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Personal November 4, 2013

Whirlwind Trip to NYC

I love, love, love New York City. It has so much energy. I adore walking around all day long, eating far too much (delicious) food, acting like a total tourist with my big Nikon DSLR, getting excited about things I’ve now seen numerous times, like Central Park and the Empire State Building. I spent a very brief 36-ish hours in NYC this weekend with a good friend of mine – play-by-play itinerary below. What are your favorite things to do in the city? We’re thinking about making this an annual trip, so I welcome suggestions!

Friday

Landed around 2:30 and took an Uber cab to the Ace Hotel
Walked to Eataly and roamed around, then went to nearby Mangia for a quick salad
Walked to the observatory level of the Empire State Building (totally worth doing once)
Returned to the hotel and drank at their very hipster bar
Walked to Almond for an early pre-show dinner (I highly recommend this Flatiron spot)
Cabbed to the Al Hirschfield Theater for Kinky Boots (a must see)
Walked through Times Square and then back to the hotel
Step count: 7.5 miles

Saturday

Breakfast at Pastis (we ran into one of my best friends and her boyfriend while walking, so they joined us!)
Sat awkwardly at Pastis while they filmed a movie right beside our table for 30 minutes
Popped into Kate Spade Saturday’s Pop Up Shop
Got a drink at Revel Garden Bar (gorgeous, gorgeous spot)
Strolled through Chelsea Market enjoying the aromas and sample sales!
Walked along the High Line
Left the Meat Packing district and walked to the Gramery Park Hotel bar
Walked to Barbounia for lunch – amazing hummus and falafel and the busiest restaurant I’ve ever been to
Returned to the hotel to freshen up and drop shopping bags, then cabbed it to Barneys (sigh)
Stolled through Central Park as the sun was setting
Went to Kate Spade Madison Avenue – I want it all
Walked to Bloomingdales and spent ages lusting at Equipment blouses
Took a taxi to Market Table, which is a perfect West Village restaurant (try the Brussels sprouts!)
Crossed the street for some froyo at 16 Handles
Walked back to the hotel for an early-ish bed (due to a 5am wakeup)
Step count: 12.5 miles

Kate Spade Madison Avenue changing rooms… I need this wallpaper!

Food October 31, 2013

Making a Pass at Provisions

After hungrily lusting at Provisions for far too long, Sasha and I finally had a double date there on Saturday. Housed in the old Gravitas building (and the even older original Antone’s PoBoy Deli location), this dual-intentioned restaurant (both The Pass and Provisions) tickles all audiences’ fancies, with an elaborate sit-down 7-course meal dinner at the former, and a more relaxed dish-sharing atmosphere for the latter.

The walls are covered with repurposed floorboards from a nearby gymnasium, which gives Provisions a very retro, cool vibe. On one wall, the original lightbulb-ringed Antone’s sign is on display, which is a nice commemorative touch to the building’s original tenant. The entire middle row of tables is adjustable, so you can make one long, communal table or have a dozen two-seaters. In addition to the restaurant’s decor, the unisex bathrooms have a looped soundtrack of Julia Child, whom I adore (partially due to my love of Meryl Streep, who played her in Julie & Julia).

The Pass and Provisions was recently named the #6 best new restaurant in America by Bon Appetit magazine, and I now see why. While not the most vegetarian friendly menu in Houston, our waitress was more than happy to remove the duck eggs from the Brussels sprout appetizer, which was one of the most delicious Brussels sprouts dishes I’ve ever tried. I ordered the Arugula Cress Salad, which was very tasty, but definitely an appetizer sized dish (cue another bowl of Brussels sprouts being ordered for the group).

Owners Terrence Gallivan and Seth Siegel-Gardner

Authentic gymnasium wood floors act as wall panels

The communal table in the middle of the restaurant

The Antone’s sign on the far wall

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Click on all images to link to the source

Fashion October 30, 2013

Collection of Coats

While it’s not quite pea coat weather in Texas, I’m heading to NYC this weekend with a girlfriend of mine, and I wanted to get a new jacket for the trip. I looked high and low to thoroughly assess my options, and ended up getting this J. Crew coat. I adore J. Crew so much – and their winter line is incredible. All of the bejeweled sweaters get me so excited.

I thought I’d share my other considerations. I liked the bright cobalt color of the other J. Crew jacket, and the professionalism of the 3.1 Philip Lim coat. Burberry jackets have always been my favorite, and this pea coat is no exception.

What are your thoughts? Have you been coat shopping this year?

j. crew // burberry // j. crew // rag and bone // joie // 3.1 philip lim

Invitations October 29, 2013

Rustic NY Wedding & Invites

I’m heading to NYC this weekend with a girlfriend of mine, and when I stumbled upon these NY invitations on Oh So Beautiful Paper, I totally swooned. I love the save-the-date so much. The handpainting adds such a unique touch. The venue for this wedding is equally cool.

I decided to do more investigation into the venue via Style Me Pretty – it’s very rustic, and I love it.

Food October 28, 2013

Houston’s Healthy Vegetarian Guide

Houston used to have a rap as being a steakhouse city – a place that vegetarians would avoid while en route to hippie, vegan-friendly Austin. Recently, with the food movement in our city, vegetarian options are becoming more and more prevalent. I’ve made a list of my favorite healthy vegetarian options at some of the best restaurants in Houston. You’ll notice there’s no pizza or pasta options, as I don’t eat either!

Adair Kitchen (Galleria) – Black Bean Quinoa Burger (Lunch), Kale Salad (Dinner)

Baba Yega (Montrose) – Portabella Burger

Backstreet Cafe (River Oaks) – Portabella Burger, Spectacular Veggie Platter

Barnaby’s (Various) – Garden Salad (Without Bacon) and Falafel Patty

Benjy’s (Rice Military and Rice Village) – Curried Quinoa

Cafe Brasil (Montrose) – Hummus and Falafel Plate, Goat Cheese Salad

California Pizza Kitchen (River Oaks) – Roasted Veggie Salad, Quinoa and Arugula Salad

Canopy (Montrose) – Baby Spinach Salad (Substitute Quinoa for Chicken)

Carrabas (The Original on Upper Kirby) – Ensalata Fiorucci

Coppa (Rice Military) – Burrata appetizer, Insalata Tricolore

Corner Table (River Oaks) – Earth Burger (without the bun), sub fries for side salad

The Counter Burger (Rice Military) – Build-Your-Own Vegan Veggie Burger

Harvest Organic Grille (Memorial) – Harvest Eggplant, Veggie Mixed Grill, Chard o Yay

Indika (Montrose) – Paneer and Eggplant Chaat, Vegetarian Tasting Dish

Kiran’s (Highland Village) – Organic Kale Salad, Baby Eggplant, Pindi Channa

Latin Bites (Memorial) – Quinoa Salad

Maryz (Richmond) – Hummus (Best in Houston), Falafel

Pondicheri (Upper Kirby) – Curried Popcorn, Barley Salad, Vishnu Thali

Radical Eats (Montrose) – Knocked Up Avocado Salad

Relish (River Oaks) – Beet Salad

Roost (Montrose) – Fried Cauliflower, Ma Po Tofu

Ruggles Green (CityCentre, Upper Kirby) – Texas Goat Cheese Salad

Uchi (Montrose) – Uchi Salad, Brussels Sprouts

Zoe’s Kitchen (Various) – Vegetarian Kabobs (Hummus Side)

images via Sprouted Kitchen