SoHo

Once the epicenter of the New York art scene, SoHo today is now more synonymous with shopping. A bit of bohemia still exists on the cobblestone side streets, where there are charming restaurants and some art galleries that haven't scattered elsewhere. The main thoroughfares tend to have sidewalks lined with tables of handmade jewelry, hats, purses, and art. If you take the time to look, there's a local vibe here beneath the glitzy boutiques—like the elderly residents speaking Italian on the corners around Sullivan Street and Thompson Street, revealing the neighborhood's Italian past.