Here is New York

I was walking to work the other day in midtown when a tourist stopped me for directions. I couldn’t make out his accent but I knew what was on his mind. “Excuse me,” he said, “Can you tell me the way to Hooters?”

Oy vey, as they say.

There’s so many things to do in NYC but eating lunch at Hooters is not on my list. If you’re going to go in that direction, at least have the decency to go to Score’s or the Hustler Club. I mean really.

Visitors often ask me for suggestions about what to do in New York, so here’s a list of five of my favorites mini-adventures (obviously, I’m leaving out the iconic sites like the Empire State Building, the 9/11 memorial and the Statue of Liberty):

The Highline – Most tourists have never heard of it but it is THE thing to do in New York right now. The Highline is an old railroad line some 20 feet above ground that you walk on. Simple. It starts around Gansevoort Street and goes to about 20th Street and it is delightful on a nice day. There are plenty of places to eat down below on the street and it’s great for people watching.

Take a yoga class with a world-class teacher — One of the advantages of the city is that you can take a yoga class virtually any hour of the day and the teachers here are the best in the world. My favorite place is run by Tara Stiles who does a lot of work with guru Deepak Chopra. Her studio is Stralayoga and it’s affordable, fun and friendly. Take a class with Tara herself or Heidi Kristoffer, another great teacher. Don’t be intimidated; these women are friendly, humble and approachable.

Walk, walk and walk some more – New York is a walking city. There’s tons to see and sights everywhere. Times Square is a spectacle but go downtown. Turns out Petula Clark was right, that is where the action is whether you walk in SoHo, Tribeca or the newly-rediscovered Lower East Side. You won’t be sorry and definitely get around town by subway. It’s the best $2.25 you’ll ever spend here and, at least until 10 p.m. or so, not dangerous at all.

Visit one of the best independent bookstores – For my money, that’s McNally-Jackson bookstore at 52 Prince Street. It’s in the very cool neighborhood of Nolita where there are tons of boutiques and bistros and it is a destination bookstore with a cool cafe, great books and even one of the city’s only Espresso Book Machines where you can print up your own or someone else’s book in minutes, or in the time it takes to get an espresso.

Katz Deli – Here’s the best reason to go to Katz on the Lower East Side (not far from another great bookstore located in the New York Tenement Museum shop) — someday, it won’t be there anymore and, believe me, you’ll kick yourself for not going when you can. Katz has been around since 1888 so I have a feeling it might last but I thought the same thing about Horn & Hardart Automats and Dave’s on Canal where I always stopped for a pretzel and an egg cream. Katz is a true throwback. There’s nothing phony about the place. I always get a pastrami sandwich but I’m partial to the hot dogs as well. Treat yourself — life’s not all about salad.