What really surprised me about East Harlem was the drastic split between the types of buildings I saw between 125th and 116th Streets.  At first, the buildings seemed rundown and poorly kept, but as we got further to 116th, it seemed as if the area was showing more and more signs of gentrification.  I was also a little curious as to why there were so few children in the parks and recreational facilities we passed by, especially since it was a day off for public school children.  I feel as if the pictures we took of community gardens and other open spaces will really give my group a good handle on our research project.  It seemed that every block we walked along had something new to offer, from various types of Latin and West African cuisine, to evangelical churches, to Turkish baths.