I love this excellent independent arthouse theater in the Lower East side. Metrograph projects archive quality 35mm and independent films. Tastefully decorated, there is also a candy store, bookstore and restaurant.

An institution in Carroll Gardens that never lets you down. Don’t miss the prunes dessert or the wine bar, Franks, next door.

The rooftop garden at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The museum floors below are a maze of tremendous art and inspiration, and taking the elevator to the rooftop garden is the icing on the cake. 360' views of verdant green Central Park bordered by cool glass and steel of Manhattan's cityscape in the distance.

For oysters & libations. The comprehensive oyster menu changes depending on what they can get that's fresh. If you know anything about oysters or just plain like them, this is without question the spot. Currently my favorite oyster (not always on their menu) is the Skookum.

Every seat is a good seat in this small, intimate theater dedicated to dance. Nearly every dance company has filtered through the theater and with a season that lasts about 45 weeks, there's always a performance to see and tickets are very reasonably priced. I prefer a performance at The Joyce then at Lincoln Center any day.