For my third installment of my Home travel series, I’m highlighting my current home, the one I got to choose, New York City. I wanted to live in NYC my whole life, but I remember being overwhelmed by it when I first visited for my 16th birthday. I enjoyed the trip, but it wasn’t quite what I was expecting. I still dreamed of moving there one day, but also broadened my big city dreams to include other possibilities. When I graduated from college, I was totally broke, so moving to NYC wasn’t really an option at that point, and if I’m being completely honest, I think fear was really what really held me back. One day at work a few years later, I asked myself if my current job was what I wanted to do or if I still wanted to do fashion. I realized in that moment that I did not want to give up on fashion, and if I really wanted to go for it, I needed to move to NYC. I did four months later.
When I first got to the city, I remember being exhausted for the first several weeks. It was overwhelming and such a different way of living. It didn’t take me very long to fall in love with this city, though. NYC can be polarizing – some people love it, some people hate it – so I wanted to share some of my favorite local gems that make me so happy to call this beautiful city home.
- Pisticci – If you’re willing to venture uptown, try this neighborhood gem. If you like Italian food, you cannot beat Pisticci! Everything I’ve had here is delicious, but my current favorite is the Penne Pisticci. I also love that they source their food locally from a farm upstate!
- La Lanterna di Vittorio – If you’re looking for a delicious pizza spot, this is the place for you. I love any excuse to go to the West Village and this is one of my all-time favorite spots. There’s usually a short wait and they have the cutest covered garden in the back with giant lanterns that look like they’re made of paper-mache, really adding to the festive nature.
- Conservatory Garden – I don’t think I realized how much I liked being outside until I moved to NYC, so living near parks has been a real life-line for me! One of my favorite spots in Central Park is the Conservatory Garden. It’s in the Northern end of the park on the East side, so it’s usually less busy than the Southern end. The flowers here are gorgeous and the landscaping makes you feel like you’re in Europe.
- Staten Island Ferry – The Staten Island Ferry is legitimately one of my favorite things to do. I am such a water person; love to see it, be on it, be in it, etc. When I discovered the ferry I made a friend for life. The Staten Island Ferry is also a great way to see the Statue of Liberty and it’s free! There’s not much in life that’s free – especially in NYC – so my recommendation is to take full advantage. If you feel like taking a longer ride and want to venture out to Rockaway beach in Queens, take the Rockaway ferry from Wall Street. It’s only $2.50 one way and is a great escape from the city.
- Bo’s Bagels/Bagel Pub/Bagel Market – This list wouldn’t be complete without a bagel shop recommendation, and I’m giving you three because I can’t decide! Bo’s is in Harlem and is my local favorite. Bagel Pub might actually be my top pick, but it’s a bit of a hike for me, so I don’t get there that often. Bagel Market is my go-to when I’m at the office in Midtown. All are delicious!
- FIT Museum – I love a good museum day, and the FIT Museum is one of my favorites because of its fashion focus. It’s also free, which is always a perk! It’s pretty small in comparison to some of NYC's famous museums like the Met or Museum of Modern Art, so it’s easy to add to your itinerary.
- New York Public Library – Schwarzman Building – I really love this library. It’s so majestic and impressive. This is a research library, so don’t expect to be able to check out books, but it’s a great place to study, look for a job, or just enjoy the building and people watch. You also shouldn’t miss taking a walk to the back of the library and spending some time in Bryant Park. There is so much to do in this park from a carousel, to ping-pong, to chess, to juggling lessons.
- Special Club – This is a new find that instantly became a favorite. Some friends and I stumbled upon this spot one night and it felt like we’d walked into an old-timey movie! It’s a vintage-feeling nightclub that has 2 live music shows each night. The bands I’ve seen there have been really great and it’s one of those quintessential NYC spots.
- Riverside Park – In my opinion, this is one of the most under-rated parks in the city. It’s also the closest park to where I live, so it’s become one of my go-to spots. It’s a gorgeous park that runs the length of the west side of Manhattan. You can get beautiful views of the Hudson River/New Jersey, and also see beautiful gardens as you wander. If you’re a fan of the movie You’ve Got Mail, you’ll want to visit the garden at 91st Street and Riverside Drive which is where the main characters finally meet at the end of the movie. There’s also a great little outdoor bar/restaurant, The Ellington, tucked into the park, if you wander up high enough to find it!
- The Oscar Wilde – This is one of the coolest restaurants/bars around and it’s known for having the longest bar in the city. The decorations are so eclectic, and there is so much to look at everywhere. The food is great and the drink selection is very fun.
