Muscling in between Sixth and Eighth avenues from 34th to 42nd streets, the Garment District , which takes in the twin modern monsters of Penn Station and Madison Square Garden, offers little of interest to the casual tourist. The majority of people who cross the Garment District do so for a specific reason - to catch a train or bus, to watch wrestling or basketball, or to work - and it's only a wedge of stores between Herald and Greeley squares that attracts the out-of-towner.

Three-quarters of all the women's and children's clothes in America are made here, though you'd never believe it: outlets are strictly wholesale with no need to woo customers, and the only clues to the industry inside are the racks of clothes shunted around on the street and occasional bins of offcuts that give the area its look of an open-air rummage sale. Every imaginable button, bow, boa and bangle is on display. The Garment District can best be reached by taking the #1, #2, #3, #A, #C and #E to Penn Station or the #N, #R, #Q and #W to Herald Square