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For years I’d wanted to visit New York City, like years and years. And whaddya know, 2016 was the year I would finally visit not once but twice in six months. If you’d told me this last year I wouldn’t have believed you. But my goodness I feel so lucky and happy right now. I’m so excited to share everything with you partly for my own selfish reasons so I can relive it all, haha. And honestly, NYC in summer is just magical…despite that famous sewer drain smell around Times Square 😉
All photos are mine, unless I’m in them, in which case Jasiminne took them!
Jasiminne’s had a bit of a rubbish time this year, and as it was her 30th while we were in NYC I was hoping it would cheer her up and remind her just how awesome she is. I think it worked? 😉 haha. We ended up doing four nights in New York City and then we flew down to Orlando to spend three days at Disney and Universal (because what better time to be children again than in the years of your 25th and 30th birthdays?!).
The park was quiet and we slowly meandered through it, stopping every so often so Jasiminne could catch a Pokemon (that girl is addicted).
We then got a taxi back to our hotel, had a quick change of shoes, and then ran round to Sephora on Times Square to stock up on bits and pieces!
After getting out beauty fix we then headed back and got changed and freshened up for sunset at the Empire State Building, dinner, and drinks and clubbing. Yep, we were packing in as much as possible!
We hailed a taxi and whizzed round the corner to try and get to the top of the Empire State Building by sunset. I’d done the Rockefeller Centre when I was last there a few months ago, so didn’t really want to go up it again, and hello, it’s NYC – you have to say you’ve been up the Empire State building!
Once again I had a free ticket thanks to my CityPass left over from my last visit, and Jasiminne had to pay, so I offered to pay for half of it as I felt so awful for constantly getting in for free everywhere! We got up there quite quickly…but then we hit the queue for the lift. It was a 45min queue, so we decided to take the stairs (six flights of them).
Thankfully I was smart and was wearing my butterfly twists with my heels for later in my handbag, but J was wearing huge wedges…so she struggled a little. I felt so proud of her at the top – I couldn’t actually believe she climbed six flights of stairs in heels!
The top was incredibly crowded, but the views were breathtaking…
After watching the sunset we headed back down and got a taxi round to Brother Jimmy’s BBQ. Obvs I got a quick selfie in the taxi before the light went dark from sunset. I wore my fave jumpsuit and changed into heels after dinner before we went clubbing!
I went last time and loved it. It was amazing. This time it was still delish (and you can’t beat the atmosphere!), but because of my antibiotics I couldn’t eat as much as I would have and only had a few bites before feeling full and icky from the anti-b’s. Jasiminne didn’t like it so much, but she’s not a huge fan of All-American-Comfort-Food (it’s ok though, I’d planned three restaurants right up her street for her birthday weekend – compromise people).
After our dinner I slipped on my heels, put my flats in their little discreet bag, and we got a taxi to the East Village to meet Jas’s friend Amy for drinks at Please Don’t Tell, a famous speakeasy bar that’s apparently one of the best in the world. Sadly there was a two hour wait when we got there as it’s super small, so we went to a bar round the corner instead, and met my friend Mercy there. Mercy and I have been friends for a coupla years now, and she moved to NYC last year to persue her plus-size modelling career (she was recently in People, Buzzfeed, Today, Evening Standard, and The Daily Mail). She’s SO much fun and we always have the best time, so I was so excited to see her again!
We left the bar we were in and headed over to Sanatorium, an awesome new hospital-themed bar that’s funky and a little bit out there. It sound strange but I promise it works, and the cocktails looked incredible, but I couldn’t have any so stuck to water and co-cola *sob*.
Next up was Gold Bar, a club with walls adorned with gold skulls. The four of us got another taxi there, and enjoyed half an hour or so of dancing before leaving to head to the club at Tao Downtown. I’d promised Troy that we’d head over there to say hello, and Tao Downtown ended up being my favourite place of the night. It. Was. Epic. I’m gonna do a blog post soon on how to have a night out in NYC, how to get into them, and my favourite clubs in the city as I’ve been to quite a few now (eight I think? In just two trips to NYC!).
I didn’t take any photos that night apart from the one Mercy got above (I look so short compare to her hahaha). It was so liberating and refreshing to just enjoy every second and not take any photos and not have my camera with me (it’s all about balance you guys) – I had such a fun night even though I was 100% sober, and headed back to the hotel around 2am. Below you can see our epic ‘night-out map’ haha, we covered so many different neighborhoods!
Next time you must visit the Campbell Apartment in Grand Central Terminal. No jeans, no sports shoes. It's very hard to find, tucked in a corner that you get to from the outside. Google it!
Also, walk over the Brooklyn Bridge and check out all the cool stuff going on in Brooklyn. Brooklyn Heights is absolutely gorgeous with a nice little business district, and then there's the uber hip Boerum Hill, with trendy restos and shops on Smith Street.
WOW – dream itinerary! I love NYC but we only stayed for five days last time…you and Jasiminne have inspired me and I now feel like I need to go back to cram in some more of this wonderful city! Love the blog shots you both took in Central Park by the way. This is why bloggers should always travel in packs! 😉
Polly xx
These photos are making me want to go back! My trip was short but incredible, although there were no flirty american men! xx
The Natural History Museum looks fascinating, sounds like you both had an amazing time
Looks like the perfect girls trip and I love the Central Park photos! I'm a big fan of Tao Downtown, Mr S and I have been to the restaurant twice.
Well now I need to go to NYC! Gary x
Loved this post girl – looks like the best trip! I'm currently in NYC now and leaving tomorrow which I'm SO sad about, it's my favourite city in the world! P.s hotel looks/sounds fab!
Hayley xo
http://www.frockmeimfamous.com
Thanks Hayley! Ah I'm not surprised haha, every time I leave it make me so sad 🙁 I wanna go back already!
C x
DO IT! x
It was so much fun! We ate at Tao Downtown on Jasiminne's birthday on the Saturday and LOVED it!
C x
We had such a great time!! x
Ahh, I always seem to get the flirty American men haha! Every time I go, as soon as they hear the accent they go straight into charming/flirty mode. x
It was so great! We only stayed 4 nights and I wanna go back again already!!!
And totally agree, bloggers are awesome travel buddies hehe
C x
Oooh I'll definitely make a note of it for next time!
We were going to do the Brooklyn bridge and Brooklyn, but on the day we were going to do it (our last day) it poured with rain and there was a huge thunderstorm all day 🙁 I'll have to save it for next time again!
OH my gosh everything looks incredible! I can't wait to go to America one day! xo