NYC Summer Memories

Heyyyyy!

I've been M.I.A! For real though, but I'm back not to worry.

Summer, summer, summertime. What's better then warm weather, BBQs, tan skin, bikinis, and drinks by the beach? NOTHING of course! I can't seem to find one complaint about this summer! Everything was perfect. The weather in NYC was so much cooler than usual. It was in the 80s by day and cool and breezy by night. Very little rain and very few humid days.

Williamsburg, NYC

All pictures posted were taken by @Miss_NYCity

I did my usual sightseeing and exploration and I stumbled upon a few new spots that I really enjoyed.

Catskills, NY: I spent a long weekend here to get away from the traffic and noisy Fourth of July in the boroughs. I'm not a fan of fireworks at all (personal story), so for me nothing is more annoying than listening to people scare the crap out of you with the fireworks they bought from other states. By the way it's illegal in NYC to have, purchase, or use fireworks. My dog hates it, I hate it, and this year we spent the weekend Upstate away from the noise. Even my dog came along. We rented a house up there, had a real bonfire, roasted marshmallows for smores. I loved the view of the mountains and the quiet sound of nature. It was so amazing. I even saw stars!!!

Brunch: Pranna & Punch. OMG! The reason why I have to workout consistently is because I love food too much! These two places are great.

• Pranna is located in the Gramercy area of Manhattan. I went to Pranna twice for a Sunday birthday gathering and it's just an amazing experience. It's brunch, so it's a fixed rate for food and unlimited drinks, like Mimosas, Bellinis, Screwdrivers, and Bloody Mary's. You eat first and then there is a live DJ. So there you are drinking and dancing at about 4pm and you are totally tipsy by 6pm, and once you get home your ready for bed! LOL! A great time. If you haven't done it go for it. It's perfect for birthdays and social events. Website: www.prannarestaurant.com

• Punch is a small low key restaurant located in the Flatiron district. The food is delicious and the drinks I had were perfect. I went with a friend and she enjoyed everything as well. Please if you are hungry or in the mood for brunch check this place out!!! Website: www.punchrestaurant.com

Snacks: As a lover of food, I have to say that it's surprising that I'm not overweight.

• Wafels&Dinges: For quite some time I've been interested in trying one of the food trucks and the one on my mental list was wafels&dinges. It had a belgium waffle with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, drizzled with chocolate syrup and topped with sugar powder. OMG! My mouth is watering all over again. It was seriously amazing. You can add any toppings you want and they have a variety of desserts, lunches, etc. Just please try it, you won't regret it. You can follow them on twitter @waffletruck to get an update on their locations around NYC. Website: www.wafelsanddinges.com

• Eataly: Also in the Flatiron District. There is no wondering why it's called Eataly! It's like hopping on a jet and landing in Italy. I intially went for their gelato but there was so much other things there as well. The best way I can describe it is it's like an Ikea for Italian food. The same way Ikea is separated by section is the way Eataly is organized. There is a wine/beer section, a meat section, a Nutella bar, a gelato bar, and then an area where you can eat and more. It was much bigger than I expected and everything looked, smelled, and tasted amazing. So if  you love Italy, Italian food or products definitely make a stop there. Website: www.eataly.com

Rooftop Bar/Lounges: I clearly love NYC! So I am always looking for new areas to take in the scene of the New York Skyline. Rooftop lounges have really gotten popular over the past couple of years.

• VistaSky Lounge [LIC, Queens]. It's a relatively new location in Long Island City, Queens. It's a rooftop and is actually located inside the Four Points Sheraton Hotel. It's a very small location compared to other places. We went on a Saturday to celebrate a birthday and it was really calm. The overall mood was chill and even though it was small it was never insanely crowded. People kind of drifted in and out for drinks. Some people stayed, some people left. It was a nice night and the view was definitely breathtaking. Website: www.vistany.com

Classes:

• Joe's Pro Shop [Flatiron District, NYC] It's a small coffee shop located in the Flatiron District. I took a coffee tasting class. I know, who knew they had coffee tasting classes? But really, in NYC they have everything! This class basically teaches you how to smell, taste, and identify different kinds of coffee. I am a big coffee fanatic. I can't go a day without a cup or two of coffee and I thought I should learn more so that I can talk about what I love so much. It was a basic class that cost $25 but I learned how to identify the kind of coffee that I prefer by smell, taste, etc. It was definitely an experience. If you like coffee or are looking for a new date idea with that special someone you should definitely try it. Then go have brunch or dinner in the area afterwards. Check out www.joenewyork.com for more information on classes. 

If you want to see pics or talk NYC, follow me on twitter @Miss_NyCity !

Love,

Miss_NYCity
Follow me on twitter @Miss_NyCity

A NYC Bite: Are you hungry?

Hi!! Happy November!!!

Okay, so aside from family time and prepping for the holidays during this time of the year... nothing to me is more important than food! I LOVE TO EAT! It is a part of my culture but let's all be real it's part of the American culture. Why else would our #1 New Year's Resolution be to "lose weight." Okay so yes, I live in NYC and we are very much known for our food. When I meet with friends or go out for drinks we usually spend our time eating. So here are my top "MUST EAT" food list if you are visiting, traveling, or moving here.

TOP 'MUST EAT' FOOD LIST:

1. NY PIZZA: Yeah Okay seriously, I am a HUGE fan of Italian food and there are so many delicious Italian restaurants and food to choose from. But really nothing beats a slice of pizza in NYC. Everyone knows this is the truth. It may be our water, it may be our ovens who knows but we have the best pizza ever!! I salute Brooklyn for their brick oven pizza. My favorite spot is Grimaldi's which people literally wait on line for.... it's THAT good. As for regular pizza, my all time favorite would be Angelo's pizza in Corona, Queens.

2. "Dirty Water Dog" AKA Hot Dog: Seriously, we don't care that it might have been sitting there all morning in hot water. We don't care where it came from as long as it says "Sabrett" we don't give a crap! It is the best hot dog you will ever have and you can find them anywhere in NYC. If the stands aren't your thing try Gray Papaya's in the village (Greenwich Village). Enjoy!

3. DELI Coffee: Any New Yorker can point to a deli near their house or near their job that has the best coffee. Yeah there is always Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, and 7Eleven but seriously ask any New Yorker where you can buy some good deli coffee. I promise it won't cost more than $1.50 and you will want to go back for more.

4. NY Bagels: Seriously, I don't know what the mystery is behind this but the bagels are just so freakin good!!!!! You can go to a local bagel shop or a deli but they will have literally every kind of bagel known into existence- egg bagel, sesame seed, poppy seed, everything, onion, and the list goes on. Toast it, ask for cream cheese or butter, and coffee. Best breakfast ever!!

5. Italian hero/sandwich:  You haven't had a hero unless you've eaten a real Italian hero from NYC. OMG the Italian bread is the best. The cold cuts are fresh and you will remember it as the best tasting sandwich or hero you've eaten in your life.

6. "Belly Bombers" AKA White Castle: So I know fast food may not be healthy but boy does it taste good. Especially after you came from a long Saturday night of drinking and dancing. Something about White Castle just lures you and then haunts you the next day. These little bite size burgers are the original sliders my friends. I know many states don't have White Castle so if you haven't tried it just do it. Sure you will probably regret it that night or the next day but it's hard to resist. Go on, just try it.

7. NY Cheesecake: The best cheesecake ever and it can be found at Juniors. Yes, it's the best. It's creamy and delicious. I like the original but there are also many others to choose from. Try Juniors in Brooklyn on Flatbush Ave or in Manhattan Times Square.

8. Warm Pretzels: If you are into the soft doughy pretzels try one in NY. They can be found on any NYC corner in Manhattan. They sell them on stands usually where the hot dogs are sold.

9. Roasted Nuts: When it's cold outside nothing is better. If you are visiting in the Winter you will smell these in the air. They have a mild sweet flavor and are served warm. Just delish especially in the colder months. They can be found at any corner stand around the city. 

10. Food Trucks: The latest trend has been the food trucks. Yeah it's hard to imagine being served from a truck but they have many selections and are stationed around the borough. Whether you are craving tacos, waffles and fried chicken, or typical cultural food (Halal, Spanish, etc) you can find it on a truck. You can ask the locals or you can just yelp it. Just make sure the reviews are good and if you can't get your hands on a review if the line is long then you can trust it!!

One of the best things about living in NYC is that it is the city that never sleeps. So no matter what time of day it is or where you are there will be something open to fulfill your craving. The food is varied and diverse. You can find something from any culture and enjoy it. So if you are ever traveling or moving out here keep this post handy. Print it, use it as your checklist or whatever but you have to try each and everyone of these classic NYC food choices.

Enjoy! Bon Appetit! Buen Provecho! ETC

Love,

Miss_NYCity

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