Monday, March 17, 2014

On the Steps of the Met...with The Londoner!

On Friday night I was in the mood to dress up and go out. I met Mer at DBGB for drink, which turned into wine and dinner. DBGB has a fun selection of homemade sausage dishes. I had a nibble a bit earlier so I wasn't starving, but still ordered the Beaujolaise - pork, mushroom, onion, bacon & red wine link, over a lentils du puy. Mer hadn't eaten and chose two sausage: the Thai - pork, lemongrass & red curry link over a green papaya, basil friend rice, topped with a quail egg - and the Vermont - pork and cheddar stuffed link, topped with a red onion creme fraiche and a side of hash browns. 

I had aspirations of going out and about, but once the hours set in, I hopped in a cab and headed to my bed for a good night sleep. 


Not before a subway selfie....


Saturday I woke up bright eyed an bushy tailed (as they say). It was a good rest and I took on the day full steam ahead. I had a breakfast meeting in Brooklyn (which was incredible. I forgot to take pictures). 

Once I got back to Manhattan, it seemed like all my friends had something else going on. At first I felt a bit lost as to what to make of my day. It was sunny and warmer than usual in NYC, so I was not about to go sit at home. After milling around a few shops, I hopped on the bus crosstown.


I ended up at the Met...The Metropolitan Museum of Art.


Saturday is NOT the day to go to the Met. There are so many tourists which makes it crowded and not easy to view the art. As a local, I never stay at the Met for very long. I usually hit up the special exhibits and my favorite European paintings. 


The museum is massive! There is an overwhelming amount of art in this building. You really want to plan your trip before heading there if it is your first time. There is no way you can or want to see it all in one visit. 

One of the Special Exhibitions on display through May 4th, is Charles Marville: Photographer of Paris. Acknowledged as one of the most talented photographers of the nineteenth century, Charles Marville was commissioned by the city of Paris to capture and document the picturesque and grand streets, monuments, and structures of the city. 




The photography was incredible and beautifully captured the heart of life in Paris. After, I wandered over to the European painting wing. This section features works by European painters from 1230-1900. You can see pieces by Monet, Van Gogh, Degas, Renoir & so many more. It is my favorite.









My absolute favorite are Edgar Degas' ballerinas. The sculpture, The Little Fourteen-Year-Old Dancer was done in 1880. This is a bronze cast (1922) of the wax original, which is adorned with a cotton skirt, horse hair for hair, and a satin ribbon.


Dancers in the Rehearsal Room with a Double Bass, 1882-85.


Two Dancers, 1873


The beauty about living across the park from the Met is I can go whenever I want. Each time I discover something new.


Today, I discovered the Arms and Armor room.






I then stumbled upon this man sketching a sculpture titled The Vine.



This museum has something for every art lover. 


Upon exiting, one of my favorite bloggers, The Londoner, had organized a meet up for fans and other bloggers to connect and chat. Those sorts of things can always be a bit awkward, but I wanted the chance to ask her a few questions. She writes about food, fashion, life in London and her amazing travels all over the world. When I was last in London, I visited a few of her restaurant suggestions and they were all incredible! She takes you to local London, away from the tourists, which I love.

I am a firm believer of learning from people who are doing what you are doing but better. The Londoner has been writing her blog for a number of years and has thousands of followers, so I can't compare my beginning to her middle story, but I can use her example of how to be a better lifestyle blogger. Connecting and networking are key to success in any venture.


She was absolutely lovely...along with being glamourous and fabulous...all Naturally Ginger approved qualities.


Thanks for the meet & greet Rosie! Hope you'll check out Naturally Ginger for some NYC tips during your next trip!


xoxo from the steps of the Met.

d.eileen

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Snowbird in the City

Before I moved to New York, I lived in South Carolina for 15 months. 

I had left my job in Miami and moved in with Mom. I was experiencing, what I fondly refer to as, my quarter life crisis. 

South Carolina is not where I grew up, so I knew NO ONE. I moved to SC broken, beaten, and bruised. I was angry with God and in need of some serious healing time. 

Enter Lauren, Laura, Melissa, Lindsey, Allison, and Kathleen. 

Through a series of God orchestrated events, I met Melissa. She introduced me to her friends and helped me get plugged into a church and an awesome community of people. 

I'm so grateful when I look back at my time in South Carolina. It wasn't just a pause until God moved me to NYC...it was a molding, shaping, and encouraging season. It set me up to be prepared for so many things that I have experienced while living here in New York. 

I will forever have a special place in my heart for these women. When I lived in South Carolina, we were all single and now many are married and one even as a beautiful little baby boy! Only a couple are still in the city we all lived in, but everyone does a great job of keeping in touch and making each other a priority...I'm actually the worst at it living way up here. 

I get so excited when they come to visit me here in New York. So, you can imagine I went into planning mode as soon as Kathleen told me her and her husband Ian were coming for a weekend!

Ian and his business partners were visiting for a conference. He is a coffee roaster and partner in an awesome local coffee shop in Bluffton, SC (soon to be dessert bar too), The Corner Perk

Kathleen and I got to spend Saturday together and it was a blast! 

The next few pictures are from my time in South Carolina. I'm pretty sure all where taken during my going away celebration



We often frequented the local piano bar, The Electric Piano aka EP. 


Now onto more recent times. Kathleen and I met up in Union Square and walked over to Chelsea Market


Chelsea Market is an indoor urban shopping mall and food court. It has everything from lobsters to international spices to an authentic Italian market.








It can get pretty busy on the weekend, but Kathleen and I pushed through the crowds for our Sushi lunch. We stopped in The Lobster Place to pick up a few rolls and luckily snagged a table to eat at. 


We got three rolls - Rainbow Roll, Spicy Tuna, & another roll with eel inside and avocado on top (I forget what it's called) & a seaweed salad.




Fueled and ready to go, we walked up to The High Line. Kathleen is a landscape architect so this was the one and only thing she demanded that we see. The High Line is a park that has been constructed on an abandoned freight train track. It is located on Manhattan's West Side, between Gansevoort St in the Meatpacking & 34th Street in Midtown. 



I've been to The High Line many times and it is incredible every trip. It looks different in every season, but is definitely the best during the Spring and Summer months. 





After walking to 34th Street, we met up with Kathleen's husband Ian and their business partners. We got on the train and traveled down to the Financial District to get a view of the Freedom Tower.


We then walked a bit around FiDi, and caught a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty from Battery Park.



Stomach's growling, we ventured to Panna II. It is a colorful Indian Restaurant in the East Village. With a BYOB policy, cheap prices and a quintessential NYC atmosphere, it is a must for locals and tourists. I always laugh a lot when I visit Panna II, and the food never disappoints. 

Be warned...there are three other restaurants that will try to lure you in. NEVER go into them! Always wait for Panna II. 

After a small wait (part which was stuffed in the back corner of the restaurant), 5 of us were ushered to a table meant for 4...but we made it work. 



They refer to themselves as the restaurant "Where Chili Pepper Lights Meet Christmas Tree Lights".




The key is to not let them rush you and to order what you want!

So this is what we got:

2 orders of Vegetable Samosa
Lamb Curry
Chicken Biryani
Chicken Tandori
Chicken Tikka Masala
Vegetable Dansak
2 orders of Nan
Chicken Dansak

Our bill was $68.







At least twice during dinner they shut off all the lights and we sang a special Happy Birthday jingle. It was amazing.

After dinner we walked over to a lounge that has a great view of the Empire State Building. We stayed for a drink and then headed home. 




I love showing the people I love MY NYC. Thanks Kathleen & Ian for visiting. Come back soon.

xoxo
d.eileen


 
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