rickyrade

A great location to get a feel for what I think is ‘younger Manhattan’ full of students and 20-30 somethings looking for a bargain and the markets on the weekend at Union Square or popping into the Coffee Shop for lunch. There’s also Virgin Megastore and diesel next to the square and a great discount liquor store selling genuinely good wines down the road, Trader Joe’s.

A student haven full of cheap restaurants and decent student bars. Avoid ‘Off the Wagon’ like the plague.. There’s a great feel here most nights of the week as NYU is just around the corner. Decent comedy nights downstairs from Olive Garden (can’t rememember the place, I think it’s Comedy Village). A favourite of mine is ‘Hummus’ for either a decent and healthy take away meal or a tight sit down restaurant. Across the road is also a killer Ethiopian restaurant that serves up mountains of food.

Full of boutique shops and a vast array of decent restaurants, this street is a great Saturday afternoon or evening stroll. Critics think that this street can be a bit dead in the evening but when you’re stuck amongst some of the best shops and one of the best sushi restaurants in Manhattan, there shouldn’t be any complaints. My friends often comes back from here on a Saturday afternoon carrying 4-5 shopping bags so they obviously won’t complain either…

Great spot to visit, BUT NOT TO LIVE…. There are a few well known bars here, namely inside the Hotel Regis, King Cole bar which is overpriced and full of sleazy middle aged men looking for a polish or russian working girl…. But aside from this they make a mean Manhattan and a great bloody Mary… It’s a good tourist area because there are shops galore and St Pat’s Cathedral is around the corner. A lovely cathedral, though for me overrated with other cathedrals around the world. It is perfectly positioned for a Trump conversion though – a converted church loft apartment anyone?

Sheridan Square is the pulse of what village life is today! The area around Sheridan Square has been pre-eminent among jazz clubs for the past 75 years. The Square is also a very prominent spot to live, whether gay or straight, the place rocks. We’ve lived in this area for a long time and it’s a vibrant spot – you’re always guaranteed to see unusual activities taking place. Take a camera.

Stonewall place is part of Christopher street which is mostly well known as the place where the gay liberation movement started in the sixties – I can still picture the parades that would have taken place 40 yrs ago…. You can visit the Stonewall bar on Christopher street which has many photos on the wall of the events that occurred in the sixties. Also, Christopher park, across from the bar, has sculptures of various gay couples.

This review actually refers to Gay St: This short curving street is a perfect introduction to the strange street pattern in the west village, which refused, for some reason, to adopt the same street grid layout that was put in place in the city from 14th street upwards. I put this on the English pushing the Dutch back to Holland but perhaps not…Gay street is one of the streets in the village where everyone would like to own one of the beautiful brown brickstone houses.

All potential renters or buyers, beware – do not buy or rent in this area… It’s grubby, dirty, noisy and lacks any real charm prevalent in other parts of Manhattan.. It’s also full of awful food chains and discount outlet stores.. The sort of place where if you look hard enough you’ll find a used mattress for $15.. You have been warned..

A typical styled street of the west village, this is often the set of many NY based tv shows.. It’s also the location of arguably the best coffee house in Manhattan, Joe’s. Famous for knocking out one great coffee after another, this is a great spot to chill and read the paper or occasionally do a bit of celebrity spotting.. There’s also a couple of good restaurants towards 7th avenue and you’re sitting on top of the metro so a perfect location.. Close to Washington square park too which is a saviour come summer time..

A long standing rivalry exists between Lombardi’s pizza house (Manhattan) and Grimaldi’s in Brooklyn. Personally I think Lombardi’s edges in front because there is usually a shorter line! Both are great and live up to their reputation but this area is also famous for one of the best views of Manhattan. Walk down 50 yards from Grimaldi’s and you get the sort of panoramic views that cameramen always seem to find but you can’t.. Looking back across the Hudson to Manhattan you get a great look at downtown, the Brooklyn bridge and the established grand old lady of the town, the Empire State Building.. It’s also a great spot to take your first date.. Sure to impress.

One of my favourite bars in Manhattan. It’s a reliable local that always has a decent crowd.. There’s plenty of activity on the weekends and a relaxed drinking culture during the week. Throw in barmaids who belt out a few musical numbers throughout the night and you’re onto a winner here.. The piano is also a major attraction and occasionally a local might just jump on the piano and surprise all the other patrons… It’s also a moderately priced and a decent area… Worst case you don’t like this bar, go find 50 others in the area and take your pick…

This place is really only a good area to live for those who work downtown and don’t want to head uptown all that often. I find it lacks a bit of soul but others say it’s a great spot to head to tribeca etc.. For me, if you’re going to live in Manhattan, you’re missing the point with this area… Ugly food chains, a massive clothing department store (Century 21) and a bunch of skyscrapers… Plus a bunch of bankers walking around spending their bonuses at one of the few terrible bars in the area… But that’s just my opinion, take it or leave it..

An aussie spot for those from Australia wanting to feel at home. There are 2 places opposite each other that serve up good aussie grub – one is “Eight Mile Creek” which is a pub serving authentic Aussie beer and meat pies… They also show all of the international sports that matter, ie aussie rules football, rugby and cricket… Across the street is Ruby’s a great Aussie café serving up delights such as the Bondi burger (highly rated) and brilliant illy coffee…

Rumour has it that this is where they filmed Carrie Bradshaw’s famous front steps of her brownstone apartment block. True or false, it doesn’t really matter to me – it’s a beautiful street, one of the quietest and quaintest streets in all of Manhattan. It is situated between West 4th and Bleeker St so you’ve got practically everything you need right there; restaurants, cafes, boutique shopping and of course the famous Magnolia Bakery (overrated).. If you can afford it and love a quiet street in this concrete jungle, move here, soon.

A nice spot if you love living near the park. This is definitely the biggest benefit of living here. It’s also a pretty pricey area – most 2 bedroom apartments here can go for $4000 a month, and a heck of a lot more if you want a view of the park… The B and D lines are right there so you can be downtown in 10 mins if you like. A good spot for those looking to move out of downtown or midtown..

One of literally hundreds of parks in Manhattan, this is an absolute beauty to chill out during rush hour.. There’s a great bar to pick up a cold drink in summer and although I find it absurd that they close off the grass (no standing area) for the majority of the day, when the grass area is open it’s a great spot to unwind.. They often have concerts and fashion shows here too.

I worked here for 10 mths and it’s a great location but possibly the busiest area in the entire city… It’s full of tourists and workers and although it’s a central location, it’s a terrible place to work each day simply because it’s so busy!! It’s also got a pretty poor selection of foods on offer. Try Circle 75 for some fresh food (at a price) or walk down to 48th St and try Lenny’s sandwich’s.. I guess one of the attractions of working in this area is the beautiful ice rink which is open for a few months each year. It’s at the foot of the Rockefeller statue and although small, it’s a fun spot. The lighting of the Christmas tree lights is also a major highlight of the year.

Aside from Central Park, you’re bound to see more activity here than anywhere else in the city… Great jazz on the weekends and a variety of buskers all earning a buck knocking out one tune after the other. There are big plans to develop this area and move the fountain in line with the beautiful arch – it’s a controversial development but I do think the park is in need of a refurb. It’s currently closed and fenced off. It’s looking pretty run down in areas and the toilets are very sub-par.. But don’t let that detract from this wonderful square. Come down on a Saturday morning and do some people watching for awhile and give a few dollars to the buskers.

This is a good little street nestled in amongst West 4th and 6th avenue. We often come down here to pick up some decent wine or have brunch at the Cornelia Street Café.. It’s a great place with a fantastic brunch deal. You’re also close to possibly the most romantic restaurant in all the town - One if by Land, two if by Sea… take someone special here and bring your $$$. Cornelia st also backs onto Bleecker St. This area has some of the best fresh meats in town and Amy’s bakery churns out some quality croissants.. You can also walk 2 mins up the street and have lunch at John’s pizza house – up there with the best in the city!

Another classic in the West Village, this street (around the area of Barrow st) offers up some of the best architecture in Manhattan.. Beautiful apartment blocks, leafy and green and restaurants tucked away on most corners.. Close to 7th Avenue and the metro too. Living here comes at a hefty price though, you pay through the nose for a decent studio here but it’s worth it – Bedford st offers you a semi private sanctuary in this manic city..