2 SOHO
I’d say this stop on the walking tour, Soho, is definiely optional. It used to be (is?) “famous” for art galleries and artistic things, but I find it to be almost completely gentrified and uninteresting. To visit from my walking tour, walk south from Washington Square Park until you cross over Houston Street. Otherwise, walk east on Waverly Place (jog left to Astor Place), Bleeker Street, West-East 3rd Street, or West-East 4th Street for a few blocks to get to the East Village.
These photos were taken 2002 – 2009.
I don’t want to talk that much about something I don’t know, so here is a commercial link to Soho business, and much ado about nothing at the Wikipedia Soho Website. I found a site dedicated to SOHO Art, but it is so artistic that I can barely navigate it. If you visit this area and want to continue the walking tour to the East Village, walk east on Houston until you get to Avenue A or B and walk north (left). Although it would be more interesting to go back to Washington Square Park and follow the directions from there.