TRAVEL UPDATE: LA EDITION, SO MANY FABULOUS NEW DISCOVERIES!

TRAVEL UPDATE: LA EDITION, SO MANY FABULOUS NEW DISCOVERIES!
Good Morning & Hello Friday — from LA!
  1. It’s my first time back in LA since November 2018!! Can’t believe it’s been that long.
  2. Today’s post is brief because I am BUSY but I must add that yesterday’s exploration (with my friend Kara) was awesome and totally got me excited to be in LA (despite its problems, which are many!).
  3. Big thanks also to so many friends who provided great tips on what to see/do in these short few days. Couldn’t have done it without you!
  4. Next week I’ll go into more detail on the best and worst of LA, plus the general ups and downs of travel in 2022.

And with that please scroll down for today’s LA Highlights.

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Top 10: H&M’s Marketing Extravaganza, Porch Stomp Entertainment, New HBX Flagship

Top 10: H&M’s Marketing Extravaganza, Porch Stomp Entertainment, New HBX Flagship
Good Morning & Hello Friday!
  • Highlight of the week has to be the H&M Hotel Hennes Pop-Up in Freeman Alley (#1, 2 below). I spent endless hours plotting how I could circumvent security and VIP Lists to get in early for some interior shots – to no avail! Security prevailed! But then yesterday, I FINALLY did get in! Creatively it is one of the best pop-ups I’ve seen. No detail has been overlooked and they’ve clearly spared no expense. Rumor mill also has it that H&M will be opening a store on the LES soon.
  • Another impressive opening is the new Hypebeast HBX flagship (#3). It’s located in Chinatown but I would call it Dimes Square adjacent (the hottest, trendiest neighborhood in NYC).
  • Finally, on the entertainment front, two great new discoveries: Porch Stomp (#4) and comedian John Crist (#8). Love his podcast and I just got tickets for his City Winery show in August.

And with that, please scroll down for this week’s Top 10. Enjoy!

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TOP 10: NYC Hospitality Is Really Stepping Up Its Game – So Many Next Level Experiences!

TOP 10: NYC Hospitality Is Really Stepping Up Its Game – So Many Next Level Experiences!
Good Morning & Hello Friday!
  • So much going on in NYC at the moment. I am eating out EVERY day and still not getting caught up on all the new places I want to check out.
  • Big highlight this week was the opening of Nine Orchard’s Lobby Lounge and Corner Bar Restaurant and meeting Chef Jason Pfeifer. (#1 below)
  • Another major highlight (and I know this may seem odd to some of you), was a Moonlight Tour of Green-Wood Cemetery. A small group of us got tickets (it was SOLD OUT), and we were accompanied by two accordion players and a historian. Absolutely magical! (#9 below – PLS watch the short video)
  • Also, must do a shout out to Parasol Projects. This full-service pop-up agency on the Bowery manages (beautifully I might add) at least 10 storefronts in Nolita/LES. The one on my block always has something major going on. This week it’s been turned into Din Din, a pop-up supper club. I’m booked for Friday dinner – will report back. (#2)
  • And finally, I’m taking a slightly different tack with my videos. I’m switching it up from being a recap to making it more “forward looking.” Doing it while I’m in public feels a bit weird to me but hopefully I can make it work and keep it interesting. Let me know what you think. (#10)

And with that please scroll down for this week’s Top 10. Enjoy!!

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Top 10: Posh eats at VERONIKA, and check out the new DASHMART Pop-Up – it’s super cool!!

Top 10: Posh eats at VERONIKA, and check out the new DASHMART Pop-Up – it’s super cool!!
Good Morning & Hello Friday!
  • Incredibly scrumptious week with wonderful meals all around town from the preview dinner for the reopening of Veronika in the Fotografiska Building in Gramercy (#1 below) to an outstanding brunch, with gorgeous views, at The Fulton in the Seaport District, to an exceptional night of cabaret and dining at Neue Galerie’s Cafe Sabarsky on the Upper East Side.
  • Pop-Ups should always be fun and the new DashMart in Nolita does not disappoint. In fact, it’s one of the best I’ve seen. Opened yesterday and clearly a hit with the crowds. (#3 below)
  • The recap video this week (#10) comes from the beautiful Elizabeth Street Garden just around the corner from DashMart. Weather and time permitting, I’m planning to do the recap videos from different spots around the city, especially when I’ve scouted something cool nearby.

And with that, please scroll down for this week’s Top 10! Enjoy!

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Top 10: Bozeman’s Cool LARK Hotel, NYC’s New Tin Building, and Elon’s Way ANTI-Remote!

Top 10: Bozeman’s Cool LARK Hotel, NYC’s New Tin Building, and Elon’s Way ANTI-Remote!
Good Morning & Hello Friday!
  • Compared to last week, I am once again in good spirits (as I discuss in the wrap up video – #10). I don’t know who to thank for this ability to “move on” when things get me down but it is one of my best traits.
  • Also, thrilled to be traveling again (even though it’s all domestic). Have trips planned for later this month to LA, Nashville in July, and Bozeman, Montana (at a super cool hotel) for my birthday in August. (#1, 2).
  • And HUGE gratitude to Dr. David Middaugh of El Paso Manual Physical Therapy for providing the most helpful exercises for hip arthritis. I’m back to walking 20K steps (7 miles) a day. It’s pretty amazing (#9).

Please scroll down for this week’s Top 10 (#5 will undoubtedly be controversial but bear with me)!!

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Top 10: Daniel Boulud’s Fab New Restaurant, Cultural Pop-Ups, Thrifted Weddings

Top 10: Daniel Boulud’s Fab New Restaurant, Cultural Pop-Ups, Thrifted Weddings
Good Morning & Hello Friday!
  • New favorite restaurant – ate there twice this week!! Kudos to Daniel Boulud for installing Le Gratin into McNally’s old Augustine space. The food, the scene, the staff, the room – all fantastic!! (#2 below).
  • Also, raves for the Vuitton + Nike + Abloh experience at the Greenpoint Terminal Building (#1). If you’re in NYC, you must check it out this weekend (running thru 5/31).
  • My recap video is at the end of the blog this week (#10) with a not-so-great update on my Green Card saga. Total screw-up by my immigration lawyer! Looks like I’ll be only traveling domestically for a good while longer. Send me recos for cool spots to hit up!!

And with that please scroll down for this week’s TOP 10. Enjoy!

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Top 10: Creativity, Tech, and the Korean Wave (Hallyu)!

Top 10: Creativity, Tech, and the Korean Wave (Hallyu)!
Good Morning & Hello Friday!
  • Great week (with the sole exception of STILL no Green Card Renewal). However, I’ve been extremely lucky when it comes to random run-ins with all things creative and cool — people, places, events. It’s almost as though the universe is trying to make amends for the way they’ve let the green card situation play out.
  • My best discoveries this week range from the K-Pop Random Dance Challenge (#5), Eitan Baron’s CapitalistMan Performance Pop-Up (#4), and John Crist’s driverless Waymo (#3) – that’s an absolute must-watch!
  • I also have another trip booked. Heading to Nashville in July!! Big birthday celebration for one of my besties.

And with that, please scroll down and enjoy this week’s Top 10.

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Top 10: Starting with Travel which went from Great to Total Chaos!

Top 10: Starting with Travel which went from Great to Total Chaos!
Good Morning and Hello Friday!!
  • My big news this week is that after two years of NOT traveling, I survived my first trip. As a matter of fact, I thoroughly enjoyed it (despite the Austin airport fiasco).
  • I also got a big lesson on the importance of getting to the airport ridiculously early. Plus, the need for Global Entry (which I can’t do until my 10-year Green Card Renewal comes through). It’s been languishing in USCIS covid-delay-hell for over 13 months. I’ve had to hire an attorney to expedite the process!!
  • This coming week, I am off on Trip #2. Heading to AZ to see Brad’s shows in Scottsdale and Tucson and then heading to Vegas for opening night of Lady Gaga’s “Jazz and Piano” residency.
  • Doubtful I will get to do a SNAPSHOT: PHOENIX next week but look for a surprise post from The Vault (a look-back at what was trending in April 2015 or 2016 perhaps?).
  • And with that, please scroll down for more on what we can anticipate as we all get back to traveling this summer.
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