Travel With Me: 10 Days in New York
New York has so much to explore! There's amazing things to do at all hours of the day, which means you can do so much, but also feel like there's still so much left to see. My boyfriend and I headed to the Big Apple for 10 days where we ate, drank, and laughed our way through the city. Here I've laid out what we did, where we ate, and what rooftop bars were our favorites! This is a long post, but if you're planning a trip to New York, scroll through to find the highlights that look the most fun to you!
There is so much content still to come, so stay tuned for separate blog posts all about New York Fashion Week, outfit posts and more!
Did you miss my Instagram Stories from @KelseyThisYear? Here's the full recap:
Alright, let's get started with what we did! Here's a day by day breakdown of our trip. Enjoy!
Thursday
Cold brew + baker's lunch (spicy tomato soup, half avocado toast and quinoa taboulé salad)
Dinner in Little Italy! Eating outside is always the best. Prosciutto di Parma pizza + tomahawk ribeye
Drinks + showtunes piano bar! If you're a fan of broadway, this is a super fun (touristy but fun) bar to check out!
Friday
Morristown, New Jersey
We made a quick stop to tour the Ford Mansion where my boyfried's relatives use to live. Don't add this to your next trip, but it was a unique stop on the way!
A little pre-game grub! I rarely have BBQ, so having brisket was a treat!
UW Huskies v Rutgers Football Game
As a UW alum, this opening season game was the catalyst for the entire trip! UW was able to beat Rutgers, hopefully kicking off a great season!
Saturday
Jackpot! acai bowl with jackfruit, kiwi, strawberries and coconut on top. Check out how I make acai bowls at home here!
Yankees v Red Sox Game
One of the biggest rivalries to see in Yankee stadium! Add in a hot dog and beer and you have a traditional American Saturday!
The pinnacle of our dining experience in NY! After friends introduced us to the one in Malibu a few years ago, I've become addicted to the Yellowtail Jalapeno! This time around we enjoyed: Edamame, Lobster Ceviche, King Salmon Sashimi, Yellowtail Sashimi with Jalapeño, Shortrib Tacos (special), and some others I can't remember.
Rooftop bar with amazing views of Manhattan! Luckily a friend put us on the list, but there was a line for those without reservations.
Sunday
The US Open fields are massive with tons of courts, food pavilions, activities and more! They had Moet champagne carts and $16 specialty cocktails, making it a ritzy festival atmosphere.
This ended up being a highlight of the trip! I went into this not knowing the rules of tennis and needing my boyfriend to explain them to me the entire time, but we ended up seeing such great players including Sloane Stephens who ended up winning! We had second level tickets at Arthur Ashe, the main stadium, where we saw Maria Sharapova and Venus Williams play their matches, along with about 10 row back tickets to Louis Armstrong, the second main court which is where we saw Sloane and Kevin Anderson play. It was amazing to be so close, and on some other smaller courts, we could sit two seats back where we could hear doubles talk to each other and really get a feel for how they play. So fun!
Amazing pizza! After getting back to Manhattan late after the Open, getting a slice of New York's best hit the spot! This was a recommendation from a friend and definitely lived up!
Monday
Shoot in SoHo with @Jacklyn.Lune
I met up with photographer@Jacklyn.Lune to shoot two outfits! She was fabulous and we had a blast roaming the streets of SoHo to find the best backdrops!
Had to stop at this Instagram favorite! Iced matcha latte
Lunch at Rue 57
Sitting outside for lunch in NY is the best - fresh air and people watching! It's more upscale, but if you're up for it, it's a delicious way to spend an afternoon! I had an espresso, avocado toast and side of bacon.
Central Park
After lunch we roamed a busy Central Park on a beautiful afternoon. With it being Labor Day, practically the entire city was sunbathing.
DUMBO + Brooklyn Bridge
We headed to Brooklyn for a bit and then walked back along the Brooklyn Bridge to get the quintessential views of Manhattan! I would recommend going on a more mundane day since Labor Day made it packed with other tourists.
Oat milk Rainbow Latte - which tasted like chai. It was fun for the novelty, but not a must-do.
Soup dumplings, fried rice, green beans, eggplant + chicken. This was a delicious and fun meal with friends! Going in a group means you can try more dishes!
Tuesday
Stay tuned for a full recap of the Rent the Runway Flagship store!!
A favorite from LA, I wanted to check out the New York version! Spinach artichoke crock to share + spicy kale caesar salad. The Mediterranean restaurant next door, Meme, was crazy busy too!
Another Instagram find, this cookie dough was tasty, but so sweet! I have a sweet tooth, but could only have 2-3 bites of it before it being overwhelming. Also, my mom makes amazing homemade cookies, so unfortunately nothing could stand up to those! It was fun to go, but not worth a second trip.
NYC's oldest saloon for a beer (which means you get two!)
Wednesday
I'm a huge fan of reformer pilates, so this was a must-do for me! Blogger We Wore What frequently posts about it, and it's on ClassPass, making it an easy stop. My other favorite place to go in Cali or NY is Pop Physique for barre. For my ClassPass Seattle favorites head here.
Trendy spot for an oat milk latte
Pamella Roland SS18 Show
This was by far my other highlight of the trip! Heading to Pier 59 for the kickoff of fashion week with the Pamella Roland Spring/Summer 18 show! I was honored to be invited and had a second row seat assignment to watch the romantic, feminine gowns go down the runway. I walked in with Devon Windsor behind me who sat next to Olivia Culpo. Seeing them in person was amazing! Stay tuned for my blog post specifically about Fashion Week! Here's the recap of the show from Vogue.
This stand-up comedy club is a must-do for any comedy fans! Mike Birbiglia was headlining, but we got a surprise guest - Ray Romano! Can't beat that for $14 cover!
Thursday
Shoot with @shk.photo in Greenwich Village
For my second shoot of the trip, we headed to Greenwich Village for some more great New York street shots!
Still not as good as In-n-Out, but delicious all the same!
Rider Brooklyn
Drinks before meeting up with friends. Cute outdoor seating with turquoise bistro tables lining the street!
Rooftop drinks with amazing views of Manhattan! Come with a jacket if you're going at night since it can be windy.
Late night dinner of meat balls and marinara.
Style Collective party photo by @boraimages
Friday
Again, one of my favs! Almond milk latte + dragon fruit smoothie bowl.
Drinks before the party! Quite a ritzy atmosphere with $18 cocktails. Fun for the novelty!
Style Collective Party
This blogging community hosted a NYFW party at Inside Park at St. Barts, a patio area around a gorgeous old church. With rose and a taco bar, it was fun to mingle and meet other bloggers from around the country! Some other Seattle bloggers were there (@nicolecarlsonxo @morgan_lillian @sincerelylauraleigh @xoxohannahread) so that was fun to chat!
Yes, dessert before dinner! I got the Bea Arthur Cone which vanilla ice cream with dulce de leche syrup and crushed up Nilla Wafers.
Jamaican-inspired diner. Shishito peppers, jerk chicken, winter kale salad and mac + cheese pie
Saturday
Almond milk latte + Mediterranean breakfast (2 eggs, chopped salad, labne, avocado, pita)
Amazing views of the city! For the full 9/11 Memorial, check out the museum here.
Time to head home!
Ten days in New York both felt like a lot and nothing at the same time. There's always so much to do, but the constant go go go can be tiring. I had such a range of experiences during this trip from sports to fashion to comedy that it will be a trip I'll never forget! Instagram me @KelseyThisYear if you have any questions about NYC I can help answer!
