Chelsea Gallery District

New York, NY

Description: Chelsea's far west side, roughly 13th through 29th Street between 9th and 11th Avenue, has emerged as one of the city's true hotspots for finding contemporary art. Indeed, name" galleries like John Connelly Presents, Priska C. Juschka Fine Art, David Zwirner and Sonnabend combine to give the District cutting edge credibility, making it a prime stomping ground for artists, students and serious collectors. TRAIN: C, E to 23rd St
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Chinatown

New York, NY

Description: CHINATOWN. Bounded loosely by TriBeCa to the west, Canal Street to the north, and City Hall to the south, Chinatown is the Big Apple's most famous ethnic neighborhood. Its sights and sounds are easily identifiable: conversations in Chinese; ubiquitous red decorations and pagoda-styled buildings; signs depicting Chinese characters. Adding to neighborhood's draw are its many outdoor markets and street vendors peddling everything from fresh produce, fish, meat, and herbs to souvenirs. Over time, Chinatown has expanded northward into the area historically known as Little Italy. TRAIN: J, M, N, Z, 6 to Canal St

Fifth Avenue

New York, NY 10011

Description: MIDTOWN WEST. It's chic boutiques. It's grand dining. It's the conviction that "money spends. It's Fifth Avenue, and it's one of the world's most famous drags. Here, retail elites such as Tiffany, Bergdorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue have warmly embraced well-heeled spenders, and Euro shops like Cartier welcome luxury item seekers. Even chain stores like Banana Republic and The Gap get to the act, forever changing the dynamic of this district by drawing folks who want more affordable options. Aside from the fabulous shopping, the street also offers great views of some of the city's finest churches, including St. Patrick's Cathedral, St. Thomas's Church, and Fifth Avenue Presbyterian. TRAIN: E, F, N, R, 7 to 5th Ave

Fulton Street Mall

Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11201 718-403-1632

Description: BROOKLYN. This open-air mall sees some 100,000 shoppers each day, easily making it one of the top three busiest commercial districts in the Five Boroughs. Alongside smaller specialty shops like Finish Line, Ashley Stewart and Jimmy Jazz stands a Macy's department store, ensuring that shoppers can find just about anything they're looking for. In addition to block after block of great shopping, Fulton Street Mall also boasts several restaurants, including Junior's, famous worldwide for its fabulous cheesecakes. TRAIN: 2, 3, 4, 5 to Borough Hall; A, C, F to Jay St-Borough Hall; D, M, R, Q to deKalb Ave; 2, 3 to Hoyt St; M, R to Lawrence St-MetroTech
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Garment District

between 5th and 9th Ave, 34th to 42nd St, New York, NY 10001

Description: GARMENT DISTRICT. New York's Garment District, an area-so-named thanks to its long run as a fashion design and manufacturing center, is located between the Theater District and Chelsea. Always energized and bustling with activity, the Garment District doesn't reveal its true colors until Fashion Week, when most of the world's top designers descend upon the city to showcase their latest cuts. TRAIN: 1, 2, 3 to 34th St-Penn Station

Greenwich Village Antiques District

W 10th & W 11th Sts, New York, NY 10014

Description: WEST VILLAGE. This shopping district is centered around antiques and offers up great selections for antique lovers. The atmosphere is casual, but the prices are not necessarily discounted. There are several shops to choose from to suit your taste and your budget, including well-established names. You are sure to be rewarded with some unique finds and treasures if you spend some time hunting. TRAIN: N, R to 8th St

Hell's Kitchen (Clinton)

8th Ave, Between 34th and 59th St, New York, NY 212-243-5343

Description: HELL'S KITCHEN. The rectangular section of Midtown West has a colorful history. But then, what else would you expect from a neighborhood called Hell's Kitchen? Years ago, these blocks were linked to the New York underworld, and it wasn't uncommon for rival gangs to find themselves at odds (think "West Side Story"). Aside from all of the competition for luxury condos, neighborhood turbulence isn't an issue anymore. Hell's Kitchen (or Clinton, as many real estate developers refer to it) has been reinvented as a trendy neighborhood that's home to many young professionals, and its old storefronts have been converted into posh boutiques, bars and restaurants. In addition, there's the Annex / Hell's Kitchen Flea Market, whose 170-plus vendors specialize in everything from antiques to vintage clothing. TRAIN: A, C, E, 1, 2, 3 to 42nd St/Times Square
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Lower East Side

New York, NY

Description: LOWER EAST SIDE. While many neighborhoods merely claim to have their fingers on NYC's fashion pulse, the Lower East Side is the city's heart and soul when it comes to determining what's cool. Shops and storefronts that, a century ago, were home to scores of ethnic bakeries, butchers and markets are today occupied by hip boutiques that carry the cuts of local, up-and-coming designers. And the chance to purchase cutting-edge threads isn't all that brings people east of Bowery ... They're also drawn here by the promise of happening upon one of those great little cafe-bars that have become an LES trademark. TRAIN: F to Delancey
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Madison Avenue

New York, NY

Description: UPPER EAST SIDE. Tony, chic, posh ... The mere mentioning of Madison Avenue brings these adjectives to mind, and for good reason: Upper Madison, from around 42nd Street all the way up to the mid-90s, is famed as one of the world's most luxurious shopping districts. What will you find there? Name it. Fifty or so blocks of primo real estate dedicated to elite European and American designers, scores of fine art galleries, exclusive spas and salons, and topflight restaurants and hotels. Indeed, if Broadway is where stars are born, Madison Avenue is where the stars play. TRAIN: F to Lexington Ave-63rd St; N, R, W to 5th Ave; 4, 5, 6 to any stop between 51st St and 96th St
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NoLIta

Mott St, New York, NY

Description: NOLITA. Once upon a time, these blocks of Mulberry, Mott and Elizabeth were essentially extensions of Little Italy, but today the area north of Broome has assumed an identity all its own. Gone are the days of the mom-n-pop grocery or neighborhood cobbler ­ these have been replaced by newer, hipper boutique shops. Indeed, if you're looking for a unique, style-setting outfit that your friends'll never find on a department store rack back home, NoLIta may just be the place to find it. TRAIN: F to 2nd Ave; J, M to Bowery

SoHo

New York, NY

Description: SOHO. One of Manhattan's youngest "neighborhoods," SoHo was named for the area south of Houston (pronounced house-ton) Street. A casual stroll through the neighborhood reveals endless rows of cast-iron columns, winding cobblestone streets, and seemingly-abandoned warehouses. Travelers discover quickly that despite its appearance, SoHo is one of the city's most trendy areas. Historically, it was known as "hell's hundred acres" and was an expanse of factories and sweatshops, but an influx of artists seeking refuge from Greenwich Village's skyrocketing cost of living has added a new face to the area. Renovated warehouse lofts with large windows, high ceilings, and generous space are popular with young urban-dwellers. Trailblazing art galleries rub shoulders with giants such as the Guggenheim SoHo and the New Museum of Contemporary Art. Hip restaurants, bars and shops also spring up regularly. TRAIN: C, E to Spring St
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