NYC Eats

Bluestone Lane Collective Café

New York City has some of the most amazing dining options in the word. Every time I go I am constantly scoping out new places to check out and I'm always sure to make a list of all the places I want to get too. Do I ever make it to all of them? Heck no! But I keep adding and saving for the next trip! You've seen my Parisian bakery highlights and my tour of The Feast of San Gennaro where I indulged in French delicacies and classic Italian festival fare, This trip we hit up some sweet cafes, amazing brunch spots and great coffee shops, so I knew I had to share! From lemon ricotta pancakes to acai bowls, check out below for some spots to add to your list. 

NoMo Soho

NoMo Kitchen. This is the second time I've stayed at the NoMo Hotel. While the hotel kind of lacks some amenities (like free coffee in the AM), the restaurant sure is impressive. The lemon ricotta pancakes and baked and are some of the best I've ever tried. Their homemade granola is pretty delicious, too! If you're looking for a ritzy brunch, or late night cocktail, look no further. The restaurant is a stunning place and the glass roof makes for excellent lighting and ambiance!

NOMO Kitchen

Ruby's

Ruby's. Such a charming little Australian spot on Mott Street. I swear Brandon responded to every place we went to with "another Australian place!". But they know good food! The sweet chili sweet potatoes fries packed some serious heat and were the group's favourite. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meals (pesto pasta, quinoa bowl, shrimp avocado salad) after a morning of travel. Don't forget a cappuccino or the watermelon-mint juice. It's so refreshing.

Ruby's

Cha Cha Matcha

Cha Cha Matcha. Okay, blogger confession: I spotted this place on Instagram and just had to go. Some of my family was staying at the Sohotel on Broome Street so it made dragging the group to this perfectly pink, palm printed palace very easy! I was literally giddy with excitement upon entering.The decor is everything-- white walls, palm print pillow, pink tables and palm trees hanging out in the back! The matcha lemonade, which has hints of mint, was so refreshing on this extremely hot morning! It's also great that they serve coffee for the non-matcha lovers. Brandon loved his flat white. We had planned to get back for some matcha soft serve (well, I did), but time got the best of us. Next time!

Cha Cha Matcha

Tacombi. Tacos, margs, sangria? Yes, yes, yes! I can't forget about the pineapple-ginger juice. Ugh, I want more! We hit up the Greenwich location on Bleeker Street, and Brandon and I were saying how we truly felt like we were in Mexico. With the big open windows, the kitchen out front and centre and the amazing hot sauces, this is one Mexican joint to visit. Scarfed down our tacos too fast for a photo-- opps! It's casual and perfect for lunch. 

Tacombi

Tacombi

Dimes

Dimes. A breakfast/lunch joint in China Town. We both needed something refreshing so went with the acai bowls. Mine was obviously topped with carob nibs, almond butter, and banana and I thought mine was the better of the two. They make an excellent cup of coffee, and since this place is around a 10 minute walk from SoHo I found it is probably overlooked by tourists! All the locals were sitting at the counter chatting with the barista, which is always a good sign. Would definitely recommend checking out the lunch options!

Two Hands. Another Australian cafe on Mott Street, and probably my favourite. The acai bowl was the best I have ever had, and I mean it! You also can't go wrong with the chia pudding. Both are topped with fresh fruit and gluten-free granola, which was crunchy perfection. I would be happy ordering anything off the menu, it's that delicious! It's a small space and if you have to wait it's worth it. The service is quick and you'll be seated in no time!

Happy Bones. Another amazing cup of coffee in SoHo (just down the street from Cha Cha Matcha). Small space, but makes a mean flat white! Take one to go. 

By Chloe. I know this place has been made famous by bloggers like Aimee Song, but it's so worth making a pit stop in the West Village for a bite! It may be vegan but you'll never know. Some of my favourites are the green hummus, any of the salads, the air-popped sweet potato fries with beet ketchup, and the cookies and kale ice cream... OH MY WORD. It's divine. Think vanilla/sweet cream ice cream with chunks of soft cookie. I still need to get back for the guac burger. Oh, and be sure to get a cookie to go! Chef Chloe is opening a location in SoHo, and a shop just for sweets beside the Bleeker location. Who's coming with?!


Need a dinner recco? Try out Emporio on Mott Steet for amazing Italian, Lombardi's or John's for pizza, HU Kitchen for healthy eats, Eataly for anything and everything, and The Butcher's Daughter for another healthy lunch. 

More questions? Comment below!

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Fall Scarf and Shift Dress- 2 Ways

I'm calling these two looks my "almost Fall, but not quite ready to let go of Summer" looks. The heat is still strong, and although we are only a mere 7 days into September you cannot deny the change in perspective. There is Halloween candy gracing the shelves, the colours burgundy and army green have taken over the racks, and the all-powerful pumpkin spice flavoured everything has returned. I'm not complaining, I really do love this time of year! I was just saying to Brandon we need to get on our Fall activity planning. Bring on the apple orchards, pumpkin patch and cozy nights in front of the fireplace! But sometimes dressing can be a bit of a challenge for this transition phase-- it's still rather hot, but you want to wear more darker colours and a few of your new pieces.  Not to worry! All you need to do it replace your bright florals for those with more moody tones, swap your open toe sandals for a pair of flats, and pile on a few double-duty accessories.

First up is the light scarf. This is definitely a double-duty accessories. Keep your hair back in the heat then switch it up and tie it around your neck to elevate a simple outfit and make a great statement. The darker tones in this floral print totally make it a season staple, even when paired with denim cut-offs. Since the weather is hot in the day, but brisk in the morning and evening a long vest does well to keep you warm, and it's adds more interest to the outfit. I equally love the scarf worn around the neck. I am usually a thick, wool scarf kind of girl, so this new trend is something I'm excited about. It's light, versatile (ties so many ways!) and adds a touch of drama. Too hot for your head and neck? Tie the scarf around your bag!

Next up is the shift dress. I'm calling this a double duty accessory because really it's not the standout piece of either outfit but the rusty colour and longer sleeves definitely add to the Fall-ish vibes. Tucked into cut-offs, or worn as a dress, you can't go wrong. Since it's just a basic dress, tossing in accessories like a hat adds a bit of something extra to the look.

I realize 50% of these pieces are from Target, and that you are probably laughing at me right now! Man, I really miss that place! I just had to do a haul while I was in NY last weekend! I scored major on these pieces, and there is still more to come. But, there you have it. Easy tips on how to dress for the "almost Fall/still Summer" phase that is now upon us!

Do you have any tips on how you mesh your wardrobe for the seasons? I'd love to know!

What I'm Wearing

Target Shift Dress

Target Skinny Scarf

RW & CO Long Vest (old- similar)

Joe Fresh Hat (old- similar)

Target Pointed Toe Ballet Flats

Poppy & Peonies Crossbody (removable strap) 

Elegant Wedding Maxi

New York was a whirlwind of a trip! We started off in Long Island for my cousin's wedding then headed to the city for a few nights. In Long Island we spent the days catching up with family, and I even made it out for a Target run! In the city we walked for miles, ate so much delicious food (more to come) and rode bikes in Central Park. The little getaway was such a blast but crazy hectic! For the wedding I had been on the hunt for a colourful, elegant, summery dress but couldn't find anything leading up to August. Well, okay... that's a lie. I found loads, but was not ready to pay the steep price for a piece I would wear once! Enter my saving grace: Fitzroy Boutique.

Fitzroy Boutique first opened up as a pop-up shop in 2011, and has since been a fantastic online destination for hard to find glam, boho styles. Their recently launched Rent A Dress program is so great for any occasion, think birthday parties, bachelorette, galas or maybe an upcoming TIFF party! The concept is simple: go to the shop, try on a dress, book your rental and leave happy! You can go in on the evening of and find the perfect last minute piece when you find yourself having a "nothing to wear" moment. Rentals are for 4 or 8 days and prices typically range from $50-$90, dry cleaning included. Owners Angela and Jules are so sweet and make you feel right at home in their shop. And I love their slogan-- "think of us like your best friend's closet, only with better stuff". It's so fitting! Sometimes you just want to wow, and know you'll never wear the piece again, so why not pay a fraction of the price and look amazing? Some of their brands include For Love and Lemons, Narces and Show Me Your Mumu.

As soon as I saw this stunning Silk Bibb Maxi dress by Contrarian New York I knew it was the one. It retails for $550 and I'm sure you've seen all the celebs sport this v-neck, open back beauty. I love how vintage Hollywood it looked alongside the glitter clutch and long Shop for Jayu necklace.

Fitzroy Boutique will be located at 98 Ossington Avenue in Toronto until September 30th, but be sure to follow them @fitzroyboutique for upcoming location news and to see all the newly added styles! Seriously, do yourself a favour and check them out for your next event, the whole collection is amazing.

What I'm Wearing

Bibb Maxi Dress by Contrarian New York- via Fitzroy Boutique's Rent A Dress program

Shop for Jayu Bar & Circle Necklace

Kate Spade clutch

This post was in collaboration with Fitzroy Boutique, as they allowed me to test out their new dress rental program. All opinions are my own.