Any bar on the piazzetta, the teeny town square, in central Capri is a memorable place to have a drink and enjoy the sometimes overwhelming spectacle that is Capri. Rich and poor, celebrities, fishermen and gigolos, whatever strikes your fancy, is on parade in La Piazzetta, the living room of the world. Al Piccola is a good one... well, all of them with outdoor seating are memorable. It is a very happy place and you do feel like you are a celebrity (undiscovered? in disguise?) to just sit there and watch the world go by. Try the bar at the top of the funicular. Delicious cheese sandwiches, good drinks and a view that will make you cry.

Surprisingly, and a very well-kept secret, Capri accommodations can be reasonable. Of course if you want to spend tons of money you easily can. Also the food can vie for the title of best in Italy. Fresh, and you have not lived until you've sampled the spaghetti al fruits de mer at da Gemma. Well, virtually any food is good and reasonable.

www.capri.net, www.capri.com

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While it's not old by world standards, PJ Clarke's is more than 125 years old, a fairly old bar for New York that has not changed much over the years. In midtown, it sits in the shadow of a skyscraper and miraculously was saved from the wrecker's ball, thank goodness. If you watched the classic 'Lost Weekend' movie, here's where it was set. After work it is mobbed. Other times it is not that crammed with people. Men will want to use the men's room as it features huge urinals. It harks back to a time when men were probably the only bar folk as it is easy to see into the urinals from the bar. (Women, please turn your eyes away.) Food is good here, by the way... fresh oysters on ice, delicious broccoli rabe, rare hamburgers (I once had two).

915 Third Avenue, 55th St, New York, NY 10022
+1 212 317 1616
www.pjclarkes.com
Google map: bit.ly/mIeOLf

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This incredible bar is located in the Four Seasons restaurant, an architectural and culinary landmark since it opened in 1959. You can drink and/or have a light lunch while sitting under a stunning Richard Lippold sculpture of brass rods hanging from the ceiling. It's not cheap, but definitely a 'must-do' splurge. (It's nice to feel special and privileged even if it is only once in one's life.) The Four Seasons is still the place where New York's movers and shakers, political, financial, editorial and otherwise come for lunch ($100 at least per person) and the bar offers a nice perch to view them from. (Well, you can always rub shoulders with them in the lavish restrooms.) Plus there's a good view of what's happening on glorious Park Avenue.

99 E. 52nd & Park Avenue in the landmark Seagram's Building. Go to www.fourseasonsrestaurant.com for pics, menus, etc.

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The Circle Line is wonderful for a tour around Manhattan Island. It should not be missed. But much more exciting was our cruise on the Schooner Adirondack. There are some four sailings a day and we chose the sunset one.

You board at Chelsea Piers (on the Hudson near West 23rd). The two-hour cruise goes to the Statue of Liberty and returns, with champagne served by the crew.

The sunset cruise is particularly beautiful because you see the sunset to the west over New Jersey and to the east looms the skyline of lower Manhattan which is lit up brilliantly by the time you turn around and head back.

Unfortunately the cruise only runs from the end of April through the end of October. Cost is around $50, champagne included. We will never forget it!

www.sail-nyc.com/html/schooner_adirondack.html

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Everything is gorgeous, but avoid the summer crowds. Check out the webcams (below).

www.wasdaleweb.co.uk/wasdalewebcam.html

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