NEW YORK… NEW YORK

I can never get enough of listening to Frank Sinatra’s enchanting voice as he sings ‘New York, New York’

Start spreading the news, I’m leaving today.

I want to be a part of it, New York, New York.

These vagabond shoes, are longing to stray

Right through the very heart of it, New York, New York.

I wanna wake up, In a city that doesn’t sleep.

And find I’m king of the hill, top of the heap.

The city of New York is the largest city in the state of New York, commonly abbreviated as NYC. Its nickname is the ‘Big Apple.’ Let me illustrate the layout of the regions that make up New York City and the central heart of Manhattan with a visual.

New York is an architectural paradise, boasting some of the most iconic buildings. Let me provide a summary of its key structures, features, and locations to make it easier for first-time visitors:

I have been to New York several times and each time I discovered new beauties. If, like me, you believe that the best way to get to know a city is by walking, here are the walking routes I prepared for you from my walks in New York, step by step…

DOWNTOWN MANHATTAN

The area where New York was born, with the first settlement in the 17th century in what is now known as the ‘Financial District,’ triggered the stunning architecture, neoclassical masterpieces, and skyscrapers aiming to rise higher than the previous ones that we still see today. Undoubtedly, the biggest tragedy the area experienced was the tragic attack on September 11, 2001. The traces of sorrow still seem to be felt in the region…

Our tour started from the Brooklyn Bridge at the Brooklyn end. We walked to Manhattan by using the pedestrian path of this engineering marvel, enjoying the magnificent view of New York. By the way, let’s not pass without mentioning the Brooklyn Bridge. Construction of this bridge, connecting Brooklyn and Manhattan across the East River, began on January 3, 1870, and was completed in 13 years, opening for service on May 24, 1883. When completed, the bridge was the widest suspension bridge in the world and its towers were the tallest structures in the United States for a few years. Building this bridge, the brainchild of John A. Roebling, the inventor of the wire rope, was a dream. The bridge’s construction project, which Roebling worked on from 1865, was won, but during the site selection work of the bridge, he had an accident, and his foot was crushed. He died within two weeks in 1869 due to an infection. Washington Roebling, Roebling’s son, was appointed as the chief engineer of the bridge. However, the family was not spared bad luck, and in 1870, while Washington Roebling was working in the underwater chambers where the towers of the bridge would be built, he suffered a stroke and became bedridden. Thanks to the efforts of his wife Emily Warren Roebling, he was not removed from the chief engineering position of the bridge and continued to work unofficially through his wife. Washington Roebling monitored the construction of the bridge from his bed, and his wife maintained the connection between him and the construction site. The opening day of the bridge was declared a holiday in New York City, and it is rumored that on the opening day, 150,300 pedestrians crossed the bridge and threw 1 cent into the water each. The completion of the bridge is considered the pinnacle of 19th-century engineering, and it is believed to be the 8th wonder of the world for its time. After a pleasant walk, we reached City Hall Park.

At the north end of the City Hall Park stands the city hall building, New York City Hall, built in 1803, made of marble in the Georgian and French Renaissance styles. The mayor and city council still work here. At the north end of the park, the Tweed Courthouse, built in 1870 in the Italian style, is located. The park is crossed, discovering the main entrance and lobby of the building first, and then enjoying the parks of the complex.

To the left of the narrow end of the park stands Park Row Building or 15 Park Row, built in 1899 by architect R.H. Robertson. The building has been on the city’s list of important landmarks since 1999. Throughout the 19th century and the early 20th century, it hosted press giants such as Greeley, Pulitzer, Hearst, and Ochs. If you can enter, the lobby is also very beautiful. Right across the corner of this building stands Cass Gilbert’s famous Gothic masterpiece, the Woolworth Building. Completed in 1913 and opened, when it was completed, it was the world’s tallest building, and it is still among the top 20 tallest buildings in New York City and the top 100 in the United States. The arched buttresses and towers stand out immediately. It is especially recommended to enter and examine the ceiling decorations of the lobby (233 Broadway).

We continued our journey south after crossing Vesey Street, and after crossing Vesey Street, we saw the historic St. Paul’s Chapel. This church, opened in 1764, is still the oldest standing church in the Manhattan area and the only ‘pre-Revolutionary,’ meaning pre-French Revolution, church. It is known that George Washington prayed here before taking office and continued to attend services regularly. In fact, the pew he used while praying is located on the right at the entrance. The church, which served as one of the resting centers for rescue teams after the attack on the Twin Towers, still hosts the items left by visitors from all over the world to commemorate the event (209 Broadway).

We were enchanted by the masterpiece we encountered while heading towards Ground Zero. The World Trade Center PATH train station, designed by the famous Spanish architect and engineer Santiago Calatrava, symbolizes a bird taking off from a child’s palm. Creativity is bestowed upon some individuals, truly impressive…

Ground Zero means the region closest to the Earth after a massive explosion, and this definition describes the attack on the World Trade Center, the twin towers. The void of the venue speaks for itself in this pain where words fall short. Today, this memorial area, called 9/11 Memorial, consisting of a museum and two pools, is a significant tourist attraction. The names of those who lost their lives in the event are located along the pool, and thanks to the lighting, the venue is quite intriguing at night (180 Greenwich Street).

Turning back to Church Street and walking a little south towards Wall Street, we turned left. Trinity Church greeted us at the intersection of Broadway and Wall Street. The first Trinity Church, built in 1697, was the tallest building in the city at the time. However, it was destroyed in a fire in 1776. When the second church suffered damage from snow, the third and still-existing Gothic church was rebuilt between 1839 and 1846. In the adjacent cemetery, Alexander Hamilton, one of the founders of America, and the famous engineer Robert Fulton, the inventor of the steamship used for commercial purposes, are buried (75 Broadway).

Right across from it is the building of Bank of New York, the oldest bank in America. It stands out, especially with its ‘Art-Deco’ lobby covered in red and gold mosaics. Wall Street, a very narrow area, is known for its very strong neo-classical towers. The New York Stock Exchange, the securities exchange, is the world’s most important stock exchange. This building, built in 1903, is easily noticeable with its dazzling Corinthian columns (20 Broad Street, between Wall Street and Exchange Place). As we moved towards the intersection, Federal Hall National Memorial welcomed us. Built in 1700, Federal Hall is known as the place where George Washington, the first president of America, declared his inauguration in 1789. Also, in 1735, after congress, freedom of the press was first announced here. The building, later demolished, was rebuilt in 1846 as Federal Hall National Memorial. The exhibition inside sheds light on Manhattan’s history (26 Wall Street).

Turning back to Broadway and heading south, this route, from Battery to City Hall, has hosted a total of 206 parade ceremonies, from presidents to veterans, from political developments to champions. Along the way, there is a financial history museum at number 28. At the end of the road is Bowling Green Park, a small public park. This place is known as the point where Peter Minuit bought the Manhattan Island from the Indians for $24 (the good-natured and naive Indians were the ones who suffered). This area, the oldest park in the city, was built in 1733. At the north end, there is a statue of King George II in colonial times, while with the revolution, this statue gave way to the famous bull statue. The south and west ends open to Battery Park. Just below Bowling Green Park, there is a building built by Cass Gilbert in 1907, which now hosts the National Museum of the American Indian from the Smithsonian Museum group. The four statues made by the famous French sculptor Daniel Chester in front of the building symbolize Asia, America, Europe, and Africa. No.1 Broadway building, with its blue awnings, has cabin class written at one entrance and first class written at the other, was the point where international ship passengers bought their tickets. Today, it is used as a Citibank building, but the lobby has been preserved in memory of the old days.

We continued south to Battery Park. It is possible to see the Statue of Liberty from here, and ferries to Ellis Island also depart from this park. On the north side of the park’s tip, along the Hudson River, is the Museum of Jewish Heritage. Designed by Roche-Dinkeloo in homage to the Jewish Holocaust, the museum opened in 1997. We walked along the Hudson River until we saw the red Starrett-Lehigh building on 26th Street. This point allowed us to reach one of the most beautiful spots in the High Line Park, where we would rest a bit at the end of our journey. The Hudson waterfront is currently one of the fastest-growing and popular areas in New York City. There is also significant investment in architecture. The area has peaceful and spacious parks with various sports facilities. The structures that were once used as ports have been transformed into entertainment areas for children and young people. If you have a little traveler with you, playgrounds, climbing walls, and miniature football fields with tiny castles promise enjoyable times. I didn’t forget the young travelers; skateboarding/rollerblading tracks and different sports areas are also suitable for them. But the most incredible is the golf practice area created by transforming one of the harbor areas. It is possible to have individual shot training in the multi-level golf club with a view of the Hudson, providing a truly enjoyable experience of playing on a real golf course.

Turning right from 26th Street, we walked a bit and were greeted by the High Line Park. This park, initiated in 2006 to repurpose the historic New York Central Railroad, completed in 2015. Designed by the architectural firm Diller-Scofidio-Renfro, this park has been visited by approximately 5 million visitors each year since September 2014. To beautify the area, new species have been introduced while adhering to the natural vegetation. Sun loungers moving on the train tracks are everyone’s favorite. Culturally, it also hosts many artistic elements

This region, which owes its fame to attracting bohemians and intellectuals like Henry James, Edgar Allan Poe, Jackson Pollock, and intellectual leaders like Upton Sinclair and John Reed, has gained its identity. However, as young artists could no longer afford the rents in this area over time, this feature of the region has shifted a bit to Chelsea, East Village, Brooklyn, and Queens. Still, with its leafy streets, Federal style houses, and ivy-covered walls, especially above 14th Street, it promises a pleasant stroll. The area abounds with local organic businesses, art shops, and local markets, and the locals are not fond of big chain businesses. Therefore, surprises await you at every corner with local and different experiences.

We started our tour from the northern boundary of the region, which is the intersection of A, C, or E trains at 8th Avenue and 14th Street. We walked south until Bleecker Street remained on our left. Then we strolled along this street, intending to smell the air of the region. The 3 blocks between Bank Street and Charles Street are ideal, especially for those considering buying antiques, jewelry, and decoration products (Marc Jacobs Boutique, Les Pierre Antiques, Kim’s Music and Video, Rebel Rebel, and Bleecker Bob’s). Christopher Street, intersecting Bleecker Street, is known as the center of transgender life. The gay freedom movement started here in 1969. Turning right from Grove Street, a block after Christopher Street, and walking a bit more, we reached the intersection of Grove and Bedford. The wooden house on this corner dates to the early 19th century. The adjacent house is made in the old shingle style and is known for its curved gables. Walt Disney lived here for a while (102 Bedford St.).

Continuing on Grove Street, we inspected particularly houses numbered 10 and 12. Then we headed a bit south to visit Chumley’s. This building, which was made quite inconspicuous to avoid drawing attention during the alcohol ban days, is one of the most classic bars in New York. This place, which has hosted many celebrities such as Calvin Trillin, John Steinbeck, John Dos Passos, and Allen Ginsberg, is a must-visit (86 Bedford Street). When Grove Street intersects with Hudson Street, the historic St. Luke in the Fields Church, founded in 1822, welcomed us. Going down Barrow Street from Grove Street, and turning right, we reached the intersection of Grove and Bedford again. The houses along this street have brownstone walls and Federal style buildings. Going back to Hudson Street and first turning right, then left, we returned to St. Luke’s Place. This street with 19th-century Italian-style houses is very interesting. House number 6 here is the residence of New York Governor Jimmy Walker, who served between 1926-1932. The number 10 house was also used for exterior shots of the famous ‘Cosby Show’. We came back to Bedford Street from St. Luke and turned left. Before reaching Commerce Street, there is the narrowest building in the area at ’75 ½ Bedford St.’ Cary Grant lived for some time. Returning to Morton Street and going to the intersection of Bleecker Street, we crossed to the other side and walked along Cornelia Street. Cornelia Street ended at West 4th. Street, and this brought us to 6th Avenue. When we walked one block, we reached Macdougal Street and went to the legendary Provincetown Playhouse. Founded by Eugene O’Neill in 1920 and hosting the premieres of many plays, this building is also where Bette Davis performed for the first time. The intersection of Macdougal Street and West 4th is the southwest corner of Washington Square Park. This place is more of a square than a park. Washington Square Park is one of the most well-known public parks in New York City, inside a 1900 public park. It serves as a meeting place and a center for many cultural activities, as well as being one of the boundary markers of the Greenwich Village neighborhood in Manhattan, with an area of approximately 39,500 square meters. The victory arch made by Stanford White is the most striking feature. Most of the buildings surrounding the park now belong to New York University (NYU). At the northeast end of the park, going from University Place towards the east, you can reach Washington Mews. It is possible to enjoy the charm of the SoHo region before leaving here. This area is the most European part of New York City. Low-rise buildings, design shops, pleasant cafes, and art everywhere.

We are in the heart of Manhattan, the central hub of museums and shopping paradise. This area is an ideal walking route for those visiting New York for the first time. Although I have taken this route many times, I don’t hesitate to do it again because I always see different things each time.

Our walk began at the 34th Street, B, D, F, N, Q, R, V, 1, 2, or 3 train station. The Empire State Building, located at the intersection of 34th Street and 5th Avenue, is a 102-story romantic art-deco masterpiece completed in 1931. 42nd Street and 5th Avenue are immediately recognizable with the Corinthian columns of the 1911-built New York Public Library and the two lion statues placed by Mayor La Guardia.

Our next destination is Grand Central Terminal, located at 89E/42nd Street. Built by the New York Central Railroad, responsible for the rail system in New York City, during the era when train travel was most popular in the United States, this building is still the world’s largest train station building in terms of the number of train platforms. There are a total of 44 train platforms and 67 separate train track lines. When the new stations built by the Long Island Railroad company are completed in 2016, the number of platforms will increase to 48, and the number of train lines will increase to 75. Grand Central Terminal ranked 13th in the 2007 America’s Favorite Architecture List vote. While at Grand Terminal Station, it’s a must to have ice cream from Jacques Torres. After leaving from the 42nd Street entrance of Grand Central Terminal and reaching 5th Avenue, the Chrysler Building, another Art Deco masterpiece of New York, welcomed us to the south.

Continuing west and passing the library, we reached Bryant Park. A veritable oasis to catch your breath and rest a bit. As we continued from 5th Avenue, the area between 5-6th Avenues and 48-50th Streets is Rockefeller Center. Entering from 49-50th Streets and passing through the Channel Garden (a branch of the Metropolitan Museum gift shop), we reached the main plaza (the Lego Store here should not be overlooked, especially for young travelers). This is where the famous Christmas tree, ice skating rink, and the Prometheus golden statue are located.

The Art Deco GE Building immediately presents itself. It is a must to enter its lobby and examine the works of José-Maria Sert. If you continue from 6th Avenue, you can see the Radio City Music Hall.

Returning to 5th Avenue and turning onto 50th Street, you should see St. Patrick’s Cathedral with its 2 Gothic towers (I have visited after a Sunday Mass and seen it in its most illuminated state). The cathedral also serves as the headquarters of the Catholic Archdiocese of New York. The cathedral ranked 11th in the 2007 America’s Favorite Architecture List vote.

For architectural enthusiasts, on East 53rd Street, you should see the Lever House and Mies van der Rohe’s Seagram Building. Both stand out with their simple designs. Also, on 53rd Street, you’ll find the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Apart from the museum, the store that sells design products must be visited. At the intersection of 55th and Madison (1 block east of 5th Avenue), there is Philip Johnson’s pink granite Sony Building. Our tour ends at Plaza Hotel, the world’s most famous hotel at 59th Street. Many films, including ‘Home Alone 2’, have been filmed at this hotel, and Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones got married here. The Oak Room within the hotel is a popular bar. From here, you can cross to Central Park and enjoy various activities such as biking, carriage rides, and walks.

While life in Manhattan was more centered further south, the Upper West Side was initially an area where rural life prevailed. In the early 20th century, it became a settlement preferred by Hispanic immigrants and witnessed intense gang activity – not to mention the iconic ‘West Side Story’ film. With the construction of the Lincoln Center in 1960, the face of the neighborhood began to change, and after the 1980s, it became one of Manhattan’s upscale residential areas.

Our tour began by taking the 1 or 9 train to the 86th Street station. An important detail – we’re going on this tour without having breakfast! For families with children, a must-visit is the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, located between 83rd Street (between Broadway and Amsterdam).

Continuing towards Broadway, between 83rd and 82nd Streets, the Barnes & Noble bookstore is a veritable haven for book lovers. In the 1990s, despite the resistance of the local bookstore Shakespeare & Co., Barnes & Noble managed to surpass it thanks to its rich content (a nod to the movie “You’ve Got Mail”, starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan). On 80th Street, the gourmet market Zabar’s is an iconic West Side establishment. We buy cheese from here and bread from H&H, right across the street – breakfast is at Central Park.

With our foods in hand, we continued our journey. The block between 79th and 78th Streets belongs to the Apthorp Apartments. We envy the private courtyards behind the iron bars. This residence, built in the Italian Renaissance architectural style for William Waldorf Astor between 1906 and 1908, has housed famous residents such as Al Pacino, Cyndi Lauper, and Canon O’Brien. Fairway, a very popular market, is located at 80th Street. A few blocks later, we encountered the Ansonia Hotel, which covers 73-74 streets. Opened in 1904, the hotel initially became popular with pneumatic messaging between rooms and, despite its lack of harmony with animal rights, with seals playing in its fountain, a terrace with a baby bear, and chickens. We took a tour of its lobby, sniffing the air of history. Crossing to the east side of Broadway, between 74th and 73rd Streets, is the Apple Bank for Saving, one of New York’s significant buildings. Gray’s Papaya on 72nd Street offers papaya juice. We then turned left onto Columbus and walked a few blocks. When we reached 77th Street, the American Museum of Natural History welcomed us. The museum greets natural history enthusiasts with its impressive dinosaur collection. For those who choose not to enter the museum, walking through the lawn towards 79th Street, you can see the ‘New York Time Capsule’ by Santiago Calatrava, built in memory of the millennium.

When we reached 81st Street, the impressive Rose Center for Earth and Space came into view. Although we chose not to watch the space show narrated by Harrison Ford (whom I admire for his role as Indiana Jones), we admired the cubic building of the museum.

Turning right onto Central Park West at 81st Street, the Beresford Building with its towers draws attention. Completed in 1929, the apartment in the building that is currently for sale for $62 million is one of the city’s most expensive properties. One of the homeowners had a special parking space built for his collection of 20 Porsches.

Turning right towards Central Park West and saluting the statue of Teddy Roosevelt on horseback in front of the American Museum of Natural History, we went to 77th Street and visited the New-York Historical Society. This place is a museum and library complex. This grand library in the world’s most challenging city is, in fact, proof that they control everything (greetings to my Istanbul). The San Remo apartments, rising between 75th and 74th Streets, were built by the architect of the Beresford building, Emery Roth. During the Great Depression, the entire building was sold for $25,000, a price that cannot even get you a storage room today. At the intersection of Central Park West and 72nd Street, the castle-like Dakota building rises. Although famous for hosting celebrities such as Lauren Bacall, Boris Karloff, Judy Garland, Leonard Bernstein, and William Inge, it will always be remembered for John Lennon being shot in front of its entrance. John Lennon’s widow, Yoko Ono, still lives in this house. At this point, we immediately cross to Central Park and, while remembering the great master in Strawberry Fields, dedicated to John Lennon, we enjoy our breakfast with the tunes of ‘Imagine’.

Imagine there’s no heaven

It’s easy if you try

No hell below us

Above us only sky

Imagine all the people

Living for today…

Imagine there’s no countries

It isn’t hard to do

Nothing to kill or die for

And no religion too

Imagine all the people

Living life in peace…

You may say I’m a dreamer

But I’m not the only one

I hope someday you’ll join us

And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions

I wonder if you can

No need for greed or hunger

A brotherhood of man

Imagine all the people

Sharing all the world…

You may say I’m a dreamer

But I’m not the only one

I hope someday you’ll join us

And the world will live as one

Upper East Side is synonymous with wealth and power in New York. As you move eastward from Central Park, the properties become more affordable, but in this direction, we experienced the aura of luxury and grandeur near the park. We saw buildings that once symbolized wealth and power, owned by individuals such as Vanderbilt, Carnegie, and Whitney, now repurposed as museums, foundations, or consulates.

Our journey began by taking the 4, 5, or 6 train to 86th Street. From there, we walked west on 86th Street towards 5th Avenue. The red-and-white mansion on the southeast corner, built in 1914, was purchased by Cornelius Vanderbilt in 1944. Vanderbilt, a general and heir to a fortune, adorned his wealth with many mansions. Turning left onto 5th Avenue, we passed by 1040, the apartment building where Jackie Onassis lived. Jackie O. enjoyed living among the public and even did her morning exercise in Central Park. Continuing along 5th Avenue, we passed the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The museum is so rich that even a week might not be enough to explore it fully, so it’s advisable to choose specific areas to visit based on the available time. On the southeast corner of 82nd Street, there is a mansion that once belonged to Benjamin Duke. Benjamin and James, sons of a tobacco-growing family from North Carolina, were founders of the American Tobacco Company and Duke University. The house, originally built in 1912 by James Duke, is now used by NYU’s Graduate School of Art History.

Moving northeast on 75th Street, we found a mansion owned by Edward Harkness, son of John D. Rockefeller, located between 78th and 79th Streets. This mansion is now used by the Commonwealth Foundation. Heading east from 75th Street towards Madison Avenue, we encountered the Whitney Museum of American Art. If you choose not to visit the museum, the café is recommended for a pleasant break.

On 73rd Street between 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue, we found the home of the famous publisher Joseph Pulitzer. Unfortunately, he didn’t prefer to live in this grand house due to his extreme sensitivity to noise, despite efforts to soundproof a room. Continuing on 5th Avenue, between 70th and 71st Streets, we reached the mansion of Henry Clay Frick. Frick, a passionate art collector, especially favored Italian Renaissance works. The building, designed by the same architect who planned the New York Public Library, serves as both a residence and a gallery. Frick left the house and all its contents to New York City, and the museum is now considered one of the city’s most precious gems.

Turning east from 70th Street and walking up to Lexington Avenue, we found the Asia Society, established by John D. Rockefeller to enhance cultural and artistic relations between America and Asia. Heading south and reaching the north end of 68th Street, we discovered 680 Park Avenue, originally built for banker Percy Rivington Payne and later used by the Soviet Union Delegation to the United Nations.

Continuing from 66th Street, we first turned right and then back towards Central Park. At 3 East 66th Street, we saw the house used by Ulysses S. Grant from 1881 to 1885. Grant, facing bankruptcy and later diagnosed with cancer, retreated to this house to pen his memoirs. The autobiography provided his family with a substantial income after his death.

Walking from 5th Avenue to East 65th Street, two blocks east, we encountered 47-49, the Twin Town Houses of the famous American president Roosevelts. Although the structure has only one main entrance, the left side belonged to Roosevelt’s mother, and the right side was his own (legend has it that Roosevelt’s wife, nicknamed Little Miracle Eleanor, was not pleased with this proximity). Roosevelt lived here in 1920-21 and preferred to stay in this residence when he visited the city, as it was not part of the therapy center for his polio.

From 5th Avenue to East 61st Street, there is the Pierre Hotel, part of the Four Seasons Hotel Chain. The Rotunda Lounge is highly recommended for afternoon tea.

Aurora – A charming Italian restaurant located in Williamsburg. Both the owner and chef are Italian and enthusiasts of Tuscany, reflecting the rustic atmosphere and flavors of the region. The advantage of being in Brooklyn is complemented by its garden. Antipasti range from $12 to $18, primi piatti from $18 to $25, and secondi piatti from $25 to $35. We, a group of four, tried different flavors by tasting from each other’s plates, and they were magnificent.

Shelter – Another café/bar in Williamsburg. Enjoy stone-oven pizzas. The fireplace is legendary, especially if you go in winter, a must-try experience. Summer enjoyment is also a different experience, of course.

Spotted Pig – One of the most popular restaurants in West Village. Unfortunately, they do not accept reservations, and it can be quite crowded, but the wait is worth it. While waiting at the bar, we tried ‘chicken liver toast’ and ‘devils on horserack’ (priced at $9-10) – well worth the wait. Before the main course, we shared stracciatella with wild mushrooms on filone toast ($18) and sheep’s milk ricotta gnudi with brown butter & crispy sage ($20). Afterwards, some of us chose grilled skirt steak with roasted beets & horseradish cream ($35), scallops with creamy beans, crispy kale & salsa verde ($36), and chargrilled burger with roquefort cheese & shoestring fries ($25). The flavors were superb, and it’s no wonder it’s so popular; New Yorkers truly know their food.

Mission Chinese – Reservations are required days in advance for this restaurant on Broadway. However, the best Chinese dishes I’ve ever had in my 50 years of life were here, and I’m a serious fan of Chinese cuisine, eating it everywhere in the world. The daily specials on the menu are the most intriguing; let yourself be guided by their recommendations, and you won’t regret it.

By Chloe – A vegetarian burger joint in SoHo; don’t say it’s a contradiction, try it, you won’t regret it. The decor and presentations are also very enjoyable. Whatever you order is under $10.

Piccola Cucina – Located in SoHo, but there are 2 branches; I recommend the one on Spring St. This is a small restaurant serving Sicilian cuisine. Handmade pastas, especially Spaghetti alla Norma, are exquisite. The wine menu is not very extensive, but the flavors are excellent. You can also see the cooking process in the open kitchen. The communal singing of ‘New York, New York’ is the most entertaining part.

Cilantro – I also have a serious fondness for Mexican cuisine. My favorite is Escalantes in Houston – especially their guacamole. Although this Mexican restaurant in the Upper East Side may not match that level, it’s much better than the mass-produced flavors in chain Mexican restaurants.

Jacques Torres Ice Cream – Located in Grand Central Terminal.

Magnolia Bakery – They have branches in Rockefeller Center, Upper West Side, and Bleecker Street. A New York classic