ajadedidealist

The West 40's have Broadway, theatre, and pizazz. The West 20's have the haute-elegance of Chelsea. But somehow the West 30's have managed to skip neighborhood categorization altogether. This area is an eclectic collection of streets that never seems to find its character. Crowded, tourist-driven, and at times sketchy (the area around Penn Station and Madison Square Garden, while less dotted with sex clubs and strip joints than it used to be, still has a decidedly lascivious feel), this area doesn't have much to offer besides easy Long Island transport and the big-budget MSG entertainment. There are a few restaurants in this area - Garage Cafe and High Line Cafe are some examples - but they are, alas, vastly outnumbered by the chain fast food joints. Not a place to wander alone at night, although the area is more creepy than it is dangerous proper.

While more famous streets like Canal, Mott, and Mulberry Streets are immediately associated with Chinatown, few have heard of Howard Street, a tiny street just north of Canal. But for potential movers into the Chinatown area, Howard Street represents a relative hidden gem - a quieter back-street in a neighborhood not often known for its peaceful ambiance. It's a bit of a hub for clothing stores - there's an American Apparel and a Vogel Boots on this block - although the restaurant choices (many good ones, most of them Chinese or Asian-fusion) tend to cluster on nearby streets. Also located near here is the Museum of Chinese America, a worthwhile tourist destination for anyone with a special interest in the subject. It may lack the liveliness and character of Canal Street, but for some, particularly potential residents, this may in fact prove preferable. Transport is easy - the Canal Street subway stop is a stone's throw away.

As with much of the Upper East Side, East 74th Street passes through a variety of iterations as it stretches east from Central Park. West of Lexington Avenue you find the "Upper East Side" proper, with grand mansions, elegant boutiques (and even a hint of haute couture on Madison Avenue), and the doormen-attended co-ops lining Park Avenue, one of the city's oldest and most prestigious districts. Go further east, however, and the vibe is more laid-back and approachable - the eastern stretch of E 74th Street is home to casual, preppy, even a little dive-y (ironically) sports bars and places like Iggy's Karaoke (on 72nd). If Madison Avenue is staid, 2nd Avenue is decidedly laid back. "Posh" venues include Italian restaurant Caravaggio, located in a townhouse between Madison and Fifth, as well as Cafe Boulud, located two blocks uptown, but further east you'll find more relaxed eateries like JC Mellon's and Mezza Luna. While the eastern stretch of this street may not be as swank as Park Avenue, it's certainly nice enough - with a young professionals vibe that may suit some better than the staid family-feel of the UES proper.

Neither too trendy nor too downmarket, too busy nor too quiet, too artsy nor too bourgeois, the West 80's represent one of Manhattan's few truly balanced areas. While many family-friendly areas are either so dull and residential as to be unliveable, or gather their "safe" atmosphere by raising prices to the level of over the top exclusivity, the Upper West Side is family-friendly yet unpretentious, with a thriving restaurant scene that, though tables may not be booked months in advance, nevertheless offer good and often great food for reasonable (for New York) prices. Some family-friendly restaurants on or around West 85th Street include the relaxing brunch place Popovers, hearty Italian trattoria Nonna's, and Bar Luna, although Celeste is another popular choice. There's plenty of greenery around - with Riverside Park on one side of this not-too-long crosstown street and Central Park on the other. Pet owners will be glad to hear that it's also near the 87th Street Dog Run in Riverside Park, a popular community meeting point. This lively neighborhood is a must-consider for New York families looking for a comfortable place to put down roots.

If your idea of fun is going out every night to a play, classical or jazz concert, or civilized meal, then East 62nd Street might just be your ideal New York City street. Catering to a more mature crowd than do the dive bars of the East Village, the meat markets of SoHo and the Meatpacking District, but nevertheless attracting a less staid set than the elegant Upper East Siders, this district is ideal for older men and women of means (it ain't cheap) who enjoy the lively spirit of this crowded district even as they want easy walking access to all New York has to offer. Lincoln Square and Water Reade are two of the city's best art-house cinemas (while Lincoln Plaza is one of the city's largest for blockbusters), while Lincoln Square and the Time Warner Centre between them offer a host of nightly cultural activities - from dancing in summertime's Midsummer Night's Swing to the New York City Opera. Excellent dining choices - often on the pricier, more-established - end of things abound: try the pizzas at Fiorello's, and don't skimp on the excellent bread basket at Josefina's.

The West 40's are a curious collection of streets in Manhattan. On the one hand, they're jam-packed with tourists (and the attendant ills - crowds, noise, backed-up streets) staying at any one of the number of midtown business and leisure hotels located in this district. They're far from charming - no pre-war co-ops, Art Deco skyscrapers, or tree-lined brownstone streets here - and yet somehow West 40th Street has a certain charm. Is it the proximity of Broadway, which even in the most "touristy" shows still preserves a degree of energy unseen in most other theatre districts of the world? (Nearby theatres include the New Amsterdam, New Victory, New 42nd Street, and Foxwoods Theatre, among others) Is it the presence of the faded grandeur at some of the most elegant gentlemen's clubs (as in London-style clubs, not strip joints) of yesteryear, like the Algonquin? Is it the collection of dark-wood steakhouses - alongside chain restaurants like Red Lobster unheard of elsewhere in New York? The juxtaposition of the derelict Port Authority with the lively Times Square? Good, bad, or ugly - (and usually all three at th same time), there's something special about this area.

You just might not want to live there.

While the rumblings of Chelsea only really get started in the West 20s, West 18th Street is nevertheless a lively commercial area stretching out from popular arty hangout spot Union Square. The NYU vibe is still in full force here (as opposed to the largely gay, late-20's population that dominates Chelsea), with a number of studenty, divey joints to accompany the elegant restaurants and chiseled-abs-nightclubs that begin to proliferate in greater measure a few steps further north. Check out Del Posto for a hearty Italian meal, or begin to enjoy the Chelsea feel with higher-end La Gascoigne or Eighteenth and Eighth Restaurant. Meanwhile, NYU students have a wealth of cheaper eats to choose from, including outlets of all the major fast food chains, a number of local pizzerias, and popular Thai Galanga Gardens. Hudson Square Park provides a welcome splash of greenery in an otherwise dense urban area. There's a wealth of good shopping here - mostly chains like Urban Outfitters appealing to hip 20-somethings

Located in Greenwich Village, Abingdon Square Park is one of those valued, all-too-rare patches of greenery in the urban jungle that is New York City. Only a quarter acre (1000 sq. m) in size, the park is nevertheless pleasant for a morning coffee or afternoon wrap. The street surrounding it, large Abingdon Street, is well-located in the heart of the West Village - a location filled with trendy boutiques, arty galleries, and vegan, gluten-free, and otherwise hyper-healthy eateries. Recette is one popular French bistro in the neighborhood, while other locals swear by the vaguely named "The Place." (Cafe Cluny is also popular). Nightlife tends to be civilized - bars and pubs like the Tavern on Jane are the norm, rather than the dive-y joints of the East Side or the crowded meat market clubs of the Meatpacking district. Ideal for sensible singles looking to combine character with quiet, or for young families not ready to give up a world of granola and free-range eggs ust yet.

While the houses on the eastern end of this slender Greenwich Village Street are beautiful in the traditional Greenwich village manner - nineteenth-century brick, wrought-iron balustrades, trees shading these out-of-the-way blocks - the charm factor of the neighborhood drops precipitously as you head further west, approaching the blare and bustle of the West Side Highway (although cyclists will find much to enjoy on the riverside bike path - if they can brave the traffic and find a way across!) . In the eastern end of the street, you're near the popular (and historic) Cherry Lane Theatre, lovely dining venues like the Cornelia Street Cafe, Snack Tavern, and the Hudson Clearwater Restaurant, the scene dries up just a few minutes' walk west. Overall this is a great street if you're in the "Greenwich Village" part of it, but gets less pleasant the closer you are to the highway. It's still only a few minutes' walk of a difference overall, though - so even at its worst Morton Street has a fabulous location.

In the heart of the city's bustling, downtown financial district, this tiny street flows easily into some of its larger neighbors, among them William Street and Water Street. This largely commercial neighborhood attracts a number of banking and other companies; on or nearCedar Street, you'll find the Jennifer Temps temping agency, the famous Cryos sperm bank, China American Insurance, the American International Group, and Harold T. Marcus and Company. As you might expect, the vibe here is largely office-based - there's little dining or night-life here, but plenty of delis and lunchtime takeaways. Aside from the expected chains like Chipotle, there's the vegan-friendly Just Salad and the aptly named Financier Patisserie, as well as a couple informal work-lunch and happy-hour joints: check out Ise Retaurant, Sophie's, the Italian trattoria Harry's Italian. The Pearl Street diner is a popular joint for locals. a fine place to work

This picturesque street in the heart of Greenwich Village has been popular with artists and filmmakers alive, and is still a popular filming location for NYC-based dramas, among them Law & Order, The Job, Autumn in New York, and Wait Until Dark. The period red-brick houses, with wrought-iron balustrades and charming verdant ivy, are some of the most beautiful in Manhattan, rendering this historic neighborhood one of the city's most scenic. Luckily, scenic doesn't entail stagnant: there's plenty to do here in the heart of the West Village. Pay a visit to the homes of jazz age mayor Jimmy Walker and novelist Sherwood Anderson at numbers 5 and 12, respectively (though don't ask to go inside!), or check out Edgar Allan Poe's old haunt: the Trinity Parish Cemetery. Locals as well as tourists will find much to keep them here: while the street itself is largely residential, nearby side-streets offer plenty of dining and nightlife fare. Visit nearby Japanese restaurant "EN Japanese Brasserie," or have an old-fashioned romantic date at the Lelabar. Out of the Kitchen is another popular choice among locals.

Leading into TriBeCa's main recreational park, the Washington Market Park, with its charming gazebo and tennis/baseball facilities, Reade Street is a pleasant enough stretch of TriBeCa. The feel is classic TriBeca - arty in a minimalist, loft-studio fashion that doesn't seem to have gone out of style since the early 90's, but without the relentless come-and-go trendiness that dominates so many of Manhattan's neighborhoods. The Meatpacking District may have come and gone, but among a certain set, TriBeCa abides. The area around Reade Street itself is home to a number of attractions, among them a fair few art galleries: visit KS Art on Leonard Street or SoHo photo gallery on White Street . For a quick coffee, visit the Espresso Lounge, or grab tea at the Chinese Pak Tea House, washed down with a scrumptious pastry from TriBeCa treats. For a more substantial meal, try any one of the Asian restaurants on the block (there are many, representing a variety of countries), or down a delicious dollar taco at perennial favorite Taco House. Easy subway transfer from Chambers Street

Manhattan can be a busy bustling place - an urban jungle rather than a verdant one. So the few acres of green parkland spread out over the city can often feel like tiny refuges: escape from the hustle and relentless energy of the big city. St. John's Park in the heart of Tribeca is seemingly one such place. This tiny stretch of greenery is relatively large - but while it's pretty to look at, it's less pleasant than it could be; the streets surrounding the park have been transformed into a circular road leading to the Holland Tunnel, cutting pedestrians off from the inner circle. However, while the parkland can only be viewed from a relative distance, there are other attractions in the area: the district is filled with arty boutiques like Wetlands and the Behr Thyssen Gallery, as well as a number of trendy dining joints. Hit up the relaxed Moomah Cafe just over on Hudson Street, on the other side of the Park or visit the upscale Brandy Library Lounge one block south of Ericcson. Not terribly much to do - but a pleasant enough place.

While the South Street Seaport no longer emits the same wafting smell of fresh (mostly) fish that it once did, Front Street nevertheless isn't quite the charming historical street it could b, given its location to the Seaport, as well as other historical areas like Wall and Pearl Street. It's an efficient commercial street, with several high-rise office buildings looking out over the water, as well as a couple of hotels. Dining is largely limited to business-friendly takeaways, such as Starbucks and a local sushi joint, although nearby South Street Seaport offers plenty of fine restaurants (if you enjoy seafood, that is). While it's interestingly located and perfectly decent, overall there's little to particularly this area. If you work here - fine - if you don't, there's little reason to come here. But nearby South Street Seaport is nevertheless a highly worthy touristic destination

With its tree-lined streets and period wrought-iron balustrades, Brooklyn Heights seems more like New Orleans than it does New York City. The most elegant of Brooklyn's many, myriad neighborhoods, Brooklyn Heights is an upscale district for the family-oriented New Yorker looking to balance proximity to New York's central attractions with a bucolic, peaceful environment - a relative rarity in hustle-and-bustle Manhattan. Yet while peace and quiet is certainly Water Street's strong suit - it looks over a pleasant patch of greenery, leading to stunning river views of Manhattan beyond - it has plenty to offer by means of local amenities for when you're not in the mood to drive across the Brooklyn Bridge. Enjoy a delicious chocolatey treat at Jacques Torres Chocolate or the Amandine Bakery, or dine friendly at Ignacio's pizzeria. If you're looking for an upscale romantic night out, hit The River Cafe, one of the city's most delightful restaurants, with stunning views very nearly matched by a terrific pan-American menu. With a number of galleries, among them the DUMBO arts centre, to choose from, this street is an ideal family nest for an artistically-inclined menage.

East 105th Street is a mixture of two worlds. Just north of the elegant tree-lined streets that make up Carnegie Hill, one of New York City's smartest (and swankest) family neighborhoods, East 105th Street hasn't quite been subsumed into either Spanish Harlem or Harlem proper. The vibe is very much dominated by nearby Mount Sinai, whose myriad doctors, nurses, attendants, and patients all make up the bulk of the area's dining and nightlife scene even as its long-term residents are largely composed of middle-class locals, many of whom represent the southernmost reaches of Spanish Harlem (the El Barrio Museum, a paean to American Hispanic culture, is on this street). Dining here is largely Hispanic-inspired as well - try nearby La Fonda Boricua and El Caribeno, as well as the El Paso Tacqueria, for burritos and tacos far more authentic fare than you'll find elsewhere in the city. Nightlife is limited, although there's a steady supply of happy-hour venues for exhausted doctors; try Milk Lounge for one such outing. Much cheaper than the rest of the UES, while still conveniently located (a subway at 103rd street for the 6-train).

Sandwiched between the Museum of Natural History (and its attendant Rose Planetarium) and Riverside Drive Park, West 78th Street can seem like a paradise for kids. Steps from Collegiate School, one of the best K-12 private boys' schools in Manhattan, as well as from the Tecumseh Playground and, of course Central Park, this street is an ideal family neighborhood. Yet it's far from quiet. The bustling tourist trade around the Museum of Natural History keeps things lively, as does the burgeoning restaurant scene, which while not "trendy," nevertheless is more active than in other similar "family-oriented" neighborhoods. Try the colorful Nice-Martin, a French restaurant that eschews dark wood and Parisian zinc in favor of a brighter decor reminiscent of the South of France, or have a family brunch at the Amsterdam Avenue outlet of Upper East Side brunch standby Sarabeth's. Isabella's Restaurant, on Columbus Avenue, also offers a highly tasty brunch. Public transport is highly convenient, with a number of north-south subway stops on 79th Street, and the crosstown bus on 78th/9th.

The Upper West Side north of 96th Street but south of the Columbia campus is a somewhat peculiar, highly distinctive area. The feel of the Upper West Side (middle-class/laid-back, family friendly, filled with charming family-owned bistros and trattorias, plus plenty of organic grocers) begins to meld with the campus feel of Columbia: cheap dive bars, studenty "arty" cafes, and an overall much younger feel. This small street begins to reflect this change in feel. Brasseries like Alouette represent a classic "Upper West Side" feel (as does the requisite neighborhood Whole Foods), and Regional Restaurant offers an elegant mimosa brunch, but already evidence of the Columbia bubble has begun to creep in: Cafe Viva Gourmet Pizza-Pasta is an inexpensive student-style takeout joint, while nearby Lenny's Bagels and Malecon offer hearty, good food at college-student prices. The proximity of charming Riverside Park, with its adjacent 19th century buildings on Riverside Drive, is another plus.

With tree-lined green streets and charming brownstone town houses, this street - starting at Carnegie Hill and making its way east into Yorkville is an ideal, if somewhat pricey, neighborhood for families. The westernmost parts of the street (i.e., Fifth, Madison, and Park Avenues) are on the swanker side: the co-ops and brownstones here are very expensive, but Carnegie Hill is the closest thing New York City has to Disneyland: from old-school bookstores like The Corner Bookstore on Madison Avenue, to the playground at Hunter College High School, to high-end children's clothing sellers like Jacadi, Bonpoint, and Magic Windows (not to mention fantastic family-friendly eateries like Island, Bar 92, Bistrot de Nord, and Table d'Hote, all on or just off Madison Avenue), this is a paradise for parents. (The proximity of schools like Hunter, St. Bernard's, Spence, Nightingale, and - in the east - Chapin and Brearley doesn't hurt). While the further east you go, the less expensive (and oh-so-precious) the neighborhood becomes, Yorkville still has a lot to offer: buy organic groceries and tasty takeaways at the Vinegar Factory, or take the family to a day at the pool at the Asphalt Green. Or enjoy a picnic on scenic Carl Schurtz Park.

Located way up in Hamilton heights, West 150th Street isn't exactly an area that comes to mind when considering the variety of options available in New York City. For all too many New Yorkers, the city ends at 125th street, and the over one hundred blocks to the north are easily dismissed as "slums" or "out of the way". This is less true now than ever, as housing costs are skyrocketing and new northbound neighbors are ever more gentrified. While West 150th Street is far from charming - a conglomeration of modern tenement-style houses and gas stations - it's not blighted, either, and in fact represents a reasonably safe, if slightly unfashionable, family neighborhood for would-be Manhattanites lacking the funds to move closer to Central Park. Restaurants and nightlife scenes here are relatively basic - a few "locals" combined with plenty of fast-food chains - but there are worse places to live in Manhattan.