The Upper West Side is one of the most family-oriented residential neighborhoods in New York. Initially settled by upper-class Jewish families, the area has long been a welcome haven for young professionals and those with an artistic bent. Apartments in this neighborhood have ample access to plenty of stores and markets (including the renowned Zabar's on Broadway between 80th and 81st Streets), public transportation, great public schools, and two major parks.

There have always been a number of shops and restaurants in this region, and the strong economy in recent years has only contributed to their proliferation. Both Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues are probably the best examples of this trend. Each thoroughfare does brisk business on weekends, especially during the summer months.

Compared to the manic pace of the West Village and Midtown West, however, the area is relatively placid, but hardly devoid of excitement. The Upper West Side contains Lincoln Center, one of the most important cultural centers in Manhattan.

Five major performing groups are housed in the three main buildings that face the fountain, and the nearby Juillard School, which consistently graduates top performers in music, theater and dance, hosts a number of inexpensive and sometimes free productions throughout the school year.

For sunny Sunday afternoons, Central Park may seem like the natural locale in which Upper West Siders might choose to spend a Sunday afternoon. Nonetheless, many residents prefer the slightly less popular but just as beautiful Riverside Park. Riverside Park may not be as wide as Central Park, but it is considerably longer, winding its way from 72nd Street all the way to 159th. Despite the fact that the West Side Highway runs almost directly through its center, Riverside has become a favorite with locals seeking to get out of their apartments for a while.

Hugging the curves along Riverside Park's eastern edge is Riverside Drive, the only major thoroughfare in Manhattan to consistently deviate from the straight and narrow. The brownstones and apartment complexes that line Riverside Drive's east side are especially prized for their magnificent views of the park.

While it may not boast a park view, West End Avenue remains the neighborhood's most sought-after address. The street is lined with beautiful apartment buildings of varying sizes, each more picturesque than the last. And since most of the traffic in the area travels up and down Broadway, it remains relatively quiet no matter what time of day it may be.

Although many of Manhattan's neighborhoods have had their ups and downs, the majority of Central Park West is just as prestigious a place to own or rent a New York apartment now as it was decades ago. Towering over Central Park like a vast wall of monoliths, the buildings present both a literal and figurative pinnacle in the quest to reach the top in New York City.

Of course, the main attraction for those who seek apartments on Central Park West is the unparalleled view of the park. While most other city denizens prefer to live close to the ground in order to avoid those grueling walk-ups, on Central Park West, the higher you are the better. The reason is instantly apparent once you look out over the swath of green all the way over to Museum Mile on the other side.

Central Park West begins as one of the offshoots at Columbus Circle with the ultra-luxurious Trump International Hotel and Towers. Donald Trump purchased the decaying building in the early 90s and completely refurbished it. Now it presents a reflective glass exterior behind which are housed a five-star restaurant, luxury apartments, and some of the poshest hotel rooms in the tri-state area.

On the northwest corner of 72nd Street and Central Park West stands the Dakota. Although the castle-like building-complete with dry moat-has long been a favorite among the famous, it is now notorious as the place where John Lennon was shot.

Walk further north and you'll soon come to the four-block sprawl of the American Museum of Natural History. The museum contains many reproductions of animal habitats and some truly monstrous gems, but the main attraction, especially for children, is most definitely the dinosaurs.

One asset that Central Park West residents enjoy as a result of the magnificent location is the proximity of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Those lucky enough to have an apartment on Central Park West needn't worry about crowds or inclement weather, as the route goes directly past their windows. Many residents get into the spirit of the day by inviting other New York residents over to watch the festivities.

Because of the combination of amenities and location, apartment vacancies in Central Park West are not the easiest to come by. Those willing to make the investment, however, will find the dividends more than make up for the expense.

Like so many of Manhattan's neighborhoods, SoHo went through a number of incarnations before becoming the artistic and commercial hotspot it is today. There was a significant period of time when the area when there were no apartments in Soho at all. Interestingly, the history of the area has only recently come full circle.

The area South of Houston- the expressionfrom which SoHo received its name- was a brisk shopping spot in the 1850s. Back then, the city hadn't yet expanded its reach over the entire island. But as the city continued to grow, the stores began moving further uptown. In their place arose a myriad of warehouses.

Unlike TriBeCa, the warehouses in this section were generally filled with material such as boxes, furs, and even rags. Because the majority of these materials were highly flammable, innumerable fires broke out in the area. The neighborhood soon acquired the rather unattractive nickname of Hell's Hundred Acres.

Eventually, the manufacturers left the area, leaving their warehouses unoccupied. The big, low cast-iron buildings didn't require large interior walls to support their weight, and had enormous interiors and larger windows than most apartment buildings. Artists found them perfect places in which to both work and live - except for the fact it was illegal to live there. The city had zoned the area for commercial use, not residential use, but this didn't prevent artists from turning lofts in SoHo into apartments. Eventually, there were enough people residing in SoHo that they were able to successfully lobby that the district be rezoned.

With all the artists now living in the area, it was only a matter of time before some of them began displaying their work to the public. Within the space of ten years, SoHo became the hottest spot for galleries in the city.

For sheer browsing pleasure, than the strip of Prince Street between the two Broadways should fit the bill. In between the assorted galleries are several hip stores, restaurants, and bars. Although certainly not as inexpensive as in the past, you may be able to find that obscure little item you've been hunting for.

The indisputable epicenter of SoHo, however, would have to be West Broadway. Bustling with pedestrians just about any time of the week, this street kicks into overdrive during the weekends. In addition to the many outdoor cafes that place tables out on the sidewalk, many local artists and knick-knack vendors display their wares for the numerous passers-by.

As part of their struggle to keep their buildings intact, the artists who initially inhabited these cast-iron buildings had many of them declared historic landmarks. Now, newer stone and steel buildings model themselves in the same ornate style to such a degree that you might have trouble telling them apart. Chances are, however, that the newer buildings aren't quite as spacious inside. So if you feel like you'd like to spend your time in a low-rise district with loft apartments big enough to play racquetball in, then give SoHo a look.

Though the neighborhood was virtually devoid of full-time residents many years ago, there is now a plethora of residential apartments in TriBeCa, or the TRIangle BElow Canal. This neighborhoodhas since changed into one of the hottest and hippest places in which to live - which is even more impressive considering that it was originally used as a market area.

The history of apartment renting in TriBeCa, however, goes back to when land in this area was originally owned by Trinity Church (which still sits at the beginning of Wall Street). The land was given to the church when America was still a colony of England. The church then divided up the area into lots and allowed people to lease them for long periods of time.

When the rents in nearby SoHo began going higher, the artists who had originally settled in apartments in SoHo needed to find other locales to work and live in. The market area, with its undeveloped raw spaces, was a natural fit and so the artists began looking for apartments in TriBeCa.Soon the cycle that began in SoHo began again in what was now becoming present-day TriBeCa.

As Manhattan climbed out of the economic downturn of the 1970s, more and more professionals and businesses started looking for apartments inTriBeCa and live-work loft spaces in TriBeCa. Eventually, TriBeCa real estate achieved the current level of hotness for which it is recognized today.

A few blocks north of the Financial Center is what is probably one the most distinguished learning institutions in all of New York after Columbia University: Stuyvesant High School. Only those students who earn the highest scores on the Specialized Science High School Admissions Test are allowed to attend. The good news is that residents can take advantage of Stuyvesant's swimming pool, tennis and basketball courts when school isn't in session.

Directly adjacent to Wagner Park is Battery Park itself. For a mere 50 cents each way, you can hop aboard the Staten Island Ferry and enjoy a speedy jaunt through New York Harbor. Those looking to get a better look at the Harbor's famous landmarks can also find ferries here to take them to either Ellis Island or the Statue of Liberty. Understandably, tourists flock to these famous attractions during the summer months.

Staying in Battery Park City would be akin to having a place in the suburbs without having to pay for gas and tolls. Leaving the neighborhood does require walking across or above the West Side Highway, which is a bit of a chore if you just want to pop out for a quick slice of pizza. However, there are enough services already in Battery Park City, including two supermarkets, that those who choose apartments here find that the overall quality of life in the neighborhood outweighs such minor inconveniences.

Bounded by 14th Street and 34th Street on Manhattan's East Side, Gramercy Park, a neighborhood filled with brownstones and other townhouses, is one of the most pleasant places to live in New York City. It has four parks - Madison Square Park, Gramercy Park, Union Square Park, and Stuyvesant Park. Gramercy Park and Stuyvesant Park have both been designated as national landmarks and Gramercy Park is the only remaining private park in New York City. Only if you're lucky enough to buy or rent an apartment in a co-op, condo, or rental building bordering Gramercy Park will you be able to get keys to it.

Manhattan's Gramercy Park neighborhood is rich in history. The original Madison Square Garden was located there. Abraham Lincoln gave a galvanizing speech at the Cooper Institute in 1860, while Edwin Booth - brother of John Wilkes Booth -- actually lived on Gramercy Park. Statues of Lincoln and Booth can be found in the Gramercy Park neighborhood.

The quaint stretch of street known as Irving Place is named after author Washington Irving, whose nephew owned a place here. Irving Place is lined with old row houses.

Landmark buildings in Gramercy Park include the Flatiron, Metropolitan Life and New York Life Buildings. The Flatiron, south of Madison Square Park, is probably one of the most photographed buildings in all of New York City, with its unique triangular shape coming to a rounded point near Madison Square. The Metropolitan Life Tower is actually two buildings connected by a skywalk and boasts Wyeth murals in its lobby. The New York Life Building is best known, aside from its architecture, for the fact that it was built where Madison Square Garden used to be.

Today, the Gramercy Park neighborhood is filled with excellent restaurants -- including Pete's Tavern, the oldest saloon in New York City - as well as nightclubs, chic stores and the largest Greenmarket in New York City, where you can buy fresh produce year round. Although Gramercy Park still has many beautiful prewar apartment buildings and townhouses, it is a young and vital neighborhood where you can rent apartments or buy coops or condo in modern high-rise luxury apartment buildings and converted lofts in addition to brownstones.

Taken together, the East and West Village form the undisputed core of Manhattan's nightlife scene. Easily accessible by both the outer boroughs and the Jersey suburbs, the influx of partygoers keeps the area moving into the wee hours just about every weekend. There are plenty of features in the East Village, however, that make it easy to distinguish between them.

Originally considered part of the Lower East Side, the area still contains many of the tenements that initially made this the less desirable part of town. It was this edge that made the area so attractive to many of the luminaries of the Beat Generation during the 1950s. And in the '60s, legendary rock promoter Bill Graham brought in the locals at the famed Fillmore East.

The most recent musical movement associated with the neighborhood, however, is punk. Although it has been more than twenty years since punk still began, you're liable to find a few clusters of dyed, pierced, and tattooed teens walking about here.

If you walk north from the Bowery to St. Mark's Place, you'll find the true nucleus of the region. Lined with used record stores, clothing boutiques, cheap eats, and a myriad of students, this is a good place to either people-watch or just browse at your own pace.

Heading west on St. Mark's eventually brings you to Astor Place. The spot is immediately notable for the steel sculpture "Alamo," a large cube balanced on one point. Although it appears immobile, the cube has been designed to rotate if pushed with sufficient force. Be warned, "sufficient" definitely means "more than one person."

Recently, a number of high-rises and converted loft apartment buildings have sprung up in the Astor Place area. K-Mart, Barnes and Noble, and Starbucks all have stores within a block of each other. If you're yearning for something a little less on the fringe, Astor Place may be an ideal spot to reside.

For a much older sight, check out the rather incongruous Colonnade Row just south of Astor Place on Lafayette Street. The buildings were once home to the likes of Cornelius Vanderbilt and John Jacob Astor himself. Long since broken up into much smaller spaces inside, the marble Corinthian columns are all the more impressive because of their rarity.

Across the street from Colonnade Row is Joseph Papp's Public Theater. Although Papp was probably best known for bringing Shakespeare to Central Park, the Public is the building that bears his name. There are a number of other Off-Off-Broadway theaters in the area, including the experimental La Mama E.T.C. and PS 122.

The East Village also envelops not one but two small ethnic cultures. A few blocks comprise the "Little Ukraine," and the strip of 6th Street between First and Second Avenues make up what is known as "Indian Row." There are literally a dozen Indian restaurants in a row on this block, and just about any makes a great place for a decent priced meal. Several feature live sitar players to add to the atmosphere.

The rough edge that the East Village used to present to the city has been softened in recent years. Many new residents are now recognizing that the area has a mixture of arts, culture, and commerce that suits them just right.

While their respective sights and sounds generally distinguish other neighborhoods in Manhattan from each other, Little Italy and Chinatown are probably better known for their tastes and smells. Each portion of these intermingling areas is rich in culinary tradition that has been kept alive since the days immigrants first brought them to our shores.

Although much smaller now than it was at its peak some decades ago, the core of Little Italy is still relatively easy to spot. Simply head north from Canal Street on Mulberry and you'll find a plethora of Italian restaurants and dessert shops, each more mouth-watering than the last. Ferrara's on Grand Street is famous both here and abroad for their Italian pastries, and an ideal spot to stop for coffee after dinner. Somewhat subdued during the day, this section comes alive at night and especially on weekends, with lines of people out in the street waiting to get in for dinner a common occurrence. The area reaches its manic peak during the week-long San Gennaro festival in mid-September. Thousands of people squeeze into the confines of Mulberry Street for more food, drinks, and entertainment than is probably good for them. If you decide to go, leave your concept of personal space behind.

Within the past five years, the boundaries of Little Italy have grown a little tighter as SoHo has begun spilling into its northern section. The area around Little St. Patrick's Church on Mulberry has seen the greatest effect of this recent influx, and is now occasionally referred to as Nolita (for North of Little Italy). This expansion is but an echo, however, of the shift happening in Little Italy's southern portion.

Because of a strict set of immigration laws near the turn of the century, Chinatown was originally an area of only a few blocks south of Canal Street on the east side of the island. After 1965, when the law was lifted, the Chinese immigrant population grew substantially from its confined space and into both the Lower East Side and Little Italy.

Canal Street during the day is a scene of constant commotion. Many of the local businesses compete fiercely for business, with almost every store displaying their inventory right on the street where it can be seen and purchased by casual strollers. This is an excellent place to pick up a novelty item or find a real bargain on a piece of electronics.

The culinary mainstays are mostly to be found in the narrow, jam-packed streets and alleys south of Canal. Meals here are generally less extravagantly priced than their Little Italy counterparts, but you still shouldn't expect to go away hungry. For those who like to wake up early on weekends, Dim Sum on Sunday morning is an experience not to be missed.

Columbus Park, near the heart of Chinatown, is one of New York's oldest examples of a neighborhood beautification campaign. In the early 19th century the spot was known as the Five Points (for the five streets that intersected there), and was a stronghold of violent Irish gangs. When the gangs were driven out in the latter half of the century, the park was built to improve the area. It is still popular with both the young and elderly of the area.

Despite all of its activity, the district retains its "neighborhood" feel, with generations growing up in apartments that are mere blocks from their childhood homes. It is also a testament to the ideal of New York as melting pot, as fresh waves of immigrants slowly become a part of the larger cultural landscape.

The Lower East Side has been a haven for immigrants through the past all the way up to the present day. This is one of the rare neighborhoods that contains a vibrant shopping district as well as generally lower prices than many of its purportedly posher counterparts.

Apartments on the Lower East Side have definitely risen above their original tenement origins. Settled first by Irish and German and then mostly Jewish immigrants, the neighborhood at one time had the highest density of people per square mile. Whole families crammed together in two- and sometimes one-room apartments in tenement buildings. A worthy testament to this mostly vanished way of life can be found at the Lower East Side Tenement Museum on Orchard Street near Broome. The guided tours are recommended for anyone who thinks that there couldn't possibly be any apartments on the Lower East Side that are smaller than their place.

Although there are precious few remnants of the area's Jewish roots, thankfully there still exist two culinary classics. One is Katz's Deli on Houston, where your doctor would recommend you have your cholesterol checked before ordering the monstrous pastrami sandwich. The other is Ratner's, a kosher establishment which has recently made a nod to the changing makeup of the area by opening a hip bar in the back. These venues are popular with residents of nearby Lower East Side apartments and out-of-town visitors alike.

Cross over Houston Street to the lettered avenues and you'll be arriving in what used to be known as Alphabet City. In the early eighties this was an area to be tread carefully during the day, and avoided altogether if possible at night. Time certainly has had an effect here, however. The same residents who were quick to avoid the area started flocking here in hopes of escaping the rising prices of apartments in the Lower East Side and apartments in the West Village.

But hear this: if you seek an apartment in Alphabet City that is far away from the bustle of intense 24-hour commerce, you search in vain, my friend. Restaurants, clubs, retail outlets and all-night diners can all be found along a ten-block stretch, many of them only a few years old. As a lot of these hot spots are just now being discovered, the area around here has an active nightlife, and is especially busy on summer and weekend nights.

An area that has also gone through a significant metamorphosis is Tompkins Square Park. Up until the late '80s the small park was a de facto shelter for the homeless, drug dealers and users, and various squatters. An aggressive police campaign has reclaimed the park for use by local residents, and reminders of that past are virtually nonexistent.

Those looking to find bargain-priced apartments ong the Lower East Side should be advised that this neighborhood is no longer a well-kept secret, and that prices will only go up from here The sooner you start looking for an apartment here, the better off you'll be!

The neighborhoods that make up the Upper East Side-Carnegie Hill, Yorkville, and the Lower Upper East Side-are synonymous with the wealthy residents that have made this section of Manhattan their home over the last century. Only Yorkville, however, can state that they have what is probably the most sought-after address in all of New York City.

Despite its upscale appearance, part of this district had rather modest beginnings. With the construction of the Third Avenue elevated subway line near the turn of the century, the area became a second haven to many German immigrants who were being slowly displaced from their downtown residences.

Once the trains went underground, the area became a great deal more isolated. Eventually, the German section of Yorkville began shrinking. Although most of those former residents have since moved on, there is still a thriving pocket of inhabitants who speak German to this day.

One thing that the Germans have left behind for the rest of Manhattan to sample is their rich food heritage. Second Avenue between 84th and 86th Streets is still the heart of German cuisine. You can take your pick of sausages at Schaller and Weber, Black Forest Cake at Kramer's Pastries, or your choice of beers at Heidelberg.

Perhaps the most famous German immigrant to live in Yorkville was Carl Schurz. After being a minister to Spain, a Union Army general, and Secretary of the Interior under President Rutherford Hayes, Schurz moved back to Yorkville, where he worked as an editor for the New York Evening Post and Harper's Weekly. East End Park was renamed Carl Schurz Park in 1911 in his honor.

Speaking of His Honor, the most coveted address in New York City happens to be in Carl Schurz Park: Gracie Mansion. Home of most New York City mayors since Fiorello LaGuardia first moved in during the Second World War, with the exception of Michael Bloomberg, the mansion's significance actually goes back much farther.

George Washington commandeered this swath of land from its owner, Jacob Walton, so that he could fortify it against the British. Ultimately, Washington didn't fortify it enough, as the British bombarded the spot from across the East River. Walton's house was one of the casualties.

The Walton family subsequently sold the property to Archibald Gracie, a recent émigré from Scotland. Gracie built his famous mansion as a country home in 1799, only to sell it less than a quarter-century later. The City of New York acquired the property almost a hundred years later, and every mayor since LaGuardia has called it home while in office. If you'd rather not depend on the electorate to see its interior, the first floor is open to the general public.

Although it isn't known if the Mayor participates, there is a strong athletic community in Yorkville. Whether your interests run from basketball to softball or football, it's likely that there's an organized team in the area that could use another player. If you prefer exercising alone, Central Park is about a ten-minute walk. Or a five-minute jog.

Because of the successive waves of new inhabitants, the apartment buildings in Yorkville range from quaint townhouses to ultra-modern apartment complexes. Interior spaces also vary from the tiny to the cavernous. With all the different varieties offered, chances are there's a combination in this area that will fit your needs perfectly.