That city that never sleeps has been like a second home to me… My mom and her whole side of the family are from there, so I like to think I was born with a little bit of New Yorker in my blood. I’ve been making trips to take a bite out of the big apple every since I was little, and the trips have become more frequent over the past few years. I have to say, the dynamic of my visits totally changed when I started going on my own. It’s nice to vacation with family, with the security of a hotel and nice dinners, but I discovered a whole new side of the city, and myself!, when I had to learn to navigate the streets – and the metro – independently. Every time I visit I feel like I uncover a whole new world within the city, which always keeps me coming back for more.
If I had to sum up my feelings about this trip, it would be an appreciation for the people of New York. It never ceases to amaze me the type of people you encounter, and how social they can be. One night, Savannah and I were chatting outside a bar and within minutes, we had attracted a crew of 10 random people, all from different corners of the world, who began chatting with each other, and us, all becoming friends. Another night, my girls and I literally stumbled out of a cab into a fascinating crew composed of an upcoming designer, a music producer, and a hip-hop artist//model. Granted, not every interaction is a positive one, but the ones that are end up being so inspiring, or at least thought provoking, and the fact that they can be so fleeting just adds to the beauty of it. Thanks to all my close friends as well, who make my visits to the city as special as they can be including my wonderful host and muse, Savannah (also known as The Savvier), my Swedish Soul Queen Martine and her partner in crime, Gabs, the one and only Kevin Chung, Char, my cousin Ty, and of course, the dancing man at Strawberry Fields and his lovely loaf dogs.
And now, just a quick recap before we get to the photos:
- Nightlife: I finally got to experience Le Bain at the Standard, and I mean, with a view of the city like they have, and a hot tub in the club, what more could you ask for? This was the disco retro heaven I’ve needed in my life. Had an interesting experience at the Highline Ballroom, which was cool for the live drummers, girls doing acrobatics in hanging rings, and percentage of Drake songs heard that night, but not cool for the fact that poor Savannah got caught in the middle of not one but TWO fights, started by the same people! Thank god she survived lol. Ended one of our nights out at my personal favorite, the Blind Barber, which is a cozy speakeasy that has cheap drinks and awesome music, always. Love that place.
- Eats: One highlight was certainly going to the much talked about, Vandal. Sav scored reservation a month in advanced and we ended up sitting in the Shepard Fairey room, which was too dope. I highly recommend the Chilean Sea Bass Tacos, for the record. We had brunch at the Sugar Factory, where the food was alright but the drinks (see below) made it worth the trip. Then, we hit up the Magnum bar (where you can customize your very own Magnum ice cream, what a treat!), and later stumbled upon this adorable coffee shop called Smile to Go, where Sav got a fantastic Matcha latte. But my most memorable eats of the weekend had to be the F&%!*ing Genuis Blueberry Protein Shake from The Juice Press (omg) and the Tagliolini al Tartufo Nero, aka big truffle raviolis bathed in heavenly butter sauce, from Serafina (drooling).
- What you must do next time you go: Our last day, Sav, Kevin and I opted for the road less traveled and got lost in The Ramble at Central Park. We packed some cheese, bread, and fruit and wandered for a while through the woods, creeks, and the Shakespeare Garden before finding a beautiful meadow on which to have our picnic. It was the absolute perfect end to the weekend and I recommend everyone take the time to do the same on a nice day.
Without further ado, here are the photos!
