I Am Emme: New York, New York

Josh and I just* got back from a quick four day getaway in NYC and I wanted to share a few photos here if you'd like to take a peek. *("just" being a loose term as it's actually been two weeks, but with my blogging schedule lately this post is still basically record setting). The whole reason for going was a show at the Blue Note celebrating the 15 year anniversary of Kweli's Quality album. But it was also just a good excuse to take a couple extra days away without the kids to explore the city and have some fun together.

The first thing we did was head to the Financial District to see the brilliant 9/11 memorial. It was still under construction the last time we were here so we were eager to see it finished. It was so beautiful and so fitting. Just really, really perfect. And while were down there we of course saw the Freedom Tower, the new Oculus building which was insane, the "Fearless Girl" installation - awesome - and Trinity church to see the graves of Alexander, Phillip and Eliza Hamilton. We also ate all the pancakes at Bubby's. It was a very good day.

After scouring Deb's Instagram for tips on the her favorite NYC restaurants we stopped into Via Carota to try our chances at snagging a table, and to our delight, succeeded! What followed after was one of the most magical and delicious meals of our lives. The Cacio Pepe was the best I've ever had and the homemade cannoli were absolute perfection. The ambiance, the decor, the festive mood and neighborhood charm of this restaurant made it an immediate favorite. Deb has never lead me astray.

We also had tickets to see this amazing little magic show in the Lotte hotel later that night. It was such a delight! I mean, that's really the best word for it. I can't even tell you how much Josh and I have talked about this show since that night. This magician, Steve Cohen, puts on his show in this ornately decorated room in this gorgeous hotel to a group of maybe 40 people? It's black tie so it makes it extra fun to get all dressed up and show up at this stunning hotel and have this very intimate show with such a small group of people. We had seats in the front row so we were literally feet from Steve as he was doing his illusions. And he was good, like - how in the world is that even possible - good. We scoured the internet after the show trying to get answers on how he did the things he did and NO ONE KNOWS. The whole internet is at a loss. AHH, it was so, so, so much fun.

We spent the next day in Brooklyn walking the bridge, visiting DUMBO and all the other adorable neighborhoods and taking one million pictures. A sampling below.

and speaking of Brooklyn...

That night we sat stage side at the Blue Note and watched as Brooklyn's best performed the Quality album about 18 inches away from my face. Oh, and then Josh, because he loves me and understands my deep and unrequited love for Kweli, informed me that he had contacted Kweli's people in advance and made arrangements for us to meet him afterwards.

*record scratch*

Ummmm. This was going to be awkward. Because obviously when fate befell us and the universe (or Josh) finally brought Kweli and I together - you see, we had only to meet one day to fulfill our communal destiny, he would certainly fall in love with me on the spot (my being his soul mate and all) and we'd have no choice but to abandon all our worldly responsibilities and run away together to live happily ever after.

...weirdly enough, this didn't happen???

I'm just as confused as you, dear reader. Nevertheless! It was a night I will always remember and Kweli remains forever the G.O.A.T. in my book.

moving on.

These cookies from Levain were epic.

They were just bringing the tree into Rockefeller Center the weekend we were there. A couple more days in the city and we could have seen it all lit up, dang it!

more pancakes at Sarabeth's and a really fun curiosity shop we found in the East Village. Josh can't resist a good curiosity shop and brought home a snake skeleton for his office. It made for an interesting carry-on for the plane ride home.

Central park of course, and DŌ

and a dreamy dinner in the village at the Minetta Tavern

On our last day in the city we had plans to walk the high line but we woke up to rain instead. So we spent our last few hours exploring the Natural History Museum. We got to see a show at the Hayden Planetarium and walk through an amazing live butterfly exhibit.