Empire state of mind
Hi from the sky! Thank you so much for your amazing comments on the latest family post. As always, you’ve provided some fantastic insight and discussions on an important topic <3 I’m excited to write back to some of them right now on the plane. Yay for Go-go in flight wifi 🙂
I’m headed to one of my favorite places ever (NYC!) for a Reebok event. We’re being surprised with the details – just know where we’ll be staying- but I have a good feeling that it will be a blast. I’m also so excited to see my friends Julie and Heather <3
Wearing my Skyscapes for travel:
Last night, it was a bit of a scramble trying to get everything packed and ready after Zumba. We actually have another trip sandwiched onto this one, so I packed an extra suitcase for part 2 of the adventures, which the Pilot will bring with him. Since I was working to get everything ready, dinner was one of those on-the-fly meals that actually turned out well.
First, I chopped up 1/2 sweet onion, minced garlic and sliced a yellow bell pepper. After sautéing them for a couple of minutes in olive oil with salt and pepper, I added chopped chicken, browned it until fully cooked and then added some Trader Joe’s peanut satay sauce. To jazz it up, a splash of Tamari, coin of minced ginger (I used the zester to grate it) and a drizzle of honey. Next, I stirred in some rice noodles (also from Trader Joe’s) and tossed to combine. It was amaaaazing.
It’s always hard to say “see ya soon” to these little loves <3
(Caro, too, but she was in her upside-down sleeping position on the couch)
See ya in NYC! If we get some free time, anything you recommend? I’d love to sneak in a show or new fitness class. Let me know if you have awesome restaurant recs, too! It’s been a couple of years since I’ve been to the big manzana.
xoxo
Gina
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If you have time, definitely try out Uplift studios- women’s only classes. I have reviewed a ton of fitness classes on my blog if you want to read a few reviews before picking a place!!
http://www.nyviewsnikeshoes.com/reviews–recaps.html
So jealous! Check out Max Brenner for the best chocolate they have food too, but we just wanted some sweets when we were in NYC 🙂
Hope you have a fabulous trip! I travel to NYC about five/six times a year for work so I have tons of great restaurant recos for you! First off, if you have time, you MUST visit Eataly! Its seriously what I picture my heaven to look like 🙂 Here are a few other great options:
Cafeteria – http://www.cafeteriagroup.com/
The Red Cat – http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-red-cat-new-york#query:10%20Best%20Chelsea%20Restaurants
Crispo – http://www.yelp.com/biz/crispo-new-york
Shake Shack
🙂
Definitely take a Refine Method class if you have time! The Upper West Side location is nicer, all the instructors are awesome. Brynn is the owner, she’s brilliant and funny.
I recently discovered Warrior Fitness Bootcamp – never have had my behind handed to me like this…and I’ve tried many different kinds of workouts. Anyway, give it a try if you can – they are located on 35th street in Manhattan, between 5th and 6th Avenue’s. Alex and Ruben (co-owners) are really great!! Enjoy NYC.
Definitely stop by Hu Kitchen if you’re in the union square area. Its an organic/paleo restaurant and juice bar. Everything here is amazing!(http://hukitchen.com/) the coconut flour expresso chip muffins are my fav. Also conveniently located next to Pure Barre NYC 🙂
that sounds INSANE. i will find it 🙂
I agree – Hu Kitchen is a MUST.
hope you have a blast in the big apple! =)
my girlfriends & i spent a few nights in nyc last december and had the BEST thai food at a restaurant called room service. so delicious!
Your dinner looks amazing! yum! Have a great time in NYC! living on the east coast we go a few times a year. I have heard about this sushi restaurant where there are ninjas. as weird and awesome as that sounds! Ninja New York in Tribeca! Sounds really fun!
STOP. i definitely want to go to a ninja restaurant
http://www.ninjanewyork.com/ !
I have been to this place – its is QUITE the experience!!
Have a great trip! Sounds like fun having it be a surprise and all! You dinner sounds yummy!
If you can see “The Book of Mormon!” It’s hilarious, a little inappropriate, and a great time!
Hi Gina!!
I hope you have an amazing time here! you MUST try Hu Kitchen, it is a grain free and dairy free all natural cafeteria style restaurant with the most delish food ever. go go go!! fitness class wise my current obsession is the small but deadly FHITTING ROOM on the upper east side – completely HIIT focused studio. have fun!
Have a safe flight! You are a traveling woman 🙂 Enjoy!!
So fun — have a great time in NYC! I’m heading there next week & can’t wait! 🙂
My absolute FAVORITE restaurant in NYC is Artisanal (http://www.artisanalbistro.com/). If you go I STRONGLY recommend getting the cheese plate (they are famous for their cheese selection). The last time I went my mom and I shared it and one of the cheeses was a combo of 3 different kinds. Heaven doesn’t even begin to describe the beauty of the flavors, and now I’m salivating just thinking about it. lol!
Have a wonderful trip! <3
Sooo jealous of our Skyscapes haha. Enjoy NYC, lovely!
xo,
Lela
Have a great trip! Love NYC! Can’t wait to hear all about it 🙂
Enjoy your NYC trip! I live here and totally recommend checking out Uplift Studios (www.upliftstudios.com) located in Flatiron while you’re in town! It’s an all women fitness studio with a HIIT class, Strength class, and Sculpt Fusion class offerings! Amazing studio run by three amazing women. And first class is only $16 🙂
If you want to see a show, Jersey Boys is a funny one. We saw it last September. There’s a great Italian restuarant next door too. Have a great time!
How long are you in the city? I’m heading there on Thursday!
I moved to Brooklyn in the summer and there are a million great places. But, here was a unique/cheap place that stands out as an “only in NY” type place (Venezuelan food):
http://www.yelp.com/biz/caracas-arepa-bar-new-york
Justin Gelband (trainer to the Victoria Secret models) just opened his first studio with classes. I love love them and its a beautiful space. It is called Modelfit. The classes are only 55 minutes and I think they target muscles I don’t normally use. Enjoy your trip!
amazing!! i’ll definitely look into it!
Ah, love the city! Have so much fun!
I’ll be in NYC this weekend! If you hear a stranger yell your name, it might be me 🙂 I’m taking notes of all the awesome suggestions above. I love the store Uniqlo, so I always go there while in NY. Safe travels!
Ahhh! Have the funnest fun! I’ve always wanted to go to Momofuku Milk Bar. I hear it is great!
I was in the city last month and LOVED classes here: http://chaisefitness.com/ I took Ballet Bungee (LOVED LOVED) and Bungee Blast (was also great, but I liked impersonating a ballerina better!) They are just the nicest people too.
Safe travels!
I’ve been dying to try out The Little Beet since it opened! It’s Midtown West.
I’m a vegetarian so these all fall under the vegetarian/vegan category:
Candle 79
Pure Food and Wine
The Cinnamon Snail (food truck)
As far as shows, The Book of Mormon is hilarious, you’ll laugh the entire time.
I’ve been to the city over a dozen times and I still love doing the grayhound hop on/hop off bus tour-downtown loop.
Have an amazing time!
You’re coming for some random weather here!
Restaurant rec’s – sweet green, ellary’s greens , abc kitchen for something a little fancier and second the vote to check out Eataly. If you want a great yoga class, check out Strala Yoga in soho for a “strong” class (Heidi and Tara are my favorite instructors). Have a great time! Excited to see what you get up to!
the weather is INCREDIBLE 🙂 it will prob snow thurs, but that’s ok.
i definitely want to check out sweet greens and eataly. hope i’ll have time. i feel like i need a month (or a lifetime) here to explore
Go see Newsies if you get the chance! It is the most energetic show I’ve ever seen…it took all I had to keep from dancing in my seat! 🙂
Looks like you’ll get some okay-ish weather while you’re here, which is actually saying a lot, considering the winter we’ve had!
I second the recommendations for Uplift, Refine, and Chaise 23. All great and all are only in NYC. There are also some fun, new dance cardio classes: DMF and AKT in Motion come to mind but there are definitely others. And of course Barry’s Bootcamp is a great workout, as are any of the spin studios. There are some good, new indie spin studios that might be fun.
As for food, Pure Food is great for raw and I love stopping by any of the juice bars: Organic Avenue, Juice Generation, Juice Press, etc. for healthy, on-the-go food and snacks. For a nice night out, Gotham Bar & Grill and Union Square Cafe are both classics and so good.
My favorites:
Red Farm: http://redfarmnyc.com/
Stanton Social: http://stantonsocial.com/
Eataly
Cafe Fiorello (their thin-crust pizza is the best!): http://www.cafefiorello.com/
Levain Bakery (Their dark chocolate pb chip cookies are amazing!): http://www.levainbakery.com/
City Bakery (Best hot chocolate and desserts!): http://www.thecitybakery.com/city-bakery
Friend of a Farmer (in Gramercy Park –go for brunch): http://friendofafarmerny.com/
Bubby’s (for brunch): http://www.bubbys.com/
Have fun!! I love NYC, it’s been too long since I’ve gone back!
I love when I see two bloggers I follow together! Haha 🙂
Go see Book of Mormon! I cannot recommend it enough! I have a few friends working on it and they love it every night.
I live in NYC, and you need to take a soul cycle class while here!! It literally has a cult like following (particularly the soho location!) and the classes are a blast!! Even if spinning isn’t your thing, it combines dance moves and weights while on the bike. It is sooo much fun 🙂
NYC is my home 🙂 If you want to try a really awesome bakery that is gluten and dairy free, check out by the way bakery in the upper west side. Such delicious deserts and its hard to believe they are dairy and gluten free!!
that sounds amazing! thank you 🙂
On the fly meals are often the best ever! Yours looks delicious, I’ll store that in my mental idea bank for inspiration sometime.
The Meatball Shop. The chicken meatballs are the best! And if you go, the ice cream cookie sandwich is a must.
YUM. thank you!
You’ll be in my neck of the woods. 🙂
Here are my random recommendations: Enjoy!
The Dutch (one of the many restaurants from Andrew Carmellini) – great food!
My friend, Summer, is the pastry sous chef there. If you go, tell her I sent you. She is the sweetest girl ever. 🙂
Dominique Ansel Bakery (grab yourself a CRONUT if you dare!)
Lady M Cake Boutique (Heavenly…light and not-to-sweet beautiful cakes)
Must try: Green Tea Mille Crepes
Doughnut Plant
Sugar Sweet Sunshine (best banana pudding!)
Molly’s Cupcakes
Two Little Red Hens (some of the best cupcakes in the city in my opinion)
Ippudo (ramen! There’s always a wait though….)
Danji (I’m not sure if you’ve had Korean, but it’s all about Korean cuisine in NYC these days)
They have little dishes (kind of like tapas) where you can try all different kinds of food. Light and healthy!
ABC Kitchen (farm-to-table type of food) and it’s connected to the beautiful ABC Store (Score!)
awesome suggestions! i’ll see how far they are from the hotel and assess from there. and i’m DYING to try a cronut 🙂
You’ll likely stop by the Reebook 5th Ave store & Crossfit Box (which is next door to my job). If that’s the case, go around the corner to Culture Espresso for the best cup of real, strong coffee you can have in the city.
For a cultural experience in a meal, try Barbes or Illilli, both very close to Reebook.
If you happen to be starving at 2am and are open to unhealthy things, try Empanada Mama on 9th Ave near 51st street – open 24 hours. Their guacamole served with yucca fries is insane!
Enjoy my city!
I love The Mark on the upper east side. They have a huge selection of great food. I always get the grilled chicken sandwich and ask for the GF bread, its great for GF bread. Plus Laduree is close by…
Also I love ABC Kitchen in the Flat Iron, You would LOVE it. I prefer it at lunch over dinner.