Home to musicians, intellectuals and celebrities, the Upper West Side spans north and south from 110th Street to Central Park and runs westward from Columbus Circle to the Hudson River. Major attractions include Lincoln Center, American Museum of Natural History, and Zabars! Columbus Avenue, one of the neighborhood's main thoroughfares, is a prime shopping, dining and people-watching strip, particularly between West 65th and 86th streets. Central Park West has recently been anointed Manhattan's "sexiest" address by New York Magazine.
The Upper East Side is where the wealthy and socially prominent reside. The neighborhood extends from 59th to 96th streets and from the East River to Fifth Avenue. Many of New York's finest Museums are located in the district, including the Frick Collection, the Whitney Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and the Jewish Museum. Madison Avenue is the area's most prestigious shopping precinct.
Midtown, which extends from 34th Street to Central Park South between First and Eighth Avenues, is Manhattan's main business, commercial and shopping district. Many famous landmarks are here, including the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building and Rockefeller Center.
Other attractions include the United Nations, the Museum of Modern Art, the New York Public Library, the Pierpont Morgan Library, the Museum of Television and Radio, and St. Patrick's Cathedral.
This ritzy, predominately residential neighborhood is bordered by 23rd Street in the south to 42nd Street north, 1st Avenue east and 5th Avenue west. Residential buildings in this neighborhood tend to be upscale, with elevators, 24-hour doorman service and sophisticated lobbies.
The area touts the world famous Empire State Building, fabulous shopping along Madison and Fifth Avenues, and glamorous residences of Park Avenue.
Ideal for ambassadors, executives and those who enjoy the finer aspects of life, this neighborhood is readily accessible to Grand Central Station, the Chrysler Building and United Nations Headquarters.
Within the boundaries of this revitalized neighborhood (29th Street to the north, 14th Street to the south, Fifth Avenue to the east and the Hudson River to the west), you'll find the Joyce Theater for dance, the Empire Diner for 24-hour eats, and the Chelsea Pier Sports and Entertainment Complex.
Greenwich Village is located between 14th and Houston streets, and the Hudson and East Rivers. With Broadway dividing it, the Village comprises two separate neighborhoods. The West Village exudes a small-town feel with its tree-lined streets and 19th century row houses. Jazz clubs are a staple of the historic West Village. The East Village, the land of punk and funk, features experimental theaters, avant garde clubs and kitschy boutiques. Madonna lived here before she became a star.
SoHo is a neighborhood rich in 19th-century cast-iron architecture, contemporary art galleries, trendy boutiques and eclectic restaurants. The name is an acronym which comes from the area's location SOuth of HOuston.