Your city guide to The City

NEW YORK — First there was Sex. Then there was Gossip. Now there’s The City. It’s the trifecta of Manhattan shows — the triple threat of Gotham TV. Each program extravaganza is different in style and attitude. But their one common denominator is that they never fail to showcase the allure, the landscape and sights of this lovely megalopolis we’re lucky to call home.

Much like the characters in Sex and the City and Gossip, The City’s Whitney, Olivia, Jay and their ilk mosey along from one snazzy spot to another.

Though it’s touted to be a reality show, we don’t mind that it’s all staged. New York, as always, looks great, and that’s all that matters.

On The Radar gives you a definitive guide to the show’s stomping grounds, according to area.

Meatpacking District (Mepa)

Once home to slaughterhouses and packing plants, in recent years, it has undergone considerable gentrification and is now deemed a swanky area for sosyals to live, shop, dine and hang out. Diane von Furstenberg’s DvF headquarters are situated smack dab in the middle of the locale.

Shop @ DvF (where else?)

Dine @ Nero, Fig & Olive, The Diner, Los Dados

Drink @ Tenjune, Plunge at Hotel Gansevoort, Brass Monkey

Chelsea

Home to New York’s visual arts community and much of the town’s gay population. Streets are lined with galleries, boutiques and beautiful architecture. This district has its fair share of dining destinations, too.

Whitney, Erin, Sammy and Allie seem to favor Cafeteria for brunch, where they meet up to to dish the dirt on Adam.

Dine @ Il Bastardo, Brother Jimmy’s BBQ

Dance @ Pink Elephant

Buy art @ Mike Weiss Gallery

Check out @ Yves Chelsea – 166 West 18th Street, Olivia’s apartment exterior

West Village, Greenwich Village (The Village)

Best known for its bohemian flair and beatnik residents, this neighborhood boasts tiny shops and restaurants with star power.

In the show, we are led to believe that Erin lives in Gramercy, while her building’s exterior is actually shot in this area — it’s the Urban Glass House on 330 Spring Street.

Dine @ Extra Virgin, Cornelia Street Café, Amy’s Bread, 10 Downing Street

Soho + Noho (South + North Of Houston)

When one utters the word “SoHo” only one thing comes to mind — shopping. This trendy district is what others stereotype as “downtown.” Partially true, this locale not only houses mega brands, it also has a smattering of decent restos and bars, as well. Kelly Cutrone’s People’s Revolution holds court at 62 Grand Street. While Erin’s office at One Management is a couple of blocks away at 42 Bond Street.

Shop @ Dean & Deluca, Opening Ceremony

Dine @ Once Upon A Tart, Delicatessen, Café Noir, Felix Restaurant

Drink @ MercBar, Antique Garage, Thom Bar, Double Crown

Watch an indie flick @ Angelika

Lower East Side (Les), Tribeca (Triangle Below Canal)

Once a haven for drug dealers and with blocks full of warehouses, respectively, both districts were renewed years ago when real estate boomed and propped up the economy of both neighborhoods.

Smart-looking bistros and stylish boutiques have popped up and peppered the streets since then. Drop by and possibly attend a gallery opening organized by Adam at Collective Hardware on 169 Bowery.

Dine @ Rayuela, Café Falai, Bacaro, Joe’s Ginger, Macao Trading Co.

Drink @ Stanton Social

Check out @ 88 Leonard, Olivia’s apartment interior

Gramercy, Flatiron District, Union Square

These three contiguous zones are quite posh (Narciso Rodriguez has his studio on Irving Place). It also has a cluster of celebrity-chef run restaurants and a good range of places to shop at — from mass-market to high-end.

Whitney lives here.

Dine @ Lyric Diner, Petite Abeille, The Smith

Drink @ The Cutting Room

Check out @ The Elektra on 290 Third Avenue, Whitney’s apartment interior

Also @ 325 Fifth Avenue, Whitney’s apartment exterior

And then @ Gramercy by Starck on 340 East 23rd Street, Erin’s apartment interior

Upper East Side. Think Sex and the City. Think Gossip Girl. Think feckless Olivia and her leech of a cousin, Nevan. Enough said.

Shop @ Bergdorf Goodman, and while you’re at it, grab a quick bite there

Dine @ La Goulue, Philippe (natch)

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Watch full episodes of The City for free on the MTV website http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/the-city/videos-full-episodes.jhtml