BroadwayBK

Locust street is entirely residential, but there is a decent and inexpensive gym on the corner of Locust and Broadway, and there is a laundry mat, two pizza places, a burrito joint and a bodega just one block away. On the far side of the street (which amounts to one block), there is an elementary school that releases a massive amount of children midday on school days, so be prepared.

The JMZ line passes this street above Broadway, so if you move in there won't be a home on the street from which you won't be able to hear the train passing at all hours of the day and night. But it's true that you will get used to it (I did), it's just a matter of if you want to or not.

You won't find a good upper middle class living around these parts; this neighborhood is best reserved for those in search of cheap rent who don't mind a bit of a sketchy neighborhood.

Before I start raving about this one block outpost on the Broadway border of Bushwick and Bed-Stuy, let me first state that this is not the safest neighborhood. A lot of residents here are poor - in fact, both Marcy Houses and Bushwick Houses are about a 10-15 minute walk away. So, that being said - at least you know the rents here are pretty cheap by New York standards, which is why a lot of 20-something college grads/artist-types are moving into the area.

This street is great because it is located in the close vicinity of both the French restaurant Athom Cafe and the bar/coffee house/music venue Goodbye Blue Monday. Mostly residential, this block is just 30 seconds away from some of the freshest sandwiches you've ever had. The houses on this block are certainly nothing special, but in New York low rent is hard to come by so spaces around here fill up fast.

This street is my street's nextdoor neighbor, and it is home to the abandoned building with a missing wall that sits directly behind our house. If you are familiar at all with this city, you will immediately recognize that any kind of empty lot or property attracts all sort of nasty vermin - in the case of our apartment it is a battle against mice.

I have driven down this street thousands of times (the part of it between Broadway and Beaver, anyway) and have never seen a parking space on it (that isn't marked by a meter), leading me to believe that the residents here never go anywhere. At the end of the block, on Beaver, there is a school that lets out at 3:30, so prepare for the outflux of children if you move into the area.

The street is divided by Woodhull Hospital, a place that I am often warned against going.

While Knickerbocker Ave isn't the most lovely street in all of Brooklyn, there are plenty in the neighborhood that are worse. Bushwick features a great deal of warehouses and commercial buildings, and part of this street is home to many of those. One silver lining exists in this area: Urban Jungle, a gigantic and entirely affordable vintage store. Customers will most likely find themselves picking over a lot of clothing, but also they are likely to find themselves returning to see what else has turned up.

The further east you head on Knickerbocker, the more lively the street gets. There are a lot of bodegas blaring music with Spanish lyrics on this (still) predominantly Puerto Rican street, but there are a few great places to eat, like Fortunata's II Pizza.

Residents here tend to be on the poorer side of the New York spectrum, but this street is relatively bustling and safe-ish. Take precautions at night and don't bother traveling here as a tourist; you're out of your element.

This street is relatively small; it ends abruptly on each side of Bushwick Houses, a massive collection of low income housing projects. On the northeast side of the gap, this street serves as a potholed collection of warehouses and service stations. Crowded during the day it is not, and it is even less welcoming during the evening hours, though there is a loft community of hipsters nearby.

The southwest side of the gap is a bit more happening - there is a school located here, so there are often kids playing basketball on the outdoor courts, and it intersects with an especially lively section of Graham Ave where there are a lot of cellphone stores and cheap clothing retailers.

Closely situated next to Red Hook, this is a safe, clean neighborhood - though it's mostly residential. The homes here are attractive looking and many feature small front yards and driveways. Street parking usually looks packed, which is unfortunate because this is a great neighborhood to have a car as it seems far from amenities like big grocery stores.

This is a nice neighborhood, and unlike its neighbor Red Hook, the rents are relatively pricey. Court Street in Cobble Hill features a number of nightlife spots, and I have heard tell of mob ties to the neighborhood. This is a picturesque and safe Brooklyn neighborhood, however, and I think tourists would appreciate an off-the-beaten-track stroll around it.

Midtown East encompasses most everything that you think of when you think NYC: tall buildings, Bryant Park, an H&M across the street from a Zara, a Starbucks on every corner and just as many hot dog stands, United Nations and Rockefeller Center. This is a great area, and though it's crowded (especially in areas with multiple department stores), it's not nearly as packed as some places in Midtown West (Times Square, anyone?).

Tourists should take a stroll up and down Fifth Avenue, and so should residents at that. Midtown is full of hotels and caters to out-of-town visitors, so tourists should feel right at home here, because they practically are.

Fans of the Broadway show Rent are familiar with an Alphabet City of old - one in which poor artist-types lived amongst other low income residents (nowadays you have to travel to Brooklyn to find such a juxtaposition) - but these days this neighborhood almost completely blend in with the East Village. What you'll find today are streets lined with bars and restaurants, though Avenue D is still home to a large number of low income housing projects. This hardly seems to matter, though, and Alphabet City hardly seems to know that it is not the East Village.

Like the East Village, it's expensive to live here - at least on Avenues A and B, with Avenue C in still in a bit of a transitional mode. And knowing how this city likes to operate, I wouldn't be surprised if one day all of those low income homes were razed to the ground in favor of some luxury waterfront condos. So check back in a decade or so if that's what you are in the market for.

If you have an apartment in this middle income housing development, you were doing something right at one point. Nowadays, though residents here are dealing with a lot of changes, and things are looking pretty confusing for them at the moment.

The housing projects were recently sold to real estate mogul Tishman Speyer, and attempts are being made at selling remodeled apartments as "luxury" condos. Currently the Tenants Association find themselves at odds with Tishman Speyer, and many likely face a long legal battle so as not to be driven from their own apartments.

If you completely ignore this conflict, this happens to be a nice neighborhood, close to the relatively quite Gramercy Park and the bustling East Village, there is something for both elderly residents and their fun loving visiting grandchildren.

If you are not dressed to impress when strutting around Chelsea (even at say 3pm on a Monday), prepare to sometimes feel at odds with much of the people wandering around this neighborhood. Chelsea is one of the New York neighborhoods that embodies every stereotype the city uses to draw in the crowds: it has an art scene, trendy nightlife, and the Chelsea Piers.

The area has long been gay-friendly, and home to artists and director types, but you're likely to find yourself a doctor, lawyer and Olsen twin if you just hang around Bungalow 8 long enough. Tourists are likely to have a ball here and residents are likely to have five times as much fun - if they can keep up with their own bar tabs.

Most New Yorkers will tell you that they are not fans of Times Square - it's crowded, dirty and full of tourists who move at a strangely slow pace. But in fact there are people who live in this neighborhood, and I once heard one actually praise the tourists who frequent the area because he appreciated their great appreciation for New York - tourists don't take this city for granted, he said.

This neighborhood is a must-see for all first-time tourists - I know it was certainly on my list when I was a teenager visiting the city for the first time. There is nothing like Times Square in the rest of the country, that's for sure.

So there you have it: this area has its ups (amazing theater shows, a function as a unique tourist destination, sidewalks that actually sparkle) and its downs (crowds, tourists traps, too many chain restaurants).

If I am yearning to be in the midst of boutique stores, cafes and restaurants (or just really in the mood for Five Guys), this is the first NYC neighborhood I think to visit. The West Village can be a bit tricky to navigate if you aren't familiar with the area (the grid is pretty much nonexistent here), but the streets are lovely and likely just what you picture when you think of the downtown neighborhoods of New York.

Out of physical range (and likely the budgets) of NYU students, the residents here tend to be middle aged professionals who dress the part. An affordable apartment here would be a spectacular find - but good luck. Tourists should be happiest here, though it tends to be pretty crowded, especially during the weekend evenings.

This is not only a fantastic neighborhood for sighting celebrities, there is nothing that you can't do in Soho. The neighborhood is home to a couple of great bookstores (my favorite of which is McNally Jackson, but the Housing Works Bookstore Cafe is also in the area and contributes to a good cause), clothing stores and a hugely diverse population of restaurants. Boqueria is a good spot for great food, though a bit pricey.

Soho is a good neighborhood to explore without the use of a Lonely Planet guide, as there is something to consume in every direction you turn. A bit of wandering and the average tourist should find everything their little visiting heart desires from New York City.

Chinatown can be a bit much at times; it is almost always crowded, and the air can often be heavy with the smell of fish - especially during the summer. That being said, there are some excellent Chinese food diners here (and some that are equally as bad) and this area is a must-see for tourists (which is why it is always crowded).

I wouldn't want to live here, mostly because of the constant crowds. There are some decent apartments in the area - many with great views from the roof - but it's just not worth it for me.

Visitors should check out Green Bo Restaurant on Bayard. I used to really love New Big Wang on Elizabeth, but alas it is closed. This recession is tough times for lovers of Chinese food.

My nostalgia for this neighborhood is often overtaken by the weekend crowd of dudes from Jersey - though I actually go out at night here less and less. My first official residency was located in this neighborhood - a tiny one bedroom apartment that I shared with two other girls, and if that tells you anything about how affordable this neighborhood was about five years ago then let me assure you it's only gotten worse.

Though the fancy hotels and boutiques keep moving in (and out), there are some great (and even affordable) vintage stores that are a must-see for the dedicated shopper. The first of those is Fox & Fawn - a tiny spot on Suffolk St that you may just miss if you aren't paying close attention. The prices here are incredibly affordable and this store is often cited as one of the best of its kind in the area. Daha Vintage is another store that I greatly enjoy, and the prices are not the lowest but they aren't incredibly insane, either. They have an amazing collection of vintage shoes

I have mixed feelings about the financial district. First of all, it is always packed with both business men and tourists - an unlikely mix, but there they are all the same. The streets tend to be narrow and the sidewalks crowded, all of which is off putting for someone who feels disinclined toward crowds.

Then again, Century 21 - the greatest discount retail store ever created - is located in this neighborhood, and so I can't help but brave this atmosphere once in a while. When I do venture down there, I am always amazed at how clean (for New York City) the streets always are. This neighborhood is certainly a sight to behold and anyone visiting the city for a short while probably has no choice but to behold it - the same goes for Times Square - it's an area one should visit at least once in their lifetime.

Fort Greene is full of prime real estate - though obviously this will make it a bit pricier than many Brooklyn neighborhoods. That being said, Fort Greene is a great area that is surrounded by other great neighborhoods - which is something of a rarity in Brooklyn. It's a rather small neighborhood, but residents enjoy much of the perks that Manhattanites take for granted, such as close proximity to good shopping and decent restaurants.

There are a number of wine bars and lounges springing up in the neighborhood, and residents have a range of things to choose from on their own streets when it comes to nightlife. If you are visiting from out of town, you may not find Fort Greene as exciting as Times Square, but a seasoned New Yorker can't fail to appreciate such a quiet, clean and commercially stocked neighborhood.

Ah, what I wouldn't give to be able to afford to live here. As Brooklyn neighborhoods go, this is one of the pricier options - but well worth it if you have the means. The area is just a hop away from Manhattan, but has all the amenities that you would find in a city neighborhood like Soho. It even looks the part, with upstanding brownstone homes and fancy eateries and shops.

This is a great place for tourists to visit if they want to escape the madness of Manhattan for a bit, or if they just want to see a bit of Brooklyn before heading home. The Promenade - the long walk that overlooks the Manhattan skyline - is a must-visit for both tourists and residents, and it's likely that you'll recognize the place from any number of films.

This is a purely residential area, and as far as residential areas go this is a nice one. Close to Lefferts Garden and Prospect Park (the actual park rather than the neighborhood of the same name), this street is incredibly picturesque - especially during any season in which there are still leaves on the trees. Residents keep tidy front lawns (albeit small ones, keeping with the Brooklyn tradition), and the homes here are a pleasant sight during a leisurely stroll.

The neighborhood is quite and there is usually parking available in the street as some of the residents on this street have their own driveways. There is little to no traffic on this street, which is intersected by main drags like Nostrand and Utica.

This street is almost purely residential; there's not much happening here. As it is located in Bed-Stuy, I wouldn't recommend a visit to this street for anyone from out of town. Bed-Stuy has gotten increasingly safer in recent years, but it still remains a place where a lot of low income families live. Therefore the surrounding shops and bodegas aren't of the highest quality.

I often drive up this street when returning to Bushwick and the drive isn't too bad, though there are a few potholes here and there that can be taken care of. If you are driving expect to find yourself behind a number of buses, as this is a route often traveled.