Chelsea

If Times Square is all about a tourist's hard core NYC fix, and Soho is synonymous with the unique downtowner experience; then Chelsea should be named the place where you can once and for all stretch  your feet, feel the Hudson chill on your cheeks and finally be allowed to take it easy.

One of the many random galleries you'll run into at Chelsea

The typical peaceful Chelsea street view

Chelsea residents are strongly attached, as much to each other as to the old-time rituals rooted in the Chelsea culture. For example, this is a picture of a crowd that isn't about to let the neighborhood legend Empire Diner close its doors and sail away just so easily.

Empire Diner

A brief look around will soon enough let you sense 'juxtoposition' is what's so deeply inherent in Chelsea's blood. 

Lego Store @ Rockefeller Center

How can one not love such a Lego Store?

Rockefeller Center

As far as New York goes, I am utterly the downtowner type. I would rather live in Chelsea than Upper East Side (thanks for asking, I appreciate). Moreover, I pretty much disdain - well that's harsh; let's say 'look down on' - the frame of mind that sets visting a city simply equal to seeing its major historic landmarks. I've been to NYC two times and have not seen the Statue of Liberty or taken the Circle Line for once. 

But somethings just stick:  Rockefeller Center - the hottest touristic landmark of all times - is still my #1 NYC spot. Need I say more?

Midtown 'Must See's

This is one face of Manhattan, and there's no avoiding it as a whole - even if the New York that you are in love with is rather a combination of vintage shops, neighborhood cafes and laid-back streets of downtown.

Radio City Music Hall

Then again, some other 'must see's (like the MoMA, Rockefeller) or things you just can't go missing (like a walk down 5th avenue) will take you right to the heart of what I call 'the NYC claustrophobia'.

Don't quite get what I mean? How normal does this sight of a cathedral strike you as?

St. Patricks Cathedral

MoMA Design Store

OK. Let's say you are not the typical museum-lover. And your girlfriend (or boyfriend for that matter -  although seems less likely) desperately wants to engage in the hip modern art scene of New York. For the sake of your compromise, you will find just about everything settled out for you under the roof of MoMA Design Store.

 

MoMA

MoMA deserves to be called New York's most democratic spot for art appreciation. Probably like no other museum in town - among a hoard of others - MoMA will make you feel 100% like you are a part of the scene, even if all you have done that year so far in name of art is see a couple of action movies.

People appreciating some abstractionism

Brooklyn Museum

I'm not saying pass the Metropolitan or MoMA. But save a couple of hours for Brooklyn Museum too. It's not called 'one of nation's premier art institutions' for no reason.

Sights from Brooklyn Streets

Sarabeth's, Upper West Side

Although the menu has it all, Sarabeth's (the Upper West Side restaurant; Sarabeth's West) is stictly a breakfast place. There's an impresive selection of yummy omlettes and pancakes that will make you wanna have breakfast-all-day.

Eataly, Madison Square Park

If you love Italy; or occasionally crave any one of the following: pizza, pasta, mozarella, proscuitto, wine, ice-cream, tiramisu, esspresso; you are definitely gonna fall in love with this place. Eataly packs it all together in one cafe/restaurant/wine house/deli/bakery/coffee shop/ice cream parlor and gourmet market; always serving it to you in the best shape there's to it. You are ready to do whatever you want. Eat, drink, pick, go. Enjoy.