USA – Snapshots & My Thoughts by Ailee Petrovic

City Guide September 30, 2014

New York City Travel Guide

New York, New York: Definitely one of the most overwhelming cities to visit because there is just so much to do and so much to see while you’re there. I’ve visited three times, and during each trip, we packed in a ton of fun activities and delicious restaurants. My nine days in the Concrete Jungle feel like at least three months, as I’ve covered miles and miles of the city by foot (lesson learned the first time: pack comfortable shoes!).

“The glamour of it all! New York! America!”

-Charlie Chaplin

Instead of creating a City Guide like I have in the past, where I outline my favorite restaurants, activities and sites, I’ve created a three day itinerary which includes all of my ‘must do’s’ for NYC. I’ve also made a Google map of these locations, which you can access here. I find the city can be challenging to navigate, so I hope this helps!

Also, if you’re up for church on Sunday, you should definitely go to Hillsong NYC and C3 Brooklyn. I’ve been to the former (it’s incredible), and the latter was started a few years ago by a sweet couple I traveled to Manila with three years ago.

Three perfect days in New York City

Day 1

Eat breakfast at Pastis in the Meatpacking District
Shop at nearby boutiques (favorites include Kate Spade Saturday Pop Up and Rebecca Taylor on Gansevoort Street)
Walk through Chelsea Market – spend time at Artists & Fleas (great vintage jewelry finds)
Get on the High Line and walk it to the end (amazing photo opportunity)
Walk or cab to the Gramercy Park Hotel and have a cocktail in the intimate lobby bar
Eat lunch at nearby Barbounia (never ending bellinis for around $17) or Gramercy Tavern
Take the subway or a taxi to the Empire State Building and go to the observation level (very touristy, but totally worth it), then take a cab to the hotel to get ready for dinner
Enjoy dinner at Market Table (reservation highly recommended)
Get frozen yogurt at nearby 16 Handles
If you’re up for it, take a cab to get a cocktail at PDT (reservation required – I’ve never been, but heard it’s quite the event)

Baby May 30, 2014

Red, White and Blue at Baby Gap

I absolutely love Baby Gap. Their selection of infant clothing is so irresistibly cute, so imagine my excitement when I got a gift card to Gap as part of a recent baby present – especially given their adorable selection of red, white and blue items. My mind skips right ahead to July Fourth… what shall she wear? I am quite aware that dressing up babies is more fun before she is here and making a mess out of everything, but I’m rather in love with clothing, so hope she will (eventually) be too! I put together a few patriotic get-ups using some of the their new arrivals. I love the hats! I’ve already bought her a few. The little chambray espadrilles melt my heart.

Sasha, you’re in trouble (wink, wink).

Outfit 1: Hat // Onesie // Shorts // Shoes

Outfit 2: Hat // Cardigan // Romper // Sandals

Outfit 3: Hat // Shirt // Pants // Espadrilles

Outfit 4: Hat // Dress // Leggings // Shoes

City Guide February 28, 2014

Washington, DC Travel Guide

I was in Washington, DC last weekend for a calligraphy workshop with Meant to Be Calligraphy. Mum came with me on the trip (she’s an amazing calligrapher!), and although we were only in DC for a day and a half, we put on our tourist hats and went all around the city. It was my fourth trip to our nation’s capital – I love it there (pictures of our trip two years ago here). We didn’t get to go to all of my favorite spots, mainly due to time constrictions, but I’ve compiled a “Best of the Best” city guide (according to me). Do you have any suggestions for my next trip to DC? I’m off to San Francisco today! Cannot wait.

Best Restaurants

Rasika (Penn Quarter) – Hands down, the best Indian food of my life – you have to go, and you need to try the crispy spinach appetizer dish

Founding Farmers (Dupont Circle) – My favorite restaurant in DC due to their extensive vegetarian menu (both veggie burgers are amazing), innovative daily popcorn flavors, and ambience

Neyla (Georgetown) – Skip the entrees and order a ton of mezze and you won’t regret it (I’ve tried 6 or 7, and they’re all fantastic)

Austin Grill (Chinatown) – It’s rare for a Texan to want Tex-Mex outside of Texas, but Austin Grill is worth it! Try the Bevo Salad

Zengo’s (Chinatown) – The grilled edamame – enough said – but really, every thing you order is also delicious

SweetGreen (Capitol Hill) – My favorite salad bar style restaurant in the world – add falafel or tofu (or a million other options) as protein to your salad!

Ted’s Bulletin (Capitol Hill) – I’m not a huge breakfast person, but this place is good (tasty granola and 10 Grain Hot Cereal) and always busy

Busboys and Poets (Various) – Books, music, and great good (the trifecta) with a solid vegan and vegetarian menu – go for breakfast, lunch or dinner

Must-Do Activities

Walk around the Smithsonian National Museum of American History (free)

Spend at least 2 hours at the Newseum ($22)

Take your picture in front of the White House (free)

Go to the Jefferson Memorial at night when it’s lit up (free)

Take a tour of Ford’s Theater and see the room in which he died

Visit the Old Post Office Pavilion (before it becomes a hotel!)

Tour the Capitol – or at least take your picture outside (great view from the top of the Newseum)

Shop in Georgetown (try a vegan Georgetown Cupcake!)

Have a drink at the rooftop bar at the W Hotel

Sip a cocktail amongst the ritsy at the Willard Hotel’s Round Robin Bar

Walk through the bustling Chinatown (and eat – see list above!)

Visit the WWII Memorial (and snap a picture in front of your state)

Take the metro and walk around the Pentagon (or take a tour inside!)

Go to the Arlington Cemetery to see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Walk down the Reflecting Pool to see the Lincoln Memorial

Absorb the chaos of Union Station

Visit the National Postal Museum (and make a stamp with your face on it!)

Being touristy in front of the White House

Sunset at the Capitol Building

I still prefer Texas’ Capitol building (can I say that?)

Get there early! The line at Ford’s Theater can stretch on and on and on

In front of the actual theater where Lincoln was shot

We LOVE snail mail

Can you imagine my pure joy? An Anchorman exhibit at the Newseum? Biggest fan ever

Other city tours here:

Paris, Durango (Colorado), Austin, Houston, Bali

Personal September 30, 2013

Minneapolis Snapshots

Sasha and I headed to Minnesota for the weekend to spend time with friends. They live in the wonderful city of Minneapolis – it’s also the city where my brother-in-law grew up, so we’ve been meaning to go for ages now. We certainly weren’t disappointed. Despite a rainy Saturday, we found Minneapolis to be a gorgeous, outdoorsy city, filled with delicious restaurants and unique things to see (i.e. the massive cherry below). We ate a light snack after we arrived at The Local in downtown, had dinner on Friday at Punch Neopolitan Pizza, ate breakfast at Edina Grill, and then had lunch at Gorkha Palace on Saturday. We dined at Loring Kitchen and Bar before we headed to Cirque du Soleil’s Amaluna on Saturday evening, then finished the weekend off on a great note at Cafeteria in Uptown before heading to the airport. I seriously enjoyed every single bite of food we ate on the trip (as did Sasha!). It was so nice to spend time with Sasha’s friends and their adorable girls. Next up, NYC in one month!

My new Warby Parker glasses – as discussed here

Sparkling water and hummus at The Local in downtown Minneapolis

Creeping around Target headquarters

Walking around in my new J. Crew Darby Loafers (on sale!)

The most delicious (not so healthy) Tibetan lunch at Gorkha Palace

Rain, rain go to Spain

Amazing dinner at Loring Kitchen and Bar

Boys being boys at Amaluna (my favorite Cirque ever – and I’ve seen 8!)

I already miss this sweet face!

Snapshots August 28, 2013

I Went to the Woods

One of my favorite quotes ever is from Thoreau’s Walden, which I studied in great detail during my American Literature class at The University of Texas at Austin. The theme of solitude and oneness with nature is evident throughout this literary classic, and whenever people talk about the forests or woods, the entire quote plays out in my head:

I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.

Sasha and I are heading to my parent’s house in Durango, Colorado today for an extended Labor Day weekend. I cannot wait to go hiking, rafting, and exploring in this gorgeous town. I hope to come back much more relaxed than I am in my current work state!

Photo via Fourth Lake