education initiatives to landmark churches and eateries, East Harlem’s rapidly emerging future remains ever-rooted in a monumental past.