One of the concerns of parents whose children are college bound have is "what kind of town is my kid moving to?" New York City is made up of hundreds of neighborhoods, very much like small towns. Two of these neighborhoods have very large educational institutions dominating the local scene. What I will try to do is to decipher and illuminate for concerned parents these small towns. I will give you the history of the neighborhood, show you the historical sites and point out the best places to shop, eat and relax. I will also impart things and places to avoid.