Take a Trip to SoHo

New York - The Big Apple - Soho - Harlem - Harlem : Some more addresses - Greenwich Village

Take a Trip to SoHo

Soho is a part of Manhattan which has become famous for its shopping and its 'downtown scene'. The name 'SoHo' comes from a blend of the first two letters of South Houston, meaning that it is located south of Houston. What's interesting is that the neighborhood started a bit of a trend as far as naming goes. For example, the neighborhood located directly north of SoHo is called NoHo.

In its history, SoHo was originally intended to be used as a spot to build two highways in order to connect the Manhattan and Williamsburg Bridges on the east with the Holland Tunnel on the west. But fortunately, that never happened because of the efforts of a few people wishing to preserve the locale.
Why they wanted it preserved is anyone's guess because back then, the old-style buildings didn't offer enough space and modern design to do anything except to be rented out to poor artists who wanted to live cheaply. In fact, bordels began to open up in SoHo, creating New York's first red-light district. It was even advertised that visitors to New York check out SoHo's luxurious houses of ill repute.

Nowadays, SoHo has one of the most unique shopping scenes in the world where visitors can buy anything from a classy new pair of shoes to antique furniture to ethnographic imports from all over the world. And because the area has it's own rich history, there are many gorgeous and valuable antiques to be had in many of the shops.
Also, because SoHo is so well known for its artists (not to mention its 'artsy' appearance) there are a number of art galleries and exhibitions, all showcasing unique talents and styles. From SoHo's early days, many of the upper stories in the older buildings were converted to flats specifically for artists who wanted a roomy atmosphere and the bright, natural light that the upper floors provided. In fact, an Artist Certification Committee was actually created to make sure that the housing space in SoHo was reserved exclusively for artists alone.

In addition to its excellent shopping and rich cultural heritage, SoHo has the greatest collection of cast-iron structures in the world today. Of the 250 cast-iron buildings that stand in New York, the vast majority of them are located in SoHo. Some of the most famous landmarks in SoHo include The Little Singer Building (561 Broadway), The E. V. Haughwout Building (488 Broadway), 109 Prince Street, 112 PRINCE STREET and it's TROMPE L'OEIL MURAL, and 110 Greene Street.
And with all the walking that tourists are guaranteed to do, there are places to eat and drink almost everywhere. Visitors can eat 'les escargots' at a classy French café or sit outdoors and drink lattes. Simply put, the choices of restaurants and cafés are endless.

So, because of all this (and even more), it's not at all difficult to see why SoHo is one of the greatest tourist destinations in the United States today. With so many interesting sights to see and places to go, visitors to SoHo are guaranteed never to be bored. And on top of all that, SoHo serves up a nightlife ready to entertain just about anyone. It truly is an amazing place.

New York - The Big Apple - Soho - Harlem - Harlem : Some more addresses - Greenwich Village

Arnaud Calteau