Review: Dimes NYC

Do you ever get stuck in a restaurant rut? By that I mean you go to the same place every weekend, order the same thing, with (usually) the same people?  I know I do.  Sometimes it's good to have your "old faithful," but part of the fun of living in a big city like NYC (for me at least) is exploring the food scene.  Recently I came to the realization that the key to trying new places is to plan ahead!  There's a much better chance I'm willing to venture to a new neighborhood and try a new spot if I've already made a reservation or promised to meet friends there.

So, in an effort to try new places, the BF and I made plans with another couple to get dinner this past Friday night in Manhattan.  There was a little last minute back and forth as to where we should go, but in the end we decided on Dimes NYC.  I'm so glad that our friend suggested this place because I had heard about it and wanted to check it out, but for some reason it fell off my radar.

Dimes is typical NYC eatery- small and narrow.  It definitely felt small, but cosy, not claustrophobic or crowded.  We ordered wine, which I didn't really care for, and an appetizer - roasted fingerling potatoes with plums and crispy sage.  What really elevated this dish were the plums - I would never think to pair these things together, but it was quite special and I hope to recreate this dish at home.

For dinner, we all ordered different dishes, which was great because we got to try a few things.  I got the Big Salad which was exactly what the name promised, big and hearty and everything I love in a salad.  My only compliant was that the grapes in the salad had seeds!  I ended up not eating too many because it was a pain, and not very polite, to spit out the seeds.

The other dishes we ordered were the Black Rice Bowl, Harissa Salmon, and Lamb Meatballs.  Obviously, I did not try the salmon or the meatballs, but both were beautifully presented and everyone else enjoyed them.  I did try the black rice bowl and it was delicious - hearty, like my salad, but not heavy.

And although we were all very full, dessert happened.  And it was absolutely divine.  I am normally not a fruit + chocolate person (unless its chocolate covered bananas), but the chocolate sorbet with berry compote was out of this world.  The sorbet was very rich and creamy, but not overly sweet and beautifully complemented by the tartness of the berries.  Yum.  We left very full and very satisfied.

A few practical items to note about Dimes NYC: As I mentioned, it is a small place, so not so good for large groups.  They are happy to accommodate dietary restrictions/preferences - there are plenty of things on the menu for vegans and omnivores alike, but I always think it's nice to know the kitchen is open to adapting dishes for their customers.  As far as price, Dimes is definitely not cheap, but I think that for the quality of food and the atmosphere, it is a fair deal.  I can't wait to visit again - maybe next time for breakfast, I've heard the acai bowls are killer.

Until next time!

JOYA Restaurant Review

Ever since our epic backpacking adventure to Thailand last year, Ariel and I are always on the look out for great Thai food.  Shortly after moving to Brooklyn, we found a local spot which quickly became our go-to.  However, this past weekend we decided to venture a little further and check out JOYA in Cobble Hill, and boy am I glad we did.  Delicious, cheap, and full of veggie options, JOYA is definitely our new favorite Thai spot.  We've already been back and I expect there will be many a takeout order in the near future.

To start, we've ordered the Papaya Salad and Summer Rolls (with tofu instead of shrimp).  Both were good, but nothing too spectacular.

Mountain of papaya salad

For main dishes, our hands down favorite has been the Spicy Noodles (vegetarian version).  Wide noodles loaded pan-fried with vegetables, this dish perfectly balances both spicy and sweet, something I personally love about good Thai food. Just thinking about it makes me hungry...

Spicy Noodle mess

We have also tried both the green and red curries.  Both were good, but the red curry definitely had better flavor.  I appreciated that both curry dishes had tons of different veggies that were perfectly cooked - not raw, but also not overdone.  Also, JOYA does offer brown rice... you just have to ask for it!

Blurry green curry

We haven't tried the Mango Sticky rice, but that will change soon. =)

As far as the atmosphere, JOYA is a happening spot.  It's been crowded each time we have gone, the bar filled with folks enjoying a cocktail while waiting for a table.  I will note that the inside is pretty loud - the crowd plus the music may be overpowering for some.  For those who prefer a quieter vibe, try to get a seat out back.  While it may be a little harder to see your food (if its dark, as it was both times I visited as you can see from my pictures above), it will be much easier to enjoy conversation with your dining mates.

I will note:  JOYA, like many NYC establishments, is CASH ONLY.  Sigh.  While it won't keep me from coming back, it is a little disappointing that so many places in NYC still don't accept plastic.

Do you like Thai food?  If so, do you stick with one tried-and-true restaurant or are you always checking out new places?

The Butcher's Daughter - Review

This past weekend, Ariel and I had our first date (okay, first dinner together) in a long time (I have been traveling, he has been working crazy hours).  We decided to check out The Butcher's Daughter for dinner in Nolita.

The Butcher's Daughter is a cute little eatery on the corner of Kenmare and Elizabeth.  There are tables outside, as well as a family-style table and counter seats inside.  It was raining out, so we opted to sit at the big table inside.

Funny face + mint water

The menu is mostly vegan, with just a few dishes that include eggs.  We decided to start with the charcuterie plate  which included the following served with crostini: mushroom walnut pate, white bean and fennel sausage, and cashew ricotta with fig mostarda.  Ariel loved the pate, while my favorite was the sausage which reminded me so much of pepperoni.

Appetizer - "charcuterie" plate

For our entrees, I got watermelon ricotta salad - more of the cashew ricotta and juicy watermelon served over a bed of baby spinach.  It was decent sized and very tasty.  Ariel got the Pulled Pork BBQ sandwich - shredded, BBQ sauce soaked portobello mushrooms served on a brioche bun with potato wedges and cole slaw.  While mushrooms stand in for meat on so many dishes, I had never seen shredded mushrooms as "pulled" meat, and I thought this was super creative.  I definitely plan on trying to recreate this at home.  

We didn't get dessert because all they had left were muffins.  I suppose will just have to go back again when they are well stocked with vegan ice cream and chocolate mousse.

Watermelon + ricotta salad

Portobello "Pulled Pork BBQ"

My only complaint with the meal was that  the potato wedges were really greasy.  I was really craving potatoes and was super dissapointed how they came out (good thing we didn't really like them because there were only like 4 in total!).  I will also say that, like many organic/sustainable/vegan places, the meal was not cheap.  It was not crazy expensive, and I'm willing to pay for the quality of food, but just wanted to throw that out there.  Overall, I really enjoyed the creativity of the menu as well as the atmosphere so I'm sure I will be back for lunch or dinner again.

Smorgasburg at Brooklyn Bridge Park

Spring is here and that means that the Sunday Smorgasburg has moved outside  to Brooklyn Bridge Park.  Since this is a 10 minute walk from my apartment, I am stoked, to say the least.  I have been every weekend since it opened, with the exception of the two weekends I was out of town, and I expect this will continue throughout the summer and fall.  Local food + insane people watching + sunshine = can't get much better.  Okay maybe if we added yoga and green juice in there... Hmmm... Seems like a business opportunity...

Anyways, here's my current top picks from the 'Burg:

- ISH Premium Horseradish - Super fresh horseradish paired with sweet and tangy ingredients like beets, citrus, ginger, and garlic.  Most people forget about horseradish as a condiment, but ISH is bound to change this.  I'm personally addicted to the beet flavor, but they are all delicious.  No idea what to do with premium horseradish? The folks at ISH got that covered: with each purchase they include a recipe guide with tons of suggestions for each flavor.

- Chickpea and Olive - Vegan sliders and sandwiches made from wholesome ingredients and a super cute logo, not much not to love about Chickpea and Olive.  I tried their Phatty Beet Slider last year when I visited NYC and fell in love so it's no wonder it's one of my top picks. And the eggplant "bacon" oh my goodness. 

- Alchemy Creamery - Vegan ice cream, holler!  Not only ice cream, but push pops and ice cream sandwiches, in crazy awesome flavors like salted peanut butter and chocolate blackberry.  And free toppings.  Bring on summer!

- Bunna Cafe - Yummy vegan Ethiopian food.  They recently opened a full restaurant in Bushwick which I'm dying to visit. 

- Barry's Tempeh - The best tempeh I've ever had. For realz.  I don't know what it is, but this stuff is so superior to any other tempeh I've tried.  I bought some at the most recent Vegan Shop Up, and I'm excited to see if I can make it taste as magical as Barry does.

I'll update this list as the summer goes on and I find more favorite vendors (which I'm sure I will).  For anyone who lives in New York, have you ever been to Smorgasburg? If so, who are your favorite vendors and products?

Teaching at New York Yoga!

Hi all-  I want to share the exciting news that I've started teaching at New York Yoga on the Upper East Side!  Not only am I ecstatic to have found a place to teach (this is a big deal - NYC is overrun with yoga teachers), I'm also very happy to have found a hot yoga studio where I can get my sweaty flow on!  It feels beyond amazing to get back into a heated practice, especially with this cold winter weather we've been having here.

For the month of March, I'll be teaching the 1:35 PM Yogi's Choice Donation class on Mondays and Tuesdays at the New York Yoga HOT studio on 85th Street.  Hope to see you on the mat!

Eats in the New Hood

Since we've moved to Brooklyn Heights, especially when we just moved and hadn't unpacked anything, we've been exploring the local food spots.  Here's a few words on my favorite local spots thus far:

Siggy's Good Food

The first night I was in NYC we came here to eat, and immediately I was in love: the funky atmosphere (there's a sign outside that says aliens eat free) and healthy, but innovative menu (vegan and gluten free lasagna made with vegetables instead of noodles), and, of corse, the juice bar (fresh wheatgrass!!).  While not super cheap, Siggy's is definitely affordable, especially considering the quality, organic ingredients they use.  I'm obsessed with the "Live Earth" salad - a giant helping of amazingly fresh and tasty greens topped with cucumber, sprouts, avocado, and roasted red pepper.  Seriously, I've ordered this salad 4 times I think.  The juices also rock and the staff are friendly.  If you come visit me, I will most likely take you here.

Tutt Heights 

Tutt Heights is a little place that so happens to be next door to our apartment (literally, like the UPS man leaves our packages with Tutt if we aren't home).  And it just so happens to have amazing pita and babaganoush and falafel, among other things. Oh, did I mention that it is cheap?  We've also been here multiple times.  If you come visit me, Ariel will insist on taking you here to try the babaganoush.

Dellarocco's 

On New Years Eve, we decided to go out to dinner.  This was a big deal, since we both had been sick and in bed for the entire past week.  We decided to try out Dellarocco's, which is located on Montague Street, which is the main drag in Brooklyn.  We ordered a salad, roasted vegetables as an appetizer, and two pizzas.  A lot of food for two people but I wanted to try their Marinara pizza, which has no cheese (yay!). And there is no such thing as too much leftover pizza, right?  We did end up having leftover pizza, not because it wasn't delicious - it was.  The sauce was really tasty and the crust was crisp and lightly charred by the wood fire grill.  The salad and veggies were great as well.  I'm sure we will be getting pizza from here again (they deliver!).

Iron Chef House

Until last week, I hadn't had sushi since moving to NYC, which for some one who loves her nori rolls, is kinda a big deal.  Enter: Iron Chef House.  Located just a short walk from our apartment, this place was a great Yelp! find.  I was so happy to see that they had more than just your typical cucumber avocado roll for vegetarians, and the option for brown rice! Not sure what else you could ask for.  I got a vegetable sushi assortment and Ariel got some variety plate with sushi, noodles, and a few other things.  We both agreed that everything was great, and the service was good as well.  I can see many sushi take-out dinners in my future. And that comforts me.

Hanco's

While I haven't been to the Brooklyn Heights location, I've eaten at Hancos twice and have no complaints. There's not much better than a huge bowl of steaming hot (vegetarian) pho on a cold day, so you can bet I will be back here again soon.

Lantern Thai Kitchen

Having visited Thailand this past summer, Thai food has a special place in my heart.  Not only is it delicious, and generally somewhat healthy, it brings back good memories.  For those reasons, I'm glad to have found a neighborhood spot that serves good Thai.  Try the red curry with vegetables, it's the bomb.

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I've found good sushi, falafel, and wheatgrass - what else is there to look for in this world we call Brooklyn Heights? Well not much, except a yoga studio... But that is for another day and another post.  Until next time - peace and good eats!

Vegan Shop Up

When I visited New York City in July, I heard of a vegan pop up sho in Bushwick that was going to be happening the weekend I was in town.  It sounded really cool - vegan food, plus other vendors selling unique, crafty goods.  I was dissapppined that I didn't get to make it to the "shop up" that weekend.  Or the following two weekends that I visited NYC this past fall (the shop up only happend once a month so it was pretty coincidental that I happened to visit those exact weekends).  Once I moved, I was determined to check on the shop up... and the boyfriend and I did just that two weeks ago.
 

We spent most of the afternoon furniture shopping, so we were tired, frustrated, and hungry by the time we got to Pine Box Rock Shop (a vegan bar, what?!), where the shop up was held.  After a quick scan of the goods and goodies, Ariel hopped right in line for a vegan hot dog.  This was no ordinary dog - made from veggies and sunflower seeds instead of meat, or wheat, soy, etc, it was one large, yet completely wholesome dog.   It was served with all the fixins - slaw, pickles, coconut bacon - and a kale salad.  I don't know if it was because we were really hungry, but it was good, and I appreciated that it was made with sketch-free ingredients.
 

After we had refueled, we revisited the vendors and shopped for a bit.  There were all sorts of tasty things to try, and a few we liked enough to buy:

- We Vegans Chipotle Vranch - Ariel is obsessed with this spicy vegan ranch dressing.  I used to love ranch as a kid, but stopped eating it around the age of 12 - this version is definitely an improvement on the standard ranch, healthier (it's made with soymilk) and tastier (it's got a zesty kick of spices).  We've been eating with carrots, but I'm sure it's going to be amazing on sandwiches and salads.

- Right Tasty Ramp Vinaigrette - I've always been intrigued by ramps... they are all over the farmer's markets in the spring, but I have yet to buy them (fear of the unknown...).  Hopefully this tasty dressing will convince me to face my fear and try cooking with ramps myself...maybe.

- Fine and Raw Lucuma Vanilla Chocolate- We discovered Fine and Raw chocolate a few weeks ago on a different Bushwick adventure.  Their chocolate is out of this world.  I had the chance to sample a few of their flavors at the shop up (coconut, sea salt, espresso), but the Lucuma Vanilla is still my favorite.  The bar is wrapped in gold... and like gold I savor every bite of this chocolatey goodness.

I also got some vegan bourbon balls to round out my lunch (I only had a bite of Ariel's dog plus some kale salad).  These were just being sold by one of the vendors on the side, so I don't know if you can find them elsewhere, but boy were they tasty! I will need to figure out how to recreate them.

I'm so happy that I finally got to check out this event, and I hope it will continue in the future.  It's awesome to see all these vendors prospering.  Who knows, maybe someday I could be one of them!

Organic Avenue Juice Cleanse

While I was in New York City, I fell in love with Organic Avenue.  I fell so in love that I wanted to try more of their juices.  The only problem was that their food and juices were in NYC, and I was not.  Good news is that Organic Avenue ships their all juice cleanse (LOVE deep), so the decision was made to try one.  As I mentioned previously, I am traveling a lot for work right now, so I planned my juice cleanse for one weekend when I would be staying in Memphis between work weeks.  This would be the perfect opportunity for a cleanse as 1) I would not be able to cook my own food anyways 2) I would not have friends or family around to hang out with (or distract me with their food!) and 3)  I wanted to do lots of yoga studying.

I chose a 3-day cleanse (Friday - Sunday), and the juices were sent to me in two shipments (they don't do weekend shipping, so I got a package on Thursday with one day of juice and a package on Friday with the remaining juices).  There were six juices for each day (one of which was a "mylk") plus a booster shot for first thing in the morning.  Each day there were different shots and different juices, which I liked becuase it kept things interesting!  If there are certain ingredients or juices you don't like (or if you have any allergies), Organic Avenue will take those into consideration when planning your cleanse.

Day One - Wheatgrass shot, Royal Red, Green Coco, Turmeric Tonic, Veggie Vibe, Splendid Sweet Green, Cashew Hemp Mylk -The first day was definitely the hardest for me. All the juices were delicious but I found myself hungry and drank a few juices before their scheduled time.  I also had some mild headaches throughout the afternoon. The most surprisingly tasty juices for me were the Royal Red and Veggie Vibe.  I'm not a huge fan of straight beet juice, but both of these juices contained other yummy ingredients to balance out the strong flavor and texture beet usually adds to a juice.  The Turmeric Tonic, while not a "juice" per se, was awesome and very satisfying.  The only problem with this day's juices was the Cashew Hemp Mylk - mine had definitely gone bad.  I don't know if this was a result of the shipping, or the fact that my juices did not get refridgerated immediately upon delivery, or a problem with that batch of mylk, but it was super sour and I knew something wasn't right upon first sip.  I had another Cashew Hemp Mylk that was supposed to be for Day Three, so I drank that and decided I would have to find something to replace it later.  The (not-spoiled) Cashew Hemp Mylk was satisfying, but the flavor was a bit bland - it could have used some cinnamon and/or nutmeg to kick it up! 

First juice of the cleanse- Royal Red

Turmeric Tonic and reading outside

Splendid Sweet Greens before yoga

Day Two - Aloe Vera shot, Cucumber Mint, Mellow Love, Ginger Lemonade, Veggie Vibe, Green Love, Coconut Mylk - As I have learned previously, juice cleansing equal awesome sleep.  Even after napping on Friday, I slept for a full 10 hours Friday night!  I woke up on Saturday morning a little hungry, but not as bad as the day before.  I had lots of energy and was easily able to get through a moderate yoga class and some low impact cardio.  No headaches at all.  As far as the juices,  the Aloe Vera shot didn't taste like much, which I guess is a good thing, but it is supposed to help the digestive track during cleansing.  The highlights of this day were Ginger Lemonade, which reminded me of the iced ginger tea I drank so much of in Thailand, and the Coconut Mylk.  I did not think the Coconut Mylk (young coconut meat blended with young coconut water) would be substantial or fulfilling enough, but it was absolutely lovely.  Naturally sweet and rich, I ate it with a spoon and felt like I was having dessert!

Ginger Lemonade and more studying

Sweet Coconut Mylk = Perfect end to Day Two

Day Three - E3 Live shot, Watermelon, Green Coco, Master Tonic, Virgin Mary, Splendid Sweet Green, Cashew Hemp Mylk - After another solid night of sleep, I woke up ready to take on the last day of my cleanse.  The day started with an E3 Live shot.  E3 Live is a blue-green algae that contains tons of healthy vitamins, minerals, and enzymes.  It is said to boost immunity, cleanse your digestive tract, and increase your energy, among other things.  I had never tried it before, and was a little nervous for the ominous looking shot.  It actually didn't have a strong taste at all (nothing like wheatgrass), score!  My energy was high again all day, no headaches or other "detox" side effects.  This day's juices were a perfect mix of sweet and savory - the sweet Watermelon juice was yummy for first thing in the morning, while the Master Tonic and Virgin Mary were great as spicy midday  pick me ups.  I had to improvise for my final juice (since I drank this Cashew Hemp Mylk on Day One).  I searched the local Whole Foods for a replacement drink and the closest thing I found was Suja's Coconut Almond juice.  This juice was pretty tasty (coconut, almond and cinnamon, with honey and cherries for sweetness), but my stomach was a little unhappy afterwards (which was the first upset of any kind the whole cleanse).

Nervous for the E3 Live shot!

Beautiful day for a run

Catching some rays with the spicy Master Tonic

What does one do (besides drink juice) during a juice cleanse?  Well, good question. Most programs suggest that you rest as much as possible (go to bed early, sleep until you naturally wake up) and do light exercise (such as walking and yoga) to increase circulation.  Some other suggested activities: meditation, journaling, spending time in nature, activities that promote detox (massage, dry brushing, colon hydrotherapy, sauna time).  Me?  I definitely did the sleeping thing and treated myself to a massage.  I did a lot of yoga and some running, but only because my body told me to.  The rest of my time was spent reading, studying yoga stuffs, and watching meaningful documentaries (both of which I highly recommend - Hungry for Change and Happy).  My intention for the cleanse was to focus on studying, but each person and each cleanse is different. 

Overall, this was by far the easiest and most delicious juice cleanse I have done.  I had very few detox signs (headaches, breakouts, etc).  My energy was high throughout the cleanse and I was able to stay on track with my normal workouts, and get some studying done.   The first day after my cleanse ended I was actually sad not to have yummy juice to drink that day!  If that is not a sign of juice success, I don't know what is!


Have you ever done a juice cleanse?  How was your experience?

NYC Adventure - Part 2

Friday afternoon I met up with my friend Sylvia, my host and tour guide for the weekend.  We hustled over to the Guggenheim to check out the James Turrell exhibit.   I had recently been to one of his exhibits at the LACMA in Los Angeles, so I was excited to see what he had in store for NYC.  I don't think you were supposed to take pictures, but no one stopped us so...

These pictures are all in the same room by the way.  For those of you who are not familiar with this JT, he plays with the concept of light and perception.  This was the main room in the museum - most of the pictures are taken looking up at the ceiling, which was illuminated with colored light.   The color of the light changed every few minutes or so.  The exhibit was great, but the one part that you had to wait in line for was so not worth the wait.  Regardless, the line gave Sylvia and me plenty of time to catch up, gossip, and figure out what we wanted to do for dinner.

We decided to check out Cafe Blossom, which just happened to be a fine vegan restaurant I had read about, which just happened to be directly under Sylvia's apartment.  Talk about meant to be!  We had a romantic candlelit dinner of pizza, beet carpaccio, quinoa with grilled veggies, and a giant Asian-inspired salad.  And wine.  And vegan ice cream.  (HUGE SCORE for NYC:  Vegan ice cream!) Needless, we were stuffed!  After a beer at a nearby bar, we called it an early night. 

My hot date - check out that GIANT PIZZA

Mixed greens with marinated tofu, kimchi, and cashews

VEGAN ICE CREAM - nom nom nom

Saturday began with a morning yoga class (again at Yoga to the People).  I then introduced Sylvia to my new found love - Organic Avenue.  We tasted a few juice and smoothie samples, and both settled on the Green Love juice.  YUM!  Couldn't have been a more ideal weekend morning in my book!

All smiles for GREEN LOVE

We showered, dressed, and ate our left over pizza for lunch.  We then set off to explore some more of NYC - specifically The High Line and Chelsea Market.

The High Line is a public park built on an elevated freight train line on the West Side of Manhattan (we hopped on it at one end in the Meatpacking District).  There are benches where you can sit and people watch, or just take in the interesting views of the city;  food carts where you can grab a bite to eat; and stretches of walkways with flowers and other greenery.  It is a truly beautiful place amidst the hubbub of the city. I know I mentioned this in Part 1, but I love when there is plenty of green space in a city!

Roof top bar next to the High Line

Benches for relaxing

Us with a view of the city beneath the park

We descended back to the street level and headed over to the Chelsea Market, an indoor market built in the former National Biscuit Company complex.  The market is home to a number of food vendors, as well as some retail stores (such as Anthropologie) and pop up shops.  There was a sample sale going on when we visited - checking this out felt like an authentic New York experience!  High fashion on the cheap?  Yes, please!   We also stopped in the 'Artists and Fleas' section of the market, which features more local, up-and-coming artists and vendors. We both saw so many things we liked, but resisted buying anything.

Inside the Chelsea Market

Walking and shopping made us hungry for a snack - lucky for us there is a One Lucky Duck location within the Chelsea Market!  #cantgetenough  I got a Goji High smoothie and Sylvia got a kale salad from another nearby vendor.  We then made our way back home for a rest before dinner.

We had plans to meet up with my friend Emily and her boyfriend for dinner that night.  I was BEYOND excited because everyone had agreed to check out Beyond Sushi - a vegan sushi joint I had read about and was so excited to try!  This place is sort of a whole in the wall - just a counter where you pay and they make the sushi and three small tables where you can sit.  I was a little nervous bringing three non-veg people here, but it turns out I had nothing to worry about - every single thing we got was absolutely phenomenal.  We tried four of the sushi rolls (pictured below, left to right - the Mighty Mushroom, Spicy Mang, Pickle Me, and Green Machine) and two of the rice paper wraps (Spicy Shroom and Sweet Angel).  By no means were these rolls "just" vegetables - they all had interesting preparations and combinations of fruits and vegetables, complimented by delicious sauces.  I only wished my stomach were larger so I could have enjoyed more! SCORE for NYC - Vegan sushi that is worlds better than any conventional roll.

Plant powered rolls!

Sweet Angel - Buckwheat noodles, sweet potato, asparagus, and sprouts with spicy siracha sauce

We left pleasantly stuffed (this was becoming a recurring theme) and bar hopped a bit before calling it a night.  Sunday morning we were up early again, ready to explore more - Brooklyn, specifically the Williamsburg Flea.  We grabbed some iced coffee and hoped on the subway.  SCORE for NYC - Amazing public transportation.  A few minutes later, we arrived in the aforementioned hipster mecca.

From the subway, we wandered down a few streets before we made it to the flea market, which was just getting started.  The flea market had tons to offer: vintage clothes and shoes, screen print t-shirts, old and new jewelry, furniture, art, the list goes on... The best part was these goods were unique and reasonably priced.  Score for NYC - Flea markets. We shopped around for a bit, both of us finding some fun jewelry to add to our collections.  We also grabbed some snacks to hold us over until we could eat a solid lunch.

Williamsburg Flea

Frozen chocolate covered mango

AWESOME SLIDERS SOLD HERE

Beet slider with eggplant bacon, cheeze, spicy ketchup, and guac

Before too long we were starting to fry in the hot summer sun, so we got back on the subway to head home.  On the way, we stopped at Peacefood Cafe for a quick bite to eat.  We both ordered the same salad (Asian inspired with marinated tempeh) which hit the spot.  I also picked up some treats for my train ride home - a vegan sun dried tomato and ricotta croissant and a gluten free banana ginger muffin.  Both of these baked goods were there's-no-way-this-is-vegan good.  I don't normally like croissants, but the salty 'ricotta' and sweet tomato paired perfectly with the buttery croissant.  And the banana ginger muffin... basically my idea of a perfect muffin: moist, dense, and slightly sweet.  Score for NYC - the magician bakers at Peacefood cafe (please teach me your secrets).

And then it was time for me to go... While I was sad to see such an awesome weekend end, I was happy that this visit had taught me that NYC doesn't have to be loud, scary, or expensive.   On the contrary, I learned first hand that NYC is filled with great art and architecture, wonderful food, and funky culture you just don't find anywhere else.  So as my train pulled away from the station, I found myself thinking  See you again soon New York...