7 months before moving to New York I visited for the first time. I was immediately enraptured and felt a deep connection to the city that I had never experi- enced. It was in this massive hall at The Met that I decided I would be leaving Los Angeles and coming to NYC as soon as I possibly could.

Little skips is my place when I need to refill my energy with some morning sunlight. The big windows facing the street let all the light in while you can drink some coffee. My favorite thing to eat is the grilled cheese sandwich with some avocado. Out of rush hours or weekend mornings, it's a pretty good space to take your laptop and get some work done.

Great shop for creative people seeking inspiration. Small indie arty book shop selling used and rare books & records. Sometimes there's art exhibitions in the back.

Where New Yorkers escape when the heat wave hits the city. Easy to access with subway and buss but less crowded than Rockaway.

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.