Little skips is my place when I need to refill my energy with some morning sunlight. The big windows facing the street let all the light in while you can drink some coffee.
My favorite thing to eat is the grilled cheese sandwich with some avocado. Out of rush hours or weekend mornings, it's a pretty good space to take your laptop and get some work done.
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.
Joseph Leonard is one of my favorite cozy spots for brunch on the weekend. After a long week of work their avocado toast and a bloody mary hits the spot. Get there early or expect to wait, it's small and limited seating. Their sister restaurant Jeffreys Grocery across the street is also very good, but no expresso drinks which and I need my morning latte.
One of the only things I enjoy about taking the subway these days is seeing the defaced ads on the L train. Whether it's random chance, high schoolers or street artists the result is always good.