We also went shopping with the girls in the Meatpacking district. As the name implies, this is where the meatpacking companies slaughter their livestock, and was also historically the home of some late night S&M bars and lots of transvestite hookers. As the rest of Manhattan real estate skyrocketed, even the grungy Meatpacking district became gentrified. It's now a very eclectic mix of high end quirky retailers, trendy cafes and even the occassional meatpacker.