Exploring Lower Manhattan

Manhattan at Night1

Most districts and neighborhoods in New York enjoy artistic, historical and shopping areas. Distinct boutiques, specialty shops and cultural joints are found in a number of vibrant and lively sections of the city, especially in the southern part of Manhattan, usually referred to as Lower Manhattan. Festivals and fun activities take place in this area, adding a lively atmosphere to the city's streets and boulevards. Each district in Lower Manhattan has a unique flavor, an interesting history and a compelling story behind its name. Visitors can easily reach the city's districts by public transportation and public parking lots are provided within their boundaries. To complete the New York experience, visitors cannot miss seeing unique galleries, enjoying family-friendly activities and taking in major festivals in Lower Manhattan's famous districts and neighborhoods.

Flatiron District
The Flatiron District, located on 23rd Street between Fifth Avenue and Broadway, earned its name after the triangular, 20-storey Flatiron Building—once the tallest in New York. This district boasts Madison Square Park, which is situated between Fifth and Madison Avenues and 23rd and 26th Streets, featuring a 5600-seat theater and the landmark Madison Square Garden (MSG). MSG offers views of the Flatiron and the Empire State Buildings and brings concerts, events and major sporting activities to the city throughout the year.

	The Flatiron Building2

Another attraction in this district is Madison Square Park Conservancy, an area that hosts entertainment and amusements, especially for children. In the summer months, the park features various programs such as literary readings, festivals and music performances, as well as outdoor contemporary art exhibitions from around the world. This district is unique for its family and child-friendly events.

The Flatiron District features the Toy District, with a line of toy manufacturers. Also, the area holds preserved buildings and a number of concert halls, theaters, galleries, wholesalers and interior decorators, as well as a cluster of publishing and architectural offices.

For a more adult attraction, visitors 18 and older can visit the Museum of Sex, which adds color to the Flatiron District. Often referred to as the MoSex, this museum was founded by Daniel Gluck in 2002, dedicated to the history, evolution and cultural significance of human sexuality. There are a wide range of topics and material in the museum from different continents and cultures, time periods and media, all presented in an educational format. Moreover, there are drawings, paintings and photographs, as well as film, video, ancient artifacts and old and new technology.

Greenwich Village
Divided into the East and West Villages and often called the Village, Greenwich Village is bound by Broadway to the east, the Hudson River to the west, Houston Street to the south and 14th Street to the north. This district is famous for its galleries, arts and nightlife and is known for its liberal and bohemian culture, as many of the area's artists, poets and writers challenged mainstream ideas in the late 1950s. This district played a major role in the gay liberation movement and founded the world's oldest gay bookstore in 1967, creating a unique culture and holding a strong, unconventional character.

The East Village3

Attractions in Greenwich Village include Washington Square Park, a popular area with various statues and monuments, such as George Washington Monument and a Garibaldi Statue, an Italian patriot and soldier who led many military campaigns to form a unified Italy. Washington Square Park is surrounded by a major research university, New York University, which maintains a lively atmosphere. This area also features the 77-ft (23 m) Washington Square Arch that celebrates the centennial of George Washington's inauguration as the first president of the United States.

Throughout the year, Greenwich Village hosts various remarkable events, such as Washington Square Music Festival in July and August, walking tours in the Ukrainian Museum from May until September and the Urban Pumpkin Festival and the Halloween Parade in October. The Village bustles with colorful events, historic landmarks and diverse arts.

Meatpacking District
A name like the Meatpacking District brings up images of butchers chopping and packing meat. Today, however, not much meat is left in this district as designer shops have moved in, earning the area a more stylish acronym—the MePa District.

The MePa District functioned as a wholesale market for more than 150 years, first as a farmers' market, then as a produce market and, for the last century, a meat market. Recent years have seen a noticeable increase in trendy restaurants, bars, boutiques, galleries, dance clubs, furniture stores and antique shops. This district anchors the northwest corner of Greenwich Village from West 14th Street on the north end to Gansevoort Street at the south. The buildings and the old streets have a distinctive character with open views of the river and sky. In 2003, this area was declared a historic district as it is the last market neighborhood in New York City. By stopping in this area of Lower Manhattan, visitors explore one of the most fashionable neighborhoods in the city, full of trendy restaurants, exclusive clubs and higher-end boutiques.

TriBeCa
TriBeCa, the Triangle Below Canal Street, never ceases to surprise visitors with its events and activities. TriBeCa stretches from Canal Street south to Park Place and from the Hudson River east to Broadway.

TriBeCa prospers by the arts. The district's Performing Arts Center is a leading arts presenter in Lower Manhattan. More than 100,000 visitors attend TriBeCa's own programs, independent productions and performances. Every year, July and August features shows with different themes, such as jazz and salsa. Most productions include a diverse mix of theater, music and dance by national, international and local companies.

The area is also distinct with the multiple annual activities and festivals that take place, such as Tribeca Film Festival and Tribeca Open Artist Studio Tour (T.O.A.S.T), which provides a glimpse into the work and workplaces of some of the neighborhood's artists.

Dining in SoHo4

SoHo
Bound by Houston Street, West Broadway, Canal and Lafayette Streets, the energetic neighborhood of SoHo, (standing for South of Houston Street) is home to modern design, collectibles, antiques and furniture, as well as a haven for prestigious fashion houses and unique shops carrying original items, national and international name-brands and luxurious souvenirs.

SoHo gained fame and a hip reputation when it became a neighborhood for artists in the 1960s and 1970s. The glamour of this neighborhood has been contagious as a number of districts in several American cities followed SoHo's trend in architecture and renovations, typically known as the SoHo Effect.

Little Italy and NoLita
Little Italy is bordered by Houston, Canal, Lafayette and Bowery Streets. Italian districts were created after a rise in Italian immigration to the United States, especially in the 19th century. While few Italians live in Little Italy today, the Feast of San Genarro attracts them and other revelers every year in September. This festival initially started as a one-day gala party, evolving into an 11-day festival. During the festival, there are more than 100 street vendors selling a variety of goods and merchandise, international cuisine, official Little Italy souvenirs, jewelry and clothing. Carnival rides, arcade games and a number of fun activities for youngsters are also featured in this festival.

	A street in Little Italy5

The northern side of Little Italy is called NoLita, which was nicknamed in the mid-1990s when many new-to-the-job designers moved from the celebrity-clustered, high-rent SoHo and TriBeCa areas and transformed pizzerias and shoe-repair shops into stores for their arts and fashion. Since 1999, NoLita's Mulberry, Mott and Elizabeth Streets have been boasting a number of boutiques with designer goodies, embroidered purses, silky and colorful shawls, hand-tooled boots and custom-designed jewelry.

Italian cuisine is an important aspect of the Italian culture and this has been reflected in these areas. NoLita and Little Italy flourish with authentic restaurants such as Il Cortile, Carmine's and Café Fiorello. The home-like atmosphere, small-sized furniture, friendly setting and, of course, Italian music accompany each meal.

Chinatown
Like any other heavily-populated North American city, New York has its own Chinatown. Considered one of the biggest Chinatowns in the Americas, the neighborhood is another busy area in Lower Manhattan. The district encompasses Mott, Park, Pell and Doyer Streets, bustling with small stores selling imitation perfumes, watches and hand-bags, as well as more than 200 Chinese restaurants offering authentic food and groceries.

The Chinese culture and history is captured in the neighborhood's statues and memorials: the Kam Lau memorial archway at Chatham Square, which honors Chinese-Americans who died in World War II; the statue of Lin Zexu, a Fuzhou-based Chinese official who opposed the opium trade; and the statue of Confucius in front of Confucius Plaza.

	New York's Stock Exchange Building

The Financial District
Covering the southern tip of Manhattan Island, the Financial District is home to New York's financial pillars such as South Street Seaport, Wall Street, New York Stock Exchange and the World Trade Center Memorial. After 9/11, the government offered many residents and businesses incentives to stay or relocate to the area, which has helped to restore its liveliness. Despite its towering office buildings, the Financial District is also an exciting neighborhood packed with various stores and restaurants, such as the Pearl Street Diner, a 55-year old landmark serving eggs around the clock, cheeseburgers with fries, chicken souvlaki and many other food options.

At 60 Wall Street, many of the area's workers gather to play backgammon at the Public Place, an indoor location for lunch breaks and after-work hours. Games usually last from noon until 10pm and during the warmer months, players move outdoors to Liberty State Park.

This district also provides places for lunch breaks and relaxing afternoons, such as Hanover Square, which is historically-linked to the British colonial era. Lined with yew trees, topiaries and boxwood hedges, Hanover Square is one of many historic Manhattan squares and has the honor of commemorating the British victims of the World Trade Center attacks.

Visitors in Battery Park City6

Battery Park City
Another area of Lower Manhattan is Battery Park City, a park that covers more than 90 acres (36 ha) by the Hudson River and holds a number of Lower Manhattan's major attractions, such as the Police Memorial and the Museum of Jewish Heritage, a living memorial of the Holocaust in Germany. Also within the park, the National Museum of the American Indian is dedicated to the life, languages, literature, history and arts of American Indians. There are also more than 90,000 images depicting both historic and contemporary American Indian life in this museum.

Battery Park City's green areas provide opportunities for relaxing walks and the park's Winter Garden, a steel-and-glass atrium, features indoor screenings of old movies. Battery Park City also includes the World Financial Center, which boasts towers for headquarters of international corporations such as American Express, Merrill Lynch, Dow Jones and Deloitte, as well as over 30 specialty restaurants and shops, including Banana Republic, Godiva Chocolate and Eckerd.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF:

1. New York City Convention and Visitors Bureau; Manhattan at Night; New York, NY, USA
2. New York City Convention and Visitors Bureau; The Flatiron Building; New York, NY, USA
3. New York City Convention and Visitors Bureau; The East Village; New York, NY, USA
4. New York City Convention and Visitors Bureau; Dining in Soho; New York, NY, USA
5. New York City Convention and Visitors Bureau; A street in Little Italy; New York, NY, USA
6. New York City Convention and Visitors Bureau; Visitors in Battery Park City; New York, NY, USA