Even the city that never sleeps undergoes a great awakening in the month of September. While Fashion Week has come and gone, there’s still plenty of excitement buzzing around the city. With the kick off of the 86th Annual Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy, the DUMBO Arts Festival, and the upcoming debut of the Brooklyn Nets, it’s safe to say that NYC is the place to be this fall. If you’re in town and want to escape tourist traps like Times Square, we’ve got plenty of options to choose from.

Hot Hoods To Visit
A mini-guide to New York's most popular areas.

SoHo
The bohemian chic neighborhood is home to countless boutiques and trendy luxury designer shops. If you’re in the mood to shop til’ you drop, you’re in the right place. It’s a hotspot for the highly eclectic and fashionable, so prepare to be upstaged –- it comes with the territory.

Harlem
The historic neighborhood has had a major facelift in the past few years and is now home to a bounty of trendy restaurants, cafes and lounges. The area attracts a great mix of young professionals and locals, making it quite the social scene.

Meatpacking
This chic area attracts the young and fabulous, especially at night. The cobbled streets can be found bursting with men and women dressed to the nines on any given night, headed to a swanky hotel’s rooftop bar or an extravagant dinner. During the day, the shopping elite can seek refuge in an array of boutiques.

Astoria
This up-and-coming area of Queens has become a great alternative to Manhattan living -- with it being only 15 minutes away from midtown. The area, primarily made up of Greeks, boasts a growing food scene and the oldest beer garden in New York City, the Bohemian Hall.

Brooklyn Heights
A more affluent area of Brooklyn, Brooklyn Heights offers beautiful views of the city and Brooklyn Bridge from the Promenade. You can find endless cafes, shops and bars along the way or make your way to the Brooklyn Bridge Park to kick back and relax.

Fort Greene
Down the street from Brooklyn’s Music Academy, this trendy neighborhood is home to both young professionals and families. Throw a stone and it’ll likely land on a one of the many bustling restaurants that line the streets. On the weekends, the area comes alive for brunch and, when the weather permits, the outdoor flea market.

Bed Stuy/Clinton Hill
The tree-lined blocks and beautiful brownstones have attracted a number of people from Manhattan, making it one of the fastest growing areas in Brooklyn. A range of professionals, backgrounds and restaurants make up the neighborhood, offering many of its residents a balance they most likely couldn’t get in Manhattan.

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  • Sugar and Plumm (Upper West Side)

    For sweet seekers -- and family travelers -- kid-friendly <a href="http://guides.uptownmagazine.com/details/sugar-and-plumm" target="_hplink">Sugar and Plumm</a> hits the spot. These "purveyors of Yumm" offer up a dizzying spread of croissants, bars, macarons, tarts and cookies smack in the middle of the white and violet space. There's also a colorful dining area for digging into more savory options like pulled pork and waffles, Cobb wedge salad and NY strip. Park at the communal tables to enjoy a sundae -- plus free Wi-Fi. <em>377 Amsterdam Ave. <a href="http://www.sugarandplumm.com/" target="_hplink">sugarandplumm.com</a>. 212.787.8778</em>

  • Pork Slope (Brooklyn)

    The new Barclays Stadium, and soon-to-be home of the Brooklyn Nets, is sure to attract first-time visitors to Brooklyn, but it's the borough's bustling food scene that'll keep them coming back for more. Aside from its clever name, the <a href="http://guides.uptownmagazine.com/details/pork-slope" target="_hplink">Pork Slope</a> (located in Park Slope) has plenty to offer to the casual diner. While swine is the main attraction, the BBQ joint offers a number of alternatives, like Chicago-styled hot dogs, tater tots, sandwiches and a plethora of cheap brews and craft ales. If '80s movies are your thing, then you'll appreciate the nod to Patrick Swayze's Road House, which can be found throughout the interior. Twenty bucks can get you pretty far at this 'hood joint, so you're bound to leave happy. <em>247 Fifth Ave. <a href="http://porkslopebrooklyn.com" target="_hplink">porkslopebrooklyn.com</a>. 718.768.7675</em>

  • Cove Lounge (Harlem)

    <a href="http://guides.uptownmagazine.com/details/cove-lounge-new-york" target="_hplink">Cove Lounge</a> is a fresh uptown hotspot and the latest venture of Harlem resident and real estate heavyweight Alyah Horsford-Sidberry. Get your pre-game on in the leather-couched upstairs lounge with refreshing cocktails like the Cove Martini, a smooth blend of Van Gogh Peach Vodka, fresh lemon juice, mint leaves, and Prosecco that even the most vodka-phobic will enjoy sipping. The food, which Bobby Flay helped to create on the Food Network's "3 Days to Open," is the antithesis of "bar food" including creamy Blue Crab & Grits, Spiced Fries, and Lobster Mac 'n' Cheese. When you're ready to amp up the night, head downstairs to the lounge, where you'll dance the night away with Harlem's hip and sexy set. <em>325 Lenox Ave. <a href="http://coveloungenyc.com" target="_hplink">coveloungenyc.com</a>. 212.665.3455</em>

  • Murray's Cheese Bar (West Village)

    New York is known for many things, but cheese isn't one of them. This, however, hasn't stopped the success of the renowned Murray's Cheese Shop. Now, owners of the decades old fromagerie are offering customers a cheesier experience just a few doors down. When you're done stocking up on Gruyère, take a stroll to the <a href="http://guides.uptownmagazine.com/details/murrays-cheese-bar" target="_hplink">Cheese Bar</a>. The simple sit-down eatery offers the same bountiful supply of cheese from around the globe served up in any way you can imagine. Dip it, fry it, spread it 'round - or pair it with any of the over 200 craft beers available at the bar. <em>264 Bleecker St. <a href="http://murrayscheesebar.com" target="_hplink">murrayscheesebar.com</a>. 646.476.8882</em>

  • A.G. Kitchen (Upper West Side)

    Chef Alex Garcia's American and Latin roots are evenly reflected in his latest concept, <a href="http://guides.uptownmagazine.com/details/ag-kitchen" target="_hplink">A.G. Kitchen</a>. Aside from the prominent location in the UWS, everything about the place is pretty lax, from its feel-good grilled cheese sandwiches and burgers to the Latin-infused tacos and paella. We may be on our way to fall, but the lingering summer weather is the perfect excuse to order a spiked milkshake or a butterscotch ice Cream sundae. Guests can escape the general dining-area crowd and head over to the lounge - better known as the Cabanas - for a more intimate ambiance. <em>269 Columbus Ave. <a href="http://agkitchen.com" target="_hplink">agkitchen.com</a> 212.873.9400</em>

  • Pop on Park Maison 24 (Upper East Side)

    While most furniture stores on the Upper East Side feature pieces of a more traditional décor, brother-sister duo Louis Marra and Allison Julius have successfully prescribed a healthy dose of whimsy for Park Ave., <a href="http://guides.uptownmagazine.com/details/maison-24-new-york" target="_hplink">Maison 24</a>. Step inside the shop, which is more a furniture boutique than an impersonal furniture emporium, and you're instantly transported to the home of your dreams, where Lucite abounds and Louis XV chairs are given an update with leather studded seats and the message: "Love Hurts." Even if you're not in the market for new furniture or a collectible piece of art, you'll have a difficult time leaving Maison 24 empty-handed. From a French salad dressing to a Swarovski crystal-encrusted Pop Phone, Maison 24 has something for everyone. <em>470 Park Ave. <a href="http://maison24.com" target="_hplink">maison24.com</a>. 212.355.2414</em>

  • The Donna Scott Secret Med Spa (Upper East Side)

    Trekking through the city can take a toll on any beauty, but thanks to spas like The <a href="http://guides.uptownmagazine.com/details/the-donna-scott-secret-med-spa" target="_hplink">Donna Scott Secret Med Spa</a>, it doesn't have to show. Celebrity skin-care expert and medical esthetician Donna Scott delivers a beauty oasis for women at her Park Ave location. Scott - who has treated Phaedra Parks of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" - offers a combination of medical-grade glycolic peels and Phyto-C treatments, along with an arsenal that can tackle all types of tones, complexions, and conditions. We recommend checking the Donna Scott Collagen Serum, which uses skin science to help rebuild collagen in order to create firm and flawless skin. Scott may not have found the fountain of youth, but she's pretty darn close! <em>960 Park Ave. <a href="http://donnascottsecret.com" target="_hplink">donnascottsecret.com</a> 215.772.1222</em>

  • Piperlime (SoHo)

    Peruse your favorite designer duds and kicks from online retailer <a href="http://guides.uptownmagazine.com/details/piperlime" target="_hplink">Piperlime's cute boutique</a>, located in the heart of Downtown's fashion mecca. This marks the first retail store for the four year old Gap Inc. owned company trusted by savvy online shoppers interested in staying on-trend each season. Fashion forward brands such as Frye and Citizens of Humanity can be found throughout the store's shelves, and the 4,000 square foot space includes an assortment of their best products and price points. 121 Wooster St. <a href="http://piperlime.com" target="_hplink">piperlime.com</a>. 212.343.4282

  • Museum Day Live!, 9/29

    Download a voucher from smithsonian.com/museumday to receive two free tickets to one of 28 New York City museums and cultural centers, including big-name institutions like the Brooklyn Museum, which opens one of its major fall shows, <a href="http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/mickalene_thomas/">“Mickalene Thomas: Origin of the Universe,”</a> on September 28. El Museo del Barrio and the Studio Museum in Harlem, two of the three museums hosting <a href="http://caribbeancrossroads.org/about/exhibition/">“Caribbean: Crossroads of the World,"</a> are another must-see.

  • Third Annual Coca-Cola Generations in Jazz Festival, 9/5-10/7

    Now through October 7th, jazz legends and protégés from across the globe will take the stage at the third annual Coca-Cola Generations in Jazz Festival. Jazz performers of all ages, from Brazil to Trinidad to New Orleans, will offer their unique tribute to music genre's rich history and cultural influence. Visit the <a href="http://www.jalc.org/dccc/details09.asp?EventID=3187" target="_hplink">Jazz at Lincoln Center website</a> to purchase tickets online, or head to the box office located inside the Time Warner building.

For more places to venture to in the Big Apple, head over to Uptown’s New York Guides page for listings.