Haunts

Allen & Sons

6203 Millhouse Rd., Chapel Hill, NC 27516

35.989150, -79.073917

This is the best pulled pork barbeque. There can be no debate.

American Museum of Natural History

79 St. at Central Park West, New York, NY 10024

40.780675,-73.97342

This may be my favorite museum in the world. One of my early childhood memories is of the Hall of Marine Life.

Anyway Cafe

32 E 2nd St., New York, NY‎ 10003

40.725089,-73.990702

On a trip to the city I was introduced to the wonder that is Anyway Cafe.

Bay Ridge Pier

69th St. at Shore Drive, Brooklyn, NY 11220

40.6394,-74.037917

Also known as the American Veterans' Memorial Pier, this place offers a fine view of Manhattan and Staten Island.

Beet

344 7th Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11215

40.666440,-73.981963

My current favorite Thai restaurant. I almost always order the spicy noodles.

Big Daddy's Diner

239 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003

40.737897,-73.987949

A little on the expensive side, but a great place to get breakfast.

Brook'vin

381 7th Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11215

40.665310,-73.982873

My favorite wine bar. Bring on the bacon-infused bourbon!.

Carrburritos

711 W Rosemary St., Carrboro, NC 27510

35.910677,-79.066538

One of the few little burrito places I've been to that serves ceviche, and they do it well.

Chelsea Market

75 9th Ave., New York, NY 10011

40.741898, -74.004756

Lots of small shops and restaurants offer great lunch options. It's also just an interesting space to visit.

Cocoa Bar

228 7th Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11215

40.670045,-73.978951

Much more than a simple confectioner, the menu offers sweets paired with matched adult beverages.

Congee Village

207 Bowery, New York, NY 10002

40.721319, -73.993541

Of the two locations, I'm partial to this one. The service is rough, the portions are generous, and the karaoke is loud.

Emerald Isle

5160 Bogue Sound Dr., Emerald Isle, NC 28594

34.674599,-76.980524

Perhaps the most important place in the world for me. For about a decade, I visited at least once a year.

The Family Dumpling

5602 7th Ave., Brooklyn, NY‎ 11220

40.638807, -74.009698

Freshly prepared dumplings and scallion pancakes. Need I say more?

Fei Long Market

6301 8th Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11220

40.633492, -74.011607

The Hong Kong Supermarket has some competition, especially in the produce department.

Five Guys Burgers & Fries

284 7th Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11215

40.668364, -73.980363

It's the best burger in Brooklyn.

Grand Army Plaza

Grand Army Plaza & Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn, NY 10019

40.674194,-73.970647

It's always fun to head to the farmers' market on a weekend morning.

Hagi

152 W 49th St., New York, NY 10019

40.759532, -73.981508

Billed as the bar that sushi chefs go to when they get off shift, this place is very very popular. Expect to wait.

Ice Monster

15, YungKang Rd., Taipei City, Taiwan ROC

25.0325, 121.5298

Beyond "awesome", not easily described. Try the strawberry ice.

Ichi Umi Japanese Restaurant

6 E 32nd St., New York, NY 10016

40.746977, -73.985105

Previously named "Todai", this restaurant has an exceptional sushi and seafood buffet.

Johnny Mack's

1114 8th Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11215

40.664239, -73.980499

A great little place to grab a burger or (my favorite) a steak salad.

Kitchenette

156 Chambers Street, New York, NY 10007

40.715959, -74.010240

We love your brunch and lust after your desserts.

Lantern

423 W Franklin St., Chapel Hill, NC 27516

35.910453, -79.062643

I have a lot of fond memories of this place and I love going back. The bar is super cool. The food is top-shelf.

New York Public Library

Fifth Ave. and 42nd St., New York, NY 10016

40.752971, -73.981272

Yes, it looks like a museum, but the Reading Room on the third floor is a great place to plug in your laptop and work.

M2M

200 E 11th St. New York, NY 10003

40.731306, -73.988594

A combination of Asian convenience store and noodle stand. And the best part? It's pretty inexpensive. Not cheap: this is good food.

Olde Carriage Inn

312 7th Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11215

40.667758, -73.980867

A dive bar to call home with an interesting split personality; it can be filled with old locals one night and karaoke singing girls the next.

Oscar's "Q" & Bar

1129 Weaver Dairy Rd., Chapel Hill, NC 27514

35.963910, -79.056737

The place where I really learned to play and appreciate 8-ball.

Overseas Asian Restaurant

49 Canal St., New York, NY 10002

40.714848, -73.991681

Monica and I have enjoyed a few Malaysian-style restaurants in the city, but this is the one we visit most often.

Paper Presentation

23 W 18th St., New York, NY 10011

40.739196, -73.993441

I went here often when I was in school, and I still go back occasionally when I am working on a personal project or a gift. They have just about all the crafty stuff you could want.

Pho Cali

3310 Capital Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27604

35.825082, -78.586672

I waited a long time for a Vietnamese restaurant to open in Raleigh. This one was everything I could have hoped for.

Quickly

5924 8th Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11220

40.635775, -74.009260

Bubble tea, just like in Taiwan.

Ramen Setagaya

141 1st Ave., New York, NY 10003

40.727982, -73.985044

There are now quite a few ramen places in New York City, but this one is still the best. They now have a second location near NYU.

Red Hook Ball Park

Clinton St. & Bay St., Brooklyn, NY 11231

40.671834,-74.003456

In summer and fall you can go there to watch serious club futbol players and eat serious Latin American street food.

Regal Battery Park Stadium 11

102 North End Ave., New York, NY 10007

40.717686, -74.014015

This is the best mainstream movie theater in New York. Big, relatively new, almost never crowded.

Saigon Grill

93 University Place, New York, NY 10003

40.733640, -73.992985

Fast, cheap, and out of control. The drinks are really expensive, but otherwise this is a great place for lunch.

Shanghai Cafe

100 Mott St., New York, NY 10013

40.717369,-73.997387

This is not your typical Chinese food. An intimidating array of options representing various Chinese cooking styles can accompany the signature item, mini buns.

Subtle Tea

121 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016

40.745358, -73.984675

They have my favorite green tea (with my favorite tea name): 8 treasures of the Shaolin.

Ted's Montana Grill

110 W 51st St., New York, NY 10020

40.761798, -73.983032

It's expensive, but it's also the best burger I've ever had. Just ask for the "Green & Hot", and get the bison version.

Tokyo Garden Teriyaki

4337 University Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105

47.660189, -122.313148

My U-Dub lab-mates with were hooked on the stuff, and I don't blame them. Cheap, fast, and good. But I only ever had the teriyaki.

Weaver St. Market

101 E Weaver St., Carrboro, NC 27510

35.911157, -79.072274

When I'm in Carrboro, I always have one lunch here. It's one of the best community-based organic markets I've ever been to.

Westside Market

77 7th Ave., New York, NY 10011

40.739348, -73.999077

When I was in school, this was the place to get a deli sandwich.

Wine Down

41 East 30th St., New York, NY 10016

40.745089, -73.984392

A cute little place with a very casual atmosphere.

Yong-Kang Beef Noodle

No. 17, 31 Lane, Jin Shan S. Rd. Sec. 2, Taipei City, Taiwan ROC

25.0329, 121.5282

The best beef noodles. The pork intestine is not bad either.