There aren't many Manhattan neighborhoods that remind me of what NYC was like when I was growing up here in the '70s and '80s, but East Harlem is one of them. Unlike adjacent Harlem, gentrification hasn't yet taken hold, so while there are glass condos here and there, the buildings are mostly a mix of public housing developments, tenements and brownstones. Also known as Spanish Harlem or El Barrio due to its longtime Hispanic population, East Harlem is actually quite diverse these days. Over by Pleasant Avenue, you'll find the remnants of Italian Harlem, and recently there's been an influx of Asian families as well as artists of all backgrounds.
What East Harlem lacks in amenities, it makes up for in vibrancy and old-school style. People still sit and talk and even barbecue on their stoops, or host parties in the many community gardens, plus colorful (and often political) street art abounds. Travel to its southwestern edge and you'll find a lovely, lesser-known corner of Central Park and two world-class museums: El Museo del Barrio and the Museum of the City of New York.
Throughout February, we'll be writing about the best places for families to see, eat, play and experience in East Harlem. For the purposes of our posts, our geographical boundaries are 96th Street to the Harlem River Drive between Fifth Avenue and the East River. We kick off our coverage with the top 25 things to do in East Harlem with kids.