New York Summer

As summer is rapidly approaching everyone is fully aware of the humidity and foreign smells that will besiege NYC...however at this time all is well, the sky is blue, the air is crisp and the temperature is just right. The smells will never fully go away.

During this time of year there are several places that one must go to fully enjoy the moment. These places are as follows (and will be quite Astoria-centric....since I live there...and I love it)

1. Bohemian Beer Garden - This place is great for friends, affordable Belgian, Czech and German beers, good food hot off of the grill and most importantly relaxation.

2. Central Park - I realize that it may seem a bit touristy...but trust me...it's big enough to erase the thought that you're even in NYC, let alone surrounded by bustling crowds and tourists stopping without notice to take pictures of sidewalks, police and/or bad shots of towering buildings above...it's a fact.

3. Jackson Diner - Although Carrie would surely disagree, Indian food is always good. Especially if you take advantage of the weekend buffet and have a nice cool Mango Lassi to wash it all down it's hard to beat this dining destination...especially in Queens.

4. Greenwich Village - There's something about the Village in the summer that I like...especially at night near Washington Square Park. If you bypass the wandering pot dealers, walk right on by the random chess games and simply head to the fountain in Washington Square...it's a nice place to soak in the NYC atmosphere. Also, there are several great bars and comedy clubs, including the Comedy Cellar (my favorite) in the immediate area.

5. Astoria - As mentioned previously, I live here, I love the neighborhood...especially up near Ditmars where I live. On any given weekend make a trip to Avenue Cafe or Athens Cafe for a frappe and possibly a warm tiropita...if you're lucky you can grab a table outside and enjoy some people watching. Also check out Zlata Praha for some amazing Czech food....the Szegedin Goulash is unbelievable.

Well...that's all my tips for now...plenty more to come soon. I know I can't be the only one out there with some advice and/or stories of travel...so let's hear some.