You can tell money has been pumped into this area for a facelift, which is nice. Trendy and artsy. :)
Lots of shops to browse which made it a great place to take a break from business. Wish I had more time though.
We only spent a few hours here but we enjoyed a quick boar ride out around the Queen Mary, some boardwalk shopping & lunch. I would definitely revisit Long Beach we had a great time!
If you want to spend half a day in a great part of Long Beach, then come on down. Blocks of shopping (retro/vintage, thrift), great restaurants and laid-back places to have a few drinks with the locals. Art du Vin is awesome for outdoor wine and hanging out, Lola's has great mexican food and outdoor dining -- it's just a great place to relax and spend time.
The reason I love the East Village Arts District is proximity to just about anything I need, the unique stores in the area, the fabulous restaurants and bars (special props to Utopia, District Wine, the Green House and Asha) and the ambiance of the area. While I used to live in Belmont Shore and Belmont Heights, I'm loving being downtown - but don't think I'd want to be in any other area of downtown but this one!
I stay here often, in the Courtyard Marriott. The neighborhood is coming up quickly. Many local one-of-a-kind restaurants, vintage clothing shops, craft boutiques. Monthly arts fair on a Saturday with dozens of booths and open-door restaurant specials.
Wide variety of Art, wonderful place to visit. Quiet Atmosphere and very enjoyable. Plan on taking your time, there's a lot to see.
Browsing the shops and stalls gave me a feeling I was in a movie set working on a hippie scene. The crafts were of decent quality, very ethnic, though not to everyone's taste.
The summer evening walks are fun. It's a little hokey for me. I would recommend a visit to anyone that is interested in Avant Garde art. The area is trying hard to become more attractive.
Only open prior to Cruise liner passengers embarking, but usual souvenir gifts at reasonable prices. Staff not as friendly as other places nearby