My birthday this year was pretty memorable. My boyfriend and I took a weekend trip to Chicago on my birthday, and he surprised me with a second weekend trip to NYC for my birthday present. I had been missing my old apartment, friends and the city and he thought it would cheer me up to take a visit. I had a plan in my mind almost immediately after he told me. Because we had both lived there we could skip the typical tourist go-to’s and preferred to spend our days visiting with friends and some of our favorite spots.
Friday
We arrived super early into the city on Friday to make the most of our first day and went straight to the hotel from the airport to check in and drop off our luggage before heading out into the city. My boyfriend asked for my location preference when deciding the hotel, but I asked him to surprise me since I love surprises so much and he has great taste.
He chose the Viceroy, which not only has a great location by Central Park and Columbus Circle but also surrounded by great shopping, restaurants and multiple subway stations. The only downsides to this hotel were that unfortunately the lobby was under construction during our stay and our room view was a brick wall of the next building, so I wasn’t able to take any photos of either the lobby or a city view from the room. But for us, since we have seen plenty of the city living here, the lack of view wasn’t too much of a bother.
Bouchon Bakery
After stopping by our hotel we hopped over to the Time Warner Center in Columbus Circle so I could introduce my boyfriend to Bouchon Bakery’s macarons. The macarons come in two sizes, standard and large, so I of course grabbed both a Salted Caramel and Malted Milk in large to savor the taste a bit longer.
Peter Lugar Steakhouse
After a sugar fix from the macarons we headed over to the Peter Lugar Steakhouse in Williamsburg, Brooklyn for lunch, which was a bucket list restaurant for my boyfriend. Ironically I previously passed by the restaurant daily on my commute from Brooklyn to Manhattan when I lived off the J train. It’s hard to miss the large painted sign right by the Williamsburg Bridge.
I highly recommend reserving a table in advance, as it seemed pretty busy when we arrived. The steakhouse has a long and glowing reputation so I was expecting an amazing meal. The restaurant has an interior that is similar to a Bavarian beer hall with simple decor and a menu that is pretty straight forward consisting mostly of various steak selections. We noticed everyone around us ordered the same item on the menu, the Porterhouse, which came out sizzling in enormous portions. We started with the Sliced Tomatoes and Onion with Lugar’s Own Sauce, then moved on to the Porterhouse Steak for One and Lugar’s Special German Fried Potatoes. I was a bit disappointed with the tomatoes and onion, thinking it would be more elaborate than large slices of tomato and raw onion only, but like the menu and decor the food is pretty simplistic. We decided on the steak for one, which is more than enough for two people to share. Prepare yourself as it is in a butter bath, but it was very juicy and tender inside with a crisp to the outside, paired nicely with their Lugar sauce. The fried potatoes were just that, fried potatoes. Though I did enjoy the steak, I think this restaurant is more reserved for steak lovers. If you stop by Peter Lugar, make sure to bring either cash or a debit card, credit cards are not accepted.
Beacon’s Closet
After lunch, while my boyfriend headed to the Auto Show, I headed to my must-do for shopping on our trip – Beacon’s Closet in Manhattan. Most of my wardrobe is from there and its the best place for finding both classic and unique pieces from designers at amazing prices. There are other stores that cater only to designer clothing but they tend to be quite pricey and you can find some of the same designers at Beacon’s for way cheaper. Other secondhand stores to check out that are reasonably priced are Buffalo Exchange and Crossroads. I was lucky enough to grab a silk wrap top, a silk tank and a pair of leather & silk slip-on sneakers.
After shopping I headed around the corner to HU Kitchen to grab a snack and drink before meeting up with my boyfriend and his friend for sushi.
SenYa
SenYa was quite the experience… my boyfriend’s friend is a regular at this cozy sushi restaurant in the East Village and was definitely a man with a plan, ordering 12+ courses! We did have a few things off menu because the friend knows the owner…it pays to have the hook up in NYC restaurants! The above pictures are a selection the Chef’s choice and Grilled Octopus Tentacle. Pictured below in clockwise order: Chirashi Box, Chutoro, Botan Ebi, off menu, Miso Infused Foie Gras, Beef Tartare, Miso Black Cod, Otoro. We also had the Uni Toast and a few other selections, but I began to loose count! I would definitely head back here again for their delicious menu and beautifully presented dishes. If you check out SenYa and want to try the foie gras, make sure you call and order it ahead.
Saturday
Balthazar
I have a love affair with all things brunch. There’s something about brunch food that makes me happy, along with of course, a bottomless brunch. Balthazar is not a bottomless brunch spot, unless you make it one and spend a small fortune on multiple cocktails, but it is amazing none-the-less. The space of this French brasserie in SoHo is cozy, even though its bustling, and I love the charming look and feel of the space. My boyfriend and I met up with my friend and her daughter because not only is Balthazar one of my favorite restaurants, but it is also a favorite of my friend who introduced me to it. I normally go for the Eggs Norwegian because they are life altering, but since I had just eaten my weight in sushi the night before decided to skip seafood for brunch. Instead my boyfriend and I shared the Balthazar Salad to start, and then I moved onto the classic Eggs Benedict with gluten-free toast and he went for the Brioche French Toast with Smoked Bacon. I definitely recommend checking out this NYC food gem, and after brunch head next door to their bakery to grab some treats for the road. I would make a reservation rather than just dropping in because they are always busy.
After brunch we decided to get in some NYC shopping!
Century 21
Second on my list to Beacon’s Closet for shopping was Century 21, specifically the location on Cortlandt Street in FiDi. If you are familiar with T.J. Maxx and Marshalls in the states, this is both combined on steroids. This store is the Mecca for discount designer shopping. It has 7 levels, so be prepared to spend a chunk of time combing through the racks. I unfortunately did not have any luck here, but my boyfriend found a handful of items.
Westfield Mall
If you still have shopping energy left, go next door to Century 21 and check out the Westfield World Trade Center Mall housed in the Oculus. The building itself is reason enough to go, but it also has some spots to grab a bite and recharge.
Everlane
I’ve had my eye on this brand for quite some time, pulled towards their minimalist aesthetic and better business practices. I am a try it on in the store kind of girl, so when I’m unfamiliar with a brand its hard for me to bite the bullet and buy online. I was so excited to get the chance to try on their denim and some other staples I have been contemplating. One of the highlights of my trip, no joke, was trying on the Authentic Stretch High-Rise Skinny in black and having them fit like they were custom made for me. I also snagged their Cotton Box-Cut Pocket Tee in white.
Cuyana
Conveniently located across the street from Everlane is another company with better business practices that I have also been eyeing – Cuyana. I have seen rave reviews for their Leather Travel Case Set and wanted to check it out in person, as well as their other beautiful leather and clothing pieces. I literally wanted to buy everything in the store! I didn’t end up purchasing anything but I will definitely be buying a few items from them in the near future.
Nakamura
After a few hours of shopping and strolling, we met up with my boyfriend’s friend for some ramen at Nakamura on the Lower East Side of the city. I grabbed the Shaki Shiaki Spicy ramen with tofu noodles. It wasn’t as yummy as the ramen we had in Chicago but it was still a great choice after an afternoon shopping haul.
Morgenstern’s
After grabbing ramen, my boyfriend’s friend took us to Morgenstern’s on the LES to enjoy their unique ice cream flavors. My boyfriend and I shared the Sesame Caramel and his friend grabbed the Green Tea Pistachio – so tasty!
Mermaid Oyster Bar
This adorable and cozy restaurant in Greenwich Village was a great find by my boyfriend. We were lucky to be able to meet up with friends and enjoy their company with great food on this trip, but it was nice to have a dinner just for the two of us. We sat in a corner candlelit table in the back of the restaurant and munched on one dozen of Chef’s Choice Oysters and the Mini New England Clam Chowder from their Happy Hour Menu, and then had their Seared Calamari, Seared Maine Sea Scallops and Grilled Asparagus off the regular menu. The restaurant doesn’t have a dessert menu but gives a tasty complimentary Chocolate Pudding. I would definitely visit this spot again next time I come into the city.
Greenwich Village Comedy Club
We ended the night at the Greenwich Village Comedy Club. The space felt quintessential New York City, a small, no frills basement venue that you would walk past on the street and never notice. Their show was a nice mix of different stand up comedians who all provided tons of laughs and a great experience.
Sunday
Central Park
After grabbing breakfast at Fresh & Co, my fave healthy fast food spot in the city, we took a stroll in Central Park before checking out of our hotel. You see anything and everything in the park, from people cycling and running, to dogs chasing one another, and even an impromptu wedding ceremony under the Bethesda Terrace. If you go far enough into the park you even forget you are in Manhattan! It was such a nice way to start our last day in the city.
Rubirosa
The last trip I took to NYC was last August and I had Rubirosa’s Tie-Dye gluten-free pizza on my mind. Unfortunately I couldn’t get a reservation and the wait time was 2.5hrs, so I had to abandon my pizza plans for another restaurant. I was really hoping to get a table this time around, and thankfully since it was Easter Sunday there was no wait time for lunch. We met up with my friend who recently got engaged yeah!, and we munched on the Rubirosa Salad, Fungi Pizza with gluten-free crust and their Roman Style Cacio e Pepe Pasta with gluten-free penne. So yummy! The restaurant is located in Nolita, right next door to SoHo, making it the perfect place to stop and refuel during a shopping haul because we all need our pizza fix right?!
After pizza we decided to head over to Union Square, the area where both my boyfriend and I used to work, up past Flatiron and its famous building and then stop at Lady M for dessert to enjoy in Bryant Park before heading on to the airport.
Union Square
Flatiron
Lady M
Bryant Park
The city can be so overwhelming as a tourist with so many amazing sights to see, but I recommend taking it slow, prioritizing a few sights each day. The most common thing I would hear from those visiting when I lived there is how tiring the city is. Its not just the amount of walking, climbing subway stairs and waiting in line that you will do to exhaust you, but the energy of the city itself and the overstimulation it provides. Take your time and take lots of breaks or just stroll the city and get lost in the neighborhoods and see where you end up! I’d love to hear about your favorite city shop, restaurant or sight you’ve discovered.