I just returned from visiting Lauren in New York City and then at her home in New Jersey. It was a magnificent vacation. The weather could not have been more perfect for 20,000+ steps of walking per day. Here are some highlights (you can see all of the photos on my Instagram @SmilynStef).
Our trip from Newark Airport to Penn Station to our hotel all went very smoothly. Given all of the construction at Newark, we were mentally prepared for the worst … so we were pleasantly surprised.
We spent the afternoon just wandering around. We stopped at some old favorites including the New York Public Libary amd Muji where we discovered a fantastic collection of New York stamps to add to our little notebooks.
We also visited The Drama Book Shop where they had an amazing book display.
We had a delicious supper at Chor Bazaar … I needed that Mango Lassee to help temper the heat.
And of course, we had to make a trip to Milk Bar for treats … Lauren got some extra corn flake crunch for her cereal milk ice cream … I had a marshmallow brownie that was almost molten when they warmed it (perfect for stealing a few bits of Lauren’s ice cream).
For breakfast the next morning, we hit a new Bagel Pub that was conveniently located just down the block from our hotel. I had a whole grain with walnut raisin cream cheese … Lauren had a plain with egg and cheese.
Next, we went to the Tenement Museum where we took a tour of tour of two apartments where we learned about the power of immigrant women and the story of the 1902 Kosher Beef Boycott … fascinating.
We bought some fun goodies at their gift shop (so many amazing books), and then meandered our way over to the newly re-opened New Museum.
After that, we enjoyed a late lunch at Gemma at The Bowery Hotel. We enjoyed Arancini, Chicken Liver Pate with Truffles and orange honey (Lauren & I almost always share some form of liver on our vacations), and delicious artichokes with potatoes.
We also stopped at Bonnie Slotnick Cookbook Store and The Strand Book Store (where my large box of books I mailed home arrived today). I found quite a few goodies on the discount carts on the sidewalk. And, Lauren made a new friend.
The first two days were magnificent.