Luhring Augustine did a good job of converting an old warehouse/storage facility into a blue chip commercial art gallery that stages four shows of contemporary art per year. Which means you can catch museum quality shows in an unlikely spot, away from all the Chelsea pomp, and it actually has friendly staff, instead of a cold gallerina sat behind a desk pretending to be on the phone.

The Theatre for a New Audience is a non-profit theater in New York City focused on producing Shakespeare and other classic dramas. Its off-Broadway productions have toured in the U.S. and internationally.

AIR at Summit One is a multi-story, completely immersive environment 91 floors above the street in midtown Manhattan. A stunning, transportive world created by digital and installation artist Kenzo, it is designed to transport you to another world away from the street culture of NYC and into an alternate state of consciousness. Peak time to go is sunset, when the mirrored environment transitions from magic daylight vistas to an internal LED system that removes all sense of time and space.

Best cupcakes ever (aside from my wife's)

This artist-run gallery is a hub of the Brooklyn gallery scene. You'll find Bungee, a celebrated fixture, snoozing comfortably in the office and somehow oblivious to all the surrounding chaos.