Features > General > Chelsea New York Guide
Trendy, elegant, and vibrant, Chelsea is the place to be for well-heeled twenty-somethings looking for the chance to see and be seen. With a particularly gay-friendly vibe (as long as you're good-looking and well-dressed, your gender identity or preference is irrelevant – though tolerance won't extend far to the schlumpy-looking of any persuasion), Chelsea is one of the city's premier gay hangouts. It's also one of the newest, hottest art gallery districts – especially in the mid-20s between 11th and 10th Avenues. For a guide to breaking and entering into this exclusive nightlife scene, read on:
WHAT TO DO IN CHELSEA: There really isn't much here in the way of traditional tourist attraction – but there's a lot of theatre and art to see. As previously mentioned, cruising 10th and 11th avenues in the mid-20s is the best way to wander in and out of the latest and greatest galleries. Or check out the Atlantic Stage 2 – for a variety of performances often related to their acting school. Some shows are publicized, but others, particularly acting-school ones, are “secret,” publicized through postcards and facebook. The Upright Citizen's Brigade on West 26th St. is also a famous improv theatre, although the nearby People's Improv Theatre is also worth seeing – and offers free performance on Wednesdays. Check out the Chelsea Market – once the original Oreo cookie factory – for an excellent selection of gourmet food on offer.
WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK IN CHELSEA: Called “Cafeteria,” this restaurant on 7th Avenue is in fact a trendy eatery comprised of hip New Yorkers – the only thing high school “cafeteria” about it is the hyper-awareness of its seating plan: this is definitely a popular kids' table. Pepe Giallo, on 10th Avenue between 24 and 25th street, is a delicious, if standard, Italian, and Granad Sichuan Chelsea on 9th and 24th is great for spicy Sichuan cuisine – although the Cantonese selections aren't as good. Fora decent drink, try the hilariously named Cafe Grumpy on 20th street between 7th and 8th avenues – it's cramped, uncomfortable, and very popular: its counterintuitive design is all part of the plan to somehow ramp up this place's cool factor.
By Tara Isabella Burton
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