Summertime in NYC

  This past week I went to New York City to visit my sister Marcie, and of course roam around my favorite city. Thankfully my sister was able to find room in her busy schedule to hang out with me almost every day! We went thrift shopping, tried out several new restaurants, and I even introduced her to some new spots in the city. New York really is a magical place, and if you've never been but want to go, this blog post is perfect for you. I'm going to list some do's and don'ts, recommend some adorable brunch spots, and tell you exactly what you have to see once you visit this amazing city! 

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    The first day I was in the city I was craving a huge breakfast for lunch. Lucky for me, most restaurants serve brunch until 3 or 4 o'clock in the afternoon. My sister and I went to this adorable restaurant called, Cafe Mogador in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. It has an eclectic  atmosphere, the menu is a decent size with great options, and most importantly, the food is delicious. There are so many restaurants it seems almost impossible to choose. Even though I've been to the city more than a dozen times, I still use the internet to find new restaurants. However, be careful doing so because a lot of restaurants make their food and atmosphere look a lot better than it actually is. My determining factor is if I go to a restaurant I found online, and it's almost completely empty, more than likely it isn't that great. But if it's a hoppin' place, I would guess the food and service is worth my time and money! So when planning a trip to the city, there are great ways to budget and save money, however, trying out different restaurants is one of my favorite things to do. So be sure to make room in your budget to have fun with all the food New York City has to offer. 

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     For some reason, every 4th of July my plans seem to fall through, so this year I wanted to make sure I made the best of the holiday. And what better way to celebrate than being in the big apple? Marcie and I decided we wanted to sleep in, so we went to brunch in the afternoon. Shocker right?! We chose a restaurant in Williamsburg called Diviera Drive. The atmosphere and vibe of this restaurant is unmatched. It's indoor/outdoor and has a separate patio which makes this the perfect summertime restaurant. We ordered bruschetta and a margarita pizza and both dishes were delicious, and the presentation was beautiful as well. 

    That night we wanted to watch the fireworks that would be going off from the river, so we went to a public park in Brooklyn. It was the perfect end to an amazing day. ​

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One of my favorite locations in the city is the High Line and my sister had never been, so I was excited to introduce her to a new spot!  The High Line is a 1.45 mile elevated garden that runs through the Meatpacking District and Chelsea, Manhattan. There's several spots where you can sit and enjoy the scenery, and it's a great place for people watching. (Which I love to do).  There are several staircases that take you up to the High Line so don't hesitate to explore the Meatpacking District and Chelsea before you climb up to the garden. The High Line is the perfect destination for a spring or summer NYC vacation!

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My sister lives in Brooklyn, which means I have to take the subway when I want to go into Manhattan. I want to write about this because that's one of the most frequently asked questions I get. For example, "Isn't riding the subway by yourself scary?" And the answer is no! Of course at first I was a little intimidated, however, after some trial and error it truly is a piece of cake. My iPhone Maps have been a life saver over the years while being in the city. All you do is type in your destination, and change the way of transportation to "Transit". It gives you step by step instructions and after a while you'll get the hang of it. DO NOT waste money on taking cabs every which way you go. Educate yourself on the subway system, and you'll have extra money for shopping! Yay! And by the way, don't be intimidated to ask questions, not everyone in New York is mean.. ;-) 

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