I had a studio in this neighborhood for 3 years. Just take your camera and spend a couple hours walking around admiring the colors and people and odd shops. 

One of my favorite things to do on weekends is to head to Grand Central Market for brunch, grab a few glasses of wine at the Oyster bar and then roam around downtown collecting pigeons. Over the past few years the market has been modernized and has become a really trendy spot, but it still retains aspects of what it was like decades ago. Some of my favorite stands are The Oyster Gourmet, Sarita's Pupuseria and the Belcampo Meat Co.

Authentic Korean BBQ in Koreatown. Delicious meats and big variety of mushrooms, interestingly good fried rice, metal chopsticks, and a buzzer you can press to alert the waiter.

My favorite place to brainstorm over breakfast. 

Dries Van Noten