Sunday Funday - Exploring AdMo + First Yoga Class

Hello and Happy Monday!

This past weekend was my first back in the nation's capital for quite some time.  Saturday was uneventful, but Sunday was full of good times.  Sunday morning started with a long run in Rock Creek Park (another first in quite some time.. ow).  After lunch, the BF and I headed back to my old hood for the Adam's Morgan Day Festival.  We walked up 18th Street, taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of the festival, but didn't hang around too long - I was set to teach my first yoga class later in the evening, so I wanted some time to relax and prep beforehand.

To beat the crowd and the heat, we headed over to the newly opened Puree Juice Bar, located inside MINT gym at 18th and California (bottom of Adam's Morgan).  I had heard about Puree, but had never tried their juices as the original bar is in Bethesda (just a little too far up the Red line for me to venture).  It's super exciting the they have opened this second location - I love seeing local, health-oriented businesses like Puree thriving and expanding.

We got to sample two of the juice offerings - the "mean lemonade" and the "daily green."  Both were really good (even the not-so-crunchy BF agreed).  I ended up getting the daily green.  This juice was a mix of pineapple, kale, cucumber, apple, lemon, and ginger - definitely green tasting, but with enough sweetness to give me just the boost I needed before my yoga class.  Besides juices, Puree also offers smoothies and an assortment of raw food/snacks.  The only downside to Puree, like so many organic/vegan/raw/whateverthenewhealthcrazeis places, is the price - most juices are around $10.  That being said, and although I no longer live in the direct area, I can see myself coming back to Puree in the near future, because their juices are so dang tasty (and their logo so dang cute).

The BF didn't get a juice, but he wanted a snack before my class, so we stopped into Pleasant Pops, which is right next door to Puree and Mint.  I've been in Pleasant Pops before, but only to get a drink, so this was a first pop experience for both of us.  He got the Vegan Mexican Hot Chocolate popsicle, and it was fantastic!  Super creamy (I think it's made with coconut milk) with a slight hit of heat, this pop was the perfect treat for a hot day.  Again, while I'm no longer living in the immediate area, I can see myself stopping back in Pleasant Pops again soon.

All of the sudden the afternoon was ending and it was time to head over to The Studio DC in Dupont where I would be teaching my first yoga class.  I was a little nervous, but also excited!  My nerves disappeared as my friends, co-workers, and fellow teachers-in-training arrived - I was so happy to see all these people showing up to support me.  Teaching was HARD, but I expected as much.  It wasn't physically taxing like a yoga class normally is, but emotionally exhausting.  After class, I grabbed sushi with a few of my "students," but before long had to head home to pass out.  While there are definitely things I know I can improve on, the class went as well as I could have hoped for and I am looking forward to teaching more in the future.

A good first weekend back in DC, I'd say.  Until next time, namaste.

Tips for Staying Healthy While Traveling

As I mentioned in my past couple posts, I have been traveling for work the past 6 weeks. Traveling means that I am eating at restaurants (or mass prepared food), unable to go to my daily yoga classes at my studio, and having to find alternatives to my normal running routes.  While I am generally a healthy person, I am not superhuman, so it is still a challenge for me to stay healthy and fit while on the go. In this post I will share some of my tips for keeping up with working out and eating well while on the go.

Many of these tips are applicable, regardless of if you are traveling or not.  Although I don't always follow my own advice, I do find that when I do, I feel worlds better and am able to enjoy exploring new places much more.

Working out:

- Know what you have to work (out) with. When possible, stay at a hotel with a gym.  As soon as you check in, check out the gym to asses the situation.  Some hotels also offer maps or information on nearby running routes.  It also helps to do some research before hand (Are there any trails or paths in the area?  Is it safe to run outside by yourself? Are there running groups you could join up with? What you can find online is amazing).
- Keep up your routine.  If you normally everyday run in the AM, try to stick with this habit while on the road.  While you may have to hit the treadmill instead of the pavement depending on your location, keeping up your normal routine will increase your chances of staying on top of your work outs on the go.
- Be flexible.  This may see to completely contradict my last suggestion, but hear me out. Odds are you won't be able to keep up your routine exactly while traveling, so sometimes you have to modify your planned works outs to adapt to the situation.  Don't throw the towel just because you can't do your weekly 10 mile run or attend your favorite yoga class - find something else you can do instead.  Here's a few ways to be flexible and creative with your work outs on the go:
     *Pal in town wants to meet for drinks or dinner?  Suggest something more active - local yoga class, long walk or run, bike ride, etc.  You will be able to catch up while working out.
     *No gym at your hotel? Work out in your hotel room.  The internet is a gold mine of quick, portable work outs.  From yoga to Crossfit, there is something out there to please everyone.
     *Want to sight see?  Try out a running tour!  I did one on a recent trip to NYC, and it was a great way to get some history of the city while getting a work out in.  Also, a lot of major cities now have public bikes you can rent for a day (or longer) - another great, active way to explore.

Eating well:

- Pack healthy snacks - I always, always, always travel with snacks.  Some of my staples are nut butters, trail mix, fresh fruit, and greens (spirulina, chlorella, mixed green powders).  Lately I have cooked up a big batch of sweet potatoes or whole grains to take with me.  Not only does this help you stay healthy, but it also helps you save money!
- Hit up the grocery store - I call ahead to make sure I have a mini fridge in my hotel room, and then I hit up the grocery store for those items I wasn't able to bring from home.  I like to pick up non-dairy milk (while many coffee shops offer soymilk, not all hotels have hopped on this trend), in addition to fresh fruits and veggies to snack on.
- Keep up your (food) routine - This is one I personally struggle with.  While traveling, I love to try new foods and seek out interesting restaurants.  And although a giant vegan blueberry muffin every once in a while is no big deal, when you are traveling consistently, those muffins add up.  Go ahead and try new things, but don't it as an excuse to go overboard everyday.


There you have it folks - my quick and dirty tips on how to stay in shape while traveling. While I'm happy that I have the opportunity to see the country with my job, travel does add stress so I am glad to be back at home for at least a few weeks before my next adventure begins. 

IM BACK + Travel Snack Reviews

HELLO!  I am back in DC from my long bout of traveling, and boy does it feel good (although I'm still living out of a suitcase...more on that later) !  While I love to see the world/country, traveling definitely adds stress and can often mess with healthy eating and work out plans.

I'm planning to do a post on how to stay healthy while traveling, but for now I will simply provide a few product reviews.  As mentioned previously, I'm not one to buy a lot of packaged foods, but being on the road had me trying out more items than usual, so I thought I would share some of my finds with you!

Perfect Fit Protein Powder

A co-worker gave me one of these single-serve packets and I loved it!  This protein power is raw, vegan, and gluten free - 15g for only 70 calories.  I especially appreciated that I knew all of the ingredients - organic sprouted brown rice protein, vanilla extract, guar gum, stevia, and sea salt.  As for the taste, its a mild vanilla with only a slightly chalky aftertaste (come on, what protein powder doesn't taste chalky?)  I absolutely prefer this to some of the stronger flavored proteins I have tried in the past (Vega, I'm looking at you!).  Best of all, the single-serve packets are perfect for travel.  Bottom line:  After trying this, I promptly ordered a whole box.  If you think your diet needs a raw, vegan protein boost, you should check out Perfect Fit!

Evolution Juices

While fresh veggie juice is becoming more and more popular, it is still not something you can find everywhere.  However, you can now find it at many Starbucks locations, thanks to Evolution juices!  I have tried a few of the green juice varieties, and have been pleasantly surprised (and we all know how picky I am when it comes to green juice).  Bottom line:  Moderately priced and conveniently located, I will be coming back for more!

GoPicnic Ready-to-Eat Meals

GoPicnic makes ready-to-eat meals that are vegan and allergy friendly and are sold at many airports across the US.  Basically these are the new-age Lunchables of the health conscious population.  I tried the Hummus & Crackers meal on a recent flight, and was pleasantly surprised.  I loved that the meal had a bunch of individually packed items - I ate half of it on the plane, and half another day for a snack.  While quite expensive when purchased at the airport, you can't beat the convenience of this nutritious item.  Bottom line:  Not an item I would regularly purchase, but I like the product and will probably buy again when in a pinch for quick, healthy meal while on the go.

Organic Raw One Flax Crackers

I found these raw crackers in a health food store in Orlando, FL and decided to give them a try since they were sorta local.  I tried the Golden Nori flavor and absolutely loved it - I am a sucker for crunchy & salty snacks, throw in superfoods like nori and healthy spices, and I'm sold. My only complaint was that the flax seed were whole, and from my understanding our bodies cannot absorb all the nutrients from whole flax seed (hence why it is usually ground before use).  Bottom line:  A healthy, tasty snack I would buy again.

That's all for now!  I promise to be back to regular posting again soon!

Review: Two Vegan Sistas - Memphis, TN

Two Vegan Sistas is a brand new mostly raw and 100% vegan food delivery service in Memphis, TN  (yes,  there are actually two sisters who run the show here).  Upon finding out about these ladies, I knew I had to try something while I was in the area.  You place your order by calling up the sisters and then you arrange for a delivery time.  There is a delivery charge, but it is very reasonable if you order multiple meals at once. 


The menu is pretty diverse - entrees ranging from raw sushi to raw BBQ "nutmeat,"  with lots of side choices and yummy sounding desserts.  I decided to go with the sampler platter ($10 for five items from the menu) so I could try a little bit of a bunch of different things.  I also ordered the PB Pie, the raw oreos, and a vanilla almond milk (to get a taste of the whole spectrum of offerings - "research" as I sometimes put it).

I had no idea what to expect as I have seen a pretty broad spectrum of raw food, from the refined One Lucky Duck and Pure Food and Wine in NYC, to the more comfort style eats of Khepra's in DC.  When my food arrived, I was shocked to see how little of it there actually was!  From the few pictures online, I envisioned much larger portions.  That being said, I reminded myself that raw food is generally more nutrient (and calorie) dense, so you feel full and satisfied with less.

Sampler - Sandwich, sushi, chicken salad, falafel (hiding), and kale salad

Peanut Butter Chocolate "Pie"

Now for the taste (all items noted below are vegan AND raw, with the exception of the bread on the portabello sandwich, which was not raw):

- Sushi - Nori filled with avocado, some sort of spread, and crunchy veggies.  The nori was a bit soggy, but the roll itself was tasty.
- Chicken salad - Probably my favorite item.  This had good flavor, surprisingly sweet and savory at the same time.  The texture was a little sticky... in a good way if that makes any sense (versus grainy which can often be the case with nut and seed based mixtures).
- Falafel - This didn't remind me much of falafel, that is besides the shape.  The only flavor I could detect was cumin, which isn't what I normally think of when I think of falafel.
- Kale salad - Good, not great.  Kale, avocados, and sun dried tomatoes (I think). Tiny portion so I didn't have much to judge from.
- Portabello sandwich - This was "roasted" portabello mushrooms with pickles and onions on sprouted bread.  The mushrooms were good, but it wasn't really a solid sandwich if you ask me - it could have used some sort of  think sauce or hummus.
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Pie - Extremely sweet, too sweet for my taste buds (although I did eat the whole thing).  Still, quite yummy, although it was more of a pudding than a pie (it came in a cup).  Filling tasted of peanut butter and chocolate, crust was made of coconut and nuts.
- Oreos - The oreo "cookie" was similar in texture to a Larabar, with an interesting taste as the Sistas use carob instead of chocolate.  I wasn't the biggest fan of this "cookie," but I loved the inner "creme,"  and wished there had been more in each.
-Vanilla Almond Milk - This was also way too sweet for my taste buds.  And there was something a little off in the flavor (maybe it was the sweetener?)

I ate half the sampler plate and the PB pie for dinner one night, and the rest for lunch the next day.  I tried one oreo and shared the other two with co-workers.  If you don't include dessert (since I wouldn't order this for a normal meal),  that comes to just $5 per meal, exclusive of delivery charges.  This is an exceptionally good deal, as raw, vegan food can be obnoxiously expensive (I'm looking at you One Lucky Duck).

Overall, while I didn't love everything I tried, I do love the business concept and the prices are decent so I will probably order more of their food in the future. 

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?

A Few Product Reviews

I don't normally buy a lot of pre-made snacks, but being on the go and without a kitchen has made me more reliant on packaged items.  Here are a few quick reviews on some products I have tried lately:

- Califia Farms Almond Milk - The packaging of this item caught my eye at Whole Foods.  I have tried both the Original and Vanilla Almond Milk flavors, as well as the Cafe Latte blend.  This is by far the best packaged almond milk I have purchased (and I have tried quite a few over the years).  It almost, just almost, tastes like homemade.  The Cafe Latte flavor tastes just like one of those bottled frappuccinos, but one servicing has only 90 calories and 12 grams of sugar versus 200 calories and 32 grams of sugar found in the Starbucks counterpart (approximately same serving size).  Bottom line? Try this almond milk! It's now a staple on my grocery list. 

- 22 Days Daily Mocha Mantra bar -  22 Days offers bars and protein powders that are all organic, vegetarian, gluten free, and soy free.  Previously, I've tried another bar flavor and one of their protein powders, and wasn't super impressed, but this bar was good!  The coffee flavor is very strong and packs a caffeine punch (at least it did for me).  Bottom line? Slightly pricey, but a good choice for a quick and healthier morning pick me up. 

- Nouri bars - I tried the Peanut Butter & Wild Cherry and the Chocolate & Creamy Cashew flavors, both of which were good.  The best thing about these bars is that they are made locally (Charlottesville, VA - the founder went to UVA!) and each one you purchase provides a meal for a child in need.  They are more expensive than some other bars, but when you consider what the purchase is going towards the cost seems more than reasonable.  I also liked that the ingredients were all things I knew.   Bottom line?  A solid snack that does good for your body and the world!

- Bell Plantation PB2 - PB2 is powdered peanut butter, lower in calories and fat than traditional PB.  I bought this because it was on sale and I was curious.  I've mixed it in baked goods and smoothies, and tried it plain (you mix the powder with water to get a PB like consistency).  It does taste like peanut butter, but there is also a strange aftertaste that I don't like.  Bottom line?  If I'm going to eat peanut butter, I'll take the calories and fat.  I would not buy again.


-Whole Foods Mock Chick'n Salad - Made with soy nuggets and Veganiase, this salad was super tasty.  The flavors reminded me so much of classic chicken salad, without being too close in texture to the real thing (I know this sounds weird, but I'm not into the whole fake meat thing and I get a bit freaked out when things taste too much like their non-vegan counterparts).  Bottom line?  If you have a craving for a good summer sandwich, this salad will do the trick.  I won't be buying this regularly, but definitely again for a random treat.

- Saffron Road Wasabi Crunchy Chickpeas - Those who know me know I am a wasabi fiend, so when I saw this in my last Vegan Cuts snack box, I was more than excited.  This protein packed snack did not disappoint.  The chickpeas were super crunchy with an intense wasabi flavor -  I was in love!  Bottom line?  Not for the faint of heart, but I will definitely buy again.

 That's all for now folks.  Always one for trying new things, I would love to hear some of your favorite on-the-go snacks!

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...