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

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.

Coming back from from New Haven, we got off at Grand Central and he took me down one of the concourses to the place with the vaulted ceiling. He stood at one corner and I stood at another and we whispered into the walls, our voices drifting across to each other.

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

Amazing curation by a passionate knowledgeable staff. Art, Design, Photo, Architecture, books etc.