New York City is a smorgasbord of unspoken places, far beyond the typical realm of tourist attractions. Of course there are the constituents that give the Big Apple its name: Times Square, Grand Central Station, the Statue of Liberty and Fifth Avenue. But beyond the often declared tourist hotspots is an essence far more authentic, void of the flashy and tacky magnetic appeal of Midtown.
 
Neighborhoods like Gramercy with centuries-old, tree-lined streets and brownstone beauties are far less noticed and given little attention in guidebooks. This east-side area is absent of wax museums and chain restaurants, rather having a welcoming, residential aura about it, especially in the fall when its rather lush streets become a palette for autumn colors and leaf-covered sidewalks, devoid elsewhere in Manhattan. With an abundance of hole-in-the-wall wine bars and cafes, Gramercy is a mecca for observing the lifestyle of New York natives and avoiding overwhelming flocks of tourists.

The Upper West Side is also demonstrative of a genuine NYC, with true city treasures like the site of John Lennon's assassination and his Grand Central Park memorial, maintained by the late singer's wife, Yoko Ono; upscale Italian restaurants; and beautiful apartment buildings.

Walk along West 27th Street in Chelsea during the wee hours of morning and you're almost guaranteed a celebrity sighting, as this street is home to the city's most exclusive nightclubs. In daylight, West 27th appears to be desolate and neglected, but late night, the doors of the seemingly dull buildings are opened to immaculate hotspots frequented by A-list celebrities.

The Lower East Side is filled with hidden bars, some where passwords are required to get in, and an inherently unique trendy and hipster crowd. One bar doubles as a salon and wine bar, another is modeled after a college apartment. If nightlife is the cup of tea you're thirsting for, LES is sure to provide a quenching mix of youthful hot spots.

Union Square boasts an unpredictable atmosphere with a considerable number of visitors, any time day or night, and everyday of the week. Whether you choose to stroll through the park or park it on a bench, varieties of entertainment are sure to appease: everything from musicians, break dancers, people bearing signs with such messages as "talk to me", fresh produce farmers and street vendors, and activists of all sorts, all enveloped by four city blocks with both five-star restaurants and quaint open-air espresso shops.

The cobblestone streets of the Meatpacking District welcome you to an enchanting world of both old and new, trendy and classic. Once a decrepit and melancholy section of town, the Meatpacking District is now home to some of the city's most posh interior design and art studios, swanky, yet low key drinking establishments, one being the previous home of music icon RuPaul, and large-scale joints seemingly transported from the Miami strip.

If vintage shopping, angular, seemingly European-style neighborhoods, and international dining are your desire, Greenwich Village hosts all of the above, all nestled within an immensely liberal and free-spirited atmosphere. Unusual specialty shops line the angular streets and include such unexpected product categories as peanut butter and macaroni and cheese. West Fourth Street, in the heart of the Village, is filled with tiny bars offering some of the most reasonable happy hours in Manhattan.

SoHo, meaning "south of Houston", is one of the city's swankiest neighborhoods, sure to titillate and tantalize any shopaholic's taste buds. Along Mercer Street, some of the world's most renown designers host their flagship stores, and above the extravagance are series of multimillion-dollar lofts, many of which house celebrity residents.

Only a few stops into Brooklyn on the L train and you've arrived in a unique artists' community, revamped warehouse-buildings-turned-art-studios, eclectic bars with themes like "trash", and a myriad of ethnic cuisines. Most nights, art studios host events with free Brooklyn Lager and hor'dourves, open to the public, so it's an inexpensive way to mingle and dine. The Brooklyn Brewery also hosts free beer and cheese tastings.

If you'd like to genuinely experience the luxe of the Big Apple, venture to paths unmentioned in guidebooks, and rather, experience NYC as a flood of authenticity. And - unless you're determined to partake in the festivities of Times Square and its overwhelming tourist population - live like a local and avoid Midtown altogether.

This tidbit of real travel advice was contributed by Ashley Halligan. 

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