9th St Between Broadway and 3rd Ave

   

Somehow this near-desolate block, which begins with a Toys-R-Us Express in the shell of an old Blockbuster video, isn't as depressing as it could be. Acting more as a pathway between Greenwich village and the east village (with a quick stopover in Astor Place), these two blocks are comfortably nestled between the two bustling neighborhoods.

The first half is a dark street thanks to the looming presence of 770 Broadway, which seems to hold AOL, Nielsen and several other media companies under its roof. The second half is slightly more welcoming thanks to the inclusion of some smaller buildings, local shops and even a few rays of sunlight. Looking south you can spot some of the newer buildings that have been popping up around here and the Bowery. These alien structures are becoming more and more assimilated with the skyline everyday. I wonder how much longer it'll be before our vintage brick buildings begin to look like the out-of-place ones.