BEA Part Of It: Parks & (Food) Rec

I'm so thrilled to be joining in on this BEA tips series for the third year in a row! (Check out my recs for bookstores, coffee & tea spots, and tourist spots.) It's always fun to share the things I love about this city that I now call home. This time around, each of the participating bloggers is getting a little personal and sharing their favorite things to do in the city. So, without further ado, I wanted to share my ideal day out in New York City.

I usually kick off my mornings with a cup of coffee (though I've been trying to get into the groove of drinking tea or juice these days). My latest favorite haunt for coffee is Blue Bottle Coffee, where the coffee is always freshly roasted. I'd take my cappuccino to go and find a place to sit in Bryant Park, where I'd kick back and relax with some music. I often go there to read, journal or just hang out. It's right in the heart of midtown, and right behind the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building of the New York Public Library. There are chairs scattered around the rectangular lawn in the center, a lovely fountain, a few stalls selling food, and some fun games and activities for visitors. (Bonus: There are clean bathrooms!)

For lunch, I'd drop by Crisp, which is a restaurant that serves fresh food made to order. (I'm sensing a theme in my food choices here.) There are pita sandwiches, burgers, hummus/rice bowls, salad bowls and more to choose from! (Personally, I really like the authentic pita sandwich.) (And I have to give credit to Lili for introducing me to this place!)

After lunch, I'd hop on a train and get off near Central Park. It might be a popular tourist spot, but because it's so vast, you're almost always guaranteed a patch of grass or an empty bench to sit on. I love walking down the paths, and if I have the time, getting lost within the park boundaries! Some of my favorite spots to visit are the Bow Bridge, the Central Park Boathouse and the Bethesda Fountain.

If my stomach started rumbling, I'd find myself meandering towards Levain Bakery to snag one of their chocolate chip walnut cookies. Warm and melty, it'd be perfect to eat as I walked down the avenues towards the Boat Basin. This spot boasts an open air cafe with a fun atmosphere during the warmer months of the year, with a perfect view of the Hudson River and the marina where boats can be in residence year round. I like to go there to see the boats and daydream of sailing away on one, plus it's just a lovely view when the light hits the water just so. 

And to round off the day, I'd go to Shake Shack to grab one of their 'Shroom Burgers, a side of cheese fries and a Fair Shake. Even though I've had this particular combination of food so many times, it just never gets old - and it's always delicious. Definitely a great way to cap off the night! I hope you enjoyed spending the day with me in NYC! If you do wind up checking out these places during your NYC visit, feel free to leave a comment or tweet telling me about it. 

And now, as a special treat, here's a recommendation from the lovely Corey Ann Haydu, author of OCD Love Story, Life By Committee and the upcoming Making Pretty and Rules for Stealing Stars! You can find her on her website & Twitter and info on her books here.

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Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, and spend some time exploring beautiful downtown Brooklyn. It's a nice way to see a different part of the city than the busy, touristy parts most people end up visiting. Plus there's an amazing pizza place-- Grimaldi's-- right under the Brooklyn Bridge. Pizza and a gorgeous walk outside with views of the city? You can't get better than that. It's way more of a must-see than the Empire State Building or Times Square in my opinion!

I also asked Corey for a bonus NYC book rec, and she suggested Valley of the Dolls. In her words, "it's fun and dark and fascinating and fun. It's one of my favorite books, and seeing what NYC was like for a young 20-something girl decades ago is the BEST. It's an addictive read and captures both the glitz and underbelly of the city." (It's definitely going on my list of books to check out!)

YOUR TURN! Have you ever visited New York City? If yes, what were your favorite places? If no, which places have you heard about and want to visit? I want to hear your stories!