Epicenter: 8th Ave. between 14th and 25th, New York NY

Going to Chelsea these days, it's hard to believe that this NYC neighborhood used to be known far and wide as one of New York's shadiest districts. Trendy restaurants and bars spill over onto the sidewalks of 8th Avenue on sunny days as locals and out of towners alike chat, eat and sip brightly colored cocktails. A couple of blocks over near the Hudson River, you can find formerly industrial blocks transformed into hip new galleries, showcasing cutting edge artists that you won't find in the Met for at least half a century. Some of the more prominent include Matthew Marks, Mary Boone, and the Dia Center for the Arts. For the more athletically minded, Chelsea Piers is a 30 acre waterfront sports complex that offers facilities and equipment for a number of activities from boxing to ice hockey, to bowling.

Epicenter: Canal Street and Lafayette, New York NY

At first glance, New York's Chinatown is a spectacle that rivals Times Square. Sidewalks flood over on either side of Canal Street as scores of vendors sell everything from expert knock-off bags to tiny sea turtles swimming in brightly colored bowls. Open-air groceries fill the air with smells of fresh fish and exotic produce. South of Canal you can find the best of many Asian cuisines at prices unrivaled anywhere in New York. Carnivores will swoon for the tender roast pork at Big Wong, a steal at $5.50 for an overflowing plate. If meat isn't on your menu, Vegetarian Dim Sum House offers a startling array of meatless snackables. For a group outing, Congee Village features a charmingly kitschy dining room, authentic Chinese specialties, cheap drinks and karaoke available in the bar or for rent in private rooms.

Epicenter: Avenue A between 14th and 3rd, New York NY

Although the East Village is not the low-rent punk enclave it was in the days when Andy Warhol and The Velvet Underground regularly held court at the Dom and the Ramones wreaked havoc at CBGB's, this New York neighborhood is still a bastion for the young, hip and disaffected. There is always something going on in this haven of bohemian-style walk-ups and sidewalk cafes. The area hosts strong Polish and Ukranian communities as evidenced by the high number of Eastern European delis and eateries. A stroll through Tompkin's Square Park can provide an excellent opportunity for people watching on a nice day. But the East Village, like most neighborhoods in lower Manhattan, comes truly alive at night when rollicking clusters of the young and beautiful bounce in and out of the East Village's plentiful bars.

Epicenter: 14th to 22nd St. (east of 5th Ave.), New York NY

When the Flatiron Building first opened its doors in 1903, it was thought to be the tallest building in the world, a funny thought today as the historic New York landmark settles modestly into a backdrop marked by such lofty beacons as the Empire State and Chrysler Buildings. Just south of the building, Union Square Park is always buzzing with activity, be it a student protest or a frenzy of shoppers pouring over locally-grown produce at the park's Greenmarket, held every weekend during warm months. Things are much quieter further west in the Gramercy area, a residential cluster of pre-war beauties surrounding the tiny but lush Gramercy Park. To truly luxuriate in this New York neighborhood's venerable charm, step into the Gramercy Hotel's dimly lit bar and enjoy a leisurely glass of wine on one of the lounge's plush antique couches.

Epicenter: Central Park North to Harlem Ave., New York NY

It's hard to find a stretch of concrete that possesses a more rich and interesting history than Harlem. Some of New York's most distinguished settlers lived here during the city's inception in the late 1600s and the area's prestige only increased until the early 1800s when Harlem fell victim to economic decline. Soon after, this New York neighborhood became a haven for newly freed African-Americans and West Indian immigrants and half a century later, the world took notice as the new residents churned out groundbreaking art, literature and music during the Harlem Renaissance. These days, this New York neighborhood is undergoing a massive restoration and many of the oldest and most beautiful buildings in the city are getting a makeover. If West Indian, Latin or Soul food makes your mouth water, Harlem offers plenty of each, usually for prices lower than the rest of the city.

Epicenter: Ludlow between Houston and Rivington, New York NY

Twenty-something hipsters dominate these tiny, tenement-lined streets during the week, but the weekends are a free-for-all mix of gussied-up locals and weekend warriors visiting from above 14th street and beyond. If closet-sized boutiques showcasing up-and-coming designers and vintage redux are your style, then New York's Lower East Side neighborhood is your place as gems glitter intermittently among the area's trendy bars and cafes. Max Fish rules the block on Ludlow for cool crowds and attitude, but Pianos down the street runs a close second and maybe wins first place for increased chances of a celebrity sighting. If the next morning ends up stretching into the next afternoon as a result of a rowdy night, the Pink Pony offers up strong coffee, champagne mimosas and a yummy brunch.

Epicenter: 8th and 9th Aves. 42nd-52nd, New York NY

Just a few blocks West of the eye-popping excitement of Times Square lies the New York neighborhood known to locals as Hell's Kitchen. While this area offers respite from the crowds and the flashing lights, New York visitors can still find plenty to see and do. This New York neighborhood has long been populated by Latino residents, although these days the old-timers coexist alongside a young and largely gay population that has been slowly infiltrating the neighborhood, followed by a trail of trendy new bars, restaurants and clubs. Beer fans crowd into the outdoor beergarden at Hallo Berlin, a German-run establishment that serves up sausages and spaztle alongside giant steins of the country's best beer. For a less rowdy culinary experience, Cara Mia serves up delicious and creative Italian cuisine.

Epicenter: from 40th to 59th, East of Fifth Ave., New York NY

The area East of Times Square is a sleek urban jungle of modern skyscrapers and high-rise condos. Donald Trump built his newest skyscraper here, the World Trump Towers that look over the United Nations Plaza and the East River. The area is also home to some more classical structures, such as the New York Public Library whose marble steps border the charming Bryant Park. The Library is a stunning building that at the time of its construction was the largest marble structure ever attempted in the United States and it hosts one of the world's most extensive reference collections, including Jefferson's manuscript copy of the Declaration of Independence.

Epicenter: Broome and Spring between W. Broadway and Lafayette, New York NY

When the tiny streets of Soho became too crowded, the New York neighborhood simply spilled over into the area North of Little Italy, bringing with it the charm and sophistication that has made the area so popular with the stylish and artistically-minded. The area fares well without the spotlight of its parent neighborhood. Here you can find countless boutiques representing up-and-coming and independent designers, fewer crowds and (sometimes) lower prices. This New York neighborhood also boasts a seemingly endless supply of his new eateries and swank, closet-sized bars. Local favorites include Indochine, Café Habana, Aquagrill, Fez and the perennial crowd pleaser, Balthazar.

Epicenter: Broadway and Prince St., New York NY

Any serious New York shopper knows this little mecca SOuth of HOuston like the back of their hand. A stroll down Broadway features a dazzling array of deluxe chain stores, European favorite H & M and the super-hip Prada store. A couple of blocks west you can find stylish tech products at the ever-popular Apple Soho while dozens of designers such as Ana Sui, Dolce & Gabana and Issey Miyake peddle wares hot off the runways at tiny chic boutiques. For art lovers, Deitch Projects and the New Museum for Contemporary Art showcase both emerging and well-established artists. If all of this leaves you over-stimulated and famished, there are plenty of streetside cafes where New York neighborhood explorers can fuel up. If you crave natural rejuvenation however, the famous Bliss spa will pamper you endlessly with their wide selection of body scrubs, herbal wraps, facials, manicures and massage treatments.

Epicenter: 42nd Street and Broadway, New York NY

Times Square is a New York neighborhood that needs no introduction. The theatre capital of the country set up against a dazzling backdrop of flashing neon and frenetic advertising, the New York of legend lives up to its reputation as the entertainment capital of the world. Dazzling marquees, bold street performers and kitschy consumables all clamor for attention on the country's most bustling sidewalks, but at curtain time, Broadway aficionados from around the world file into the famous New York theatres http://www.nyny.com/theater/index.shtml for a night of song and spectacle. Bargain hunters who have the patience to wait patiently in line amidst all the excitement can find half-price New York theater tickets for first-run shows at the TKTS booth nestled in the concrete island between Broadway and 7th Avenue.

Epicenter: Between West Broadway and the West Side Highway, New York NY

New Yorker's love to name their neighborhoods with funny acronyms and Tribeca is no exception. But the TRIangle BElow CAnal has much more to offer than its clever moniker. A NYC neighborhood that used to be a wasteland of warehouses and office buildings, this area has turned into some of the hottest real estate in town, boasting renovated high rises, luxury lofts and some classy new restaurants. Bobby DeNiro's Tribeca Grill is located here, showcasing some of the best cuts of meat in this proudly carnivorous city. The area is also home to the Knitting Factory, a rock venue that offers three separate music spaces, and hosts some of the hottest local and touring acts.

Epicenter: Bleeker Street from W. Broadway to 14th, New York NY

In the 1960s, Greenwich Village was known for attracting radical artists, musicians, poets and philosophers with its cheap rent and bohemian charm. These days, the West Village still attracts a rather iconoclast, but more moneyed, crowd with its tree-lined streets and charming townhouses and brownstones. On Christopher Street, where a clash between police and gay men in front of the Stonewall Bar marked the beginning of the gay rights movement, you can find numerous gay bars and shops vending club gear. Nearby on Bleeker Street, the fashion set flock to the Marc Jacobs Boutique as well as countless antique stores and stylish salons. At night, many of the former meatpacking warehouses on the far west side play host to some of the New York's wildest and most selective parties. Popular places to shake it and look good include APT, Lotus, Meet and the ever-exclusive Soho House.

Epicenter: Madison, Park and Lexington between 59th and 96th, New York NY

New York's Upper West Side is home to some of the most expensive real estate in the country. Housing such classy landmarks as the palatial Plaza Hotel, Bloomingdales, Tiffany's and the boutique-laden Madison Avenue, its not difficult to understand why. If that wasn't enough to skyrocket the area's high-end appeal, the Upper East Side is also where you can find such world class cultural institutions as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim and The Whitney, each located on or near New York's magnificent Central Park. As one would expect, there are some fancy edibles and potables available as well to go with your designer shoes and high culture. Lovers of French fusion dine on smooth pate and sip champagne at Aureole and big spenders luxuriate in the opulent dining room of the recently refurbished Le Cirque 2000.

Epicenter: Columbus Center (59th Street and Columbus), New York NY

Though less imposing than its opulent twin on the opposite side of Central Park, the Upper West Side is a stretch of pre-war brownstones and palatial tenements that highlights New York elegance. The Museum of Natural History and the Hayden Planetarium attract the scientifically minded, but some enjoy the area solely for its urban brand of natural beauty. Some of the prettiest sections of Central Park can be found here. A walk from Columbus Circle will find you in the middle of Sheep Meadow, where well-dressed epicures dine on dainty china at Tavern on the Green. Further north, you can stroll around Strawberry Fields, a pretty section made famous by the Beatles' song and which now houses a mosaic memorial to the song's author, the late John Lennon. True fans of the songwriter might also stop to gaze at the Dakota, the gorgeous building across from the park where he both lived and died. The building is also well known as the backdrop for Roman Polanski's 1968 thriller, Rosemary's Baby.