Catching up via Instagram: 11/1/2015

Annnnnd, we’re back.

I had planned to get at least one or two Africa posts up by now, but I’m still having trouble finding words for everything, and so that will continue to be pushed off. Soon, I promise! For now, some glimpses into life in New York City, both before and since my trip.

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Just after my most recent post, fall started and everyone busted out their best cool-weather outfits. Turns out mine and Kelli’s are pretty similar – right down to the hairstyle!

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Nothing better than bookending a day with a morning walk through  my favorite park, and a nighttime walk through the Financial District.

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A night at The Smith and a catch-up with my sweet friend Victoria ended with the discovery of a photobooth in the bathrooms (?!) and the realization that we are both terrible at photobooths.

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Community groups are in full swing, meaning I have a built-in excuse to hang out with friends on Saturday nights.

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The foliage has been gorgeous this season, and this one particular tree on my block was way ahead of the game.

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One of my favorite ways to kill an afternoon: Picking up a book at the Mid-Manhattan Library, walking across the street and reading it on the front patio of the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building (aka what most people think of when they picture the New York Public Library).

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My friend Misha sends a fantastic Halloween care package every year (she’s close with all three of us roommates!) and I had to laugh when I pulled out this Brooklyn Nine-Nine mug – I’d say the officers look right at home with Leslie Knope, which was a gift from Kelli earlier this year!

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Nothing beats walking across the Brooklyn Bridge at sunset, even if the temperatures are dipping and the walkway is packed with tourists.

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When I got back to the northern hemisphere, I was thrilled to see that the leaves hadn’t fallen yet. I immediately ditched my bags at home and went for a wander through Brooklyn (ending, of course, at my favorite coffee shop).

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My sweet little brother celebrated his 23rd birthday last week, causing my usual wander down memory lane. Look how cute we once were!

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Yes, more fall! I’m thrilled to report that my attempt to actually enjoy it this year has been mostly successful.

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Was I the only one OVERJOYED when Apple finally gave us a taco emoji?! Of course I couldn’t update my phone right away on the weak wifi in Swaziland, but you better believe it was one of the first things I did upon my return. And then: A celebration at Domo!

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Finally: Halloween. I didn’t plan a costume this year, instead choosing to partner with Emmie the Pinata. I’d say it worked out!

So how are all of you, friends?! Catch me up!

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How to spend just one day in NYC

I get A LOT of visitors here in New York. It turns out that as soon as you move to a touristy place, friends and family are suddenly keen to pop in for a few days at a time. I also get to spend time with people who are passing through the city for other reasons, as was the case when Jordan was in town – she was technically here for a business trip, and when all was said and done, we only had ONE full day to hit all of the sites in Manhattan.

Yep, you read that right: One day to tour this island, filled with centuries of history and countless skyscrapers and 8 million people. I won’t try to convince you that we saw absolutely everything (I’m not sure a lifetime would be enough time for that!) but I think Jordan got a good taste of the city – and definitely some ideas for what to do on her next trip!

Here’s a one-day itinerary, tried and tested by yours truly. My biggest tips? Wear walking shoes, and carry a bottle of water!

Take the B or C train to 72nd St. Take a wander east and south through Central Park. Below 72nd Street looks like a tiny sliver on a map of the park, but you’ll be shocked at how much you’ll see.

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Exit the park at Fifth Ave and Central Park South. Walk down Fifth Ave and marvel at the fancy shopping (then pop into H&M for some affordable finds). If you need a bathroom, go to Bloomingdale’s – they’re on the second floor by the elevator. Gawk at the Trump Tower (be sure to wave at the protesters always stationed outside the door!)

Grab some pizza from one of the myriad places to do so. I can vouch for My Pie, but it’s hard to find bad pizza in this city. Take your slice down to Rockefeller Plaza and eat on the benches there.

Rockefeller is my favorite place in the city, so I’m biased, but while you’re there do some of the following: Visit the NBC Experience store, try to get tickets to a show if it’s the right time of day* (SNL is obviously my favorite!), head to the Top of the Rock*, take a tour of Radio City.*

Walk west on 50th Street to 7th Avenue, until you hit Times Square. You only need to see it once, but seeing the lights is a must for first-time visitors to the city. Take some pictures, pop into a gift shop, laugh at the characters. Get discounted Broadway tickets at TKTS, or at a show’s lottery a couple hours before showtime.*

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By now, I’m guessing your feet are killing you (mine were and I walk a lot!). Take any of the trains downtown to the World Trade Center. Take some time for reflection at St. Paul’s and the memorial fountains. Go through the 9/11 Museum* or head to the top of the Freedom Tower.*

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It’s probably about dinnertime by now. Head back to wherever you’re staying – it was Brooklyn for us – and grab some dinner and drinks (my favorite recommendations are here!) Reflect on your day, and then sleep like a baby!

*A lot of these recommendations take up quite a chunk of time, and you won’t have time for ALL of these activities in one day. I’d suggest picking one or two!

Currently: October 2015

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Reading: I just finished All the President’s Men, which was a nerdy trifecta of my interest in history, journalism, and current events. I loved it, and that’s making it tricky to pick my next conquest. I just got Going Clear from the library, and a rifle through the Strand‘s dollar racks last week yielded Dead Wake (my favorite author’s latest – score!) and French Coast, which I’d never heard of but has the words “Vogue editor” in the summary, so of course I bought it. Luckily I have a couple 16-hour flights in my near future during which to read!

Wearing: Pink sweatpants and a white t-shirt – because I’m writing this in bed at 11 p.m. Also my brand-new Revlon glasses. I have vision insurance now, y’all!

Buying: My list of fall basics to acquire just keeps getting longer, but for now I’m sticking to gifts for my sponsor child in Swaziland and a handful of other last-minute things for that trip – in fact, I just took a little blogging break to order a power adapter.

Listening to: Nothing at the moment. It’s been a lot of worship music on repeat this week though!

Eating: I had barbecue for dinner, because when you put me in charge of a community group that’s what happens. I had brisket and (mediocre) cornbread and a Shiner Bock (duh) at Mable’s and it really just tasted like home.

Watching: The only shows I’ve been keeping up with this fall are Brooklyn Nine-Nine and The Mindy Project, both of which I’m obsessed with. I also caught parts of the Saturday Night Live premier last weekend, and I’ve been rewatching Parks and Rec. But most importantly, Amazon Prime finally added Sex and the City to their instant prime streaming service, so that is constantly on in the background.

Planning: Just a little trip to Africa! Obsessively. I wish it could just be next Monday already, if only so I could stop remembering little things to do and pack and buy…

Also planning exciting things for my community group to do this fall!

Excited for: Africa. Shocking I know.

Cherishing: ONE NIGHT ONLY with my sweet friend Misha, who ended up stranded in NYC for about 12 hours and is crashing at my place. Poor thing just came in completely jetlagged from a week in Italy and was immediately bombarded by my hugs and stories and questions.

Hoping: I can make all these little travel plans in the back of my brain come to fruition in the new year. Let’s just say 2016 could be very exciting!

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A Brooklynite’s first trip to the Brooklyn Museum

Would you believe I’ve lived walking distance from the Brooklyn Museum for over a year and didn’t visit until last week?! It took my best friend flying across the country, randomly hearing the announcement on the subway (This is Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn Museum) and scrawling it into our itinerary for me to finally make it. On Jordan’s last day in town, we slept in, had a lazy brunch at neighborhood favorite Cent’Anni and made our way over to the museum!

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To be honest, I didn’t know anything about the Brooklyn Museum before we went. (You may remember how terrible I am at museum-visiting from my backwards trek through the Whitney, and the trip to the Met that was so boring I didn’t even blog about it). I thought this was a museum about Brooklyn. It’s actually an art museum that happens to be in Brooklyn. The more you know!

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This oversized shoe is actually a coffin! In parts of Ghana, coffins are designed to reflect the interests or personality of the deceased.

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The African art grabbed my attention, as I am making my first trip to the continent in just over a week!

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This display of textiles is one of the few (the only?) exhibits you’re allowed to touch!

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I don’t usually *get* European art, but the architecture in the European Paintings room was sure stunning!

We also loved the Egyptian art – Jordan particularly has a strong interest in that region, and I studied hieroglyphs in sixth grade, basically spurring my love of languages and the written word. Unfortunately we had to cut our visit short to run to the airport, but I’ll definitely be back – especially now that I know the entrance fee is a suggested donation!

If you go: The Brooklyn Museum is off the 2/3 trains in Prospect Heights. The suggested donation for an adult is $16, but it’s pay as you wish. They also have a super fun app that you can use to ask experts about the art, and get answers in real-time!

Grand Central Terminal

Oh, Grand Central. 750,000 people pass through this iconic train station daily, while the rest of us try to avoid it like the plague. But on a recent Sunday, while I was showing my friend Jordan around by squeezing in tourist sites in between work events, I realized we were only a few (ok, 11) blocks from the architectural beauty. How could we avoid a visit, a chance to take photographs during what is likely the terminal’s slowest hour? We simply couldn’t.

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The architecture is just stunning.

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Grand Central was built in 1913 and retains a vintage feel.

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The dining level is a personal favorite, and a fantastic place to kill two birds with one stone: Show guests Grand Central, and feed them some authentic New York City cuisine. Local favorites featured include Shake Shack and Magnolia Bakery. For a more upscale vibe, Oyster Bar is a fantastic place to grab a cocktail after a long workday.

While I am eternally grateful to avoid the midtown rush every day – I must admit, Grand Central Terminal is really something special.