New York, I Love You

"These little town blues, are melting away

I'll make a brand new start of it

In old New York

If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere

It's up to you, New York... New York" - Frank Sinatra

Sometimes in life, it's easy to get bogged down with minor irritations and the minutiae of daily life, which results in a resolutely 'glass half empty' view of the world. The best way to combat this is to remove yourself from the situation, whether its for a day or a couple of weeks, to a year - its totally worth it. So what did I do? I booked a holiday to the most diverse, surprising, incredible place in the world - New York City!

New York Skyline

The City is a truly inspiring place, unlike any other. The main hub is the island of Manhattan, which in itself is made up of contrasting and complex neighbourhoods, from Broadway and the Theatre District next to Times Square, to the soul and culture of Harlem, the fabulous anything goes nature of the West Village, to the high fashion and amazing architecture of Park Avenue and the Upper East Side. Manhattan has it all. As F Scott Fitzgerald wrote in one of my favourite novels, the Great Gatsby, The City seen from the Queensboro Bridge is always the city seen for the first time, in its first wild promise of all the mystery and the beauty in the world. 

The key thing to remember there, is that you will never be able to see everything, there are New Yorkers that haven't achieved that, so don't force yourself to speed round on a whistle stop tour. A great place to start is the world famous and iconic Empire State building which gives you an amazing perspective on the city, and on a clear, sunny day it's breathtaking. 

There are plenty of photo opportunities, and being in New York, I of course tried to channel my inner Blair Waldorf...

As this was my second visit, I was able to explore a little further away from the traditional tourist trail, including to Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Little Italy, and Harlem, Upper West Side, which I will write about further in my next post. 

Central Park

Central Park

So, during the day, go and see all the sights, from the Met Museum, MOMA and the Guggenheim, Central Park, the amazing shopping on Madison Avenue,and so on. 

5th Avenue

But at night, its time to head out of your hotel and your comfort zone. New York is THE place to go for cocktails. As Simone Beauvoir said, There is something in the New York air that makes sleep useless. My favourite bar in central Manhattan is the R Lounge, part of the Renaissance Hotel, at 714 7th Avenue, in the heart of Times Square. 

The R Lounge is like an oasis of calm amidst the chaos below. It's a very chilled atmosphere, with classy surroundings, similar to that of the W Hotel group.

 The playlist was fitting for the feel of the lounge, with Two Door Cinema Club and Bloc Party playing softly through the speakers. More importantly, there was free Wifi (that starts to become key criteria when choosing bars) and air conditioning - summer in the city is hot and humid, and we experienced highs of 30c in early June. 

Whilst there, I had two cocktails. Firstly, the Strawberry Caipricoska, a delicious mix of Ketel One vodka, real muddled strawberries, fresh lime, and finished with a sugar syrup. Secondly, a Mango Sunset, which was created by mixing 1800 Silver Tequila, fresh mango puree, lime juice and a simple syrup. Both were amazing, a great taste of Manhattan. The R Lounge also do the best nachos I've ever tried, covered in nacho cheese sauce as well as Monterey Jack, fresh tomato and red onion salsa, guacamole, sour cream and to top it all off, sweet and sticky pulled pork. Heaven on a plate! 

Another great area to head for cocktails is The West Village/Greenwich Village, known locally as 'The Village'. Traditionally frequented by the gay community (the Stonewall bar at the centre of the gay rights movement is here), it is pretty similar to Compton Street in Soho, London. It's very inclusive and welcoming to people from all walks of life - so be open minded. Perla, at 24 Minetta Lane, is a fairly new cocktail bar and restaurant, with friendly bartenders and again, a fairly chilled atmosphere. 

I drank a Millenium Falcon (Bourbon, Cynar - an artichoke based liqueur - lime, angostura bitters, topped up with ginger beer) whilst A$AP Rocky and Juicy J pumped out of the speakers. In New York, you're just as likely to hear Lady Gaga as you are to hear French Montana, New Yorkers aren't phased by genre or style anymore, they just go with it. 

As a Sex in the City superfan (I'm Carrie AND Miranda), I couldn't go to New York without having the drink that epitomises the show and the city for women everywhere - the Cosmopolitan. My personal favourite, it is made with good quality vodka, Cointreau orange liqueur, cranberry juice and a splash of lime juice. Our hotel, the Skyline NYC in Hells Kitchen, on 49th and 10th, had a happy hour from 12pm-6pm every day, with cocktails at $5 each. The bartender there is lovely, originally from Nepal but has lived in the city for 18 years (he's already convinced me to move there for work eventually), so its definitely worth a visit. I wouldn't like to reveal how many of these I consumed... 

After all this alcohol, you need a decent breakfast to start the day afresh. The Skyline did the best American Style Pancakes with crispy, streaky bacon. The best part? The jugs of maple syrup on every table! 

An amazing way to either start or finish a night out (depending on your preference) is to visit the Top of the Rock, on top of the Rockefeller Center, which gives amazing views over the city and is fantastic at night when all the buildings are lit up. There is also an unrivalled view of the Empire State Building. 

When you leave, make sure when you get off the elevator, you take a picture with the iconic wall art, showing the brave and hardworking men that built the modern foundations of this amazing city, over a hundred years ago. 

Tom Wolfe once commented that One belongs to New York instantly, one belongs to it as much in five minutes as in five years. For me, he is completely correct. New York recaptured my heart and has fuelled my desire to live and work there one day. 

In NYC, anything is possible, so who knows? 

Yaasica XXX

P.S. Come back next week for my post on Harlem, Brookyln and Little Italy! 

Hampstead Heath: The Lungs of London

Although I was born in London, I spent the majority of my childhood in the Suffolk countryside, which means that even though I have moved back to the city, I still yearn for the great outdoors. Working a 9-5 in an office in front of a computer all day, I try and drag myself outside for a walk at lunchtime, but its all too easy to simply find a comfy chair, stock up on carbs and stay out of the cold and rainy weather (and its May!) Going for a walk halfway through the day is a surefire way to beat lethargy and grogginess, and will mean that during the afternoon you are less likely to drift off around 3.30pm... Whether it's in sunglasses and a summery top, or wearing a waterproof mac and an over sized umbrella, we should aim to walk for at least 30 minutes a day. 

Sunglasses: Primark

Necklace: New Look

Pink Waffle Top: New Look

Hampstead is an affluent area of London, popular with intellectuals, artists, and professional families in their early 40s that bought property while it was still reasonably affordable. Think of it as our generation's Clapham or Hackney.It is home to Hampstead Heath, one of the best open spaces in London, and one of the best city parks in the world. 

There is so much to do, as well as the vast and hilly parkland, there's a Lido (outdoor swimming pool), an athletics track, even a zoo! If you're feeling brave, during the summer months there are even natural swimming ponds, you must go and take a dip. 

The views from Hampstead Heath, sitting in a privileged position to the north of central London, are breathtaking. You feel so far from all the hustle and bustle when really you are a short tube ride away. Try and get one of the popular benches on Kite Hill, or indeed take a kite there and have some playful fun. 

After all the walking up and down and around, we sought some refreshment. THE MAGDALA is a cosy little pub and restaurant close to Hampstead Heath Overground Station. 

The restaurant was so lovely to go into on a chilly day, with comfortable sofas and chairs, and I loved the cute little tartan stools. The Magdala would not be out of place in the Suffolk countryside; perfect for spending all day drinking with friends, or a lazy lunch. There's also a courtyard garden which will be great when summer finally arrives.

The menu was varied and reasonably priced, and there was a great selection of ales, ciders and wines. I chose the Pork and Chorizo Burger with Soured Cream, served with perfectly cooked chips that were crispy and crunchy on the outside but soft and fluffy on the inside. It worked really well paired with a Crabbie's Alcoholic Ginger Beer. Just what is needed after a brisk walk!

After another explore, gazing at the gorgeous houses and fashionable boutique shops, we decided to stop for dessert at EUPHORIUM BAKERY. They began in Islington in 1999 and now have 29 different shops or outlets around London. The one in Hampstead certainly did not disappoint. 

In the afternoons, if you buy a hot drink, you get a free pastry or cake - this is my kind of bakery! There was a large communal table and several smaller ones, all strewn with The Observer and other weekend papers with magazines. There are similar places to this in Victoria Park where I live, for example 'The Loafing', but it is often full of pretentious posers and sullen staff which really puts me off. At Euphorium, I chose a smooth, silky, luxurious hot chocolate. The cups are on the small side, but as it is rich in flavour, you find you do not actually need a large size at all. I also had a cinnamon bun style pastry, with some sort of currant, which was coated in what I think was an apricot glaze. Whatever it was, it tasted fantastic. 

Come rain or shine, Hampstead is a great area to visit, a village community in the centre of London, reminiscent of Notting Hill, Primrose Hill and lately, Victoria Park. It's so easy to get there, either take the Northern Line tube northbound to Edgeware and get off at Hampstead Underground Station, or head to Hampstead Heath Overground Station. 

If you do one thing this weekend, you should head to Hampstead!

Yaasica Lucia XXX

Wicked Wednesdays

"Oh, for the love of food!"

If you work a 9-5 job, there's a 95% chance that you hate Mondays. It's a fact. However, I prefer Mondays to Tuesdays. Think about it: on Monday you are still feeling the benefits of a weekend full of brunch, lie ins and a lazy read of the Sunday papers. But then Tuesday and Wednesday (aka Humpday) strike. You know that the weekend is truly over and there is still such a long time until 5pm on Friday evening, at which time nothing stands between yourself and a bottle of wine/beer/gin. So what is the answer? Food glorious food of course! 

Whilst watching Spring Kitchen on BBC2, Lorraine Pascal wooed me with her delectable desserts, and so I decided to adapt the recipe and make a boozy version (if it's in food it doesn't count, right?) 

PEAR AND ALMOND AMARETTO TART

You will need...

For the tart
375g pack of ready-rolled dessert shortcrust pastry
100g soft butter
100g caster sugar
100g ground almonds
3 tbsp plain flour, plus a little extra for dusting
1 medium egg
1 tbsp amaretto liqueur
2 tins of pear halves

To Serve
Pot of single or double cream, depending on your preferences
3 tbsp amaretto
Few drops of vanilla essence

1. To make the frangipan (almond filling), first beat/cream the butter and sugar together until smooth. Then slowly add the flour and almonds, and then the amaretto and egg and beat until smooth and soft, but obviously there may be some lumps here and there with the almonds. 

2. Place the shortcrust pastry into a tart tin or dish. Don't feel guilty about buying ready made pastry, this is meant to be as quick and easy as possible. 

3. Spoon the frangipan into the pastry case and level it over. 

4. Then place the pear halves on top like this... 

5. Put it in the oven at 180c or Gas Mark 4, for around 45 minutes, or until it looks golden and delicious. It does look a little beige in colour, so I suggest serving with strawberries and raspberries to brighten it up.

6. If you have any leftover pears and pastry, you could make these cute little tarts like we did, using raspberry jam (that was flavoured with whisky). Cook until the pastry is crisp and the jam is bubbling. 

7. To make the cream topping, simply whisk some single or double cream and add some amaretto and vanilla essence to your taste. 

I hope this recipe is easy to follow. If you do one thing over the next few days, make these tarts - they are truly scrumptious!

Yaasica Lucia XXX

Pin Up to Pick Me Up

"Some days there`s nothing for it but to go back to bed, but mostly I try to put a face on and turn the day around. I try to remember we all have those moments — even people you admire." -  Dita von Teese 

Sometimes, we all have one of those days, weeks or months. We just want to get back into bed and watch back to back episodes of whatever show we are into (mine is currently Season Two of The Carrie Diaries). The only thing we want to say to others is simply, Can U Not. But often, that is not possible. We cannot shut ourselves off from the world, due to work, university, children, or general daily life. Therefore, one of my favourite ways to break the monotony of the daily grind is to try out a new look, and I've been taking inspiration from two of the best Pin Up Girls... 

Lana del Rey and Dita von Teese are two of my favourite fashion icons. I love the way they mix old Hollywood glamour and retro, vintage style, with modern twists. I was lucky enough to see Lana del Rey perform live last year and it was one of the best moments of my life, total goosebumps, spellbound, starstruck kinda moment... but enough fangirling for a minute... 

If I had the confidence, the body and the money then I would emulate these beauties every day.

My latest look of the week has been influenced by Lana and Dita, and and I have attempted to wear a bandana without looking like a lost gang member or a J Lo backing dancer circa 1999... 

Bandanas look great in a casual updo that takes a short amount of time. I put my hair into a high ponytail, and fluffed it up with hairspray. I teased my fringe to get a little more volume before pinning it to the side. I tried to create a 'victory roll' but it was late at night so had to give up. 

The look works well with Rayban Clubmaster style sunglasses, although I must admit that mine were £2 from Primark!

I also tried the look with my hair down with loose waves, which I also think worked well but isn't as quick as the first look. 

I finished with a slick of my favourite satin matte red lipstick, from Topshop in Screen Siren. I was blessed with a beauty spot above my top lip, which I hated when I was younger but now I've come to like it. Many hollywood stars used to draw them on, using eye liner, which I think looks great. 

Dita von Teese said that glamour is about creating illusion. And sometimes, when you aren't feeling your best, a slick of red lipstick and a £1 bandana are all that you need to do that. 

Yaasica Lucia XXX

Let me know what you think and whether you have tried this look :)

Riverside (markets): Let's Go!

"The bright sun, that brings back not light alone, but new life, and hope, and freshness to man, burst upon the crowded city in clear and radiant glory" 
 'Oliver Twist', Charles Dickens. 

The weather has been absolutely glorious recently. I've been walking along the Thames at every opportunity, between meetings and on my lunch break. I even ate two Mr Whippy Ice Creams at the weekend. Yes, we are all gearing up for spring and summer, with sunglasses and flip flops firmly out of the closet (although naturally, heavy rain is forecast for this coming weekend). All the more reason to make the most of the sunshine while we can. As you can tell from previous blogs, I'm a big fan of markets, especially across London, as there is such variety. Just walking around them and taking in the sights and sounds is a great day out, with no pressure to buy anything. With the Great British Summer being a tad unreliable, covered markets are great because you can visit them come rain or shine. 

Greenwich Market is one of the best covered markets in London, on a historic site surrounded by independent shops, pubs and cafés. It's reasonably easy to get to, just take the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) to Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich, which is only a few minutes walk from the Market itself.

Vintage Crockery

Antique China and Crystal

Antique Jewellery

Around the edge of the market, there was an independent shop called 360 Degrees Vintage. Normally I'm a little skeptical of vintage shops, as explained in detail HERE! However, the sweet lady inside it had been running the store for 20 years, and had a classic East End accent.

 The clothing inside was proper vintage, including a beautiful blue lace dress from the 1950's. I'm going to two weddings this summer and it would have been perfect - alas, it was the wrong size, but I'm still in love with it... 

For me, markets are really all about the food, and Greenwich did not disappoint. There were Spanish Churros filled with Dulce de Leche (a thick creamy caramel), Lamb and Halloumi wraps, fresh pastries and Jamaican patties.

I decided to go for a delicious creation from BILL OR BEAK, the brainchild of a Biomedical Science graduate who decided he wanted to open a street food stall rather than going straight into further study. Medicine's loss is our gain. I went for 'Beak' - pulled duck and pork (so so tender) with a coriander, chilli & mint salad, finished with tempura battered shallots, covered in a vietnamese dressing. OMG is all I can say... 

You can find Bill or Beak at various locations around London, including Camden and Brixton. There are more and more street food stalls popping up over the City, including in City Churchyards such as St Mary Aldermary (between Mansion House and Bank) which is home to thai food, burritos, freshly brewed coffees and more. Its a great way to utilise church land, and a welcome break from the monotony of Marks and Spencers or Pret sandwiches. 

To wash everything down I had a freshly pressed apple and cranberry juice from 'Turnip',who do brilliant flavours such as Blood Orange, or Melon smoothies. There's a lot of buzz about juice diets at the moment, but I couldn't think of anything more tedious or boring (not to mention bad for teeth and general digestion). Try one of these tasty and nutritious juices to accompany a meal, rather than instead of one. 

The only downside of the market is that there is nowhere inside to sit and eat, so you need to munch and stand. Or, take a short walk across to the Thames, with a great view of Canary Wharf and lots of low walls to enjoy your purchases. 

There couldn't be a mention of a riverside market without of course exploring Borough Market, one of London's oldest, busiest and most popular locations, focusing on food. Its buzzing with people, sounds, smells, colours. 

I visited on a Saturday with my other half, and the main benefit of going with someone else or a group is that you can try a greater variety of food, by sharing everything you eat (not sure if I sound greedy or genius). First we went to 'Roast' and sampled a roast pork and apple baguette with the most deliciously crunchy but ever so slightly chewy crackling. 

Then we tried the famous Chorizo, pepper and rocket ciabatta sandwich from Brindisa, a Spanish food supplier. It was pretty spectacular, and one of the best chorizo I have tried. 

One of my close university friends is from Valencia, and introduced me to a fantastic Spanish meat called Salchichon, which is not as well known here as chorizo, or Iberico ham. It should be eaten a lot more as it is so tasty, with a rich peppery taste to the pork, and a slight salty tang reminiscent of Parmesan cheese (could be my weird tastebuds). It taste great eaten on its own as a starter, finely sliced, as is customary in Spain. 

I went against custom and had some in a baguette with lettuce, cucumber and red onion - and it tasted great! 

Both Greenwich and Borough Market are excellent places to go in order to sample some unique, fresh and tasty food and drink, and I really would recommend visiting both of them. And after indulging in food, why not wander down the Thames to the Victoria Embankment, and have a relaxing drink on one of the many Boat Bars, such as the Hispaniola?

And after all that, I am off to the gym every night this week to work off all my sins...  

That'll be 360 hours on the cross trainer and 1500 squats... totally worth it! 

Yaasica Lucia XXX