10. Bargemusic: For 31 years a barge anchored just beneath the Brooklyn Bridge has been an unlikely venue for serving up some mighty fine music in a wide range of genres. Founder Olga Bloom, a former violinist who renovated the barge with the help of family members, made sure to add a window at the front of the barge, the lights of Manhattan serving as the musicians' backdrop as the sun goes down and the concert begins. Tickets are affordable and worth every penny. What makes the evening even more special is having a scoop of ice cream at The Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory on the same pier or a cocktail at The River Cafe (www.rivercafe.com), right next door. For more information and the current schedule: www.bargemusic.org.

9. The New Leaf Cafe: Perched at the highest and northernmost point in Manhattan, Fort Tryon Park, the New Leaf Cafe is one of the most charming restaurants in all of NYC. The net proceeds from the restaurant go to the maintenance of the park, which offers stunning views of the Hudson River on the west side and--yes--stunning views of Harlem on the east side. The restaurant is small and charming, perfect for dinner with a date or with friends. Get there early to enjoy the park and the Cloisters Museum, the Met's medieval art outpost. http://www.nyrp.org/cafe/

8. Chelsea Market: Chelsea Market occupies an entire city block and is housed in the city's old Nabisco factory. The market is home to a couple dozen treasures, including Eleni's Cookies (famous for New York themed cookies), Fat Witch Bakery (pop by anytime for a sample of the day's brownie special), Amy's Bread, the Ronnybrook Dairy Bar (who knew milk could be so chic and sexy?), Sarabeth's (mochas, hot chocolates, and chocolate chubby cookes to die for), and my favorite, The Green Table, a restaurant that prepares seasonal, organic dishes that are divine, served up at a communal--and, indeed, green--table. Chelsea Market also has events and is great to visit in October, when the entire concourse is decorated with expertly carved jack-o-lanterns. http://www.chelseamarket.com/ (from here, you can jump to any of the shops' websites).

7. Long Island City: Once upon a time, Long Island City-- not a part of Long Island, but a part of Queens--was Manhattanites' summer escape. Hugging the East River, this underrecognized but fast developing slice of New York City has, hands-down, NYC's best views. Unobstructed, panoramic skyline views of Manhattan from the Gantry Piers and the adjacent park are perfect for an evening stroll or a mid-day picnic. And it's just one stop from Grand Central (7 train to Vernon/Jackson stop; from there, walk 3-4 blocks west). The neighborhood also has a growing cluster of restaurants, including the Thai joint, Tuk Tuk, many of which are quite good. http://www.licnyc.com/

6. Hudson River Park: For almost 10 years now, the Hudson River Park Trust has been turning Manhattan's west side into a multi-use playground for people of all ages. But you don't have to be a New Yorker to enjoy the park. While the summer is the best time for the park--free kayaking and fishing; batting cages; bike rentals; music; films; and festivals of all sorts--the park will yield up delightful surprises any time of year for the visitor who is willing to explore its nooks and crannies. Visit the Irish Hunger Memorial and the quiet gardens around and just south of Battery Park City if you want to find peace in the midst of this bustling city. http://www.hudsonriverpark.org/

5. New York Public Library, the main branch: Don't settle for snapping a photo with the lions out front. Take a few minutes to go inside and wander through the gift shop, at the very least, or indulge yourself in a couple of hours in this amazing library, which in addition to hosting exhibitions of all sorts also has collections that fit very particular tastes... the world's largest historical menu collection, for instance. http://www.nypl.org/index.html Once you've indulged your intellectual appetite, round the corner, snag a table in the constantly improving Bryant Park, and satisfy your stomach. Bryant Park's concessions are several steps above your usual hot dog cart. (http://www.bryantpark.org/) Alternately, cross the street and pop into Zeytinz and check out their huge lunch bar. They also sell great olive oil soap (www.zeytinz.com).

4. L'Ecole Restaurant: If you can find a better four-course meal for a better price in this city, please let me know. L'Ecole is the restaurant of the French Culinary Institute and students test their skills in the front and back of the house. The menus are seasonal, giving you reason to return again and again.
http://www.frenchculinary.com/lecole.htm

3. Movies: New York has its fair share of massive cineplexes, showing films into the wee hours, but it also has a respectable crop of off-the-beaten path cinemas tailored to very specific interests. There's the ImaginAsian (http://www.theimaginasian.com/index2.php), for one. One of my favorites, though, is not really a cinema at all... it's the viewing room at Women Make Movies (http://www.wmm.com/), where with an appointment and a few bucks you can watch movies that you'll never see at Loew's.

2. Roosevelt Island Tramway: If you're the adventurous type and don't get anxious riding in a suspended gondola high about chilly waterways, then the Roosevelt Island Tramway is a must-do experience in NYC. For just $2.00, you can cross the East River from Manhattan to Roosevelt Island on the Roosevelt Island Tramway; at the highest point of your journey you will be 250 feet above the river. http://www.ny.com/transportation/ri_tramway.html

1. Sunset Sail: Because Manhattan is an island--a fact that's easy to forget when you're stuck between skyscrapers--there are all sorts of tour operators that offer sailing and boat excursions on the Hudson and East Rivers. The best one I've experienced, though, is the sunset sail on the Schooner Adirondack (http://www.zerve.com/SailNYC/SunsetAD).