Old Westbury Gardens

Personally, I love nothing more than exploring new places with nobody else around. Guilty pleasure? I think so. After an impromptu meeting with a potential vendor, Mike and I had the opportunity to do just that at the beautiful and breathtaking Old Westbury Gardens in Old Westbury, New York.

The shooting location for several films, Old Westbury Gardens is as beautiful in the dead of winter as it is in the springtime when its gorgeous gardens are in full bloom. I swear it almost felt as though we stumbled upon the set of The Secret Garden.

Christmas in New York

I’ve said it 100 times and I’ll say it 100 times over… There is nothing quite like Christmastime in New York City.

I was in desperate need of a good fix after spending much of the season in Charleston–albeit a beautiful city, it lacks any type of Christmas spirit–so spending the remainder of the season in New York was quite a treat. Mike and I merely scratched the surface during our 2-night stint in Manhattan, and despite our first attempt at visiting Rockefeller Center being a major fail, there was plenty of visual stimulation to be had otherwise.

holiday recap

Two weeks off may sound like a lifetime to some, but never has two weeks flown by so quickly. I made sure to make the most of my time at home by taking care of some business for the wedding, registering(!!), having a karaoke night with friends, going on date nights with my fiancé (which still feels crazy to say), taking a trip to the MoMa to view the Matisse exhibit, enjoying a beachside Christmas lights show, having a failed attempt to go ice skating, eating pizza and/or Italian food everyday, and spending quality time with family, Riley, and my soon-to-be in-laws (again, crazy!).

a best friend’s wedding

The Location: Woodmere, NY  |  The Date: November 15, 2014
The Ceremony: The Woodmere Club  |  The Reception: The Woodmere Club
The Couple: Former neighbors who decided to start dating when they lived 3,000 miles apart
The Vibe: Classic Elegance 

farewell, captain

Today marked a sad day in baseball as Derek Jeter took his last swing in Yankee Stadium. Some of my favorite memories–from birthday celebrations with friends to family outings–were centered around Derek Jeter and the Yankees.

There’s nothing like hearing the voice of Bob Sheppard announce Derek Jeter at Yankee Stadium… “Now batting for the Yankees. Number 2. Derek Jeter.” A real class act, the Yankees will not be the same without him.

weekend recap

My weekend in New York may have been a whirlwind, but it was filled with lots of love. After looking at venues all-day Friday, my friends threw us a little a little engagement celebration, and on Sunday, I attended a bridal shower for one of my best friends from high school.

narrowing it down

I approached my wedding venue search the same way I approached my college application process. Start early, do lots of research, and leave no stone unturned.

After reaching out to 60+ venues in the tri-state area from NYC penthouses with skyline views to lush vineyards to raw barns to Gold Coast mansions to yacht and country clubs, Mike and I finally narrowed it down while I was home this past weekend.

Some of my favorite photos from the hunt below!

weekend recap

I never imagined in a million years that I’d have to leave Charleston for some sunshine–to New York of all places. And never did I think that I’d arrive in New York thinking, “Gosh, it’s so nice to finally have some nice weather.” Sure enough, this is exactly what went through my mind this past weekend when I took a much-needed escape from the hot, muggy, and rainy summer down South for the dry, mild, and sunny weather up North.

The Loeb Boathouse, Central Park

Staff members assume that if you’re dining at The Loeb Boathouse in Central Park–on a Monday afternoon, no less–you’re automatically a clueless tourist. I’ll have you know that I am no tourist–OK, now, maybe a little bit–and I am certainly not clueless when it comes to the restaurant business in NYC. I truly hate when a host or hostess speaks down to me. It is one of my biggest pet peeves. You are the first person people see when they walk through that door so you better put on a happy face… no matter how badly your feet may hurt (I used to be a greeter at Abercrombie & Fitch; I get it). If you couldn’t tell already, this particular hostess really got under my skin.

Moving on!

Now that I’ve vented my frustrations about the staff, I can talk about more important things like the food and overall atmosphere. Their claim to fame is their crab cake, which was undoubtedly one of the better crab cakes I’ve ever tasted–after Magnolias in Charleston. Now, the ambiance. Central Park is beautiful and I always feel at home when walking along the winding paths, whether they’re surrounded by greenery or mounds of white snow. Dining al fresco, overlooking the views of the park is definitely not something to complain about and that is a big reason to dine at the Boathouse–if not the reason.

I remember when people used to dress up to go to the Central Park Boathouse. It used to be for special occasions and important business meetings, but I soon realized that nobody dresses up anymore. Nobody cares about how they look, nobody bothers to put on a clean shirt, or change out of their sneakers. It’s the same thing when you attend a Broadway show. My parents would dress my sister and me up in our Sunday best when we were young, and now you’ll see people–grown people–stroll into a show in sweatpants and sneakers. It’s sad, really. And I guess that just goes to show, The Loeb Boathouse in Central Park is a major tourist trap. And we got trapped. But so what? I love it anyway.

 

Fireworks on the Sound

An impromptu outing on the Long Island Sound brought us lots of visual stimulation this Fourth of July. I’ve now concluded that there’s no better way to watch fireworks than from the water.