"The blocks north of Abingdon Square along 8th Avenue are a great place to stop for a treat. There’s Barachou, turning out multiple flavors of cream puffs, and Aux Merveilleux de Fred, improbably specializing in meringue lumps smeared with frosting. But the best place to stop is Gelateria Gentile, a branch of an ice cream joint hailing from Bari, the capital of Apulia, Italy. Often incorporating fruit imported from Italy, the product is rich and creamy, and the chocolate gelato is the darkest in town. Also consider the fresh-fruit granitas." - Robert Sietsema