I HEART NYC

Why Hello There!

I just got back from the beautiful New York City with the hubs on Saturday. If you haven't been there you should go now...right now. If you have been then you know that it is a great spot to visit. You are so lucky to be reading this because 1. I love to shop and 2. I love to eat and here are the go to's and don't do's.

Before you book your trip stretch, do yoga, warn your body that it's about to get serious with the walking.

[DAY 1]

Fly into Laguardia, the airport itself is terrible but it's easier to get into the city and closer to Manhattan. Once you grab your luggage get into a cab, don't bother with Uber, make your life simple and join the yellow cab line. It's going to cost you about 30-40 dollars to get into the city depending on traffic. Wear your seat belt or don't if you want to experience a rush. (This is a whole new world with cabs and cars and lanes or lack there of.) 

Drop off your luggage at the hotel, check in if you can or just leave your luggage with the bell hop. Tip? No Tip? I still don't get it.

We stayed at the New Yorker in Madison Square Garden neighborhood. Not my favorite place to stay but has a lot of restaurants, shops, and entertainment around it.

Put on your walking shoes, my preference are TOMs they saved my life last year after the 3 pairs I brought with decided to murder my feet. Not kidding, there was a crime scene in between each toe.

Now just start walking...any direction. Get lost you will stumble across some great places if you have the time. Thanks to Anthony Bourdain's suggestion we ran into his recommendation PAPAYA DOG. This is hot dog with sauerkraut, it actually tasted pretty darn good. It's a hole in the wall place with 2 tables and a couple bar height chairs. It's were the locals go for lunch and super cheap!


Favorite neighborhoods are Chelsea and Meatpacking.  Chelsea has a wonderful shopping area including West Elm, a two story Tjmaxx, lots of furniture stores, Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Anthro, honestly it is one good thing after the other. From here head over to the Meatpacking District and walk the High line. The High line is an old railroad that is now turned into a beautiful walkway filled with flowers, art work, wood lounge chairs...quite relaxing. Underneath the Highline lies the Standard Hotel who has a packed Biergarten. Everything costs 8 dollars --Bier, Pretzels, Brats. The only thing missing was a Polka Band. Is that a Milwaukee thing?








 If you're looking for a little pampering get a blow out at Dry Bar. For 40 dollars you get a wash and blow out. It's really nice to be on the other side of the chair sometimes.

If you rather not then stroll around the neighborhood and find yourself some cute little boutiques and bars. I love this little place called Soapology, they have some standard concoctions of shower and bath scrubs but they can also mix together aromas for your liking. The hubs got a Tabacco and Caramel Cologne...AH MAZING. Story, is also a great store to visit, changing often with all new products and stories behind their products, hence the name.

For Dinner head over to the Frying Pan--Maritime 66. It's a sunk ship that was brought up after 3 years from the Chesapeake Bay and restored. Grab a drink, their Sangria is delicious and refreshing as well. If you are easily seasick grab a table on the dock--less rocking :)

TOTAL MILES WALKED--12.46















[DAY 2]

Grab a Bagel at Brooklyn's Bagels and Coffee Co. they are located all over the place. Honestly the best bagel I have ever had. They had a wide array of cream cheese ranging from Jalapeno Salmon to Cinnamon Raisin.

If you find yourself loving Chelsea you may want to spend another day there or head over to SOHO. SOHO is an Art District. TONS of Interior Decor Shops, Art Galleries, Shopping of all sorts.

If you are looking for something sweet MOMOFUKU has a to-go window with ice cream, cookies, and pies. As a matter of fact, I picked up MOMOFUKU's book which has all of the recipes this little bakery has to offer plus more. It's rich and a little piece of heaven. It's a good thing there is so much walking on this vacation. HA!

Don't be scared to talk to the locals, they know the go to places where you can blend in. Hide your Nikons and Garmins and drown yourself with the NY lifestyle.

ABC Kitchen. I kid you not. Put this in your travel plans. It is stunningly beautiful inside and the food...I am speechless-- was decadent. It is romantic yet laid back, traditional yet modern. I had the bow-tie pasta with a white wine reduction and caramelized onions with veal meatballs. I am drooling as I write this. The hubby had a shaved asparagus wheat crust fire stone pizza with a cream cheese base. It will not disappoint. Of course we had to order dessert even though I hit my capacity. I decided on the a chocolate cake with a marshmallow frosting and the man ordered carrot cake. I pretty much had to be rolled out of the restaurant.

TOTAL MILES WALKED--14.2



















[DAY 3]

Leaving Manhattan and ride the subway out to Brooklyn. At first we walked and walked and I was unimpressed until we backtracked to the subway and made a left instead of a right. 7th and Bedford led us to Williamburg. The walls were filled with graffiti and the streets were filled with hipsters and tourists. Stores with Etsy inspiration followed by restaurants of every culture. Cute bars on every corner. One thing that was a little irritating was the wait for everything. Prior to visiting I read a couple blogs and came across one that had written that it was laid back and you literally have to beg your server to come over. They aren't in any kind of rush. In fact we waited so long in one bar that we guessed how much our drinks were and hopefully left enough. I wasn't in any kind of hurry but you can only sit for so long before you want to venture out and see more.

Check out Egg-a popular breakfast and brunch spot. Located just a block or two from the water. Again slower then molasses but delicious.

Than grab a blanket and take a nap at the local park for an hour.Wear your sunscreen otherwise you wake up with a little NYC Sunburn.


TOTAL MILES WALKED--6.49 









 [DAY 4]

 Today was tourist day. Last year we didn't really dig ourselves into all the attractions and when we went home and people asked what we did. All I said was "shopping and eating". I figured that couldn't be my answer this time. This day was dedicated to the 9/11 memorial, the new World Trade Center, the Statue of Liberty, and Wall Street. I must say I am not the tourist type but truly enjoyed being an ant in the big city. A starbucks on every corner and walking shoulder to shoulder with a stranger. It was our last day in town so we walked 5th Avenue again, a quick walk through times square and dinner at an Indian restaurant that I seriously cannot remember the name of. It was one of those things where you look inside and say let's eat here and never read the signs or front of the menu. But it was delicious.

TOTAL MILES WALKED--8.48


There you have it. Do you know more then I do about New York? Wonderful share it with me because we are going again next year. Best Places to visit? Restaurants? Bars?

-H