NYC Guide - What to EAT & WEAR

Today I am sharing where I ate on my NYC trip.

 JOSEPH LEONARD

Isn't this restaurant quaint?  The whole restaurant is 620 square feet - total.  The few times I have eaten there - I have sat at the bar - both at the lower level and the upper level. Sitting at the upper bar is a lot of fun because you can see outside to the street and over the entire restaurant.  It is located in the West Village on Christopher Street, and I highly recommend it if you are visiting the city - and want to experience the NYC vibe - and excellent food.

My meal:
I had the peach and dandelion salad, which was very good - but super spicy.  Get ready!  I also had the BBQ ribs, which was a special that night and not on the regular menu. It was excellent, and was served with peaches (my favorite) and a farro salad.

My husband's meal:

Smoked Chicken - served with sweet corn. He loved it!

For dessert:

Salted caramel pudding.  If you like chocolate and caramel - you will love it!

Fun fact: The restaurant name - Joseph Leonard - was derived from the first names of the owner's grandfathers.

JEFFREY'S GROCERY

The place is just as cozy as Joseph Leonard - and owned by the same people.  The food is excellent!  I sat next to the railing in the middle, which is actually a stairway to the storage in the basement.  Most small restaurants in NYC have either their kitchen or storage in the basement because of limited space upstairs.

My meal:
I had the watermelon and cucumber salad - who would think something as simple as watermelon, pickled cucumbers, radishes and arugula - could be so good. It was hands-down my favorite! I liked it so much I went out and bought a mint plant when I got home, so I can re-create it at home.  I just wish I had gone there for lunch one day - peach panzanella salad and a cheeseburger with old bay fries with malt vinegar aioli.  And, why did I go to Chipotle instead?!?

My husband's meal:

He ordered a fish dish - and loved it!  And, a few oysters - and liked them, too! (I skipped the oysters - I had a bad experience with them years ago, which has scared me away them - probably forever!)

Dessert:

The ice cream shop around the corner - see below.

ROSEMARY'S

I love this place. There is a rooftop garden; and, it just feels like NYC when all the people are packed-in (but not in an uncomfortable or intruding way at all).  Also, sitting so close, I love eavesdropping dropping on others' conversations (probably shouldn't admit this), but I enjoy listening to their engaging conversations - like how the couple next to us will never take their children to the zoo, rather they will go on a safari.

My meal:
I got the  cavatelli with English peas and mint.  Yummy!  You would think it would be heavy with pasta and ricotta - but it is light and refreshing.  I ate the whole thing - which rarely happens with my meals, except for when it comes to dessert.

ICE & VICE

My feet were killing me by the time we got to this place - but it was definitely worth it.  I love ice cream - and in my opinion, the artisan, "one of a kind" ice cream flavors are replacing the cupcake craze of a few years ago.

My flavors:

Happy Panda - described as East meets West - made of coconut milk and cinnamon. The initial taste is somewhat watery but the flavors quickly develop afterwards.
Milk Money - The toasted milk intrigued me, along with the chocolate ganache.

My husband's:

9AM - Coffee with a donut truffle - what isn't to like about that mix.
Shade - Dark chocolate with white chocolate ganache - equally as good.

Needless to say, my husband didn't want to overeat - so I finished his ice cream - so I got to try all four.  And, I can't pick which was my favorite, they were all very good.

VAN LEEUWEN ARTISAN ICE CREAM

This place was around the corner from where we were staying!  I think we stopped by a couple of times - and it got me through some long afternoons of walking.  

My flavors:

Mint Chip: Made without the food coloring - so mint ice cream that looks like vanilla.

Ginger:  Ginger ice cream with chunks of crystalized ginger. 

Both were really good - and I ended up getting the same thing both times. 

WHAT TO WEAR - NYC STYLE

The one thing about NYC style is that I felt really "MIDWEST" when I was there.  I follow fashion and try to dress on-trend, but New Yorkers have their own unique twist on how they dress.  They follow the same trends - for the most part - but they put they own uniqueness to what they wear that you do not find in blogs or magazines.

One thing I noticed was that men wore there pants - SHORT - like floods.  I noticed this right-away, and then once I did, the guys that had baggier, longer pants looked so out of style.  Showing off your socks - is the way to go.  So, if you hemming a pair of pants for your husband, brother, boyfriend - encourage them to go a little trimmer and shorter - and show-off some happy socks!  Now, this is a trend that I think will carry-over into the bigger cities, which I am sure already has.

A few trends that I saw in NYC that are on trend everywhere are fringe, gladiator sandals, and summer dresses.  Here are a few options.  Also, don't forget about the #NSale, which ends August 4.

FRINGE

GLADIATOR SANDALS

SUMMER DRESSES

Shoes to Shiraz | Two Teens and their Mama | Nick and Nik 

R Squared  | Confessions of a Frumpy Mommy 

The Mishaps and Mayhem of Solitary Life |  Quilty Joy Joy

 Daily Style Finds |  Foxy's Domestic Side | Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After 

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