The Lower East Side is a narrow crown of land, less than a mile wide in most places, that separates the final stretch of the Milwaukee River from Lake Michigan. Perched on that crown is a neighborhood of extremes. The area's homes range from upscale condominium towers to cozy backyard cottages, its residents vary from Old World immigrants to New World entrepreneurs, and its businesses run the gamut from yoga studios to pasta parlors. "You name it," said one proud resident, "and we've got it." If diversity is the hallmark of a truly great city, the Lower East Side is a major component of Milwaukee's greatness.