Since I live in the Yorkville area next door to Spanish Harlem I love walking up here on a nice…read moreday. Many are reluctant to walk through this neighborhood, or see no reason to but there are many hidden gems here from delicious food, to shopping, to art. We'll walk through El Barrio on our way to Costco and nosh on street food and flavored ice from the carts you'll find on the corners. View some amazing art and graffiti on sides of buildings and park areas. Plus, there are plenty of cheapo stores here to pick up things for the kitchen and bathroom. There's a lot of history and culture up here, so don't be fearful of exploring the area.

Spanish Harlem or El Barrio, is in Upper Manhattan. It's general boundaries are from East 96th…read moreStreet up to East 142 Street and from Fifth Avenue to the Harlem River. In 1960 Ben E. King sang a song 'Spanish Harlem'. The neighborhood is one of the largest predominantly Latin Communities in New York City, made up of Puerto Ricans, Dominican, Cuban, and Mexican Immigrants. The community is noted for its contributions to Latin and Salsa Music. East Harlem also includes the area formerly known as Italian Harlem, very few remnants of a once predominantly Italian Community remain. I have spent many a beautiful day walking miles through East Harlem. This community is full of beauty and culturally diverse activity. Schools and children were plentiful early in the morning. While they are in school the streets fill with shoppers and elderly attending community programs. This area has many Government Funded Housing Complexes. There are lots of city Parks and Community Centers. The schools are colorful and plentiful. You will see all ages in the streets busy with their daily life. I love finding new small businesses during my walks. Baked goods and fried chicken are two of my favorites. On the West Side of East Harlem along Fifth Avenue there are Museums. Museo Del Barrio being my favorite. There's Lots of Food in this neighborhood consisting of many cultures! You're hurting yourself if you can't find something to eat. Read the Yelp reviews. When the weather is nice you'll see me traveling through this community. The Graffiti is fantastic. I love to photograph the beautiful art work. If you're in Manhattan and want a steak at Ricardo's, Mexican Tacos, French Pastry, Soul Food, Chinese and don't let me forget Halal, you'll find it here. I'm not a food, culture or community expert. If I'm speaking out of turn about this community please let me know. Better yet add your own review. All I know is I have a heck of a good time every time I spend the day here!

For the past few years I've made an annual " Brooklyn Neighborhood Exploration" list. Each year,…read moreI've designated a Brooklyn neighborhood that I want to explore more in depth; Williamsburg and Greenpoint have been two spots that I have explored heavily and am continuing to do so. This year Bedford Stuyvesant is now my focus. After reviewing history of Bed Stuy, as it is colloquially referred to, there is a lot to explore! Here is a neighborhood snap shot: 1. Compass: Bed Stuy borders on Flushing Avenue (North), Classon Avenue ( West) , Broadway ( East) and Atlantic Avenue ( South) 2. Main Shopping: Fulton Street 3. Architecture: Victorian, 8800 buildings built @1900 and many beautiful brownstones can be found here 4. Films: Spike Lee's " Do The Right Thing", great film and filmed on Stuyvesant Street now renamed "DTRT Way" and another fave, "French Connection" 5. Famous Folks: Jay-Z, Notorious B.I.G., Lena Horne, Chris Rock to name a few 6. Landmarks: Brooklyn Tabernacle, 6x Grammy winning choir, originally Loew's Metropolitan Theatre, Bed Stuy Historic District, Billie Holiday Theatre, Bed Stuy Walls, Shirley Chisholm Circle 7. Restaurants: Peaches Hothouse, C'mon Everybody, David's Brisket House, Ursula, Fan-Fan Doughnuts 8. Community Gardens: there are a wealth of these and most are free to access via NYC Parks Access Green Thumb. So far I've passed Quincy Street Community Gardens ( so lovely) and Madison Hall. No wonder Bainbridge, Macon and Chauncey were named greenest streets. And a wealth of parks: Saratoga and Fulton. 9. Mass Transit: A, C and G with the G stopping at Bedford- Nostrand Avenue station. Bus: B7, B15, B47 10. "Bed-Stuy represents something of a paradox: one of the largest neighborhoods in Brooklyn, it is practically a city within the borough, yet offers an intimate, slow-paced, small-town vibe." There's so much to discover and the rest of the year to do it. Bed Stuy, I'm ready for ya! More to come!

Indianapolis is my home and one of my favorite places, however since my brother and his wife moved…read morehere about three years ago I am quickly falling in love. Bed-Stuy is an amazing area of Brooklyn with a rich history, one certainly worth studying. Without going on a tangent the brownstones and buildings are beautiful. Looking at people's decorations during different holidays is always fun. The public art murals are awesome, I wish I had some talent but I am just a happy spectators There's so many different tasty restaurants the variety is amazing and I can say I've never had a bad restaurant experience when I visit. I know my perspective is just one from quick visits, but I wanted to share my love of this area and I look forward to exploring and learning more about this area.

Tribeca is one of the best known neighborhoods in the city. Of course many know it because of the…read morefilm festival. There's a lot more going on though. It's known for fashion and restaurants, not to mention the celebrities. This is also nice to walk through when it's quiet. It has a different feel compared to other parts of Manhattan. It's not as busy as Times Square or where all the tourists are. You can walk at more of a leisurely pace. It's more of a residential area. There's many chances to see a celebrity. A lot of restaurants in this area. The fancy kind with the seats on the sidewalk. It's probably best known for the film festival. A lot of opportunities to see the newest films. The neighborhood is still pretty nice just to walk through.

I'm giving Tribeca Four Stars for the architecture. I love to roam around the area taking photos of…read morethe old buildings. I have lived and worked in many neighborhoods in Manhattan. At one time I was in close proximity to Tribeca. I've seen the change take place over the years. I don't get to this neighborhood as much as I would like anymore. If you want the history and the sights to see nearby go to Wikipedia. That's my favorite resource. I'm recommending you search out the famous buildings in Tribeca. I'm never disappointed. From Wikipedia: "Tribeca is a hip area known for its old industrial buildings, many now turned into residential loft space. Cobblestone streets are lined with trendy boutiques and restaurants. Historic commercial buildings include the red-brick New York Mercantile Exchange edifice, from 1884. Weekends are quiet, though Washington Market Park and Hudson River Park draw families. The Tribeca Film Festival takes place here every spring."

This is one of the more colorful neighborhoods in Brooklyn. If you want gritty not gentrified, go…read moreto Flatbush. Though it seems to be getting "better" as more people are moving in. It's generally safe in the day. Wouldn't want to be there at night. It is a pretty iconic area. It's named after one of Brooklyn's main streets, which runs through the neighborhood. Just south of Prospect Park, there is lots to do and see. It has many chain stores like Target, but there's also lots of local businesses. There's restaurants serving a variety of cuisines from around the world. Go if you want to see what the real Brooklyn is like. It has less crime than it did a few years ago. Take a drive through an afternoon before it gets dark and you should be okay.

(Part 2)from my update status:…read more Brownstones cross Brooklyn in Bed-Stuy, Flatbush and etc sections of Brooklyn are very costly. Most brownstones in Brooklyn are One million Dollars and up at most Real Estate in Across Brooklyn" Brooklyn Real Estate is Booming "it's really hard buying a house in Brooklyn. ( Most of the Brownstones in The Flatbush Section of Brooklyn are on Parkside Avenue & Flatbush Avenue / Bedford Avenue ) there are very beautiful !!!!! most of the brownstones in the Flatbush section - Prospect Lefferts Gardens of Brooklyn where build in the "1800s" for doctors who work at Kings County Hospital -Downstate college Hospital Medical center to stay in the area since King's county hospital / S .U.N.Y-Downstate College Hospital Medical Center is only three blocks away from the brownstones houses ( so it would be a convenience for doctors to travel to work) !!!!!

Romeo & Juliet, Central Park - This modest yet symbolic spot in Central Park has a very pleasant…read moreand romantic charm. It is perfect for a short stop during a walk through the park and feels like a small cultural reference hidden among the greenery. I greatly appreciate such details, as they are often overlooked by visitors, yet they are exactly what make a place special. The sculpture is located near the theater.

"Looking Toward the Avenue" are three art sculptures by Jim Dine in Manhattan. There are a set of…read morethree abstract bronze sculptures by American artist Jim Dine, installed in 1989 in front of 1301 Avenue of the Americas (6th Avenue). They are mounted on black polished granite fountains that flank the building's entrance Smithsonian Institution. The site is in a prominent urban plaza, making the sculptures a striking feature of the avenue's skyline.

Visited Hyatt Regency Jersey City for an event, and the location itself is beautiful…read more The waterfront views from here are absolutely stunning, especially during sunset. The Sun Dial area gives a very classy and relaxing vibe to just sit and enjoy the skyline. Its actually more than just a photo spot. With the Manhattan skyline in the background, the place gives a very calm and classy vibe, especially during sunset. It's one of those spots where you can just sit, relax, and enjoy the NYC views for a while. A small landmark, but definitely a memorable one in Jersey City.

"If it wasn't for the Bronx this rap shit wouldn't be going on, so tell me where you from." -Lord…read moreTariq and Peter Gunz As a (former) b-boy visiting NYC, I absolutely had to visit the birthplace of hip-hop on 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in the Boogie Down Bronx. In 1973, DJ Kool Herc spun at a birthday party there, used two of the same record and looped the drum break, created the breakbeat or "Merry-Go-Round", and then birthed the the global sub-culture that I, and so many others, love so much today. Don't believe me? Check Sedgwick's secondary name, Hip-Hop Boulevard, and do a search or two and read up on your history. Aside from the street sign, the building doesn't offer much aside from resident housing. If you get down on the concrete in front, like me, expect people walking by or into the 1520 to give you the side eye. "Represent, represent." --Nas

So apparently all the cool landmarks in the Bronx are on or near really long, steep staircases…read more TBPOHH is just a normal looking apartment building next to a handful of bridges leading to Manhattan.,