Chelsea at a Glance:

• Named for the 18th century country estate that later gave the neighborhood its name, Chelsea eventually grew to encompass the city's first theater and shopping districts, later spiraling down into an urban slum and infamous red light district during the 1920's and 30's.
  
  
• Now one of Manhattan's hippest neighborhoods, Chelsea roughly extends from 14th Street to 34th Street from Sixth Avenue west to the Hudson River, offering visitors a mix of luxury hi-rises, tenements & brownstones, trendy art galleries, a thriving gay scene, and after-hours clubs frequently visited by the rich and famous.
  
  
• By day, Chelsea Piers is most famous citywide for its sprawling recreational facility on the Hudson River offering kids & adults a chance to golf, bowl, skate, rock climb and more.
  
  
• Local architectural landmarks include the Chelsea Historic District with neighborhood walking tours of the area's original 18th century architecture.
  
  
• Also don't miss, on 23rd Street, the still-bedraggled Hotel Chelsea which was once home to a who's who of famous writers, artists and musicians. More infamously, it was Charles R. Jackson, author of "The Lost Weekend", who did away with himself in his room at the Chelsea in 1968. Ten years later, it was also here that Nancy Spungen met her fate at the hands of boyfriend rocker Sid Vicious.
  
  
• Getting to Chelsea by Subway: Take the A,C, or E train to 14th, 23rd or 34th; F to 23rd; 1,2,3,9 to 14th or 34th, 1 or 9 to 18th or 23rd; the L shuttle to 14th
  
  
• Getting to Chelsea by Bus: Take the crosstown M23 bus at 23rd Street with a direct route to the Chelsea Piers.