If you ask someone to name a New York City neighborhood where they can experience Central Park’s sprawling majesty, gaze upon dynamic works of art, and enjoy one of the best meals of their life, East Harlem may not be the first place to cross their lips. To be fair, they may simply not know it’s where the blooming Conservatory Garden awaits, Keith Haring painted an iconic mural, or locally-owned eateries have been wowing diners for decades. However, East Harlem probably prefers it that way. Though far from low-key, the area adoringly called “El Barrio” surely strives to retain the distinct sense of self that entirely sets it apart from the western expanse of Harlem. To live there is to be woven into a tapestry of cultures that have wholly shaped the area.