Suzanne Vega's New York City Tour Guide

We asked Suzanne if she could provide her personal New York travel guide, a list of destinations for those who like to creep off the beaten path. Here's her list:

1. The Hungarian Pastry Shop
   1030 Amsterdam Avenue
   (between West 110th and 111th streets)
   New York, NY 10025
   212-866-4230
   
   Where I went as a student at Barnard to think about writing my papers.
   
   
2. The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine
   1047 Amsterdam Avenue
   New York, NY 10025
   
   A glorious cathedral where I once had a midnight picnic on the steps.
   
   
3. The Shakespeare Garden, (in Central Park), located between the Delacorte Theater, Belvedere Castle, and the Swedish Cottage, is an informal four-acre garden nestled in a rocky hillside. The garden was dedicated to Shakespeare in 1916, the 300th anniversary of his death. Following a Victorian tradition, only flowers mentioned in Shakespeare's plays and poetry were planted in the garden.
   
   An old place I have just discovered.
   
   
4. The Bowery Poetry Club
   308 Bowery @ Bleecker, right across from CBGB's
   F train to Second Ave | 6 train to Bleecker
   212-614-0505
   
   If you love poetry check this out. Always interesting. Sometimes my husband performs here (the poet Poez). Also see Poezthepoet.com.
   
   
5. The M5 Bus Route
   
   The loveliest bus route of all, in my opinion. It takes you down Riverside Drive, swings across near Central Park, takes you down 5th Avenue past Tiffany's, down Fifth Avenue into Greenwich Village. One day I will ride the whole route from beginning to end.
   
   
6. The Cornelia Street Café
   29 Cornelia Street
   New York, NY 10014
   212-989-9319
   
   One of the first places I played at in the Village when I was still a student. From their website:
   In its thirty years Cornelia Street has won numerous awards both for its food and for its performances. As early as 1980 Calvin Trillin profiled it glowingly in the New Yorker. As recently as last December, Downbeat Magazine, the jazz bible, named it "one of the 100 great jazz clubs of the world."
   
   
7. Daryl K
   21 Bond Street
   New York, NY 10012
   
   A clothing store with the coolest pants.
   
   
8. Tea & Sympathy
   110 Greenwich Avenue
   New York, NY 10011
   
   A great place for a cup of tea and a scone. Featuring the best teapot collection.
   
   
9. Bigelow Pharmacy
   414 Avenue of the Americas
   New York, NY 10011
   212-533-2700
   
   I used to eat here when it had a lunch counter! They made a fresh turkey every day. Now you can buy interesting cosmetics and accessories. I go here for a treat after I have been to the dentist.
   
   
10. The Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute
    1000 Fifth Avenue
    New York NY 10028
    
    I love this place! You can see the closets of Nan Kempner or the gorgeous creations of Poiret, or Jackie Kennedy's wardrobe. See how other people lived.
    
    
11. Fred's at Barney's New York
    660 Madison Avenue
    9th Floor
    New York NY 10021
    212-833-2200
    
    I love to come here for lunch after shopping. Best to try after 2 pm when it starts to thin out. A great place for people watching.
    
    
12. The Dead Poet
    450 Amsterdam Avenue (Between 81st St. and 82nd St.)
    New York, NY 10024
    212-595-5670
    
    A bar I have always been curious about. I love the name.