pit stop

Before the actual 'vacation' part of our spring break this year, I found myself again in NYC with Brian, just for a day before our flight to Punta Cana. Started the day off right though, with a steamy bowl of ramen from Ippudo. We sat at the bar so could see the chefs hard at work.


With pork and egg and miso deliciousness


Tried and true favourite destinations for a stress-free, thinking-free day: SoHo again.



All roads lead to Chinatown? We somehow always find ourselves in Chinatown at the end of the day with a cup of bubble tea.


I think I just miss Chinese food and snacks. Food pretty much guides my life. Here we're picking up a bag of mini egg cakes (but I must say that the ones in Toronto are better. I like it when they come in a sheet so you can eat the crispy parts first!).





See you again soon New York! I'll be there all of this summer, and I'm really looking forward to making and sharing more photos of this beautiful city then!

GTHC

So Duke is crazy and we have this thing where if our basketball team beats University of North Carolina at home, we get to burn benches. I don't know either, but it's fun and ridiculous (almost as ridiculous as camping out in the cold for months to get into the game to begin with). On Feb 13th this year (I completely forgot that I had taken these pictures until now, oops) we beat them 73-68, hence the fiery inferno and festivities.

the city that never sleeps

For Martin Luther King Jr. Day long weekend in January, I flew up to New York City to visit my favourite boy in his new home for his semester away. We spent our first day back together braving the chill in Times Square for the quintessential Big Apple experience that I hadn't had in years.

I love big cities! All of the people and buildings and cars and food... I don't know how I survive without them.

And how I've missed public transport since coming back to school! We could actually go places! As a sufferer of the TTC when I'm back home, the NYC Metro had me drooling with their infinite lines.

I feel like we spent half our trip underground.

The city that never sleeps.

The next day we headed over to Momofuku Ssam Bar for lunch. This was their delicious bowl of duck on rice with a chive pancake. We were worried that it was going to be packed when we got there at 12, but apparently we hadn't adjusted properly for New York dining hours. New Yorkers eat so late!

We wandered the city for the rest of the day, stopping in different districts to take in the sights and sounds, starting with SoHo.

Sushi dinner at Kotobuki Manhattan.

Spent a little bit of time after brunch on the third day to stroll through quaint Brooklyn.

Got to Central Park somehow and headed towards the Met in the cold. The warm weather is one thing I did miss about North Carolina.

We've already talked about how I like to watch people in museums... no need to elaborate more. I love how the Met is free, and the idea of being able to go there every day to look at one of their many exhibitions at a time makes me want to stay in NYC so badly. (Good thing that I'm staying there this summer, eh?)

Stunning light in the sculpture atrium

Food carts and trucks are such a staple in NYC. Never actually got to eat from one though! Next time.

For my last day in the city, I ventured out on my own to the Flatiron District to meet up with an old friend who has also been temporarily implanted in NYC.

We grabbed some pasta at Eataly, Mario Batali's enormous, maze-like Italian marketplace.

Brian picked me up after and we walked a little through Chelsea until it started snowing big fat snowflakes on us, then we called it a day. I so do not miss Canadian weather.

Back in Brooklyn for the night.

Manhattan from Brooklyn. Can't wait until the next time I'm back in beautiful NYC!

warmth / chill

A much delayed post from my lovely winter break! With a new wider blog format too, for bigger pics. Everyone likes bigger pics.



Break was filled with plenty of eating and relaxing with my family, friends, and kitties. I had time to bake too- mastered the chocolate chip, ginger, and brownie cookies.


Lots of family dinners. This is my little cousin Justin waiting on dessert.


We had a delicious, albeit non-traditional, Christmas dinner at home.



Presents!


First time over at Billy Bishop airport to pick up Brian. Right after the big snow.


Touristing in the cold



Poor boy had never had a Kinder Surprise before. Can't believe these little pods of happiness and childhood are illegal in America!


Black cod at Lee. Can't get enough fusion!


Winter sangria at Insomnia with some friends. Was not excited to return to America's silly drinking age laws.


Home base. Miss public transit too.


Brian's first poutine experience! Poutini's House of Poutine makes the best in Toronto.


Completed the meal down the street with delicate macarons from Nadege


Escaping the chill in Cafe Pamenar with a hot cup of chai and my favourite boy