So this is a super-long post - if you are reading (hey, Mom!), I tried to also include lots of photos. We had a fun-filled, packed Thanksgiving weekend!
One of the best things about having a husband from New Jersey is getting to visit his sweet family & friends in NJ & getting to hop over to New York City - this year Brooklyn to be specific.
As a kid, I dreamed & dreamed of getting to visit/live/see (anything!) NYC (remember Fame? I so wanted to be a Fame kid!!!) - I have always loved big cities & love how their energy holds me up & makes me feel so alive. Even in Atlanta, I have always found my way back to the city (to live & work) whenever possible. So I am especially grateful that I'm losing count of how many times I've gotten to walk under NYC's lights & beautiful buildings. I love how it's becoming more & more familiar to me & how it recharges me every time I come back home. I also love (sorry for using love so much, but...) how I could never exhaust the possibilities/sites/food/people the City provides.
We got up at 4 AM Thanksgiving morning & flew into Newark. From the airport we took our rental:
(guess who picked the rental!)
and made our way to Hoboken. Here is one of the best things about Hoboken:
- its amazing views of Manhattan!
I can never get enough of it! So freaking amazing & beautiful!
We grabbed a "light" breakfast of pancakes from Stacks Pancake House and Smokehouse BBQ - how's that for a mouthful - located on Hoboken's main drag of Washington Street.
Walking about the city was a great way to burn off those pancakes - if you've never been to Hoboken, go - it's a cool little city & Sinatra's hometown. Just across the Hudson from NYC - it's only a short train (the PATH) or ferry ride away.
We then met up with our Kiddo (OK, she's technically my step-daughter, but I claim her!) who recently moved to Brooklyn & headed about an hour away to see family in Lake Hoptagcong, NJ for a big Thanksgiving dinner. I am so thankful for the wonderful hospitality & all the delicious food they prepared - it was like walking into Turkey-Heaven - we were hungry, a bit grubby from all the travel, & so happy to see everyone!
Friday morning, my sister-in-law & her guy made us all a wonderful brunch (again, thank you, guys!!!) - we were never lacking for food or wonderful company on this trip.
On Friday afternoon, we headed to Brooklyn:
Above is the view from our hotel - you can see the One World Trade Center on the left.
We also go to see the Kiddo's apartment - she & her roommates are lucky enough to have a little backyard:
Later, we had dinner at a pizza place, Rosco's - yep, so much food! Good thing we walked lots too!
We started Saturday with a really delicious late brunch at the Lazy Ibis (love that name):
I thought their espresso cups were cool (the espresso was great as well) - this trip was fueled by lots caffeine!
The weather was a bit rainy & overcast, so we then hit the Brooklyn Museum:
They currently have a very cool exhibition - Coney Island: Visions of an American Dreamland, 1861–2008.
The whole museum is worth checking out:
The Brooklyn Public Library is next door. We didn't go in, but what a thing of beauty:
Saturday night, we had dinner at Glady's Caribbean - some of the best Jerk chicken, Jerk pork, peppered shrimp, peas and rice, and plantains I've ever had. Check it out in Brooklyn! I wish I had photos of the food, but we were all busy chowing down!
Sunday, we headed to Rockaway Township, NJ to attend our 2-year-old niece's birthday party.
On our way out of town - on the Manhattan Bridge:
It was held at a great restaurant called Caffe Navona - how cute was her cake?
The Birthday Girl spent the 1st part of her party like this:
:-) Got to love her dress! A 2-year-old needs her naps!
We then made our way back to Hoboken; some sweet friends let us stay at their super-cool condo:
I highlighted their condo in this post too.
They just got kittens - a bother & sister:
They were so cute & funny & SO hard to capture on film!
These cats have cool digs/scratch post:
Later, we all had dinner at the Elysian Cafe:
It's so pretty on the inside & the food matches!
Monday was our last day and we had lunch at Schnackenberg's Luncheonette - ya'll, they make their own donuts! Go! I might have eaten two...like a cider & a dulce de leche...the proof is long gone.
So with very full bellys & even fuller hearts we headed back to Atl.
Until next time! We love you!
And one more time:
Cheers,
S