I've been to New York several times now (6 I think) and each time has been a completely different experience.

The first 2 times were 100% tourist. Stay near the theatre district, see the sights, stroll through Central Park, hit a museum or two.

Since then it's been half tourist, half local and I've had a blast. It's great to stay with people who live there because they know the city inside and out. But it was great that they weren't natives so being a tourist was still fun for them.

The latest visit was just a few weeks ago and I discovered some hidden places that were packed with locals and it felt great to be among them. Sure, there were some tourists but not many.

We strolled and shopped at the Bleeker Street fair - where you can find clothing, jewlery, food, music and a ton more. It started raining (no surprise there) so we ducked into the Red Lion Pub (I think was the name) for a quick toast to friendship over a glass or two of wine.

We also checked out the goods at Leila Rowe and Purdy Girl - both worth a visit any time. Leila Rowe has an amazing collection of affordable jewelry in a variety of colors and styles. Purdy Girl is a higher-end boutique but has incredible clothing and jewelry.

If you want a fantastic pub, check out Banshee on the Upper East Side. It's become my pub of choice when I visit. It's just a fun place to be.

Finally, you HAVE to try the pizza at Oh Mama Mia!, again on the Upper East Side (across the street from JT's Southern Hospitality). Delicious pizza, tasty wine and a fantastic ambience. When you go, check out the lighting fixtures! You'll recognize what they're made from based on what's in your own kitchen.

For the tourist portion of our stay, we went to Boeing, Boeing! It was a really funny plan and won the 2008 Tony for Best Revival. The play was outstanding and I got to meet the cast just by waiting out front of the theatre for about 30 minutes with a group of other fans.

So, mixing the tourist with the local aspect made, once again, for a fun trip to one of my favorite cities!