I Love You NYC, but I Have a Crush on NJ.

Don't get me wrong--I love waking up to the hustle and bustle in New York City. Sometimes, I can hardly imagine living anywhere else. But every so often the chaotic NYC streets leave me a little weary and when this happens, I find my way to my parents house in NJ.

Let's back track-- I was born and raised in NYC, so I've always been a New Yorker at heart. I loved growing up on the city streets. The city has a lot to do with the person I have become; how I deal with people, things, and most importantly how I view the world. The city has humbled me, motivated me, and continues to inspire me in so many ways. A part of the reason is because there is always so much going on in the city, so much to do and see. Being exposed to a big, big world at a young age has allowed me to keep an open mind and explore every opportunity that comes my way, and I am so grateful for that.

When I was about 8 years old my parents decided it was time for our family of five (plus our dog) to move out of our small NYC apartment to the suburbs in NJ. It was in our NJ beach town that I learned even more about myself, as we were now apart of a small community much different than the big city streets. It was in NJ that I learned how to ride a bike, played soccer in my front yard with my sisters, zoomed through the neighborhood streets on razor scooters, ate cupcakes at block parties, and spent nearly every nice weekend in the summer at the beach. It was in NJ that I made some of the closest friends, friends who I still love to get together with...the kind of friends where a month or so can go by with little to no correspondence only to have everything pick right back up where we left off the next time we see each other.

After high-school ended, it was hard to leave my friends and family for the unknown. I had built a life in NJ that offered me safety and protection and I was scared I wouldn't be able to find something similar at college. After a flurry of applications, deadlines, and college visits I ended up in Colorado, at The University of Colorado at Boulder. I think it took about a month or so for me to realize that I was a. too far from home and b. not meant to be stuck in the middle of the country. Although I made some of the greatest friends (one of which who just moved to NYC!) I needed to make a change. Second semester of my freshman year I applied to NYU and I guess you could say the rest is history.

I've spent the past four years in New York City and couldn't be happier. I love the city but I think what I love most is the chance to escape it every now and then. This past weekend in New Jersey was beyond refreshing. Some of my favorite things included: falling asleep to the sounds of the summer, waking up with the peaceful light, the chirping birds, and the quietness of the suburb mornings, savoring my morning coffee on the screened-in porch, and enjoying my glass of wine with my parents on the front porch outside.

It's not every weekend that I get to escape to NJ so on the weekends that I do, I make the most of it. Here are a few snapshots from last weekend: 

The Perfect NYC Weekend

This past weekend was perfect. Filled with good wine, good food, and great company... I couldn't ask for anything more. The weekend started on Friday evening when my friend Anthony and I made plans to check out Grand Banks, an incomparable gem docked on the Hudson river. The beautiful views were a vacation for the eyes and the sparkling rosé was as delicious as the setting sun. The atmosphere at Grand Banks was pleasant and I immediately felt the stress from the week float away with the rocking waves. Safe to say: it was the perfect start to what would become one of my favorite NYC weekends. After Grand Banks, we headed down to Stone Street in the Financial District to grab happy hour and continue basking in the perfect summer weather amidst the happy post-work crowd. 

On Saturday, I woke up early and logged a much needed long run. The trail along the West Side Highway was bustling with runners, dog walkers, and people enjoying the morning sun. I loved being apart of such a vibrant morning scene. Afterwards, I made plans with a friend to get brunch on the Lower East Side. I've been dying to try out Dudley's and finally decided to make the trek from the Financial District through Chinatown to get there. The journey was worth it, as the atmosphere was enchanting and the food was delicious. After brunch, we walked through Nolita and Soho and eventually found ourselves in Washington Square Park where we collapsed onto a a shady bench to relax. Time seemed to slow down for the day, as hours milled at a casual pace. It was nice to catch my breath and absorb the relaxing hours of the weekend. Later that evening I met up with my sister and a few of her friends to grab a drink at Watermark, a bar that sits right on the East River. The weather was incredible and it truly felt like the perfect summer night. 

On Sunday, my family met up for brunch at one of my favorite Soho restaurants (featured in my last post) The Cleveland. We sat outside in their backyard garden and embraced the warm weather. As always, the food and drinks were delicious and the company was perfect. Although I was a little sad after leaving brunch that the weekend was coming to an end, I will be sure to hope for more incredible, sun soaked, and laughter filled weekends coming my way. 

Grand Banks 

Dudley's Farro Salad 

Dudley's Farro Salad and Avocado Toast  

View From Watermark 

My Beautiful Sister at Watermark 

Kale and Poached Eggs at The Cleveland 

The Best Thing I Ate Last Week

After I washed the city off of my face and poured myself a (large) glass a wine, I began thinking back to the good eats I enjoyed last week, which was filled with delicious food and perfect summer white wine. 

On Wednesday,  a few friends and I met up in SoHo for dinner at The Cleveland. The Cleveland is located in the bustling area right on Lafayette and Spring Street. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting and when the weather is nice the restaurant boasts a beautiful backyard garden. We decided to eat outside because the weather was the perfect combination of hot and cool. 

So the best thing I ate last week? The burger (with super sauce) and fries from The Cleveland. The burger was the best I had in a long time and the fries were the perfect combination of crispy and doughy. Not to mention, the IPA on draft was on point. 

Weekend Thoughts: Time

I've always been someone that tried to cram as much into life as possible. Even as a kid I would find ways to make my days endless-- from juggling homework and school sports to hanging out with friends and family combined with a million other little things I would be doing.

Still, I multi-task. I constantly find myself dividing my attention and energy to different things at once (from brushing my teeth while catching the last few minutes of Modern Family to cooking dinner while simultaneously pouring myself a glass of wine). I have this obsession of trying to fill every hour. I can't bear to sit still and watch a long movie (unless of course Leo DiCaprio is in it....) without folding my laundry or checking for new recipes online. I can't be in one place without my mind constantly wondering: "what's next?" Even if I am out enjoying a nice dinner five minutes into the first course I am already planning what's for dessert. I guess you could say I'm restless, a quality in myself I wish I could control. Over the years I developed a misguided conception that life is meant to be filled, that each minute of every hour is meant to be chock full of activities, adventures, and accomplishments. I thought life was too short to waste my time not doing anything---so I always had to be doing something.

The thing is.... that's not true. Life isn't meant to be constantly filled. What I have realized is that the most important thing we have in life is time. To me, time is more valuable than anything else. Time is a scary thing and I think this is something I knew all along, but never truly understood what it meant. I thought it meant that I had to be time-efficient, that I had to do everything as fast as I could so I could move on to the next best thing. But time is meant to be savored and moments are meant to be collected. It's so easy to eagerly anticipate what's next and get excited about what the future holds but what matters is the present. It's being present in the moment with the people you are with. Life is about enjoying the quiet times in between the busy times because its the quiet times when some of the most positive self reflection happens.

I am trying to cherish the moments and collect memories. I am finding new ways to slow down and breathe and not get so caught up in the fast-paced world I live and thrive in. For me that means drinking my coffee slowly in the morning, savoring the quietness on my runs, and enjoying the company of my friends and family over extended dinners and drinks. In the end, I will probably always enjoy the thrill of being busy, but now I understand how important it is to slow down every once in a while.