At the end of October I was lucky enough to celebrate my 21st birthday by spending the weekend in New York with an incredible group of women who I'm inspired to know through the Tone It Up community. I was apprehensive to be away from home for my birthday but my weekend could not have been better. Elle, Forde (Elle's impeccably behaved, adorable 6 month old son), Amberlea and I landed on the Thursday ready for a weekend of exploring.
Visiting New York has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl. And on the last weekend in October, it finally came true.
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| Day 1 |
Day 1 was spent exploring Greenwich village, SoHo, Broadway and Union Square. Elle was amazing and had made us detailed itineraries for each day so we knew exactly where we were headed (even if we did take a few detours!). We started by loading up our Metro Cards and taking the subway down to Greenwich. The first stop was a gorgeous coffee shop that had been recommended by Ingrid (MissGlamorazzi). The 11th Street Cafe was everything you want from your local coffee shop. The girls and I took a moment to take in our gorgeous surroundings. Greenwich really is beautiful! I think all of us said that if we were to live in New York it would be in Greenwich.
We then walked over to Carrie Bradshaw's house (pictured, bottom right), because what would a trip to NYC be without that?! Unfortunately the house next door was being renovated which took away from the charm a little bit but I'm still glad we went! We all commented that they should have said Carrie lived in Greenwich and not the Upper East Side! We thought it was much cooler!
After Carrie's we stumbled upon the High Line! The High Line is a disused railway line that has been turned into a walkway and park which gives you some incredible views of the city! Although the weather was overcast, we got some beautiful views over the Hudson river and of New Jersey and the Fashion District to the other side. It was also lovely to take a moment out from the buzz of the city and relax.
Lunchtime! Elle and I took up another recommendation from Ingrid and tried the Artichoke Pizza from Artichoke Basille's Pizza! Real New York Pizza really is all it's cracked up to be! I don't think I've ever tasted anything like it. I've never had artichoke pizza either but I definitely would again! The slices were huge and were only $5! I was determined to finish mine and I did. I'm also proud to say I walked it off in the afternoon when we were shopping!
Like true New Yorkers, we caught a cab over to Broadway in SoHo to shop! We spent a good few hours wandering the streets and even had a little bit of a fangirl moment in DASH that I'm totally not ashamed of. No Kardashian sightings though!
That evening Amberlea went to see a Broadway show! She went to Cinderella and Elle and I walked back to our hotel along 5th Avenue.
Day 2, Saturday, was definitely our tourist day! We started the day at the World Trade Centre. I'm really glad we were able to experience it. As part of my degree last year I had done a module on New York and had studied 9/11 in a lot more depth. It was very moving and poignant to be able to see the memorial and the new buildings. Whilst I think everyone will have their own experience from visiting I would say mine was definitely very humbling, emotional and thought provoking. Taking everything I had seen on the news from that day and everything I had learned last year and putting it into context was really something.
After some reflection (and a little stop at Century 21!) we jumped on the Staten Island Ferry to see the Statue of Liberty. I stand by this decision as it was a great and free way to get to see the statue. We jumped on at Battery Park, jumped off at Staten Island and came straight back. We got a perfect view of Lady Liberty and got to get out on open water for a little while, which for me - someone who was born by a beach but now lives in a desert - was amazing! On the way back to Manhattan we also got some fab views of the skyline.
Once back on dry land, we hopped on the Subway over to Brooklyn! I really wanted to visit Brooklyn Bridge Park just for the views. A big part of this visit, for me, was being able to see images I had grown up with in real life. Brooklyn Bridge Park was incredible for this! There are panoramic views of the city with all of the skyscrapers and you have the dominance of the Brooklyn Bridge too. Brooklyn itself was a lot nicer than I had been expecting! I actually would have liked to spend more time there. We were all getting a little bit hungry so Amberlea visited the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory for what she assured me was an amazing ice cream and Elle and I went to Shake Shack! That was a really good lunch!
We took a moment to relax before beginning the walk back in to Manhattan across the Brooklyn Bridge. Oh we walked for miles and miles and miles on Saturday. I think my legs hurt more on Saturday night than they did after my half marathon! But still, walking across the bridge was a great experience that I would recommend to anyone, if only to see the frustrated New Yorkers trying to cycle across!
Saturday evening was Elle and I's turn to hit the town! Before I left for the States, my Nana had recommended a restaurant, Carmine's, to us, so that's where we went! Please, if you're ever in NYC - visit Carmine's!! It was, by far, one of the most amazing meals I have ever had. Our Waitress started the night off on a perfect point. I imagine she would be a very good stand in for Estelle, Joey's agent from Friends! She was your classic New Yorker and told us she had worked at Carmine's for 19 years. She knew everything about the menu and could even translate it in to a lot of different languages! She told us not to order loads and oh was she right. We ordered a Caesar Salad and Pomodoro linguini between us and we still had enough to take home for at least 4 more portions.
After an incredible dinner we went to explore Times Square as it was so close to our hotel. In all honesty our reaction was one of disappointment!! I felt like TV and movies make it look a lot better than it is. We walked around for a little bit and did some more shopping before heading back to the hotel to recover for the next day!
On our last full day, we celebrated my birthday! Whilst I wasn't 21 until the Monday, 8 Tone It Up Girls met up in Sarabeth's for brunch! No mimosa for me unfortunately but the Apple and Cinnamon french toast I did have was out of this world. After brunch we walked through Central Park and I loved it. It was so beautiful. Again, I wish I could have spent more time there now.
After our walk it was time to shop!! As it was my 21st birthday and I was in New York and that combination was never going to happen again, I treated myself to a bracelet from Tiffany's! I'm really glad I did because now I'll always have a keepsake to remember this incredible trip by.
That evening, Elle and I went up the Empire State Building! I'm really glad we did it at the end of the trip because we were able to notice landmarks that we might not have been able to, had we done it at the beginning. I had another fantastic evening with Elle and I also flashed the whole of NYC when my skirt kept blowing up thanks to the winds that you inevitably get when your 86 storeys above the ground. Either way - an amazing evening. It was also lovely to hear so many British voices for the first time in months!
The weekend was so incredible. I'm so glad that I got to experience New York with Elle and Amberlea; two amazing women. I was able to do so many things I had dreamt of for years and I've come away with such lovely memories.
Thank you New York!
You Know You Love Me
xoxo
(Yes that was a Gossip Girl reference)
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