Union Square West Between 17th St and 14th St

Feeding from Broadway (which inexplicably picks up again across the Park) and emptying out into University Place, the short and narrow street that is Union Square West seems to always be overrun by pedestrians despite it being a regular road. The mixture of new and old buildings which overlook the park seem to form a very iconic silhouette despite the fact that they're ever-changing.

Union Square itself is a constantly changing hotbed of political protests and indifferent commuters. Renovations which began in 2008 have started to subside on the western side here and the green market has started to claim back some of its space. The stores which line the block could be considered both appropriate, or invasive. While Union Square does have a history of being home to many classic commercial properties, the ones that currently grace this stretch (Diesel, Staples, American Eagle, McDonalds, Starbucks) give a decidedly different feel to the neighborhood. 

Union Square really is a center of convergence. While Times Square gets all the fame, it's Union Square that is still able to maintain some semblance of classic New York (however little). Off in the distance you can see the high rises of midtown peeking through the smaller buildings of the Flatiron district. To the south, the avenues begin to converge in preparation for the insanity that ensues once the street grid breaks down. From here, you can go practically anywhere.