Then the singer walked a few sunny blocks along Bleecker Street to one of his other haunts, Matt Umanov Guitars.

WSJ: What Makes Steve Earle Run

An exhibit at Bleecker Street Arts Club includes a series of photographs by Lina Bertucci of artists including Jeff Koons and Elizabeth Peyton.

WSJ: Corrections & Amplifications

And this month, while showing during New York Design week, from May 17 to 22, he will open a pop-up shop at 45 Bleecker Street, with online design hub Fab.com.

WSJ: Tom Dixon Makes Things Better

Fill up on organic blueberries and heirloom tomatoes at the Union Square Greenmarket, then wander past the students and chess-players in Washington Square Park to linger over cappuccino in an old-fashioned Italian pavement cafe on Bleecker Street, or cool off Middle-Eastern style with hummus, mint-studded lemonade and chilled salads at Hummus Place (88 MacDougall St).

BBC: Summer in the city: New York