Cheat Sheet

I thought I would make a quick cheat sheet for you all on the neighbourhoods in Manhattan, since I mention them in the blog so often. Each neighbourhood has its own characteristics so it is like there are multiple towns on this 26 mile island.

Inwood-Furthest North Area of Manhattan (I have never been) but mostly housing with very few stores or restaurants. It takes a good 30 minutes or so to commute from there to mid-town which is why many people opt for moving to Brooklyn or Queens instead of Inwood (there is more to do in the other boroughs then Inwood)

Washington Heights- Just below Inwood. Spanish Harlem is located in this area. Again mostly housing not much else. Parts of this neighbourhood are rough.

Harlem- Most famously known for the Harlem Renaissance. At one point parts were unsafe to live in. The area is much safer now but the unfortunate thing is it is now expensive to live there so Manhattan has really become a place where only the very wealthy can live and many people living in Harlem are feeling like they are being pushed out of the city.

Morningside Heights-You can often tell what part of town you are in by the numbered streets. Morningside Heights is just west of Harlem and around the W 120s. Columbia University is in this neighbourhood.

Upper West Side-Below Morningside. This is probably the greenest part of the city with Riverside Park and Central Park Defining its borders. It goes from Columbus Circle at 59th street up to about 110 street (that is the length of Central Park). Lincoln Center, Julliard, Fordham, and the American Museum of Natural History are all in this area. This is also where Esther lives.

Upper East Side- Same boundaries as the Upper West number street wise. This area is on the other side of the park and below Harlem. Museum Row featuring the Met and Guggenheim are in this area. This is also the most expensive part of Manhattan to live in.

Midtown West-Below the park the east and west are divided by 5th avenue. Midtown west below 50th street has museums like MoMA and the Paley Center and is also where 30 Rock is.

Midtown East-Mostly shopping. Mostly expensive shopping on 5th and Madison avenues. Esther's office is in Midtown East.

Theater District-Midtown West from 50th street to Times Square at 42nd Street

Garment District-Midtown West from about 40th street to 34th street. This is where my office is.

Hell's Kitchen-The far west side of midtown. A lot of developments are going in because this will be the new trendy neighbourhood soon. The Soup Nazi Kitchen is there for you Seinfeld fans.

Murray Hill-Far end of midtown east. Lots of Boutiques, Cafes, and more housing for the rich and famous of NYC.

Greenwich Village-Below midtown. Mostly independent stores and restaurants. The West Village is a very cute area. The Meatpacking District still has a few meat markets but is the new 'it" area, with nightclubs and shopping. East Village is more low key.

Chelsea- Just North of the village. It is very artsy. Lots of art studios and independent theaters.

The Financial District-Wall Street, City Hall, and the South Street Seaport. This is where the World Trade Center was.

Lower East Side- Safe all be it grungy sort of area. Independent theaters and such. Seedy in a safe neighbourhood. Chinatown and Little Italy are also there.

SoHo-South of Houston street on the west side of the Lower East Side. Expensive stores and lofts.

Battery Park-Southern tip of the island. Not a ton there but that is where you would go to take the ferry to Elis Island and the Statue of Liberty.

Hope this is helpful.