Steinway Hall | Chrysler Building | Empire State Building | La Côte Basque

Sights
"I like the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building. Before the World Trade Center towers were built, the Empire State Building was the tallest building in Manhattan - and is again right now. It's such a strong, bold architectural statement. I like the Chrysler Building even more because of those art-deco eagle's wings that make up the top of it. The Woolworth Building is also beautiful, commissioned by Frank W. Woolworth when he had his retail empire going. It's another one of those shiny-topped buildings. I always find those buildings fascinating - the ones that were built early in the century. They always made the tops a crown of some sort. These buildings were meant to say, 'Look at me. Look how shiny I am.' "

Lunch
"There's a great French restaurant called La Côte Basque, which I love. I just love the decor, the wine list, the way they make fish and salad. You'll see the ladies who lunch at La Côte Basque. They're older women who shop and then go to La Côte Basque for lunch and just have the time of their lives. I'm a big believer in lunch. There's something that I find very civilized about taking the middle of the day for yourself, even if it's a business day. Have some nice wine, go back to your hotel room, take a little nap, wake up, have a little coffee. … You're saying, 'This part of the day is for me.' "

Shopping
"Urban Archaeology has fantastic stuff that they've kept from older buildings that were demolished - huge clocks and spires and vaults and cast-iron poles and lights and sconces. Steinway Hall is one of my favorite places. This is the high temple of all pianos. The temple of music, really. It's a beautiful old showroom. There's a waltz on the new album called 'Steinway Hall,' which I wrote there. I was walking down 57th Street and said, 'Oh, I've got an idea! I need a piano!' I ran into Steinway Hall and said, 'Can I use one of your pianos?' They said, 'Well, sure, use the one in the Rachmaninoff Room.' And there I was in this room with these oil paintings of Rachmaninoff staring at me. It was a lot of pressure. But I got this waltz written and I dedicated it to Steinway Hall."