by Andie McCoyd

Created on: April 27, 2009

Whether you like it or not, Manhattan's Lower East Side is one of the hottest of hot neighborhoods. In recent years, the unlikely but somehow predictable combination of gentrification and a burgeoning art scene has provided citydwellers and visitors alike with upscale boutiques started by emerging fashion designers, chic, low-lit restaurants, and a nightlife scene that's a little bit sexy, a little bit gritty, and a lot of a good time. The Lower East Side is for anyone who likes good beer and 80s hip-hop dance nights; you won't find any megaclubs down here - but who needs a $20 cocktail when the DJ is spinning Run DMC? Say what you want about the abundance of hipsters and possibly over-priced dining; it's a great setting to feel very hip, very cool, and little dangerous - and how else do you want to feel on a first date?

The Lower East Side is crammed with fine French dining, and high-rollers and starving artists alike will find themselves pretty pleased with the choices. If you're on a budget but you wanna stay classy, hit up Creperie at 135 Ludlow between Rivington and Stanton. The facade of the building is pulled right out of the Left Bank, and the inside is Parisian-funky with a little bit of kitsch. The crepes are big, savory, and only $7-8 each - share a savory prosciutto and mozzarella crepe (for the herbivores, the veggies with ricotta, eggplant and peppers is a winner, too) and, for dessert, split their house special crepe: tiramisu, with strawberries, AND Nutella, AND whipped cream - a perfect segway for you to joke about how it's like having an Italian and French dessert all at once; how well-traveled you'll seem! Dance off the calories at Pianos next door, but if it's too packed, or it's a Thursday, head in the other direction towards Darkroom at 165 Ludlow for that '80s hip-hop dance night I keep talking about - break out all those moves from high-school. You won't look cool, but you'll certainly be endearing, and when you've worked up too much of a sweat, grab a couple $3 Coronas from the bar and collapse on one of the many couches in one of the many dark corners so you can poke fun at one another's interpretive dance moves and make googly eyes at each other.

Or, if tapas are more your speed, try A Casa Fox at 173 Orchard between Allen and Ludlow. Share a couple empanadas - the chorizo is divine, the pulled pork perfect, and vegetarians won't be disappointed by the black bean or the mushroom with smoked gouda - and maybe a couple bocaditos - the

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