JIMMY'S CORNER. West 44th Street, just east of Times Square.

It's a dive bar the way Spring Lounge used to be a dive bar. Buds and Bud Lights are three bucks and if you order anything else you're pretty much an asshole. It's the last bastion of yesteryear remaining in the theatre district unless you want to buy smack and get arrested eating a pastrami sandwich at Smith's.

The walls mark a photographic history of boxing in this city over the last fifty years and it's owner, the towering inferno of blackness (Jimmy, of course) will be happy to tell you the story of every one as most of them were shot in the Brooklyn gym he made famous. The jukebox makes jazz intellectuals look like someone dropped a jar of mayonaisse in their lap, ranging from...I don't know jazz but it's got everybody.

The best place to get drunk before wasting a hundred bucks and three hours of your life watching the new Broadway musical featuring the songs of Smokey Robinson. The producers go to Joe Allen, the directors go to Angus, the writers go to Jimmy's (because as I mentioned, the Buds are three bucks).

Oh yeah, and go before 5...free mac and cheese.

The BIG EASY (92nd & 2nd)

Also known as "The Big Sleazy", this Upper East Side bar smells like cheap beer and cheap dates. You're sure to find a drink special no matter what night of the week you visit...from $6 pitchers on Monday to $1 drinks for Ladies Night on Thursday. As the night goes on, the crowd gets rowdy, the tunes get loud and girls get up on the bar. Beer Pong is set up in the back to take you away to those college days and there’s never a wait for the bathroom. Ask for Terri and he'll make sure to take care of you (which usually translates in to free shots and no memory of how you got home.)

Cucina

In Grand Central Station, on your left when entering from 45th Street

A lot of miserable people work within walking distance of Cucina. That’s not to say this vicinity contains a higher percentage of the generally undesirable. It’s just that, while at work, a good chunk of the area’s employees aren’t necessarily loving life.

If you’re among the demoralized Midtown masses, go into Outlook and schedule 20 minutes for Cucina on a weekday afternoon.

Cucina is a cafeteria-style takeout place beside the sit-down restaurant of almost the same name (Cucina & Co.) Before we get into the review portion of this review, I have to make a confession: I’ve never sampled any of Cucina’s breakfast, lunch or dinner options. Couldn't even tell you what they serve. The food could be terrible, and is likely overpriced. Now on with the show.

My recommendation is only on their desserts, and only valid after 3pm. That’s when their shelves of cookies are marked down, to fifty cents a pop. And that’s when hordes of the overworked (and plenty of the underworked) sneak down with their colleagues for a snack.

The cookies are decent. For fifty cents, at least. A variety of varieties makes you put some thought into cookie selection; a lack of labels forces you to take a leap of faith.

But like this review, Cucina isn’t about the cookies. It’s about getting out of the office, chatting with co-workers, and carving out time to eagerly anticipate. Whether it’s Cucina’s economical cookie options, the corner fruit stand, or shots of whatever at a local bar, New York is packed with places to break up the afternoon. Places to actually get to know people outside the confines of the office. Even if only for 20 minutes, for only 50 cents.

South Beach Juice Bar 124th and Lennox
Alright so I live in Harlem, and this is convenient probably only for me. BUT if you're ever up here you have to check this place out. Run by people who I can only assume are Jamaican South Beach is a two part enterprise. 1/2 restaurant 1/2 take out shack.

They've been rennovating forever so only the juice bar is open, but let me just say, Jamba Juice hasn't got anything on these people. The shakes are delicious and between 3 and 4 dollars each and better then anything I've had anywhere else. Try the So Be Creamy (mango, bannana, honey, strawberry, lemon, grapes, and pineapple) the So Be Rich (cashew nuts, grapes, melon, oranges) or the green one who's name I forget but it had spinach, spirulina, AND wheatgrass in it and tasted fabulous.

Their panini aren't bad either, and they've got nice yogurt parfaits. I figure the restaurant is going to be fab when it opens too.

Reflected sunset

For an extraordinary view of Manhattan and the sunset, go to 91st Street in Central Park, on the west side of the Park. The sun is reflected off the windows on Fifth Avenue, and into the reservoir.

If you have a bike, the six-mile loop around the park is a magnificent way to enjoy the park. At sunset, the park is relatively empty and the riding is glorious.