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February 29, 2016

NYC Girl’s Weekend Adventures

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Hello my friends! I’m back in DC after a fun girl’s weekend in New York City!

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It had been YEARS since my whole UNC grad school crew got together – smaller groups of us have met up for trips more recently but we were always missing a couple of the girls. So glad we finally made it work for a full reunion! My heart was happy seeing all these ladies again. I really miss getting to see them every day in class! <3

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I arrived in the big apple on Friday afternoon and we all had cocktails at our friend Stephanie’s place in Chelsea before heading out for a late dinner. Saturday morning, we were up and out for a fun adventure: a group run! With the exception of our friend Libby, all the girls in the group are runners – it’s actually how we first became friends in grad school! So of course we had to make time to fit in a little Central Park run date while in NYC. 🙂

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Traveling with friends who are runners is the best because it meant getting in a long run for my Rock ‘n’ Roll DC Half Marathon training was no big deal! I needed to do 12 miles – my longest run before dialing it back next weekend and then the race is the following weekend!

My friend Lauren was thankfully up for doing all 12 miles with me – you rock, Lauren! We headed out on our own to get in 5 miles before meeting the rest of the gang.

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running in central park

It was so nice out – not as cold as we thought it would be!

running in central park reservoir

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After 5 miles, we looped back to Columbus Circle area to meet up with the rest of the girls! Two were looking to do 7 miles total, so we planned to run the rest of the way with them, and the other two were up for about 3 miles. Fun to have so much company along the way! 🙂

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My legs were definitely feeling tired by the end of our run, but the company and chatter made it go by quickly. 🙂 So many beautiful sights, too!

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After our run, we all headed to our friend Libby’s place in Brooklyn, where she was waiting with a brunch feast (I know, she’s awesome!)! It was also a surprise mini-bridal shower for our friend Steph. 🙂 She was successfully surprised!

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Libby is in culinary school right now and loves cooking so she whipped us up a delicious feast: an egg casserole with lots of sautéed veggies and some adorable fruit and yogurt parfaits with homemade granola and cashew cream. Also, bacon!

breakfast brunch engagement party

Aren’t these parfaits cute? Thanks again for the feast, Libby – I wish you were around to feed me every day! 😉

pineapple blueberry yogurt parfaits

On Saturday night, we all went out to a wonderful spot for dinner – the restaurant in the NoMad Hotel. The photos aren’t great because the lighting was so dim but we had the BEST meal – seriously one of the best restaurants I’ve ever been to. Highly recommend! In addition to the beet salad and lobster dish pictured below, we also enjoyed some delicious bread, butter-dipped turnips (genius – they were amazing), and some really good sparkling wine. Plus dessert, of course! We shared a couple amongst us.

NoMad hotel restaurant dinner nyc

As for Sunday, it was all about the walking! It was a GORGEOUS day and we knew we had to take advantage. We took the subway down to Battery Park and wandered north, seeing the sights and doing a little shopping and noshing. My phone app tells me I covered 9 miles total on foot on Sunday – whoa!

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One of our stops was Magnolia Bakery! They are known for their cupcakes and cake. I’m not a huge cupcake/cake person (give me pie, donuts, cookies, ice cream, or pastries over cupcakes any day) but I spotted a little cinnamon sugar donut-like baked good that had my name all over it. AMAZING.

magnolia bakery nyc

Another stop was a place in the West Village called Jonty Jacobs for biltong! Have you guys heard of biltong? It’s a variety of dried, cured meat that originated in South Africa – a lot like jerky but dried instead of smoked. The spices are really unique and delicious and they don’t use any preservatives or weird additives. I bought some of their grass fed variety for snacking later!

biltong nyc

I was so sad to say goodbye to the girls on Sunday afternoon, but I had one more fun adventure to look forward to: meeting up with my future sister-in-law (she’s marrying Matt’s younger brother) for dinner!

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We took a nice stroll through Central Park and ended on the upper west side for an early dinner at Candle Café West. 🙂 It’s a cozy vegan restaurant that I discovered on my last NYC visit – love it! And yes, I realize I just went from talking about jerky to going to a vegan restaurant. #balance

I started with a fresh juice – carrot, celery, beet, mixed greens, and ginger. Yum! I loved the raw beet garnish. 🙂

candle cafe west juice

We also shared the avocado tartare, which was avocado, cucumber, jicama, nori-wild mushroom ceviche, jalapeño dressing, and brown rice-spinach crackers. LOVED this.

candle cafe west avocado tartare

As for my entrée, I was tempted by their awesome sounding salads but decided to go for something that was more different from what I’d normally make myself at home: the saffron mushroom crusted tofu. It came with wild mushrooms, butternut squash, brussels sprouts, and mushroom gravy. Yum – very comforting and wintery!

candle cafe west dinner

It was great to catch up with Morgana over such delicious eats! Perfect end to a fun weekend. The only thing that wasn’t so fun was the late train ride home. I was so sleepy by the time we pulled in to Union Station at 11:30!

I’m missing my UNC ladies already, but excited that I’ll see them again in a few months for our friend Steph’s wedding! Until then, my friends – thanks for the fun! 🙂

Have you ever been to NYC? What was your favorite part of the city? I love Central Park, Greenwich Village, and anywhere there are views of the water!

- anne
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30 comments
  • Shel@PeachyPalate
    February 29, 2016 · 8:49AM:
    I haven't been in almost ten years! I've only been once when I was 18!!! Would love to go back!
    Reply
    • Anne
      February 29, 2016 · 11:22AM:
      Wow! Time to go back for sure!
      Reply
  • Kelli @ Hungry Hobby
    February 29, 2016 · 9:05AM:
    I always try to pick things at restaurants that I wouldn't or don't often make at home, that's all the fun! Looks like you had a really fun weekend!
    Reply
    • Anne
      February 29, 2016 · 11:22AM:
      Yes, exactly! Totally agree!
      Reply
  • Jen@bubblyrunner.com
    February 29, 2016 · 9:13AM:
    I love NYC! I also love Central Park, as well as Chelsea and SoHo. I could do without Times Square for sure. I haven't been in a few years but next time I go I'm running around Central Park for sure!
    Reply
    • Anne
      February 29, 2016 · 11:21AM:
      I kind of love popping into Times Square once in awhile just because it's so cool - but it's such a touristy hot mess that a few minutes there is plenty. ;)
      Reply
  • Ash Diamond
    February 29, 2016 · 9:39AM:
    Glad you had such a wonderful weekend! I definitely need to make it back up to Candle Cafe again soon!
    Reply
    • Anne
      February 29, 2016 · 11:20AM:
      It's so good!
      Reply
  • Farah
    February 29, 2016 · 9:47AM:
    So glad you had a great weekend - and yes, the weather here in NYC was lovely this past weekend! I used to live in Battery Park, and it's still my favorite part of the city :) Love the views of the water.
    Reply
    • Anne
      February 29, 2016 · 11:20AM:
      It was gorgeous - I'd never been down there before!
      Reply
  • Marissa February 29, 2016 · 10:30AM:
    What phone app are you referring to that tracked your miles walked?
    Reply
    • Anne
      February 29, 2016 · 11:19AM:
      It's just the built-in "health" app on iphone (the graphic is a white box with a red heart) -- it was on my phone when I bought it.
      Reply
  • Nicole (Cuckoolemon)
    February 29, 2016 · 11:13AM:
    I live next to Central Park. Running in CP is the BEST on a weekend. It feels like the whole city is joining you for a run. Hope you had a great time. Sounds like you did!
    Reply
    • Anne
      February 29, 2016 · 11:19AM:
      It totally does! Love how many people in New York are runners!
      Reply
  • Lisa February 29, 2016 · 11:37AM:
    It's funny because I live in NYC and would love to move to DC, but because of my husband's job we are stuck here for the time being. Also, if you want to witness something amazing, central park before 9 am seven days a week has off leash dog hours. There are dogs running around EVERYWHERE! It's madness, but so fun.
    Reply
    • Anne
      February 29, 2016 · 11:40AM:
      Aw, that is fun! :) Hope you make it to DC soon - and enjoy NYC in the meantime!
      Reply
  • Mar @ Mar on the Run
    February 29, 2016 · 11:41AM:
    I last visited NYC last summer. I love running in Central Park - has to be one of my favorites, especially the sites along the water!
    Reply
  • Tracy Schwartz
    February 29, 2016 · 11:53AM:
    I lived on the UES for 2 years. My favorite area tough has to be Chelsea. I also love the HighLine!
    Reply
  • masala girl
    February 29, 2016 · 1:18PM:
    i love going to NYC! I still haven't gone running there though, they were all short trips with family or friends. running in Central Park sounds awesome :D I also went to Candle, and not only did I love it, so did my dad! WINNING! Chelsea Market was also a fav, you HAVE to go and try beyond sushi!!
    Reply
    • Anne
      February 29, 2016 · 2:11PM:
      A friend just recommended Chelsea Market to me - must check it out next time!
      Reply
  • Jill @ RunEatSnap
    February 29, 2016 · 2:07PM:
    Fun! I went to NYC for the first time last summer. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would!
    Reply
  • Alexandra Caspero
    February 29, 2016 · 2:27PM:
    Sounds like you had an amazing weekend! Candle Cafe is one of my favorite places. That tofu looks so delicious!
    Reply
  • Heidi February 29, 2016 · 7:31PM:
    I haven't been to NYC in about 15 years, it's a long way from Australia!
    Reply
  • Lauren K February 29, 2016 · 11:48PM:
    I always look forward to your recaps! What an incredible weekend. I'm so thankful we got to have so much quality time together -- and some solid exercise adventures, of course! Sounds like we have a see-each-other-every-four-months travel trend coming up and I like it! Miss you already! <3
    Reply
    • Anne
      March 1, 2016 · 10:38AM:
      I like it, too! Miss you more -- can't wait to see you in June! xoxo
      Reply
  • Roadrunner March 1, 2016 · 3:14AM:
    Central Park South -- and the Park, itself, of course! Glad you had such a nice weekend with the NC girls!
    Reply
  • Samara
    March 1, 2016 · 7:10AM:
    Looks like you ladies had a great time. I would LOVE to go to NYC one day - definitely on my bucket list :)
    Reply
  • sally @ sweat out the small stuff
    March 1, 2016 · 8:52AM:
    Well I live in Staten Island so I'm in Manhattan a whole lot. I commute to work via the Staten Island Ferry and am always grateful for the gorgeous views of Lady Liberty. My favorite part of the city for strolling around is between Little Italy and SoHo. But when I'm running I love to go up the west side and stop at the Little Red Lighthouse at the foot of the GW Bridge. =)
    Reply
    • Anne
      March 1, 2016 · 10:35AM:
      Commuting via ferry?! That's so cool! Bet it's gorgeous :)
      Reply
  • Kris S March 1, 2016 · 1:45PM:
    Sounds like an awesome weekend! :D
    Reply
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anne mauney fannetastic food
Hi, I’m Anne! I'm a Washington D.C. based Registered Dietitian, mother, runner, and lover of travel, adventure, and the great outdoors. I've been blogging since 2009, sharing a mix of lifestyle content, recipes, and fitness tips. Come for the recipes – stay for the fun!
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anne mauney

I’m Anne, a Registered Dietitian and mother. I've been blogging since 2009 and love showing others that eating nutritious foods and staying active can actually be fun rather than overwhelming!

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