Greece staycation

As an introduction to the country’s sweeter side, pop by Artopolis(23-18 31st St between 23rd St and 23rd Ave, Astoria; 718-728-8484, artopolis.net) for kourabiethes ($1 each or $13/lb), a buttery dessert topped with confectioners’ sugar. “It should be claimed the national cookie of Greece,” says co-owner Regina Katopodis. “It’s present at all celebrations of life.” Even if you settle on something different, like a Cretan diple (75 each or $10/lb), a vodka-infused flour pastry, you can’t go wrong. “All of our recipes are out of different homes from all over Greece,” says Katopodis. Exercise restraint by taking your treat to go—bring it to Athens Square Park(30th St at 30th Ave; nycgovparks.org), where you can chow down amidst bronze statues of Athena and the rest of the gang.

Astoria may have the highest concentration of expats here, but the East Village has what is widely considered one of the city’s most authentic—and delicious—Grecian restaurants, Pylos(128 E 7th St between Ave A and First Ave; 212-473-0220, pylosrestaurant.com). “Our food is rustic but elegant, and regional in inspiration,” says consulting chef Diane Kochilas. Try the pastitsio, a sort of lasagna ($17), or the artichoke heart moussaka ($11), layered with caramelized onions and three different cheeses.

Inside info

Opa! is a way of expressing pleasure—akin to cheering “hooray!”

After a nearly $220 million renovation of the south wing, old is new again in the Greek and Roman Art Gallery at the Metropolitan Museum of Art(1000 Fifth Ave at 82nd St; 212-535-7710, metmuseum.org), which houses 7,769 works, including a limestone sarcophagus that likely belonged to a king of Amathus, and a bronze chariot inlaid with ivory.

If you can’t wait until September to see the bilingual Greek Theater of New York(ellinikotheatro.org)perform its modern-day reenactment of Socrates’ trial in The Apology of Socrates, pay tribute to the tradition of outdoor amphitheaters with a double dose of Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte Theater(Central Park, southwest corner of the Great Lawn; 212-539-8500, publictheater.org; free). This summer’s lineup includes two shows: The Merchant of Venice with Al Pacino and The Winter’s Tale starring Ruben Santiago-Hudson, performed in repertory from Wednesday 9 to August 1.

Inside info

For almost 60 years, Fifth Avenue has served as the location of the annual Greek Independence Day Parade, which attracts more than 150,000 attendees each April.

You don’t need to travel to Cyprus to steal Aphrodite’s beauty secrets—simply head to mod apothecaryMastihashop(145 Orchard St between Rivington and Stanton Sts; 212-253-0895, mastihashopny.com), which specializes in products made with mastiha, a rare tree resin found only on the isle of Chios. According to co-owner Artemis Kohas, this “ancient therapeutic ingredient” has proven antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities. Pick up mastiha-spiked rose-petal gum ($2.50) and shampoo ($17.25) to combat gingivitis and strengthen hair, respectively.

Aegean grocery Titan Food(25-56 31st St at Astoria Blvd, Astoria, Queens; 718-626-7771, titanfood.com), is stocked with goods from Greece and Cyprus, including coffees, teas, honey and olive oil.

Seaburn Books(33-18 Broadway at 34th St, Astoria, Queens; 718-267-7929, seaburn.com) “has been part of the literary culture of Greece in New York for over 15 years,” says owner Sam Chekwas of his no-frills bookstore. Seaburn pays tribute to its multicultural neighborhood with a friendly staff, which happens to be fluent in at least a half dozen languages, and by stocking tomes in just as many tongues. If Nicholas Gage’sEleni looks Greek to you (and for good reason—it is), sign up for one of Seaburn’s free hour-long beginner language classes on Thursdays at 7pm.