9th Ave, Chelsea

9th Avenue is one of those Avenues that no one ever talks about as far as things to do and cool buildings to live in; but, every time I head over that way, I am always pleasantly surprised by how charming some parts of it are. One of my good friends just moved between 9th and 10th in Chelsea and his street is lovely. A lot of people don't want to live by 9th because it's far away from public transportation. But, a lot of celebrities live around here because it's a little bit more off the beaten path. Granted, I wouldn't recommend living on any of the actual avenues because of the traffic and noise. But, 9th is one of the less trafficked of all of them without being really remote.
There are a lot of brownstones and townhouses that still remain on 9th Avenue. And, there used to be a massive bazaar on 9th around 40th street that was open daily until Mayor LaGuardia shut it down. I'm bummed about that because there aren't any street fairs in New York that run longer than a week and I'm sure that would have been a sight.
Speaking of massive, there is a giant photo supply shop on 9th at 33rd. That area is highly trafficked and I was amazed just how many people in the city go in and out of that store. But, the most populated and most notable feature of 9th is Chelsea Market. It's the former Nabisco factory that is now a gourmet market. There are a ton of little eateries, a wine shop and popular bakeries such as Fat Witch Brownies. It's a pretty cool experience but can definitely be a nightmare on the weekends.
Just down the street there are a lot of shopping and dining experiences -- particularly around 14th street. Apple has a massive store on the west side of 9th; and, popular eateries like Pop Burger, Dos Cominos, and its downstairs bar 675. The uber exclusive Soho House is on the corner of 9th and 13th and it is one of the few places in the city that has a pool. It's members only, though, and the membership fee is astronomical. Much of the life of 9th Avenue is in the Meatpacking District. But, the Meatpacking can be incredibly annoying so I avoid it on the weekends . . . and after 7 pm.
9th turns into Greenwich south of the Meatpacking, so it really ends with a bang. There's a ton of shopping around 9th in the MPD but not a lot as far as culture goes. But around northern Chelsea, it's one of the sleepier and more quaint Avenues of all of them.

Out of town tourists may go to the restaurants that remind them of home in Time Square or once-in-a-lifetime experiences at tourist traps like Bubba Gump and Planet Hollywood, but they're missing out on the great food and fun they can find on 9th Ave in Hell's Kitchen (West Midtown). Great food especially Thai. Highlight: VYNL (music-themed restaurant known for its themed bathrooms and great value)

We've all heard of Hell's Kitchen but have you ever heard of Hell's Kitchenette. Hidden away from the tourists on Broadway Hell's Kitchenette runs up Ninth Avenue between 36th and 46th Street. This stretch of Ninth Ave is populated with a wide variety of delis, grocery stores, speciality markets all focused on serving the workes that serve the tourists of Midtown. This strech of Ninth Avenue has been called the most ethnically diverse stretch in Manhattan.