Warm winter holiday vibes all year long, especially during the holidays. A hint of the old NYC where one could be a functioning alcoholic by day and artist by night. Proper characters here, the lore is deep.

A museum and sculpture garden in the Long Island City section of Queens, New York City, designed and created by the Japanese-American sculptor Isamu Noguchi.

I made my decision to move to New York when biking over the pink bridge one afternoon in early fall 2010. I feel like it’s the perfect bridge – with it’s view over Manhattan its great for walks, either visitors coming for the first time, old friends and first dates. I also love exercising running over it – and as a bonus looking at all the graffiti and writings and people passing by.

I often run to this place and I love this perspective on glittering Manhattan and the feeling of coolness in the air from being so close to the water. To sweat and breathe and see this view of New York gives me a sense of being in this great City.

This quaint shop boasts an artfully arranged and tastefully curated selection of jewelry, pottery, books and art. I have to keep myself from going there too often, because I have trouble leaving without making a purchase.