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

A new-ish cinema located in the East Broadway section of Chinatown. They play a great selection of rare and vintage titles, plus hosting a considerable amount of director/cast Q&As post showing. People complain about their seats, but they're really not that bad. And yes, they have overpriced fancy snacks, but what theater has cheap snacks?! Go to Mission Chinese, Dimes, or Fat Raddish for dinner—all options around the corner. 

One of my favorites places to have breakfast.

Best fried chicken ever, and the speakeasy downstairs is incredible. 

7 months before moving to New York I visited for the first time. I was immediately enraptured and felt a deep connection to the city that I had never experi- enced. It was in this massive hall at The Met that I decided I would be leaving Los Angeles and coming to NYC as soon as I possibly could.