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

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.

This is my favorite bar in the city: original cocktails, an unpretentious crowd and live jazz.

The NY Botanical Garden is worth of a visit, so beautiful!

Designed by Frederick Law Olmstead (of Central Park), Prospect Park is where I go running in better weather and find an endless supply of flotsam and jetsam for casting in projects all year round. Thickets of trees, hidden paths, and rolling hills are an endless source of inspiration.