Tag: Things to do in NYC

Chasing The Dragon: How To Watch The Lunar New Year Parade in New York City

Tradition is one of those things I found stifling when I was younger, something I desperately needed to break free of. Being of mixed race meant having two sets of rules to adhere to. It meant being saddled by two laborious sets of obligations. I couldn’t wait until I didn’t have to be somewhere I didn’t want to be–I was young and had way cooler things to do, after all. (Cue the eye roll here.) But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve developed a renewed understanding and appreciation for it. Community becomes less about conforming and more about belonging.

Continue reading Chasing The Dragon: How To Watch The Lunar New Year Parade in New York City

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of History: Why You Should Visit Fraunces Tavern in New York City


I don’t know about you, but when I think of early American history, my thoughts naturally migrate to Massachusetts, Virginia, and Washington DCーnever New York City. Recently, though, musicals like Broadway’s smash hit, Hamilton, and shows like AMC’s, Turn, have flipped the script on that. As it happens, New York City is a veritable cornucopia of American history, from momentum-changing events to the rise of some of our most enduring national figures.
Continue reading Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of History: Why You Should Visit Fraunces Tavern in New York City

Finding Love in New York City on Valentine’s Day with the Army of Lovers



Those who know me know that I don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day. In fact, I kind of despise it. And it’s not just because I don’t buy in to the carefully orchestrated marketing frenzy of overpriced gifts and experiences leading up to the holiday. It’s because something about glorifying coupledom has always rubbed me the wrong way. Sure, I can acknowledge the value of taking the time to appreciate your significant other, but that should really happen more than once a year, don’t you think? Justin and I have never been one of those couples who only hangs out with other couples. In fact, we have many friendships with individuals who happen to be unattached. And, surprise, they are no less spectacular because they haven’t “found the one”, “met their soulmate”, or “made the perfect match”.

Continue reading Finding Love in New York City on Valentine’s Day with the Army of Lovers

The Art Gallery Crawl: A Secret Alternative To Art Museums In New York City


We’ve made no bones about the fact that this blog keeps us pretty busy. But every once in a while someone cancels or plans fall through and we find ourselves with an opening in our otherwise overpacked schedule. So, what do we do when we have some time to kill? Well, we turn to a tried-and-true solution, one that requires no tricky reservations or extensive planning. And one that happens to be the best kept pseudo-secret in town: an art gallery crawl. Oh, and the cherry on top? It won’t cost you a dime.
Continue reading The Art Gallery Crawl: A Secret Alternative To Art Museums In New York City

Strangers in the Night: An Evening at Tokyo Record Bar in New York City


When considering the fact that New York City is a bustling metropolis of millions, it’s ironic how often you hear it’s inhabitants express feelings of loneliness. Or alienation. Or a sense of hopeless disconnection from their fellow denizens. These are trite sentiments, certainly, but that doesn’t make them untrue. Even Mark Twain, when chronicling his time in the The City That Never Sleeps, wrote:

“A man walks his tedious miles through the same interminable street every day, elbowing his way through a buzzing multitude of men, yet never seeing a familiar face, and never seeing a strange one the second time.”

Continue reading Strangers in the Night: An Evening at Tokyo Record Bar in New York City

Hitting All The Right Notes: The Tradition of Unsilent Night in New York City


If there’s one thing to know about this blog and the people behind it, it’s that Justin and I love all facets of New York City. That means loving Jean Georges and Halal Guys in equal measure. Fifth Avenue and the Lower East Side. The Met and Mmuseumm. And when it comes to the holidays, we love over-the-top displays as well as understated celebrations. One of the more quirky and lesser known holiday traditions we enjoy in New York City is that of Unsilent Night.

Continue reading Hitting All The Right Notes: The Tradition of Unsilent Night in New York City

The Tradition of the Non-Traditional: Christmas Day Dim Sum in New York City



In case our posts about Christmas Lights and Holiday Windows didn’t give it away, we’re pretty big fans of the holiday season. And another thing we’re pretty big fans of? Food. Christmas is fast approaching and the majority of businesses will be shuttered to observe the day’s celebration, food establishments included. But one of the many things we love about New York City is that it’s incredibly diverse. A solid quarter of it’s estimated 8.6 million population is made up of non-Christians–they include Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs, Atheists, and many, many others. So, on Christmas Day, where do these other New Yorkers congregate for a meal? Turns out, there’s a tradition for that!

Continue reading The Tradition of the Non-Traditional: Christmas Day Dim Sum in New York City

Let’s Get Lit: Christmas Lights Tour with A Slice of Brooklyn Bus Tours



Our love of the holidays is no secret. From Halloween through New Year’s Eve, we’re down with anything this incredible city can throw at us. And New York City? Well, FUHGETTABOUDIT! It’ll throw a little bit of everything at you, from the conventional to the kitchen sink. So when our friends over at A Slice of Brooklyn Bus Tours recently invited us to check out their Christmas Lights Tour, we jumped at the chance. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is a holiday staple in our household, we had to do it for the Griswolds.

Continue reading Let’s Get Lit: Christmas Lights Tour with A Slice of Brooklyn Bus Tours

How Sweet It Is: The Best Candy Shops in New York City



There are three candy holidays, or I should say Holy Days,  in the United States: Easter, Halloween, and Christmas. I remember as a child, when of one of these observed Holy Days approached, my father would open a portal into another world. No matter where we lived at the time, he would take me to some secretive little shop, inconspicuously tucked away off the beaten path. These shops were like walking into a time capsule, what with their loads of obscure candies, chocolates, and myriad other snacks, stacked floor to ceiling. Whether in open barrels or giant bags and boxes, I found myself surrounded by untold delights.

Continue reading How Sweet It Is: The Best Candy Shops in New York City

To Infinity and Beyond: Yayoi Kusama’s Festival of Life at David Zwirner Gallery in New York City



Why on earth would a nocturnal creature such as myself wake up at an uncivilized hour on a frigidly cold Saturday morning in November just to stand on line for nearly two hours–and not just any line but a discouragingly gargantuan queue that appeared to stretch into infinity? A fair question. And the answer is quite simple: when you have the opportunity to see recent works from an artist of Yayoi Kusama’s caliber, whose contributions have been essential to some of the most important artistic movements of the 20th Century, you dig deep. You pull on your big boy pants and wrap yourself in a puffer jacket. You fill a thermos with strong coffee. And you get moving.

Continue reading To Infinity and Beyond: Yayoi Kusama’s Festival of Life at David Zwirner Gallery in New York City