New York by Night
New York City is composed of five boroughs: The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island. Jersey City, New Jersey, is sometimes referred to as the sixth borough, given its proximity and connections by rapid transit trains.
MANHATTAN
Notable Kindred: Isabella Cortés (Camarilla Prince)
In modern nights, Manhattan is the area most people think of when they imagine New York City. It is the most famous borough, a region of cultural importance, the center of East Coast finance, a haven for entertainment and art, and all manner of other epithets. If something's happening in New York, it's probably happening in Manhattan.
For this reason, Manhattan is a prestigious place to claim domain. Most of the young Licks flocking to the city at least attempt to set themselves up here first, though circumstances sometimes cause them to reconsider. It's expensive to live in Manhattan, and certainly no less expensive for the undead to maintain a haven.
Neighborhoods:
- Upper East Side
- Upper West Side
- Midtown
- Harlem
- Lower East Side
- Chelsea
- Greenwich Village
- SoHo
- Tribeca
- The Battery
- Hell's Kitchen
- Little Italy
- Chinatown
Notable Sites:
- Apple Blossoms
- Bellevue Psychiatric Hospital
- Chantry of the Five Boroughs
- Cheesus Crust
- Club Medea
- Gargoyle Room
- Cherry Pit
- The Onyx
- Club Envy
- Hummus Hut
- The Bittersweet
- Deja Revue
- Safeword
THE BRONX
Notable Kindred: Edmond Bruck (Anarch Baron)
The Bronx is known for several popular landmarks: Yankee Stadium, the New York Botanical Garden, the wold-famous Bronx Zoo. It is also, however, a national symbol of urban decay, a reputation that eclipses its component neighborhoods and contributions. Like the other boroughs, the Bronx grew populous first as a collection of ethnic neighborhoods and then as a result of extremely high rents in Manhattan. As a result, the Bronx is a patchwork of ethnic divides, low-income housing projects, collapsing tenements, and — amid them — a few shining examples of the potential the borough once had.
Notable Locations:
- Rikers Island
This large island, situated between Queens and the Bronx, is home to New York City's main jail complex. Though politically part of the Bronx, the only bridge access is from Queens.
- Hart Island
This small island is dotted with several structures, though all have been abandoned. Historically, they ranged from a military training ground, prison camp, psychiatric institution, tuberculosis sanatorium, and even a boys' reformatory. Currently, the island is used solely as a potter's field, making it one of the largest mass graves in the United States. Beginning in 1985, the island saw an influx of AIDS victims. Due to an unfounded fear of lingering contamination, these bodies were buried especially deep in the island's more remote southern tip.
Notable Sites:
- Bronx Zoo
- Empire Skate Building
- Red Star
- St. Nicholas of Tolentine
QUEENS
Notable Kindred: Leonard Callahan (Anarch Baron)
All of the outer boroughs have their ethnic elements, but Queens is perhaps the most diverse. With neighborhoods like Astoria (Greek and Italian), Sunnyside (Turkish and Romanian), Jackson Heights (Hispanic and Indian) and countless others, Queens is the quiet borough "for everyone else". It's not as glamorous as Manhattan, as brutal as the Bronx, or as populous as Brooklyn, but its character comes from its unique cultural blend. In the nights to come, many Kindred will probably find themselves establishing havens in Queens, whether out of affordability or a chance to claim some of the overlooked — but worthwhile — domain in the area.
Neighborhoods:
- Flushing
- Jamaica
- Bayside
- Little Taipei
Notable Sites:
BROOKLYN
Notable Kindred: Erik Thostenson (Anarch Baron)
The most popular of the outer boroughs, Brooklyn is also the most diverse when it comes to Kindred matters. It seems that Brooklyn has something that appeals to everyone, from the easy feeding in its less savory neighborhoods, to rising property values for those with investments on their minds, to the presence of numerous cultural landmarks — such as the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and the Brooklyn Public Library. Virtually all Kindred could find something of interest in Brooklyn — as the rapidly vanishing domains represent.
Neighborhoods:
- Brooklyn Heights
- Green Point
- Williamsburg
- Coney Island
- Red Hook
Notable Sites:
- The Mosh Pit
- Center for Thanatology Research & Education
- Gilded Lion
- Garden Terrace Apartments
- Ladyhawk's
- Seventh Heaven
Domain Mechanics
STATEN ISLAND
Notable Kindred: Suzette de Troyes (Anarch Baron)
Often referred to as the "forgotten borough," Staten Island is the least populous of all the boroughs. Popular sentiment on the island runs toward the territorial — Staten Island has been vocal in the past about wanting to secede from New York City proper, and occasionally the issues arises again. Staten Island has a far more provincial feel than the other boroughs, with neighborhoods like Snug Harbor and Richmondtown exemplifying the "village" feel, being a restored sailor's neighborhood and country seat, respectively. Aside from these, Staten Island is known for its enormous garbage dump — hardly prime realty for domain, especially for discerning Camarilla up-and-comers. To this end, the Thin-Blooded presence has been largely scoured from the other boroughs and corralled on Staten Island.
Neighborhoods:
- Bloomfield
- Prince's Bay
- Charleston
- Freshkills
- Mariner's Harbor
- Manor Heights
Notable Sites:
INTERACTIVE MAP