I'm off to spend two glorious weeks split between New York, the capital of the world, and Toronto, the town 30 Rock called “New York … without all the stuff.” Since I haven't been to either city, I'd love to hear your suggestions: what should I do? where should I go? most importantly, where should I eat?
I love traveling and being blown away by new cultures, foods and ways of life. Going abroad where the air smells different, the roads take me to unusual places and in exchange I'll bring back new experiences and memories that last a lifetime. Perhaps I'll return with something like a coveted bottle of olive oil (Italy) or organic vanilla beans soaked in rum (Mexico). If I'm lucky, the experience - and sharp contrast to my own life and home - will bring dreams in a whole new language.
Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the remaining days of August wherever you are. I'll be back come September and promise to share my pictures and food adventures as soon as I can.
Melody
8 comments:
Melody! Please, please please - for the love of god, when you go to toronto, hit up Enoteca Sociale! And if you get the chance, Pure Spirits Oyster Bar. Both are fantastic and when I was there a few months ago, I wrote reviews of them on my site (in case you're curious what I'm getting you into).
But seriously - Enoteca Sociale is THE best Italian food I've ever had in a casual but super hip atmosphere; while Pure Spirits was a little fancier (in the distillery district) and super good - we went there 2X in a 2 day span and would have gone more if given the time.
PS. Luma is also good. The food and presentation was phenomenal (room more casual in the day - much fancier at night) but the service was impeccable.
If you like tapas you can't beat Heidi's house. I go there every time I am in Manhattan for work.
They make the 2nd best Guac, their cheese plate never standpoints, but best of all, their Humus is to die for. Way better then the crap from Odyssia.
standpoint = disappoints, damn spellcheck!!!
The best thing in Manhattan is walking, and not having a schedule. A list of neat places you'd like to see is great, but an afternoon of wandering is the best. Nooks and crannies, strange little shops, impromptu conversations, are what I loved most about NYC. Comfortable shoes and curiosity.
Make sure to wander around Chinatown , it's breathtaking, as well as little Italy., which is really close.
Also, Red Bamboo is a vegetarian soul food place that is amazing, so interesting.and cozy. Have their southern fried chicken.
http://redbamboo-nyc.com
The Indian restaurants in alphabet city are awesome as well. Don't go for the fancy upscale places. The best are the little weirdo joints with dollar store chili pepper christmas light decor and magnificent curries.
Have fun!
hmm, i sadly never ate out as much as I wanted to in NY, and probably know more food in brooklyn, but here is a list of things i recently recommended to a friend:
Manhat.: MOMA, alexander mcqueen thing at the met, top of the rock, purl soho (knitting store), the moth story slams, apparently the boat tour around manhattan is great, birdland, the lower east side (katz's diner), the craft museum right beside the moma, there is a greek place west of purl a couple blocks...., the cupcakes from the dean and delucas on the upper east side, bryant park (outdoor library! and giant japanese bookstore with sewing patterns in the basement!), the highline (definitely do this) and chelsea market while you are there, free ferry to staten island, muji store, central park, fairway market in the upper west side, anything at lincoln center
Brooklyn: etsy craft nights, redhook fairways grocery store, ferry bus to manhat., williamsburg/bedford, egg for breakfast, spoonbill bookstore, mast brothers chocolate, there is a beerhall on north 3rd and one block west of bedford that is pretty rad, and right next to mast brothers, "Eat" in greenpoint, brooklyn heights/dumbo/brooklyn bridge, brooklyn flea market which is now also in williamsburg, vinegar hill house
aaaand that's all i've got for now. (i'm a friend of tressa's, by the way, who passed this post along to me)
Thanks for all the thoughtful comments! My time in New York was cut short by a few days after deciding to leave town before the hurricane hit.
I did more walking than I even imagined, taking in lots of sights and enjoying a few great meals, including on at Mario Batali's Babbo Restaurant and Red Rooster in Harlem. Both sublime!
I'm now in Toronto and will track down Enoteca Sociale.
i'm sure you'll come back with lots of pictures and stories to share :)
EEK <3 so exciting!! can't wait for the follow up post :)
xoxo <3
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