Lower Manhattan's neighborhoods are a colorful tapestry of cultures, both creative and diverse, and are so closely packed together that you can walk them in an hour and stroll river to river in 20 minutes. There's fabulous food around every corner of its narrow streets, so take your time and savor the delicacies, smell the aromas, and find the bargains in its colorful shops and boutiques.

Greenwich Village
The atmosphere in Greenwich Village is succinctly bohemian, with a laid-back feel that has historically attracted famous reformers, artists, and intellectuals. Distinguished by its two-story brownstones and winding streets, its residents favor the good life, with a strong emphasis on art and music. The music can be anything from blues and jazz to rock, folk, and more, held in venues such as coffee houses, jazz cellars, and boutiques. Grove Street is known for a number of piano bars, where the clientele ranges from the conventional to the deliberately outrageous.

Shoppers will find numerous quaint shops along Sixth Avenue and Christopher and Bleeker Streets selling old books, records, offbeat clothes, collectibles, and jewelry. For a coffee and a pastry, or bite to eat, MacDougal and Bleeker Streets house coffee shops that date back to the beatnik era.

SoHo
SoHo lies south of Greenwich Village and is a haven for artists. Its original factory and warehouse buildings have been transformed into lofty artist studios, and the neighborhood is now a trendy area with many boutiques, bars and restaurants, and a fun nightlife.

Washington Square houses among the nation's finest Greek Revival houses, and a walk down Green Street will highlight the unique cast-iron architecture that has been given landmark status. The invention of the elevator inspired the first skyscrapers in this neighborhood, that towered above the two-story Greenwich Village homes.

SoHo also offers great shopping, art galleries, and fine restaurants. Shoppers throughout New York City travel to Broadway south of Spring Street for Dean & DeLuca's, a world-famous epicurean center, famous for jams, teas, and pastries.

Little Italy
South of Greenwich Village, the heart of Little Italy is Mulberry Street, nestled between Grand and Center. Here, you'll be tempted by the sights, sounds, and smells of Italian cuisine and culture emanating from the restaurants surrounding you at every step. From pasta to pesto, you are spoiled for choice.

Old St Patrick's Cathedral, on Mott Street and Prince, oozes with character and is well worth a visit. June and September are festival times, with visitors and residents alike feasting on great Italian cuisine. Choose a sidewalk cafe and watch the world go by.

Chinatown
Simply cross Canal Street to walk from Little Italy to Chinatown, the center of New York's Chinese community, with bustling streets dotted with Buddhist temples.

Walk along Mott, Pell, and Bayard Streets for the authentic flavor of Chinatown. Food is everywhere, and the aroma of Chinese delicacies such as Peking duck and dim sum can be enjoyed in many of the area's countless restaurants. Canal Street markets are filled with fish, fruit, and vegetable stalls. Shop for Asian specialties, silk, and bamboo goods along Chinatown's busy streets.

Lower East Side
The Lower East Side Tenement Museum is a monument to the urban immigrant community that has for generations entered the country through New York City's harbors.

The Lower East Side is the original melting pot and is still home to newcomers to this country. Savvy shoppers on a bargain hunt can choose goods from pushcarts or from the factory buildings on Oxford and Delancey Streets.