If you're a vegetarian, stop by Teany's inbetween Ludlow and Orchard! They have 93 different kinds of tea but, the Teany Bagel is worth the visit all by itself. Very good veggie bacon!
And now, for shopping:
Webber's at W132nd is the best dollar store ever, if you're looking for a cute purse with a $2 price tag.
Anything else in the world that you're looking for (except for low priced Pumas) can be found in Harlem on 125th street. Thier bootlegs are so good - I'd never pay to go to the movies if I lived there!
The Garment district (34th street area) is also like a treasurebox!
You have so many different sidewalk vendors (in both areas)that are competing with each other - you can haggle all day and walk away with STEALS!

Let me start, and feel free to add-and this is only my humble opinion

New York City (Brooklyn can get another section)

Best Park
Central Park-truly a breath of fresh air in an urban jungle.

Best Neighbourhood
East Village, it's got everything you want and more

Best Bar
Angel Share - East Village
They don't allow groups of more than two at a time. This is the place to take your special someone and enjoy a freshly made cocktail. A really unique joint.

Best venue
if it is a big show RADIO CITY - great sound and art deco all the way.

mid size venue IRVING PLAZA - no better place to see a band in US except maybe Bimbo's in San Francisco.

small venue - if we are going to get intimate then it has to be JOE'S PUB

Best Club
Ceilo - good sound and nice size (small).

Best Promoters
Giant Step - I am a member after all, plus no one else has been doing it like them for 15 years.

Best Eats (a hard one)
Japanese - Blue Ribbon Sushi
Italian - Babbo
Deli (It's New York Bubby) - Katz's
Middle Eastern - Mogador

Record Store
Dancetracks

CD Store
Virgin Union Square

Cinema
Angelika

Best Place to watch soccer
Nevada Smith's - (well my name is Cantona)

Book Store
St. Marks Books

Threads
Paul Smith on 5th Ave
Union

Hotel
Expensive - Mercer
Bargain - Cosmopolitan Hotel

Must do sight seeing things to do in NY (cheap)
Walk the Brooklyn Bridge
Staten Island Ferry

People feel free to add.

well in nyc you have the east village, west village, soho, noho, midtown, gramercy...blah blah. I would think as long as it's part of the city it's part of the city...sounds to me like little 5 points would be an area I would want to hit should I visit the ATL...I mean I know I'm not being much help but most city's I've been to have different sections of cities...I hear what you're saying about driving but that's something I guess that should be noted upfront when getting into ATL and cities like that...

Ok! Well, I have an idea for a category but, I don't know what to call it. I'll describe - you help to name it.
Charlotte, like Atlanta, is mostly a driving town.
If you want to get that nice city feeling of walking from one locally owned store to another, you have to go to specific neighbrhoods. (EX: In Atlanta, Little 5 Points is a fun and unique area to shop, eat, walk and sit. The shops include 'Wish' which has its own DJ in the middle of the store)
What do you call that?

great idea, I have seen people on the boards from alover the world. I think to make things easier and uniform we should come up with catagories that everyone can fill out for their cities i.e.

Best music clubs

Restaurant

Bar

Sneaker store

Record store

late night hang

park

art gallery

feel free to add to the list, once we got it then we can get the other peeps to put their recommendations in.

I know that this is primarily a music site but, has anyone considered doing Giant Step Guides to thier cities (Giant step Guide to...)? It could be started by one and then added on to by other natives or people who know the areas really well. That way, instead of being stuck looking at typical touristy things or not having fun at all due to lack of info - everyone can travel armed with all kinds of information on places to go, things to do, what to see & eat and, various local color that tourbooks can miss. Who knows, you could (if you want to) meet up with other site members once you get there to hang out or get a personal tour.

We have members from all over the world:
New York, Brooklyn, London, Baltimore, etc.
Who wants to start?