Part of me laughs when New Yorkers lust after tiny houses (we already live in tiny houses), but another, larger part of me gets it. I get the desire to be snug, surrounded by the wilderness or mountains. I get wanting to scale back to only what you need. The sleekness, the simplifying. Getaway is …
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June 3, 2015
…ran 5k during a rave
I may not be a fan of running and I may not be a fan of Electronic Dance Music, but it turns out I quite like it when they’re mixed together. Last weekend, Ryan and I donned our running shoes – honestly the first time I have worn mine in many, many months years – and drove 40 …
Read MoreMay 26, 2015
…took a bus tour through the Bronx
Midtown is clogged with tour buses, especially if you are looking for tours to new york, but did you know that some companies take you to less touristy corners, such as the Bronx? When City Sights NY asked me if I wanted to join one of their groups, I jumped at the chance to check …
Read MoreMay 17, 2015
…got tipsy on a cocktail tour of the East Village
By now you probably know that I am a walking tour fan. There’s no better way to see the city than on foot accompanied by someone who knows their stuff. And among the tour groups, Urban Adventures is one of my favorites thanks to their wealth of knowledge, small group sizes and choice of lesser-known locations. So when I …
Read MoreMay 14, 2015
…won at Brooklyn Bowl
If you’re looking for an easygoing night out, complete with live music and some finger-lickin’ good comfort food, I’ve found your place. Last weekend, I headed to Brooklyn Bowl, which is inside a Williamsburg warehouse, and it was a winner. (And as it turns out, so was I.) I was a fan of the huge space, which …
Read MoreMay 6, 2015
…explored Washington DC’s Union Market
Essex Street Market, Chelsea Market, Smorgasburg — New York knows how to do food markets. So this weekend, when I headed to Washington D.C. for my friend Kate’s bridal shower (you remember Kate!), I was happy to see how the city’s markets compared. And, ooh, I was impressed. She and her husband-to-be, Darius, took me to Union …
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 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 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 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 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 5, 2015
…discovered Birthday Cake lattes at DAVIDsTEA
As a Brit, I’m a little ashamed that I’ve allowed my coffee consumption to overtake my tea intake. But I’ve just discovered a cracking company here in NYC that’s encouraged me to get back in touch with my roots. This week, I headed to DAVIDsTEA in Park Slope, Brooklyn for some tasters. I’ve often passed …
Read MoreFebruary 4, 2015
…got merry at The Imbible
[Note: Scroll down to the comments section for a discount code for 5% off tickets!] Before moving to New York, I thought I was going to be seeing Broadway shows every week. But the reality is that they’re all in Midtown, which equals big, ugly crowds and big, ugly prices. Sometimes it’s the last place I want to …
Read MoreJanuary 20, 2015
…saw the Gowanus Canal turned into art
The Gowanus Canal isn’t the prettiest place to visit. While it used to be a key transportation route stretching through south Brooklyn, it’s now one of the stinkiest, most polluted waterways in the U.S. So I love how the Superfund site has been turned into a work of art for the week. Through January 23rd, if you …
Read MoreJanuary 19, 2015
…couldn’t Escape the Room
Ryan and I like to think we’re pretty smart. But if this blog has taught me one thing, it’s that that’s not actually the case. Remember when we went to a Murder Mystery certain that we’d crack it within minutes – but then left early because we had no idea what was going on? Well, …
Read MoreJanuary 12, 2015
…swam with manatees
After a two-day trek through the wilds of the south (with a stop at a questionable Waffle House), Ryan and I arrived in St Petersburg, Florida. We had driven there with a backseat of scuba diving equipment, but once we arrived, Ryan came across a slightly different option: swimming with manatees. We decided that we can scuba in many other …
Read MoreDecember 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 …
Read MoreDecember 6, 2014
…had afternoon tea at the Russian Tea Room
Whenever I go back to England, I somehow always manage to squeeze in an afternoon tea – even if I’m just back for a weekend. And while England would seem the place to do it, there is a little gem of a location here in New York to satisfy my cravings too – although it’s definitely not …
Read MoreDecember 3, 2014
…visited the 9/11 Museum
I was in a year-nine drama class in England when the Twin Towers fell. I remember Mr Caldicott sitting us in a circle and trying to explain what had happened 4,000 miles away. But I didn’t understand. I didn’t even know what the words ‘World Trade Center’ meant. Today, my reaction is very different. Having lived here for …
Read MoreNovember 26, 2014
…visited Matisse’s cutouts (and survived being in Midtown at the weekend)
The week I started this blog, I flew across the country to the furthest, greenest corner to visit a university friend, Jane. She lives on San Juan Island, which is off the coast of Washington state and is so far north that its residents can see Canada. After reaching the island by a teeny six-seater plane, I …
Read MoreNovember 12, 2014
…dosey doed at a barn dance
Some parts of this country remain completely alien to me. The way you write the date? Weird. American supermarkets? I’ll never understand them. That plastic neon yellow stuff you put on burgers and claim is ‘cheese’? No thanks. So every now and then it’s nice to get a little taste of home. Enter… the barn dance. …
Read MoreNovember 4, 2014
…visited Minnewaska State Park in time to see the leaves
The clocks have changed, the mercury has plunged and I’m back on the hot coffees. I think we’re nearing winter. Thankfully when I went upstate last weekend (yes, another escape from the city), the leaves were still holding on. I concluded that, without a doubt, my favorite season in New York is autumn – I’m …
Read MoreOctober 17, 2014
…was underwhelmed by Magnolia Bakery
Cronuts and macaroons may now rule the treats here in New York, but once upon a time, the cupcake was king. Leading the way was Magnolia Bakery, which first started whipping up cupcakes from leftover batter at its Bleecker Street store in the 1990s, sparking the mania. Two decades on, even though the cupcake craze may be crumbling, Magnolia seems to be …
Read MoreOctober 8, 2014
…rode the Thunderbolt
All summer we’ve been complaining that it’s not hot enough. I even heard the dreaded ‘polar vortex’ mentioned a couple of months ago. But forget all that because the weather right now is perfect: crisp, sunny and dry. For one final summer adventure, Ryan, Charlotte and I decided to be big kids at the place big kids …
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