There are some nice spots on Manhattan Upper West Side: Labyrinth Books, Tom's Restaurant (Broadway and W. 112th St.), the American Museum of Natural History (specifically, the Butterfly Conservatory), Central Park (specifically, Bow Bridge and Bethesda Terrace) and to top it off, hot chocolate at Cafe Lalo. At the end of the day, take the subway out to Queens for Nick's Pizza (108-26 Ascan Ave. (just off Austin St.) in Forest Hills.

Here is a pretty butterfliy from the American Museum of Natural History's Butterfly Conservatory:

If you live in New York's 3rd Congressional District, support Dave Mejias for Congress! (I went to high school with his little sister.)

The Brooklyn Museum has an excellent photo exhibit on Annie Leibovitz. I especially liked the pictures of Susan Sontag.

Sadly, the cultural anthropologist, Clifford Geertz, died on Monday, October 30. Here is his obituary.