Jacques Torres Chocolate Haven (for Chocolate)

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Originally uploaded by neps.

Rave reviews from everyone, at least those who think sybarritic experience has yet to find its zenith.

The New York Times says "as close to Willie Wonka's Chocolate Factory as Manhattan will get."

New Yorkers know Jacque Torres from his shop in DUMBO, but from his previous life as the pastry chef at Le Cirque 2000. "New York" says "Torres is one of the world's premier chocolatiers, making his chocolate from cacao beans right before your eyes. The shop is designed in the oval shape of a cacao pod, and has views for all to see of the working machines in the factory where the magic happens. After seeing the beans turn to chocolate, let the champagne truffles and creamy caramel chocolates melt in your mouth and you'll think you've entered a state of nirvana."

Find Haven on 350 Hudson Street (at King Street in Soho, near Houston).

Rockefeller Center

Rockefeller Center's Christmas Tree
Originally uploaded by Sciamano.

The center of NYC during Christmas, it has throngs of people throughout the year for obscure reasons. The Today show is filmed here, and it is a stop on every tourist tour.

Strand Used Book Store

Strand Book Store
Originally uploaded by Jim in Times Square.

This is one of the originals. Go here for great people-watching and a non-Barnes and Noble experience.

While you are in the neighborhood, make sure you visit Union Square and surrounds.

Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)

NYC10
Originally uploaded by mt76online.

Just restored and a can't miss.

The Bitter End

The Bitter End
Originally uploaded by kinch76.

See desciption of this music-filled place.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

D200 at the Met: Welcome to my kingdom
Originally uploaded by carpeicthus.

Magnificent. And there is no way to explain why without visiting. One of the great institutions in the entire world.

To get there from Grand Central, take the 4, 5, or 6 to 86th street and walk west to Fifth Avenue. Walk south two blocks and you can't miss it.

Washington Square Park, Greenwich Village

Washington Square
Originally uploaded by Jim in Times Square.

Fifth Avenue dead-ends here, and so begins low-scale Greenwich Village. Walk east, and you hit Broadway and University (great street).Walk west and you hit 6th Avenue and the West Village. Walk south and you hit Bleeker and the central village bars.

On a nice summer day, the Park is full of jugglers and scammers of all shapes and sizes.

To get there from Grand Central, go south to Bleeker Street, and walk west on Bleeker. At Thomson, go right. The park will be two blocks ahead.

Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)

Bottles & Reflections (Revised)
Originally uploaded by dvaires.

The new MOMA is a must-see. After two years of renovation, it opened in 2005 to great acclaim. See Matisse, Rodin, and hundreds of other great works of modern times here.

Note that Friday night, entrance is free.

To get there, walk from Grand Central to 53rd, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues.

A great stop after MOMA is Le Bonne Soupe, a casual but authentic French cafe on 54th between Fifth and Sixth.

Grand Central Station

grand central station
Originally uploaded by marssy.

Jackie Kennedy saved this spectacular building for the future, and thank God she did. It defines so much about the City. 100+ train tracks, right into the center of the city.

Make sure you check out the Vanderbilt Apartment Bar, Michael Jordan's Steakhouse, The Oyster Bar, the food court downstairs, and the Grand Central Market on the Lexington Avenue Side.

Find it at 42nd and Park.

The Roxy Delicattessen

The Roxy
Originally uploaded by sThig.

See comment. There are hundreds of legitimate delis in New York City, but the phrase "deli" has been coopted by virtually every neighborhood grocery store with a counter and a steam table. The Roxy is one of the legitimate ones.

Chinatown

"when the music's over"
Originally uploaded by Francisco Nogueira.

Chinatown has morphed, and now spills from its original location, south of Canal Street, into Little Italy, and the Lower East Side neighborhood along East Braodway.

While there, check out Dim Sum in Jing Fong, on Elizabeth Street between Canal and Pell.

To get there from Grand Central, take the 6 train downtown to Canal.

The Lower East Side

The Ghosts of Alphabet City 227
Originally uploaded by lorenzodom.

Eclectic reaches its extreme point in the lower east side. Chinese laundries sit side by side with underwear stores which sit next to chic bars and sushi lounges.

To get there, take the 5 to Houston/Bleeker, and walk east past Allen. Go south at Orchard or Ludlow or both.

Make sure you stop at Katz's for pastrami and at the Sunshine movie theater for a movie, two of New York's finest institutions.

Gormutt doggie bakery on Avenue A in Alphabet City

Master's Voice
Originally uploaded by Tiny Pink Frog.

This shot is illustrative of one of New York's most eclectic streets. In this case, you are looking at the Gormutt doggie bakery on Avenue A.

To get there, take the 4,5, or 6 to 14th street, and walk east past 1st Avenue one block, and then walk south.

Bryant Park

lots of people
Originally uploaded by h-bomb.

One of the great central city hang-outs, complete with a great sidewalk cafes, gardens, and places to sit. Behind the New York Public Library on 42nd, between 5th and 5th Avenue.

To get there, walk from Times Square or Grand Central.

World Financial Center Winter Gardens

World Financial Center Winter Gardens
Originally uploaded by xrrr.

This is the start or end of any great Hudson river walk. Filled with people and shops and grand views of the Hudson and Ground Zero.

While there, make sure you see Battery City Park, Ground Zero, and the parks just to the north on the water.

To get there, take the 1 or 9 to the downtown end of line.

Bethesda Fountain in Central Park

Angel through the green
Originally uploaded by mmmazzoni.

Nothing better on a spring or summer day than hanging at Bethesda Fountain in the middle of Central Park.

To get there, take the 6 to 69th street.

Katz's Delicatessen

Katz's Delicatessen
Originally uploaded by Paloma+Luismi.

In an out-of-the-way corner of East Houston, Katz's is nonetheless a must-see, must-experience, must-taste. Get a Pastrami and let them let you taste as they cut.

The very best pastrami sandwich in the world.

To get there: 6 to Bleeker/Houston.

Gray's Papaya

Gray's Papaya
Originally uploaded by Jesse!.

You gotta love a good, cheap hot dog. With ripoffs throughout Manhattan, Gray's chugs along as a good Upper Westside neighbor, serving juices, Coke and cheap hot dogs at 72nd Street and Broadway.

To get there: 1,2,3 from Times Square

Union Square

Union Square Subway Entrance
Originally uploaded by Renaissance Egghead.

Union Square is well-known as the hub of lots of east-side action. With the world's largest Barnes and Noble, the Farmer's Market, and New York's most popular restaurant (Union Square Cafe, it is definitely a place to see and be seen. When there, take note of University (just south), the Faltiron distric (just north), Chelsea (just west, and Gramercy Park and Irving Place (just east). Curry Hill - with Indian delights - is a short walk. Make sure you check out ABC - the fantastic furniture department store on 19th and Broadway.

To get there: 4,5,6 to Union Square.

Nobu in Tribeca

Omakase 6
Originally uploaded by jleighb.

This fabulous restaurant in Tribeca beckons with its fish - screaming fresh.

To get there, take 1,2,3,9 A, C to Chambers.

Tribeca - Robert de Niro and Bette Midler and the Hudson and human scale

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Originally uploaded by lewd0006.

It's hard to put your finger on why Tribeca feels so attractive. Certainly the human scale is one reason. A second is the restaurants along Greenwich Ave. And then there are the shops - all very hip, lush, sensuous. And of course the Hudson attracts. Just 100 yards away, it lures you with its majesty and its people-rich scenes.

To get there - Chambers Street, from the 1, 9, 2, 3, A, C

SOB's - Brazilian Nightclub

at SOB's, NYC
Originally uploaded by dana USA.

Nights here aren't always so colorful as this photo, but the people and the vibe are always what make SOB's special. Find it on Varick (extension of 7th Ave), just south of Houston.

Williamsburg

bedford by night
Originally uploaded by Venus In Furs.

Willaimsburg is one of the many gems of Brooklyn, and it is one stop from Manhattan by subway - so should not be missed. You can take 30 minutes or a day - and enjoy yourself either way.

Bedford Street is the main drag but there are plenty of offshoots, side streets, galleries, etc to explore here.

Pubs are great and the design bookstore is one of the best.

Check out pierogis at the Polish bakeries.

Get there on the L.

Zabar's

Zabar's
Originally uploaded by seeA.

Zabar's is a New York institution: the pride of the upper West Side. I suspect that every serious gourmet supermarket in the country took Zabar's as its father or grandfather.

On Broadway, at 82nd Street. Take the 104 bus or the 1, 9 train.

Grimaldi's Pizza - Best in New York

Grimaldi's Line
Originally uploaded by Slice.

Go to the Fulton Ferry historic district in Brooklyn, in Dumbo, and be prepared for a line. Their specialty is coal-fired pizza made with fresh ingredients. Nice. While you are these, make sure you wander to the east river, where you have a spectacular view of the South Street Seaport and Manhattan. Also, walk through Dumbo on Water Street, stopping at Jacques Chocolate Factory along the way.

Venierio's - Old School Italian Pastry

Always a treat, and in a great funky neighborhood worth strolling, Vinierio's is old school italian

Viniero's sign 12-27-03
Originally uploaded by DeanLand.

pastry cum expresso. Find it in the east village, at 342 East 11th Street, off 1st Avenue.

Kiehls - lotion central

friday lunch
Originally uploaded by 416style.

This wonderful store has now unfortunately become a household name through its expansion. The original store, on 2nd Avenue between 13th and 14th, is still the best. This shot is taken from across the street.

Pastis - Cool restaurant in meat-packing district

Pastis in MPD
Originally uploaded by xymox.

Go here late at night to see maximum cool. But go here before 8 if you want a table. Go here anytime to get a drink, but be prepared for crowds.