Broadway Dance Center

Inspired by that Broadway show you saw last night? Then make your way to this Hell’s Kitchen dance center for a drop-in class, which run from 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. There’s everything from ballet and hip-hop to popping and locking. Classes can get crowded—all the better for embarrassed beginners to blend into the background. Little girls will love the center’s Rockettes Experience; offered only during the winter, it includes an inside-look at the historic theater and tickets to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. 322 West 45th Street #3; broadwaydancecenter.com

Sweet Treats in Chelsea

Doughnut Plant
This Lower East Side legend recently set up shop in Chelsea, making its famous donuts—hand-made daily—more accessible for obsessed New Yorkers. (There are also locations in Tokyo and Seoul.) There are not your grandmother’s donuts. Flavors range from cashew and orange blossom to peanut-butter-and-banana-cream filled to matcha green tea. 220 West 23rd St.; doughnutplant.com

Billy’s Bakery
Sure, you could go to Magnolia’s Bakery and Crumbs—but neither one holds a candle to the cupcakes at this cozy bakery. The best ones are the simplest: yellow cake or chocolate with vanilla or chocolate buttercream frosting. If you’re feeling more adventurous, specials can include nutella, chai, and maple pecan. 184 Ninth Ave.; billysbakerynyc.com

La Maison du Macaron
These might not be the best macarons in town (you’ll need to make your way to Ladurée on the Upper East Side for that, where they’re shipped in from Paris), but the rainbow-colored, meringue-based treats here still do the trick. Flavors vary, but passion fruit, champagne, fig, and graham cracker key lime pie have been known to grace the shelves. 132 West 23rd St.; nymacaron.com

Best Mexican Restaurants near GEM Hotel Chelsea

Rocking Horse Cafe
This energetic Chelsea mainstay—which is always a hit with big groups—serves up modernized Mexican fare. Think crispy squid-citrus salad with chorizo croutons, and enchiladas with pomegranate charred KNK Farms free range chicken. And weekend brunch here is a steal: $14.95 gets you a cocktail or juice, coffee or tea, plus hefty entrees like the “Croque Señor” (made with pulled chipotle roasted Niman Ranch pork). 182 8th Avenue; rockinghorsecafe.com

Sueños
Chef/owner Sue Torres—a former chef at Rocking Horse Cafe (a position she took on at the age of 23)—now heads up the kitchen at this colorful restaurant. It only serves dinner—and they do it well. There are a few ways to order: a la carte, a $30 prix-fixe three-course menu, or a $50 chile-themed five-course tasting menu. They shake things up on Sundays and Tuesdays, when you can create your own tacos or tostadas ($35). 311 West 17th St.; suenosnyc.com

Crema
A few blocks east of Sueños you’ll find this six-year-old restaurant, where Mexican and French cuisines come together under the leadership of owner/chef Julieta Ballesteros. It’s a on the pricier side (and they even charge for salsa), but it’s worth it for a bite of one of the house specialties, scallops pan seared in chile morita, served with sweet corn cake, avocado mousse, mango pico de gallo, and chipotle aioli. 111 West 17th St.; cremarestaurante.com

Hester Nights at the Eventi Hotel

While the weather is still nice, head to this open-air market, an off-shoot of the Lower East Side’s popular Hester Street Fair (the brainchild of former MTV News host SuChin Pak). Vendors vary, but there’s always plenty of variety: mac-and-cheese with mushrooms and garlic (it may be gluten-free, but it doesn’t taste like it); lobster rolls; fish tacos; and pulled-pork sandwiches. Don’t miss the lemonade sangria, and get comfy at an outdoor table. Every Thursdays from 5 pm to 10 pm, through Oct. 25; 851 6th Ave. (entrance on 29th and 6^th Ave).

Birdland Jazz Company

Musical greats such as Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, and John Coltrane used to play at the original Birdland — whose name was inspired by the great Charlie Parker’s nickname, Yardbird. The fee may no longer be $1.50 it once was, but it’s still worth a trip here to catch some top-notch live jazz. (Tickets range from $20 to $50, plus a $10 food/drink minimum). Regular shows include Coltrane Revisited, the Louis Armstrong Centennial Band, and the Grammy Award-winning Arturo O’Farrill Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra. 315 W. 44th St.; birdlandjazz.com

Whitney Museum of American Art

It’s a bit of a hike up to this classic cultural center, but the current Yayoi Kusama exhibit is worth it (as is a post-art stroll down the wide sidewalks of Madison Avenue). The retrospective spans the career of the intense 83-year-old Japanese artist, who currently resides voluntarily in a Tokyo mental institution. Arrive early to snag passes (free with admission) to see Fireflies on the Water, best described as a room filled with water, mirrors, and twinkling lights that guests can enter one at a time. Fireflies on the Water being shown through Oct. 28 in conjunction with Yayoi Kusama,on display throughSept. 30. 945 Madison Ave., at 75th St.; whitney.org

[Lechon at YerbaBuena]

Best Mexican Restaurants near Gem Hotel SoHo

Mole
It may be small and it may get hot in here, but this standout spot consistently delivers flavor-packed Mexican dishes. Order a round of margaritas and guacamole (made tableside) to start before digging into favorites such as fish tacos, steak fajitas, and mole poblano enchiladas. Take note: Portions are huge, so either come hungry enough for two, or plan to have leftovers. And make sure to take advantage of happy hour (4 to 7 p.m. daily). 205 Allen St.; molenyc.com

Hecho en Dumbo
Originally a pop-up restaurant in DUMBO, Brooklyn, this cozy spot is known for its shareable small plates. Portions are tiny and delicate compared to those at Mole—but just as tasty. A few must-taste dishes include the sopes (house-made chorizo, slow-cooked chicken, or grilled cactus on a masa “medallion”), the queso fundido with huitlachoche mushroom and fresh espazote, and the seafood tacos (a mix of smoked sable fish, braised Spanish octopus, and gulf shrimp. The spot also offers a $60 five-course Chef’s Table tasting menu (for parties of two), overlooking the open kitchen. And on Sept. 15, they’ll be celebrating Mexican Independence Day with a special menu. 354 Bowery; hechoendumbo.com

YerbaBuena LES

Chef Julian Medina puts a creative spin on Mexican cuisine at this happening spot, mixing in flavors and cooking styles from Cuba, Chile, Peru, and Argentina. Favorites include the lechon, suckling pig served with yucca puree, habanero garlic sauce, and chicharron, and the shrimp-and-octopus ceviche, and the tilapia tacos. The cocktails — such as the Poquito Picante (tanqueray gin, jalapeño, cilantro, cucumber, cointreau liqueur, and fresh lemon juice) — also get rave reviews. Note: they only take American Express (or cash, of course). 23 Avenue A; ybnyc.com

The Highline Ballroom

At this storied Chelsea venue, the concerts include everything from South African rock band The Parlotones, June 1st, sensational singer, songwriter, producer & actress Lauryn Hill, June 2^nd,  to the British pop rock duo Graffiti6, June 7^th.  For a throwback to the 1970s and ’80s, don’t miss The Rewind Show, which takes over every Saturday night. 431 W. 16th St.; 212-414-5994

STEPHANIE SAYS: CIRQUE DE SPIEGEL

Spiegelworld, the dandy traveling circus founded in New York in 2006, is bringing its adult carnvial to Mid-town this summer via the Spiegeltent. Like stepping back in time, the part gypsy village, part vaudeville, part speakeasy entertainment event is not to be missed.

Their  15-week summer engagement featuring their new work, entitled “Empire,” will display Spiegelworld’s circus, cabaret and burlesque acts in a 440-seat tent on West 45th Street, near Eighth Avenue.

Previews are set to begin May 22, with opening night scheduled for May 31. Tickets can be purchased at (212) 239-6200 or telecharge.com.

Chelsea’s Top Brunch Spots

Friedman’s Lunch

This 50-seat spot inside Chelsea Market turns out affordable and delicious brunch dishes. Favorites include the Nova Benny (hollandaise-topped poached eggs and smoked salmon, sitting on a potato pancake) and pastrami hash. What’s more, gluten-free options abound, with bread, waffles, and pancakes. 75 9th Ave; 212-929-7100

Cafeteria

Head to this hip restaurant for fancy comfort food (lemon ricotta pancakes; shrimp with cheddar bacon grits) with a side of people-watching (try to get a seat outside). Don’t miss the famous macaroni and cheese. 119 7th Ave at 17th St; 212-414-1717

Cookshop

Expect locally sourced ingredients at this corner eatery, where the Saturday and Sunday menu features everything from beignets with DiPalo’s fresh ricotta cheese and orange marmalade to the much-loved brunch staple huevos rancheros. (Follow this meal up with dinner at Five Points, their East Village outpost.) 156 10th Ave at 20th St; 212-924-4440