Last weekend in New York City...

How did I spend my last weekend in New York? 

Open Bar in Lower East Side, Brunch at Pranna (which included 2 hours of unlimited alcohol and where dancing in the day on tables is positively encouraged), a walk through Madison Square Park, a spot of shopping, dinner at Tortaria (insanely good mexican cantina), an evening walk on the Highline followed by a night-time walk along the Hoboken waterfront, another brunch (minus the booze) at The Standard, a ramble around Central Park and finally free tickets to Shakespeare in the Park, an outdoor theatre in the middle of the Park showing Into the Woods.

Please don't make me leave!

The cabin continued...

I was going to write a big long post about all the cabin adventures but instead Miss Katy Hanby created this wonderful video which kind of sums up all the love and fun from the whole weekend!

Picture of the Week: July 23rd - 29th

I have been told that to New Yorkers "the park" means Central Park and "the city" means New York City, wherever in the world you happen to be. In which case this weekend I spent Sunday at the park enjoying a spot of sunshine and a meander. It is true that on a sunny weekend day it can get a little over crowded but that doesn't stop this place feeling like a heaven in the city. 


This week started with my favourite kind of meeting, one that happens over spiked milkshakes and bacon mac&cheese with the lovely Michelle. 

Mac&Cheese date

From there I crossed off another state...Connecticut, where I was working at a conference. This means that I can cross the state off my list of those visited. More importantly I spent the conference at one of America's largest casinos, not in Vegas however, on a Native American reserve! Apparently, as a sovereign state has it's own  laws...including legalised gambling and smoking in public areas. All a little strange if you ask me...but they decided to use the space to build a giant themed casino and arena, the Mohegan Sun! I was also lucky enough to have some great company on this trip both work colleagues and a friend from Connecticut who drove for over an hour to keep me company Wednesday evening.


Friday was Olympics time! The office closed down a little early, the beer started flowing and the Union Jack was out in force for a screening of the London 2012 Opening Ceremony. I have since heard it called a number of things, including bizarre but I loved it. I became almost emotional several times and it reminded me once again that I'm proud of my country and I'm actually kind of looking forward to calling it home again (shhhhh - don't tell anyone!).

The office was Olympics ready on Friday

Saturday was spent in Brooklyn. First in the insanely cool Bushwick - which is like Williamsburg without the expensive coffee. We drank beer, ate Roberta's famous pizza and danced in the day. Secondly in Williamsburg at Smorgasburg - a food market on the water front that I couldn't buy from because I was so full from the pizza. We also popped in to Artists & Fleas a kind of overpriced bazaar...I didn't buy, this time because I couldn't afford to.


Finally we scooted back to the city, consumed one of New York's best burgers from Corner Bistro...alongside the actor Mark Ruffalo, and finished up in Marie's Crisis (home of my favourite cross-section of piano playing, show-tune singing, homosexuals of the city).


And sunday...we went to 'the park'.


Am I 'New York' enough yet?!
  

#cabinofdreams...

If you're beginning to feel like this blog is just a selection of pictures and you're getting a little fatigued then you might want to look away now...this post is likely to be a gratuitous collection of images from several weekends ago...the weekend we spent in the #cabinofdreams. Yes the hash-tag is my own and yes, it caught on!


So mid-July, after many weeks of paying money here and there I collected my bag and jumped into one of three 7 seater cars to high-tail it upstate to America's largest state park (not national - they're different apparently). 21 of us in total headed up to the Adirondacks for a long weekend in a cabin near Lake Placid (famous mostly for a film about a giant monster who lives there). 


The cabin was a vision in wood. It couldn't have been more cabin like! But with the added bonus that it still fitted in an outdoor deck, games room, huge fire-place, bear depictions, hot tub and basketball court. Oh and a hammock big enough for 4 and a fire pit (yes I'm just getting greedy now). Don't believe me...

The deck

Living room light fitting

One of the bedrooms - sleeping 14

and:

one of the living areas - yes the piano worked

It's impossible to describe the detail that this place had, so I won't. But I will post shortly about the fun and games we had whilst there!

Picture of the Week: July 16th - 22nd

This weekend I managed to do something I've been wanting to do since the start. I visited the New York institution The Plaza. Not only did I pop my head into one of the most famous hotels in the world but I was joined by two of my favourite NYC ladies and we sat & had high tea! We also snuck ourselves into the locked up famous Grand Ballroom 

However the week was so crazy busy and full of exciting activities (including the arrival of one Miss Lomax) I thought I should also include a run down and pictures of my other activities.


On Monday I returned from here:

On Tuesday Naomi arrived in NYC having visited Vegas first. We visited my favourite Mexican on Jane Street (Mole) and enjoyed the excessively hot summer evening over a glass of wine & some Guac!


Wednesday I had the day off so Miss Lomax & myself headed first to the West Village for breakfast from Chelsea Market & a stop off on the Highline. We then walked our way north along the Hudson River Park (stopping at the Frying Pan for afternoon drinks) before getting caught in an almighty rainstorm & hot footing it into a cab to our final destination - Dinosaur BBQ. This places tastes like the best of Texas BBQ so we munched on wings & pulled pork...finally we ended up at the famous Amateur Night at the Apollo in Harlem...

Thursday I worked because I had a client event in the evening...this actually meant that I got to hold the Olympic Torch so I wasn't too disappointed! 

Closest I'll ever get to organised sports

Friday I once again had the day off so we headed first to the Spotted Pig for a famous burger, we then bummed around in downtown - from West to East, hid from the rain she brought with her from the UK, did a spot of shopping and ended up drinking the Lower East Side.  

Spotted Pig Burger & Shoestring Fries

Saturday morning Naomi left for the UK and I jumped on a bus to Long Island for a wine tasting tour. I'll try to update on that one in a separate post - but don't hate me if I'm too busy!  

Picture of the Week: July 9th - 15th

On Friday morning we drove for 5 hours till we reached the area of Lake Placid. There was 21 of us in a beautiful Cabin for 4 days. This meant a tiki party, 2 x BBQ's, a hot-tub, an epic quiz, a trip to the lake for a swim, a hike to a waterfall, 40 bottles of wine, 5 litres of vodka and a keg.  


Basically it was one hell of a long weekend...

Rockaway by baby...

I would be very comfortable describing Rockaway as 'Williamsburg on Sea'. It lies at the very bottom of Queens near JFK airport and, if it wasn't for the crazy number of cool urban New Yorkers, you could be forgiven for thinking it is much further away. Actually it's $2.25 and 1 hour away from Central Manhattan - what more could you want on another scorcher of a weekend!

I have now visited Rockaway twice...once in the early spring sunshine, and again this weekend. It's fair to say that in season it couldn't be more different...it's busy, buzzy and full of a renegade mix of hip New York young professionals (those that can't afford a summer share in Long Island and the Hamptons), urban familys and Rockaway locals. It also has the BEST sea-side munchies I've found!

So how does it now compare to our wonderful day there over the Easter Weekend?! Well...

Easter

Summer

Easter

Summer

Easter

Summer

But despite the crowds I still prefer a bit of summer...because it includes getting stuck in to some famous Rockaway Fish Tacos (apparently they're better than the Cali version)...

Boston in a day...

It seemed like a crazy idea and I still think it may have been, but Elly Lacey and I hatched the plan anyway - to take a Monday off and visit Boston!


Boston is 4hrs from New York...that's not impossible! I jumped on the 7:30am coach (Elly's was 15 minutes earlier due to some oversight my end with bookings) to Boston and off we sped to Boston. 


Arriving just before 12 we hot-footed it to Boston Common and picked up a route-map for the Boston Freedom Trail! This self-guided tour of the city takes in the major sights associated with the defeat of the British and the Independence of America. As a Brit (who is excessively attached to the American sensibility) it was fascinating to see some of the places and learn about some of the actions that led to the American victory. 


It's a beautiful place...equal parts idyllic New England clapboard and Colonialist brick (apart from the very centre - that kind of reminded me of Cardiff). We ate New England oysters, clams, some Italian and a cupcake or two! It's still a city, but it's also very suburban.

Finally, after all the walking and the learning we hot footed it over to Harvard! I'm sure my brain cells quadrupled just by wondering around the famous university buildings. 

In summary I learnt a great many things about Boston:

• It is a beautiful city that I would happily live in for many years if I could
• It is tiny and not difficult to see in a day
• It is expensive to take a cab
• Nothing says Boston like a white spire on a church

Picture of the Week: July 2nd - 8th

4th July is all about American's winning independence from us Brits. Now even though this has caused many subsequent issues  for me (i.e. it's not so easy to get a US Visa as it probably would be) I think it may have become my favourite US holiday! It's all about sunshine, fun and fireworks - what more could anyone want. I joined 20 or so other fellow Brits on Wednesday to celebrate the historical significance of Great Britain failing to hang on to its territory with a giant picnic in the continuing New York heatwave.


We sat in Maxwell Park which is at the tip top of Hoboken. It's right on the river and has beautiful views of both the fireworks and the Empire State Building (which was Red, White & Blue for the event). We got there early, bagged a prime spot and had some fun...followed by the most spectacular fireworks I've ever seen!

Picture of the Week: June 25th - July 1st

In celebration of Miss Lauren William's round the world tour we decided to decamp to Washington, D.C for the weekend. Now I was told that Washington was fairly compact and could easily be seen in a weekend - what this didn't allow for is the 100 degree heat we encountered. So we spent the weekend seeing the sights of Washington and after almost walking our feet off on the first day we switched to the Bikehire scheme - this is a genius way to get around a rather sprawling (and confusing) city!  


My general assessment for Washington was that I loved it - but I didn't love it as much as Boston.

Picture of the Week: 18th - 24th June

On Monday I took the day off on holiday and jumped on a bus at 7:30am all the way to Boston for the day. The sun was shining (yes, yet again) and after just 4.5 hours I was in Massachusetts. 


Boston is a beautiful city...somewhere I would happily grow up and grow old in. It's got history around every corner of the small city centre and it's as pretty as a picture. We walked the freedom trail, we ate oysters & italian food and visited Harvard. Beats the usual Monday stuff... 

Picture of the Week: 11th - 17th June

On the Saturday I got lucky. The sun was shining, it was warm without the humidity...and I got the opportunity to head upstate and help at an international polo tournament with some work colleagues. 


The event itself was at Mashomack Polo Fields, 2 hours out of the city and awash with rolling hills and beautiful countryside. This is exciting enough on it's own but add to it the Maharaja of Jaipur and his family, the members only club house and an opportunity to ride around in golf buggies, and you get an incredible day trip out of the city.

Picture of the Week: 4th - 10th June

This was the week that I got not one but two sets of amazing visitors. First up was the family...we cycled, bused, subwayed, they boated and yes, we helicoptered our way around Manhattan. Drinking in the joys of New York, and some pretty damn good meals. 


Second up was Tasha and Tom, my husband and wife team from my London home...we hit some of my favourite bits of the city and drank some awesome cocktails (shout out to Stanton Social's Strawberry Fields) but mostly it was just overwhelmingly lovely to be able to share some of this year, the places I've found and the things I love, with the people that will always be special to me - no matter which location I may reside. 


This picture is Tasha and myself enjoying the journey back from Hoboken Station to my apartment...it may be Jersey, but it's got a view to die for!

Captured...

Sometimes, even in New York, you finish work and just want to head home, curl up on the sofa and drink tea. The problem is that most of the time, in New York, someone can come along at the last minute and make you a better offer!

And so it was last night...Miss Elly Lacey unearthed a free screening hosted by the Anonymous Film Club at Yotel and I put my washing off for yet another evening. Personally I know Yotel thanks to their  “all you can eat + all you can drink” brunch, but a film screening?! I was sceptical to put it mildly...but what else can one do on a Monday night in NYC?!

It turned out the be one of the most fascinating documentaries I’ve seen, about a truly interesting man. The film is called Captured, shot by Ben Solomon and Dan Levin! Anyone who has spent time in the modern Lower East Side & paid $16 for a cocktail in one of the area's many bars should watch it. It had soul. 

It focused on the work of photographer & videographer, Clayton Patterson (who incidentally reminded me an awful lot of my late Uncle Steven). Rooted firmly in the context of a life spent in the small bit of Manhattan known as LES. I have gone from being ignorant to a huge fan. He was in the thick of the LES riots and used his work in fight against the injustice of state-authorities of that time. In addition he created an accidental fashion line and runs an art gallery. The guy is a legend.

In their words:

CAPTURED is the story of one man's commitment to chronicling the legendary Lower East Side, and the individuals who define it. Since the early 1980s Clayton Patterson has been fully dedicated to documenting the final era of this historic and eclectic neighbourhood long known for its humble streets, revolutionary minds and creative influence. He has obsessively recorded its many faces: from drag to hardcore, heroin to homelessness, political chaos to gentrification. CAPTURED profiles Patterson's odyssey from voyeur to provocateur, and from activist to renegade archivist. This fast-paced documentary includes Patterson's rare and renowned footage of the Tompkins Square police riots, and provides a close-up look at a fascinating character and chapter of urban culture. 

I would implore anyone with a vague interest in the LES to give up 90 minutes of their time for this film!

Picture of the Week: May 28th - June 3rd

Saturday 2nd June was a big day in my world. Not only was it my birthday - tipping me over the the 'early twenties' mark and taking me to the grand old age of 26 - but it was a great day to get all patriotic in NY. It was of course the Queen's Diamond Jubilee!

I celebrated with a few of may favourite things (no raindrops or roses included). Brunch at the uber-chic Gramercy Park Hotel Terrace, an afternoon in the sun on the Highline, several drinks on The Frying Pan, a boat moored on the Hudson river and finally a rooftop party. Thanks to all who made it and those who sent messages...it was an epic day!

Oh and the following day I join the family on a helicopter - something tells me 26 is going to be my favourite year!

Picture of the Week: May 21 - 27th

This week I sat on a coach for 8 hours with three great travelling buddies to get all the way to Niagara Falls in upstate NY. Despite all the queues it was a pretty awesome visit and it's another thing crossed off my NY bucket list... 

Go Googa for my Mooga...

Brooklyn's Prospect Park has so many things going for it...it's bigger, prettier, quieter and cooler than the parks over in the City! Only last weekend it was invaded...by foodie hipsters with empty stomachs and uber-cool clothing. Last weekend was the first ever Great GoogaMooga! 


This festival was a food festival with a side of music and lashings of sunshine! It's a simple formula, invade a park, book some bands, sell restaurant standard food to the masses and ensure free flowing booze. The event has received a lot of criticism in the aftermath...mainly because of the never ending queues for some of the big name restaurants but for little old me, it was a sunny day with music, good food and just enough booze!


In total we ate: Lobster Rolls from Luke's, Duck Hotdogs from Craft, Pulled Pork Sandwich from Dinosaur BBQ, Pastrami Sandwich from Kutsher's Tribeca, 'Tata Tots from Crif Dogs and finally Ice-Cream Sandwiches from Melt Bakery. Washed down with independent beers and wines from Washington State, California, South Africa and France - Get why I loved it yet?!


Here is our GoogaMooga experience in photos...

We arrived to lines from every direction...but the sun was shining and everything smelt so good...

We found a spot to call our own

We opted for Luke's Lobster Rolls but during the hour & a half it took to wait we also devoured a pastrami sandwich from Kustchers Tribeca...finally the lobster arrived...

we then tucked into ice cream sandwiches...

followed by pulled pork

...and a trip to the wine tasting tent

then the sun stayed out, music played and we merrily finished our evening by 10pm.

Picture of the Week: May 14 - 20th

This is my official picture of the week...GoogaMooga! The festival of food, drink, music and sunshine proved once again that there is nowhere in the world like New York City! And was one of my favourite Saturday's for a while! this picture was borrowed from Miss Elly Lacey!

Having said that, this week was so epic there is a second picture of the week...donated once again (unbeknownst to her) by Elly! This weekend was so epic that yes, Sunday was equal in it's crazy New York appeal! We did what all straight single people do on a sunny Sunday...we hit up an all you can drink brunch drag show...the weirdest thing is I'm not even lying!

Picture of the Week # 2 

XOXO

The Co-habitation Question

A big debate rose up from an article in the NY Times several weeks ago about co-habitation and marriage (read the full article here). It suggests that living together before marriage has a negative impact on a marriage. Now I'm not normally one to get all caught up in one of these random slow-news-day debates but this one correlates directly to my own feelings on the subject. So I decided to do a little reflecting on the subject: 

Cohabitation is an interesting phenomena of modern times. Once upon a time if you lived with someone before you were married it was wrong…now the opposite is true. It’s become an expected part of a relationship. Just one stepping stone away from the big one.

When I tell people I don’t want to live with a partner before I’m married I get some extreme reactions. People think I’m insane, hiding something or a religious nut! I’m none of these things (well maybe I'm a bit messy but that's not hidden by not living with someone). I made the decision a long time ago that I wouldn’t move in with a partner until I had a ring on my finger and I continue to think, despite now being one of a minority, that it’s the right thing for me.

Call me crazy but I just don’t want living together be be another stepping stone. I might be an old romantic but I want moving in with someone to mean a life-long commitment. Sharing a home is just as intimate as having a ring on my finger and I want it to be with the right person and not just because it’s cheaper to split the rent. I'm not a car to be test-drove for a period of time. I get that it makes sense but, as this article points out, it tends to lead to couples sliding into life rather than deciding they want to be together. 

Now I'm not saying it can't work. Almost every couple I know, including the best couples I know, lived together first.It's just not for me - and it seems from this article I can't be all wrong.

My expectations of this day may have been ruined by Disney but the way I see it, Snow White didn’t shack up with one of the dwarfs because she’d had a perfectly lovely time living with him and knew they could still get on…she waited it out for her prince…I just don’t buy the cohabitation story that they’re selling.

I’m also not against living with someone. I can’t wait for all the new things that come with settling into a home with someone I’m committed too…I just want to make sure that investment is for life, and if that's a problem they can test run someone else, there are plenty of girls who are more estate-car friendly. 

Picture of the Week - May 6 - 13

This week I escaped the grey skies and confines of New York and jumped on a flight to Jamaica. This is the complete antithesis to the city and I unwound in 90 degrees with sunshine and a frozen margarita in hand. A much needed break from the big city - but on Thursday I was back and hell, it's good to be home!

Picture of the Week - April 30 - May 6

This week was highlighted by a visit from the homeland. Miss Long graced New York City with both her immaculate dress sense and her love of a good cocktail. With mummy Long in for the ride we visited La Birreria on the rooftop of Little Italy, Hill Country BBQ, Fish and The Jane. I love them all and it's even better when sharing them with old friends...Thank you for stopping by, I miss all my lovely friends stuck out in the UK!

Hounorary Picture of the Week #2

I spent Saturday daytime discovering Harlem with Michelle...we discovered three things: 1) Harlem is lovely and not at all scary 2) everywhere in NYC is beautiful when the sun shines & 3) the picture below which proves that NY is just like the rest of America (and this is why it feels like home)

XOXO

Picture of the Week - April 23 - 29

This week's picture of the week features the beautiful Tom Mulready demonstrating the joys of underground rebel bingo, that's right, bingo! Although forget the bingo you know and love this involves dressing up, writing all over each other and competing for all sorts of weird & wonderful prizes (LED light up umbrella included)!

Just be aware that as soon as you leave a venue where everyone is covered in writing to enter the real world you find yourself a social outcast very quickly...

XOXO  

Picture of the Week - April 16 - 22

On Saturday I once again volunteered with friends, this time to paint public space in DUMBO. We art attacked a cycle path used by hundreds of people daily and after getting a warm glow from the inside we headed to Brooklyn Bridge park to get a warm glow on the outside...

We sat in the sun, ate pizza from Grimaldi's and cooked ourselves in the sunshine. 

Friday night for free...

A  Friday night for free would once upon a time have been heading home straight away after work and staying there...not so in New York! 

In NYC a Friday evening for free is spent on an outside plaza by the Hudson River. First listening to Jazz, then followed by a sunset and then watching a classic film on a huge cinema screen. With free vitamin water to quench the thirst. New York just does these things better (oh and it was the Goonies, in cae you care about the film we watched)...

XOXO