recipe for a perfect weekend...

I was lucky enough to have my parents finally come visit me out here this past weekend. It was a trip almost two years coming - and I can't express how excited I was to show them around my New York and see them for the first time since Christmas.

We had a great weekend - a perfect balance of their uptown, upscale Manhattan of past visits, and my downtown day-to-day life. All the things we did piece together like a pretty great guide to wining and dining with a dash of culture and shopping from Soho to the Upper East Side:


{We dined.}

• Gotham Grill: White table clothes, amazing seafood and a very 90s New York vibe, like Gramercy Tavern and totally delicious (the seafood salad is unreal)
• The Modern: minimalist, fancy and contemporary - just like the museum (amazing duck confit)
• db Bistro Moderne: fancy and delicious
  
• The Standard Grill: great spot for an early breakfast al fresco
  
• Public: trendy, brunch-y, delicious lentil salad and great drinks
• La Piscine: on the roof of Hotel Americano; lots of delicious fried seafood with a side of DJ
  
• Brasserie Julienne: cute little french joint on 2nd Ave in the 80s, live jazz with your moules frites
  
• Morandi: loud, busy and seriously great Italian fare on Waverly and 7th Ave
  

{We drank.}

• La Piscine: Before dinner every night we had cocktails on the roof with an amazing view of the city
  
• Kingswood: After dinner at db, I brought my parents to meet up with friends and see one of my favorite West Village bars
  
• Public: a dirty martini for Mom, a bourbon iced tea for me and the Bloody Maria for Dad
  

{We saw.}

• The MoMA:the Cindy Sherman exhibit was cool and creepy, but the permanent exhibits are always refreshing and unmissable
  
• The East River Ferry: A fun and unique way to get between Manhattan and Brooklyn - especially on a warm day; we took it to and from 34th street to the flea market 
• Brooklyn Flea (Williamsburg): people watching, antique-ing and artisianal everything - of course
  
• The Met: My favorite museum in Manhattan, and the Steins Collection and Shiaparelli and Prada exhibit were crowded but truly wonderful (unfortunately the Cloud City exhibit on the roof was closed for weather)

{We shopped.}

• Uniqlo @ 53rd & 5th: picked up 4 shirts for my dad, but the crazy atmosphere and sheer amount of clothes is a little too much
  
• Treasure & Bond: cool, well-curated jewelry, gifts and apparel on lower West Broadway in Soho
  
• MoMA Design Store: so many unique and useful knick-knacks, and perfectly sized art prints for $10

tgif: the hurricane edition

I'm sure you've already heard, but that unstoppable category 3 terror they're calling Irene is threatening to make her way towards New York City. I can't even begin to tell you what a pain this is, especially now. Come on, Irene, it's the weekend! One of only two left in the whole damn summer! So. Rude.

Anyway, if we must ride out this tropical storm, we might as well do it stylishly. Here's what I'm thinking...

To wear:

Hurricane Chic 

I mean truthfully, I'm probably not going to spend too much time outside when Irene decides to make her whirlwind tour of New York City. If it's necessary though, I'll pretend a small umbrella won't get turned completely inside out, throw on a borrowed Barbour jacket, some jorts and Hunters, and make a run for it. Where could I possibly need to go? That's yet to be seen, but Duane Reade, and Spice seem like the only realistic places. For staying indoors all weekend, even though it's not particularly chilly, I'll still cozy up in a soft sweater, PJ pants and moccasins, and give myself a manicure while drooling over Kate Moss' wedding photos.

To watch:

I mean, right? I don't know why you wouldn't watch an epic natural disaster movie based in New York City while an actual natural disaster approaches our fair city. It's Jake Gyllenhaal and Dennis Quaid vs. Mother Nature. It's awesome.

To drink:

Mix these things together...

And you get the perfect Hurricane Irene cocktail - a Dark 'N' Stormy!

I'm pretty sure that a themed cocktail (or three) is exactly what's in order to ride out this crazy weather.

Seriously though, all my East Coast friends, pay attention to the news, stay safe, and find a floatation device.

See you on the other side!