SoHo is one of the most attractive, vibrant areas of the city. It stands for South of Houston and is bordered by Lafayette Street on the east, 6th Avenue to the west and Canal Street to the south. Originally a slum where penniless artists took advantage of the loft spaces left by manufacturing warehouses, the area was threatened with demolition in the 1960s. Thankfully, activists fought to protect the rare cast -iron architecture and the district was saved. This small area now contains the world's largest concentration of cast-iron architecture, the heart of which is Greene Street, where 50 buildings put up between 1869 and 1895 can be found on five cobblestone blocks. Most of them are built in a neoclassical revival style, with Corinthium columns and intricately designed cast-iron facades, upheld today as industrial works of art.
It wasn't until the 1970s, when the first art galleries started opening, and the booming 1980s, that it became a truly desirable place to live in. In 1992, The Guggenheim opened a downtown branch on Broadway at Prince Street confirming SoHo's reputation as the area for art and design. However, rents soared and now it's only New York's prosperous that can afford to live in this fashionable neighbourhood, with many artists moving to nearby, and less expensive, Chelsea and TriBeCa. There are still some galleries in SoHo today, though the Guggenheim has now shut to be replaced by Prada's futuristic flagship store (see Shopping page 176). This is a sign of the times as SoHo is more synonymous with fashion and beauty boutiques, funky restaurants and cool hotels, which line the cobbled streets.
As well as satisfying the urges of shopaholics, SoHo also has several historic and architectural places of interest. An unusual site for visitors is The Broken Kilometer at 393 West Broadway, an installation by Waiter De Maria which uses 500 brass rods to play tricks on the viewer's perspective. Hunt out the attractive Little Singer Building, which was constructed in 1904 for the sewing machine company. The 12-storey facade is wonderfully ornate, with wrought-iron balconies and graceful arches. Visit the New York City Fire Museum, which houses a fascinating collection of Manhattan firefighting equipment and memorabilia from the 18th to 20th centuries. Children love the upstairs, with rows of gleaming original fire engines. The only existing art museum in the area is ~MoMa's New Museum of Contemporary Art, which moved from Broadway to Bowery. Filled with original art works, it's a must-see for those with a passion for modern art. The up-to-the-minute Media Lounge explores digital art and video installations. On the border of Little Italy lies the Children's Museum of the Arts. This is a fabulous place to take kids (it can be used as a reward for enduring a morning of shopping in SoHo) as they have free run of an art playground, which includes a giant f1oor-to-ceiling chalkboard. There are also computers for them to use and regular workshops by local artists.
It wasn't until the 1970s, when the first art galleries started opening, and the booming 1980s, that it became a truly desirable place to live in. In 1992, The Guggenheim opened a downtown branch on Broadway at Prince Street confirming SoHo's reputation as the area for art and design. However, rents soared and now it's only New York's prosperous that can afford to live in this fashionable neighbourhood, with many artists moving to nearby, and less expensive, Chelsea and TriBeCa. There are still some galleries in SoHo today, though the Guggenheim has now shut to be replaced by Prada's futuristic flagship store (see Shopping page 176). This is a sign of the times as SoHo is more synonymous with fashion and beauty boutiques, funky restaurants and cool hotels, which line the cobbled streets.
As well as satisfying the urges of shopaholics, SoHo also has several historic and architectural places of interest. An unusual site for visitors is The Broken Kilometer at 393 West Broadway, an installation by Waiter De Maria which uses 500 brass rods to play tricks on the viewer's perspective. Hunt out the attractive Little Singer Building, which was constructed in 1904 for the sewing machine company. The 12-storey facade is wonderfully ornate, with wrought-iron balconies and graceful arches. Visit the New York City Fire Museum, which houses a fascinating collection of Manhattan firefighting equipment and memorabilia from the 18th to 20th centuries. Children love the upstairs, with rows of gleaming original fire engines. The only existing art museum in the area is ~MoMa's New Museum of Contemporary Art, which moved from Broadway to Bowery. Filled with original art works, it's a must-see for those with a passion for modern art. The up-to-the-minute Media Lounge explores digital art and video installations. On the border of Little Italy lies the Children's Museum of the Arts. This is a fabulous place to take kids (it can be used as a reward for enduring a morning of shopping in SoHo) as they have free run of an art playground, which includes a giant f1oor-to-ceiling chalkboard. There are also computers for them to use and regular workshops by local artists.
For more information about Soho or the New York Knicks visit http://GuidedTourNewYork.com
For more information about Montreal Quecbec, or the Montreal Candiens visit http://GuidedTourMontreal.com
For more information about Montreal Quecbec, or the Montreal Candiens visit http://GuidedTourMontreal.com
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