JD's blog tour of New York.

I have been blogging a lot about my friends lately...so to break the monotony, I bring you my version of an interesting Q&A in the latest issue of Theme...

Brief bio, occupation: I am a twenty-something bachelor living in New York City. Currently working as a media buyer and planner for a full service advertising agency in the Financial District. I share an apartment with my sister in the borough of Queens, actually still living in the same neighborhood where we grew up. The best is yet to come.

Length of time in city: For the most part, I grew up in Elmhurst, Queens (QB son!). It was interrupted by my father's tour of duty for the U.S. Army. Therefore, we moved to Seoul, Korea; then Frankfurt, Germany; next was Landstuhl, Germany; landed in Manila, Philippines and brought it full circle back to Elmhurst in NYC.

Eating and Drinking...

Favorite high-end restaurant: SAPA. Not only because I closed it down solely for an HM Crew Sunday brunch...but really because my friend is an apprentice chef there. Just kidding. It's a mixture of pan-Asian cuisine with a French twist. The ambiance is hip, airy and oozing with hipster pretentiousness. However the staff is awesome and the food is succulent.

Best deal restaurant: SEA. Located in Williamsburg, this restaurant was the stand-in for that LA restaurant in the opening scenes of Garden State, where Zach Braff's character was a struggling waiter. It is a Thai restaurant that serves generous portions of tasty food for street meat prices. Their Thai Iced Teas are dope and the wait staff is quick on their feet. It's high end for the 'broke as a joke' crowd.

Best street food: Chicken and rice on 53rd and 6th by the Sheraton Hotel. More often than not, you will find my friends and me waiting in line for Halal food. Definitely will sober you up as you inhale it but make sure you stay away from the red sauce. It goes in red and WILL come out red, if you know what I mean.

Favorite cafe: It's not really a cafe, it's a diner. I love Coffee Shop. Coffee Shop is in Union Square serving as a standard chrome-laden diner. However there is a basement lounge complete with ultra-mod furniture and laid back grooves.

Best bar: Stay NYC. It's my favorite bar. Ever. If I'm not at a birthday party or some club thing...you will find me here. I've been going there for years. The manager knows me, the bartenders know me, the bouncer knows me and my friends by default. Cheap drinks, there is ALWAYS a excellent roster of DJs and well, the female bartenders are pretty cute. It's basically where all of us Queens heads hang out now that we're all grown up and don't chill at Hoffman Park anymore...

Read...

Best store for books and magazines: STRAND on Fulton St. It's not as commercialized as Barnes & Noble or Borders but that's the charm of it. It's the haven for the college set and you'll most likely find yourself lost within the stacks and more than happy to stay lost going through their catalog.

Shop...

Best boutique: Brooklyn Circus in Brooklyn. Street meets upscale by way of the underground. I am a fan of what's going on in urban wear these days and they carry designers you've heard of...some you haven't, but you will definitely leave with a full shopping bag. Runner-up: Brooklyn Industries...their cuts and lines are classic but they use the craziest materials and designs. Workmanship is top-notch.

Favorite are space/gallery/museum: PowerHouse Arena in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The last time I was there was for the STAX 50th. Hip-hop museum, hipster art space, underground bookstore. You just feel inspired. Period.

Favorite outdoor space: The Heliport by the South Street Seaport. During the summer I eat lunch here and watch the helicopters take off and land. It's a great escape from the doldrums of the office. And to think...you have the Brooklyn Bridge as a backdrop. Gorgeous.

Sightsee...

Best touristy thing to do: Take the New York Sightsee bus tour. There are two big companies in NYC that do this double-decker bus thing... But if you must...that tour will cover a lot of ground in on sitting. Definitely a must for first-timers. Or just go eat a hot-dog at Gray's Papaya.

Things only a local does or knows about: Shake Shack in the park on 23rd and Madison, I say no more. Also, only New Yorkers know where the open restaurants are in Chinatown after 2am in the morning.

The must-see thing in your city: Hands down...the Brooklyn Bridge.

Events...

Best events in each season: Okay, we have all four seasons. So during the spring, there is the Easter Parade on 5th. During the summer months we have the Macy's 4th of July fireworks. With the onset of fall we have the Tribeca Film Festival and then with winter there is the Rockefeller tree lighting.

Tips...

How would you spend a day off in your city?: Sleep. But if that's not a viable option, I'd hop onto the subway and ride downtown to Union Square. From there I'd walk down Broadway and window shop, probably making my ways to different sneaker joints I know of. Maybe grab a fresh choco beverage from Max Brenner's and pick up some vinyl records from a sidewalk vendor. The flea market by the Tower Records has a great selection of hats, shirts and accessories from Parsons and FIT students. I would even wander over to Washington Square Park and chill under the trees if it's warm out.

Best websites for local info: itellavision.blogspot.com. In all seriousness, www.nymag.com is a valuable resource for tourists and locals alike.

Okay. Hopfully you enjoyed that read...now, tell me about your town...