It’s been a long time since the East Village was—to quote a description of poet Lord Byron—“mad, bad, and dangerous to know.” Luxury high-rise apartments, trend-setting restaurants, and designer boutiques have moved into the neighborhood in recent years. Those who remember the East Village as a bastion of punk rock and poetry slams will still recognize the neighborhood, however. Independent theaters, affordable eateries, unique shops, quirky nightspots, and community gardens continue to thrive amid blocks of rowhouses and landmarks such as St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery and the Astor Place Cube.
