Why would you want to visit or stay in a neighborhood that Patti Smith says feels a living museum?…read more Hugged by Greenwich Village at the north (Houston), Little Italy to the eat (Lafayette), Tribeca and Chinatown to the south (Canal), and Hudson Square to the west (6th Ave), the farmland turned into an affluent enclave, with the highest concentration of cast-iron architecture in the world in the 1800s. As the rich moved north, the district became NYC's premier retail, entertainment, and "hospitality" corridor (1850-1880) to industrial manufacturing center, especially garments and textiles (1880-1960) to target for demolition for a highway project. But then the artists came in, the reports claimed the area was vital, and preservationists protected it, allowing it to become the international center of the avant-garde art world in the 70s and 80s. Today, the neighborhood allegedly functions as a major upscale international shopping district, despite the fake handbags on blankets on the illegal sidewalk sales. I got a good deal on a Kartier watch. So, the vibe is rigid, geometric, heavy iron meets Belgian cobblestones, for a grounded and old feeling in contrast with the soaring ceilings, oversized windows, and wide open floor plans that flood the area with pale, northern light, which gives it the historic but chic museum feel. Plus, there is a lingering cool factor, a quiet swagger, rooted in the creative rebellion. If SoHo were a cocktail mixed from southern California neighborhoods, it would be 40% Los Angeles Arts District (structurally and historically), 34% Abbot Kinney/Venice (hyper-curated indie retail and open-air runway feel); 25% Old Pasadena (living museum feel), 1% Hollywood (the touristy-heavy trashiest parts locals avoid). But, my wife and I love it because of the location and the many shops, restaurants, experiences, and bars within a square mile. Check my reviews on Dominique Ansel, Trader Joe's, Polo Ralph Lauren, Uniqlo Soho, a Target boutique, Lucia Pizza, McDonald's, Aviator Nation, 260 Sample Sale, Softside, $1.50 Pizza, and Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. Plus, within walking distance: Hamburger America and Emily (Greenwich Village), Prince Street Pizza, Thai Diner, and 7th Street Burger (Nolita), Solita Soho Hotel, Ceres, and L'Industrie Pizzeria (Little Italy), Au Cheval, All Blues, and Best Western Soho Hotel (Chinatown), and the Ghostbusters Fire Station, Roxy Hotel, and Bubby's (Tribeca).

Put on my walking shoes and off I am to SoHo. Shopping at unique boutiques. Feasting my eyes with…read morestimulating street art and art galleries. Savoring at enchanting coffee shops and iconic restaurants. I love it here! CHEERS!

As we had family who grew up on the Lower East Side our roots are established here much deeper than…read moremost. With ties to the old world Ukrainian and Polish parts of this area we still love walking these streets and visiting the buildings our family members grew up in long ago. The area has changed a lot over the years. St Marks Place is a shell of the anti-establishment hippie punk scene it used to be now with all the karaoke, chain shops, and Asian eateries populating the area. Yet you can still envision it's punk soul when walking the street, Katz Deli is an iconic place to drop some cash on a pastrami sandwich and cream soda. Veselka is a must stop to eat pierogies, kielbasa, eggs, coffee and Ukrainian standards. Veniero's is a terrific old world spot to enjoy pastries since 1894. So many others, too many to mention. There are so many places to eat, drink, and feast here. Cool murals, art, and graffiti can also be found on the sides of buildings.

I spend a ton of my time in the East Village whenever I'm in NYC, and it never fails to deliver…read morethat classic, energetic neighborhood vibe. St. Mark's Place is still the ultimate heart of it all, packed with an amazing mix of quirky shops, incredible restaurants, and street vendors selling everything from vintage clothes to unique art. You can grab world-class ramen on one block and hunt through a killer record store on the next. Its authentic, old-school NYC vibes are still alive and well.

Exceptional quality and outstanding professionalism. They consistently deliver great results and go…read moreabove and beyond to make sure everything goes smoothly. Highly recommended!"

This is a small and well-maintained park. I noticed a vegetable garden on the side of the park too…read more The park is on the way to the Staten Island ferry building. Use public transport, rideshare or taxi to get here.

Since I retired I enjoy walking all the way down to the Bowery to spend the day. The Bowery is a…read morestreet and neighborhood in the southern portion of the New York City Borough of Manhattan. The street runs from Chatham Square at Park Row, Worth Street, and Mott Street in the south to Cooper Square at 4th Street in the North. The historic 1.5 mile Bowery is the oldest thoroughfare on Manhattan Island. Long before Broadway became Manhattan's Famous gathering place. Also known as Skid Row I'm very familiar with the neighborhood due to my years working in Human Services. My job took me there many days. When I was growing up my Mother told me stories of visiting the city as a young girl. Once she was very frightened when she came to the city and it became a rainy day. She was lost at night in the Bowery trying to find the train to return home. She and my father warned me that people there would kill you for a quarter. I never forgot these things. I don't go alone at night. Even on a Sunny day I remain vigilant. That's really a given anywhere you go in any city in this current age in America. My Opinion. Right now I'm looking forward to returning. Weather permitting I won't have to wait long. My days in this lifetime are precious. I'm having trouble being everywhere and seeing everything my city has to offer. For now here's a few photos I've taken in Bowery Neighborhood. Don't be any more afraid to visit The Bowery than you would Times Square. There's a lot to do and see in and around this neighborhood.

The Bowery has a fascinating history in NYC. My experience in the Bowery initially was as a…read morevolunteer at the Bowery Mission. I also shop at the Whole Foods in the area. Or I go with my husband as he shops. Now there are many restaurants and clubs that once housed the homeless. At forgotten NY the Bowery's history is documented. http://www.forgotten-ny.com/STREET%20SCENES/bowery/bowery.html In the 1940s through the 1970s, the Bowery was New York City's "Skid Row," notable for a large concentration of the city's homeless. The Bowery is home to the famous Bowery Mission. http://www.yelp.com/biz/bowery-mission-new-york The Bowery has been expeirencing a gentrification along with the entire lower East Side of Manhattan and specifically the Bowery starting 2005. http://cooperator.com/articles/1697/1/Skid-Row-to-Luxury-Gold/Page1.html The area in my opinion has had the most amazing transformation of any NYC neighborhood in my life time! http://nymag.com/nymetro/realestate/neighborhoods/maps/10117/ It is hardly recognizable as the same place any more. This area needed it even though there are always protests against the gentrification. Some believe the goal is really ethnic cleansing. I hope that is not the case. But I have to say it does seem to be the case in Red Hook Brookyn. http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/07/gentrification-as-benign-ethnic-cleansing/ I personally think this area needed it. However I am also hoping with the gentrification the Bowery Mission is not pushed out of the neighborhood. As some have suffered with the gentrification. http://cooperator.com/articles/1697/1/Skid-Row-to-Luxury-Gold/Page1.html The Bowery from Houston to Delancey Streets serves as New York's principal market for restaurant equipment, and from Delancey to Grand for lamps. The Bowery is home to the Bowery poetry club.http://bowerypoetry.com/ The Bowery has been noted in many movies and TV shows such as__________ Mentioned in the film The Basketball Diaries by Leonardo DiCaprio In the 2002 film Gangs of New York, the Bowery is a mentioned territory of the Bowery Boys, a street gang of the late 19th century, The Bowery, a 1933 film about Brodie A popular B-movie series made between 1946-1958 featured "The Bowery Boys. In the 1949 Looney Tunes short "Bowery Bugs", Bugs Bunny tells an old man an imaginative story about a gambler named Steve Brody who jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge in 1886. The sailors are headed across the Brooklyn Bridge and to the Bowery to get tattooed. On the Bowery, Lionel Rogosin's 1956 film, was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary. Mentioned many times in the original TV series Kojak (1973). The Bowery is home to the famous CBGB's.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CBGB The club closed in October 2006. The Bowery was home to the famous Amato opera until it closed in 2009.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amato_Opera The Bowery is home to the Bowery Ballroom which reopened in 1997 it was built in 1929. http://www.boweryballroom.com/ And of course the famous Bowery Boys. http://theboweryboys.blogspot.com/ Even though I am 48 The Bowery Boys came on TV on a regular basis when I was a child. http://theageofcomedy.com/bowboys01.html I had no idea at the time there was an actual Bowery Boys. I thought it was just entertainment. http://www.amazon.com/Abbott-Costello-Show-Anniversary-Collection/dp/B000GNOGCE Then there is the adventurous Bowery hotel. It opened in 2007 and was an adventurous undertaking at the time. http://www.nysun.com/arts/blossoming-in-the-bowery/47578 It is a fascinating area with a fascinating history.

I stayed in the Park Slope Neighborhood of Brooklyn New York while visiting for a local event. The…read morehotel part of my Expedia package deal just happened to be in the neighborhood along with the event itself which was a total win! Park Slope Neighborhood consists of upscale amenities, with diverse activity options within. I absolutely loved my short stay in this neighborhood where I attended a local event, and also adored the brownstone architecture while out on my jog to its beloved Prospect Park; It was a jog that I must say was a workout of its own due to the climb! Lord have mercy, tehehe. There are plentiful sights, activities, and restaurants within the Park Slope Neighborhood. Some that I experienced and noted were Old Stone House, Prospect Park, Barclays Center, Brooklyn Museum, Obama's Former Park Slope Brownstone, Brooklyn Superhero Supply Store, and Gowanus Canal. With its casual but trendy dining scene, hip nightlife, access to public transit, safety, and a creative and art hub, I can see why it was ranked in New York Magazine as one of New York City's most desirable neighborhoods. Due to my experiences, and interests within the Park Slope Neighborhood, I would surely consider staying in again while visiting Brooklyn New York. ~Have courage. Be Kind. ~ Thomas G

If you get a wet, messy stew here, it's Park Slop. And if you say something inappropriate to a…read morelocal and then smack you in the face, it's a Park Slap. And if you go down on someone here, it's Park Slurp. Pork Slope is a hill full of pigs. Perk Slope is an incline on which you redeem your rewards points. Pr**k Slope is an area full of people with bad attitudes. But this is none of those places. What an absolutely spectacular neighbourhood which is very bourgeoisie but very amazing to walk through. One of the safest parts of Brooklyn and also one of the trendiest - but also one of the most family-friendly. So many Brownstones, so many great places to shop and eat and drink, and I just absolutely love this area. One of my favorite spots around here is the Mr. Wish location here in Park Slope which is one of the better locations of this excellent Boba chain. Luigi's Pizza is here too, same street, right on 5th, and may be the best slice of Fresh Mozz you'll have in NYC, but definitely the best in Broke-lyn, so named because it's expensive AF these days. And don't go to nearby Prank Slope. It's just a bunch of people playing pratical jokes on each other.

Someone in our group was a fan, so this was on our list as a must visit. Nice visit to just stop by…read moreand take a picture. Quiet neighborhood, respectable people taking photos. Although not Central Perk and not set up as Central Perk, the exterior of the restaurant below was shown in the show and you can dine in here.

When in NY, had to pay homage to one of the most comforting shows on television, F*R*I*E*N*D*S…read more Here's my experience. VIBES: Welcome to Greenwich Village it's a historic neighborhood with nice buildings and cafes. The iconic spot is nestled in a lively corner of NYC with lots of foot traffic (tourists and locals alike), so parking isn't ideal -- I'd suggest subway or ride-share. The place has big energy: you feel like you're in an iconic, storied part of the city, which makes it fun and a little nostalgic thinking about all the episodes and references. I took no longer than like 15 minutes. TL; DR OVERALL: 4.5 Stars. If you're looking for a spot that mixes pop-culture nostalgia, solid fare, and a lively NYC neighborhood vibe -- this one's worth a stop. It leans more "moment experience" than "hidden gem," but its fun factor and overall quality make it memorable. I'll definitely keep it on my list for future visits and maybe bring F*R*I*E*N*D*S (ba-dum-tss) looking for an iconic NYC moment. TIPS: * The area is residential and mixed-use: be respectful, keep noise down if visiting early or late, and avoid blocking entrances.

Ed U. - not Frankie - says RELAX !…read more This is a most unexpected concrete oasis in the middle of the bustling Theater District. On a small plot of land donated by the neighboring Ritz Plaza Hotel, it was built in 2002 to honor the members of the Engine 54 station, who sacrificed their lives on 9/11. If like me, you struggle after a day of hiking through Manhattan to find a place just to sit down before a performance, this provides a welcome respite with plenty of tables and bench seating. Be forewarned that the steel gate closes at 7PM. Take a load off and give pause to those brave firefighters.

A public atrium that also serves as a firefighters memorial which sits in Ritz Plaza in the Theatre…read moreDistrict, West 48th Street and Eighth Avenue. The entrance is nicely structured with a in-ground commemorative plaque and a fully functional bronze structure water foundation. This water foundation also serves as a plaque inscribed with names of firefighters Engine 54 Station perished on the tragic ill-fated September 11, 2001. There are ample seats and tables for resting to absorb and breathe life one moment at a time. I came here several times for resting prior to Yelp Night's "Clybourne Park", "Peter and the Starcatcher" and my poetry open-mic nearby.

East Village Walls are equally my favorite with East Harlem Walls! If you like graffiti and public…read moreart projects like I do, I recommend you follow my friend Tom G. Tom has a real passion for Public Art. I agree with his statement about the art being time limited. I try to get around to photograph as many as I can before they are gone. I'm posting some of my favorites taken in the Lower East Side. I'm hoping to add more soon. I'm recommending you cruise the streets of the Lower East Side and find more classic NYC street art. PS I have the wall locations in my photos if I want to return to check if they are still there.

East Village Walls, @eastvillagewalls is a community organization, that enriches the East Village…read morewith art murals and other projects. They have many art installations, murals in the area and this is just the latest one by artist Ben Keller, @benkellerct I like waking around the downtown just to spots, these, I cry when a favorite is replaced and smile when a new one touches my heart. I think this is one of the best paintings I have seen in a long time, you can just stand in from of the image of an old man and get mentally lost just looking at it.