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December 25, 2014

…wish you a very merry Christmas

Just a mini post to wish you all a very Merry Christmas! Whether you’re in New York or elsewhere, I hope you have a glorious day with lots of treats and loved ones… and an afternoon snooze. Sadly, I’m working in the city today – but I definitely got my fill of eggnog on Long Island …

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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 11, 2014

…met Santa Paws

All Georgia has been talking about for weeks now is Christmas. You might remember how last year I took her to a Christmas party for dogs in Prospect Park (ingeniously called ‘Bark! The Herald Angels Sing’), but it was a bit cold and wet, and we had to queue for ages to meet Santa. Thankfully …

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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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January 6, 2014

…review the best and worst of NYC

*** This post was first shared in January 2014 after I finished a year of doing a new activity in New York every day. This blog is largely defunct so this post is a great place to start if you’re visiting New York and looking for things to do! For more on this project, visit …

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December 25, 2013

…had an alternative Christmas

First of all – Merry Christmas! Secondly, it’s Christmas Day, so you’ll forgive me for being a bit rubbish today, won’t you? I’d planned to whip up a tasty Christmas dessert with Mummy Warren for my new thing today but – you got it! – we’re still out of power and hot water courtesy of …

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December 24, 2013

…walked on The Pantiles

A storm hit southern England last night – leaving my family’s home without power or heat (just in time for Christmas) and trees strewn across roads and train tracks. It meant that our plan to play tourists for the day in London was scuppered – no trains were heading north. So instead, we jumped in …

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December 23, 2013

…saw England’s tallest Christmas tree (lit!)

(First of all – sorry that my blogs have been so late this week! I had no power over Christmas thanks to a big storm in the UK. Bear with me and I’ll pop up the last week’s posts now…) When I was home in Sussex last month, Mummy Warren and I toured Wakehurst Place …

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December 20, 2013

…partied at SoHo house

New York City obviously has lots of exclusive spots. Among them is SoHo House – a members-only club for the media with bars, rooms, a gym and a roof deck pool with stunning views over the Meatpacking District and to south Manhattan. And for some reason they allowed MailOnline to throw our Christmas party there …

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December 18, 2013

…bought a Christmas gift for a child in need

I’ve been feeling the urge to do something nice for someone, seeing as it’s Christmas (because it’s banned all other times of the year, obviously). So I headed to the city’s most comprehensive guide for volunteering, New York Cares, and came across Winter Wishes. Every year, the program gathers thousands of presents from donors for …

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December 17, 2013

…met Santa at Macy’s

I’ve seen Santa a few times over the past week but today I decided to visit him in one of his most famous spots – Macy’s on 34th Street. Rachel and I prepared our wish lists and angelic faces before heading to Santaland on the 8th floor of Macy’s, the world’s largest department store. All …

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December 16, 2013

…visited St Bart’s Church (and saw St Nick)

I’d been looking forward to some carolling on the steps of St Bart’s church in Midtown with Ryan and Helen tonight so we scooted up there straight after work. Unfortunately, either we scooted too slow or the singers were too fast because when we arrived, the choir had disbanded and were munching on festive biscuits …

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December 15, 2013

…went back in time at the Merchant’s House Museum

I love having a good nosey around a stranger’s house – and I also love visiting old properties frozen in time, so that I can wander through the rooms, imagining myself as a former resident. Today I got to do both at the Merchant’s House Museum. My friend Jade had suggested heading to this house …

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December 14, 2013

…went to a Christmas carol event – for dogs

You know what? I’ve been seriously selfish this holiday season. The whole time I’ve been thinking about how best to get myself in the Christmas spirit, and I’ve failed to make sure Georgia gets the same treatment. Georgia is Ryan’s eight-year-old Shepherd-mix – and she is such a beauty. I’m sure Ryan is well aware …

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December 12, 2013

…browsed a trunk show

I’ve got to be honest, I still don’t really know what a trunk show is. I think it’s where people bring trunks of goodies and open them up to be sold, or it could be the equivalent of a car boot sale (like we have in the U.K.), seeing as ‘boot’ there means ‘trunk’ here. …

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December 12, 2013

…visited the Christmas window displays

While New York lacks some of my favorite Christmas traditions, it also has many of its own. Tonight I went to check out department store holiday window displays and, correct me if I’m wrong, but I’ve never seen such an elaborate or thoughtful equivalent over in the UK. The windows are so cute, creative and …

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December 10, 2013

…watched a festive variety show

Tonight was a flurry of many new things, courtesy of my friend Linnea, a food writer and knower of all things New York. We’d planned to go to a festive variety show in the East Village, but at the last minute, an invite to a night organized by Hendrick’s Gin popped up, so we decided …

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December 9, 2013

…saw the Rockefeller Christmas Tree

Tonight I headed to the city’s most iconic Christmas landmark: The Rockefeller Christmas Tree. Ever since 1933, the 100-ft tree has lit up the base of the Rock in Midtown and now it towers over flitting ice skaters and swarms of aimless tourists. Its lights were switched on last week and today was my first …

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December 9, 2013

…made a gingerbread masterpiece

I’ve been to various creative Christmas exhibits this year and they’ve left me itching to get out the glue gun. Today I finally got the chance to get messy – as Ryan and I helped his family construct a gingerbread village. We headed to his family home in Long Island where his mum, Stephanie, had already crafted …

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December 8, 2013

…marveled at the Botanical Gardens’ holiday train show

As we all know by now, I can never get enough of the New York skyline. And apart from the more recognizable buildings – the Empire State, the Chrysler Building, Freedom Tower – I also love the aesthetic of the other properties, from apartment rows, downtown streets and olde homes. Tonight I headed to a …

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December 6, 2013

…tracked down homemade mince pies

As a Brit in New York, Christmas definitely lacks a few of my favorite traditions. Where are the paper chains? The cauldrons of spicy mulled wine? But those, I can manage. However, there’s one thing no drunken office party or snack by the fire should be without: a homemade mince pie. It’s rare that an …

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December 3, 2013

…shopped at Union Square’s Holiday Market

Are you tired of reading about me doing Christmas things? Because, while I never thought the day would come, I’m pretty tired of writing about them. So I promise this will be my last one. (For a couple of days.) Tonight I headed to Union Square’s Holiday Market well aware that I’ve overdosed on festive cheer recently …

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