But the rent was cheap: ravaged East Village avenues in the 1970s (Pic courtesy here)
Spike Lee and Robert Deniro are making a new show for Showtime called Alphabet City, set in the raggedy 1980s culture of the East Village. Expect some graffiti, a little crime, rapping and breakdancing, and lots of performance artists. Note to Spike and Bob: please resurrect John Sex for this project. Read more about the show here.