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City Living: Midtown South

By Emily Ngo, amNewYork Nation/World Editor | engo@am-ny.com

January 10, 2008

The Empire State Building towers over Midtown South. (amNew York Photo/ Lane Johnson / January 9, 2008)

The area the city defines as Midtown South is many things, but it's definitely not this: slow. People bustle to their jobs in the towering office buildings. Tourists flock to the ample shopping and historical sites. And now more than ever, people are calling the area's many neighborhoods home.

It doesn't hurt either that three of the city's major transportation hubs -- Grand Central Terminal, Port Authority and Penn Station -- are located within Midtown South's borders. "You can get anywhere from this area, and you can go anywhere from this area," said Wally Rubin, Midtown's district manager.

The area is home to the Flatiron District, the Garment District, the Flower District and Koreatown to name a few attractions. At the heart of it all is Herald Square, a stretch made famous by George M. Cohan's 1904 musical hit "Give My Regards to Broadway." The square is home to Macy's flagship department store, which moved to its current home in 1902.

"It's a vibrant community in a somewhat older part of town," Rubin said. "It gives you the grandeur of old New York." With so much to see and do in Midtown South, it's no wonder people there move so fast.

Find it
Midtown South is bordered to the north by 42nd Street, to the south by 23rd Street, to the east by Lexington Avenue and to the west by Eighth Avenue.

To play
You'll find every type of bar in this neighborhood, but the bulk of them cater to area professionals post-work day. Themes are commonplace and unfortunately, so are steeper-priced drinks.

The Cutting Room
This midsized setting is a great place to catch a variety of musical acts. Norah Jones, Kid Rock, Vanessa Carlton and yes, even Mini-Kiss, have played there. And thanks to the star power of co-owner and "Sex and the City" actor Chris Noth, it's easy to catch a celebrity or two lounging on the front room's leather couches.
19 W. 24th St.
212-691-1900

The Ginger Man
A beer lover's paradise, this spacious bar boasts 66 drafts whose taps artfully adorn the bar wall. Ginger Man also serves more than 130 bottled beers. It gets crowded around happy hour, though, when professionals flock to the living-room setting in the back room.
11 E. 36th St.
212-532-2740

Red Sky Bar & Lounge
Red Sky is at once bohemian, trendy and sporty. Maybe that's because there are three floors to hang out on. Catch the game on huge televisions on the first and second floors or climb to the deck for low tables and a Zen feel. And you can't miss the tropical fish tanks on the bathroom walls.
47 E. 29th St.
212-447-1820