(Ch)Eating in the city

 

This thursday I took the boys into the city and we wanted to eat all day! Also: how to eat cheap in Manhattan?! Yes, kind of a cheatday for working out so hard, haha! We went to so many different places and got really cheap food :-)

Sorry that I didn't take pictures of all of them, it went by too fast! But I will list the places we've been to!

This doesn't belong to the cheap- eats but to start the day right, we went to the worlds's first oatmeal bar/restaurant, they've just opened up seven weeks ago and after surfing on some food blogs I've found out about Oatmeals in NYC!

Here in the U.S. I've started eating so much oatmeal I've just had to go there!!!

I'm crazy about oatmeal and peanutbutter :-) 

The first two bowls are: parmesan and fig/gorgonzola and then cherry/chocolate chip and cheesecake/blackberry. I would go there again but I'd stick with sweet oatmeal, savory oatmeal is just too salty and heavy for me.

The boys and I also went to these places..

Oh, how I've missed you ♥

Yes! I am talking about lovely NYC. Indeed, I've missed it a little bit while I was on vacation.

So I've spent sunday there and the first thing I've done when I got off from the bus was going to Hell's Kitchen Flea and checking out their stuff. I've ended up leaving with a short skirt for 5$ :-)

After that I've met some friends and we headed to Central Park, had a picnic and spent the beautiful day there. I was in a good mood and was very happy to be in New York. 

In the evening I've met a dear friend of mine from Germany, as you can see she's also Vietnamese! Our parents are really good friends and now she's going to spend one year in the U.S, too. It was nice to see her after 13months and we were chatting in english instead of german! We've had dinner in K- town, the korean influenced part of the city.

The restaurant is called Food Gallery 32  and I've had a beef stew with tofu. Pretty good and pretty crowded! But so much variety and for an indecisive person like me it's hard to make a choice! 

Oh I've had so much fun that day!!! :-)

I'm looking forward to the next few days I'm going to spend in the city..

This is my last week in the U.S. now, 

time went by too fast..

Again and again NYC!

and I just can't get enough! :)

Yes, I was in the city today! One day before I'm leaving for my two- week california trip! I took the boys of my hostfamily into the city and we've did a bunch of cool stuff, for teenagers I guess.

No I'm just kidding! It was a lot of fun to hang around with them and being the tourguide, haha :-D

Me, the tourguide! And no, you wouldn't see all these touristy things with me although I still need to check some places out, for example I haven't been to Ellis Island or I haven't been on the Empire either.. Let's see if I can make it before I leave.

So, we went to Momofuku's noodle bar for lunch. We've had the pork and shrimp buns as an appetizer and different ramen noodles. It was delicious! I loved the pork buns :-)

Afterwards we checked out Questlove's Hoodie Shop. Really nice hoodies, but kind of expensive though. But you can still go there and check out the interior design, a lot of fun! I like hoodies, they are comfortable! But that's a different topic, another time..

The boys couldn't help and needed to go to Economy Candy on Rivington close to Chinatown, there was so much trash! :-D It was my first time in that store and it looked so packed! Full of candy, they've had everything! Of course also chocolate from good old Germany! A paradise for kids and a nightmare for their teeth! We were walking towards Chinatown, Little Italy and Soho and the kids wanted to get more candy! What about cupcakes this time? :-D They've got mini cupcakes from Baked by Melissa and they've said: OMG! They were SO GOOD! I'm sorry guys, I cannot give you good reviews on candy or cupcakes because I'm trying to stay away from everything- sugar! :-D

Bastille Day in NYC

After arriving back in the city, back in reality, back in life.. 

I didn't go straight home. I've met my Australian friend Rebecca and we decided to check out the French street fair, which is held every year: Bastille Day NY

A street fair to celebrate the french culture and other francophone countries like Canada, Switzerland and more. I like going to street fairs because of the food :-D Crépes and macarons were predominant at this one. Although we went there we ended up at Le pain quotidien for lunch. I think it is a french or belgian chain all over the city. I wanted to go meatless and had a lentil salad on arugula and it was really good and filling! I have to experiment with lentils and quinoa at home! :-)

Coming home after this exhausting weekend I took a long shower and went to bed early,

hope you guys enjoyed your weekend, too!

M

shopping in brooklyn

After the pool on friday, I went on Bedford Ave, Williamsburg, Brooklyn and did a little bit of shopping! Oh yes, saving up money is harder than I've thought!!! I've ended up in a thrift store, buying two skirts and a vest. When you're around Williamsburg, check out: Crossroads, Buffalo Exchange and Beacon's Closet: buy, sell, trade! I might go there to sell or trade some of my stuff before I hit my way home :)

And don't forget: Smorgasburg and the Williamsburg Waterfront Flea on Sat./Sun.!

There are so many thrift/ second hand shops here in New York, so many flea markets, street fairs and more.. 

I will definitely miss that! Nice markets where you can make great bargains, you might also find designer clothing and unique stuff. Small artists all over the fleas (and all over the city!) are trying to sell their goods, be it clothes, jewelry or food. For instance, the other day I've had spicy pickles from Brooklyn- McClure's Pickles, so good!!! I like everything hot! :)

So, when you end up in Brooklyn,

you should definitely try the many thrift stores and flea markets!

Enjoy shopping and thrifting
in BK ;-)

M 

My shopping- tip: Try to look for bargains, sell or trade clothes if you don't want them anymore. Set a limit of how much money you want/can actually spend on that day.

sleep no more..

I was kind of off this week so I was spending some free time where? Of course- in lovely New York City! I was there from Wednesday to Friday.

On wednesday, I went with some friends to the theatre play Sleep No More - a Hitchcock- Shakespeare mash-up. We, the audience had to wear big white masks and instead of sitting there and seeing a play, we were walking through an entire Hotel, which was transformed into the Set. We could choose to follow the actors, touch the requisite and open books and etc. 

I would definitely recommend seeing it. It goes for about two and a half hours, it was different, scaring and the actors were great! My favourite one was the Asian witch, I think. At the end of the show, she took me by her hand and then gave me a Good Night Kiss :) Maybe she could see through the mask that I'm Asian, too =D

Check out some pictures and audio material here

“A merry macabre chase. A voyeur’s delight. Messes with your head as thorougly as any artificial stimulant. Spectacular!”

-Ben Brantley, The New York Times

Oh and before I forget, if you're into the American Series: Gossip Girl, they've had an episode shooting in the same play: 

Have fun watching it!
xoxo 

M

Sunrise Yoga

How do you guys like yoga? Have you ever tried it before?
Well, I've did it twice now and I'm looking forward to do more of it! It was a free yoga class in the city: compass yoga. -Of course I've found about it from a Street Fair! :) So if you're ever in New York and you're having some spare time especially for beginners, check it out! There are also free yoga sessions in the parks in NYC. That day I went on my own and actually I became friends with the yoga teacher! Her name is Frances from England, she did her Master's degree in the city and she's leaving the country in August, too! See, it's so easy to meet and get to know nice people! :)

I've found out about a free yoga course on Island Beach in my town here in NJ, too! Tuesdays from 7- 8am! Perfect for me, since I'd get up early anyway :)

So, today I went to the first session and it was great! The weather was good, not too hot in the morning and the teacher seems very nice (in the picture above). I like it because in addition to my strength and cardio workout it is good to stretch, twist and twirl your body and just to 'meditate' a little bit, to be aware of your mind, body and soul. I think, that's my thing! Meditation and Yoga :) I should try Pilates someday, too :)

Namaste,

and much love.

M

Jewelry spree *.*

This saturday my german friend Matze and I, we went to the MET and it is  is so huge, we're always getting lost, it's really hard not to! =D

We saw the Schiaparelli and Prada Exhibition, Cloud City by Tomás Saraceno and also the Art of the Arab Lands, Turkey, Iran, Central Asia and Later South Asia.

I have to go to the Schiaparelli and Prada again because their art/design work is amazing! A must for every fashion- lover! Cloud City, an installation on the Roof is very interesting, I feel like it doesn't really fit there but still it's cool! :) Check it out, it's on until November '12. The last exhibition is a permanent one, it has great carpets and calligraphic designs. I love that they often used the colour gold and the jewelry below is from India. After that I just wanted to travel to Asia again! Let's visit Istanbul and India, please! :)

Later that day, we went to lovely Brooklyn. 

At Smorgasburg (every Saturday) we had delicious lunch. It was so hot that day and the problem with this kind of food market is that there are too many choices!!! And if you're hungry, you don't want to stay in line for hours, but also you want good food =D This is the U.S.!!! There are just too many options and there is a lot of competition! And I am just indecisive with these things because I always want to compare and see what I'd get for my money! =D

So, I've been there before with my friend Frances from England, that day we've had Cemita's Mexican Sandwich. It's filling, so I'd recommend sharing one with a friend.

Yesterday I've had a Colombian Dish: a flaxseed Arepa with chicken, Colombian cheese, arugula, salsa and cilantro sauce. Loved it! I'd like to try making that on my own.

The Renegade Crafts Fair was at the East River State Park, Williamsburg, right next to Smorgasburg and there were so many vendors! Again: too many choices! =D I ended up buying jewelry from Sna$h Jewelry because I've seen her stuff at one of the many flea markets before and I fell in love with the golden designs! Designed in New York- by a New Yorker :) I got an open-faced bracelet and four square rings. One guy at Snash Jewelry called me 'golden girl' =D It took me hours to make a decision! I'd buy them all!!!

On our way back to the subway station we crossed Williamsburg Walks on Bedford Ave. They've closed down the streets and had artists coming and had fun activities:

Matthias and I got free charm necklaces from Brooklyn Charm, I picked out a short golden necklace with three green pearls. I usually wear long necklaces but I thought: Let's try a short one because I've seen it on many girls and I liked how it looks on them. Green pearls because I'm on a green trip guys! =D

That was a very nice saturday!

Great weather and I've had a lot of fun with Matthias!

And.. I was successful with my jewelry spree! :)))

Hope you're still enjoying my city- trips!

Xxo,

M

Sneak Peek: Diary #2

Fri. June- 8:

* 2012 CFDA Fashion Awards at Lincoln Center NYC, you have to watch it!!!

After Garance Doré's and Scott Schuman's speech I had tears in my eyes, such an amazing and inspiring couple in the fashion industry, keep doing what you love!!! 

- finally finished the book: Glimmer- How design can transform your life and maybe even the world by Warren Berger: really good book!!! Speaks from my soul! ♥

I need to write down all the resources/ facts. I recommend it to everyone (not just for designers) out there! :)

Sat. June- 9:

- hanging around in town, getting applications done! Yes!

* I do need a big black handbag with golden straps (classics)

* every celebrity is wearing Isabel Marant now! 

Sun. June- 10:

- I've met with Sarah, a girl from my hometown in Germany, she's heading home soon! :(

* Flea Market: Hell's Kitchen: one summerdress, cutout in the back and one oversize shirt b/w, pictures are coming soon

I was like: 'Hey Sarah, let's stop by the flea market since it is close to the High Line just to have a look, I don't want to buy anything, need to save up money for Calif. 

Well, I was successful :D but thank you S for holding me back!!! xx

- High Line: it was soooo hot! Around 86 degrees, it went crazy this weekend! That's why we needed to buy some ice pops! :) And there's new street art around the High Line, check it out!

- Chelsea Market

- Big Apple BBQ in Madison Squ. Park, we've had Beef Brisket from Hill Country NY, a must for meatlovers!

* Starbucks with Sarah, she brought me some Neon Purple Pink nailpolish by China Glaze! LOVE IT!!!! I was going crazy because it turned out MATT!!! THANK YOU :-* 

- at night: hanging around with friends in Brooklyn, Williamsburg

- didn't work out all weekend, feel fat :D now I need to focus again>> back to work!

- optimistic: how bad do you really want it? >> discipline! YOU CAN DO IT!