MELISSA'S NYC WEEKEND

[rag & bone sandals (via the real real), hobo rachel wallet, and madewell hat (sold out)]Last weekend my boyfriend, Hamilton, and I had a weekend-away in NYC. It's only a three hour train ride via Amtrak from the BWI airport to Penn Station, so we try to go rather often. We haven't been the best at that in the past year, but after this trip we are both set on making more of an effort to go to the city whenever our schedules allow. It was such a beautiful weekend weather-wise which made the whole weekend extra nice. The NYC energy is truly one of a kind. Even though it is only a three hour train trip away, it honestly feels like a different world compared to Annapolis, Maryland. We were there Saturday & Sunday and stayed the night at a hotel in the West Village called The Walker. The cozy, Parisian, Art Deco inspired decor and feel of the hotel made it so charming and welcoming.This was the view from outside our window- major #cityvibes. It was the kind of view that made you want to get down on the streets and explore, ASAP. It was our first time spending quality time in Greenwich Village and we really loved the more laid-back, neighborhood vibe.[madewell tee (sold out, solid version), j. crew factory skirt (old), hobo tempest bag, westward leaning sunnies (c/o)]We spent a good amount of time just walking around and seeing what we discovered, which was so nice. You never know what you will run into! We definitely tried to walk as much as possible, but a few times a taxi or uber was necessary. Walking from place to place is a great way to really get a sense of the lifestyle when you are visiting a new city or town. I have learned to wear very comfortable shoes when we travel and I always have bandaids inside my bag/backpack.[springbone kitchen]Thanks to this amazing article from well + good that I stumbled upon before our trip, we went and checked out springbone kitchen. Without going into all of the amazing details (because they would make both me and you extremely hungry), I must say that Hamilton and I were blown away by this place. It is a bone broth-based restaurant, 100% gluten free, with a focus on organic, quality ingredients that taste good and are good for you. Think chicken bone broth, golden milk, wild rice, free range chicken, grass fed beef, a ton of fresh vegetables, vegan ice cream (coconut milk, avocado, and dark chocolate), smoothies, chia seed pudding with homemade granola, and so many other wholesome, nutritious options. Confession- we loved it so much on Saturday for lunch, that we went back on Sunday! It is a real gem. Plus, the people that work there are so friendly, which always makes for an extra-nice dining experience.[garrett bryant's studio]We went ahead and scheduled Ham a much-needed haircut during our visit. If you didn't notice from a few pictures above, the guy was in desperate need of a trim! I love him and his #longhairdontcare attitude, but it started to get a little wild in the back. The place to go in NYC for an amazing haircut, experience, and a true stylist and client relationship is Garrett Bryant's studio. Not only is he so kind, wonderful, and talented, but his studio is so beautifully designed- just look at that snake plant + exposed brick wall![ham's new do!]And hello, handsome!  Afterwards, we continued walking and exploring and stopped into several shops on and around Bleecker St. There are so many shops in the West Village and it's so much fun peek inside. We went into rag & bone, billy reid, brunello cucinelli, paul smith, and others. Special shout out to the employees at rag & bone on Christopher St.- they were the best! The NYC shopping and fashion scene is truly on a level of its own. I always feel so inspired, sartorially, after being in the city because of the current trends that are in the stores and because of the street style that you see. People in the city really express themselves through their personal style and I am so inspired by their attitude and confidence when it comes to their outfit choices.[brunello cucinelli on bleecker st][lobster rolls + wine at catch]After shopping and walking around, we went back to the hotel to freshen up and change for dinner. We had reservations at catch in the meatpacking district and it was such an amazing choice. The food and atmosphere were both so fun and very "new york". They have a rooftop bar (see image below) which was really cool because the NYC views at that height are pretty great. We would 100% recommend this restaurant to you guys and plan to go back in the future!Lo recommended cafe cluny to us for breakfast and we are so thankful that she did! She has been there before and had a feeling that Ham and I would love it. She was more than right. It was such a charming restaurant and the food was very fresh, healthy, tasty, and beyond satisfying. We had such a nice time there Sunday morning eating, drinking coffee, and having good conversation. I love it when you are able to take your time at a restaurant and just soak up the time that you have with who you are with, and where you are- those moments are so sweet and some of the best.Sunday we checked out the High Line (an old rail road turned walking park) in Chelsea, and we both really enjoyed it. It was super crowded, but very cool to walk what used to be a railroad, but is now flourishing with gorgeous plants. It's a nice breath of fresh air from the hustle and bustle that fills the city.I hope you guys enjoyed this weekend recap! Let me know if you have any favorite places in NYC- I would love to check them out next time we are there. Happy friday xo melissa