I discovered the Frick my first week in New York, during a heat wave in August. The galleries were surprisingly empty, with only the occasional visitor strolling through the rooms, gently creaking the floorboards. I stood for a while in front of the Bronzino, a portrait of a boy standing against a background of green drapery, and then sat in the courtyard for a long, cool hour.

The Ford Foundation Atrium houses a miniature tropical rainforest. Its glass walls create a temperate environment for the garden, while also creating a seamless flow of green space between the atrium and Tudor City Park to the east. The Ford Foundation Gallery shines a light on artwork that wrestles with difficult questions, calls out injustice, and points the way toward a more fair and just future. The atrium is open to the public Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. when the gallery has an exhibition on view.

Neighbourhood bar

I can’t get enough of the dioramas, but my favorite parts of the AMNH are the Halls of Meteorites and Minerals. There are some beautiful specimens here, and best of all you can actually lay your hands on the 4.5-billion-year-old Cape York Meteorite.

Prospect Park is a great place to have a water balloon fight, a picnic, a jog, and play with other people's dogs.