Month: April 2016

Celebrating my birthday at the Bacon and Beer Classic

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When you ask me to name my favorite things, it’s no surprise that food and alcohol immediately spring to mind. I’ve been a big fan of bacon since I was a kid, and a big fan of beer since I was… 21. And not a day sooner!

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So I knew it wasn’t a coincidence that the absolutely genius Bacon and Beer Classic was swinging through New York City the weekend of my 26th birthday. Even better, it was being held at Citi Field, the only one of the two MLB stadiums in New York I had yet to visit. Best of all? My friend Jason won VIP tickets, and since we share a birthday (I’m two hours older, and don’t let him tell you otherwise), we decided to trek out to Queens to celebrate in the very best possible way.

Citi Field

All night long we sampled different beers in our very own souvenir glasses, and stuffed ourselves with not only different kinds of bacon (huge fan of jalapeno bacon here, by the way), but also bacon-related treats. My favorite? The bacon marshmallow from 240 Sweet! Happy Hour on a stick indeed.

Bacon marshmallows from 240 Sweet at the Bacon and Beer Classic

The best part of the evening, though, had to be that our VIP tickets granted us field access. When we felt like we needed a break from all the drinking (or the crowds on the concourse), we’d head down, chill in the dugout, and do a lap around the bases. I’m not a Mets fan, but I am a baseball fan, and this experience was worth it in and of itself.

Citi FieldHanging out in the dougout at Citi Field

Also, isn’t my outfit amazing?! Mom and Dad sent the Viva La Brunch tank for my birthday, and the vest is from Grandma and Grandpa – without even trying, they managed to send perfectly coordinated gifts! It’s already my go-to outfit; the tank made an encore appearance at my neighborhood party the next night.

Mashed potatoes with bacon at Citi Field for the Bacon and Beer Classic

Cheers to more adventures like this at 26!

The Bacon and Beer Classic travels to different cities and sets up in major sports venues, with just Seattle still to come this year. If you want to go in Seattle or in the future, I’d really really recommend splurging for the VIP tickets. We got in an hour early and there were NO lines – by the time we left two and a half hours later, people were waiting 20 minutes just for samples. Plus, come on – field access!

25 delightful things I did while I was 25

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Today, friends, is my twenty-sixth birthday. And for some reason, that fact has me completely freaked out. Twenty-six just feels so much older than twenty-five. I don’t know why. It makes no sense. But instead of dwelling on this, I decided to compile a list of delightful things I accomplished whilst 25 – big and small – and to think about all of the delightful things ahead! Here are some things that have happened in the life of Leigh Anne over the past 366 days…

Brunch at Egg, Williamsburg

Brunching on my 25th birthday

  1. I launched my delightful city guides, a huge project that I put – and continue to put – a lot of heart and soul into
  2. I took my first completely solo trip to Boston, and loved every minute
  3. I visited three new countries (South Africa, Swaziland, the Bahamas) and a new continent (Africa!)
  4. I read 44 books (thanks for the stats, goodreads!)
  5. I had my photos featured by Strand Bookstore, The New York Post, and more cool brands
  6. I drove a car for the first time in two years (this was less than delightful itself, but the ease of getting around was amazing!)
  7. I explored more of my own neighborhood, Crown Heights – after a year of not venturing much beyond my block, I now have a favorite independent coffee shop, burger joint and cocktail bar
  8. I went to and volunteered at the first-ever She is Free gathering
  9. I saw three Broadway shows (Mamma Mia!, An American in Paris, and The Lion King)
  10. I went to Sleep No More, which is officially my favorite thing I’ve done in New York
  11. I discovered a bus that’ll take me from Trader Joe’s to my apartment (you’ll only understand how delightful this one is if you’ve lugged groceries around NYC)
  12. I spent a week watching MLB spring training in Arizona
  13. I was asked to be a bridesmaid for the first time
  14. I went to the top of the World Trade Center (twice!) and Top of the Rock
  15. I spent a weekend helping designer Jennifer Adams with events in Manhattan, which lead to a regular (paid!) freelancing gig for her blog
  16. I met my brother’s cat and my best friend’s second pug
  17. I upgraded to the iPhone 6S and it completely changed my photography game
  18. I went behind the scenes at the New York Public Library
  19. I started running my church’s Twitter account
  20. I spent an entire day inside during a crazy blizzard
  21. I surprised my mom on HER birthday
  22. I launched my mission to Make Mondays Magical
  23. I went to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
  24. I saw a ton of Christmas trees in the city
  25. I started sponsoring a little girl in Swaziland and got to go visit her

… and I could go on and on! Truly, I know that 26 is going to be just as delightful as 25 – and I’m excited to face it, head on. Here’s to another year of adventure!

 

Catching up via Instagram: 4/17/16

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Subtitle: Let us rejoice, for it is finally SPRING!

Spring in New York CitySpring in Brooklyn, New YorkNew York City on a sunny daySpring in New York CityDowntown ManhattanBrooklyn BridgeCity of Dreams mural, New York CitySpring in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New YorkWashington Square Park, New York, on a rainy dayProcessed with VSCOcam with c1 presetGrand Army Plaza, Brooklyn

Not much necessary in the way of captions for these. I’ve been in New York City for the past three weeks, having made the conscious decision to stay put in April and cherish my favorite month. We’ve had very classically spring weather: Sometimes it’s 70 and sunny, sometimes it’s 40 and rainy. I’m just very, very glad we haven’t had any April snow this year. The city is alive and gorgeous and I am loving every minute!

At the Transit Museum, Brooklyn, New YorkCheering on Syracuse at Houston Hall, New York City

Staying in town on the weekends this month has meant some New York weekend adventures I’ve been putting off: Emmie and I visited the Transit Museum (something we’ve been wanting to do for months) and then watched her alma mater, Syracuse, play in the Final Four!

Sleep No More

This week I joined my friend Amanda at Sleep No More. It’s a totally immersive, interactive theatre experience where the audience dons masks and moves through the (enormous) set at their own pace as the action takes place around them. I had the BEST time and am already itching to go back to see more of the set and piece together more of the story!

Avocado toast

I got fancy with my breakfasts last week when I had mornings off. Nothing special here, but I was proud regardless!

Reading My Paris Dream by Kate Betts

The best part about the above photo? The book’s author, Katherine Betts, re-posted it to her own Instagram and Twitter accounts! You’ll read about it in my April roundup, but I highly recommend My Paris Dream.

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Looking back: London

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When I returned from my first trip to Europe in 2010, everyone asked me what my favorite place was, and the answer was always the same: Florence was my favorite city to visit, but London was a city I could imagine myself living in.

Looking back at my photos, it makes sense: All I have pictures of is St. Paul’s Cathedral and Buckingham Palace. Lest you think I was only there for a day, I actually spent a week and a half in the city, and spent most of it living as a local – visiting coffee shops, exploring lesser-visited neighborhoods, and, well, working. It was study abroad, after all. I missed many touristy things I’d love to go back and see someday, including the London Eye and the British Museum. But for now, here the photos I do have from that first trip.

Outside Buckingham Palace, LondonOutside Buckingham Palace, LondonUnion Jack outside Buckingham Palace, LondonBuckingham Palace, LondonInside St. Paul's Cathedral, LondonView from St. Paul's Cathedral, LondonView from St. Paul's Cathedral, London

London will always hold a special place in my heart. Can’t wait to go back – and take some higher-quality photos!

Views from the High Line

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I can’t believe I’ve never done a full post about the High Line before – it’s one of my favorite outdoor spaces in New York City! Built on an out-of-use elevated train track, this park runs along the west side of Manhattan from Gansevoort Street in the West Village to 34th Street in Midtown. Last weekend, when the sun popped out for a couple hours between April showers, I ventured out to the High Line for the first time in months.

View from the High Line, New York City

Can you spot the Statue of Liberty  above?

View of the street from the High Line, New York CityView of the street from the High Line, New York CityView of the Empire State Building from the High Line, New York City

My favorite view!

The High Line, New York City

The High Line was smartly designed so you always know where you are, and where the nearest stairways to the street are.

The High Line, New York CityView of the street from the High Line, New York CitySpring Blooms from the High Line, New York CitySpring Blooms from the High Line, New York City

The flowers have been weird this year: A whole bunch bloomed in mid-March, when we had a rash of 70-degree days, and then there was a deep freeze that killed them all off. Now things seem to be re-blooming right on a usual schedule.

View of the street from the High Line, New York CityView of the Hudson River from the High Line, New York CityView of the Hudson River from the High Line, New York City

Which is your favorite picture from the High Line?