The most loyal subway line is the yellow one (N, R). It drops you pretty much everywhere. And it is the one we recommend using to go to these neighborhoods, getting off at the Canal Street station. When you come out, you are at the division between Tribeca and Chinatown.
TRIBECA was originally an industrial sector that in the '70s began to transform into one of the most important cultural centers in New York and home to many celebrities.
Its name is an abbreviation for Triangle Below Canal Street, which describes its geographic location, south of SOHO, between the Hudson River and Chinatown.
This neighborhood is the headquarters of the renowned Tribeca Independent Film Festival created by Robert De Niro, precisely one of the stars who lives in its streets and has one of his restaurants there: Tribeca Grill.
This area is rather residential, very trendy, surrounded by many restaurants and bars with a vibrant cultural scene. Around here you will see the typical red brick buildings that used to be warehouses and today are renovated apartments.
Many movies were filmed on the streets of Tribeca, including Ghostbusters!.
This building exists (10 North Moore St.) and is actually a working Fire Company: 8 Hook & Ladder.
While here you can visit the Washington Market Park and Duane Park, which is the second oldest public park in the city.
Also, Hudson River Park's Pier 26.
In this neighborhood, you can also see the Woolworth Building (233 Broadway, between Barclay St. and Park Place St.), one of the oldest buildings in the city with neo-Gothic lines.
Did you know that it was the tallest building in the world until it was surpassed by the Chrysler Building in 1930?
The scene of Queen Narissa's (Susan Sarandon) attack on Princess Gisselle in the movie Enchanted (2007) was filmed on the top of this building.
Being in CHINATOWN, you will see all the typical Chinese restaurants along Mott St. Also fruit and exotic food stores.
On this street, between Canal St. and Bayard St., is the Eastern States Buddhist of America temple with one hundred golden Buddhas. Continuing along Mott to Grand Street, you will pass through the markets for butchers, fish shops, greengrocers and food in general.
To do some shopping, it is best to walk on Canal St. (if you go on Saturday you will see all the vendors on the street with imitation suitcases and handbags).
Another option is to take a tour of the Canal Street Market (265 Canal St). A modern market that combines artisan shops with Asian and other cultural fast food outlets.
#GuestTravelTips: It is important to note that most places only accept cash, even in many restaurants.
To get to know this neighborhood better, visit Columbus Park, which is where the Chinese sing, read newspapers, practice taichi and play mahjong in their own dimension.
An ideal time to visit this neighborhood is during the Chinese New Year, when there are different celebrations. The date depends on the lunar calendar, but generally falls in February.
Near the access to the Manhattan Bridge, the largest Buddhist temple in New York is located, the Mahayana Buddhist Temple (133 Canal Street) where you can see the huge statue of Buddha, also the largest in the city. To enter they ask for a donation of 1 usd.
If you are interested in delving into the history of Chinese migration to the United States, you can visit the Museum of the Chinese in America, MOCA (215 Center Street). It is closed on Mondays. They charge admission, but the first Thursday of each month you can enter for free.
When you get to Grand Street you will already be in LITTLE ITALY. The main street is Mulberry, between Canal St. and Houston St. If you want to eat some delicious pasta, we recommend: Buona Notte. Although from now on you will find many Italian ristorantes one next to the other.
At the junction with Prince St., stands the Old St. Patrick's Cathedral, once the city's largest Catholic church.
If you are in NYC in September, go to Little Italy as they celebrate the Feast of San Gennaro; the religious celebration that lasts 11 days starting every second Thursday of the month. It has been carried out since 1926 as an initiative of the Neapolitan community in honor of its patron.
At that time, Mulberry Street (between Houston St. and Canal St.), was the center of processions, music, gastronomy and more.
Did you know that important mafia leaders operated from this neighborhood until well into the 20th century?
That's why many of the classic movies about the Italian mafia in New York were filmed on its streets; such as, for example, the series The Sopranos (which, although it dealt with the New Jersey mafia, they went to the southern neighborhoods of Manhattan to solve several of their businesses).
If you are interested in the history of Italy in NY, visit the Tenement Musem, which is on the Lower East Side. You will be able to visit real apartments recreating how immigrants lived (including an Italian family).
If you want to visit other neighborhoods with a lot of Italian influence: Little Italy in the Bronx, Howard Beach in Queens, Bensonhurst in Brooklyn and Staten Island (which claims to be the New York district with the most Italian descendants in the city -40%-).