Travel


Travel Guide / NYC

new york ace hotel

We’ve just returned from a short trip to NYC which I’d been looking forward to for weeks. Weeks I tell you! As always it didn’t disappoint and although we were there to discover new pieces that will soon be on our shores – we found loads of exciting things – we had time to embrace much food, drink and even the odd cultural unit.

Our hotel was pretty damn cool, it was also pretty darn dark too. As Frank Skinner asserted ‘when did light become so uncool?’ but the coffee was excellent and the restaurant was a treat and my gosh the cocktails. Beggars Banquet, what a drink! Bourbon Whiskey with maple syrup, fresh lemon, aromatic bitters and topped with ale – no naked flames allowed.

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The High Line. Nik’s phone did a far better job of capturing the views from the redundant train track-cum-park.

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Wow. The McQueen exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum was just something else. I really hope they recreate it in exactly the same way when, at some point, they bring it to the U.K. I was quite overwhelmed to be honest, beyond the chap’s ability and vision I was overcome by his commitment to producing stories so well researched full of historic references and creating not just impeccable dresses but films and jaw-dropping catwalk shows. His collaborations were exceptional – Philip Treacy, Shaun Leane and Guido Palau who had created headpieces specifically for the exhibition.

new york met museum

A temporary piece, but I like the Marie Antoinette feel.

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Following the advice of my Brooklyn-based chum, cupcakes are over it’s all about pie. Well this was a good one indeed, but my oh my you need these cookies in your life and don’t forget the cereal milk either. I’m serious people – hard to find (the peach on the door is the only indicator) but worth the back-and-forth.

kiosk new york

We visited some sterling shops but Kiosk had to win on the concept front, and for the fact very few of my shopping trips with Nik elicit the response ‘why are you taking me to a rave?’

new york academy records

Vinyl! Record stores aplenty.

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You have to book 3 weeks ahead and even then you have to play along with the booking parade as if you are just a chancer. But the food was superb and the staff lovely (once you’d proved your reservation) and who doesn’t like to go in a secret door, through the kitchen and eat by one candle light? It’s New York!

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It rained. A lot. But you can’t let that stop you drink now can you?

rabbit bar club new york - nycgo.com

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We caught sight of the Rabbit bar from street level, where you could only determine it’s mission by the stick-on letters found in a hardware store. It’s a good little speakeasy and who doesn’t like a toilet with a shrine?

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Brunch in Williamsburg became breakfast as the shops opened at midday. We lucked upon Ella cafe and when it’s that good I’ll eat salad for breakfast.

Ace Hotel /20W 29th Street (Broadway)

The Breslin / 16 W 29th St (Broadway)

Stumptown Coffee / Ste 3 20 West 29th S (Broadway)

The High Line / 529 West 20th Street

Metropolitan Museum of Art / 1000 Fifth Avenue (82nd Street)

Milk Bar / 15 w 56th st (5th and 6th)

Kiosk / 95 Spring Street (Mercer and Broadway)

Academy Records / 12 W 18th St (5th and 6th)

Other Music / 15 E 4th St (Lafayette)

La Esquina / 106 Kenmare Street (Lafayette)

124 Rabbit Club
 / 124 MacDougal St (Great Jones Street)

Ella (Williamsburg) / 177 Bedford Avenue (North 7th and 8th Streets)