WEEKEND GETAWAY: NYC EDITION

In hopes of squeezing out the last bit of fun before the summer ended, I knew that a weekend getaway to New York City was absolutely necessary. As someone fortunate enough to live just an hour's train ride away, I was eager to indulge in all the city activities I don’t get to do very often. This trip would be more of a low-key vibe, with less sightseeing and more just focusing on being with friends one last time before schedules got hectic for the fall.

I arrived on Friday night, where we checked into our hotel and, after freshening up a bit, made our way to a night filled with delicious small bites and drinks. On a night out, I think it is better to keep things light and go with an array of appetizers to not feel so sluggish. Not to mention, trying a little bit of everything is SO much more fun! After our meal, we went to the bar where we danced and had many more drinks.

If you wake up in NYC and don’t get brunch, you miss out! Not only do many restaurants have great brunch deals and food, but brunch in the city is just different. There’s something about eating away that morning’s hangover while sitting outdoors surrounded by the city's liveliness. We chose to brunch at Friedman’s, which had many brunch options. I went with the lemon ricotta pancakes, which were light and fluffy with just the right amount of lemony sweetness. Topped with whipped cream and powdered sugar, I lightly drizzled maple syrup onto the stack, which seeped into the cakes and made it even more delicious! Brunch would not be complete without cute brunch pictures, and the outdoor seating at Friedman’s was too cute not to snap a pic!

To stretch our legs and digest, we strolled along the blocks with no real plan. If we saw something that piqued our interest, we would walk inside and look around. Shopping in the city is much better than shopping back at home: the stores usually have a lot more selection and sometimes even better deals. While walking around, you have to appreciate the fashion. There are so many different kinds of aesthetics that I saw while walking through the streets, from French Girl to Athleisure to Y2K to Coastal Grandma, it was awesome to see people embrace their individuality through their fashion and let their personalities shine through. I chose to wear a pleated white tennis skirt with a blue floral button-up t-shirt, which I accessorized with a white bag, sneakers, and rectangular sunnies.

Around dinner time, we looked to Yelp to find popular dinner spots. We chose Piccola Cucina because of their amazing pasta dishes, and they did NOT disappoint. The cacio e pepe spaghetti was tossed in a huge cheese wheel before being sprinkled with freshly ground black pepper and delicately twisted onto the dish. I couldn’t say no to a glass of prosecco, and we sipped and talked over our meals while taking in the city atmosphere.

While New York City has so much to do and crazy nightlife, it was nice to have a chill weekend to take in time with friends and slow down the pace for a little. Sometimes, having no plan is even better than coming with a booked itinerary. We discovered so many tiny shops and restaurants that we have in mind for our next trip, which we may not have found had we not gone with the flow. This weekend getaway was the perfect end to the summer, and I am looking forward to the next one!