New York City's West Village

A few weeks ago Charles had to go to New York City for work and he invited me along. It was an opportunity for us to squeeze in more time together, plus we got to see my sister, and I could take some meetings. Charles wanted to stay by his office in the West Village, and I was excited to spend time in that neighborhood since I hadn’t in years. It was a quick two-day trip, so I didn’t have much time to explore, but I loved it. I lived in New York City for two years, and I get there a couple times a year since my sister lives there, so I never feel rushed to see everything in the city. I like to balance visiting my favorite spots, seeing friends and family, and checking out what is new.

We arrived in NYC on a Sunday night, just in time for dinner. We walked from our hotel to dinner, and I had forgotten that the West Village is one of the most beautiful parts of New York City.

Charles got frustrated when I stopped to take photos several times during the 10-minute walk.

My sister made reservations for Charles and me to join her and her boyfriend at Extra Virgin for a family dinner. It’s a neighborhood spot with a welcoming atmosphere. The menu is inspired by Italy and France. I had the wild mushroom and buffalo ricotta ravioli and ate every bite.

The next day I met a friend for lunch in Midtown, visited my sister’s dog, Milo, and then had a work meeting. I even rode the 2nd Avenue subway for the first time. One thing I miss about NYC is how easily you can get all over the city in just half an hour on the subway, Chicagos El is so slow in comparison.

That night I met Kelly for dinner at Casa Apicii, the sweetest like Italian restaurant with incredible pasta. Casa Apicii is housed in a former townhouse, so it doesn’t feel like your typical restaurant. We walked through a small bar area at the front entrance, and past the kitchen, into a big bright dining room.

Kelly had tagliatelle with pancetta, sage, and mushrooms.

I ordered the carbonara which was one of the best I have ever tasted. The pancetta was so perfectly crispy, I need to figure out their secret. We both cleaned every morsel off of our plates.

After dinner, I met up with Charles and his colleague and I brought them to one of my favorite NYC dive bars, The Scratcher, in the East Village.

A highlight of my trip was getting to walk the High Line for the first time. I thought it was just a raised platform for walking through the city without dealing with traffic – but it is so much more!

There are gardens throughout the High Line, along with vendors selling ice cream, cold drinks, and other goods. Plus there are lots of seating areas which are ideal for sitting and people watching.

The High Line has incredible views of the city. I was glad that Charles wasn’t with me so that I could stop every 10 feet to take photos.

I walked the High Line on a hot and cloudy Tuesday, and it was decently crowded. Kelly says it is packed on the weekends.

The Chelsea Market is right beside the Highline, so I stopped there for lunch.

I got the cheesiest grilled cheese at Creamline – and it helped to cure the slight hangover I had after spending the night hanging out at The Scratcher.

After lunch I walked around the shops at the Chelsea Market – one of the coolest places was Artists & Fleas which had a mix of vendors selling everything from vintage records to silly socks.

It’s worth noting that my favorite pizza place, Artichoke Pizza, has a location night to the Highline on 10th Avenue at 17th Street.

Once I was done walking the Highline, I wandered over to the Flatiron building to take some photos.

If you find yourself by the Flatiron Building, it is beside two excellent food options: Eataly and Shake Shack. Just something to keep in mind!

Time flew and after snapping photos of the Flatiron Building and I had to catch my flight back to Chicago. If you want to read more about NYC you can read these blog posts: My Favorite Spots in NYC, Roosevelt Island, and NYC with Mom.