Neighborhoods

Chelsea started as a shipping and industrial area. The Nabisco bakery produced the first Oreo cookie in the late 1800s (the company has made over 400 billion since then). Later, Chelsea was New York's main theater district. Then it became a center for art -- it's now home to over 200 galleries. »

The East Village has broke off from the immigrant-laded Lower East Side, and became a haven for hippies in the 60s. Then it became an incubator for musicians. Now its considered a younger, less expensive, edgier sibling to the more gentrified West Village. »

Gramercy Park is the oldest private park in the US, and only residents with keys can get in. It's generally a quiet, safe, exclusive area. »

Harlem is renowned for its rich cultural history and long list of famous inhabitants, including musicians, writers and athletes. Until the late 20th Century, Harlem was also notorious for its poor living conditions, crime and unemployment. »

The gangsters and poor immigrants have given way to hipsters and yuppies, but there's still a fascinating mix of old and new, which makes for great people watching, shopping, dining and nightlife. On the LES, you can almost see the city evolving before your eyes. »

The Meatpacking District was once home to most of the slaughterhouses in NYC. While there are still a bunch of wholesale meat companies around, most of the butchers have been replaced by partygoers and shoppers. »

Midtown is almost always jam-packed. It's the busiest commercial area in the US, and one of the most popular areas for tourists, in part because of stores like Tiffany & Co and Bergdorf Goodman, and attractions including Times Square, the Empire State Building, the Time Warner Center, and the Museum of Modern Art. »

NOHO stands for North of Houston. It is a small region bordered by Houston and Astor Place on the North and South, and by Broadway and The Bowery on the West and East, respectively. Astor Place was, of course, named for John Jacob Astor (posthumously). »

Nolita stands for North Of Little Italy. It used to be a Mafia hangout, but now it's home to many fashionable boutiques, restaurants and cafes, and has a combination of neighborhood charm and trendiness that's tough to match. »

SoHo has gone through a lot of iterations, including a garment center and a mecca for artists. While it has become much more commercial, it's still home to many art galleries and trendy boutiques, and is an ideal place to spend a sunny weekend afternoon. »

TriBeCa stands for Triangle Below Canal Street. Ironically, it's not a triangle. The area was strictly industrial until the 70s, when artists started moving in. After the artists made it cool, high-end restaurants and nightlife moved in, and residential real estate developments took off. It's now one of the priciest areas of Manhattan. »

Union Square is a popular meeting place because it's near NYU, and many subways stop there. It's also home to the Union Square Greenmarket. The adjacent area got its name from the famous Flatiron Building, and is home to a growing number of fashionable shops. »

The UES has the highest concentration of wealth in the US, as well as many of the finest schools, shops and museums. And of course there's Central Park. All of which makes for a family-friendly environment, if you can foot the bill. »

The Upper West Side was a late bloomer, developed after most other areas of NYC. In the mid to late 60's, gentrification pushed upwards with the construction of Lincoln Center. The UWS has a stereotype of being a center for liberal intellectuals. »

Tree-lined, cobblestoned streets with rows of townhouses give the West Village a warm, neighborhood feel. It also has upscale shopping, excellent bars and restaurants, and easy access to the expansive park along the Hudson River. »

At one point it accounted for 10% of the wealth of the US. Then it became poor as immigrants flooded in. Then it was a center for design, art and music. Now it's becoming more gentrified. Don't blink or you'll miss its next incarnation. »