On your journey north along Broadway, stopping through Union Square Park is must. Union Square is one of several Manhattan hubs. In addition to being the meeting place of many of the city's subway lines it's also where uptown and downtown Manhattan meet. South of Union Square (14th Street) is commonly thought of as 'downtown'. The park itself is also home to many city gatherings and festivals. Several days a week you will also find a great farmers market with a large selection of products from vendors all over the metro area. More info in the links above.
