5 Popular NYC Neighborhoods

In New York City, there are dozens of neighborhoods to visit and while their names may seem simple, many of them are actually abbreviations, acronyms or portmanteaus.

"Neighborhoodification" has been occurring over the past two decades when new boutiques, trendy restaurants and hip residents move in to a particular area and create one of these unique names. Confused yet? Here is the name breakdown and lowdown for five popular NYC neighborhoods:

Soho (South of Houston Street):

Blocks of boutiques, famous name-brand shops, and cafes make Soho a more-than-desirable spot for an afternoon of shopping and lunch. In this historic cast-iron district, you will experience beautiful architecture and various art galleries, featuring artists from across the globe. Weather permitting, discover blocks and blocks of new, inspiring artists in a sea of street vendors including talented jewelry designers, painters, and photographers.

Nolita (North of Little Italy):

Nolita has also become known for its boutique shopping and quaint cafes. While Soho possesses a certain hustle and bustle, Nolita is full of quiet spots that give the neighborhood an off-the-beaten-path flair. Nolita is also the home to The Market NYC, a flea market where local independent artists, designers and entrepreneurs sell their creations, which is a must-see for any fashionista.

Mepa (Meatpacking District):

MePa is the spot for nightlife whether you're looking for a full-on club or a low-key lounge. Find high-fashion designer shops including Diane Von Furstenberg and Stella McCartney without the same overwhelming Soho crowd. MePa is also the starting point for the High Line, a public park built on an old freight line elevated above the street, which is perfect for a relaxing stroll with beautiful views.

Fidi (Financial District):

FiDi is the home of Wall Street and the New York Stock Exchange, and with the work crowd comes some great lunch spots and happy hours. Battery Park is just steps away, where you can catch a glimpse of Lady Liberty, the World Financial Center and New York Harbor. Snap a picture with the Charging Bull, one of NYC's biggest tourist attractions.

Tribeca (Triangle Below Canal Street):

Home to some of the most expensive real estate in the country, Tribeca is known for its out-of-this-world restaurants and celebrity sightings. The once industrial cast-iron buildings have now been converted into beautiful loft residences, drawing only the rich and famous. Tribeca is also home to the Tribeca Film Festival, founded by Robert De Niro in 2002, which brings in nearly three million visitors to the neighborhood each year.

5 Spots to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth in NYC

When thinking about some of the great eats in New York City, delis and pizzerias most definitely come to mind. The problem is, you can only have so much pastrami and so many sloppy slices before you begin craving a change of pace. Here are some sweet suggestions for your NYC visit:

Magnolia Bakery
Magnolia has been the bakery hotspot since Carrie Bradshaw devoured one of their delicious pink buttercream icing cupcakes on an episode of Sex and the City. What people don't know is that the banana pudding is actually their showstopper. The creamy, puffy pudding, along with fresh bananas and vanilla wafers will have you saying "What cupcake?" Now with multiple locations around Manhattan, you shouldn't have to wait in line... for too long.

Dylan's Candy Bar
Walking into Dylan's Candy Bar will make you feel like you stepped right into a scene from Willy Wonka. Founded by Ralph Lauren's daughter, Dylan, this store featuring rows and rows of candy ranging from Swedish fish to hard tack to chocolate will certainly give you a sugar rush. If that's not reason enough to feel like "a kid in a candy store", pull out a dollar bill and head to the chocolate fountain where they'll give you your choice of fruit to dip in the velvety chocolate falls. 

Serendipity III
A young John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale come to mind when you think Serendipity. The restaurant where they filmed the romantic flick, actually known as Serendipity "III" or "3" was made famous by the sweet love story and is known for their Frrrozen Hot Chocolate, which at one time drew celebs in like Marilyn Monroe, Andy Warhol and Jackie O. This popular location, its rich history and, of course, its dessert, makes the wait for a table worth it. They do not accept "dessert-only" reservations so to avoid waiting too long it's recommended to reserve a table for a full meal.

Ferrara's
Owned and operated by the same Italian family since 1892, this Little Italy gem will instantly have you in a cannoli craze. And if that doesn't suit your fancy, rows and rows of other delicate pastries displayed in their cases certainly will. Enjoy a savory sweet, sip their famous espresso and take in the old-world ambiance and you'll surely feel like you're in a scene from a classic movie.

Baked by Melissa
Cupcakes in New York City have become "a thing" much like pizza. One of the biggest problems when it comes to having one of those hearty cakes, however, is deciding on oh-so-many flavors! If only you could have one bite of each. With Baked by Melissa, you can. Her bite-sized cupcakes in flavors like Peanut Butter & Jelly, Mint Cookie and Chocolate Chip Pancake give you a taste of variety without feeling the guilt.

Visiting New York City: 5 Insider Tips

New York City can be overwhelming on so many levels and when you're visiting from out of town you only have about a million questions that need to be answered.  So before your trip, you Google and Google until your fingers fall off, or you call your second cousin who lived in Queens twenty years ago, but everything you find or anyone you talk to is only telling you about the latest Broadway show or the new museum exhibit that's an absolute must.  In the midst of all the exciting things to do and see, here are some tips that will help you to survive your visit to the Big Apple:

1. Manhattan vs. Other Boroughs
New York City is made up of five boroughs: Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Staten Island.  Manhattan is most likely where you'll spend the majority of your time.  The other boroughs require you to cross a river to get there.  Most of the popular hotels, theaters, museums, etc. are on the island of Manhattan and depending on how many times you've visited before, you may or may not choose to venture out to the surrounding boroughs.  I guess you'll literally cross that bridge when you come to it.

2. "The Subway" and "The Train" are the Same
There's the Long Island Railroad, the New Jersey Transit and the MetroNorth, but you will be dealing with what's called the MTA (Metropolitan Transit Authority) which consists of the New York City Bus and Subway System.  When people tell you to take "the subway" or to take "the train", they are referring to the MTA subway system--any trains that run underground in Manhattan.  So don't hop on that train in Grand Central Station because the cool guy on the street said to "take the train."  Lovely as it is, I'd hate for you to end up in Connecticut.

3. Public Restrooms
Sure, there are plenty of parks with public restrooms and some subway stations but I would avoid those at all costs quite honestly, because what awaits you in those restrooms is always a mystery--a less than pleasant mystery.  You're much better off strolling into a hotel lobby nonchalantly and making your way to the restrooms there.  Also, some of the larger department stores or chain stores (Bloomingdale's, Old Navy, Apple, etc.) provide a pleasant environment for relief when nature calls.  Starbuck's is a good idea in theory, but unless you're willing to wait in a 20-minute latte line, I'd steer clear of that option as well.

4. Layering
I understand that you don't want to look like a GAP window display gone terribly wrong, but no matter what the season in NYC, you'll be sorry if you don't layer.  When you're out and about in 20-degree weather and then head into a building that's pushing 88 degrees, you'll thank me.  On the flip side, when it's a humid, sticky 90, and you decide to go to the museum, if you don't have a top layer on-hand, you may very well end up frozen and put on display next to the wooly mammoth.

5. Always ask for the Cross Streets
New York City is mapped out as a grid with streets running east to west and avenues running north to south for the most part.  No matter what your form of transportation (Uber, taxi, walking, etc.), when asking for directions or looking at a map always ask for or take note of the cross streets.  It will save you a great deal of time, not to mention backlash from upset New Yorkers as you stand dazed and confused in the middle of the sidewalk staring blankly at Google maps on your smartphone.

The New York Times Features NYC Kids Tours!

NYC Kids Tours was featured in the New York Times this week as the premiere tour company for kids in Manhattan!  Children-friendly tours are becoming more and more popular abroad and we're thrilled to be the go-to kids tour company in NYC.  View the full article HERE.

Enter to win 4 free tickets to the worldwide sensation, "Mummenschanz" coming to NYC December 11th thru January 6th at the Skirball Center!  Kids 12 & under, send us a short essay (100 words or less) on what the holiday season means to you.  The winner will get the tickets along with a posting on our blog.  Be sure to submit your essays no later than December 10, 2012 to info@nyckidstours.com.  We look forward to reading your entries!

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