Greenpoint's charming ambiance is owed to a strong Polish community. In addition to the old-world bakeries and butcher shops that line Manhattan Avenue ("the avenue"), an arts, nightlife, culinary, and music scene has burgeoned in recent years, particularly on Franklin Street. Accessible by the G train and the East River Ferry, Brooklyn's northernmost neighborhood is slightly off the beaten path, but is gaining popularity more and more in each passing year for those looking for a low-key alternative to adjacent Williamsburg. Real estate values have kept pace, especially for sought-after converted lofts, such as the Pencil Factory. Charming rowhouses dot the side streets. Parks include McCarren and McGolrick.