A Week in New York City : Part 2

As promised last week, here is part 2 of my New York City adventures! This post is all about FOOD, which I ate a lot of in the week that I was visiting the city.

Scarpetta

I’ve been dying to try the handmade pastas at Scarpetta for a while now, but the high price tag on their foods prevented me from going earlier. Now that I no longer pay NYC rent (what a relief!), I can finally afford a night out at Scarpetta! The Italian restaurant is located at the James Hotel and has a beautiful outdoor dining setup complete with heaters and flowers. My friend and I dined on fried mozzarella, tomato spaghetti, and duck ravioli as well as a scrumptious bread basket. Everything exceeded my expectations and I can’t wait to return!

Boqueria

Ever since I visited Madrid, I’ve become a little obsessed with tapas and I had heard that Boqueria has some of the best tapas in town so I knew I had to give it a try. And I wasn’t disappointed! I loved the crispy and creamy croquettes as well as the savory seafood paella and the rich nutella churros. There are several Boqueria locations in the city- I went to the Upper East Side outpost.

Uluh Tea House

I discovered Uluh on Instagram and couldn’t wait to try their unique dim sum options while eating in my own private outdoor bubble. The food here is not cheap, but the quality and taste can’t be beat. Make sure to order the pumpkin puffs, crab tofu, shredded duck pancake, and the matcha bang bang drink! Also, the bubbles are heated and limited to just your party so its social distancing at its finest!

Scarr’s Pizza

Is a New York Trip complete without pizza? While Scarr’s didn’t turn out to be my favorite pizza spot (I’m not a huge fan of super thin pizzas), I still enjoyed checking off another pizza restaurant off my list. Scarr’s is located in the Lower East Side and currently allows in person ordering outside their entrance.

Best Bagels

A New York trip isn’t complete without bagels either! I have dreams about the perfectly chewy bagels from Best Bagels and could not wait to reunite with them during this trip. Usually there is a line around the block for their bagels, but due to the pandemic the giant bagel shop was practically empty and my chicken pesto sandwich was ready in just a few minutes,

Machi Machi

This new Ktown bubble tea shop came over from Taiwan and was made popular by the Chinese pop singer, Jay Chou. Hence, the long lines... The drinks come in reusable plastic containers with lids and taste just ok. I had the milk tea with panna cotta and wasn’t that impressed. There are better bubble tea shops in New York!

Ralph’s Coffee

Can it get any more New York than Ralph Lauren’s cafe? I stopped at this classic Upper East Side cafe after visiting the Met for a peppermint hot chocolate. Customers aren’t allowed to enter the cafe anymore- ordering takes place at the door and there are several coffee tables lining the sidewalk now.

Keki Modern Cheesecake

Keki’s wow tarts use to always sell out so I’ve never had the opportunity to try them until this trip. 2 wow tarts and 1 ube cream puff later, I have to say their desserts are life changing. Keki Modern Cheesecake has two locations- one in Koreatown and one in Chinatown.

Sushi Lab

If you haven’t seen Sushi Lab’s Instagrammable rooftop dining photos floating around social media, then where have you been? Sure, the sushi, especially the omakase is great and affordable ($60), but what everyone is really here for is to dine on a roof covered in beautiful flowers overlooking the city. Sushi Lab was such a great lunch experience- the food was so yummy (make sure you get the taro chips as well!) and the service was exceptional. We were one of two groups dining there that day so I didn’t feel crowded at all.

Nonono

I walked by Nonono so many times when I use to work in the Noho neighborhood, but never had the chance to dine at the Japanese inspired restaurant. And I’m so sad I didn’t their delicious food any sooner! Even though many menu options weren’t available for whatever reason, they still had several awesome ramen/udon and yakitori choices. My spicy pork tonkontsu ramen and egg wrapped bacon yakitori was beyond delicious and filling. Another great thing about Nonono was their outdoor dining- each party has their own enclosed heated dining box. Talk about private dining!

Nowon

Nowon’s outdoor dining is unique as well in that each table is divided by solid silver shields, which gives the illusion of private dining. Their Korean fusion food is top notch and delicious. I loved the cheesy rice cakes and honey butter tater tots and royal kimchi fried rice! Everything is extremely flavorful and shockingly good. This East Village restaurant is 5 stars in my books.

The Alley

I have tried prepacked bubble from The Alley in my local Chinatown grocery store and was curious about trying their freshly made drinks so I stopped in one afternoon for a taste. I have to say the two are actually similar, although the fresh drink was definitely better. Their bubble tea drinks aren’t too sweet and doesn’t leave behind an unhealthy feeling like you just drank too much sugar. The Alley is located in Cooper Square.

Tasty Hand Pulled Noodles

This nondescript and often overlooked noodle shop is one of my favorite Chinatown eats. The handmade noodles and dumplings here are beyond delicious- I can’t fully explain how wonderful the food here is, you’ll have to try it yourself! For Covid precautions, they have actually built tiny heated wooden huts so I felt perfectly safe dining in my own personal enclosed hut. Food was delivered to me through a tiny side opening above the table. My roasted pork knife shaved noodle soup and pan fried dumplings were my favorite things on this trip! The noodles can actually be made in different methods (hand pulled, knife shaved, etc…) so pick whichever speaks to your heart (or your stomach)!

Bibble and Sip

I use to live down the street from Bibble and Sip and would always stop by for the lavender lattes or delicious cream puffs. The lines for Bibble and Sip use to be out the door so coming here and witnessing it empty was slightly painful for me (cafe lines are such a New York thing!), but I was so grateful to see tons of beautiful cream puffs available for sale. I tried their new brown sugar bubble tea flavored puff and was floored by how flavorful and wonderful it was!

Crop Circle

I saw that this North Chinese snack had made its way to West Village so I knew I had to stop by and check it out. I went with the spicy pork “guokui” and felt instant regret that i didn’t buy two! The outside is perfectly crispy and the meat inside is well spiced and tasty- its the best winter on the go snack.

About Coffee

West Village coffee shops are plentiful and always spot on with great coffee and cafe culture. I knew I wouldn’t go wrong with any cafe I chose so I went with one closest to my hotel- About Coffee. Their caffeinated drinks are slightly bigger in size than the normal coffee shop so be prepared for an adrenaline rush!

The Elk

Located in Greenwich Village, The Elk is an adorable neighborhood coffee shop that is actually Asian owned. I wanted to support a fellow Asian’s business venture so I stopped by on a windy Wednesday morning for a delicious matcha latte. The Elk is tiny inside so if you see a small line formed outside, don’t worry! The wait won’t be too long- and the drinks are worth it!

PinkLady Cheese Tarts

I spotted these colorful and mouthwatering Asian cheese tarts on Tour de Luste’s Instagram story and knew that whenever I visited New York I would have to try them. So…. I ended up buying every single they baked! Flavors include ube, chocolate, matcha, original cheese, blueberry cheese, and black sesame. The ube was my favorite!

Alimama Tea

I’ve never actually had the drinks at Alimama, but their mochi donuts? I’ve had almost every flavor! Their mochi donuts are to die for- so chewy and flavorful. The tiny (and I do mean tiny because there is no room to eat inside) cafe is located on a nondescript street in Manhattan Chinatown. It can be easy to bypass their small entrance so keep your eyes open for their floral themed outdoor dining setup.

Hope you guys enjoyed my 2 part New York reunion trip recap! I can’t wait for my next trip back to the city (fingers crossed it will hopefully be June 2021!) so if you have any ideas on what I should do or eat next time please drop a comment below!

A Week in New York City: My Reunion with the City!

I lived in New York City for 4 years and it was the best time of my life. I miss the city so much and Covid has put a damper in several of my plans the past few months to return for a visit. Luckily, New York state quarantine requirements was lowered to 3 days (instead of 14 days) and my office returned to a fully remote work environment so I quickly booked a flight to Laguardia (only $150!). This is going to be a long post (I was in the city for a week after all) so prepare yourself!

I want to preface by saying that this trip looked different than a normal vacation because of the pandemic. I did NOT want to catch Covid while in the city and have to remain there under quarantine for 14 days. Additionally, I followed all the travel guidelines outlined by the State of New York (you can find the guidelines here if you’re interested in traveling to the city anytime soon). Under these guidelines I had to obtain negative CDC approved Covid test results at a maximum of 72 hours prior to boarding my flight, fill out the traveler declaration form on the state website, quarantine for 3 days after landing in NYC, and obtain negative Covid test results on my 4th day of being in the city. It was tough, but my love for the city made it all worth it. Plus, getting my favorite foods via delivery wasn’t hard at all! New York City has a much lower Covid case count than my home state of Texas so I wanted to do my part in slowing the spread. The city cares SO much about keeping its residents safe- masks are worn everywhere (indoors and outdoors), outdoor dining was strongly encouraged, social distancing was strictly enforced in many places I visited. As a result, I felt extremely safe and felt like I could enjoy my vacation in peace. I had a lot of fun visiting my old home state and I’m so excited to share my trip with all of you!

Where to Stay

Arlo Soho

This is actually one of my first few times staying in a hotel in NYC- I’ve always had my apartment there so never had the need for a hotel room. I was pretty excited to experience the hotel scene and Arlo Soho did not disappoint!

What to Do

Metropolitan Museum

Due to capacity limits and social distancing, there are long lines to enter the Museum, although they do move relatively quickly. If you go with a New York resident or Museum member (like I did), entrance is free. Otherwise, the ticket is $25. Preregistration is required for some of the more popular exhibits, but its equally nice to just wander around the museum exploring the wide variety or artifacts displayed here.

AKC Museum of Dog

This Museum had just opened up when I was leaving New York and as a long time dog lover, I knew I had to visit it once I returned. The Museum isn’t crowded at all, making it a great social distancing attraction. There are 2 floors of exhibits and it takes about an hour to see the entire place. There are tons of paintings of dogs through the decades as well as a fascinating exhibit on presidential dogs. To keep visitors safe, a stylus is given to each person to use for any interactive exhibits and also to push buttons in the elevator.

Palace Hotel Christmas Tree

Skip the crowded Rockefeller Christmas tree and take your annual city tree photo at the Lotte Palace Hotel Christmas tree instead! This tree is located in the hotel courtyard located on 52nd street between Madison and Park avenues.

Strand Bookstore

After watching Dash and Lily on Netflix, I became so nostalgic about the Strand bookstore (a good chunk of the show is filmed inside the store) and popped in to take a look one day when I was wandering the streets. The Strand is a local bookstore and definitely needs our support during these difficult times. I love feeling like I stepped into a warm cozy home whenever I enter- the staff actually leaves little notes on the shelves regarding their favorite books! The Strand is located on 12th street and Broadway.

Fotografiska

I use to walk past the Fotografiska building all the time while it was being constructed wondering what would be inside. Sadly, the museum opened after I left New York so I knew I would have to visit once I returned. The museum centers around photography and has a handful of rotating exhibits at a time. When I visited, there was an exhibit on Death Row exonerees that was so eye opening and moving and inspirational. Each featured exoneree was shown up close in video format while his story played for the listener to hear. There were a few times when I was moved to tears hearing their situations and seeing their own faces react to their ordeal. Fotografiska costs $24 to enter and can be crowded at times so booking a timed ticket in advance online is the best option. The museum is located on the corner of Park avenue and 22nd street.

Central Park

There really aren’t words to describe how beautiful Central Park is at all times of the day during every season, so I’ll just have to show you! These were take a little before 5pm in early December.

The Edge Observatory

This is a new attraction that opened recently in Hudson Yards (a new development in the city) and while it costs quite a lot to go up to the 100th floor observatory ($36), I have to say it is worth it. The view is amazing- just be sure to go on a clear day so you can see as far as possible! The rules do allow you to change your ticket once so if you do happen to have booked a ticket on a foggy or rainy day, they will change it for you to a different day (this happened to me). Masks have to be kept on the entire time even though you are outdoors, except for when you are posing for a picture. Security is strict and will request that you mask up if they see you without a mask for too long. A pro tip is to go up right when the Observatory opens (less chance for crowds!) and to line up for a photo at the corner nearest the Empire State Building. That corner is super popular so prepare for a frenzy of photo taking as each group only gets 2 minutes (or less if the line gets too long!) in the corner.

Hudson Yards

When I moved away from New York, the Hudson Yards area had opened to the public, but much about it was still unknown. Now, it was become a spot for high end shopping, waterfront viewing, and fine dining. The Edge (see above) is located inside the huge luxurious mall and so are stores and cafes like Lululemon, Van Leewen ice cream, Camp, Zara, Shack Shake, and Fuku. Hudson Yards is connected directly to the High Line so my friend and I opted from explore both the elevated train track park along with the mall and the iconic Vessel (also located at Hudson Yards).

Bike Riding along the Hudson River

One of my favorite pastimes when I lived in New York! Its a great way to get fresh air and exercise while viewing the beautiful Hudson River and exploring the western side of Manhattan. There are several great parks along the way and photo opportunities. I use Citi Bikes through the Lyft app, which costs $3 for 30 minutes. There are docking stations all along the bike path so it makes for a very convenient and safe ride. I’m terrified of bike riding in the actual streets of New York so this separated bike path is definitely more my speed. Highly recommend!

Bryant Park Winter Village

The Winter Village has always been one of my favorite holiday traditions when I lived in the city and when I discovered that it was not cancelled by Covid, I saved it for my last day in New York. While there are significantly less vendors and still a lot of people (I didn’t remove my mask once while exploring the Village), it is still just as magical and festive as I remembered. I walked around the corner to pick up the decadent hot chocolate from the new Angelina Paris cafe (prepare for a line) and throughly enjoyed my last afternoon in New York here.

Dr. Scalp

I first discovered Dr Scalp from Youtuber, Michelle Choi, after I had moved away from New York and was so disappointed I wouldn’t have the opportunity to get my hair and scalp treated by their scalp professionals. So when I was first planning my reunion trip, visiting Dr. Scalp was my #1 thing I wanted to do. The scalp care salon specializes in not just hair washing, but also treating your scalp for whatever condition afflicts it (they have a machine that first checks out your scalp to determine what type of treatment you need). I opted for an oily scalp treatment and spent 2 hours having my scalp treated, washed, and massaged. It was glorious! The pricing option isn’t cheap- I spent about $150- but it was definitely worth it. My scalp felt so refreshed afterwards.

Sundays Studio

Getting my nails done in NYC was always something I considered a luxury because I usually preferred to spend my money on food and traveling. But since I was on my reunion trip to the city and I wanted to support a local studio, I decided to get a manicure at Sundays Studio. Sundays is a Korean owned nail salon that specializes in their exceptional service and non toxic nail polishes. The nail studio has two locations in Manhattan- Hudson Yards and Flatiron district. They had so many Covid protections in place including mask wearing and a plastic shield between the nail technician and the customer. For an hour, I relaxed and was pampered to the fullest!

Brooklyn Bridge

No New York tourist trip can ever be complete without a visit to the Brooklyn Bridge. It is such a beautiful architectural feat and symbolizes the city so well. Even on a cloudy day, I enjoyed walking along the wooden path and looking out over the city.

Pier 17

Located at the edge of the Financial District and bordering the East River, Pier 17 is one of the newest attractions to hit the city. In the summer, Pier 17 hosts free outdoor movies on their rooftop lawn and free fitness classes on the pier. There is a variety of cafes and restaurants located inside the building and even a really cool members only lounge for Chase cardholders. In the winter time, there is occasionally a rooftop ice skating rink or winter cabin dining options. There is really so much to do! But my favorite thing is just sitting at one of the many wooden chairs that line the edge of the pier and overlook the River. New York City is so beautiful and I will never get tired of looking at it!

What to Eat and Drink

This post is getting way too long so I’ve decided to cut it in half because I honestly ate a LOT in New York. Stay tuned for all my NYC food adventures next week!

My whole return trip to New York City was such an emotional experience for me. I spent 4 wonderful years living there and reminisce about those years all the time. Being back for a week allowed me to live that time in my life again (even for a short period) and was one of my highlights for 2020. I can’t wait to return (once Covid is over though because plane travel during the pandemic is just too stressful) and experience the city even more!