A bite of the Apple. Part 2

So with my visit to New York over 2 months ago now and part 2 well over due, here is my next installment from our trip to the Big Apple. (You can find part 1 here incase you missed it).

After an eventful night in the Meatpacking District we were up once again bright and early on the Thursday for another day in NY. We started off with breakfast at the TickTock diner which is just before you get to Times Square. This was recommended to me by Amanda and was so good we actually ate here twice during our trip. After a breakfast of pancakes and bacon we headed towards the Gray Line bus tour which took us through Soho, the financial district, The Seaport and the East Village. It was absolutely FREEZING as we sat on the top deck to get the best views! We got off to take a little look at Lady Liberty but we were so pushed for time that we didn't get the boat over (I've done this before, so definitely worth doing).

Shirley Temples at Tick Tock Diner

Lady Liberty

Rockefeller Centre

Wearing all H'n'M here except for the studded denim jacket.

 One for you Gossip Girl fans.

We ate at an amazing restaurant that evening called Caliente Cab which is in the West Village on 7th Avenue. The frozen cocktails are the best I've ever had and you get to take home a souvenir glass too! 

Friday was the day we spent mostly in the East Village. You can't go to NY and not spend some time here. It's so quirky and reminded me slightly of Shoreditch. It's full of vintage boutiques and some cool places to get eat too. After a really quick journey up and down the Empire State Building we hopped on a bus to the East Village. We had been recommended a pulled pork sandwich shop called Porchetta (110 East 7th Street) which was possibly one of the best sandwiches bars ever and located opposite the Big Gay Ice Cream Shop - normal Mr Whippy ice creams are served but dipped into melted chocolate and covered in different toppings. I had rock salt and caramel - LUSH. Whilst walking down East 7th Street be sure to pop into the shops as there's some amazing finds. We stumbled across a boutique called Rena Reborn which had some beautiful garments and jewellery (including a $10 and under rail - what's not to love?). The girl working behind the till actually invited us to a clothing sale her friend was having the following weekend but of course we'd be back in London by then. She was SO friendly and was giving us some tips on some more vintage places to go. You can follow them on twitter here.

Image from www.renareborn.com

After filling ourselves up with pork sandwiches, ice cream and amazing vintage shopping it was only fair to wash it all down with a cocktail. The weather was so nice this day so we walked through a park and watched a group of guys playing basketball (pervs!) and then headed to The Blind Barber. If you haven't heard of the Blind Barber a brief overview is that this is (said to be) one of THE places to be seen during Fashion Week because as well as being a Barber shop there's actually a bar out the back (which you'd never know as it's hidden so well). We got talking to a really lovely couple at the bar (another example of Americans being the most friendly people ON EARTH). We told them we were going to check out Brooklyn's nightlife and where should we go. They recommended a place called The Meatball Shop and gave us some directions. After dropping yet more shopping bags back at the apartment we put our glad rags on and headed to Brooklyn on the subway (just throwing in my American lingo there). Brooklyn was really buzzing and the bars were rammed and flowing onto the streets and the restaurant was full so we had a drink at the bar before being seated a while later. The barman made Rachel a special cocktail which mainly seemed to consist of fire and grass! The Meatball Shop is located on Bedford Avenue and if you're in Brooklyn looking for a reasonably cheap but tasty meal then I'd definitely recommend this. Obviously meatballs (of different variety) are the only thing on the menu but can be served with pasta, mash, beans or salad. The best part is it's open until 4am on Friday's and Saturday's so if you find yourself drunk and hungry in the early hours head here!

Our evening ended with yet more cocktails on the roof of Juliette's wine bar and then some beers at a Tiki bar. It was Cinco De Mayo so everywhere was so busy and full of people drinking frozen margheritas - always a good thing in my mind!

Our final day in New York was once again spent in Brooklyn. It was so lovely to see it in the daylight and there was so much to do. We enjoyed a late brunch at Allswell on Bedford avenue and headed towards the mecca that is Beacon's Closest. I cannot even begin to explain how massive this warehouse is and full to the brim of vintage. I think we were in here for an hour and a half scouting through rail upon rail of clothing. I picked up a sequin t-shirt, a floral bomber jacket and a cross necklace whilst Pomps managed to pick up a pair of Marc Jacobs shoes and Rach managed to buy half the store. We had heard that there was also another Artists and Fleas market on where we spent some time spending our remaining dollas (I came back from NY with SO much stuff which you'll see popping up in outfit posts). A quick dash to Brooklyn Flea food market (again, I've never seen anything like this - food served from around the globe and full of locals) before we knew it, it was time to head back and get ready for Rach's birthday meal at Pastis (no celeb sightings unfortunately) in the Meatpacking District and cocktails on the roof at the Gansevoort hotel.

Dress: ASOS Curve

Jacket: East End Thrift Store

Converse: Journey's

Necklace: Costume Chanel

Belt: ASOS

Bag: Mulberry Alexa

Photos by Teddy Telles at Artists and Fleas

The Gansevoort Hotel

Blazer: Issey Miyake

Dress: Very

Clutch: Dune

Ring: Love, Hearts and Crosses

Our last day: the view from our apartment rooftop.

There is still so much more to cover from our trip but I don't want to bore everyone so these are the main bits. If you are planning on a trip to NY any time soon do feel free to ask for any recommendations (I'm not an expert but can definitely recommend some things to do from this trip). There is just something incredibly amazing and endearing about this city - who knows, maybe one day I'll become a New York resident.