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 reputation of Mission Chinese Food is for being cool, weird, and extremely eccentric, which tends to mean that you either love it or hate it (an assessment that is at least somewhat correlated to your personal tolerance for spice).

Neighborhood lunch place / Japanese supermarket. Love it for its authenticity and affordable Japanese food menu. Although its located in SOHO, it’s not hip, not fancy, not designed, not styled, not outstanding. Feels like a honest, family run business that makes the most out of this location for sure. Come here for Ramen, soba, sushi, and more. Try some fries with a choice of chili or wasabi mayonnaise. There’s something about them.

Brooklyn tattoo shop specializing in American traditional style work. Everyone is super nice and cool.

A delicious treat at the end of a warm day. The ice cream has a rich sesame flavor and is not as cloyingly sweet as regular American ice cream.