Because they grew up over the course of hundreds of years, Manhattan neighborhoods have multiple, splintered personalities and fluid boundaries. Still, it's relatively easy to agree upon what they stand for in general terms -- so if you stop a New Yorker on the street and ask him or her to point you to, say, the Upper West Side or the Flatiron District, they'll know where you want to go.
Free New York City Tours -- If you'd like to tour a specific neighborhood with an expert guide, call Big Apple Greeter (tel. 212/669-8159; www.bigapplegreeter.org) at least 3 to 4 weeks ahead of your arrival. To expedite your reservation, go to the website and fill out the form in advance. This nonprofit organization has specially trained volunteers who take visitors around town for a free 2- to 4-hour visit of a particular neighborhood. And they say New York isn't friendly!
