Ridge St Between Delancey St and Houston St

In the shadow of the Williamsburg Bridge, this short street acts as a conduit between the Lower East Side and Alphabet City. Half of its entire length is dominated by two grade schools – the southernmost of which features an interesting round building and a large open playground. The remainder of the block seems to be in a struggle between modern and vintage as new buildings bully their way in between classic-looking New York walk-ups.

Dark, dingy and just a little bit sketchy, the street is exactly what you'd expect from the Lower East Side. The schools bring a bit of whimsy, but they're fighting a losing battle. There are a series of local shops, none of which look terribly inviting, but I'm sure carry a local following just-the-same. Approaching Houston Street, there's a feeling of relief, as if you've just walked out of the desert to find a vast world of riches…or in this case gas stations.