9th St Between 1st Ave and Ave A

The epitome of an East Village block, this stretch is filled with an eclectic mix of wonky storefronts and apartments. Tompkins Square Park looks over the dead end on the east side, while 1st Avenue allows a quick escape to the rest of the island.

On the western corner the old PS122 building sits with a construction canopy perpetually wrapping around the current performance space. After the shade of the covered sidewalk in front of PS122, the rest of the block is cast in the intermittent shadows of blossoming trees. Add to all that a series of planters and flowers and it's really quite pleasant.