A Visit to City Kitchen

I was very happy to check out one of the newer food halls, City Kitchen, late last year while in the Times Square area. I use Port Authority bus terminal often going in and out of the city, and this location at 8th Ave and 44th is very convenient. Located inside The Row NYC Hotel (used to be The Milford Plaza, not a favorite of mine), it offers 4,000 square feet of various wonderful food vendors! I find this a great place for me to pop in when waiting for my bus at Port Authority, especially if I want to take some items home with me. The menu's are all very affordable, most items under $10 which is perfect for lunch or when you want an inexpensive dinner quickly. 

Luke's Lobster

Whitman's 

Kuro Obi (a brand-new ramen offshoot from Ippudo),

Azuki Sushi

 ilili Box

Gabriela's Taqueria

Dough

Wooly's Shaved Snow

Sigmund's Pretzels 

I had a chicken empanada which is a homemade mexican turnover filled with Organic chicken sautéed with potato, onions, cilantro & tomato. I have to say, I was underwhelmed with this, it wasn't fresh, just re-heated. I need to try something else at Gabriela's Taqueria as I hear the fish tacos are amazing. I would not do one of these again however. 

A few snaps from City Kitchen instagram account to make you very, very hungry! I really love these food halls, with the different selections of foods. Perfect for groups, or if you want to try one thing from each different vendor, the food hall makes it so darn simple.

Dough doughnuts are always amazing, and I am so glad we are able to purchase them easy in the city with their various locations opening. 

 I will be back here again, for sure, as the location is great for me. There is ample seating as well, you can sit in the food hall area or in the Row NYC hotel lobby. I find many of these places lack enough seating, but this one seems to have a nice amount available. You can also enjoy a lovely view of Times Square from all the large windows to do some people watching. 

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Russ and Daughters Open in Jewish Museum

I am so thrilled of this news this week, Russ & Daughters has opened their location in the Jewish Museum! The Jewish Museum is fabulous in it's own right, but to have this 102-year-old classic which originated in the Lower East Side, makes it just a "wee" better!

The 70 seat sit-down restaurant is now open, with the take out counter to open in the next few weeks. This location is going to have an all-kosher menu, and some items available will be smoked fish platters, knishes, hering, salads, soup and egg cream. The bagels and babka will just blow your mind! I am such a fan of both, and really love a good babka! 

Their original location, which is still open, on Houston Street began in 1914 and is a New York institution. They are also going to be opening a large location in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. So exciting to have Russ and Daughters spread all over New York City for everyone to enjoy! 

The Jewish Museum has a great exhibit coming up about Isaac Mizrahi opening March 18th which I really need to see as have been a fan of his for some time. I hope to show you some of the exhibit as well as some fabulous food from Russ and Daughters once I check it out in person. I cannot wait! 

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Throwback Thursday "Trolley on Broadway"

This street level view shows Broadway looking north from Chambers Street. The building on the left with the red and white striped awnings is The Broadway-Chambers Building constructed from 1899-1900 which is still standing.

It would be so neat to be able to go back in time, and see New York City in this way! The policeman is in the middle of the street directing the traffic! That would not go over too well in 2016. I just love all the details in this postcard, and thrilled it survived for us to enjoy all these centuries later!

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Tasty Pastry Shoppe

I must apologize for this post in the very beginning. Please do not read this if you are hungry! This is NOT a sponsored post by any means. Upon my trip to Bay Ridge, Brooklyn in December, I came across this amazing Italian bakery. It's a small place, but everything is so fantastic! I find these smaller, original places so much better than Carlo's Bakery, who has just become so commercial. I wish I could have purchased more here, but I did take home a lovely Cinnamon Bread, cookies and tried a cannoli. They even had nutella cannoli! If you are ever in this area, run to this bakery. You will not be disappointed, and I hope they stay in business forever! They did tell me via Instagram that they ship non-perishable items, I may be ordering some things in the near future! 

Now for the yummy stuff: 

Prices were very reasonable as well, these cannoli were HUGE for $3.50 

One of my favorite Italian cookies, which I did purchase to take home. They freeze very well. 

One of the BEST cannoli I ever had! Filled all the way through, thick, ricotta filling and crispy shell 

Tasty Pastry Shoppe 

8218 13th Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11228

Hours: 

Tuesday 6:30AM–8PM

Wednesday 6:30AM–8PM

Thursday 6:30AM–8PM

Friday 6:30AM–9PM

Saturday 6:30AM–9PM

Sunday 6:30AM–8PM

Monday Closed

 

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Sofitel New York Hotel Review

This is the first of a series of hotel reviews for New York City for 2016. Trip Adviser lists 469 reviews for hotels in this city that never sleeps! That is a heck of a lot of choices! I feel if you are going to budget for your visit, the hotel stay is not the place to cut funds. I personally look for a hotel that is clean, safe, near public transportation and a great place to relax at the end of a hectic day in the city. If you pick a cheaper hotel that is not near public transportation, or any places you wish to visit, it really isn't going to benefit you in the long run. I am going to suggest you stay in different hotels with each visit, as you get to find out about different areas of the city, and experience their different vibes! Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Midtown, Flatiron, Times Square (my least favorite), Chelsea, Greenwich Village, Soho, Tribeca all have a uniqueness to them. You can really experience the "real" New York City when you get a taste of the character of each neighborhood. I hope these reviews help you to decide where to stay, and as always, if you have any questions about an upcoming trip, please feel free to email me!

Now for a little history about the Sofitel New York, which is part of the Accor Hotels group. This 30-story luxury building is made out of limestone and glass, just beautiful. The hotel is inspired by a French theme and was completed in 2000. This was one of the top hotels on Trip Advisor, so I was really excited about staying here. The location is pretty top notch, you are very near Bryant Park, the NY Public Library, many subway lines, Grand Central and Penn Station. The bottled water and chocolates above were a nice touch when I arrived in the suite. I was shocked this hotel was listed in the Times Square/Broadway area, but it is close, but you are not near the craziness of Times Square. This is a great hotel if you are doing a Broadway show, as you are within walking distance of most theaters.

Positives: 

• gorgeous suite upgrade
• the views from each of the 2 windows
• comfy heavenly bed 
• 2 thermostats 
• 2 televisions
• candle with matches in the bathroom along with fresh orchids
• fresh orchids in the sitting area 
• rain shower that was so relaxing 
• soaking tub
• Hermes bath products 
• beautiful lobby and lobby scent amazing
• stellar location 
• art work in hotel areas as well as the room itself
• friendly, helpful staff
• big closet space 
• Charlie Chaplin movies in the elevator 
• welcome gifts of chocolate and gourmet desserts
• plenty of room to walk around in the suite
• apple computers in lobby area 

Negatives: 

• Daily Resort Fee $17.21 (as of 06/25/19) 
• tissue box not full in bathroom
• television didn't have many channels, and not all were digital 
• no coffee or tea maker in the room 

Sofitel New York
45 W 44th Street
New York, NY 10036
212-354-8844

4 star hotel
Boutique Style with 398 luxury guest rooms including 52 suites
Location: Broadway - Times Square
Valet Parking for a fee
Fitness Center
Business Center
Free WiFi in public areas and hotel rooms
Pets are allowed, charges may apply
Trip Advisor Ranking 64 of 469 (as of 02/16/16)
Trivago Rating 89 out of 100 (as of 02/15/16)
Price Range $216-$644 us dollars

Hotel prices are at their lowest in the months of January and February; their highest September and October. Sunday nights are the lowest prices for hotel rooms, in most cases. My go to places for checking prices for hotels are Trivago, Trip Advisor, Hotels.com and Travelzoo. I am learning quite a bit about booking hotels during this process of featuring different hotels on this blog. 

Always remember to check the hotel's website itself, they are really trying to have you book direct and sometimes offer specials or a discount with AAA that is cheaper than the websites I mentioned above. I am also finding that if you book on your mobile device, you can save some money as well. I actually got a better rate via my mobile phone than using my AAA discount online direct at the hotel. You should really do some research on your price for hotel a few different ways, and ALWAYS book a room that you can cancel, you never know what may happen in the future. 

Remember to take into account for your total cost the NYC Hotel tax of 14.75% plus Daily $2.00 per room occupancy fee.

Would I reserve a night at the Sofitel New York again? In a heartbeat, yes! I really loved my stay here, and when I am in the area, need to pop in to see what they scent the lobby with! Each time I came back to the hotel, the smell was so inviting! The location is perfect, and I even found a new diner to enjoy, the Red Flame, for future visits! I also enjoyed breakfast at db Bistro Moderne which was a place I have always wanted to visit. 

My rating for this hotel, on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being perfect in every way, is a 9. 

Be sure to sign up for my future posts, so you do not miss the next hotel review. You can also follow me on Instagram for live photos during my stay, and see where the next stay will be! 

Disclosure: This stay was paid for by me. I will always state at the end of each review whether my stay was paid for by myself or if I was hosted by the hotel. I will honestly tell you about my experience at this hotel, not being swayed in any way by complimentary services. I know you value my opinion, and it is important to me to be as honest as possible. All opinions are my own. Thank you so much.

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My 12 Go-To Spots in NYC

As much as I tell you to visit different places when in New York City, I do find certain places that I tend to go to on a regular basis when I am there. I usually get a bus in for the day, and the bus leaves me off around Madison Avenue and 48th Street. I tend to patronize places in that area for the convenience of it all. When you do find a place you like, say for dining, you feel comfortable going back because you know it’s wonderful. I do like the idea of walking in a place and knowing exactly where everything is, where to go and what to do. It just feels nice.

Le Pain Quotidien is for sure one of my faves. They have many locations in the city, and they are great for breakfast, lunch, dinner or a snack. Sometimes I don’t want to spend a large amount of money for dinner, or I just want something light, this is always a fantastic choice. I prefer this to say, Starbucks, because I have a Starbucks in my hometown, and I like to visit different places when in the city.

The Food Court at The Plaza Hotel is a place I visit pretty often. I love The Plaza, it’s so gorgeous and has so much history. I have had afternoon tea many times at the Palm Court, never been disappointed. The Food Court is so fun, I love all the selections, but prefer it on a weekday than the weekend, weekends are just so crowded. I like the newer places they have added, and still need to actually try a few of them yet. A nice varied selection of food items from caviar to pizza to crepes. My kind of place!

TopShop is a favorite shopping place. I was thrilled when they opened on Fifth Avenue, because the other location in Soho was not as convenient. They do sell online, but it is fun to pop in and see what new items they have available. I like this store because it's original, based in the UK, and they are not in too many US places. 

The Pomme Palais in The Lotte New York Palace hotel is a gem. The pastry and savory foods are to die for, and it’s a good place for me to grab a bite while waiting for my bus home. I also like to use their bathrooms, you must remember to use the hotel lobby bathrooms when needed. They are always going to be clean and you don’t have to worry about it at all. The crab cake sandwich is oh so tasty and a St Honore makes you grin from ear to ear.

Christie’s is one of my favorite places. A total gem of an auction house, so much history, and it’s FREE! The location in Rockefeller Center is very convenient, and you never know what you will find when you pop in the place. One time I went in, they were doing the auction for Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, I had the opportunity to see a stuffed Trigger! It was pretty darn amazing, and I was able to take photos as well which was even more awesome! I attended the historic Elizabeth Taylor auction at Christie’s, and it was something I will remember forever. It was epic, classic and just over-the-top. We had to pay to attend this one, it was well worth it, and I wished I had bought a second ticket to go one more time. The folks who work at Christie’s are some of the nicest people; they do not make you feel uncomfortable while admiring the historic items on display. If you are a jewelry lover, you can see some most amazing displays of gems, they almost look too much to be real!

Metropolitan Museum of Art is a place I have been going since I was a little girl. I can never get enough of it, and now that I am actually press for the museum, it blows my mind! It is such an honor to be press for one of the best museums in the world. Every exhibit is done with total class and elegance. I was lucky to see the Alexandar McQueen exhibit here, it was really more like an art exhibit than a fashion exhibit. The above photo was taken from the roof, a place when it is a nice day, is a MUST see! 

City Lobster and Steak is a frequent restaurant due to the location. I am a HUGE seafood lover, and their choices are always very yummy. They also offer pre-fixe selections for lunch and dinner, which is helpful if you are looking for a better meal deal. They are pretty popular for those seeing a Broadway show, but I think once you have dined here, you will be back for more. Their salmon just melts in your mouth! My faves are the City's Lobster Chowder, New England Jumbo Seared Scallops and Housemade Profiteroles. I am officially hungry now.

Baked by Melissa is probably an obsession of mine. I guess I could be obsessed with worse things! These little cuppies are so darn tootin’ adorable! They make for a great gift to bring back to family and friends, which I do often. I like them because of their size, and they are such a nice small treat to enjoy. They have good taste as well, their February 2016 cupcake flavor is "Cannoli". Don’t be afraid to try the ones that are covered in chocolate, they are such a treat! I am going to be trying their new macarons soon, and cannot wait to tell you all about them. They have added more locations in the city, which makes it easier to pick them up to take home, or just eat while you walk around the city!

Grand Central Terminal is a classic New York City instutition. A great place for a bit of shopping as well as dining is why I love stopping here often. You will find wonderful choices for dining in the lower level, as well as the food market. The food market is great to purchase some items to take home, or back to your hotel to enjoy. I love the fact that you have all these top-notch selections under one roof, makes it easy for a group to dine if they are all looking for different cuisines. It’s a fun place to people watch as well, which I often do when just taking a break from walking all over the city.

Café Sabarsky – A MUST when you are in the Upper East Side, possibly visiting the Met perhaps. A coffee house as those found in Vienna, Austria. I am obsessed with anything Vienna, and I do need to visit there one of these days. This café is located in a museum, the Neue Galerie, home to the famous gold lady painting Adele Bloch-Bauer I (1907) by Gustav Klimt . You can have breakfast, lunch or an early dinner here. The desserts are works of art, makes you feel bad eating them, but you must and the savory is pretty darn good too! The way they present you the coffee is first class. I can’t recommend this place enough and I am anxious to visit again very soon!

Sant Ambroeus is an Italian heaven. I first experienced this place in the Hamptons location. I had dinner with a few friends while on a day trip there, and it was just out-of-this-world! Everything here is done right. They have a few locations in the city, one is near the Met which is a great option for dining before or after your visit. You will find pastries here that will blow your mind, and are fantastic to take home, or give as gifts to family and friends. You can enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner here and with the nice selection of locations, you have some flexibility. I know you will thank me for alerting you to this place! Your welcome!

Bloomingdales and 40 Carrots is probably one of my most FAVORITE places in the city! I have been going here since I was a little girl, and it is still magical for me when I walk in those doors! Bloomies to me just screams NYC, and nothing beats going to their flagship shop on Lexington Avenue. Their accessory, handbag, jewelry and shoe departments are probably my favorites. 40 Carrots has evolved since I started going there, but I still feel they should have made it much larger. It is so busy most of the time, better on a weekday than a weekend, but it’s worth it to wait in line to enjoy a meal. The yogurt is heavenly, and the peanut butter has to be my favorite. I like the salad trio which gives you chicken, egg and tuna salad to enjoy. The pretzel rolls just make me smile. Whoever invented the pretzel roll, I thank you from the bottom of my heart!

What are your favorite "go-to" places in New York City ? 

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