You know what? I’m really glad I’ve been doing these round-ups. Every Friday – the day I reflect on the things I’ve loved about that week – I initially wonder what on earth I’m going to be writing about. Especially because I’m no longer doing a new thing every day (and I still feel guilty about it…). …
Read MoreTag / Photos
August 16, 2014
Things I’ve loved about New York this week
From new street art to The Jackson 5 taking over my local subway station, here are some things that have made me smile this week. Seeing The Flower Guy‘s latest work (and recognizing it). Before moving to New York, I knew very little about street art, but in the past few years I’ve taken some cracking tours …
Read MoreAugust 15, 2014
10 things I learned from the Red Hook Beekeeper
I try not to be too dramatic when a bee buzzes near my face, but the truth of the matter is that the last time I was stung, my forehead swelled up so much I couldn’t see for a week. The only relief was that I was up a mountain in Spain so I didn’t have …
Read MoreAugust 12, 2014
…worked on the Red Hook Community Farm
Our new garden has proved to be a handy spot for grilling corn and drinking cold beers during these sticky summer evenings. But in terms of being used for actual gardening, it’s not quite up to scratch yet. Thankfully, we’re not far from the Red Hook Community Farm, a surprisingly large operation that lives on top of …
Read MoreAugust 11, 2014
…took part in a lightsaber battle
Whatever you’re into, you can guarantee that New York is teeming with other people with the same interest. So if you fancy dressing as a Star Wars character, activating your lightsaber and battling hundreds of foe in Washington Square Park, you can be sure it’ll happen. Welcome to my Saturday night. I’m not a Star Wars geek, but I am …
Read MoreJuly 31, 2014
…ventured to Port Jefferson, Long Island
I love it when we go to Long Island. I love the hour drive out there – with Ryan singing along to the radio – and I love the trees, harbors and beautiful homes when we arrive. I feel like I can exhale. So when we were invited to Nick and Christine‘s wedding, it was a bonus that it was …
Read MoreJuly 10, 2014
…met the Rockefeller Plaza’s newest resident
Between searching for new apartments and finding someone to take over mine, I’ve not had much time for many new things recently. One thing I’ve fancied – but haven’t got around to yet – is Jeff Koons’ new exhibit at the Whitney Museum. But this is New York, so there’s always a much quicker, cheaper alternative – if …
Read MoreJuly 7, 2014
…slurped a milkshake at Brooklyn’s soda fountain
I’ve loved living in the East Village – the coffee! the food! the transport! the very suspicious smells! – but I’ve decided to make the move to Brooklyn with Ryan. We both love Carroll Gardens (just look at how leafy it is!) so we’re hoping to nab a place there. But I’ve only been semi honest with Ryan about my …
Read MoreJuly 1, 2014
…partied at a popup dinner in Prospect Park
Before Saturday night, I picked out a white dress and filled a white basket with sugar-dusted cookies. The only hitch? I had no idea where I’d be taking them. But a few hours before heading to Prospect Park for an all-white PopUp Dinner Party, I finally learned that I – and 4,200 other guests – would be drinking, dining and …
Read MoreJune 17, 2014
…toured inside the Woolworth Building
A few weeks ago, I got an email from a reader suggesting I check out the Woolworth Building. To be honest, I didn’t even know it was possible, thanks to the ‘No Tourists Beyond This Point’ sign outside. But as I discovered, the Woolworth does open its doors to small groups – a new development over the past …
Read MoreJune 16, 2014
…snacked at Broadway Bites
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 MoreJune 12, 2014
…headed to the beach at Fire Island
Some of my most horrifying memories – Portuguese strippers, early-morning dashes to the ER – are from bachelorette parties. So when Ryan said that his high school friend Nick was hanging out at Fire Island for his bachelor blowout, I thought it sounded like a much saner idea. And even better – Nick and his fiancée Christine were having a …
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 3, 2014
…became an animator at the Museum of the Moving Image
Thanks to the Museum of the Moving Image, I can now add ‘animator’ and ‘voice actor’ to my resumé. It all began when I finally trekked there this weekend after months of meaning to go. And I was chuffed to see it’s a great interactive museum that also gives plenty of ‘ooh, I haven’t thought about that in …
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 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 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 11, 2014
…saw the REAL Kelpies
Last month, The Kelpies – two massive horse head sculptures – trotted into Bryant Park as part of Kilt Week, and I loved them. But while they were impressive, they were actually just small versions of much larger sculptures standing in Falkirk, Scotland. So when Lindsay said she would take us during our visit this week, I was very keen. …
Read MoreMay 9, 2014
…celebrated at an Edinburgh wedding
Rebecca and I both went to university in St Andrews and graduated the same year, but we actually met in Atlanta. And as soon as we did, it was love. Sadly, Simon beat me to it. So last week, Ryan and I traveled to Edinburgh for their wedding, which was held on the Royal Mile (near to the castle) …
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 24, 2014
…ate some English grub for St George’s Day
Growing up, I never felt particularly patriotic. I didn’t weep when David Beckham got us kicked out of the World Cup in 1998, and at university in Scotland, I learned that having an English accent wasn’t a point of pride. But since moving to New York, everything has changed. I am constantly telling Americans that they haven’t tasted …
Read More
Recent Comments