this cool cafe is spacious and has a real modern feel to it. great coffees, especially the chai latte. good sandwiches and cakes too. the staff are friendly, and you can sit for as long as you want (writing, reading, chatting etc.) fast-paced, housy music. contemporary paintings on walls, including a huge head with a thought bubble that says "i think i'm being watched." (you probably are). definitely better than 100 Starbucks.

this movie theatre (or cinema, for you europeans!) mostly plays interesting independent movies, with several screenings of every movie throughout the day. there is a subway track nearby, which results in the whole screening room kinda shaking a few times during the movie, but it only adds to the atmosphere, in my humble opinion!

A must for locals and visitors!! For $9-12 this walking tour will take you to the bars where our literary heroes drew their inspiration! A great history lesson of the Village. Hosted by the New Ensemble Theater Group who also recite pieces from the likes of Dylan Thomas, Kerouac and Steinbeck.

The NY City Criminal Court is open 24hrs a day, 7 days a week. Anyone can stop by to witness court proceedings - described as, "the criminal-justice equivalent of a ringside seat at emergency room admissions." Some say it's a good place for a cheap date but I'm not sure it's one for newly formed couples as those hard wooden benches and not-so-flattering bright white lights might add the those first date jitters.

Every Tuesday at Liquids, a funky loungy-bar located in on East 10th street b/t Aves 1 and A in the East Village, is hookah night. Why not sit back & relax on comfy couches with a big group of friends in a candle lit room, while listening to anything from deep house to D&B and taking hits from the hookah. No cover makes it even sweeter. Drinks are a bit expensive but the smokes are free and the crowd understandably chill.

If you want to see the less mainstream side of the NYC music scene, the Knitting Factory is the place to go. They have *lots* of shows, many of them from not-really-well-known bands. Styles range from jazz to improvisation to experimental rock to singer-songwriters. Some of the stuff (of course, not all) is really ear-opening. It's also a pretty cool place to hang out; they have a bar, and from 11pm on there's often free live music at the bar too.

Question: What have Irving Berlin, George M. Cohan, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, F.W. Woolworth, Roland H. Macy, Jay Gould, Robert Moses, Joseph Pulitzer and James Flagg got in common. Answer: They are all buried in Woodlawn cemetery (amongst the 300,000 others) in the boogie down Bronx. Located at the very tip of Bronx county it is within reach by sub-way ($1.50) or by Metro North ($3.50 off peak - get off at Woodlawn station). Better still is that admission is free and despite the somber essence of cemetery it can be a remarkable experience. You can lost in the rolling hills and quiet beauty of this place pondering how can this fit in with you mental picture of the Bronx.

B3 is a trendy East Village restaurant/bar/lounge that has various acts downstairs in the "kitten lounge". On Wednesdays, they have a comedy night (for free), and on other nights they'll have either live music or DJ's (for free as well.) The people here are cool and friendly and there are a ton of other places to go nearby. MOST IMPORTANTLY, I'm bartending there tonight. If you tell me you're an iAgoran, I'll give you a free drink.

It might be the single biggest cliche about New York, but the Empire State Building has endured as probably the most recognisable building in the world, and a trip up to the observation deck on the 86th floor will still take your breath away. There is even an option to go further up to the 102nd floor, although lines can sometimes make this impractical, depending on how much time you have. Be sure to bring your camera, as you won't want to miss any of the excellent photo opportunities afforded by the elevation.

The Brooklyn Academy of Music is located in a gorgeous old building with a cafe upstairs and the most wonderful roof! I saw a ballet performance there and it literally made me speechless, but the whole lead up to it was just as special - make sure you get there at least 30 minutes early to take advantage of the cafe and the atmosphere upstairs. You won't regret it. Also, I think student prices on the day are incredibly cheap (like $10), so definitely go spontaneously and it might pay off!