A few weeks ago I got to spend a weekend in NYC with my mother-in-law, Patti, and my sister-in-law, Tricia. Tricia and her husband are expecting their first baby (a girl, how fun is that?) and we decided that we should all get away for a girl’s weekend in the big apple before the baby arrives in the fall.
We decided to fly out on Thursday night so that we would have all day Friday and Saturday in the city, then we’d fly home early Sunday morning .
We had an uneventful flight aside from the REALLY loud women in the row behind us. The screeched and screamed so loudly that they kept scaring us. Ugh – why can’t adults just act like adults once in awhile?
We took a cab into the city from LaGuardia and as we approached our hotel, the street was closed for nighttime construction. Rather than go around the block, our cab driver kicked us out! We had to walk the last few blocks with our bags. This was the first of many weekend episodes with cab drivers – it kills me that they’re so picky. Going downtown around (cab-driver) shift change? Forget it.
We stayed near 34th and 6th, a little bit south of Times Square. After dropping our bags in our room, we walked to Times Square in search of some food. I love the energy of New York; the streets are still crazy busy at midnight.
Friday morning we slept in a bit (this is a real treat for me – I NEVER get to sleep past 6:30 or maybe 7:00) and then we met Barbara and her daughter Annie, friends who live on Long Island, for lunch at the Standard Grill. I had THE BEST watercress, grapefruit and avocado salad w/ a lemon juice dressing. Yum.
Then it was off to do some shopping – first we stopped at M&J Trimmings so that Patti could pick up ribbon for the hair bows she makes for Sienna – she also has to start building a stash for Tricia’s baby now too! (Can you tell I’m excited for another girl-baby to join the family?) Our next stop was the Rosie Pope store on the Upper East Side. Her assistant from the show, LT, helped Tricia and he was even sweeter and funnier than he is on the show. Tricia found a great dress for a wedding and some other fun summer pieces. Maternity clothes are so much cuter now than when I was pregnant with Sienna five years ago (and don’t even get me started on what they looked like when I was pregnant with Jake 12 years ago).
After Rosie Pope we made our way to Saks and stopped for a cold drink in one of their small café’s. It was a perfect break while there was a torrential downpour outside. Then we hit up the shoe department. Did you know that Sak’s shoe department has its own zip code? I didn’t know either, but it does. It is also shoe heaven. I have never seen more Choo, Louboutain, Blahnick, Gucci, Fendi, and Atwood in one place. I think it would be possible to spend an entire day there.
We had dinner reservations at Balthazar Friday night. After a LONG wait to find a cab in the pouring rain, we were on our way to Soho for a yummy dinner. Balthazar is a fun people-watching place that happens to have really great food too. We all had burgers with frites and I had a martini too!
Saturday we started the day at a street fair in Times Square (nothing like smelling street meat first thing in the morning) and then we went back to Soho for an afternoon of shopping. I swear I could spend DAYS shopping there! All Saints is a must, as is TopShop. (I’m so glad they’re both in Chicago now – All Saints has already opened and TopShop opens this fall. Yay!) Tricia’s friend Susan met us in Soho and after some shopping, she took us to see her new apartment on the Upper West Side, near the park. It was a really beautiful apartment – what an amazing place to call home!
Saturday night we had dinner at BLT Steak on W. 57th with Susan and her husband, Jerome. The food was delicious and the company and conversation were great. It was hard to believe that our time in New York was over – we had an early flight home the next morning – it was Father’s Day and we wanted to get home to see the guys (and I wanted to see the kiddos too!)
I love any chance I get to spend time in New York – I only wish I could do it more. Since the next few months will be focused on Ironman training, maybe I can talk Mac into a trip back to the city as a treat after the race!
