Never heard of it? Somewhere far in Queens? No, right at the heart of Manhattan, on 46th street, a little Brazilian feeling floats in the air. Hidden in between Italian, Japanese and Mexican restaurants, only a block and just announced by a street sign, Little Brazil very often goes unnoticed. Beware, that might not last long, the 2014 World Cup is coming up and you might want to take advantage of this secret sliver of heaven while it is still rather quiet.

Its a Monday morning, that post lunch snooze, midweek crisis, or that wee-hour flight you have to catch - that aromatic caffeine concoction is the solution to it all. A typical New Yorker on the go, is easy to spot - that hurried pace, all wired-up, breakfast to go, and hot/iced coffee on hand, this completes the look for a long day ahead. So, here is our pick for the best coffee shops in Midtown Manhattan.

Patrons and lovers of New York City's public libraries can now breathe a little easier. On June 23, Mayor Bloomberg and City Council speaker Christine C. Quinn announced to the press that the city's proposed budget cuts will not be happening this year. According to the New York Times, the controversial cuts, which (among many things) threatened to raise taxes, close firehouses, eliminate city-financed child-care, and reduce library services, were replaced by a $70 billion agreement that will allow public institutions to operate as they had been previously. The news, which came as a relief to many organizations that viewed the original plan as a giant albatross around their metaphorical necks, was undoubtedly well-received by one particular party in the package - The New York Public Library. The troubled libraries were facing a potential loss of $47 million from the government that would include layoffs of over 700 of its staff members, as well as numerous branch closings and an end to thousands of its renowned free programs. To many, this was an outrage: How could the government cut funding to a place that has served such a crucial role in the of this city?

Michael Bloomberg and members of the Department of City Planning are still trying to push through Midtown East rezoning plans, but they’re racing against the clock as Bloomberg’s Mayoral term fast approaches an end. The rezoning, centered around the Grand Central Terminal, would allow for a vast makeover of 73 blocks between 37th and 57th Street and 2nd and 5th Avenue. The Department of City Planning’s overview suggests that New York is in dire need of newer, taller commercial skyscraper developments to attract and facilitate the growth of business – lest we’re left behind by a growing list of progressive metropolises and commerce hubs that can accommodate: “The purpose of the rezoning is to ensure the area’s future as a world-class business district and major job generator for New York City”.

While New York is becoming increasingly familiar with architectural hybrids where traditional styles sit side by side with distinctively modern design, Alchemy Properties’ newest project may be the most interesting example to date.

Summer has descended on New York City, which means that this is the time when most of us replace our steaming hot cups of coffee with cooler alternatives. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you have to give up on your daily caffeine fix—you’ll be glad to know that the city’s cafés serve a good variety of chilled coffee concoctions as well. We headed to Murray Hill to find the neighborhood’s best establishments for cold (or hot, if you so prefer!) coffee—here are our top three picks:

Stretching from 34th Street to 42nd Street between Fifth and Ninth Avenues, , and New Yorkers often complain that there aren’t any good coffee shops to be found in this neighborhood. But that is not really true—because hidden amidst the fabric shops and the chain restaurants that populate the Garment District are some really good coffee establishments—you just need to look a little harder for them!

Once the world’s fashion center, the has lost its number one place but it still enjoys its number one place in the heart of New-Yorkers since it is home to the majority of showrooms and to numerous major fashion labels.  This tiny district will make your head spin with its tremendous shopping options. You probably won’t know where to start, but fear not fashionistas... New York has it all planned for you. A selection of the best shopping tours is here.