8 Ave, Chelsea

The West 40's have Broadway, theatre, and pizazz. The West 20's have the haute-elegance of Chelsea. But somehow the West 30's have managed to skip neighborhood categorization altogether. This area is an eclectic collection of streets that never seems to find its character. Crowded, tourist-driven, and at times sketchy (the area around Penn Station and Madison Square Garden, while less dotted with sex clubs and strip joints than it used to be, still has a decidedly lascivious feel), this area doesn't have much to offer besides easy Long Island transport and the big-budget MSG entertainment. There are a few restaurants in this area - Garage Cafe and High Line Cafe are some examples - but they are, alas, vastly outnumbered by the chain fast food joints. Not a place to wander alone at night, although the area is more creepy than it is dangerous proper.

While the rumblings of Chelsea only really get started in the West 20s, West 18th Street is nevertheless a lively commercial area stretching out from popular arty hangout spot Union Square. The NYU vibe is still in full force here (as opposed to the largely gay, late-20's population that dominates Chelsea), with a number of studenty, divey joints to accompany the elegant restaurants and chiseled-abs-nightclubs that begin to proliferate in greater measure a few steps further north. Check out Del Posto for a hearty Italian meal, or begin to enjoy the Chelsea feel with higher-end La Gascoigne or Eighteenth and Eighth Restaurant. Meanwhile, NYU students have a wealth of cheaper eats to choose from, including outlets of all the major fast food chains, a number of local pizzerias, and popular Thai Galanga Gardens. Hudson Square Park provides a welcome splash of greenery in an otherwise dense urban area. There's a wealth of good shopping here - mostly chains like Urban Outfitters appealing to hip 20-somethings

West 26th Street's main draw for many New Yorkers is its stand-up and comedy legacy: this downtown street is home to the famous improv troupe Upright Citizens' Brigade, while three blocks down you can head to the Gotham Comedy Club on 23rd. Hudson Guild Theatre also makes its home here. But while these individual venues draw a crowd, the atmosphere overall is somewhat bleak - the area's known for its discount sales more than for its high-end bar scene, and the combination of grim architecture and a lack of an arty nightlife scene can render this neighborhood a bit depressing. There are a few restaurants scattered around 8th avenue, among them Asian standbys Song Kran and Koofoo, but they tend to be fairly standard fare, with little innovation or destination potential. Head down here for some comedy or low-budget theatre, but don't expect to stay much beyond the post-theatre menu.

Midtown isn't pretty or fun or even quiet. It can be dangerous at night, and it is perpetually crowded and loud. There isn't much of a life to the area, but if you had to live in midtown west, 30th is probably the street to look on.
The corner of 30th and 10th is home to the Trapeze School of New York. If you ever want to take a day (or year) to learn how to fly, do flips, etc, this is the place to do it. Lincoln Tunnel is on the other side of 30th and 10th; it is the most trafficked on / off ramp in the world (they hold over 100,000 cars every single day. The 30's between 8th and 9th are interesting because while most of midtown is quite awful, this area retains the old-school aesthetic. There are a number of 19th century townhouses on 30th between 8th and 9th, and they are just as beautiful as the downtown townhouse blocks. I always wonder if they're cheaper because they're in a pretty crummy area . . .
30th between 7th and 8th is a really interesting block -- or, rather a very New York block. There are like 5 shops for furs alone. I always used to wonder who still wears furs but they can definitely still be found on old ladies in the UES. I doubt this is where they get them, though, so I can't help but wonder how all five of them stay in business. On the same block, there is the Urban Theatre (theatre group showcasing ethnically diverse works), a bar that's a musician hangout for people after shows at Webster Hall, a Holistic School that is directly across the street from an old Catholic Church, a fire station . . . and, of course, a pizza shop. If that doesn't sum up New York, I don't know what does.
The block between 6th and 7th is like the previous block but it's more of the not as cool step-child, New York block. There are really bizarre stores, a Police Station and some bizarre Eastern place. But, the places just aren't as interesting and eclectic as the between 7th and 8th block area.
I wouldn't ever live in this area if I could, at all, help it. But, there is some interesting shopping around, that's for sure. Nightlife and restaurants are a total drag around here too. But, because of the proximity to Penn Station and Times Square, at least getting to and fro is easy. The proximity to those areas also creates a bit of tourist traffic which makes the area loud and hard to get around.

West 25th is a street I don't frequent because there's nothing to do and I live in the West Village so why go here? It's very sterile and commercial but it's not even the good kind of commercial. It's all weirdo stores and crummy restaurants. Unless you need 25th to get somewhere, there's no point in traversing this street.
The entire block of 25th between 9th and 10th is taken over by galleries as most of west Chelsea is. I'm not really into modern art so I can't vouch for the 25th street galleries but if you want to take a look very west lower 20's are the spot to be.
8th avenue at 25th is the spot of the "Eighth Avenue Massacre." While sniping people is never funny, sniping people in 1871 (how did you even snipe with the kind of rifles they had back then?) when you're a Catholic church congregation is kind of funny, you have to admit. I swear, those Catholics were serious out of their gords back then.
The block between 6th and Broadway is the biggest mish-mosh of things. There are a number of luxury condo buildings, about 3 churches, and Jay-Z's club. Now, I'm not living in the minds of any of the people who live in these buildings but I'm pretty sure most of them are neither regularly attending church or patronizing Jay-Z so I find the makeup of this block bizarre indeed. And, there's nothing to see, eat or drink on this block outside of deli stuff. So, I don't know why people pay the money they do to live in these ridiculously expensive buildings.

West 14th (or all of 14th for that matter) is an absolute nightmare. There are so many people all the time on this street. But, I suppose that's because there is so much connection to transportation and so many things to do and see on this particular street. West 14th Starts in the Meatpacking District which is one of the trendier and more deplorable neighborhoods in the city. There are a ton of high - end fashion boutiques on 14th that have been converted from old meat factories. They include DVF, La Perla and Stella McCartney to name a few. So, if you want big shopping without the 5th Ave meyley, this is the spot. Those trinkle right on up to 9th Ave with an giant Apple Store at the corner. This is the Apple that I go to for repairs, etc. It's somehow less of a mess than the Soho store and it is kind of exciting in there. Across the street is the Gaslight -- a bar that's fashioned like it's the late 19th Century. Of all the bars in the Meatpacking, this is the least annoying one. You can plop in there to take some of the edge off after the 4 hours you just spent in Apple.
There's a sort of triangularly shaped building on the corner of Hudson and 14th that served as both Glenn Close's apartment in Fatal Attraction and Ed Harris' apartment in The Hours. Pretty cool, in my opinion because both of those apartments were unreal. Truth be told, as much as I hate Meatpacking, some of the lofts are unbelievable. The block between Hudson and 8th is quite eclectic. There's a salon that is strictly for blow outs, a few tenement homes, $3 Million dollar condo buildings and landmark bank buildings . . .oh, and a church with a couple of gay clubs across the street: all on one block!
There are a ton of nice apartment buildings east of 8th but I wouldn't want to live in any of them because the street is just too busy. There's a great Italian place called Crispo right there. It's the first dinner I had on the night I moved to New York and the food is as divine as the space is cozy and quaint. Next door is a bar called Woody McHales that gets pretty rowdy on the weekends but man, they have some unreal nachos.
So, there are a few things to do and see but just be sure you're in a happy place before you brave the crowd.

West 15th isn't the worst street downtown; but, it's not much to look at. There are a couple of things to do and see, but it's not exactly easy on the eyes or quaint. West 15th Starts in at the Hudson. I think the west side of Chelsea is pretty barren and ugly. But, the Highline and Chelsea Market are both at 15th and they're worth seeing. I don't think the HIgh Line is really something that needs to be done more than once but some people really like it. I kinda also feel the same way about Chelsea Market but I suppose if you work in the area, it's a good place to go for a variety of quick lunches. Interesting fact: Chelsea Market used to be Nabisco and it's where Oreos were invented. Across the street is Milk Studios. It's where a ton of magazine covers are shot so it's a good place for a celebrity sighting if you're into that sort of thing. 406 West 15th is where the little girl that was kidnapped by Albert Fish lived.
There's a huge, ugly Port Authority building east of 9th Ave with a bunch of big, ugly apartment buildings across the street from that. Although, Allen Ginsberg, James Agee and Albert Ryder all lived on this block so it is historically interesting. Between 9th and 8th is an assortment of ugly apartment buildings, a cheesy thai place and a senior citizens home so you can skip that unless you're hellbent on covering every block of Manhattan.
The block between 6th and 7th is interesting because it's so eclectic. There's a Mormon church nextdoor to a tattoo parlor. And, there's a tenement home next to a bunch of brownstones and a beautiful private garden. Weird but very New York. The block between 5th and 6th is a historically progressive block. Margaret Sanger's birth control clinic was here. There was a gay bath house on this block that was said to have had five or six floors of orgies on any given day. There was also an anarchistic newspaper at the corner.

West 16th runs from Chelsea to Flatiron. It's a busy street and it's not one of the prettier ones. But, I like it. There are a number of things to do and see and a lot of the apartment buildings are quite nice.
The corner of 16th and 10th is the Atlantic Theatre Company School. It was founded by David Mamet and William H. Macy and the Atlantic Theatre Company is one of the best theatres in the city. I prefer it to any Broadway Production. Chelsea Market is on the corner of 16th and 9th. It's an upscale market with about a million different little places to eat, buy food, look at food. It's pretty awesome in there. The corner of 8th and 16th has a place called Mary Anne's. It was one of the first places I ate when I moved to New York. I wanted to see how the Mexican food was here and this place is quite good, actually! Some of the best I've had in New York and no one ever talks about this place It's really cozy in there too. There's a Loehmann's at 7th Ave if you're into that kind of shopping-- which a lot of people are.
There's a ton of history on the block between 5th and 6th. 24 16th is the former home of William Cullen Bryant and it's actually named that. 17 16th was the place where Margaret Sanger did all of her birth control reasearch. 5 16th was a gay brothel which I think is pretty funny. All of these buildings are beautiful row houses and they are all historical landmarks so they're worth taking a look at.
All in all, it's a great street for everyone!

West 18th has a lot of stores, restaurants and take out places. But, especially, in the Chelsea area, you can manage to find a nice apartment that's decently priced on 18th. It's pretty desolate as far as things to do east of 8th Ave (save the Highline). But, once you're West of 8th, it starts off with a bang with Barney's Co-op. I don't shop here but a lot of my friends love this place. There are a lot of really unique stores between 6th and 7th Aves that are worth taking a peek into. There's an original vintage poster shop, a couple of high end pet boutiques, and an entire store dedicated to sofabeds. Most of the buildings on this block used to be carriage houses and I think that's pretty cool. The huge building that houses Bed Bath and Beyond and Marshalls is on the corner of 18th and 6th ave. There are a bunch of cool bookstores on this block as well. I always wondered why they didn't spread out a little --or, why Barnes and Noble found it necessary to put itself up right on the same block. Across the street from the Barnes is a cheapy store called Daffy's that is housed in a former mansion. This mansion was so opulent it was the first in NYC to have its own ballroom. I find that terribly ironic considering what the store caters to. Rosa Mexicana is next door. It's not my favorite Mexican food place but it's lively and east coast beggars can't always be choosers.