New York City Archives - the naturalized new yorker

April 28, 2017

Things to do in May

April 28, 2017

It’s gonna be May (sorry, I had to). This year has literally flown by so fast, it was New Year’s Day and then I blinked and now it’s May. I feel like I’ve been so busy with work, starting to plan a move and other commitments that I haven’t had a ton of time to dedicate to posting here, let alone even thinking about posting. I’m hoping things slow down so I can dedicate a bit more time to blogging. Anyway, without further ado, check out these things to do in May and embrace the spring weather in the city.

NYC Independent Film Festival, May 1–May 7
Close on the heels of the Tribeca Film Festival, this festival is in it’s 8th year. Showcasing films from around the world, the low-budget films are screened each evening, giving even working folks the opportunity to catch a flick. And even if you can’t catch any of the films, hit up one of the festival’s events to support up-and-coming filmmakers.

Taste of the Lower East Side, May 3
Grab a ticket and head to this annual event that showcases some of the city’s best eateries. Though they’re a bit pricey, tickets come with access to food from spots like Clinton St. Baking Co. Beauty & Essex, Mr. Purple and The Stanton Social.

SummerStage, May 17–September 13
Head to central park to check out a variety of of musical guests all summer long. Just be warned: if you want to go, it gets very crowded. Head to the park early to stake out your spot, spread out a blanket and bring some snacks (read: wine) and enjoy the show. Shows that sound particularly awesome: Elvis Costello, UCB Stars, and Yo La Tengo.

The Color Run at CitiField, May 27
This famous 5k has spawned many similar races, but head to CitiField Memorial Day Weekend to participate in the original. Don your white shirt and begin the race, and along the way you will get peppered with colorful dust that will tie dye your whole body, from head to toe. Have a little fun while getting some exercise. After all, life’s all about balance right?

Outdoor Movie Night, May 28
Every Sunday from late May through September, a movie night is hosted in one of NYC’s local parks. Though a large portion take place in Staten Island or Queens, the Randall’s Island Park location seems to be the most central for anyone in any of the five boroughs. Head there at sunset on May 28 for a screening of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

April 5, 2017

The Orchid Show: Thailand

April 5, 2017

You have five days left this year to check out New York Botanical Garden Orchid Show before it ends its run this Sunday, April 9. I went a few weeks ago and was definitely not disappointed. I had never been to NYBG before, and I was so impressed that I ended up becoming a member. The trek up to the Bronx from Manhattan is a little lengthy, but it’s worth the journey to explore to Gardens’ grounds, educational opportunities and stunning green houses. Go this weekend for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to peep thousands of different species of orchids from all across Thailand.

All of the orchid show itself is housed within a greenhouse, so even if it’s a little chilly you aren’t exposed to the elements. The weather is also getting nicer and nicer, so the gardens are the perfect place to enjoy the weather outside with a picnic, or explore and check out the other spring flowers and trees that are sure to bloom soon, like cherry blossoms and tulips.

Also learn about other upcoming events that NYBG has to offer. After the Orchid Show ends, there is a Dale Chihuly exhibit and the annual Daffodil Celebration & Wine Weekend.

March 31, 2017

Things to do in April

March 31, 2017

April is one of my favorite months in New York. It’s light later, the weather is better and the city starts to wake up from its hibernation which means more social events, weekend festivals and outdoor activities. The events all seem to be loaded towards the end of the month when there’s more of a chance the weather will cooperate, but that shouldn’t stop you from spending all month enjoying the beautiful weather and the beginning of summer in the greatest city in the world.

International Pillow Fight Day, April 1
I have ALWAYS wanted to go to this event and I’ve never made it. Each year in Washington Square Park, NYC holds a giant-ass pillow fight with hundreds of attendees (check out the video of last year’s event). The event is all in good fun, and raises money for charity at the same time. Grab your feathery pillow and check it out this weekend.

Smorgasburg, April 1 through October
Smorgasburg has got to be one of the most Instagrammed spots in NYC. Starting on April 1, head to Williamsburg any Saturday for a bonanza of food vendors, from the famous Ramen burger to other up-and-coming foods before they’re even trendy. Most of the biggest Instagram-famous food spots in New York have at some point been at Smorgasburg. The waffle ice cream cone? Yep. The raindrop cake? That, too. Go on and get a head start on this summer’s hottest eats.

Hester Street Fair Opening Day, April 15
This food-filled street fair takes over the Lower East Side every Saturday throughout the summer. Check it out for some great bites plus jewelry, clothes and basically all the best NYC’s street fairs have to offer.

The Brooklyn Folk Festival, April 28-30
Now in its ninth year, the Brooklyn Folk Festival showcases the best musical talent the borough’s got to offer. Check out this year’s lineup and see your favorite artists at Parish Hall, the Workshop Room or the main stage at the Jalopy Theatre in Brooklyn Heights.

Wine on Wheels, April 29
At City Winery in Greenwich Village, this event is a sommelier-hosted wine tasting with over 200 wines up for grabs. The tasting is part of a larger week-long event with all events individually ticketed. Though the tickets don’t come cheap, the wines on offer are some of the best of the best and served by the best in the business. Scoop up advanced tickets or take your changes and get general admission tickets day-of starting at 1pm.

New York Botanic Gardens Daffodil Wine Weekend, April 29-30
I recently bought a membership to NYBG, but unfortunately I will be out of town for this amazing event. Buy a ticket plus a $10 glass and explore the beautiful flowers all day while sipping on unlimited vino. I guess dreams really do come true. In my honor, everyone should attend this event in my stead.

March 28, 2017

Morgan Library & Museum

March 28, 2017

A few weeks ago, my friend Lauren and I set out for the Morgan Library & Museum, located in New York’s Murray Hill neighborhood. A dreary winter afternoon called for a bit of exploring, and since we had both never been we decided to check it out.

The stunning building was formerly J.P. Morgan’s personal library filled with hundreds of rare books and manuscripts. It has an old-world almost Beauty and the Beast vibe with all of the dark wallpaper and thousands of old books. The museum was also holding an Emily Dickinson exhibit when we visited featuring dozens of handwritten notes and poems, along with other artifacts and photos of her life and family.

The museum is pretty tiny, but the entry is relatively affordable, and the guided tour we took was well worth it. Though I’m not sure it’s a place I would frequent, it was amazing to see it once and uncover a little more of New York’s history.

March 21, 2017

The Naturalized New Yorker Turns 2!

March 21, 2017

The naturalized new yorker turns 2 this month! I can’t believe it’s already been two years since I set out on the adventure to start this blog—it’s been a wild ride, but I hope it’s just getting started.

A big thank you to everyone who has ever attended an event, gone to a new restaurant or even just liked one of my Instagram posts. It’s great to have such an extended support system and without it, I’m not sure this would have continued as long as it has. Cheers to a great second year, and here’s to hoping there’s many, many more ahead.

February 28, 2017

Things to do in March

February 28, 2017

Every year it seems like February is the longest month, despite being the shortest, but this year there’s been a switch. This month flew by in the blink of an eye, and I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact that March is already here. I’ll chalk it up to the good weather and my trip to Cuba, and hey—I’m not complaining. Since spring is just around the corner, it’s the best time to get out and about and check out these things to do in March.

New York Antiquarian Book Fair, March 9–12
For any bibliophiles out there, this is the place for you. The Antiquarian Booksellers Association of American (who knew that was a thing?) puts on this fair every year at the Park Avenue Armory where visitors can browse through collections of rare books, maps, antiques, art and more and all retailers are super legit, so you know you’re getting the real thing. Entry cost is only $25/day for adults, $40 for the entire show or $10/day for students so you can put all your money towards your vintage purchases.

Coffee & Tea Festival, March 18–19
Now in it’s 12th year, this extravaganza—at the Brooklyn Expo Center—will host over 75 vendors and exhibitors offering award-winning coffees and teas. Guests will also enjoy savory and sweet bites designed to compliment all of the beverages. What more could a coffee lover ask for?

NYC Craft Distillers Festival, March 25
Head to the Bowery Hotel for this annual event that boasts attendance of over 20 craft distillers with a range of spirits in this 1920s-themed soiree. Break out your best Gatsby attire and sample over 60 craft spirits and small plates, all set to the throwback tunes of a swinging jazz band.

BrunchCon, March 26
There’s really nothing New Yorkers love more than brunch. Though this event is sold out, join the waitlist so you can get into this amazing brunch-apalooza. The event, being held at Grand Prospect Hall, features over 50 food vendors hawking their best brunch bites, along with an open mimosa bar from 11am until 3pm. I’ve had my tickets for months, so stay tuned on Instagram for some updates come the end of the month.

February 21, 2017

Weekend Wandering: Nolita

February 21, 2017

Nolita is quickly becoming one of my favorite neighborhoods in New York. It’s small, but it has the best of what Little Italy, SoHo and the East Village have to offer—plus it’s become a hot spot for new restaurants and bars which usually means that several of the places on my To-Do List are somewhere nearby.

A few weeks ago, I headed to Nolita on a Saturday to scope out a few of the area’s notable attractions with a few friends. It was the perfect weekend itinerary that included both pizza and ice cream (because duh) and hitting up one of the city’s popular and very Instagram-worthy museum exhibits.

The first stop on the tour was the Pixel Forest exhibit at the New Museum. This had taken Instagram by storm and I had been wanting to see it for weeks—lucky for us, we caught it on the last weekend it was open! I wasn’t super impressed by the majority of the museum; it is very small and has limited art, but if there is a specific exhibit you want to see, definitely go check it out. The entrance fee isn’t crazy, and they’ve got a pretty good student discount.

And while the museum overall was a bit of a letdown, the Pixel Forest itself definitely lived up to expectations. The hanging lights changed color in waves, moving both up and down and sideways throughout the entire room, and it was honestly completely mesmerizing. We even sat in the corner for a while just taking it all in (and snapping about 1,000 pics).

After a few hours at the museum, we were all starving and conveniently only a few blocks away from the famous Lombardi’s pizza. I hate to admit, but I haven’t done well in checking out all of NYC’s famous pizza spots (maybe another series on the blog??). According to their website, Lombardi’s is the first ever pizzeria in the United States, and though it was a little pricey, it really lived up to the hype.

The thin crust pizza is perfectly crispy, and the fresh ingredients like the mozzarella cheese, basil and sauce are all hearty and delicious without being too heavy. A few pieces was more than enough, and a large was the perfect size for our group of three.

Then, since any good adventure needs to include ice cream, we headed to Morgenstern’s to try their famed weird-but-awesome flavors. I was deciding between about 12 different options, but finally went with the burnt honey and the matcha pistachio. One of the best parts about this spot is that any toppings that go on the ice cream—in my case, pistachios—get put into the middle of the scoop. As you eat through, you get more and more of the topping and it was pretty much the best thing ever.

So if you’re looking for a perfect weekend itinerary in Nolita, look no further. I’ve already tested it out and am on the other side saying you’ve def got to give it a go.

TL;DR for those of you who are feeling lazy:

1. New Museum
2. Lombardi’s Pizzeria
3. Morgenstern’s Ice Crem

February 1, 2017

Things to do in February

February 1, 2017

How is it already February?? I don’t know where the time has gone. Between Dry January (hallelujah it’s over!), planning for a trip to Cuba next week and getting back into a workout routine after an embarrassingly long hiatus, I feel like I just blinked and the month is over. That being said, I’m excited for some fun stuff this month, like said Cuba trip and my 2nd annual Galentine’s Day bash with all my ladies. The city will also be bumpin’ this month, so check out all of these great things to do in February.

Valrhona Hot Chocolate Festival, January 18–February 5
With participating locations across the city, work your way through the entire list to try all of the unique options. With places on the list like Laudaree and Almondine Bakery, you’re sure to be in a chocolate-lovers heaven. Plus, all proceeds go to raising money for the Valrhona Clean Water Project that improves living conditions and public health in Peru.

New York Restaurant Week, January 23–February 10
I’m the world’s biggest fan of NYC Restaurant Week. I’ve gone both times every year since moving to New York and I can’t rave enough about the experiences I’ve had. Check out some of the city’s hottest restaurants and get a great deal on a three course menu for both dinner and lunch. Reservations are usually required and some restaurants exclude the weekends, so be sure to read the fine print before booking.

Central Park Ice Festival, February 11
Stop by Central Park next Saturday from 3 until 7pm to enjoy this annual ice carving extravaganza. Watch as pros create sculptures from a block of ice right before your eyes and after enjoy a silent disco with live DJs spinning top hits from the past few decades.

The Orchid Show, February 18–April 9
In it’s 15th year, this year’s show at the New York Botanical Garden is dedicated to Thailand. As the leading world exporter of orchids, Thailand has over 1,000 varieties–many of which are featured at the show. Check it out during the day or score tickets for Orchid Evenings and explore with a cocktail in-hand.

New York City Beer Week, February 24–March 4
This annual event takes place all over the city and at different breweries, celebrating all things beer. Check out the Fermentation Festival, Opening Bash Invitational or the grand finale event, the Ruppert’s Cup.

January 24, 2017

Clinton Street Baking Co.

January 24, 2017

Since my roommate and I have been doing Dry January, we’ve been trying to come up creative things to do on the weekend that don’t involve hitting a bar or happy hour. It’s been a lot harder than it sounds since, in NYC, a lot of social activities revolve around eating and drinking. But, since we’ve ditched late nights out for the next few weeks, we decided to get up and at it early one Sunday morning to visit Clinton Street Baking Co.

The restaurant doesn’t open until 9am, but you can begin lining up to get a table starting at 8:30am. Based on crazy tales of 2+ hour waits to eat for brunch, we decided to hop on the subway bright and early to be in line first thing so we could avoid a long wait. Though it was very chilly, we made it by about 8:35am and had a little over a 20 minute wait.

We were seated right away and knew that we wanted to go for Clinton Street’s signature dish: the pancakes. Paired with some sides of sugar cured bacon (WUT) and hash browns + lots of coffee to compensate for the early wake up call, we were all set.

Instead of traditional maple syrup, all of the pancakes are instead served with warm maple butter which was wayyyy better. I opted for the banana walnut pancakes, which had walnuts interspersed among the fluffy pancake layers, and were as good as they look. My roommate went for the blueberry pancakes, which I didn’t taste but looked equally as good. Insider tip: lots of people around us went for the chicken and waffles, and it would be probably be my choice if I ever went back.

Service was quick, drinks were refilled often (thank you, coffee gods) and the food is delicious. It is cash only (which we found out the hard way, but if you’re up for an early wake up call, or don’t mind a few hour wait, head to Clinton Street Baking Co. this second and you’ll forever rethink how brunch is supposed to taste.

January 12, 2017

Belated 2017 Resolutions

January 12, 2017

I know I’m a little behind in terms of resolution posts, but early January has been a crazy time. I also wanted to take the chance and reflect a little bit on exactly what I want this year to be for me. Along with the standard resolutions—eat healthier, workout more, etc.—I really wanted to take some quiet time for myself and examine personal, work and blogging goals for the new year.

1. Be more present
In this day and age, where social media is so ever-present and involved in everything, it’s very easy to live for the ‘gram instead of just enjoying the moment. Though I love Instagram and Facebook and other social media and use it often to promote this blog, this year I want to try and disconnect a little more, be less reliant on my phone for everything (LITERALLY everything) and just enjoy the people I’m with and the places I’m in while it’s happening.

2. Don’t waste energy on things I can’t change
This one is big for me—anyone who knows me knows that I’m a major worrier. I play out a million different scenarios in my head of a million different things that could happen and, more often than not, it’s something I completely don’t expect that comes to fruition. I’ve spent many sleepless nights, hours commuting on the subway, and stress-filled hours in front of my computer wondering “Well maybe if I do this [blank] will happen. Or what about this? Or this?” In 2017 I really want to try and live for the now and devote less energy and thought to what the future may hold. After all, I’ll find out eventually anyway.

3. Try to do only what makes me happy
One of my coworkers has a kind of saying or motto that has recently really begun to resonate with me—”You’re trading a day of your life for what you’re doing today. Is it worth it?” While I realize that some parts of life involve doing things you don’t want to or aren’t passionate about, I want to dry and whittle away at that list of things as much as possible and make sure that every day of my life I’m trading in involves doing at least one thing that I love.

4. Above all, be thoughtful and be kind
In New York, people can be mean. It’s easy to fall into the pattern of ignoring people, brushing past them and keeping your blinders on. And in stressful times, lonely times, or even if you’re just having a bad day, it can be easy to take it out on people around you. I—and I think everyone—am guilty of doing this every now and then. For 2017, I want to consciously put more effort into always being as kind as possible. (Not all New Yorkers deserve a bad wrap!).