NYC Diaries #4 Everything I did in August and it's worth sharing
A post with 10 personal recs of things and places in New York City that wouldn't make it to Google search results.
The viral “croissant” from Lafayette Bakery
I know that not everything we see on TikTok or Instagram is worth our time or money, but I must confess that these round “croissants” from Lafayette Cafe & Bakery caught my attention. They are known as “suprême” and are available in flavors like Pistachio (sold out when I got there), Apricot (the one I had), and Chocolate. What can I say? If you have a sweet tooth, this is your pastry. It's cream-filled and delicious.
Dinner at The Good Good
We live in East Harlem, and we would always walk by this restaurant - I guess when it's so close, you only think there's always an opportunity to go, right? - but I'm glad we finally made a reservation! First, the environment is cool - and the staff is super friendly. The food was delicious - our favorites were the fish sandwich and the cheesecake, perfect. Can't wait to go back to try the brunch! The restaurant is located on a corner of Park Avenue, in a very quiet area, and it has almost a speakeasy atmosphere. I am glad to find a spot like this here since the dining scene in East Harlem - in our area - is different from in other neighborhoods.
P&T Knitwear Bookstore, Coffee, & Podcast Studio
Finally visited this bookstore that has been on my radar for a long time! I went there to attend an event with the author, Stephanie Kiser. It was a conversation about her book, which I have recommended in my previous newsletter.
This bookstore is family-owned and independent and hosts many events with authors - plus, there's also a cafe and a podcast studio available for people to use for free. So cool!
A visit to the Museum of Moving Image
I had the pleasure to work with the Museum of the Moving Image last month, and it was so cool to go back and check their facilities. I remember when I first visited the museum years ago to check out a Mad Men exhibit, and it was so special. But I had completely forgotten about all the immersive/interactive experiences they have!
From the collection of artifacts related to film and television production to the interactive experiences, I'm sure adults and kids will have such a great time exploring everything the place has to offer! One of my favorite experiences was the dubbing studio, soooo cool! Also, did you know that it's actually housed in a former historic film studio? You can't get more immersed than that!
Croissant and brioche class at the Institute of Culinary Education
In fact, the Institute of Culinary Education (ICE) in New York City is home to one of the largest programs of hands-on recreational cooking classes, baking classes, and wine classes in the world. They have Cooking classes, Baking classes, Wine & Beverages classes.
What fascinates me about these classes are the techniques and the explanations. Everything that happens in the kitchen has a reason, and it's so much more interesting to learn about it!
Biking around Central Park
So, it has been one year since I embarked on a fitness journey - meaning that I started to change my mindset around exercising and nutrition. And it has been a pleasant experience to try different activities. Recently, I decided to explore the biking world - I've always loved biking around, just for fun, but never as an exercise. I've always seen those guys with nice bikes around Central Park, and I've always thought, "How cool is that!".
But before going all in, I decided to rent a bike like that to try and see what it's like…, and I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT! Ok, so now I'm in the process of researching about it - perhaps when you receive this newsletter, I already bought my bike, we will see…
A day trip to Greenport
We also went on a day trip to Greenport in August, and it was lovely! Greenport is a cute village on Long Island's North Fork. Just a few hours from the city, Greenport offers stunning waterfront views, lovely shops, and great restaurants. We took our dog with us, so this is a pet-friendly itinerary!
Casual lunch at Inday
One of the things I love about New York City is the fast-casual dining scene. There are so many options for quick, casual, and, why not, healthy lunches. Inday is a fast-casual restaurant in New York City known for offering healthy, modern, and flavorful dishes inspired by Indian cuisine, that had been on my radar for a while. I finally had the opportunity to try their food over lunch, and I absolutely loved it.
Other great details that made my experience pleasant were:
You can order from a tablet, and they will bring the food to your table.
They have free flavored tap water.
Marjolane Cake from The Frenchman’s Dough at Tin Building
If you haven't been to Tin Building, please put it on your list. This food destination features so many restaurants and eateries! We had dinner at The Frenchman's Dough another day (their pizzas are delicious), but the highlight was this Marjolane cake with chocolate and hazelnuts.
Gold Over America Tour - ft. Simone Biles
Ok, my last tip is actually a plan for October that I consider too good not to share: Gold Over America Tour, starring Simone Biles and America's best gymnasts, on Saturday, October 5, at Barclays Center.
And that's it for today! Hope you are enjoying these monthly recs!