Friday, August 29, 2014

Just you and me in NYC.

As we're entering the last long weekend of summer, I thought that this Favourites on Friday post would be on my anniversary trip with my very favourite person. 

Darin and I have not been away by ourselves for more than one night (and that was earlier this year) since C was born, more than five years ago. However, with all the helping hands in NY, we planned a two night stay in Manhattan for our eighth anniversary. It was a hectic, fast paced, cultural, fun, delicious experience and we got to sleep in also!! Win-win in my book!

(Warning: lots of pictures to follow)

We headed out Monday at midday.

On the train from Long Island heading into the city. As you can see, some people are more excited than others. 


After dropping our bags to the Hotel- we stayed right off Times Square, we headed out to do some sightseeing.

First step, Rockerfeller Centre. 




Check out the very cool Jeff Koon's Split Rocker Topiary at the Rockerfeller Centre. 




This was lunch as we had some stellar plans for dinner.... the green one is mine. 



Walking around by the NBC Studios.




Then we headed to Central Park.  We didn't have a lot of time so we took at petti-cab and a tour. I love Central Park. To me, I get a feel for the best of Manhattan in there so I'm sorry we didn't get a chance to walk around more. 



When we were done, we headed to the iconic Russian Tea Room for a drink. I had a cavitini-- my quintessential vodka martini with a spoonful of caviar. Clean, crisp but unfortunately, not dirty enough for me. 




We then headed to Greenwich Village, another fun neighbourhood and to Babbo, an exquisite Italian restaurant featuring the genius concoctions of Mario Batali. Truly a wonderful dining experience with ever bite better (and more beautiful) than the last. We took their tasting menu (they make substitutions) together with their recommended wines for each course... and together with their seven courses (they presented two extra so in total nine),  we were absolutely stuffed. 


We then took in a comedy show in the Village as there were lots of comedy clubs in the village. My camera had died by this point. 

The next day, we headed off early to the Museum of Modern Art where we spent the morning enjoying the works of Lautrec, Lygia Clark, Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollock, Matisse and my very favourite Vincent Van Gogh. His paintings, especially The Starry Night, make me so happy. In my first apartment in Canada, I had two of his pieces framed and hung on my walls. 



And because we're in NY, we couldn't not have some...



We headed to Serendipity to have some Frozen Hot Chocolate but decided not to wait in line for an hour! 



Instead I waited in Time Square to go get us some tickets for a Broadway show.




Between that and dinner, we did some shopping on Fifth Avenue and then got to Daniel. 

Daniel was probably the best dining experience of my entire life and I'm so glad we saved it for our anniversary. The food was exquisite and the service impeccable from the minute we entered to the head waiter coming to see us off at the door when we left. I didn't take pictures of every course but here are a few I managed to sneak in. Each plate was an artistic masterpiece (and I know having viewed artwork all morning) and meals were served with an extraordinary, understated flourish as well. We just ordered appetizers, mains and desserts but by the time they were done with us, they served us nine times. From the amuse-bouche to the different courses, to our decadent chocolate desserts, to our anniversary treat ( a divine concoction of lime-avocado sorbet, coconut chantilly and apple-absinthe coulis), to the fresh out of the oven madeleines to the house made chocolates, it was out of this world. 



We left there so happy and off we went to see Pippin- a fun Broadway number. 





And then, as we had all that chocolate, we did a little shopping in Times Square at midnight. Well I did and D tried his best not to poke his eyes out. 



The next morning, we headed to the High Line. It is basically some old railroad tracks that were repurposed to become an aerial and sustainable walkway and park. It was totally different from the hustle and bustle and the grit of the city and reminded us a bit of Canada actually. 



And then, after a taco, we headed out to meet my aunt Geeta and Cass for her special day in the city but that my friends, is another story.

In the meanwhile, my kids visited an amusement park, put on make-up, had lots of outdoor time, watched movies, had a dance party, two sleep overs and more  sugar than I usually let them have--- let's just say my parents are cooler as grandparents than they were as parents and my aunts are as fun as I remember them. 



Have a wonderful long weekend all!

Linking up with Andrea

Momfessionals


and 
Jenny for Friday Favourites.



post signature


Thursday, August 28, 2014

Under The Boardwalk

...Or I guess maybe on the boardwalk. As Atlantic City is about three hours away from NYC (really more like two hours but there's always traffic in NYC), I've been there a few times. I'm not a big gambler but there are quite a few things to do between the boardwalk, shows, slot machines and shopping. And they've revamped it recently also so I was curious to see what was new.  So off we went for a couple nights to Atlantic City- my girls, my three aunts, my mom and myself- a girls trip if you will.... all in one car. We had to pack very lightly and still we were squished in the 7 seater! 

3 of us not shown in this pic.



We stayed at the Borgata Resort... this incredible hotel with so much to see and do. I didn't take much pictures but there were so many beautiful blown glass light fixtures that C and I were enthralled by.... I did find some images online though.

First stop-- a sweet treat for the girls... we're on vacation after all.



These were decorated in edible gold--- only in Atlantic City! 

Our room was  simply lovely with a beautiful view of the ocean. I unfortunately didn't take a night-time shot of the view which was really cool as well with all the night-lights of AC.

The first night there, my mom and aunt went to a VIP Tony Orlando concert. I declined since I didn't know who he was. Between the oldies and the delicious seafood being served however, they loved it. My other aunt and I took the kids to what we thought would be a lovely boardwalk walk. Instead, there was so much rain. We ended up just grabbing a fun dinner in Margaritaville. Between the games while waiting, the huge blender and the balloon maker on stilts, a fun time was had by all. 





A kid in a candy store--- literally. 

It was then back to the room for an early night, a clogged toilet (don't ask) and a valiant attempt to open a bottle of wine.... we ended up managing to push the cork into the bottle and spitting out bits of cork while we were drinking our wine--- fun times.

The next day though, it was bright and sunny. Off to the air-show!

We do a breakfast picnic when we stay at hotels. The kids think I'm the most fun mom and I contain the mess ;-)




Sweeties



Ready to rock and roll!




On our way to the air-show--- on the bus. 



The boardwalk

Heading onto the beach



Having some lunch.



I can only imagine the additives in this popsicle to give her lips that unnatural colour!




It was truly spectacular with lots of different tricks being shown.
(not really captured here though)



 I missed half of it though as A couldn't sleep with all the noise so I took her on the boardwalk for a nice long walk. 


 A couple of us went shopping, a couple of us hit some slot machines and others took the kids to the amusement park on the boardwalk. A funny story about that.... when we were younger, my aunts used to play with us on the carnival games and let us win-- we didn't know this at the time but it was hugely gratifying as a child to win a game that looked pretty difficult. This time, they did the same thing with the girls, the only thing is that now, it's $5 per person per game--- so after about $30 in games, they ended up with a couple ($5) teddy bears all won by Cassia and Anjali.... a waste some might think but Cass was the happiest kid on the block and declared it was the best-day-ever!!!


At night, a couple of us hit a Donny and Marie Osmond Show and a couple of us hit a comedy club-- I chose the latter. 

With my aunt 

before the show!



My mom was very, very sweet and babysat the kids.... however, they had a pajama party and watched SYTYCD so they also had their own fun. 

In the morning, I very quickly took the kids for a swim in the pool, eat some oatmeal and then it was time to check out...

We had a truly wonderful time... Cassia especially. Some of my best memories growing up are with my aunts on our road trips in the US. I'm glad my girls got to experience it as well!


Linking up with Annie and Nat today for Thoughts on Thursday!





post signature

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Everyday Life- Week 31 and 32

I feel like the best way to recap the past couple weeks and also a bit of my NY trip --- at least on a day by day basis is through my everyday life photos for 2014. So here we go!


Day #218
Sometimes we just need to put on a sweater in Canada--- even in August.



Day #219
We went to the park with some friends and here's A just monkeying around on the monkey bars.
#fearlessfun



Day #220
My girls with their friend Nadia. THey will miss seeing her weekly when school starts again!


Day #221
I can't seem to find any pics that I took of the ribfest we went to or the beaver tails we attacked so here's one of the hundreds of photos of my cutie nephew that my brother sends me--- literally hundreds!
#serioustalk



Day #222
At the border-literally. We were stuck.in.traffic so I had time to take this pic.



Day #223
AKA- The day I met my sweet little baby, nephew. We got in after 3 in the morning but that didn't prevent us from paying him a visit later that evening.
#nephewlove #imtakinghim.
Sidenote, we had Lebanese food from a food truck btw, which was so, so, so delicious!



Day #224
Here we are in Atlantic City. There was so much rain when we got there so we took the kids to Margaritaville for some family fun--- and the adults might have had a margarita!


Day #225
It cleared up nicely the next day so we went onto the boardwalk for AC's annual air show.



Day #226
I came back to the hotel room after midnight and found my girls like this. Cassia's head was on top of A's stomach. Btw, my mom was with them. I didn't leave my kids alone in the hotel room ;-) 



Day #227
My girls and their goofiness. I love this pic! Especially A's cheeky grin. 



Day #228
More on this party later but here are the guests of honour.



Day #229
Cassia met up with my second cousin's daughter and they had such a wonderful time. Happy Meals make Happy Girls! The adults were happy too as my aunt had prepared a delicious BBQ for us. 


Day #330
Our first day in Manhattan at the Friends' fountain in Central Park.... or so we thought.



Day #331
Happy 8th Anniversary, D! Check out this amazing dessert this fantastic restaurant Daniel made for us out of avocado, lemon and coconut cream.... and the candle was surrounded by a cylinder of white chocolate.
#decadencedefined



Linking up today with Jess and Ashley for It's the Little Things!


post signature
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...