Books are Magic is a great local spot for bookworms. The staff is warm and friendly with regular events happening monthly. 

What's not to like with a place that has a Sandwich named after Jonah Hill and hand-drawn signs in the window?

Going for a stroll on Atlantic Beach is a fall Sunday must. I rarely go to the New York beaches in summer because of the crowds, but standing on an empty, windy beach is a total mind soother. Make sure to take a peek at the Miami-colored Catalina Beach Club. Beaches close mid-September.

A non-collecting arts institution that fosters experimentation and dialogue through exhibitions, public programs, and artist residencies.

Where New Yorkers escape when the heat wave hits the city. Easy to access with subway and buss but less crowded than Rockaway.