Three weeks in New York City; what to do, see and eat
If you know me at all, you’ll know I love New York. I think I’ve been there around 15 times, since the age of 15… It could be more. I first went as a teen, and then, when I got my first ‘serious’ job, I was lucky enough to visit twice a year for New York Fashion Week. This time around, we wanted to spend three weeks in the city just doing what we love: eating, drinking coffee and visiting museums. Here are the highlights of our three weeks in NYC…
Me, in the blue ball pit at Color Factory…
A visit to Color Factory
Intent on filling the first week of our NYC trip with actual excursions, I booked tickets for Color Factory the day it was announced on their Instagram that they were coming to New York. The concept started in San Francisco back in August 2017, and what was intended to be a month-long event ended up lasting another eight months, so it only made sense that it would head to NYC. Basically, it’s an incredibly in-depth study of colour that would keep anyone from age 5 to 95 entertained. It’s colourful (obvs), informative and fun and sprinkled with yummy doses of treats that get you thinking - like, guessing the flavour of the blue ice cream that’s freely available in the blue ball (not sure if that sounds right, but see above) room, and sipping a slushy in the disco room. There’s more than a hint of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory about this experience, and even Daniel, who wasn’t interested at all initially, really enjoyed it. We got to draw each other (tragic) and munch on macarons and the most amazing salted caramel mochi. Highly recommended. Go!
Photographing some beautiful faces…
I told myself I would come back with some killer portraits from New York.
1: I was lucky enough to meet beautiful model Alexis Henry, waiting outside of Refinery 29's 29 Rooms event - and let’s just say, meeting Alexis was the only thing that made my ticket price worth it.
2: I came across Gabriella waiting for a train on a Sunday and I had to ask if I could take her portrait. She had this old school Andrey Hepburn vibe about her and these amazing eyebrows…
3: Yaya, I met while she was working on the aforementioned mochi stand at Color Factory. She had the best smile.
4: I loved how welcoming Camilla Ruth Marcus was when we arrived for lunch at West~bourne- and I had no clue she was the founder. While she was chilling outside with a colleague I had to ask if I could take a quick pic because look at that hair. Aside from that, make sure you go - the food is just good. As in, it looks good, it tastes good and you know it’s doing you good. Plus it has a super chilled Cali vibe.
Eating at Miss Lily’s
We missed out on visiting Miss Lily’s when we went to NYC at Christmas, so it was a must this time around. We popped in one day for a quick bite and were super impressed with the kindness of the staff and the flavour in the food. It’s a Jamaican restaurant serving up all the things you’d expect, with a hint of twist. We loved the look of the menu so much that we booked in for a second time, this time with my bestie Natalie in tow. Now, I’m going to make a confession here: I’m a vegetarian but I ordered the oxtail and I do not regret it. That’s not to say there aren’t plenty of veggie options available. I can’t remember the last time I ate red meat and Miss Lily’s made my sin so worth it. I’d do it again dammit.
Being inspired at the Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination exhibition
There are few exhibitions that I’ve seen in my life that have gone on to haunt me years later. I say haunt in a positive way; the way the Alexander McQueen at the Victoria & Albert, London, took my breath away; the way the Yohji Yamamoto exhibition (also at the V&A) stunned me with the sheer amount of genius on show - this is the haunting I’m talking about, and The Met’s Heavenly Bodies show is set to haunt me for some time. I could literally go on and on about the beauty of the garments on show - as well as the ridiculous amount of money that the church has spent on adornment over the centuries (while many suffered and died no doubt, but that’s for another day), but I just want to use this blog to urge you to go see it if it ever finds a new home. The exhibition ended October 8th and I’m still seriously upset I missed the Versace section.
Brooklyn Blackout Cake at Ovenly
Check out my Instagram Stories and you’ll see that I bake at least once a week. Sometimes it’s something simple; others, not so simple. I’d wanted to try the Brooklyn Blackout Cake from Ovenly’s book, but told myself to hold off until I’d actually tasted it at their Greenpoint bakery. Put simply it’s like a Guinness cake but 10 times better, as it has an amazingly decadent yet light frosting. Of course we didn’t go all that way to eat one piece of cake; we also consumed an iced mocha, a piece of spiced pumpkin bread - so moreish - and a seasonal cupcake; I think it was peach melba. Very sweet and fruity. And very good. In 2019 I should be interviewing the two brilliant minds behind Ovenly: Agatha Kulaga and Erin Patinkin, so watch this space!
Ovenly’s Brooklyn Blackout Cake - isn’t it a thing of beauty?
Coffee at Devocion
It wouldn’t be a New York blog if it didn’t include at least one coffee shop, right? While we visited a few - including the amazing La Colombe (go check out their draught oat milk latte) and the cosy Sweetleaf - our fave has to be Devocion. I just loved the design of this place - it’s so airy and light, and yet still gives you that coffee shop vibe where you feel you can slide in solo and not feel lonely. Great choice of drinks on offer so take your favourite book and chill TF out.
Be sure to check out my other New York blogs, including what happened when I visited the first Glossier showroom, and my fave places for magazine shopping…