New York City has made a bigger impact on me this trip than I think it has ever before… Could my future begin in this city {ugh oh mom… since you don't want me to go to London, New York may now be calling my name}.
For five days, starting on Friday, New York changed me. After heading to the airport in the afternoon and arriving to the city in the evening, Megan {are you surprised were on another trip together? lol} and I were headed to Jeff and Michael’s apartment. Upon arrival, we got ourselves all settled in the apartment, got ready, and hit the town. We treated ourselves to a nice dinner {and yummy cocktail} at TAO and while we were there we got introduced to a promoter who filled us in on all the places we should spend our nights at. Immediately after dinner, we headed to The Standard for a lil party, where everybody seemed to be on drugs or something, and then ended up becoming friends with a guard who took us to the roof {which was blocked off} to see a beautiful view of the city. Following that interesting encounter, we managed to get ourselves in an Uber that took us to the other side of the river {Hoboken, New Jersey} to meet up with one of my friends who I had met in Barcelona. Honestly, I think that Megan and I manage to make friends with everyone “important” because at that bar we became friends with the cooks in the back and they let us indulge ourselves in a stash of chips… Kinda gross if you think about it though cause we reached our hands in the supply drawer and other people eat those during their actual hours.
On day two, we decided to start our day at Two Hands Restaurant & Bar, which I’d say is kinda overrated but still trendy if you want your insta g pics. Because we had a late night, our breakfast ended up as lunch and then we went immediately after to Cookie DO. For almost an hour, we waited in a line for a scoop of edible cookie dough… Also, EXTREMELY overrated, and a few bites in, we both felt terribly sick.
We managed to make our way around the city a bit more, wander throughout Little Italy, accidentally make reservations at a restaurant {via Open Table} that was in Connecticut and not New York, and then be redirected to another incredible restaurant just down the street. Following dinner, we went straight back home and got dressed to hit the city once again, but this time we were starting where Nicolette and her family was. We met Nico at the Highline Ballroom to celebrate her 21st birthday and my oh my was it an entertaining crowd. There was someone in a completely rubber morphsuit that had lights all over it, there was a girl with just tassels that covered her boobs {thanks mom and dad for raising me correctly}, there was a man with lit bongo drums walking around, and there were a couple people doing aerial from the ceiling. For a little bit longer, we stayed out and then managed to find our way to a little pizza joint at 4am.
To make up for lost sleep, we slept almost until noon and woke up to a note on the ground from my Uncle Jeff. At one in the afternoon, Jeff, Megan, and I headed to brunch that was extremely necessary. Following brunch, because we had yet to do any touristy things and Megan had never been to New York, Jeff sent us on our way and we took the subway to Times Square. There was the most eclectic people. We began taking pictures and before we knew it, we had a little asian man asking if he could take selfies with us, we had a camera man and an apparent famous Korean chef asking us all about food and telling us were going to be on television in Korea {but who knows if that’s true or not because we didn't sign any papers}, and we had other just asking to take our photos… Interesting for sure!!
Instead of Ubering home or taking the subway, we decided to walk almost two miles back to the apartment, so along the way we made another “basic” pitstop at Cha Cha Matcha… Honestly, I don't even like matcha but we just HAD to get a picture there and when we eventually made it back to the apartment, we were welcomed by Henry {Jeff and Michael’s dog} running up to us and doing laps around us. With the mindset of us going to bed decently early that night, we went to a little hole in the wall Asian restaurant with Jeff and Michael, returned to the apartment, put our retainers in, and were asleep by 11:30.
By six in the morning, we were in an Uber and on our way to the recording of The Today Show. We got all bundled up in our warmest clothes, made a cute lil sign to be previewed {hopefully} on TV, and waited for over an hour before the cast came out and it was time to air. WE GOT TO HIGH FIVE AL ROKER!! HOW FREAKIN COOL IS THAT?!?!?!
Following our split second of stardom on TV, Megan and I got Starbucks to wake us up for the rest of the day and then we met Nicolette for breakfast. Once we had satisfied our appetites, we headed back to the Rockefeller Center and went iceskating; however, none of us lasted long… Those dang skates are the MOST UNCOMFORTABLE ice-skates I have ever worn!! Even though we paid over $100 for an hour of skating, I truly think we only made it around the entirety of the rink once or twice, took pictures for about ten minutes, and then were off and ready to take the skates off.
For about two hours, we wandered the city; in and out of stores {trying not to swipe our Visas} and trying to take artsy photos. By late afternoon, it came time to say bye to Nicolette so that she could get back to her family and Megan and I could take a nap prior to dinner with the uncles.
That night, we went to one of the most delicious meals EVER and the place had the CUTEST atmosphere. We went to a restaurant by the name of Tavern on the Green that my mama had told Megan and I all about and that Jeff and Michael hadn't been to. Apparently they had just redone the restaurant and every section of the restaurant was different. I HIGHLY recommend visiting and // or eating at the restaurant if you get the chance, and its located right inside of Central Park so its pretty easy to get to.
The next morning, because it was our last day, we decided to make it an early one. Megan and I were having breakfast by eight in the morning and then we met up with Nicolette at the MET by nine. LET ME TELL YOU A SECRET THOUGH {you really want to read this part}: you can pay whatever amount you want to get into the museum. I, like many other people, was not aware of this. On the board once you walk in, they have a “suggested price” for adults of $50… THAT’S A SUGGESTED PRICE!! Truly it’s a rip off, and the museum is making BANK off of people who don't realize it’s just suggested because you can just say “I’ll have a ticket for $5 please” and you'll get a ticket; however, if you ask the workers how much the museum costs, they will say “We suggest that adults pay $50.” Knowing this information is LIFE CHANGING {thanks Nico for filling us in on this secret}.
With a flight in the early evening on Tuesday, we didn’t have much time so after going to the roof to see another view of the city and only going to a couple of exhibits, we were on our way out of the MET. We took a few pictures on the steps of the museum {another “basic” pic… we know} to be like Gossip Girl, and then we headed to do one last major purchase.
I had been saving up from nannying and I bought my very first Gucci on my own… it’s BEAUTIFUL!! It only took a little persuasion but I am so happy with my little {materialistic} memory from New York along with all my memories with two of my best friends, and my uncles of course, but with that, we went our separate ways. Megan and I went to get sushi to fulfill our stomachs one last time before our flight, and then we went back to the apartment to pack up our big ol suitcases and were on our way back to Texas.
Now, until the next adventure, I love you all!!
xoxo V
