Brooklyn and the Big Apple
I had been long overdue for a trip to New York. So I took advantage of the long weekend in March to head down there and visit two of my childhood friends. I've know my friend Stephanie (the Brooklynite) since the first grade. She was one of the few Asian kids in our elementary school so naturally we had to become friends. Then there's my friend Meaghan (the Manhattan-nite). We've known each other since the third grade when she moved to our little ole town of Chelmsford by way of CT. Armed with my list of things to do/places to eat/places to shop, I hopped on the NY-bound train. I started my weekend off in Brooklyn and slowly made my way up to Manhatten. So here we go - a recap of the adventures of the three amigas!
On our way to meet Meaghan, we made a quick pit stop into Smorgasburg. If you are from Boston, think of this as Sowa times 100! One can definitely spend an entire afternoon here looking for treasures. On the lower level resides all the food vendors. Naturally, we grabbed a donut before heading out.
When in Brooklyn, Blue Bottle. New Orleans style all around!
After strolling around for a bit, we needed a snack. Steph said it was a must that we stop by Mazzola Bakery for lard bread. What is lard bread you ask? It's a loaf of bread with pieces of cheese and ham baked inside. It's heaven.
Hunger struck again. We didn't have any plans and stumbled upon the cutest little restaurant: House of Small Wonder. I would describe it as Japanese fusion.
I ordered the Tsukune Don: japanese chicken meatballs over nori and topped with a soft egg.
And what better way to top off that meal than with cereal milk soft serve and cornflakes from Milk Bar. MY FAVE!
That evening, we had dinner at Walter's in Forte Greene. A cute neighborhood spot with delicious food. The seating that night was a bit tight - where you could reach out and touch the person next to you. My friend sent me a text (even though we sat next to each other): "You are sitting next to Olivia Wilde and Steph is sitting next to Jason Sudekis". Crazy, huh? I had no idea!
The next morning we started off at Tiny's & The Bar Upstairs. My very first blogging friend Sam (Sale Rack Style) joined my girlfriends and me. Anytime I am in NYC, we always meet up! From internet friends to real life friends ;) Pictured is the Duck Hunter Brunch. Really good but a little too many beets for me - and I do love beets. Oh, and the drunken donuts are a must!
The three of us arrived at brunch separately but in essentially the same uniform. This makes us an official girl gang, right?
After brunch we stopped by Oculus. We had some time before heading up to the One World Observatory. I couldn't get over how white everything was! There were so many stores in every nook and corner.
We also took some time to walk around the World Trade Center Memorial. It was my first time visiting on such a beautiful day. It was incredible.
The ride up the elevator and the views from the observatory was amazing. I wasn't sure what to expect but I would recommend this to any visitor. Oh hey there, NYC!
The remainder of the day was filled with shopping and eating (surprised?). We stopped by the beautiful M.Gemi store in SoHo. I had to refrain myself from buying every pair I touched!
Isn't the space so pretty?
Just a few doors down is the Mansur Gavriel Pop-Up. Such a colorful space filled with all the bags and shoes a girl dreams of!
I am completely obsessed with the mini mini sun bag.
Of all the times I've stopped by Laduree, it's to quickly pick up a dozen macarons. But this time, we actually had time to sit down and enjoy a cup of coffee and dessert. What a treat, literally.
For our last dinner together, we went to the Meatball Shop (my first time)! I had been obsessed with this place since their show on the food channel. It lived up to my every expectation. Have you been? If no, then put it on your list for your next visit.
What are some of your favorite spots in NY? Let me know and I'll add it to my list for my next trip.