This past weekend was full of fun and food… in New York City!  Two of my roommates and I went to visit our friend Erica at her new apartment in the Upper East Side.  We had such a good weekend with the perfect smattering of activities – lots of eating, drinking, touring, and catching up!

Our weekend activity list included:

• Catching up with wine and Luigi’s takeout in Erica’s apartment
• A drink at a speakeasy
• Live band and dancing at Sessions
• Darts, Buck Hunter, and ridiculousness at The Gaf
• Mozz Sticks
• Brunch at Gracie’s Corner Diner
• Walk in Central Park
• Shopping at the Union Square Holiday Shops
• The Museum of Sex
• Fancy Italian dinner at Volare
• Dancing, techno, and strobe lights at Veranda
• Mozz Sticks
• Bagel breakfast
• Rockefeller Center to see the TREE
• Pashmina and Bag vendor shopping
• Being sad to leave!

Eating healthy was not the number 1 thing on my priority list this weekend, but we did a ton of walking around and dancing.  Getting low really works your legs, you know.

NYC Food Recap

Luigi’s
Friday night before heading out, we ordered salads from Luigi’s.  This was probably my healthiest food choice of the weekend!  Lots of greens with grilled chicken on top.  Tasted great with Pinot Grigio and Swedish Fish Vodka w/seltzer.  Anyone else have Swedish Fish vodka before?  Candy in your mouth.  Dangerous!

Friday’s Unpictured Food
Mozzies and a bowl of popcorn inhaled in approximately 3.5 seconds (post bar, circa 4:30am)

Gracie’s Corner Diner
Great little spot with tons of Mediterranean options for both your breakfast and lunch needs.

I got the most delicious chicken souvlaki on a pita with a side of Greek salad and french fries.  I didn’t really eat many of the french fries (honestly!), but I pretty much licked the rest of the plate clean.  The chicken had the best spices on it.  And obviously I couldn’t leave any morsel of feta behind.

Only downside here was a little bit of a wait.  Oh, and they asked us to switch our table once we were seated?  I thought that was weird.  But this meal was the perfect hangover cure hit the spot!

Volare
I think I can honestly say Volare is one of the best restaurants I have ever been to.  The atmosphere is very cozy, it’s fun to get dressed up, and the staff is very friendly and welcoming to all.  What’s really fun is that they have no menu!  You just tell them what you feel like having and they will make something for you.  I told them I felt like having eggplant, and they made me a delicious eggplant rollatini full of cheesy delight.  Before dinner came out, they brought us yummy bread and we munched on a cold antipasto platter of awesomeness.  Oh, and we had goblets of wine and they just keep refilling you without you even realizing it!  It’s definitely the kind of place you plan on spending a few hours at.  Perfect for wine, classy and distinguished conversation, and a whole lot of laughs.

Very booby delicious dessert!!  I thought this was so funny since we were at such a nice restaurant.

Picture of us dressed up with the staff!

Saturday’s Unpictured Food
Carrots & Hummus and a little plate of nachos for a snack before dinner, and MORE mozzies Saturday night (again, circa 4:30am)

Sunday’s Food

You can’t go to New York without getting a bagel smeared with cream cheese!

Whole wheat pumpernickel with a light veggie spread:

Sunday’s Unpictured Food
Endless & unnecessary snacking on the way home.  Darnit, Athena.  Good thing Shedding Through the Season started on Monday!

NYC Picture Recap

My favorite pictures from the weekend!

For the full album of NYC picture fun, click here!

Thank you, Erica, for hosting a fabulous weekend!

Questions of the Day:  Ever been to NYC?  If yes, ever been at Christmastime?  What is your favorite thing to do there?  Any bar or restaurant suggestions for next time?  When you go away for the weekend, do you try to eat healthy or do you just get back on track the following week?