When I was about 12, my dad bought a bright turquoise VW campervan and I remember he spent ages trying to find the best Campervan Insurance. But when he did he was over the moon and ready to take it on a proper adventure. It all seemed very cute until he decided to take me …
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May 19, 2014
Lydia’s List :: NYC’s best vegetarian spots
Over in the UK, National Vegetarian Week has kicked off. Perhaps someone can correct me, but as far as I can see, we don’t have an equivalent here. There’s a Veg Week in April, but no week set aside specifically to celebrate us bean curd lovers. So I thought I’d use the UK’s celebration as an excuse to …
Read MoreMay 18, 2014
…checked out street art in Chelsea
<< woman’s face by Pamela Barsky I’m forever saying how small Manhattan is (it wouldn’t take you more than 40 minutes to walk across), yet there are some places that seem so distant to me because my life never takes me there. Chelsea is one such place. So when the glorious Brooklyn Brainery posted about a street art tour there, …
Read MoreMay 13, 2014
…poured a perfect pint of Guinness in Dublin
After castles, cathedrals and ceilidhs on Scotland, we hopped on a plane to Ireland – Ryan’s ‘ancestral homeland’, as he kept reminding me. We only had a day in Dublin so, like good tourists, we made a beeline for the Guinness Storehouse. We all know I like a bevvy or five, but Guinness? It always seemed so heavy …
Read MoreMay 8, 2014
…explored Edinburgh Castle
I know I’ve not blogged in a few days, but I have a good excuse, I swear! Last week, Ryan and I popped over to Scotland (via Ireland) for a wedding – and got to work on a long list of things we wanted to see//eat//do. It means that we’ve returned from the holiday more …
Read MoreApril 28, 2014
…went roller skating in Prospect Park
A couple of weekends ago in Lydia’s List, I told you about the skate rink that had opened at the new LeFrak Center in Prospect Park. This weekend, I re-lived my days as a six-year-old roller disco queen and gave it a spin. It was great. The rink, which is on the northeast side of …
Read MoreApril 18, 2014
Lydia’s List for the weekend
We’ve had snow and summer all in the same week, but rumor has it that the sun is going to make an appearance again this weekend. Just in case it does, we should be prepared with some outdoor activities, eh? 1 :: In a sign that winter really should be over by now, the ice rink at Prospect …
Read MoreApril 14, 2014
…fell in love with Italian ice
Ice cream is hands down my favorite food group. I’d opt for a pot of mint chocolate chip over a real meal any day. And since being in the U.S., I’ve discovered a number of ways to eat it that don’t involve vats of cream – from fruity frozen yogurts to shaved ice or snow cones. …
Read MoreApril 11, 2014
Lydia’s List for the weekend
I’ve been doing a lot of stuff for a long time now (see how well I sell it?) and I know this blog can be a little un-user friendly if you’re looking for things to do. So every Friday, I’m going to give you a few suggestions for the weekend. You in? 1 :: Saturday …
Read MoreApril 9, 2014
…saw The Kelpies
As great as the Tartan Day Parade was on Saturday, it wasn’t enough of a Scotland fix, so I headed to Bryant Park for another. I knew it was hosting The Kelpies – two massive horse sculptures by Scottish artist Andy Scott (yes, Scott) that celebrate the nation’s reliance on horses throughout the years. But after seeing online …
Read MoreMarch 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.’ …
Read MoreMarch 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 …
Read MoreMarch 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 …
Read MoreFebruary 24, 2014
…went snowboarding at Hunter Mountain
I woke up this morning aching and bruised… and it was well-earned. Yesterday, a Sochi-inspired Ryan and I headed to Hunter Mountain, a small ski-resort town about two hours north of New York City. We had nabbed a Groupon deal, which included equipment, ski passes and a bus trip organized by Sourced Adventures. The only problem was …
Read MoreFebruary 20, 2014
…sipped cocktails at a Japanese speakeasy
While Heather’s visiting, I want to give her a taste of my favourite things to do in the city. And what’s more tasty than a cocktail from one of New York’s bars? I wanted to show her the classier side of my habit so we headed to Stuyvesant Street and met outside a Japanese restaurant …
Read MoreFebruary 19, 2014
…laughed my way through a murder mystery
Remember a couple of months ago when I went to a terrible, terrible murder mystery? The event, which was held in Midtown, was the only thing I walked out of all year – and whenever anyone asked, I warned them never, ever to go. Auntie Susie didn’t like that. My blog’s number #1 fan had …
Read MoreFebruary 18, 2014
…was on NewYork.com
Head on over to NewYork.com and you’ll see my mug! Completing a new activity every day for a year was no easy feat, so I’m chuffed that NewYork.com featured the project on its website today. Hopefully visitors and residents alike can take a tip or two from what I learned throughout the year. You can …
Read MoreJanuary 15, 2014
…ate a Korean feast
Ryan and I love a good feast, so for his birthday treat, we decided to try out Hangawi in Midtown. As well as serving one of his favorite cuisines – Korean – Hangawi is also entirely vegetarian, so it seemed perfect for us. I’ve not actually been to a Korean restaurant since living in New York. …
Read MoreJanuary 14, 2014
…got creative with For the Makers
For Christmas, Ryan bought me a crafts subscription that has changed my life. At first, when I opened the little cardboard box and saw it was filled with threads and beads, I thought it looked cute – but man, did I underestimate it. And now that I’ve cracked the box open properly, I’m addicted. He …
Read MoreJanuary 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 …
Read MoreJanuary 2, 2014
…said ‘cheers!’ to a year of daily new experiences
Guys, I’ve done it! Since January 2013, I have done a new thing every single day here in New York City (okay, I also went on a fair few trips out of New York – but I did new things there too!). The thought has made me a bit emotional to be honest. Lots of …
Read MoreDecember 30, 2013
…dodged the scaffolding at St Patrick’s Cathedral
When I got to St Patrick’s Cathedral – the highlight of Fifth Avenue’s skyline – tonight, I was disappointed to see the place was filled with scaffolding. Ugh. How was I supposed to see this famous 19th century church in all its glory? But instead of whining, I realized that this was an entirely new …
Read MoreDecember 29, 2013
…went aboard the USS Intrepid
We landed in New York last night – and unfortunately brought the bad weather back with us. But while it wasn’t particularly pleasant to be walking around with a soaked jacket, it did mean that I got a very authentic experience when I went to The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum this afternoon. You know …
Read MoreDecember 26, 2013
…climbed to the top of St Paul’s Cathedral
I lived in London for two years before moving to the U.S., but due to night shifts, shorthand classes and complacency, I never got to know it. But today I finally took my new Today’s The Day I attitude to my old home. Ryan and I jumped on a train (some are finally working!) and …
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