Southern Frontiers

What we?and a few Manhattan notables?love below 14th Street For our inaugural issue, we wanted to celebrate Downtown Manhattan (an area we roughly define as everything?and we mean everything?below 14th Street). To us, this huge swath of the island is one of the most fascinating places in New York City, where local issues become national conversation. Downtown remains a well of diversity and encapsulates the cultural wealth that makes this borough a destination. If we peel back the layers of time, this is where the story of New York City first begins. It is the birthplace of our urban metropolis and has become home to some of New York City?s most iconic features, from Wall Street to the World Trade Center. In the spirit of celebrating, we want to showcase what we love about this mecca of culture and history. We rounded up a few of our favorite residents and figures to parse out their favorite parks, restaurants, buildings and anything else they love. And our writers hit the streets to find the best of each neighborhood, from the obscure to the popular (like the Ghostbusters firehouse in Tribeca). Our mélange of places, people and things isn?t a guide or a ?best of? list. We see this as a launching point for you, the reader, to discover the unexpected in Downtown Manhattan. [A SLICE OF THE WEST VILLAGE] If you find yourself strolling down historic Bedford Street in the West Village on the lookout for No.75...[READ MORE] [FOLLOWING THE GARDEN PATH IN THE EAST VILLAGE](http://nypress.com2011/08/following-the-garden-path-in-the-east-village/) In the 1970s, when an economic crisis saw the city?especially less affluent neighborhoods like the East Village?falling apart, something beautiful began popping up...[READ MORE](http://nypress.com2011/08/following-the-garden-path-in-the-east-village/) [IMPRESSIONS WITH PATRICK MCMULLAN](http://nypress.com2011/08/impressions-with-patrick-mcmullan/) The nightlife photographer whose name has become synonymous with fashion, art and celebrity culture in New York City reflects on the evolution of Lower Manhattan...[READ MORE](http://nypress.com2011/08/impressions-with-patrick-mcmullan/) [EDITORS' PICKS](http://nypress.com2011/08/editors-picks/) Marissa Maier and Mark Peikert name their op five destinations in Downtown Manhattan...[READ MORE](http://nypress.com2011/08/editors-picks/) [THE EXTRAVAGANCE OF THE SAN GENNARO FESTIVAL](http://nypress.com2011/08/the-extravagance-of-the-san-gennaro-festival/) The word "grand" comes to mind when thinking of Little Italy's annual Fest of San Gennaro, and for good reason. [READ MORE](http://nypress.com2011/08/the-extravagance-of-the-san-gennaro-festival/) [THE GHOSTBUSTERS FIREHOUSE](http://nypress.com2011/08/the-ghostbusters-firehouse/) It is a nearly ubiquitous call and refrain. Cry out, ?Who you gonna call?? and the crowd yells ?Ghostbusters!? Built in 1904 on the corner of North Moore and Varick streets...[READ MORE](http://nypress.com2011/08/the-ghostbusters-firehouse/) [FOLLOWING HISTORY ONE STEP AT A TIME](http://nypress.com2011/08/following-history-one-step-at-a-time/) As one of the oldest neighborhoods in New York City, the Lower East Side has more than a few checkered tales in its vault...[READ MORE](http://nypress.com2011/08/following-history-one-step-at-a-time/) [WHERE BROADWAY'S COSTUMES ARE BORN](http://nypress.com2011/08/where-broadway%e2%80%99s-costumes-are-born/) There is no more genteel, quirkly, brimming-with-talent designer than William Ivey Long. (Yes, he uses his entire name; he is a Southerner to the bone.) In Long's eponymous studio at 44 Walker St., the staff all seem...[READ MORE](http://nypress.com2011/08/where-broadway%e2%80%99s-costumes-are-born/) [RYDERS ALLEY MOTORCYCLE CLUB](http://nypress.com2011/08/ryders-alley-motorcycle-club/) The first time I went down to the Ryders Alley motorcycle club was a Sunday afternoon in the late spring. The members, who pay $200 a month to house their $20,000 weekend toys, were grilling burgers...[READ MORE](http://nypress.com2011/08/ryders-alley-motorcycle-club/) [AN OPULENT TEMPLE AT THE FOOT OF MANHATTAN BRIDGE](http://nypress.com2011/08/an-opulent-temple-at-the-foot-of-manhattan-bridge/) With shiny roasted ducks hanging in restaurant windows, bank signs boasting both English and Hanzi lettering and tai chi practitioners and mahjong players filling the parks, a jaunt through Chinatown feels like...[READ MORE](http://nypress.com2011/08/an-opulent-temple-at-the-foot-of-manhattan-bridge/) [BOXING OUT WALL STREET STRESSES](http://nypress.com2011/08/boxing-out-wall-street-stresses/) The thick rubber mats covering the tile floor of Trinity's locker room slide and give a little under the weight of the athletes, mostly young men in their late twenties and early thirties...[READ MORE](http://nypress.com2011/08/boxing-out-wall-street-stresses/) [AN OUTDOOR INSTALLATION](http://nypress.com2011/08/an-outdoor-installation/) Sandwiched between Houston and Canal streets, this 73-acre area was one of my original New York City stomping grounds (and is the place I now call home)... [READ MORE](http://nypress.com2011/08/an-outdoor-installation/) [THE URBAN FARM EXPERIENCE](http://nypress.com2011/08/the-urban-farm-experience/) If it was ever a secret that the downtown area is leading the pack in turning the concrete jungle a little more green, the Parks Department's announcement back in April that they would devote an entire acre at Battery Park to an urban farm really let the cat out of the bag...[READ MORE](http://nypress.com2011/08/the-urban-farm-experience/)