magnolia bakery, inexpensive, (212) 462-2572. yes, we love mister softee (conveniently, there’s one parked on just about every street corner in the city in the summer), but some days, that little ice-cream cone just won’t cut it. for the ultimate sugar high, head to magnolia bakery for the best cupcake ever made. the melt-in-your-mouth, sweet-as-can-be butter-cream frosting will leave you begging for more. and take note — when filling your box in the self-service area of this shoebox-size bakery, it’s everyone for himself.

shopping
olive & bettes, various locations, www.oliveandâ­
bettes.com. with its four locations around the city, you don’t have an excuse to not stop by this fashion-forward women’s boutique. it carries a wide variety of chic brands — james perse, paige denim, and chip and pepper, among them — and along with its great assortment of accessories, it boasts one heck of a t-shirt collection.

gracious home, www.gracioushome.com. with four locations in manhattan (one west side locale and three east side), this store is a new york staple. a combination hardware and home furnishings mecca, it offers anything and everything imaginable for the home — including luxurious bedding, chic accessories, stylish lighting options, even sleek home electronics, not to mention those everyday necessities like mops, brooms, screws, and lightbulbs. what more could you ask for?