Tuesday, December 22, 2015

NYC at Christmas Time

Derek and I made an overnight trip over the weekend up to NYC, partly to celebrate my birthday, partly to see the Christmas décor and partly to re-visit his old hotel.  For years Derek managed the food department for The Lowell hotel on the upper east side of Manhattan.  New York always brings back lots of memories as I'd take the train into the city, meet him after work and either go out to eat, wander around or just head back to his house in New Jersey.

We had the best time and enjoyed the best weather, finally some actual Christmas like temps!



We drove up to New York early Saturday morning and did some wandering around Greenwich Village, picked up some of my favorite cupcakes at Magnolia Bakery, made a visit to the "Friends" apartment building (long time on my bucket list!) and grabbed some mexican for lunch at a little spot, mole, that was nicely decorated for Christmas.

hanging around outside of the "Friends" apartment building

I am not a coffee gal or even really a hot drink person but we had some time to kill and Derek was getting coffee so I grabbed a hot chocolate.  First and last red cup of the season.

I'll never turn down mexican for lunch.  Or a glass of sangria.

Post lunch we switched areas and moved over to the upper east side before strolling through central park and grabbing some photos of the fabulous skyline from the big rock.  We'd been to and through the park many times but never up to the rock.


The rest of the afternoon was spent walking up Fifth Avenue and checking out the light displays, admiring the tree, picking up some ornaments at Bryant Park's Christmas Village, taking Park and Madison Avenues to get back to the hotel to avoid the crazy crowds, picking up a second round of cupcakes at Baked by Melissa and popping into the container store for some final additions to the wrapping paper theme for this year.


It was great to be back at The Lowell.  Derek visited with many of his old work friends and we rested our worn out feet by the fireplace while sipping some cocktails.  The hotel even had a birthday cake waiting for me! Even though it was chilly I enjoyed taking in the view that our terrace had to offer.


Something I really wanted to was a carriage ride through Central Park, we'd done one over the summer before but it's worlds better during the holiday season.


We had time to spare before dinner so like every one else in New York we headed to see the tree lit up (I've never seen it as crowded as it was tonight!) and the other Christmas displays in the area as well as a glass of champagne at The Peninsula to kill some time and enjoy their live carolers.


We walked over to Mastro's for dinner.  We fell in love with this chain in California and always go when we are there.  It was so thrilling to see a Matros's opened in New York about a year or so ago.  I get the scallops appetizer as an entrée every single time (the sauce is ah-mazing) and Derek gets some form of steak and of course a few sides are split.


I think I was in bed just after 11 (can't hang like I used to!) while Derek visited downstairs with some of his old friends.  Overnight the food poisoning kicked in so we'll just skip to my birthday morning, I was so happy to wake up feeling much much better.  I took advantage of the quite large bathtub and we split some eggs benedict for breakfast by the fire and enjoyed some delicious hot chocolate.


We visited with some of our friends by the tree (where else) for a bit before heading for an amazing New York style pizza at a place with great Christmas decor and then each stopping to buy a little holiday treat for ourselves at Ralph Lauren and Tory Burch.


It was an amazing birthday weekend that went far to fast but I enjoyed every second of it.  Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the sweet birthday wishes yesterday! It made the "day after Birthday day" a little more bearable!

40 comments:

  1. You guys packed so much into a day and half - it's amazing!! You saw it all and did it all!! I'm sure those cupcakes were delicious! xo, biana -BlovedBoston

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  2. What a beautiful and fun trip! NYC at Christmastime is so magical.

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  3. You guys packed in so much! I looove NYC around Christmas time. I hope you had a great birthday and that you are feeling better!

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  4. What a gorgeous hotel! And I love that you guys found the Friends apartment building, all my trips to the city I've never seen it. There is seriously nothing like New York at Christmas time <3

    Green Fashionista

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  5. What a fun trip! You guys got so much done and your hotel looks so cute! <3, Pamela Sequins & Sea Breezes

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  6. Beautiful pictures! It's so nice that you live within driving distance to NYC and can go overnight! So glad to hear that your food poisoning didn't last too long either!
    Sarah at MeetTheShaneyfelts

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  7. Looked like a blast!!! I've never been to Magnolia's...might have to make a stop :) Merry Christmas!

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  8. OH wow, NYC sure knows how to do Christmas. I think there is something special about the city around the holidays, I love how pretty and festive it feels. Looks like quite a fabulous birthday celebration!

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  9. seriously your birthday weekend could not have looked more fun! from magnolia (my absolute fav) to the carriage ride and the hotel (yay memories!) and everything in between. also can we talk about your winter accessorizing is kinda awesome? :)

    xoxo cheshire kat

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  10. What a great post!! You guys are so cute together!

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  11. I am dying to visit NYE at Christmas-time, everything looks so gorgeous! And sooo glad to hear your food poisoning didn't last too long and you didn't even miss a beat!

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  12. Love a Christmas trip to NYC. My husband and I are headed there this weekend to see our friends and I can't wait--it's always such a good time and your photos look like it was for you!!

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  13. Looks like an amazing birthday weekend! I so badly want to visit NY around the holidays....bucket list for sure! Happy belated birthday!

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  14. You guys are just the cutest!

    What a fun little getaway. I want a birthday like that... minus the food poisoning. ;)

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  15. That looks like such a fun trip! Christmas in New York looks magical. I love it. :)

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  16. You got some great photos! There's nothing like Christmas in New York!

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  17. Wow what a great trip!! You really squeezed in sooo much. That carriage ride looks like soo much fun, and I always love seeing everything decorated for Christmas.

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  18. What an awesome time spent in and around the city. I'd say you had a great and looked fabulous while doing it. NYC is so pretty at night. So jelly you got to make a quick trip. Much deserved I'm sure!

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  19. What a fun trip! Love that you went by the Friends apartment and the carriage ride through Central Park sounds amazing!! Sorry you were so sick but glad you felt better to enjoy your birthday the next day!
    Kelsey
    www.thepeacockroost.com

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  20. Looks like a fantastic weekend! I never get tired of NYC around the holidays - it's magical!

    http://michellespaige.com

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  21. Wow! That sounds like a dream! What a fun trip! And happy belated birthday! I wish I could go to NYC just for a night. That'd be a huge trip for us. I would LOVE to do the exact trip that you did though...on the list for someday!

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  22. Awe, what a fun and amazing birthday weekend! Visiting NYC during the holidays is on my bucket list - it looks so fun and magical. I'm glad that you had a wonderful birthday!

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  23. Fantastic pictures! It just doesn't feel like Christmas until I take a December evening stroll through Central Park (and I love that you picked up both of my favorite cupcakes!)

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  24. It sounds like you hit all the highlights of NYC during Christmas perfectly! And thank goodness for temps that actually feel like Christmas! It's in the 80s here in Texas and it's miserable! That's so awesome that y'all got to catch up with Derek's friends from his old job too! I bet that he knows a ton of secrets about NYC since he used to live there!

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  25. What a wonderful, wonderful weekend! I've never been to NYC before, but my husband has. I'd love to go during the holidays. It just seems so much more beautiful!

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  26. Man, you guys packed soooo much into such a short trip!! And you're making me miss NYC so incredibly much! Glad you guys had such a fun time!

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  27. Born and raised in upstate NY, going to the city was always a favorite time for me. Your photos brought back memories. Looks like you had a wonderful time and your pictures captured it all magnificently. Thanks for sharing with us on Tuesday Talk today. Merry Christmas.

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  28. This look like so much fun and really romantic :) I'm glad you were able to celebrate your birthday in there too! Can I just say how beautiful you look in all of these photos! Hope you have a merry christmas and a happy new year.

    liz @ sundays with sophie

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  29. Such a wonderful weekend. You guys always take the best pictures! Definitely a way to celebrate your birthday, get away and visit old friends!

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  30. Looks like a fabulous trip! This makes me want to plan a trip to NYC! So cute that you got to check out the Friends apartment! :)

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  31. Dang girl!! That sounds great, other than the food poisoning. I love that you went to the Friends apartment. I totally would too. Looks like so much fun. :)

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  32. What a perfect weekend! NYC during the Christmas season is my absolute favorite! We used to make monthly trips up there when we lived in Delaware. Next time you go around Christmas, you must get some wine at Morell which has the perfect view of the Rockefeller tree! I'm also a big fan of how the South Street Seaport decorates for Christmas. AND most importantly, you must ice-skate in Central Park because it is way way better than Rockefeller Center, plus it's such a beautiful scene from Serendipity! P.S. You look gorgeous in all these photos!

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  33. Girl, you know how to DO a weekend. That is so much to do. Looks like a total blast. Your lipstick in the top photo is on point, girl! Thanks so much for linking up. :)

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  34. What a perfect birthday weekend- this looks like a blast!! I've never been to NYC during the holidays so I WILL be making that happen soon.... and the carriage ride. That's a must-do! Hope you have a great Christmas!!

    xo, Kristina
    Medicine & Manicures

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  35. Your birthday weekend looked wonderful! The hotel was absolutely breathtaking! I've always wanted to visit NYC for Christmas. Hope you have a great holiday! xo, Champagne&Suburbs

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  36. Your birthday weekend looked picture perfect! It sounds like it was so much fun and makes me wish I could go to NYC one year at Christmas time and not just in the summer! I also love all of your winter accessories :)

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  37. I love the city at Christmas time (minus the crowds)! Your room looked awesome! Love that it had a terrace!! Perfect birthday escape!! ;)

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  38. You visited all my favorite spots, what a fun trip! Your hotel looks precious! My sister lives on the Upper East Side, we always enjoy the restaurants and shopping in the area! Xo, Stephanie

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  39. Such a fun trip!! So sorry you got food poisoning - that is the worst!!Sounds like it didn't keep you down though! You did some amazing things and I'm definitely going to have to keep these as tips for a future trip :)

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