181st Street (A)

At first glance the area around this stop has the same Dominican vibes as most of the other stops in Manhattan’s northern tip.

But then, what’s with all the old white people peppered about? Ah yes, these are the west-of-the-station-whites,* and many of them live in the Tudor-style Hudson View Gardens.

Tudor-style Hudson View Gardens, home to west-of-the-station-whites.

East of the station, though, you get a less manicured mix with a Dominican-immigrant meets Columbia-grad-student vibe.

My favorite cafe off the station is Forever Coffee. They bake fresh cookies. They sell art. They put up community flyers. There’s no wifi. No laptops allowed. Do it.

Inside Forever Coffee.

My favorite restaurant here is Addey Ababa. If you need really good Ethiopian food, ta-da! It’s right off the 181st A Train Station.

Addey Ababa, home to Project 472’s dreams of swimming in a vat of shiro wat.

*No one calls them that … yet.