New York, New York

Summer in New York City. A perfect long weekend spent celebrating my and my Frenchmans first wedding anniversary. Our plan is to go somewhere new for the long weekend every year, so consider me busy on the weekend of the 24th of August for the next 60 years! 

We stayed at The Highline Hotel in Chelsea, which was surprisingly, right opposite the highline. This was a recommendation from a friend who recently moved from NYC to SF and it was practically perfect. As an architect the highline was always top on my list of things to see in NYC and this way we got to walk along it every morning. The hotel is, to quote some New Yorkers - 'very Harry Potter' or "very European" - which i've taken to mean old and slightly eclectic. Antique furnished rooms, a lovely collection of bell jars downstairs and a great, if overpriced even for NYC ($22 a glass for a NZ sauv), terrace garden out front.

We tried to wrap up the must see tourist things early, taking the circle line tour around manhatten, which was great actually (my last tourist boat experience was my first week after moving to Paris on the Bateaux Mouches which assult you with pre-recorded commentary in 9 languages). We took a quick trip up The Empire States Building, as queues were short due to the fog, skipped the Top of the Rock when they tried to tell us to come back 2 hours later for our visit time (no chance buddy!), and stopped by the MOMA. 

We spent a lot of time wandering around Chelsea on the highline, then getting down everytime we saw something that peeked our interest - generally food and or drink related. Though I also spent a considerable amount of time drooling at the Diane Von Furstenberg store - wrap dresses are my thing man! 

On the first day, checking out the West Village we ate at The Spotted Pig for a late lunch (on my 'to eat' list since ages ago), where we had the burger (obviously - I had just watched Orange is the New Black and if Pipers one wish on her out of prison excursion was the burger at The Spotted Pig then I was defnitely not going to miss out!) with shoe string fries and the gnudi, which are kind of similar to gnocci, but better, and are my latest cooking obsession when teamed up with home-made, terrace-harvested basil pesto. Afterwards we stopped by Magnoila Bakery to try the famous cupcakes. Malereusement they were too sweet and lacking any real flavour - it was sad, the myth became reality and I was left disapointed.

Saturday was spent strolling around Brooklyn. We met up with an old friend from Paris days for brunch who is now working in the city, and finally bought out wedding bands at a great shop called Mociun. We also stumbled upon what I had only heard rumours about... the antipodean coffee shops invading New York. St Balmain in Williamsburg has flat whites on the menu, Fat Freddys Drop on the stereo and the newest thing to hit the US but which all us antipodeans have been eating for breakfast since ages ago, the classic avocado on toast. I didnt indulge in this as it's akin to a cheese toasty - something you make when you are low on time, money and ingredients. I dont know why $4 toast in San Francisco has brought on such an uproar when these poor Brooklynians are being charged $9 for avo on toast!? 

The highlight of the weekend had to be dinner at Blue Hill. Such a great and delicious place. I was sad to have no been able to take any photos (due to both poor light and wanting to just enjoy the whole thing and not be that annoying person taking photos of every course! lol) but it was excuisite and inventive and a great time. I particularly enjoyed the fireman storming in towards the end of the night when a fellow diner thought she was having a seafood allergy attack (despite not having eated seafood), but judging by the way she was laughing and flirting with New Yorks Finest, I think its safe to say she was ok, though her date was a little conflicted haha! We will definitely be hitting that place up next time we are in the city. 

As much as I loved the weekend in New York, I am happy to report I was also excited to return to San Francisco. I have lived in many countries and cities (6 countries now!) and I have never felt the pull to return home so strong as I have in San Francisco. This city might just have me, obviously far too soon to tell for sure...but early signs are positive, and apart from one small physical assult (hit on the back of the head whilst on my morning run) by a homeless man on my block, the people here make the city. Friendly, positive, healthy and doing so many things. Its a cool place to be. 

NYC Eats
(will be added to my city pages soon)

Manhattan

Blue Hill
75 Washington Place

Izakaya Ten
207 10th AVe

The Spotted Pig
314 W 11th Street

All'onda
22 E 13th Street

Shake Shack (many locations)
366 Columbus ave 

The Big Gay Icecream Shop
125 E 7th Street


Brooklyn

St. Balmain
178 N 8th Street
Williamsburg

Five Leaves
18 Bedford Ave
Williamsburg

Smorgasburg
Weekends 11-6
East River State Park

Isa
348 Wythe Ave
Williamsburg