1) My grandpa (Pops) had back surgery last week. The surgery went well, and now he’s in a rehab facility to regain his mobility. He’s doing amazing, though it was tough to see him in so much pain in the days following his surgery. (I’m not used to seeing my tough Pops in pain!) I’m trying to visit him as much as possible, and my mom is his main caretaker so I’m also trying to be there for her, too. I like to think I’m doing a small part to give back to him after he spent 8 years helping my grandma through cancer and being the world’s best husband to her.
2) I’ve been feeling overwhelmed lately. I can’t remember the last time I had a plan-free weekend… or spent an entire day solely at home (<- my favorite activity). In general, I’m rushing from place to place every weekend and I’m slowly but surely burning out. I’ve managed to schedule enough downtime so that my introvert battery isn’t completely depleted, but if I don’t get a weekend to myself soon, I’m going to lose it. This weekend was supposed to be my quiet, mostly plan-free weekend, but it soon filled up with time visiting Pops, a hair appointment, freelance work, and going downtown to watch a movie with some coworkers. Oh, well. I’ll get my plan-free weekend sometime soon.
3) My mom and I are planning a trip to visit NYC! We have wanted to go since 2011 when I chose a cruise over a trip to NYC as my college graduation present. (Zero regrets.) We’re going to go the first weekend in May for a few days, so the trip is still a while away, but I’m really looking forward to it. I want to do all of the touristy things, like visit the Statue of Liberty and Central Park and Times Square. We’re going to splurge on Broadway tickets to Wicked and hopefully not get lost using the subway system. I’m simultaneously over-the-moon excited that I’ll finally get to see NYC and out-of-my-mind terrified because ah! Big city! Big cities are scary!
4) Most likely, I’m going to join a gym next month. Ever since I moved, I haven’t been able to get into a good workout routine. My apartment gym is tiny (it has one bike, one elliptical, and one treadmill) and doesn’t open until 6am, so I couldn’t work out in the morning and never seem to make it over there in the evening. For a few weeks, I was doing Couch to 5k, but I don’t like being alone outside in the early morning because it’s so dark and I have to be on the lookout for raccoons raiding the dumpsters around the community. So, I think it’s time to join a gym so I can have a normal workout routine again. I toyed with the idea of OrangeTheory, but it is so expensive (over $100 for their monthly fee, which only includes 8 sessions a month). Luckily, there’s an LA Fitness three miles from my apartment, and I’ll probably join that gym soon. It’s only $30 a month and I’ll get to have group fitness classes like spin and BodyPump back in my life. Hooray!
5) Did you hear the amazing news? Goodreads finally has a rereading feature! I don’t have many complaints about Goodreads (in fact, it may be my favorite form of social media; sorry Instagram), but I continuously wished for a rereading function because I tend to reread a handful of books every year. The problem is that I either couldn’t count it toward my Reading Challenge or I would have to change the date read and just make a note of reading dates. I’m currently rereading a romance novel and my next book is a reread (the last Harry Potter book!), so I will be taking full advantage of this feature this month. YAY!
Have you ever been in NYC? Got any good tips (mostly looking for restaurant ideas – Mom and I are not foodies!)?
OK, when you go to NYC, you HAVE to download the iTrans NYC Subway app. It’s SO helpful. Also, Google Maps will pretty accurately tell you what train combo will get you where you need to go – but I find the iTrans app slightly more helpful because it’s color-coded & all that. New Yorkers get a bad rap for being unfriendly, or whatever, but honestly, if you get lost or are unsure whether you’re headed in the right direction, just ask someone. Make sure you ask someone who doesn’t look busy – that’s key! – but they’re usually happy to help.
Good luck & have SO much fun!
Oh girl, I have so much to say!
I am so thrilled about the Goodreads re-read FINALLY happening! I follow their feedback group and I know SO many people have been asking for it for years and I am so relieved they finally implemented it. The workaround of adding another edition was so obnoxious. Ugh!
YAY for your Pops doing well. Such a huge relief for you.
I feel the same way with all my plans lately. I’ve been running around like mad and I’m getting so exhausted and burnt out. I want to hole up in my house for a week and not leave. Oh responsibilities… I hate you! Lol.
I am obsessed with NYC. It’s one of my favorite places on earth and I often wish I lived there. It’s amazing and magical and there is so much energy all around. I’ve only been a couple of times and have only ever spent a day or two each time, but I love it so much. I will say, it’s a lot of walking which can get exhausting, and the streets can actually be kind of smelly (from all the trash cans around… so odd), but I still love it. And Wicked is incredible! I’ve seen it locally a couple of times and am seeing it again this spring, but never on Broadway… so jealous!
Why yes, I have been to NYC. 😉 You picked an excellent time to go. May is one of the best months in the city. Here’s what I can recommend:
Food
– One If By Land, Two If By Sea ($$$$, a total splurge, but totally worth it)
– Theater district restaurants: Marseille, Delta Grill, Yum Yum, Becco — but honestly, Ninth Avenue is nothing but restaurants, so I would just walk until you see a menu that suits your fancy. It won’t take long! (Eighth Avenue is mostly hotels, office buildings, tourist shops, and chains like Chipotle and Starbucks — trust me, the extra block to Ninth is worth it!!)
– Brunch: Norma’s at the Parker Meridien, followed by Sarabeth’s (which is across the street from Central Park)
– If you like chocolate, you should go to Max Brenner in Union Square. You’re welcome.
– Other favorites: Papatzul (Mexican in Soho), Fig & Olive (Mediterranean – several locations, one is semi-close to Times Square), Savore (Italian in Soho), Pasha (Turkish on Upper West Side)
– Chains: Shake Shack (burgers and shakes), Pret a Manger (easy, tasty on-the-go sandwiches), Magnolia Bakery for cupcakes (from Sex and the City — definitely touristy, probably overrated, I still go there anyway).
– Went to Tea & Sympathy in the West Village with my mom a few years ago, adorable place to get authentic English tea and crumpets.
– Yelp is an excellent resource if none of these float your boat. It can search based on your current location and you can review the recommendations. If you have your heart set on somewhere, make a reservation with OpenTable, because good places can book up fast. Otherwise, there are 2 million restaurants in Manhattan, so you’re bound to find something you like! 🙂
To Do:
– Metropolitan Museum of Art (and the rooftop terrace overlooking Central Park) if you’re into art museums
– MOMA is an excellent art museum in midtown if you don’t want to go as far north as the Met
– The Tenement Museum is an fabulous, underrated museum highlighting the true stories of real New Yorkers during the turn of the 20th century. It’s my favorite. Everyone should go.
– If I had to choose, I would pick the Top of the Rock over the Empire State Building, simply because you can see Central Park better. Both are wonderful. I prefer daytime, you can see more. (Nighttime is cool, but only if you already know what you’re looking at, otherwise it’s a little disorienting).
– Ellis Island is definitely worth it
– East Village is great if you want to check out the late night bar scene crawl, skews much younger; West Village is more upscale and subdued with nice restaurants where you can get a glass of wine. Soho is pretty much an outdoor mall and VERY crowded on the weekend, but it has pretty architecture.
– Pair Statue of Liberty with WTC Memorial, if you’re going. They are close.
– If you get overwhelmed, go to the West Village or the Upper West / Upper East Sides. I find them a little quieter, more residential.
– Oh, and since you like cruising, a dinner cruise around the island might be fun too.. I mean, not really like cruising, but you’re on a boat.
Well, there’s my novel. Hope it’s somewhat helpful!
We should definitely try to meet up when you’re in NYC! It’s only a 45 minute train ride for me. I really love it there, the hustle-and-bustle aspect of it is a little bit of a culture shock the first time, but after the first hour or so of walking around you kinda get used to it. Also, as a night owl, I loooove that Times Square is lit up and crowded even at midnight – it feels oddly comforting.
I haven’t had a totally free weekend in such a long time. Isn’t it weird how a weekend will start out looking empty and somehow it fills up? Even today, I basically have no plans but now Erik wants to go see a movie, so I have to actually get changed out of PJs and leave the apartment.
I would recommend getting an air BnB and staying somewhere outside of Manhattan. We stayed in Bushwick and go to stroll through little Puerto Rico, China Town, and Williamsburg. Williamsburg was my fav – it’s nothing but Hasidic Jews speaking Yiddish so you feel like you entered a different country (and we got the Seinfeld experience of buying a babka and a black and white cookie at a Jewish Deli). Also, Manhattan is a giant tourist trap. I’ve been to many cities so I found their subway system pretty easy to figure out. They don’t have day passes so prepare to spend lots of $$.
Also, I’m a runner but even I don’t do early morning runs. Can you do them after work?
I love NYC so much!! I hope you have the best time there! I highly recommend the Tenement Museum. I went there several years ago and it was so interesting. It’s a living history museum, so you get taken through tenements that people lived in and the guide tells you about the families that live there. It’s super interesting and really interactive. They have different tours so you can pick what is most interesting to you.
Crazy croissants at Union Fare and cookies at Milk Bar and ramen at Ippudo or Momofuku!