Where in Manhattan are the best areas to see local vendors selling purses,gifts, scarves,sweaters,etc.????

Canal Street.

Actually, they are on nearly every street corner. You won't have a problem finding the deals!

Where is Canal Street located??

Canal Street is in Chinatown.

There are almost everywhere, mainly congested around 42nd Street, 34th Street and Canal Street, all accessible to the subway or buses. However, be advised these areas are especially busy and crowded on the weekends!!

Be careful of vendors in very touristy area like Times Sq. They frequently charge much more (2 or 3 times) what they charge on Canal St. ALso, It doesn't hurt to try to bargain.

Buying counterfeit goods from street vendors supports organized crime and terrorism.

Richard Noble, secretary general of Interpol, testified before Congress this past summer that "Al Qaeda supporters have been found with commercial-size volumes of counterfeit goods." Keep that in mind when buying a Kate Sprade bag from a street vendor.

Question of high importance LOL - what happened to the guys who sell watches out of their briefcases? Last time I was in NYC all I find were the guys who had more of a permanent stand set up on the sidewalk and they were selling watches in gift boxes. Used to like to haggle for my $10 "Rolex" out of the briefcase - anyone know where these guys went?

One more time. CANAL STREET.