Bibi And The City: July 2009

Brunch Date # I lost count now

Beautiful Central Synagogue on Lexington Avenue

After our seriously delicious brunch at Jojo - a quaint Jean-George (famous chef) establishment in New York's Upper East Side.

Posing in front of Columbus Circle

The best lemon-custard tart I have ever tried from Bouchon Bakery :)

Meat Packing District & NYC RW Pick #4

If you can't tell, my sandals are on the left - they broke mid-stroll through the meat packing district.

Luckily Cassie had just bought a pair of shoes and let me borrow the one's she had on!

This is Fig & Olive for brunch in the meat packing district - SO adorable with all the italian style decoration. I didn't include a picture of Vento - another meat packing district restaurant, and Cassie & my NYC RW Pick #3 - because I mistakenly erased it : / But it is a notable place to try....so far, so good. No restaurant has disappointed!

Rosa Mexicano Dinner: NYC RW Pick #2

Tam and I posing in the front as we (impatiently) wait for Cassie because we were craving mexican food badly!

With the guacamole poster for which they are so famous.

They have designated guacamole stands that move around from table to table and freshly prepare their guacamole for the table - and it was completely up to my standards.

NYC Restaurant Week Pick #1

Trying to capture the swanky vibe at Kittichai in the 60 Thompson Hotel - a definite must if in the area!

Most amazing dessert - fresh fruit with white chocolate and some other fruit that makes the dipping sauce pistachio green! I got fried cinnamon bananas with caramel-vanilla ice cream, YUM!

Even the bathroom had a swanky mood with all the fresh flowers and candle-light.

Washington Square at night

THE NYC RESTAURANT WEEK started July 12 and actually lasts 3 weeks until the 31st. My partner in crime, Cassie, and I went to Kittichai after many recommendations from my co-workers at Giorgio Armani Beauty (GAB for short). They all raved about it so we went to check it out - and were not disappointed one bit: the service was amazing, the ambiance was great, and the food above the rest! We only hope it continues this way.

Nick's Visit!

At the Bodies Exhibit (poster in the back right).

Making cinnamon rolls from scratch!

Out double layer, whole wheat, asparagus, mushroom, goat cheese, mozzarella and fresh tomato pizza!

Celebrating the Fourth at my friend Leslie's (from Paris) house in Scarsdale, NY.

I luckily had a 4 day paid! weekend for the 4th of July. Nick came from Wednesday evening through Sunday and we did lots of walking and cooking, and celebrated our four years (!) together. The Fourth was spent at Leslie's with friends from BU, home and Paris - we cooked out and kept it low key - just what I needed. It was a wonderful mid-summer break from all the hustle and bustle of my New York life.

Exploring

Though I am all the way in NYC, my dad is always near!

Famous entrance into Manhattan from Brooklyn.

Court House and "government plaza" with many other city buildings.

The beautiful St. Patrick's Cathedral by my work.

Food, food and more food

Taking a break from the sun and shopping with a wonderful cheese & fruit platter and refreshing chardonnay at a cute, 6 table italian restaurant in the East Village.

Baked by Melissa mini cupcakes on the corner of West Broadway & Spring St. in SoHo - A MUST!
Clockwise from top left: rainbow dye vanilla with cream cheese frosting, cookie dough, and oreo.

Just so you could put them to scale...TINY!

Tam and I got frozen yogurt at the famous Pinkberry located just a few blocks away from our place. I got coconut shavings, raspberries and chocolate chips...BUT after going to Bloomingdale's, they actually have better fro-yo (though I have no picture to show you, trust me!)

New York State of Mind

After work L'Oreal intern happy hour!

1st brunch date (of many to come) with my NYC partner Cassie at the amazing Balthazar's!

Front half of the line waiting for the American Apparel Sample Sale...

Back half...which quickly grew and went around two blocks!

To get used to the New Yorker way of life, the intern's organized an after-work happy hour to socialize and forget about the stress. My friend Cassie - who is my go-to lady this summer and fashionista right-hand woman in Boston - grabbed brunch at the uber chic Balthazar's, walked around the East Village and window shopped, went to a sample sale and rounded out the evening by shopping in SoHo...how's that for quickly adapting to this lifestyle :)

Weekend In Boston

Walking around Chloe's neighborhood in Beacon Hill and admiring the iron work.

John Kerry's home covered in beautiful vines.

Flowers in full bloom in the public gardens :)

I went to Boston the 3rd week after arriving to NYC to visit my friend from Paris, Chloe, and my roommate at BU, Steph. It was a beautiful weekend in Boston - a great escape from the terrible weather drowning everyone in NYC. Though it was short, it was very nice to go back since I hadn't been there since mid-December the year before!

Puerto Rican Day Parade

Me and Tam wearing red, white and blue to represent!

Largest Puerto Rican flag I have seen...it took at least 12 people holding it from each side to keep it off the ground!

Telemundo was there - naturally - interviewing people on the side.

More dancing from youth groups in the NYC area.

On the 2nd weekend in June the Puerto Rican community in NYC throws a very large parade to celebrate their independance and their heritage. Celebrities from all over come to support this event and previous attendees include Ricky Martin, Jennifer Lopez, Mark Anthony, etc. Anyone and everyone who enjoys Puerto Rican music, food and entertainment comes and lines up all along 5th avenue.