When I lived in London, one of my city-born friends told me he’d never seen a sheep in real life. That is a true story. I think he was about 23 at the time. I was so stunned into silence that I couldn’t ask him all the follow-up questions I now have (had he never been on …
Read MoreAuthor / Lydia
April 5, 2015
Things I’ve loved about New York this week
Happy Easter/Passover! Let’s look at some of the things I’ve liked about this week (pictured above)… 1 :: My favorite view from the Promenade during a springtime walk with Georgia. 2 :: Crocuses in the garden. A week ago, there was snow on the ground so this is pretty miraculous. Not long until we’ll be …
Read MoreApril 2, 2015
…relaxed at a cat cafe
You’ve had a long New York day – we all know them. Maybe you were forced to go to Midtown. Perhaps your subway train pulled away from the platform just as you swiped through. Maybe someone knocked over your coffee after you shelled out $6 – plus tip – for it. Whatever the cause, you definitely need a …
Read MoreMarch 30, 2015
…snuck into a Pizza Speakeasy
Ever since moving to NYC, I’ve loved tracking down its speakeasies – whether it’s one behind a secret door in a Japanese restaurant, through a phone booth in a hotdog store or down an alleyway for cocktails in teacups. They’re quirky and fun and our little secret. So when I found out that a pizza speakeasy, SRO, had snuck …
Read MoreMarch 25, 2015
…welcomed in spring at Macy’s Flower Show
I’m sorry to keep going on about it, but I’m fed up of winter. So thank you Macy’s for allowing me to pretend it’s spring. Last night I headed to Macy’s Flower Show, a mixture of art, botany, sweet scents and of course, window displays. It really does brighten up the dreary streets this time of year. When I got there, …
Read MoreMarch 24, 2015
…ate knish and dumplings with Urban Adventures
I’ve taken a fair few guided walks around the Lower East Side, so when I joined Urban Adventures‘ food tour last weekend, I was expecting more of the same. Ah, how wrong I was. The three-hour, fact-packed tour, Tenements, Tales, and Tastes, started at City Hall and took our small group north – past African burial grounds, through former slums, into Chinatown’s hidden dumpling shops and towards Little …
Read MoreMarch 22, 2015
Things I’ve loved about NYC this week
I’ve been a bit of a hermit this week (as I’m sure you realized from lack of posts…) but I must say the sprinkling of snow we had on Friday made the city a real beaut. Even better – it’s now completely gone! Let’s hope that’s the last of it. As to a few things I liked …
Read MoreMarch 21, 2015
…tasted Insomnia Cookies
Look at this awful weather! What you need is a pick-me-up. How about one delivered right to your door? I say you turn your attention to Insomnia Cookies. As the name suggests, they help you get your cookie fix (nearly) all hours of the day and night, but unlike some of you may be thinking, …
Read MoreMarch 18, 2015
…took a trip to Kingston, New York
If you live in New York City, it’s necessary to escape it every now and then. Earlier this month, I had a couple of days off work and decided to take myself on a trip. I picked Kingston because I’d read it was historic and cute, plus I found a beautiful apartment above a gallery on Airbnb, …
Read MoreMarch 12, 2015
…was wowed by ‘On the 20th Century’
Judge me all you want, but I love a good musical. Still, even though all the ones I’ve seen in New York have been great, they’ve all been a bit modern – leaving me craving some traditional, over-the-top, tap-dancing, jazz-handed fun. And this week, I found it. Meghan (you remember Meghan) had the sense to sign …
Read MoreMarch 10, 2015
…visited the United Nations HQ
Being British, I have two deeply ingrained traits: 1) I will never complain if someone puts me out. And 2) I am a firm believer in queues being properly maintained. But last week, as I lined up to enter the United Nations for a tour, there was a clash. An old woman who had been muttering …
Read MoreMarch 7, 2015
Things I’ve loved about NYC this week
So the snow may still be pretty, but can it go away now please? It’s gotten so bad that our ceiling fell through this week. The gutters and roof above us were so clogged with snow and ice that it had nowhere to go but straight through the ceiling and on to our kitchen floor. Luckily …
Read MoreMarch 6, 2015
…toured New York’s top movie sites
Give me a decent science museum or a must-see art exhibit and I’m all for it, but I usually draw the line at super touristy activities (well, if you ignore this). That all changed last weekend when I had the joy – yes, joy – of being a tourist in my own city. On Location Tours …
Read MoreMarch 4, 2015
…discovered Shuffleboard at Royal Palms
If you want to take on Royal Palms‘ shuffleboard courts in Gowanus, not only do you need to be surprisingly agile and focused – you also have to be very, very prompt. Ryan and I headed there on Sunday at 1pm – just an hour after it opened – and there was already an hour’s wait. …
Read MoreMarch 2, 2015
…danced on the Big Piano at FAO Schwarz
This weekend I tried to re-create one of the best moments in New York movie history: The scene from ‘Big’ unfolds in New York’s top toy store, FAO Schwarz, just south of Central Park. I headed there this weekend and charged past Playmobil parties, bubble demonstrations and huge stuffed animals with even huger prices (like a $1,500 stuffed giraffe – no …
Read MoreMarch 1, 2015
Things I’ve loved about New York this week
Sorry, I’ve not been very good at this blogging lark this week — I’ve mostly been hibernating indoors, waiting for the sunshine. But on occasion, against my will, I’ve gone outside, and here are some of the things I’ve liked: 1 :: Snowy train journeys. I know we all complain about public transport, but last …
Read MoreFebruary 25, 2015
…visited Dylan’s Candy Bar
It sounds so cliché, but Dylan’s Candy Bar on 60th Street took me right back to my childhood. The shop – which is owned by Ralph Lauren’s daughter, Dylan – may be very modern and a little flashy, but it reminded me of when I was little for three main reasons: 1 :: Because my brother …
Read MoreFebruary 23, 2015
…share the oldest footage of NYC
I just came across this video of the oldest surviving footage of New York City, and thought it was too fun not to share. Ignore the dodgy music and have a look! It shows grainy black-and-white scenes from as far back as 1896, with the oldest ever clip saved for the end. For me, the most interesting part is …
Read MoreFebruary 22, 2015
Things I’ve loved about New York this week
Last week was a little thrown because, for the first time in forever, I was ill. It might have got me a day of back-to-back Gilmore Girls episodes, but it generally wasn’t very fun. So I’ve not been having as many adventures as usual, but I still managed to appreciate some of New York’s treats, like: 1 …
Read MoreFebruary 19, 2015
…saw fancy shoes at the Brooklyn Museum
Call me a geek, but if you have a few hours free on a drizzly afternoon, the best place to spend them – apart from the pub – is a museum. Last weekend, I spotted the first flakes of yet another snowfall and took the chance to finally check out the Brooklyn Museum. And ooooh, …
Read MoreFebruary 17, 2015
…made ravioli at Pazzi Pasta
Since moving to Brooklyn last year and finally having a little counter space, I’ve rediscovered my love of cooking – but one thing I’ve never braved is fresh pasta. Which is where Pazzi Pasta comes in. I immediately fell in love with Pazzi Pasta’s creative, fresh and delicious dishes when I had lunch there a few weeks …
Read MoreFebruary 15, 2015
Things I’ve loved about New York this week
Blagh, is winter over yet? Before this week, the cold wasn’t bothering me much. But then on Thursday, it turned a little warmer, and I felt like spring was on its way and then… BAM, Friday was the coldest day ever. I felt duped. And now I’m done. Come on spring, where are you?! Thankfully …
Read MoreFebruary 12, 2015
…ate gluten-free treats from Jennifer’s Way Bakery
Let’s start this off on the right foot. I’m not a gluten-free nut and I pretty much try to cram gluten and carbs into every meal possible. But even though it might seem like a hippy food fad to many, I appreciate that for others, a gluten-free diet has made a massive, life-changing difference. Plus, …
Read MoreFebruary 10, 2015
…visited the Morbid Anatomy Museum
As a news reporter, I’m pretty fascinated by the weird and wonderful – and sometimes a little bit grisly. So when I heard about the Morbid Anatomy Museum opening in Gowanus last summer, I thought it sounded right up my street. Unfortunately, it failed to satisfy my curiosity – but I’ve decided not to let that put me …
Read More
Recent Comments