This past weekend, I was able to sneak away for a fun getaway with a few friends in New York City! I lost a day due to a flight cancellations, but made it to The Big Apple just in time for dinner! We did some sightseeing, ate some good food, and drank a few glasses of wine. We had such a great time!
Where we stayed:
Moxy NYC Time Square We stayed at a super fun boutique hotel called Moxy. This Marriott micro hotel has an upscale New York feel from the moment you walk in the door. The hotel prides itself on its bold and cool aesthetic. The rooms are minimalistic, but who is going to be spending much time in their room anyway!?
What we ate:
Paul’s On Time Square This was my first meal in NYC, and it did not disappoint. The weather was perfect, so we sat on their little patio with a slight view of Time Square, but all the sounds of The City radiated up to the second floor. We shared a margarita pizza and a Ceasar salad, it was a great start to the trip.
Loeb Boathouse Central Park The Boathouse is tucked away within Central Park and serves as a reminder of a 150 year-old tradition. Dining by the lake within Central Park became popular in the 1860s, and although the Loeb Boathouse is not the original structure, this building was opened in 1954 and is a prime spot for a fun girls brunch, or a romantic dinner. The views are spectacular, the food was amazing and the service was top notch.
Doughnuttery Located within Chelsea Market, this original location of Doughnuttery serves mini doughnuts with both traditional and not-so-traditional flavor combinations. We grabbed a dozen and each picked a flavor to try: Speckled Strawberry, Lemon Pop, Cinnamon Sugar and Traditional Glazed with Sprinkles. The traditional glazed drizzle with sprinkles was the crowd favorite, but it was a tough decision.
Caliente Cab Company You can take the girls out of Texas, but apparently you can’t take the Tex-Mex out of the girls! After walking around Chelsea and West Village, we ended up at a Mexican food restaurant. I didn’t have high expectations going in, but the food was actually really good! We went with your Tex-Mex staples: empanadas, nachos and quesadillas, and, of course, a few margaritas were had.
Pasticceria Rocco After our Tex-Mex dinner, we were searching for dessert and stumbled upon this place, and boy am I glad we did! I have an extreme passion for Italian food, and Italian pastries. This family owned bakery was founded in 1974 by an Italian native following his American Dream. As you walk in, you are greeted by the delicious aroma of sweets and coffee. I ordered an espresso, a cannoli and a lobster tail (Yes, all three just for me!!). Their menu says “world famous cannoli,” and I believe it. I loved everything about this place, and I want to go back, pronto!
The Bagel Store Home of the “Original Rainbow Bagel!” Sunday morning we hopped the subway and headed to Brooklyn, for one of our more child-like fascinations. This place touts itself as “the bagel that broke the internet,” and I kind of have to believe them! This tiny little shop on an unassuming street in Brooklyn was packed with people ready to try the infamous rainbow bagel, although we found out the REAL rainbow bagel had a funfetti cream cheese and was topped with cotton candy and sprinkles, which we all thought was a little much. We settled with two regular rainbow bagels and one bedazzled bagel! Although they really don’t taste any different from your average bagel, it was a fun experience and certainly brought out our youth!
Brooklyn Roasting Company After venturing through Brooklyn looking for a place to shop, we stopped into Brooklyn Roasting Company for a quick cup of coffee. Located on a corner right across the street from the East River, its exposed pipes and brick walls made for a cozy spot to relax.
Tony’s Di Napoli Hands down my favorite meal in NYC! We’re talking, loud, family-style Italian food with good wine flowing! By this point, we had met up with my friends’ work group so there were about 15 of us. We ordered one of everything, and I didn’t hear a single complaint. I personally thought everything was delicious. I’ve already decided it is a must for my next trip.
What we did:
Central Park It is almost hard for me to grasp Central Park. It’s this massive, lush, serene park in the middle of the chaos of The Big Apple. It was hard to tell the difference between the locals and the tourists here. There were people running, biking, lounging, reading, sleeping, and even playing baseball. We entered the park toward the middle (at 86th street) and strolled south. The Belvedere Castle was closed for renovations, which we were pretty bummed about. We stopped for brunch at the Loeb Boathouse, grabbed a slice of quiche and a mimosa, and we continued on our stroll. The next time I go to NYC, I’m going to make a Home Alone: Lost in New York sightseeing list, because that’s all I kept saying “I wonder where Kevin talks to the bird lady?” (Explains the entire section of my photos in my phone of the Plaza Hotel.)
Chelsea Market I didn’t really know what to expect when going to Chelsea Market, but this unique building is filled with shops, bakeries, restaurants, and food carts. If you’re looking for shopping, this probably isn’t where I’d recommend you go, but if you’ve got a group of people you need to satisfy for a meal, this is definitely your place! This is where we got our precious and delicious mini doughnuts!
High Line The High Line is an urban park constructed using a portion of an old elevated freight line. Running almost a mile and a half, with plenty of places to sit and relax, the High Line provides another great option for the serenity of nature within the city.
Washington Square Park Although Washington Square Park is a notable NYC landmark, it was not originally on our list of to-do’s; it just happened to be close to the subway station we were going to, so we decided to stop by. It was after dark when we got to the park, and we arrived at a portion that was not well lit or crowded. I had to talk the girls into continuing on past the creepy part. Once we got to the other side of the park, there were tons of people and we felt completely safe. Behind the arch, there are several vendors, musicians and artists set up around the fountain. There were two guys performing a hand puppet play on the side of the arch, and a guy who had developed a BEAUTIFUL masterpiece out of sand. This was a fun little check off the list.
Brooklyn Bridge Another leisurely activity for this trip. The Brooklyn Bridge was opened in 1883 and is one of the oldest roadway bridges in the United States. The walk, of just over a mile, provides a great view of Manhattan, and Brooklyn (depending on which way you’re walking). I need to do some research on a less crowded time to walk the bridge, but late Sunday morning is NOT one of those times! Other than it being extremely crowded (pedestrians, and cyclists), this was a great way to experience Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan. There is also a great photo opportunity of the Manhattan Bridge near the intersection of Front Street and Washington Street.
Broadway Musical If you were to ask me if you should see a play while in New York City, the answer would be one thousand times yes! Let me preface that statement with this: I grew up in theater and have always had a love for music. This trip, we went to Wicked, which happens to be one of my favorite musicals of all time. This was actually my first on-Broadway play, and it was fantastic! Tickets to on-Broadway plays can sometimes be pricey, but you can find a lot of off-Broadway products for very reasonable prices. You might be able to catch the “next big thing” before it hits Broadway. Either way, I highly recommend taking the time to watch a show while in The City.
Transportation We walked, took the Subway or used Uber as our methods of transportation while in New York City. For the most part, we used the Subway, although we did take a couple of Uber rides. There are a few apps that helped us navigate The Big Apple. I downloaded the Citymapper app, which was great for navigating the subway system. It provides real-time updates on train arrivals, delays, and route changes. The Apple Maps app was great for providing us walking directions throughout The City.
Ellie Black Lifestyle 