NYC

Behind the scenes at the New York Public Library

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As much as I love to travel and have experiences in new places, I also love to explore my own backyard. Knowing this, and also about my love for books, my friend Kathryn invited me to spend a recent Saturday going behind the scenes of the New York Public Library with the New York Adventure Club.

I’m embarrassed to admit that in almost two years of living in New York City, I had never been to the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building – the iconic structure in midtown that usually springs to mind when the term “library” is thrown around. The Schwarzman building is one of four research libraries in the NYPL system (there are also 88 circulation libraries between Manhattan, Staten Island and the Bronx – Brooklyn and Queens have separate library systems). While you can’t check books out of the Schwarzman building, it is filled with research rooms, reading rooms and rotating exhibits. The famous Rose Reading Room closed for restoration only a couple months after I moved here, so I’m especially anxious to go back and see it when it reopens!

Behind the scenes at the New York Public LibraryBehind the scenes at the New York Public LibraryBehind the scenes at the New York Public LibraryBehind the scenes at the New York Public LibraryBehind the scenes at the New York Public LibraryBehind the scenes at the New York Public LibraryBehind the scenes at the New York Public Library

To the surprise of absolutely no one, the map room was my favorite.

Behind the scenes at the New York Public LibraryBehind the scenes at the New York Public Library

Above is the McGraw Rotunda, filled with murals illustrating the history of the printed word, starting with Moses coming down from Mount Sinai with the tablet.

Behind the scenes at the New York Public LibraryBehind the scenes at the New York Public Library

The diary of Elizabeth DeHart Bleecker, containing one of the only written records of the death of Alexander Hamilton in 1804.

Behind the scenes at the New York Public LibraryBehind the scenes at the New York Public Library

Old menus, transit passes and photos from New York City. This was my favorite part of the tour, especially when our guide went out of his way to mention that the NYPL focuses on “cultural history, not highbrow history.” They really want to document the day-to-day life of New York City – a mission I can get behind! You can browse some of their menus online here.

 

Catching up via Instagram: 3/20/16

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As I’m sure you’ve noticed, life has been a little crazy lately with travels – yet I still have so many nuggets of New York life to share with you all! We were blessed with a mild winter and an early spring – my favorite season! – so every second I spend in the city is filled with adventure. Here’s a peek!

New York City skyline

The day I left for San Francisco was, naturally, the first truly warm day in a while – as in, light jackets were all that the weather required. The streets were filled with happy New Yorkers frolicking in the sunshine. Although I was cooped up in the office and then headed straight to the airport, I was so glad to soak up the sun rays through our floor-to-ceiling windows.

New York City muralGreenwich Village, New York CityNew York City skyline from Union Square

Luckily, the good weather repeated itself the next weekend, and I continued snapping pictures of the blue skies every chance I got.

Burger and fries at Dutch Boy, Crown Heights, Brooklyn

Upon return from our trip to the Bahamas, my friends and I weren’t quite ready to say goodbye to each other or the long weekend – even though we’d just spent three full days in each others’ company. So when we got back to Brooklyn, our first stop was our local burger joint, Dutch Boy – I just can’t wait until it’s warm enough to drink at their attached outdoor bar, Franklin Park!

Springtime flowers in BrooklynNew York City skyline from Battery Park CityIce cream at Ice & Vice, Lower East Side, ManhattanSunset over Freedom Tower

As the warm weather continued, I celebrated in every way I could think of: I grabbed a bouquet of flowers for my windowsill. I spent my free days sitting by the water with a book and enjoyed the views. I grabbed ice cream with my friends (bonus: the ice cream had donut chunks in it, and the cone was funfetti. Ice & Vice is a MUST!) I saw the sun set on the way to dinner.

Postcard from Breadfruit Rum Bar, Phoenix, Arizona

I’m a huge fan of snail mail and especially postcards, so I was thrilled when my best friend Jordan sent this postcard from my favorite rum bar in Phoenix.

We are Crown Heights sidewalk art

Possibly the most exciting thing to happen lately: We renewed our lease! I’m so excited for a third year in Crown Heights. Also, as of November 2016, this will be the longest I’ve ever lived in one apartment, including my apartments in Phoenix. Who would have thought I’d be at my most stable in such a transient city?!

Chrysler Building on a cloudy daySunrise in Crown Heights, Brooklyn

Of course all good things must come to an end, and last week was rather cloudy and rainy – still, just another sign of spring. As much as I prefer sunny days, I can’t deny the beauty of New York in the gloom – especially at sunrise!

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Currently: March 2016

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I seem to have fallen into the habit of writing these posts before sneaking off on weekend getaways! It’s currently Thursday, and at the crack of dawn tomorrow I’m flying to the Bahamas with ten of my closest friends for three days of sunshine and tequila. Be sure to follow along on Instagram and Snapchat – I’m @LeighAnneZin on both!

Reading: I’m currently in the middle of All The Light We Cannot See (Kindle) and Paddle Your Own Canoe (audiobook). Hopefully I can finish both of those this weekend and then start on the stack I have waiting for me!

Wearing: Skinny jeans, short sleeves, cardigan, combat boots, glasses. It’s been a lot of late night this weeks between the Oscars, church functions and working on freelance things, so I’m giving my eyes a bit of a rest.

Buying: I just got the iPhone 6S! I pretty spontaneously decided to switch to T-Mobile this week because they include international texting and data in some of their cheaper plans – so I’ll be accessible this weekend (and on future excursions!) even if the WiFi is less than reliable.

Listening to: A gem of a playlist I just discovered on Spotify called Island Beach Country. It’s totally getting me in the mood for tomorrow!

Eating: Rice and veggies for lunch (as I did this time last month, apparently!) Dinner tonight will be take-out before going to bed as early as possible – gotta be prepared for that 2:30 a.m. wakeup call to head to the airport!

Watching: Nothing! I gave up streaming things for March, although I won’t isolate myself on vacations if people have the TV on. I did watch all 13 episodes of Fuller House the day they premiered on Netflix last week. My verdict: The worst show I’ve ever enjoyed.

Planning: To do NOTHING this weekend except read, drink and soak in the sun. My friends are planning excursions but I will be perfectly content if nothing comes to fruition.

Excited for: This weekend of course, a week in Phoenix at the end of the month, and best of all – two full weeks in New York City in between!

Hoping: That the snow forecast for tonight (Thursday) holds off long enough for us to get off the ground in the morning. If you ever need to know when a snowstorm is coming, just check my flight schedule – seriously, I’m cursed!

Books read: 7/52

Trips taken: 4/12

This month’s challenge: No television, as mentioned above, with exceptions made (is that allowed? Do I care? I make my own rules!)

And how is YOUR March going?

Catching up via Instagram: 2/21/16

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Believe it or not, between my little getaways to DC and Dallas and San Francisco (right now!), I’ve actually spent quite a bit of time hanging out in NYC this winter! The weather has been weird – record-breaking (and pipe-breaking) cold followed by 50-degree days the same week. It’s made getting dressed every day an adventure, to say the least. Alas! I’ve been having tons of fun this winter (weird, I know), and here’s a little peek!

Donuts from Holey Cream NYC

My roommate’s cousins recently stayed with us and treated us to donuts from Holey Cream in Hell’s Kitchen – delicious! This spot is actually known for donut ice cream sandwiches, which I’m dying to try out in the summer time!

Books and magazines

I’ve slowed down on my reading a bit, but there’s still so much I’m excited to dive into, and I just loaded up my Kindle with books I’m itching to read (including my own copy of All the Light We Cannot See – the physical copy from the library was just to cumbersome to carry around and I didn’t finish it before the due date!)

Cheesecake from Mayfield, Crown Heights, Brooklyn

In a desperate attempt to catch up in between our travels, my best friend and I grabbed dessert one night at our favorite neighborhood spot . To be honest, the cheesecake wasn’t the best, but Emmie loooooved her brownie ice cream sandwich!

Galentine's Day in Queens, NYC

Speaking of Emmie, by some miracle we were both free the night of our friend group’s annual Galentine’s Day celebration! We braved the cold, split a couple cabs and spent a night eating, playing games and taking pictures with our girlfriends.

The Painted Pot, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn

On Presidents Day, a few of us were going to visit the Transit Museum, but were disappointed to find out it’s closed on Mondays. Instead, we headed to the Painted Pot in Carroll Gardens to channel our inner children! I’m anxious to see how that bowl looks once it’s been finished at the studio…

Snow in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn

After painting, we walked to dinner – even though we could have taken the train one stop, we wanted to admire and take photos of the snow! (OK, OK. They wanted to. But I did get a good picture, so whatever.)

Beer in a stein from Strand Books, NYC

This week was National Wine Day, but I’m more of a beer girl myself. My friend Kelli got me this stein for Christmas from the Strand, a famous bookstore here in New York. I love how it combines my love of beer and books!

Golden Hour in Crown Heights and Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn

Finally, we’ve been enjoying some spring-like weather, and I couldn’t help but admire the morning light on my walk to the train this week. Really I’m just excited that it’s light out when I’m commuting now!

What have you been up to lately? I’m in San Francisco until Thursday, then I’ll be back in NYC for some more adventures at home!

 

Central Park in the winter

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I’m no stranger to Central Park: I’ve admired the springtime blossoms, sweltered under the summer sun, frolicked in the autumn leaves. But somehow, in nearly two years of living in NYC, I had never been to Central Park in the winter – until last week.

Tavern on the Green, Central Park NYC in the winterCentral Park NYC in the winter

Honestly, I never saw a reason to visit Central Park in the winter. It’s freezing cold, for one, and I don’t do winter well. And without leaves on the trees (or on the ground), and it being too chilly to hang out with a book, well, I just didn’t see the point. But my sweet friends Nicole and Parisa visited recently, and Parisa had never been to Central Park before – so off we went, taking the C train to 72nd Street and working our way downtown.

Central Park NYC in the winterCentral Park NYC in the winterCentral Park NYC in the winterCentral Park NYC in the winter

And I was so surprised by how beautiful it was! The trees were bare, yes, and the sky was cloudy this particular afternoon, trapping us in cold air, but there was something just really lovely about the gray of nature against the gray buildings against the gray sky. For about 30 minutes, until we couldn’t feel our toes and ducked into the shops at Columbus Circle for warmth.

Columbus Circle NYC in the winterColumbus Circle NYC in the winterFriends at Central Park NYC in the winter

What’s your favorite season to visit Central Park – or any park?