Brad Heintz

Your Manhattanite friends will tell you there’s nothing here, but it’s not true. My top pick (among many interesting attractions): Snug Harbor Cultural Center. Check it out, and educate any snobby New Yorkers you meet.

Unless you’re a car nut or a motown music fan, the only reason to see Detroit is to understand the social decay that comes from taking conservative governance principles – social Darwinism, unfettered corporate influence, and racism – to their logical conclusion.

That, and the Detroit Institute of Arts is excellent.

But overall, Detroit was a uniquely depressing experience that I wouldn’t care to repeat.

...and that’s most of what it’s got going for it.

GOOD BEER.

It’s worth visiting Princeton just to walk the campus and admire the buildings.

...if I could fathom the appeal of country-western music.

Of course, that’s just my experience. Go ahead and have your own.

...with my favorite Asian art collection.

The best thing about the Gardner Museum is its eclecticism – it’s not divided up into sections like other museums. I find that it encourages one to look at each piece individually, and offsets the fatigue and boredom that can come from seeing dozens of similar pieces in a row.

Touristy, but fun.

...is not the overpriced designer stores, nor the salons, nor the shi-shi-fru-fru cafes such as Sonsie. The best thing about Newbury Street is the people-watching – and it is high hilarity indeed.