Downtown: Today

Downtown Manhattan has long been a hotbed for experimental art and culture, from pop art to avant-garde theater to punk and classical minimalism.

(Click the word cloud to see a word cloud of what Downtown means to people.)

But the downtown spirit has spread to Williamsburg, Long Island City and other areas. As WNYC opens a new performance space south of Houston, Soundcheck asks: In one word, how do you define downtown? Joining us to discuss the changing face and sound of downtown are rocker Lou Reed, genre-bending singer Santigold and the string quartet Ethel.

Tell us: In one word, how do you define downtown?

Slide show: View images of downtown Manhattan