My Most Perfect NYC Weekend So Far!

Of course everyone has a different formula for their perfect weekend. For some it's all about culinary adventures or shopping 'til you drop. Maybe yours is nothing more than doing nothing. For me its about balance, quality and having a good plan, which could also be interpreted as, I am a multi-tasking control freak. Can you imagine what my perfect weekend looks like? The past 3 days have culminated in what I would have to classify as "My Most Perfect NYC Weekend So Far!".

We are on the cusp of having 2.5 months of house guests. I'm not sure if that was the impetus for our no-holds-barred super fun backed weekend of togetherness but I'm glad it went down the way it did. The next time someone asks me "what should we do in New York" (which to me is a really stupid question - what is there not to do here?! It's New York for god sakes) I will share with them this:

Friday: Raining. Theatre, pizza, cupcakes in West Village

MDHK had spent most of Thursday night pouring over the Fringe Theatre Fest schedule and decided on "666" at Minetta Lane Theatre, while I had just learned of a sinful indulgence just down the street that boasted cupcake and wine/beer pairings, at Sweet Revenge (see a theme?). We took this opportunity to eat dessert first before having the best Italian thin crust brick oven Naples style pizza outside of Via Tribunali in Seattle (which used to be our Friday date night ritual) at Numero 28 on Carmine Street. Basically Carmine street is a hotbed of foodie fun.

Saturday: Overcast, dry, breezy. Space, museums, Harlem, Gold Coast shopping, interactive wine bars, Chinese Take-Out in East Village

MDHK is a major science geek. It's part of his charm which is why I wanted to do something that he would love. This involved a trip to 81st and Central Park West, a.k.a. The American Natural History Museum and Hayden Planetarium for the Journey to the Stars movie which was really cool. But movies make me sleepy and museums make me hungry. The night before we had talked about going to Harlem one day to explore and since we were a quick subway ride away we grabbed a strong well crafted Americano at Joe and headed up to 116th St in search of hole-in-the-wall ethnic cuisine. Lowe's Caribbean Restaurant fit all of the criteria; small, not impeccable, friendly, authentic, gritty, delicious and cheap (I highly recommend the curry chicken, collard greens & rice). Which is what makes our next stop a strange juxtaposition; Columbus Circle/Gold Coast to shop for new shoes at Camper for MDHK. Well, shopping makes me thirsty so wine was in order at Clo interactive wine bar in the Time Warner building on Columbus Circle. So much fun you can't have just one! At 9:30 p.m. I declared this day almost over. It had been a full day and there were only 2 things left I needed to complete the picture: take-out from Plump Dumpling (the most delicate steamed bundles of love) and a little home town entertainment from SNL while on the couch with MDHK. Not very glam but exactly what I wanted and exactly what I got!

Sunday: Sunny, breezy, Coffee & New York Times at the Oval fountain, Brooklyn Flea, Brooklyn Bridge crossing

Really do I need to say any more? I think you get the picture perfect idea of this day. I'll leave a little to your imagination and to your own interpretation the next time you find yourself in The Big Apple.