Tag: Times Square

Best Places to Wine and Dine in NYC

March 24, 2014

Jay’s parents have been in the city for the past week with Jay’s aunt and uncle, and we have been so glad to have them.  They have been a welcome break from graduate school papers, cover letters and job search databases (anyone want to hire me?!).  It has been such a treat to take a break and show off our favorite spots, where we do life and the excitement our new city has to offer.  Together we have taken in the arts….

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Savored time with family..

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and sipped and nibbled our way through the great foodie culture NYC has to offer.  Below you will find a detailing of the exceptional establishments we frequented regularly and had the pleasure to share with Jay’s family over the course of the past week.  So if you’re looking for a great glass of wine, exquisite italian or simply just an undeniably great craft brew to accompany your gourmet burger -look no further.  What follows are some of our favorites in Manhattan.

Continue reading “Best Places to Wine and Dine in NYC”

New Years and a New Year

January 1, 2014

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Before we booked our flights home for the holidays we had a large internal debate about our New Years plans. Should they be held on the east coast or the west coast? We settled our qualms by polling friends who have been in the city years longer than us rookies.  What we  couldn’t decide was if we should fly home in time to wrangle a spot in Times Square to watch the ball drop, or spend it with our oldest, most cherished friends at home.  In the end I was informed that the logistics of a NYC NYE was that I would wind up standing for hours, sardined next to strangers being unable to move to eat, drink or use the bathroom.  Which for me, who tends to be a sensitive soul, this is not my ideal environment at all.  So in the end we decided to stay and ring in 2014 from Victoria. Continue reading “New Years and a New Year”

Dating (my husband) in NYC

November 19, 2013

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I think I have mentioned it before but one of the best, most exciting parts of being in New York has been falling in love with Jay on a new, deeper level.  When we first settled in here I felt worlds away from the support network I have carefully knit with my truly remarkable friends and large, close family, and the distance from them made me feel as if the floor had fallen out beneath me.  If I am honest, there are moments when I still feel this way.  However, I have come to realize that the core things I need are found in Jay.  This is no way diminishes the support I receive from others, because it is equally vital (and hasn’t changed at all).  I have simply begun to realize what an unstoppable, dynamite team him and I are.  He is the pinnacle of support, as he graciously talks to death all the big and small thoughts, aspirations and concerns that stir inside me daily.  Through his hard work and passion he is constantly bolstering all the dreams we both have for our little family.  This is nothing new, he has always been this way.  The only difference is that I have begun to appreciate these attributes in ways I could never have done without stepping outside my comfort zone and taking these risks.  So although we are slowly building a vibrant network of friends here in NYC, I have really enjoyed the us time as Jay and I explore this city and each other in a whole new way.

Now we are not the type of couple to schedule date nights, and in all actuality we are really, really terrible at the romance thing.  We would not be the winners of any cutest couple award that is for sure.  Although we do spend an unnatural amount of time together, I still tend to describe us as one of the least couply-couples.  A friend from back home who now shares the city with us told me she loved being with us because we don’t make people feel like third wheels.  This was one of the best compliments I have ever received.  At the heart of what defines us is that Jay and I are best friends and that is how we approach life and our relationships with others. So with that in mind most of our dates are happenstance and are the result of the friends we invited being busy, not the careful orchestration of romance.  Nonetheless here is a detailing of some of our favorite City dates thus far. Continue reading “Dating (my husband) in NYC”

Playing Tourist: Things to do in New York

October 20, 2013

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We were incredibly blessed to be invaded by family the past week and a half straight.  Our first visitor, my beautiful mom, came for a week which wasn’t nearly long enough.  In the span of days we fit what could easily have filled weeks, and afterward we (with watery eyes) tucked her into her cab with sore feet and a full heart.  It did both her and I good to explore mine and Jay’s new home together as we ventured into the heart of the city in hunt of exquisite shopping, good food and new running trails. I could not ask for a better excuse to be a tourist than her.

Then the evening after we waved good bye to mom, my dad, Peter, arrived.  His entrance into the city was eventful with a less than ideal foray into the Bronx, complete with unhelpful misdirections from locals amidst the bombarding, cacophony of rush hour traffic. However, after his unwanted adventure we at last laid eyes on him and settled him into our apartment, turning him into our second excuse to explore the city a little further.

I should have been studying for midterms, and I should have been completing my literature review but instead I paused and tried my best to balance my demands with soaking in family and our city.  In the midst of it all my little heart was filled to overflowing as both my parents assured me just how wholly proud of me they are and how excited they were for what waits us in the coming year as we plant roots in this crazy, overwhelmingly wonderful city.  Below are some of our highlights, and suggestions for must do NYC tourist activities that make every study break that much more invigorating. Continue reading “Playing Tourist: Things to do in New York”