One of the best curated visual art books in New York and the World, with a bent towards a crossover of music/art/psychedelics. A place to feed the art habit, remembering that the greatest images are still locked in books and not online.

I feel like I've watched this plant shop grow up because they've over doubled in size since I first started going! Speaks to the quality of the store and ownership. They have an excellent selection of healthy plants for a great value. This is my go to for green.

While the current trend in noodles may well be ramen, this bafflingly-named Japanese restaurant just ten minutes from my apartment specialises in udon. Unless you are my friend Diego Zambrano it will probably take you several visits to get through all the things you need to try on the menu - the gyoza are otherworldly, the sushi 'tacos' clever enough without being silly. New York has thousands of awful Japanese places; this is not one of them. It's super nice to come in on a Sunday night and eat at the bar next to curmudgeonly old guys barking at each other in Japanese.

Arthur Avenue is a mainstay of the Bronx. Since the early 1900's til today, it's been the hub of the Italian-American community that calls the Bronx home. Many family-owned, traditional businesses dot the main avenue, and the food culture is rich and boisterous.

This is probably my favorite restaurant in Manhattan, it's Spanish Tapas but like you never had it before. You can literally order any dish from the menu, everything is amazing. Tip, it tends to get busy - so head in and sign up for a table, then go around the corner to their bar Jamón only challenge is that you might stay there all night.