Part Two: Five Days in New York

Back with the second part of our New York trip, which includes our time in the city! (If you missed the recap of the first part of our trip in the upstate, you can see that here.)

We actually drove to the city from Aurora and it was the most beautiful drive! Of course Brandon had a slight moment of pause when we realized this meant driving in the city for the first time. Not only that, but returning the rental car to an Enterprise location within a parking garage in Times Square. Honestly, as it turned out, the city driving was no biggie for him at all, but the Newark Turnpike area for sure came at us quick while trying to navigate which lane we needed to be in and which exit to take in split seconds of notice. He did great!!

We stayed at The Carlyle this time, which is one of our favorite hotels because of it’s quiet Upper East Side neighborhood location, mixed with that luxurious old New York glamour. It’s also such a treat to go to Bemelmans Bar, the upscale piano bar located inside the property. While guests are given priority access, anyone can go—just go early and anticipate a bit of a wait!! If you haven’t been to Bemelmans, it’s such a treat. Expect swingy jazz music, flowing martinis, well-suited servers, and gilded murals by famed Ludwig Bemelman. It all transports me back into a time that I think I was meant to live! I’m sure my friends, who know I listen to jazz music nightly and anytime I entertain, might agree.

A highlight of our trip was that some of our close Charleston friends were in NYC at the same time, so we met at Bemelmans one of our nights and had a pre-dinner cocktail.

Backing up a little to the daytime, we enjoyed shopping at a few of my favorites, Ralph Lauren, Saks, and Bergdorf’s. Also enjoyed popping in a handful of jewelry stores in the UES.

Above in RL, wearing very old jeans (B. Sides Slim Lasso in Black), this amazing coat recommended by Meg Strachan in this Substack, this bag, and these shoes, which are impossibly comfortable. My phone chain is linked here.

A necessary french fry + cocktail stop at L’Avenue. Not pictured: water and diet coke. We need all the liquids. Note on the fries… ask for their spicy mayo. Makes the best dipping sauce.

That night, we went to dinner at The Polo Bar. (I really went out of order here. This was immediately after drinks at Bemelman’s!)

I wore this outfit below (linked here). The blazer is $71!! Note, it runs really big!! This is an XS.

It felt so good to be in 60 degree NYC fall weather. Outfit below is linked here, plus a big list of trench coats I think look like great buys.

My shopping souvenir! Linked here and shown in action here!

Also enjoyed lunch at Bergdorf’s, which is always a must for me because I truly dream of their truffle chicken salad sandwich with raisin walnut bread.

Honestly I didn’t take the most pictures this trip, so this isn’t the best recap. But here are a handful from my phone….

Always love checking out the Hotel Silver display at Bergdorf’s.

B and I went to Carbone on our last night. It was absolutely delish! I’m wearing these pants (the. best.) and this jacket.

On our third and last day, we woke up and took a nice long walk in Central Park.

Trekked it down to Bond Street so I could browse the Goop store.

Wore the same jacket as the day before.

Then we walked over to John’s on Bleeker for pizza. Brandon and I first stumbled into this place almost 15 years ago. It has now grown in popularity a ton thanks to the awesome pizza score that Dave Portnoy gave it. Still… so worth the wait.

Ended our trip with a visit to John Derian. It’s especially fun to browse during Christmas, but it was still so good. I fell in love with this collection below.

And that will do it! We had a wonderful time but we were both so ready to get back to our babies. I think 3 nights away is my happy place… on the rare times that we do leave our kids throughout the year, that is. We were gone 5 full days this time and I really couldn’t wait to be home.

Though, as always… we love you, NYC.