If only places can speak...yet they have their own language with their texture, smell, vibe, mood...new york is waking up 

The reputation of Mission Chinese Food is for being cool, weird, and extremely eccentric, which tends to mean that you either love it or hate it (an assessment that is at least somewhat correlated to your personal tolerance for spice).

This little French-Morroccan restaurant is a perfect place for meeting artist friends and, of course, great escargot.

Sculpture by Tom Otterness at the 8th Avenue subway station at 14th street 

Stupendous views of Manhattan and what feels like all of Brooklyn from the only tall-ish building around. And very good beer.