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February 2, 2015

…found the Berlin Wall in NYC (Part II)

There are four sections of the Berlin Wall in New York City. The only section I’ve visited before is on 53rd Street, but it was removed at the end of last year for renovation work – so now I’m on a mission to track down the remaining pieces (before I’m 30!). On Saturday, I made the most of the …

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January 29, 2015

…went to Queens for a Burns Supper

I lived in Scotland for four years for university, but the most Scottish experiences I’ve ever had have been right here in the U.S. First up, when I lived in Atlanta, I went to the city’s Highland Games, which looked like this: Then last year, I went to the Tartan Parade, complete with bagpipes and …

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January 26, 2015

…traveled back in time at the NY Transit Museum

The subway system seems an incomprehensible feat to me. How on earth did they dig so many tracks, so far down, so quickly? And in 1900?! The idea is baffling. So this weekend, I headed to the MTA’s Transit Museum to try to figure it out. (And to check off something from my ’30 Before 30′ list!) Appropriately, the …

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January 19, 2015

…couldn’t Escape the Room

Ryan and I like to think we’re pretty smart. But if this blog has taught me one thing, it’s that that’s not actually the case. Remember when we went to a Murder Mystery certain that we’d crack it within minutes – but then left early because we had no idea what was going on? Well, …

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January 14, 2015

…met an alligator

(…no, not in New York.) Ryan and I have realized that whenever we go on holiday, we never take a break. Do you find the same? We always travel to places that we want to actually see, so we end up racing everywhere in a bid to do everything humanly possible. I reckon part of it is because my …

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January 12, 2015

…swam with manatees

After a two-day trek through the wilds of the south (with a stop at a questionable Waffle House), Ryan and I arrived in St Petersburg, Florida. We had driven there with a backseat of scuba diving equipment, but once we arrived, Ryan came across a slightly different option: swimming with manatees. We decided that we can scuba in many other …

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January 7, 2015

My NYC 30 before 30

I’m back – and it’s a new year! I welcomed in 2015 by glugging a glass of bubbly beneath fireworks in Florida. I have lots of non-New York related photos (like the ones I posted to my Instagram over the past week) to share with you, but before then I thought I’d pop up and wish you a happy …

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December 24, 2014

…was captivated by The Nutcracker

I can squeeze in another Christmas-themed post before the big day, right? Good – because a few weeks ago, after an endless stream of guests, Ryan treated me to a surprise #datenight for just the two of us: a visit to the New York City Ballet’s Nutcracker. I’ve only been to the ballet once before (when …

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December 19, 2014

How to do good this Christmas in NYC

I try to be generous throughout the year, but there’s no denying a particular urge to do good around Christmas time. And for you scrooges out there who don’t care about festive cheer, just think of the tax deductions… Christmas is creeping up on us, but there are still plenty of ways to do good in …

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December 18, 2014

…caroled on the steps of St Bart’s

I love Christmas in New York, but it also makes me homesick for my mum’s Yorkshire puddings, mince pies and roaring fires. And, thanks to years of school carol concerts, it also doesn’t seem quite right without singing some tunes in church. But I always make up for what I can. This year, I’ll attempt to make …

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December 15, 2014

…shared my NYC tips with HotelClub

It’s been a busy couple of years. In fact, I’m just shy of completing 500 new experiences in New York since the start of 2013! During that time, I’ve also been sat in an office for 55 hours a week, so I hope it proves you can make the most of your city even if you’re …

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December 8, 2014

The best festive activities in NYC

I love Christmas. The whiff of Christmas tree stands, the promise of so many cookies, Love Actually on repeat. It can never come too soon in my opinion. So what should you be looking out for this year? Here are my tried and tested favorites from years past: 1 :: The Botanical Garden’s Holiday Train Show, where every …

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December 3, 2014

…visited the 9/11 Museum

I was in a year-nine drama class in England when the Twin Towers fell. I remember Mr Caldicott sitting us in a circle and trying to explain what had happened 4,000 miles away. But I didn’t understand. I didn’t even know what the words ‘World Trade Center’ meant. Today, my reaction is very different. Having lived here for …

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November 30, 2014

Things I’ve loved about New York this week

A late Sunday night edition of ‘Things I’ve loved about New York this week’! 1 :: Of course, there was… Thanksgiving! Yes, I was in the office but thankfully I made it to Ryan’s brother’s house without missing a single bite of deliciousness. You Americans don’t do roast dinners like us Brits (see ya Rosemary roast …

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November 27, 2014

10 places I’m thankful for in New York

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you’re enjoying a calorific dinner with loved ones – or if you’re in the UK, I hope you’re enjoying your Thursday. Sadly, I’m in the office until 5pm. When I reached Astor Place this morning, it was a ghost town. But while I might grumble about working holidays and starting at …

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November 12, 2014

…dosey doed at a barn dance

Some parts of this country remain completely alien to me. The way you write the date? Weird. American supermarkets? I’ll never understand them. That plastic neon yellow stuff you put on burgers and claim is ‘cheese’? No thanks. So every now and then it’s nice to get a little taste of home. Enter… the barn dance. …

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November 9, 2014

Things I’ve loved about New York this week

Oops, I’ve neglected these lists for a while, but they’re back! Here are just some of the small but lovely things that I’ve appreciated in the city this week. 1. The final glimpses of creative pumpkins. I spotted this one in Brooklyn Heights. 2:: The best new lunch spot I have found in a long …

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November 7, 2014

…was spooked by the Rise of the Jack O’Lanterns

Ever since I started this blog last year, I’ve loved how it’s been a group effort. Friends, family and strangers are always suggesting the next place for me to visit or sharing something exciting that they’ve got planned. Last week, my friend Justin was telling me about a Halloween event he was going to out on …

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November 6, 2014

…walked over the world’s longest footbridge

New York has its iconic bridges (I’ve hopped over the Brooklyn Bridge, skipped over the Manhattan Bridge and taken my sweet ass time looking at art on the Williamsburg Bridge) but they were mere (meer?) preparation for this guy: This is ‘Walkway Over The Hudson’ – the longest elevated footbridge in the world. And it’s right here in …

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October 31, 2014

Lydia’s List: Here’s how to get in the Halloween spirit in NYC

Happy Halloween! The UK doesn’t do Halloween the same way Americans do – I think I dressed in a black t-shirt and bobbed for apples once as a child – so every year I’m still amazed by just how much people over here get into it. Right now, for example, my whole street in Brooklyn is …

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October 9, 2014

…walked the new section of the High Line

Whenever visitors ask what they should do in New York, my first answer is THE HIGH LINE. Every time. This salvaged railway line-turned-walkway starts in a beautiful part of the city, offers you views to Jersey and across the city, lets you in on a bit of history and entertains you with art and local snacks along the route. Oh, and it’s free. …

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October 8, 2014

…rode the Thunderbolt

All summer we’ve been complaining that it’s not hot enough. I even heard the dreaded ‘polar vortex’ mentioned a couple of months ago. But forget all that because the weather right now is perfect: crisp, sunny and dry. For one final summer adventure, Ryan, Charlotte and I decided to be big kids at the place big kids …

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September 29, 2014

…petted animals at the Long Island Fair

An added bonus of going out with Ryan is that I’ve been able to visit Long Island – where he grew up – many, many times. When you can tear me away from our new(ish) neighborhood, going out there is one of my favorite weekend things to do. And this weekend? There was the countryside! animals! …

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