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.

Current Obsession: Interior Design

I am inspired by pretty things. But, then again, aren't we all? This week it was all about LA-style dining in London, sunshine included. I love the beach-inspired beach cafe, Hally's, designed by Alexander Evangelou and James Waterworth of London design firm Alexander Waterworth Interiors. Some of my favorite aspects include: 

I love everything about this! From the wooden tables, decorative throw pillows, and pastel chairs to the little knick knacks that line the shelves. 

I'm a sucker for pretty tile and lighting fixtures and the combination of blue/white creates a relaxing tone throughout the space. 

The yellow stools paired with whitewashed bricks---the ultimate beach vibe. 

See more over on Remodelista! 

Hello, Brooklyn

It's been a busy past few months.  In May I started a new job (woo!) and and am still trying to get into the swing of the 9-6 lifestyle. Safe to say: this blog post is way overdue. 

A few months ago, back when it was still chilly out, I took a trip into Brooklyn for some much needed inspiration. And, of course, Brooklyn delivered. I started in DUMBO and worked my way up to Williamsburg.  I checked out book stores, antiques shops, coffee shops, and idled around the East River (where there are gorgeous Manhattan skyline views). 

Although this post is maybe 3 months late, it has me thinking I need to do some more exploring. There is so much NYC has to offer and with my incurable travel bug, I think I'll need to see some more. Here are a few pictures from my trip into Brooklyn. And I promise I'll post more about my daily adventures on a more frequent basis. 

Paris is Always a Good Idea

Someone wise once said, "Paris is Always a Good Idea." And a good idea it was. Two summers ago I spent my summer vacation exploring the many wonders of Paris, France. From the tiny, winding streets in Le Marais to Le Tour Eiffel I was constantly inspired by the culture, the beauty and, of course, the food. Most of the time you could find me purchasing a warm baquette from the bakery around the corner or sampling every sweet creation I could get my hands on. As someone who loves to bake (and aspires to be a baker one day), it was truly an incredible experience.

During my trip I was enrolled in a hands-on photography course that allowed me to dive deep into the rich, Parisian culture. For my final project I compiled a story on a famous Parisian bakery, Max Polâine. The project was a little tough to get off of the ground, but once the pictures were taken and printed the reward was sweet (pun intended).

I sought ought Polâine after reading many reviews about the French bakery. The bread baking company was founded in 1932, by Pierre Polâine, who opened the first bakery in the city's Sixth Arrondissement. In 1973, after suffering a stroke, his son Lionel began to take over the company. Lionel opened two more bakeries in Paris and another in London. Sadly, in 2002, Lionel Polâine was killed in a car crash with his wife. Their daughter, Apollonia, took over as C.E.O. of the company and ran the company while attending Harvard University. Today, Polâine grosses nearly eighteen million dollars a year and employs a hundred and sixty people. The bakery's signature item is a wheel of sourdough, also known as a miche.

The bakery I visited was the fourth, and newest Polâine bakery in Paris, located in the Fifteenth Arrondissement and owned my Max Polâine, Lionel's older brother. Being honest, the thought of visiting a famous French bakery and asking for permission to take pictures was a bit overwhelming, not to mention extremely nerve racking. Many of the bakeries in Paris forbid photography in their sweet shops, and I don't blame them! Breads and pastries are meant to be enjoyed and eaten, not snapped and flashed at. Regardless,  I was determined to complete my project.

Luckily for me, my photography professor had a friend that lived around the corner from the bakery. He introduced us and after a couple of conversations I was able to understand how important the bakery was to the community.  After compiling my research, I mustered up the courage to visit the bakery and ask for permission to take photographs. Although my French wasn't as polished as I would have liked it to be, I managed to get access to the bakery and to the kitchen where they mix and cook the dough.

I was so inspired by the tiny shop. I loved the smell of the freshly baked breads and the way they were organized so you could see them before you even entered the pastry shop. I marveled at the amount of loaves they were cranking out each day. It was very inspiring to watch the way they worked, with passion and dedication. They explained the entire process to me from the mixing and proofing, to baking. The experience was life changing. From what was just a simple final project turned into a lesson in history and culture.  On a more personal level, it really changed the way I think about baking. I hope one day I'll be able to crank out this many loaves! For now, I'll continue to try each baguette that comes my way.