I am coming to NY soon with my wife. I have been offered accommodation through Hospitality Company Inc. in one of their studio apartments at 57 East 3rd Street between 1st and 2nd Ave which sounds reasonably ok. However, a friend has informed me this is quite a rough neighbourhood (gangs, prostitutes, drug dealing etc.) and should avoid it, especially at night. Does anyone have any experience of this area and this company. Any help or information would be much appreciated.

Your friend is thinking about the East Village from the 1970's. A lot has changed for the better in this area.

This area of town used to be a melting pot for all different types of immigrants. Being an immigrant area, it never really built a lot of fancy hotels and the housing was more of the "cold water flat" tenement type (so you may get an apartment with the bathtub in the kitchen). There are many ethnic restaurants along 2nd Avenue (Kiev, 2nd Avenue Deli, a Ukranian restaurant which I can't recall the name) all of these are wonderful places to eat and during the evenings and weekends there quite a few people out on the street (albeit some with purple hair and multiple piercings).

The area is more of a younger, hipper crowd, but you should have no crime problems in the area. As in any major city, just be aware and you will be fine.

I live very near there with my family. As Philp has said, the East Village has come along way. It's a lively area with tons of great restaurants and many little boutiques and shops. I love to eat in that area because there a huge variety and the prices are some of the best in manhattan (and so is the food). Recently I've been as far east as Avenue B at night and it is fine. Lots of people on the street and all the businesses are open and alive.

Just one more comment, If the apartment is street level, it may be noisy.

I will write more later (or on the Europe board, where I notice your query has drawn more responses for some reason). I lived on 7th Street near 1st Ave for 30 years starting in 1970.

For now, I will confine myself to oe comment: FORGET ABOUT KIEV (7 St @nd AvE). Neighborhood is overflowingly full of wonderful places, from $5 to $100 a meal probably, and Kiev sadly isn't one of them.

Kiev at 7th St & 2nd Ave (mistake)

I don't live in NYC but spend much time in the city and can assure you (as have the other posters) that it's fine. Unquestionably you'll see a few scruffy looking characters here and there (it goes with the territory in any trendy downtown neighborhood and it's usually just a fashion statement). I spent Friday evening at a show on Houston Street, a few blocks south of 3rd and all the way over to the corner of Avenue A - the neighborhood is lively with lots of people out and about (mostly young professionals and students but some people my age - 40's - as well). I would not hesitate to stay there. If you want very easy access to the subway without a bit of a walk it's not a convenient location but otherwise it should be fine.

I was in the area just last week. I have an aunt and uncle who have lived on 1st st and Houston for 12 years, and now have 2 small children. The area has become very gentrified, with beautiful people eating in beautiful restraunts. We at at MEKKA, a trendy soul food place on Ave A with great southern cooking. Also walking distance to Little Italy (lunch specials) and SoHo.

I agree with the others that the East Village isn't as rough as it used to be. I would still be aware of your surroundings and take the usual precautions (don't hang your handbag off the back of a chair, don't flash expensive jewelry, etc). The apt may be noisy and be sure that it has adequate locks, especially if it is in a walk-up.

A good show to see in the neighborhood is "Stomp" -- you can get tix on www.telecharge.com.

A few East Village restaurant recommendations: Pisces, First, Xunta (bad atmosphere, but great tapas).