From Madison Square Eats to Smorgasburg, New York hosts some delicious outdoor food markets over the summer. Last week, another called Broadway Bites arrived in town and I thought it seemed like the perfect spot for some post-work snacking. I met Ryan near Bryant Park and we headed down to Greeley Square, which is at 33rd Street and Broadway. …
Read MoreTag / Manhattan
June 10, 2014
Lydia’s List :: My favorite things to do in summer in NYC
Finally! The weekends are getting hotter. I may not be looking forward to the whiff of the East Village in the summer, but I’m so glad to be enjoying the city’s glorious outdoor activities again. If you’re looking for things to do, here are my suggestions:1 :: Luna Park :: You can be a big kid again at this Coney Island …
Read MoreJune 9, 2014
…listened to music at ‘Target Free Thursday’
Thanks to some talented musical friends, I’ve been fortunate to discover a cracking range of new musicians while living in New York. But none has stuck with me as much as Kate Davis. I first heard her play at Bowery Electric about 18 months ago – and I was transfixed. She has this timeless voice that …
Read MoreJune 5, 2014
Lydia’s List :: Where to get the best ice cream in NYC
The weather’s been getting warm and sticky, which only means one thing as far as I’m concerned: ice cream for every meal. Here’s my take on the best sweet frozen treats the city has to offer: 1 :: Ample Hills Creamery :: This friendly Prospect Heights store scoops up the richest flavors perfect for an afternoon treat. …
Read MoreJune 2, 2014
…beautified Prospect Park
The fact that I don’t really do much good for humanity every week really bothers me. It’s so easy to fret over inconsequential things — but thankfully New York Cares makes it easy to start thinking about other people, too. I’ve done a few volunteer projects over the past year, but now I’ve decided to get really stuck in. …
Read MoreMay 30, 2014
Lydia’s List :: Ideas for the weekend
I’ve had one of those weeks where every day felt like it was Friday. So I am relieved that it finally is – and now I can look forward to my weekend plan of cleaning up Prospect Park with New York Cares and heading to the Museum of the Moving Image. There will also be …
Read MoreMay 28, 2014
…explored the Brooklyn Botanic Garden
When I tell people back in England that Ryan lives in Brooklyn, their eyes widen. ‘Is that safe?’ they ask. ‘Aren’t there gangs there? Like in films and stuff?’ So when my mum and aunt visited this weekend, Ryan and I thought we’d take them to Brooklyn to show them that it’s really quite safe, actually. We spent …
Read MoreMay 27, 2014
…visited Libby
I’ve called her Libby for years now, but we really don’t know each other well enough to be so informal. We first met very briefly five years ago when I was roadtripping around the U.S.. I was traveling on my own so I asked a stranger to take a photo of me and Libby together, but for some …
Read MoreMay 21, 2014
…ate tacos cooked in a Volkswagen campervan
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 …
Read MoreMay 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 MoreApril 22, 2014
…took a daytrip to Ward Pound Ridge Reservation
While I was tied to my desk in Manhattan yesterday, Ryan was exploring trails, peeking into caves and filling his lungs with fresh air at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation. Despite my jealousy, I was excited to see his pictures at the end of the day – and I thought they were too good for him to keep to himself. …
Read MoreApril 21, 2014
…saw a subway map embedded in the sidewalk
I’m always nagging people to look up as they walk through New York (just look at what you can seeee), but this morning as I was shuffling towards work as the sun rose, I spied something special on the sidewalk. And it’s worth looking down for. On the sidewalk on Greene Street in Soho (between Spring …
Read MoreApril 16, 2014
…took a food tour of the Lower East Side
New York is constantly evolving, and nowhere is a better example of this than the Lower East Side. While it was once filled with immigrants crammed into tenement houses, now there are swanky coffee shops and hipsters. But while most of the area has drastically changed, some tasty relics remain. I’ve previously toured businesses and buildings in …
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 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 MoreApril 7, 2014
…cheered for the Tartan Day Parade
I went to university in St Andrews, Scotland – a cobble-stoned village by the sea – and I remember it so fondly. It gave me some of my best friends, happiest memories and brilliant opportunities (and some semi useful knowledge). So when my Scottish pal Louise said that a Tartan Parade was coming to toun, I jumped …
Read MoreApril 3, 2014
…dined at a ‘Victorian Establishment’
One area of the city I do my best to avoid is Times Square. Ask any New Yorker and I’m sure they’d say the same. It’s loud, overrun and it burns my eyes – but it also means that I’m short on suggestions for what to do up there. But Ryan started working in the …
Read MoreApril 2, 2014
…went on an egg hunt
The last time I went on an Easter egg hunt was in Atlanta about five years ago, courtesy of my friend James: But I’ve discovered that leaving school and being a grown up means that no one organizes an egg hunt for you anymore. Thankfully, there’s always New York. Over the weekend, the Big Egg Hunt hid …
Read MoreApril 1, 2014
…brunched at Smile
I’ve completed a lot of new activities over the past 15 months, but one thing I’ve done without fail every single weekend is brunch. It’s the best meal of the week and the perfect excuse to quaff alcohol before midday. So why don’t I start blogging about my favorites, eh? Oh, I will – but today I’m sharing …
Read MoreMarch 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 …
Read MoreMarch 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 …
Read MoreMarch 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 …
Read MoreMarch 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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