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Walking down 1st Ave from the Barrio, you'll encounter many sights. The locale isn't quite as fancy as 5th Ave or Lexington, and you won't get nonstop sights and sounds like on 7th Ave, but if you have the time, it's worth a look. Ample retailers and restaurants are available, but more impressive are the glimpses you'll get of the river or the bridges that span the gap. The UN building is also accessible from 1st, a sight you'll want to see. It's worth your time, and has a vibe that is distinct from its more western counterparts.

There are a lot of reviews about how this part of the Meatpacking District is overrated. That may be true. But if you're well-dressed, have money to spend and want to see the fast, furious, upscale (if over-priced) side to New York, I would recommend this area more than the other trendy spots of Manhattan. True, you won't get the friendliness or cuteness of, say, a MacDougal bar. And no, if you're not on a guest list you probably won't get by some of the more entitled bouncers. But it is fun, if you got a little bonus at work, to go into the Gansevoort Hotel's rooftop bar and feel, even if only for half a night, like you own the city.

Don't get me wrong, you have to go. Once. This part of town will wow you incredibly the first time you're there. Times Square, on first visit, is a mind-blowingly majestic display of the heights of consumerism, a perfect example of New York City as the biggest and the best. After the third time, you'll be beginning to notice how people are shoving you and how tourists are blocking many of the streets. By the fifth visit you will be fed up with the exorbitant (that is the correct word) prices and the pamphleteers hassling you. Nightlife is varied, but superficial and high-priced, same with restaurants. Go a couple times, then avoid the place like the plague.

If you want some perspective while you're in New York, there are no better places to go to than Battery Park, with its unimposing, clean and flat greenery, and the Staten Island Ferry, which offers both a way to Staten Island for commuters and a free (that's right, free) way to see Lower Manhattan's towering skyscrapers (as well as Liberty Island and the vast waterway linking the boroughs). Food and other amenities can be a little scarce this far downtown (many places close after business hours are up), but this is still a must-visit.

Columbus Circle is a sight to see, for certain. It acts as the midpoint between Times Square and the Lincoln Center, and stands up as a destination for tourism in its own right. The shopping in the vicinity of the place is great, which will give you a chance to admire the surrounding buildings, the nearby west side of the park, and midtown in general. As with many other great parts of the city, it changes with the seasons, in summer a bright reminder of NYC vitality, in winter a decked-out celebration of the holidays.

If you're in Midtown looking to switch from westside to eastside, you can have a nice stroll along Central Park's southern border by using this street. It's bookended by two huge landmarks -- Columbus Circle, a must-visit, on the west, and the giant Apple cube and FAO Schwarz on the east. The downsides are busy, busy people hurrying along rather thin sidewalks and the horse carriages, which are fun at first and then a little off-putting once you get a whiff of the smell.

Like a strange mix of Canal St and Union Square, St. Marks blends an array of shops and bodegas selling items for dirt cheap with the NYU aesthetic that so dominates this part of town. Expect to see attractive young people (and more than a few intimidating young people) checking out the well-priced eats, the nightlife and the classes (yoga is available on this street).

Without visiting 5th Avenue, you're missing out on a giant swath of New York. In midtown, 5th Ave is a bustling retail megacenter, home to huge attractions like FAO Schwarz and the Trump Tower. North of 59th St, 5th Ave traces the east border of Central Park, with museums (chief among them the Met) and gorgeous hotels along the way. If you're looking for a great walk where you can stumble upon some of New York's greatest experiences, take a walk down 5th.

This is a nice little avenue that only exists for a few blocks in East Harlem (so east it's almost in the river). It's relatively quiet here, the rent isn't outrageous (by NYC standards), and there's enough food and retail stores (not to mention the nice, quaint Jefferson Park) on neighboring streets to make it a pretty good bet in terms of where to live. The main downside is that it's a bit of a hike to the Green Line on Lexington Ave, but if you don't mind a bit of exercise to start / end your day, this avenue could be a great way to live in Manhattan without mind-blowing prices.

From around Union Square up to 125th St, Lexington is the home of the Green Line. If you live along the 4, 5 or 6 trains and you need to get to a train, you'll find yourself continually coming back to this avenue between Park and 3rd. In midtown Lexington is home to many attractions such as Bloomingdale's, but it's also the surest bet for something affordable to eat in the avenues just below Central Park.