My New York City list is a little downtown-centric, but here goes:

Bouley Bakery on Duane St. for croissants (rather expensive)
Blaue Gans on Duane St. for cheese danish (on the light side)
Sullivan Street Bakery for bread and snail cookies
Sweet Melissa on Houston St. for macaroons (original branch is in Brooklyn, I think Court St.)
Falai Panetteria on Clinton St. for bread and pastries
Amy's Bread, various locations, for cinnamon challah twists and chocolate sourdough bread
Our Daily Bread at the Union Square Greenmarket on Weds. and Sat. for sourdough bread
Mei Lai Wah on Bayard St. for pork buns

swag can testify that when I met him at Jazz Fest, I was wearing a t-shirt that said "Choose Carbs".