A (brief and seasonal) GUIDE TO NEW YORK CITY

As some of you may know, my sweetheart is coming in from the UK this week! I've been so busy with all kinds of preparations and plenty of other busy stuff, that I haven't had much time to think about or plan for our time together in New York! Well, with just two days until he's home, I thought I would post some of my favorite places that I'm hoping to visit together. 

Hot Chocolate @ City Bakery

One of my favorite things to do during the christmas season is stop in at City Bakery on 18th street for a cup of their delicious hot chocolate and house-made marshmallows! It's the perfect respite from a busy, bustling day of holiday shopping. Plus, it's right next to...

Shopping @ Paper Presentation

My absolute favorite paper store in the world! It's the perfect place to stop to get any kind of supplies, especially for making handmade holiday cards.

Ice Skating @ The Standard Hotel

I haven't actually been here yet, but it looks promising! With a Kaffehaus serving warm drinks like apple cider, I can't really ask for more. More details and updates to come!

Dinner @Van Daag

 I had my birthday dinner here with some friends about a month ago and LOVED it! I cant help but want to share the deliciousness with Aak. One of my best friends had some of what I think was the most delicious options on the menu: a bowl of wild mushroom and farro with a walnut pistou. I had a bowl of their delicious smoked butternut squash soup. The bread basket is also a must, which we had served with savory ginger butter. I just noticed they have changed many of the options with the winter season, and I can't wait to try the new additions to the menu! Did I mention that their Akvavit and Genever cocktails are to die for?

Melancholia @ The Angelika

I'm so excited to see this film and have been waiting a while to gather up the courage and the right company for it! I also love the Angelika theatre on Houston street, it's a lovely place to see a movie! 

Drinks @ Weather Up

This speakeasy-style bar is one of my absolute favorites. Replete with dim lighting, endless subway tile, and some of the best cocktails ever, it's a wonderful place to wind down after a long day. I especially love their "Keep calm, carry on" option. Just tell your bartender what flavors and spirits you're in the mood for and they'll whip up a surprise libation! Wonderful!

NEW IPHONE & OTHER ADVENTURES

Alas, I have succumbed to the demands of this technological age. Yes, that's right folks, I got an iphone! I never thought the day would come but it has and, despite four hours on the phone with three different (all very lovely and very helpful) Verizon customer service agents, and my persistent struggle to understand all of the endless features that Apple has to offer, it's a pretty darn cool device. I've already gone a little app crazy, but my favorite discovery so far is "Classic TOY" photo app... it takes great photos and has endless filters. I'm especially loving the effects of the 70sage, Color Negative Film, and Vintage Prints filters. They make for some gorgeous, ethereal, and nostalgic lo-fi shots!

Besides that, I ran some errands with my mom. Afterwards, we had lunch at St. Germain, a sweet little French cafe in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. It was a rainy day and so we ordered a couple of hot chocolates, a salade nicoise, and a salade avec chevre chaud (warm goat cheese). Everything was delicious and to top it off, I brought home a lovely little chocolate-orange mousse cake. Besides the wonderful company and good food, it was a great opportunity to try out the camera on my new iphone. I took a couple of photos. I think the filters from the Classic TOY app give the pictures a bit of that Parisian nostalgia that I adore (and miss) so much!

 The outside of the cafe. Isn't that side paneling just perfect?

Bowls of hot chocolate... my favorite!

 I've been trying to keep busy the past few weeks (in between applying for jobs!) and am proud to say that, after a week of practice, I am about to begin knitting my first scarf! I'm so excited and will definitely post more on my progress soon. I also have been playing a lot of guitar and learning new songs. I even  learned a bit of Tai-Chi. Now if only this skills would translate into a viable job I'd be set! But, I've also been listening to some new music. I just can't get Kurt Vile's song, "Baby's Arms" out of my head so I'm going to share it here, along with the adorable music video.

Isn't it gorgeous?