(a short version of “North of Houston”), is a sliver of a neighborhood with outsized appeal. The former stomping grounds of artists like Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat, and once the location for underground music club CBGB (now a

John Varvatos

store), NoHo is still an undeniably cultural district. Hear live music at

Bowery Electric

(in the evening), see theatrical performances at

The Public Theater

(the same, usually) or view art at neighborhood gallery

The Hole

. Costume and clothing designer Patricia Field sells glittery apparel from her nearby storefront;

Dashwood Books

stocks a range of beautiful contemporary art and photography tomes; and the

Makerbot Retail Store

offers 3-D portrait printing, in case you want to take home a bust of yourself (or have one created as a present).

Adjacent to NoHo, the

East Village

is the neighborhood that Blondie, the Ramones and the New York Dolls made famous in the late 1970s. Today that history is perhaps best explored by visiting record stores like

, dive bar

Continental

and punk-rock clothing boutique

Trash and Vaudeville

Gem Spa

, a newsstand at the corner of St. Marks Place and Third Avenue, is one of the area's longest-running businesses, having opened in the 1920s, and is commonly credited with inventing the egg cream—a classic NYC specialty involving soda water, milk and vanilla or chocolate syrup. Closer to Union Square, the

Strand

is another long-running neighborhood institution—a 90-year-old stalwart that proudly touts its “18 miles of books.”

Over by New York University,

Washington Square Park

(and its arch, modeled after the Arc de Triomphe in Paris) is considered the heart of

Greenwich Village

. A former bohemian mecca, the area is known for clubs like

Café Wha?

and

The Bitter End

, where musicians like Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix and Patti Smith first played. Perhaps because of its proximity to NYU, the area teems with inexpensive restaurants; two standbys are

Mamoun's Falafel

for Middle Eastern favorites and Artichoke Basille's for ultra-thick pizza. But in keeping with the rest of the City, the neighborhood offers high-end fare as well. Mario Batali's

Babbo

continues to be as popular as ever;

Blue Hill

is famous for its sustainable, farm-to-table cuisine; and Minetta Tavern offers delicious food (say, the $28 hamburger made from prime dry-aged beef cuts) in a boisterous atmosphere.

Evening

The quaint, tree-lined streets of the

West Village

make for perfect pre- and postprandial walks. The neighborhood is filled with top-notch restaurants; try the meatball sliders at the Little Owl, the burger at the

Spotted Pig

or pan-roasted seafood at Pearl Oyster Bar. (Just remember to make reservations first.)

Many other downtown neighborhoods feature culinary delights as well:

Little Italy

Chinatown

and the

Lower East Side

among them. All offer a hint, too, of their immigrant heritage—and in the case of the Lower East Side, vibrant nightlife as well. If you've saved room for dessert, visit

Ferrara

in Little Italy for espresso and pastries, Kung Fu Tea in Chinatown for tasty bubble milk tea or the LES staple

Russ & Daughters

for raspberry rugelach. The latter is within walking distance of another famous institution,

Katz's Delicatessen

Next:

Day Five—Queens and North Brooklyn