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Archive / March 2014

March 31, 2014

…toured the Brooklyn Brewery

Of course, the first time in weeks that I have visitors, it rains. All weekend. Thankfully, the Brooklyn Brewery gave us a delicious indoor alternative to checking out the sites. Kate (who has her own very amazing blog here) and Darius had popped up from Washington D.C. for a couple of days and I was glad to hear that Darius …

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March 28, 2014

…got lost in the clouds at Central Park

It’s nearly April and winter’s still lurking. Just as I thought I’d be able to pack my winter coat away last week, it began snowing again. But last night, I wandered up to Central Park and realized they’re getting worse weather than the rest of us – because one section of the park is completely beneath clouds. This cute …

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March 27, 2014

…was wowed by Grouplove at Terminal 5

Two months after Ryan’s birthday, we finally got to use one of his gifts: Tickets to see GROUPLOVE. I have to admit, the first time I even heard of them was last year when Ryan mentioned they were playing at Terminal 5. I made lots of disinterested noises while making a mental note to book tickets …

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March 26, 2014

…ate far too much at the Mac & Cheeze Takedown

I love America for many reasons (its traditions, its really good food trucks, its men), but near the top of the list is its obsession with macaroni and cheese. And this weekend, I went to the king of all Mac & Cheese events – the Mac & Cheeze Takedown. The idea is simple: Home cooks apply for …

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March 25, 2014

…went stargazing in the Bronx (and saw Jupiter)

When I was 11 and about to move to high school, I showed my big sister what I was planning to hang up in my new locker. ‘What’s that?’ she asked, pointing to a glossy bookmark. ‘That’s my favorite planet – Jupiter,’ I replied. She scoffed. ‘Don’t take that. Everyone will think you’re a swot.’ …

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March 24, 2014

…got my caffeine fix at the Coffee and Tea Festival

Most people I’ve met here moan that they don’t have a coffee IV hooked up at all times. And I get it – waking up at 5.45am every day and then staying up late to make the most of the city can take its toll. Thankfully, once a year, the city invites New Yorkers to …

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March 21, 2014

…celebrated Macaron Day

Have you ever tried to make a macaron? Unfortunately, I’ve inherited absolutely zero baking skills from my pastry chef mother and the only time I tried to make them, they came out flat, burnt and not at all pretty. Which is why I leave the baking up to the professionals (and Mummy Warren). The tasting …

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March 17, 2014

…took a day trip to Beacon

I had nothing on the agenda today so I decided to head out of the city for a quick trip – somewhere with clean air and fewer people. There are plenty of places upstate – from castles to stately homes – but after a bit of googling, I learned that most tourist-friendly places only open …

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March 16, 2014

…welcomed spring at Prospect Park

I don’t want to jinx it, but I think spring is finally coming. We’ve had a horrendous winter of endless snow days, icy puddles and bone-chilling winds. But this week, those big mounds of snow that have built up on sidewalks for the past three months finally appeared to be melting. So Ryan and I …

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March 15, 2014

…was tricked by St Ann’s Church

When I’m walking north, I always do my best to avoid the madness of Union Square. One recent route took me along 12th Street between 3rd and 4th avenues, where I spotted this gorgeous church – St Ann’s – snug against the other buildings. But something wasn’t quite right. The buildings behind looked almost too …

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March 14, 2014

…celebrated Pi Day (with pie)

Us Brits always moan about the way Americans write the date. Shouldn’t it go from the smallest value to the largest, rather than month/day/year? Well, as much as I’ve had my gripes, today the system was appreciated. March 14 is 3.14 – the same numbers as Pi (π), a mathematical constant that helps you figure out …

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March 11, 2014

…made cupcakes at Butter Lane

When I lived in Manchester in the UK, I had a gloriously large kitchen – it was new, sparkly and it inspired me to cook. But four years on, and I’m living in a (very pretty) shoebox in Manhattan with virtually no kitchen. So as you’ve seen before, when I have an urge to cook, I quite …

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March 7, 2014

…visited Japan (in Grand Central Station)

I’ve never been to Japan, so today I tried to cheat by visiting Grand Central Station, where ‘Japan Week’ is underway. But somehow I left with even less knowledge than I went with. Ryan met me at Grand Central – about three minutes too late to save me from being hit on by a boy …

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March 5, 2014

…was dazzled by Kinky Boots

In a small corner of Northampton in the 1990s, there was a generations-old men’s shoe factory struggling to stay on its feet. One day, with its closing imminent, owner Steve Pateman received a phone call from a transgender shop owner he’d never met before. ‘You should be manufacturing women’s shoes built for men,’ Sue Sheppard …

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March 3, 2014

…snacked at the Vegetarian Food Festival

I’ve been a vegetarian for more than 20 years (I was a stubborn seven-year-old), and New York City is by far the best place I’ve ever lived for food choice. Gone are the twee Sussex pubs where the only options are pheasant breast or rabbit pie – and instead I have gorgeous Korean vegetarian restaurants …

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