Things to do / Travel Guide
Address:South of Houston St. between 6th Ave and Lafayette St.
New York, New York
SoHo, a small district in southern Manhattan, has always been known for its unique style. The greatest concentration of cast-iron buildings stand in SoHo, encompassing most of Manhattan's 250. Many of SoHo's buildings are of classical French and Italian design, but with cast-iron replacing the traditional bronze facades. Most of the buildings here were originally conceived as warehouses, and only later converted to residences. In the 1960's, large apartments and lofts attracted many of the city's artists, looking for cheap studio space, and modern SoHo was born.
SoHo takes its name from being "South" of "Houston" Street. Here's a tip: Make sure you pronounce it HOW-ston so that the locals don't make fun of you. SoHo's best shops and boutiques are clustered in the northern part of the district, bordering the village. Be sure to check out the sidewalk vendors selling t-shirts, jewelry, and pretty much anything sellable. More upscale stores are also abundant, as Chanel, Apple, Prada and Clientele have all opened boutique shops in the area. Victoria's Secret H&M and Bloomingdale's have all cashed in on the SoHo commercialization trend as well. But if you're looking to get away from the modern-day commercialization of SoHo, try heading south to Grand Street or Canal Street, where you can still sense some of the district's original grainy feel.
SoHo is everything south of Houston Street, and north of Canal. You can take the A, C, E, N, R, Q, 1, 2, or 3 subways to Canal, or the M21 bus to Houston street. Enjoy the sightseeing!