Happy NYC Restaurant Week!

I am so happy that my last week in New York City has coincided with Restaurant Week. Tonight, L and I had a fabulous 3-course meal at the iconic New York restaurant, the Russian Tea Room, for the low price of $35 each. I had the goat cheese and wild mushroom blinchik, the filet of beef, and the cheesecake, and it was delicious. I also enjoyed a "Russian Margarita" made not with tequila but with vodka of course and they definitely went heavy on the vodka! The modernist Russian style decor was so elegant and the gift shop downstairs displayed some lovely and elaborately-painted Russian nesting dolls. Did anyone else go anywhere yummy for restaurant week?

Giants Ticker Tape Parade Takes Over Lower Manhattan

Giants fans dominated Lower Manhattan today! It took me a while to get to the office but it was so much fun passing through the celebration I didn't mind the delay. I couldn't believe how much paper was pouring out of the windows of office buildings in the area!

I'm Going to Miss this Office View

While I was away, my office made the move from Midtown East to Lower Manhattan.  The view from my desk in the new office is incredible! How could you not be filled with hope and inspiration every time you see the Freedom Tower? After September 11th, this space was so empty for so long. And now here it is and it is stunning. I am disappointed I won't get the chance to watch as it continues to rise.

Annnnnd Back (for 12 days)

I am back in New York and it is hard to believe that a few days ago I was strolling the streets of Notting Hill, feasting on fish and chips, and enjoying a cold pint at the pub! I am happy to be back even though it is just for a short time (12 days and so much to do)!

Here is the warm welcome I received from New York as my plane approached- an aerial landscape of bright city lights, my airplane window photo of New York.

A Leap Forward

Tomorrow I leave for London! I don't know what to expect but I am excited for the trip. So let the adventure begin! But not to worry New York, this time I'll be back in three weeks. Now I just need to pack...

Weekend Wrap-up

This weekend I...

1. Showed my apartment to potential renters. Fingers crossed that it will be rented before I leave for London on Sunday!

2. Went to see Young Adult with my friends M and J and ate some delicious movie theater popcorn. Great movie.

3. Experienced New York's No Pants Subway Ride 2012 -- people in winter jackets and no pants riding on the Subway and acting like it's normal.

4. Wandered around the East Village with Herbie and took some snaps. 

I hope everyone else had a good weekend!

In Search of my "Invincible Summer"

Winter officially began on December 22nd but today was the first REALLY cold day in a while. It's the kind of day where no matter how high my heat is, my nose and my hands are still cold. I'm so ready to burrow under my quilt + down comforter and instruct my dog to act as a space heater for my feet. I'm not a fan of low temps but I do enjoy winter coziness. Perhaps I'll start tomorrow morning with a mug of hot chocolate...before I wrap myself in 100 layers.

Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind?

The song "Auld Lang Syne" begins with the rhetorical question whether it is right that old times be forgotten and is generally interpreted as a call to remember long-standing friendships. It is a song that we all hear every New Year's Eve but it couldn't mean more to me this year. As my February move nears, the pit in my stomach grows over the fact that I won't be able to see my friends for a while. I am going to miss them so much-- the closeness, the nights out, the stories, birthday parties, pizza nights, the laughs, the smiles, the shared ups, and the shared downs. I would never forget the "old times" and I hope they don't either. My top new year's resolution is to hold on to my long-standing friendships here and to make a great effort to stay in touch from across the pond. Here's to everlasting friendship.

 

                                          

A New Year's Eve from the Prohibition Era

Happy New Year everyone! I hope everyone had a great time ringing in 2012. I celebrated by stepping back in time to the 1920s. My friends and I attended a Prohibition-themed event and had a great time wearing flapper dresses, headbands and pearls.

It was definitely a process finding an 1920s-esque dress and accessorizing it but it was also a lot of fun. I scoured the East Village with not much luck at first but then I went to Angela's Vintage Boutique and found the perfect dress-- a black silk dress beaded from head to toe with the perfect amount of flapper beaded fringe at the top and bottom of the dress. Although the dress is actually from the 1980s, it still had some 1920s elements to make it just right for this event. I picked up the antique-style jeweled headband from Anthropologie and I already had the two-strand pearl necklace with crystal vintage pendant from J.Crew. I added some red lipstick and Voilà!

{Headband from Anthropologie, 

Necklace from J.Crew (no longer available), and  

1980s vintage dress from Angela's Vintage Boutique}

{A better look at the dress}

{My friend M who now counts the headband 

as one of her new favorite accessories}

{Ringing in 2012}

Time to Drink Champagne and Dance on the Tables

New Years Eve is just 4 days away and I will be ringing in 2012 in New York City. It is exciting to think what all the tomorrows of the new year will bring but for now I will just be happy to spend some time with close friends in the city I know and love. Here's to drinking champagne and dancing on the tables!

Long Weekend Wrap-up

In the past four days, I think I managed to pack in as many Christmas celebrations in as possible.

On Thursday, I attended a Christmas party at John's Pizza in the West Village. Have you ever danced the night away in a pizza place? If not, I would highly recommend it.

On Friday night, I joined my high school friends for a "Christmas in July" party at a bar on the Upper East Side. It felt fantastic to break out my shorts in December. I think everyone's favorite outfit of the night was definitely the Inflatable Hula Girl-- GENIUS!

I spent Christmas Eve in New York City with my family. We had lunch at Max Brenner in Union Square. Max Brenner is a dessert destination and so it was no surprise that the dessert stole the show. We shared the S'Mores Concoction (marshmallow fluff, milk chocolate mousse, graham crackers, caramelized bananas) and it was delicious!

Of course we also stopped by Rockefeller Center to see the Christmas tree. I have seen the tree a few times already this season but there's nothing like seeing it on Christmas Eve. It was just stunning!

I spent my Christmas Day in New Jersey with family. I think my pup looked particularly festive today in his red sweater. 

I hope everyone else had a wonderful Christmas!

Dinner at 10 Downing Wine and Food

My friend L and I met during our first job out of college and we have been close friends ever since. She is one of the busiest people I know, but lately we have been making a concerted effort to meet for wonderful meals every few weeks. Tonight we went to 10 Downing Wine and Food in the West Village. The food was delicious, the restaurant was elegant but cozy, and we had such a great time catching up. Here are a few pics of the night:

New York City Lights

New York looks spectacular during the Christmas season! The city gets all dressed up in bright lights and glows and shines in Christmas spirit. Here are six snaps that I took during a stroll tonight:

Weekend Wrap-up

This weekend seemed to go by like a whirlwind! I started off my Saturday with the Ted Corbitt 15K in Central Park. It was a VERY cold morning and it reminded me that I need to stock up on some more cold-weather running gear asap! Anyway, this was an important race since it marks my 9th race with the New York Road Runners in 2011 and means that I have qualified to run the NYC Marathon in 2012 through the NYRR 9+1 Guaranteed Entry Program!!!

Then it was time for two Christmas parties followed by some late-night clubbing. My first Christmas party of the night was at M and T's beautiful new condo. I thought it was decorated beautifully and I particularly enjoyed their spread of snacks and three special cocktails (Kahlua Mocha, Cranberry Pomegranate, and Kiwi Lychee).

My second stop was my friend J's apartment. The highlight was her Greedy Santa Gift Exchange where featured gifts included a Shake Weight, a Jenga, a Popcorn Popper, and a Christmas Story Leg Lamp Ornament. We ended the night at 1OAK in Chelsea where we danced the night away.  I thought 1OAK's walls of stacked golden letters were just gorgeous!

I hope everyone else had a fun weekend too!

I'm Dreaming of Shiny Sparkly Dresses...

New Years Eve is just a few weeks away and I can't wait to wear something with sequins and/or shine. It will be one of my last big nights out in NYC so I need to make it count!

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

A Very Merry Weekend

My weekend started with Z100's annual Jingle Ball concert at Madison Square Garden!!! One of my closest friends scored some last-minute tickets for our group of friends. The line-up was Hot Chelle Rae, Foster the People, Demi Lovato, Gym Class Heroes, Kelly Clarkson, LMFAO, David Guetta, Pitbull, The Script, and Lady Gaga was the headliner. And boy did she steal the show!

The following morning I ran the Jingle Bell Jog (see previous post). AND Saturday night, I attended my first Christmas party of the season.

I would say all in all, it was a very FUN weekend!

NYC Holiday Cards

I'm in love with all of these beautiful NYC-themed holiday cards! Now I just have to narrow it down to ONE.

 {57th and 5th Holiday Card}

 {NYC Holiday Taxi Card}

 

{Holiday Taxi Card} 

 

{Christmas Taxi Holiday Card}

 

{Statue of Liberty Holiday Card} 

 

{Empire State Building Holiday Card}

 

{NYC Subway Holiday Card} 

{Greetings from New York Holiday Card}

  

{Liberty Cab Holiday Card}

 {City Shopping Holiday Card}

{Red Row House Holiday Card}