New York City is usually perceived as a monolithic metropolis…but it’s actually a collection of distinctive neighborhoods. According to the Department of City Planning, NYC contains 339 neighborhoods, ranging in size from just a couple city blocks to sprawling districts. Apart from their geographic boundaries (which are frequently disputed), NYC neighborhoods are defined by their […]
Archive | Neighborhoods
Chinatown, New York: A Visitor’s Guide
Chinatown, New York is its own destination: Great for bargain shopping, food, history, and the chance to soak in Chinese immigrant culture, it’s a fantastic neighborhood. But it can also be confusing and chaotic to the first-time visitor… which is why we’ve written this handy guide to exploring Chinatown! Note that New York City has several […]
A Stroll Through Brooklyn Heights
Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn is, hands-down, one of our favorite neighborhoods in New York (not just in the borough of Brooklyn!). Strolling through Brooklyn Heights is like entering a genteel, bygone era… not to mention boasts great views of the Brooklyn Bridge and a gorgeous park. New York’s first suburb and the nation’s first designated historic district, today, Brooklyn Heights’ […]
Greenwich Village: A Walking Tour
Greenwich Village is one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in New York. Not to mention most historic: On a snowy night in 1917, a ragtag band of artists, poets, and actors occupied the top of Washington Arch to declare the “Free and Independent Republic of Greenwich Village!” That attempt to “secede,” of course, speaks to the […]
Harlem, New York: A Walking Tour
Harlem isn’t just one of the most historic neighborhoods in New York City. It’s also one of the liveliest. The word “Harlem” alone evokes images of legendary nightspots like the Cotton Club, where great musicians filled the night with hot jazz. For others, it brings thoughts of the notorious ghetto: decrepit, dirty, and crime-ridden. While both are part of […]
Manhattan’s “Little Mexico”
Cinco de Mayo is only a few days away, and there are plenty of places in NYC to enjoy a Margarita, chips, and salsa under red, white and green streamers. But for a unique cultural experience (and truly authentic food), explore one of NYC’s newest ethnic communities: East Harlem’s “Little Mexico.” East Harlem has been […]
New York’s SoHo: A Visitor’s Guide
“SoHo” is one of the most famous neighborhoods in New York. It’s also one that exemplifies urban renewal: SoHo (which stands for “South of Houston,” pronounced HOW-stin) transformed from a past of industrial squalor… into a vibrant artistic community… into today’s neighborhood, one bustling with art galleries, exclusive boutiques, chic hotels, and trendy restaurants. As its […]