Make sure you know the size of your party when you arrive, or the formidable looking bouncer may give you a hard time at the door (they prefer no standing inside, all parties must be seated), but once you’re in, the drinks are fantastic and the staff is friendly and accommodating. In addition to cocktails, Pouring Ribbons features an impressive selection of Chartreuse.

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.

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

The graphic designer Rudolph de Harak created a three-story digital clock installed on the exterior of 200 Water Street. The clock consists of 72 square modules with numerals that light according to date, hour, minute and second.

I go here mostly because of the vibe, it”s a French bistro meets a plant shop and the sister restaurant to Tartine in the West Village. The Shakchuka and the fennel salad is delicious, so is the onion soup. Cute Rooftop during the summer.