Strand is a castle of books. It claims 2.5 million new and used books, across 18 miles of shelves, cared for by 200 employees—so set aside a couple of hours. Plenty of art books and good prices. Get your healthy huff of that old book smell.

I like coming down here with friends when the weather permits and drinking on the beach or on the rocks when the tides come in.

Yossi Milo is, in my opinion, the most dynamic and eclectic of the photography galleries in NYC. From portaiture to architecture to experimental digital sculptural giant animals to street photography, they show an endlessly exciting range of work. Some of my favorite recent shows include Simen Johan's mythical beasts, Ezra Stoller's architectural photographs of the TWA terminal, and Sze Tsung Leong's huge cityscapes.

The best freshly pulled noodles. My favorite is braised pork with noodles in broth, celery and cilantro add a delicious freshness. Perfect for a cold day.

Lunch there before a visit at the MET with a walk in Central Park