McSorley’s Old Ale House

It’s not the newest, trendiest, or even best bar in NYC, but it’s got history and a unique character. The beer selection is light and dark, and that’s it. Dark, dusty and a bit dirty, it would be a great dive bar if it wasn’t well-known and long-lived. I take out-of-town visitors here to show them a throwback to a different time, to soak up the atmosphere and to help show the tremendous diversity of bars that exist throughout NYC.

Evolution Nature Shop

Evolution is a great place to visit even if you have no intention of buying anything. One of the most distinctive shops in SoHo, Evolution is very different from the designer clothing boutiques along Spring Street. The skeleton in the window grabs your attention and the wide variety of framed insects (the butterflies are amazing), fossils, skulls and skeletons will bring you back to browse.

-Taylor Davidson

Lakeside Lounge

A great bar is a place to make memories with your friends. Fortunately, this place has one of the last old black and white photo booths to freeze these moments in time. All this with good beer and live music every night.

High Line Elevated Park – Manhattan

Instead of demolishing the old elevated freight train tracks that ran along the West Side of Manhattan, the city created a modern urban park. A fusion of architecture and plant life that takes you from 34th Street in Midtown all the way down to Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District. My favorite way to transition from a hectic day at work to partying downtown at night is with a sunset stroll along this elegantly recycled railway.

Fairway Market – Red Hook Waterfront, Brooklyn

This 52,000 square foot supermarket and outdoor waterfront cafe is one of my favorite places 2 be in NYC. Situated in a nearly forgotten neighborhood now being revitalized by artists, young families and independent businesses, Fairway has embraced the industrial waterfront and has hidden itself in a warehouse built in 1869 with abandoned subway cars and the timeless backdrop of the Statue of Liberty. Walk along the Fairway Pier on any given day and you’ll be treated to breathtaking views juxtaposed with urban decay and renewal.

-Elias Plagianos

Pastis

Pastis is up the block from me, which is really amazing as this is such a great late night spot. Apparently there’s a secret menu from midnight to 1am which I have yet to try. This is the sister restaurant of one of my favorites, Balthazar. The interior is all old world Paris with all the charm and grace that comes along with it. The weekends can be a bit rough to get a table without a reservation during prime time, but none of that matters as a nightcap here is magical. The crowds are gone by then and even though there are still people around you feel like there’s no one else around but you and your company.

- Damien Basile

Flair

Get ready to find the unexpected at Flair. This home interiors store at the edge of Soho on Grand Street is my go to destination for vintage furniture, beautiful wall paper and a heavy dose of bold and stylish taste.

Loopy Mango

Located right next to Flair, this quirky store will charm you with its small town general store vibe mixed with small crafts from all over the world. There a yarn store at the back, hence the emphasis is on handwoven scarves, cushions, etc. Whimsical and cute, it’s a must visit for a piece of the crafty hipster pie.

Neue Galerie and Bookshop

I love the wood panelling and soft lamps of this gorgeous bookshop located in the Neue Galerie on the Upper East Side. The Gallery focuses on Austrian and German Expressionism by masters, such as Klimt, and the bookshops focuses on the writers from the time, such as Rilke and Kafka. They have the most beautiful Klimt prints and a lovely range of journals printed with masterpieces, such as “The Kiss”. Don’t forget to have an authentic and absolutely delicious Austrian Hot Chocolate at the Café Sabarsky, also within the Gallery.

-Radhika Gupta

-- New Museum

Bakeri, North 8th and Wythe

This charming little bakery is probably my favorite spot in the neighborhood. I come here almost every day for an afternoon coffee or to have a lunch date out in their garden where I can sit by the lovely, little koi pond. It’s cozy, welcoming and feels vaguely French and rustic. I also love that it’s run entirely by women who wear  ’40s style factory worker-inspired outfits (a la Rosie the Riveter) and bake a mean pastry. My favorite thing to get here though is probably the quinoa salad. Although, if we’re being honest here, the chocolate rosemary macadamia nut cookies are probably a close second. Yum!

-Julia Kaganskiy

ABC Kitchen

I am not sure that I can adequately describe how thrilled I was when ABC Kitchen became a part of the fabric of the Union Square neighborhood. As a longtime supporter of the Union Square Greenmarket and of farm to table dining, ABC Kitchen supports many things that I find personally meaningful. The food is the star of the show and the menu evolves with the seasons. With my office just a block away it has quickly become my local hangout.

De Vera

From spiritual relics, natural objects, artist designed pieces and jewelry; each piece curated by Federico de Vera has a story to tell. The gallery on the corner of Crosby and Howard is hauntingly serene and yet refined and elegant. With every visit I leave mesmerized and remember why it is my favorite store in Manhattan.

-Kristen McGinnis

The Future Perfect

The new and unofficial design center of Manhattan is turning out to be right in the heart of NoHo (North of Houston) on Great Jones Street.  So it’s no surprise to find a store with local products and furniture that is setting trends and quickly becoming an art mecca for eventual websites like Ahalife and Fab.com.  Opened in 2009, it’s charming, colorful, and chock full of surprises.  Secret’s out!

-Dina Gold