Serendipity 3: My favorite place for a sundae. Serendipity is festively and beautifully decorated, with lights, gilded mirrors, mosaic tables, and other baroque-style decorations. It's fun for grown-ups as well as kids. Atmosphere aside, the desserts are killer -- Serendipity has the most scrumptious, decadent, gigantic desserts you'll ever come upon in this lifetime. You can't help but gasp when they place them down in front of you. For example, the banana split is so big that two people are often unable to finish it. The toppings spill down the sides of the huge fish-bowl glass, and pool up all around the base. It's truly to die for... Serendipity also has food, but it's nothing special, so why bother? I go right for the desserts! 225 E 60th St between Second and Third Aves (Subway: 4, 5, 6 to 59th St; N, R to Lexington Ave), 212-838-3531.

Little Pie Company: Their sour cream/apple walnut pie is superb. Their other treats are just as good! Three locations: 424 W 43rd St between Ninth and Tenth Aves (Subway: A, C, E to 42nd St/Port Authority; N, R to 42nd St), 212-736-4780; 407 W 14th St between Ninth and Tenth Aves (Subway: A, C, E to 14th St), 212- 414-2324; and Grand Central Terminal, Lower Concourse (Subway: S, 4, 5, 6, 7 to 42nd St/Grand Central), no phone.

Magnolia Bakery: Super fresh and delicious cakes and baked goods, with a 1950's quality to them -- reminiscent of when bakers used the freshest ingredients and no corners were cut. Highly recommended. Magnolia Bakery is located in the West Village: 401 Bleecker St at 11th St (Subway: 1, 9 to Christopher St/Sheridan Square), 212-462-2572.

Buttercup Bake Shop: Opened by one of the previous owners of Magnolia, with a similar approach: home-style, fresh fluffy cakes, buttery frostings, no chemicals. Also highly recommended. The Buttercup Bake Shop is in Midtown, on the East Side: 973 Second Ave between 51st and 52nd Sts (Subway: 6 to 51st St), 212-350-4144.