Printed Matter—organizer of the NY and LA Art Book Fairs—is a non-profit supporting the work of artists and independent publishers through the circulation of their books. At their store in Chelsea, you can shop an insanely diverse selection of artists’ books, zines, posters, and more. They’re also always hosting awesome in-store exhibitions and events, from book launches and talks to lectures and performances.

I'm a huge Japanophile: if there's one other place I'd like to live, it's Tokyo. I must have been there seven or eight times, most recently just after the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. Anyway, EN is a gem on Hudson Street, serving real Japanese cuisine. It turns out that EN is a chain in Japan; there are a lot of branches making lovely bosky food in cosy neighbourhood locations. But their New York incarnation is grand in scale and ambition, with solid, warm interiors (not unlike if the Whitney were a Japanese restaurant, oddly) - a remarkable hybrid of this city, and the other one that I'd love to live in.

Nestled in the Adirondack Mountains, Saranac Lake is a small town that thrives on the tourism of nature. Drawing in visitors from all around the world this high peaks jewel is a quiet, beautiful threshold to New York's untouched wilderness. The view is best enjoyed from a boat.

Best restaurant in the world.

Cute and eclectic, The HiHi Room serves a variety of comfort foods with vegetarian options in a chill atmosphere on a bustling street in Brooklyn.