I had been living in Brooklyn Heights for some time and Long Island Restaurant has been closed for as long as I could remember. Then one day, the sign was lit up and not long after the new owners had resurrected the spot with the promise to the previous owners the name and sign never changes. Order "A Martini" from the menu. It's divine. As are the french fries. They're double fried.

I made my decision to move to New York when biking over the pink bridge one afternoon in early fall 2010. I feel like it’s the perfect bridge – with it’s view over Manhattan its great for walks, either visitors coming for the first time, old friends and first dates. I also love exercising running over it – and as a bonus looking at all the graffiti and writings and people passing by.

This park holds a special place in my heart because it has been like a backyard for me over the years. It is also named after the Secretary of State who negotiated the purchase of Alaska. There is even a Togo sculpture that reminds me of home. The bench strip doubles as a downtown runway.

A legendary basketball court in the West Village that is a popular destination for basketball aficionados, deflated hoop-dreamers, and gawking tourists.

If you love techno, and I love techno, in all its forms.. this is heaven. Warm wonderful crowd, 100% there to dance and support. Big family vibes, get lost in music.