New York, You are Such a Betch. XOXO Gossip Girl

Guess who just got back from New York? ‘TIS I (and Amanda)!

I can’t believe the entire time I was there, no one asked me to fill in for them on Broadway. Don’t they know who I am? Don’t they know I can sing the entire Legally Blonde soundtrack, singing ALL the parts including the male leads? So rude.

That could have been me. Whatever.

Anywho…

Amanda and I took off to NY bright and early out of LAX on Sunday at 6am. And this is where my life changed. I became boujee. Amanda worked her magic and we were upgraded to first class. Let me describe first class to you peasants.

It’s like being a Kardashian. Mrs. Kim Kardashian would you like a mimosa at 6am? Yes, yes, I would. And be quick about it! I haven’t got all day. Mrs. Kardashian would you like me to put up the foot rest and lean your seat back?

Obviously. You are here to SERVE ME.

But I didn’t let the first class lifestyle go to my head.

Day 1:

More like New York day 0.5. We landed in Newark and took the train over to Manhattan. That evening we had plans to go to dinner with my friend Nelsy, who I met in Amsterdam when we studied abroad together! After figuring out that the subway downtown was the WRONG way, we finally made it and had a FABULOUS dinner at Ippudo. I love that Asian cuisine.

It was super fun to catch up and make plans for returning to Amsterdam one day, but Amanda and I were so tired and exhausted (from flying first class) so we returned to our hotel early.

Day 2:

We started out the day in the most necessary way possible. Bagels. Pictured below is an onion bagel with bacon and scallion schemer. Accompanied by an iced coffee.

I am a firm believer that I was a bagel in a past life.

Now that we were nice and full…ONWARDS!

Sweat is the new highlighter this week in NY. Didn’t need that Becca Champagne pop to give me a glistening glow. All I needed was to venture down into a subway station and then wait about 0.23 seconds.

Luckily, each subway car had AC. So it was only 1-7 mins of misery.

Exploring New York City

We spent the morning visiting the 9/11 memorial and museum.

It still blows my mind that this actually happened. I was also 8 years old on September 11th, so I didn’t remember all of the details. This was one of my favorite things we did in NY. Very emotional but the memorial museum was very, very well done.

Next, we took the Staten Island Ferry to go see the homegirl, Liberty.

The ferry (or water trolley, if you remember from my Greece Travel Diary) doesn’t stop at the Statue of Liberty, but it cruises right by. And… IT’S FREE. We could have paid for a cruise but we really didn’t care.

Plus it’s way smaller in real life. It looks huge in the movies. Specifically in the movie It Takes Two, with Mary-Kate and Ashley. You know the scene where they pick up Amanda Buttkiss in the helicopter and they are rushing her off to the wedding. Ya… it looked bigger there.

After riding the ferry to and from Staten Island, (we were on the Island for approx 2 mins before boarding the ferry to take us back) we explored the sights.

What a great first day! But now we are hungry.

Dinnertime

For dinner, we met my best friend Tegan at Rosemary’s, a cute Italian restaurant.

How CUTEEEEE is this place?

Wanna Focaccia dontcha wanna. God I love bread.

Said my goodbyes to Tegan at the subway. In the hot, sweaty, sticky, unbelievably humid subway. I would have hugged her but you know…

Day 3:

THERE IS STILL SO MUCH TO SEE! And to eat.

Today we decided to walk about Manhattan. See more thingz.

Breakfast was obviously another bagel. We split this one cause #carbs. JK, really we didn’t want to be too full to eat everything else. Priorities. Gastroenterology priorities.

We didn’t go up the Empire State Building. I didn’t see a need to. I can Google Image it and save $50. Plus security once kicked out Buddy the Elf and that was rude. He was just trying to find his dad.

Next. MOOOOOOOOOOOD

More like Amanda, I’m dragging you to mood!

Chelsea Market

I loveeeee markets.

Broadway Show!

And then, all my dreams came true. We saw Dear Evan Hansen ON BROADWAY.

WAAAAAAVVVINGGGGG THROUGHHHHHHHH A WINDOWWWW OOOHOOOHHHHH.

And it was amazing. Absolutely loved it. Amanda bawled like a baby.

Day 4:

Aw, man. Our last day in NY. STILL SO MUCH TO SEE.

After the usual morning bagel and an iced coffee, we hit the streets.

First stop, Central Park.

Just a leeetle park.

LOOK AT ME, I’M THE KING OF NEW YORRRRKKKKKK

Central Park is SO HUGE and SO GORG. It’s crazy that when you are in the middle of it, it’s actually quite quiet.

The Met!

And of course I DRAGGGEEDDDD Amanda to the Met. Literally had to beg. And she gave me a time limit. Rude.

I’m just trying to live my “sitting on the steps to the Met Gossip Girl truth” over here. And the Art…

Ok I won’t bore you with much of the art here on this blog. I feel like my readers are more interested in the GIFS (I know my audience) but I like to throw some culture into my blogs, just for funsies. I added my favorites below.

Not usually a fan of contemporary art but I had to memorize all of Pollock’s paintings once. And a good majority looked like this.

I’ve been dying to see these van Goghs for AGES

Renior always reminds me of my mom

My favorite painting. Of all time. I love, love, love love looooveee LAAAAVEEE all Degas ballet/dance paintings.

I just love how he captures the art of ballet!

I know it’s hard to tell in this photo but this painting is 12.5 feet x 21 feet. THAT’s FRICKEN HUGE PEOPLE. This painting literally scream ‘MURICA. And Amanda missed it all cause she had to go pee. She will see it next time, when we go back and I don’t have a time limit.

My Super Early Birthday Present

Before we went off to New York, Amanda asked if she could give me my birthday present early and I said, why SURE! I love early birthday presents. Even 3 month early ones.

For my birthday, she booked us a reservation for high tea at The Plaza so I could live out my inner 6 year old Eloise DREAMS.

It was only fitting that we had tea at The Plaza. So prestigious. Remember I flew first class and all.

But sophisticated IS RIGHT.

After we peed 45 times and thought we might burst from all that damn, tiny food (it really fills you up, I’m telling you) we took the subway home for an afternoon nap after our afternoon tea. I honestly thought I was going to die. Never been so full in my life. Of course I had to try everything. And drink my entire pot of tea. I would be full for days. I didn’t need to eat anything else for the rest of the day.

Dinnertime

SO FOR DINNER WE HAD UDON. What a better way to feel less full than having a big ol’ bowl of broth?

I’ve never had udon before but I can’t say no to noodles. Amanda and my mom went to this place TWICE when they were in New York last time without me, when they abandoned me and kicked me to the curb and didn’t invite me.

I don’t know how anyone could ever choose a place to eat in New York I have about 14 billion restaurants written down on my “Must Eat” list. I guess I just have to go back. Shame.

The main reason Amanda and I went to New York was to go to Camp Toast. Camp Toast is a group of like-minded individuals who are very passionate about toast and other varieties of warmed breads.

Just kidding.

I’ll explain Camp Toast in my next blog.

Thats all for now. You know you love me.

Xoxo,