Getting out of our comfort zone...

So true!!!!! It was posted by one of my best friends on her facebook this week. It is how I am feeling in my new life in New York - outside of my comfort zone. I believe it is a common feeling among expats...
My relationship with New York is getting better. I feel more and more like a local and I have stopped thinking about London that much. In the end of the day, it is not just about New York but about what we are learning from it :)
After nearly 8 months, all seems to be going well. Apart from my "9am to 5pm" job I have finally started working as a translator too. So far, so good! It is the sort of job I can take with me wherever we go in the world. Very happy about that!!! I had done a post graduate course in London but for some reason never did anything with it. Now, here I am....Bring it on....Let's see where it takes me to.
You never know where the magic starts if you don't take any risks, do you? Happy to be here!!!!! For me the magic is already happening and I could not be more grateful for having this experience.
Loads of love xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Brunch @ Cookshop in Chelsea

As I have mentioned before, one of my favorite programs on the weekends in New York is to go out for brunch.
Cookshop had been on my list of places to go for a while. It has a very good reputation about being one of the best brunches in town. Besides, it is very close to my work and flat.
Boy, I am glad we went!!!! The food was delicious, so fresh, so beautiful!!!! The cocktails are to die for as well.
Apparently, it is supposed to be a celebrity hot spot. Emma Stone was there with Andrew Garfield last month. Anyways, does not make a lot of difference to me... Just curiosities about Manhattan's life lol
Hope you enjoy!!!! I had a beautiful French Toast and hubby the Huevos Rancheros!!!! Yummy!!!!
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Richard Avedon: Murals and Portraits @ Gagosian Gallery

I love Richard Avedon's photography and I think he is one of the greatest artists of the twentieth century.
The Gagosian Gallery at Chelsea had a great exhibition of some of his famous murals and portraits. It in on until July 27th actually!!!! If you can go!!!!!
Anyways, I am very happy I went and here I am to share some beauty with you all. Richard Avedon was a New Yorker and lived from 1923 until 2004. He was one of the pioneers in fashion photography, starting at Harper's Bazaar in 1945.
It is amazing how his work is so timeless and fresh. Most of these photos could have been taken yesterday!!!!!
What do you think????
Hope you enjoy!!! xxxxxxxxxx 

Happy July 4th + Hubby's Bday @ Hotel Americano

July 4th happens to be my husband's birthday as well. As it was our first July 4th in the US, we wanted to find out what all the fuss was about. And of course, I wanted him to feel special with the fireworks I had prepared specially for him lol ;-)
I was amazed how people embrace the date and with the amount of people on the streets.
On our way to Hotel Americano, where I had made a reservation for dinner, we were shocked to see the queue for the lifts in our building. As many flats have a great view of the Hudson river, it was a perfect place for house parties whilst watching the fireworks. One of our neighbours was giving a party and she said people were queuing up for 35 minutes in the lobby to get a lift!!!!!
Anyways, we had a lovely time at La Piscine at Hotel Americano. The hotel is quite new and we could see some of the fireworks from the roofdeck. In spite of the chaos, the service was amazing :) The views of Manhattan skyline are breathtaking as well.
We will indeed go back with friends for drinks, brunch and whatever else!!!!!
It was a very unforgettable experience indeed :)
Hope you enjoyed! xxxxx


Hotel Americano:518 West 27th Street  New York, NY 10001

View from the bar with the Empire State in the background

The smallest swimming pool I have ever seen in my life. Nevertheless a very stylish one.

The fireworks

View from our flat. What a beautiful evening!!!

New York Pride March

On the same weekend I managed to go to two different parades. The Mermaid Parade in Coney Island on Saturday and The New York Pride March on Sunday, June 24th. I truly loved it!!!!!!!What an amazing atmosphere, everyone having a great time :)
It is so amazing to live in a place where DIVERSITY is celebrated, respected and appreciated. That is what I love about cities like London and New York. You can be whatever you want to be. No one cares!!!!!!
It was the 43rd Annual Gay Pride Parade and also a celebration of the first anniversary since same sex marriage was legalized in New York.
Usually it takes place during summer and starts at Fifth Avenue going all the way down to Greenwich Village.
It is one of the year's most exciting events in New York. Very glad to have been part of it :)
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Gustav Klimt: 150th Anniversary Celebration at Neue Gallery

One of the things I love the most about living in big cities such as London and New York are the cultural attractions. Seriously, you have no time to get bored in such cities. There is always so much to do!!!!!!! As soon as I knew there would be an exhibition to celebrate Gustav Klimt's 150th anniversary, I knew I would end up there. Klimt is one of my favorite painters. I love his style, the colours, the beautiful mosaics we find in his art. Also, I had never been to Neue Galerie, which is located in the Museum Mile and is devoted to early 20th century German and Austrian art and design. The gallery is based in an impressive landmark mansion on Fifth Avenue and it offers a diverse program of exhibitions, lectures, films and concerts.

The Klimt exhibition was open on May 24 and will be on until August 27.It features major works from the collection, as well as several never-before-seen photographs of the artist. He looks so bohemian in some of them. I could imagine him living in the 70's!!!!!

I was a bit disappointed because there were not many paintings. Anyways, it s always amazing to be so close to a master's work. Beautiful and rich as the lovely ladies from the Viennese society he used to portrait.

If you go, make sure you have a coffee afterwards at the beautiful Cafe Sabarsky inside the mansion. It evokes the great Fin de siècle coffee places in Vienna and is supposed to be a favorite spot for New Yorkers.

 Neue Galerie:  1048 5th Avenue  New York, NY 10028

(212) 628-6200

Whereabouts....

I am so sad I haven't been writing here as much...Summer has arrived in New York and I am trying to make the most of it,  juggling work, exercise, fun, housekeeping duties, personal life, etc...

I have been up to so many things and I need to sit down and share with you guys!!!!!!!Among them: The Mermaid Parade @ Coney Island, Pride Parade, Klim'ts exhibition and Big Apple Barbecue. Time out, I love you!!!!!!

Loving the heat in this city, even when it get close to the 40s Celsius lol 

What a  change!!!!!! :) 

All good though. Had my first Birthday in the US and already looking forward to July 4th (my hubby's Bday too). Can't wait for the fireworks and the party to begin.

7 months in New York, nearly 3 months working. Life is good!!!!!!:):)

Summer, bring it on!!!!!

Loads of love xxxxxxxxx

Spiegelworld @ Empire New York

If you are in New York this summer, don't miss Spiegelworld @ Empire New York!!!!!!Mainly if your are looking for something different and off the beaten track of Broadway (in spite of being based in the middle of Times Square).  It was my first show in New York and I was truly impressed. I had seen a similar show in London a couple of years ago called La Soiree.  It is a mix of vaudeville, burlesque, circus with impressive performances and a hint of comedy.
 I went with work and we had amazing tickets on the 1st and 2nd row.
The lady singing during the show reminded me of Florence and the Machine as well. 
Have a look at some of the amazing photos:

 One word to define it: AWESOME!!!!!!

Hope you enjoy!!!!! xxxxx

Sunset on Hudson with Chuck Bramman Jazz Band

Back to New York after amazing 10 days in England. Oh dear, how I miss that country!!!!! Oh dear, how I love the American weather. I was freezing in England in the last couple of days...We definetely can't have it all.

So happy it is summer and there are so many free things to do in the city.

Last Friday, we went to this free event on Pier 45. Sunset + Jazz Band + NY's skyline in the background :) So nice!!!!!!!

The Tenement Museum at the Lower East Side

Visiting the Tenement Museum at the Lower East Side has been one of my favorite programs in New York so far.
The Lower East Side is one of the most diverse neighbourhoods in Manhattan. It is where you can find Jewish communities, working class Dominicans and Chinese, moneyed artsy types, hipster refugees from Soho and East Village. It is know as the melting pot of the island and by the end of the 19th century, it was the most densely populated spot in the world.
There are so many great restaurants, bars, emerging designers - apparently Lady Gaga started her career in a club on Rivington Street. Also, it does remind me so much of East London...
Anyways, the LES was were the first tenement was constructed in 1833, when the immigrants started arriving in bunches from Prussia and it became know as Kleindeutschland (Little Germany). They were followed by Irish, Jews from Eastern European, Italian immigrants and many other nationalities after the American dream.
The Lower East Side Tenement Museum tells some of these stories. It was built in 1863 at 97 Orchard Street and restored by the museum founders in the 90s. It had been closed since 1935.
You can choose between tours such as: Hard Times, Sweatshop Workers, Irish Outsiders and Exploring 97 Orchid Street.
We decided to go for Hard Times and I can't wait to go back for the others!!!!!! In our tour there were 8 people and during one hour an amazing guide took us back in time, telling the story of how 2 families survived economic depressions at 97 Orchard Street between 1863 and 1935. We had the opportunity to visit the restored homes of the German-Jewish Gumpertz family, whose patriarch disappeared during the Panic of 1873, and the Italian-Catholic Baldizzi family, who lived through the Great Depression.
It is possible to watch a great introductory video in the museum before or after the tour. One of the lines of the video stuck to my mind. It said something like how an immigrant is an adventurer for learning to live in a completely different way from the one he is used to...So true!!!!!
If you are in New York, do not miss it!!!! More information can be found here.
Hope you enjoy!!!!

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The Tenement Museum: 108 Orchard Street (daily 10am -6pm)

It is a dog's world :)

Why 95% of New Yorkers have dogs in spite of living in shoe boxes?? Can anyone answer that question please?? Is it fair to these lovely creatures??
It is very unusual in my building to get the lift, or elevators as they say here, without sharing the space with a dog. Bear in mind I leave in a building with 420 apartments and God knows how many people and dogs.
The dog "nurseries" are all over the place as well. And boy, they are not cheap! Some of them even offer plans or memberships where you can skype and see your baby :)
Where else in the world can you find organic dog food??? Or where else do you have parks with playgrounds for dogs???
Welcome to New York :)
When I think of London/England, I think of a cat's world lol

Shop in East Village

Tompkins Square Park

Playground for dogs :)

Strand book store - book lover's paradise!!!

I know I have already spoken about this amazing book store here. However, I do not think I have spoken  highly enough of it. Every time I go back to the Strand bookshop, it amazes me even more.
I think I could spend the whole day in this home to 18 miles of books. I am sure you will find there whatever you are looking for book wise. As its website says: "new books, used books, rare books, out of print books, art books, and..." I have said before, a must go destination for book lovers in New York.

I love the quotes they have in different book sections. I have included two below :)

Strand Books: 828 Broadway  New York, NY 10003 (It is very close to Union Square)