A Sunday at the Zoo

Today I woke up with legs that were far more sore than I expected. While the 20 miler went wonderfully, spending most of Sunday on my feet in comfortable but poorly padded boots wasn’t the smartest idea! While Bo was spending the day under water for a technical scuba diving certification, I I spent the day uptown with Meg and Spencer exploring Central Park. But, before we could explore we needed to enjoy brunch, a New York City tradition that I rarely enjoy. I donned a new dress that my brother and I found at the outlets in Vermont and headed uptown for a day of fun.

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Meg and Spencer had plans to go to church on the Upper West Side as they’ve wanted to hear Tim Keller preach forever. Therefore, I did my best to find a brunch spot that was not only relatively close to  Redeemer Presbyterian, but also took reservations. After sending them a list from which to choose we settled on Elizabeth’s Neighborhood Table.

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I kid you not. This picket fence and sweet yellow house complete with gables truly exists at the corner of 93rd and Columbus Avenue. The menu looked like it’d offer something for everyone without breaking the bank and the location was perfect.  The egg white omelet was fluffy and it was filled with vegetables and delicious cheese. I was surprised to find cauliflower was one of the vegetables inside the omelet but it was a fun addition. I’m not sure why this place gets a bad wrap on Yelp because for the price we paid it delivered upon expectations. I paid $11.50 for the entrée, not $20-$25 and therefore didn’t expect complex flavors or fancy plating.

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We were greeted with sunshine and warmer temperatures when we left the restaurant, therefore choosing to meander down to Central Park. We proceeded to spend the next 3 hours wandering through the park and Central Park Zoo. It is so different to walk through the park versus run. I love sharing the nooks of Central Park with friends without worrying that I’ll get lost. I’ve learned so much about the park during this marathon training. Spencer, Meg’s husband, asked that I never take Central Park for granted as even in Atlanta there is nothing like it that is as beautiful and accessible.

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Trust me Spencer, enjoying scenery like this multiple times a week will never get old!

After 3 years living in the city Bo and I have walked through the Central Park Zoo many times but never have we stopped to buy tickets and go through the zoo in its entirety! For $12 it was a great deal and the perfect way to enjoy the afternoon together. We all loved checking out the exhibits and feeling like a child again. The afternoon feeding worked in our favor and allowed us to see most of the animals active, enjoying their lunches.  We could have sat watching the penguins play for hours! They were so full of energy and such characters!

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By the time exited the zoo at 3:00 I was absolutely exhausted. My legs were screaming and my swollen feet wanted nothing other than an Epsom salt bath and the couch.

How about you? Are you a fan of the zoo? What is your favorite animal to check out?

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Calliope Restaurant: The Perfect Date Night

After running 20 miles and enjoying Sweaty Saturday with my favorite ladies at Uplift Studios, I was more than ready for a relaxing Saturday night.

Before meeting our friends Scott and Maya for a double date, Bo and I met Meg and Spencer, dear friends of our who were in town from Atlanta for the Food and Wine Festival. It was wonderful catching up over a Post Pumpkin Ale at The Old Towne Bar in Chelsea.

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We ended up downtown 30 minutes early for our dinner reservations so instead of hanging out at the crowded restaurant bar, we popped in Wine Bar, a small, intimate wine bar that Melissa and Frank introduced us to last year.

We were able to sit at the bar and talk to the sommelier about their wines this season. We fell in love with their Tempranillo, La Planta Ribera del Duero. Low in acidity, the earthy fruit forward flavor of the wine was perfect for the cool evening.

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Our next stop of the evening was Calliope, a small French bistro in the East Village. A recent addition to the East Village, Calliope is the newest addition from the chefs of Waverly Inn and at Prune, husband and wife team Eric Korsh and Ginevra Iverson. Two weeks ago Bo saw the New York Times review of this restaurant pop up on his Bloomberg terminal at work and after reading the first paragraph, quickly called to make reservations for our first available Saturday. Bo’s favorite genre of food is classic French fare the review alone left both our mouths watering.

The French bistro scene in New York has been a stagnant one over the past few years and we were both happy to see a menu fresh with French classics but lacking the stale regulars like steak frites. Everything on the menu looked divine but we stuck primarily to dishes featured in the Yelp reviews we read and the NY Times article.

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From left: toasted French bread, Calliope’s famous boiled eggs with mayonnaise, octopus salad with potatoes and celery, and halibut in mussel broth atop romesco toast.

If you’re looking new restaurant that Is perfect for large groups or small groups, intimate dinners, or a casual solo lunch Calliope is the perfect choice. They have one large 20 person table in the center of the restaurant, which last night was filled with a birthday party, a small bar for casual drinks and dinner, surrounded by small bistro tables along an open air wall. 

If you’re a NYC local, what is your favorite restaurant these days? If you’re not in NYC, what is your favorite genre of food?

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A Chicago Evening: Bliss and Fresh Air Dining

Greetings from Chicago!

Today has been exactly what I needed after yesterday’s rough afternoon. I went home last night and relaxed with Meg and Bo, enjoying a home cooked meal and a glass of wine with a side of Sex and the City. This morning I craved a workout in a big way. I wanted an intense sweat session. Luckily for me, Akin William’s Cardio Kickboxing class was on the schedule at my Equinox which meant that Meg and I punched out our feelings for 45 minutes while dripping sweat. WHAT A WORKOUT! It was a great way to loosen up my body after yesterday’s kettle bell personal training session and Monday’s run.

My manager and I were both upgraded on our flight to Chicago thanks in part to the flight’s lack of business travelers and all our travel this year. It was complete bliss to enjoy a meal and comfortable seats on our quick flight. I was thoroughly impressed with the chicken salad and level of service. If only I could always fly first. *sigh*

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When we landed our team had some much needed downtime to catch up on emails, rest our feet, and prepare for the next few days. Thanks to a discount and a stress knot deep in my shoulders, I indulged on a 30 minute massage at Bliss Spa. While it was definitely an indulgence, I stood up from the table feeling light and refreshed. This Bliss Spa was so much nicer than the ones I’ve visited in New York City. It felt like a luxurious experience, from the service to the overall spa. I wish I could have lounged around for longer but I literally only had 30 minutes before our meeting.

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Check out the gorgeous views from their lounge area. I can’t wait to run by the lake tomorrow morning and enjoy the cool morning temperatures and scenery! I really do love running in new cities. It is the perfect way to wake up after a long day of travel, it leaves me energized, allows me to see things I wouldn’t normally have time to see on a quick business trip, and gives me that dose of Vitamin D my body craves!

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The rest of my evening was spent enjoying dinner with my team and our local colleague. Our wish to dine outside was granted by Rosebud Steakhouse which led to a relaxed dinner under the evening dusk. Fresh air dining is one of my favorite aspects of summer. Now if only we had a lovely porch and grill in New York City. 

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Knowing that tomorrow night’s dinner is at another local steakhouse, I opted for a seafood based meal. The waiter highly recommended their fresh, never frozen, tuna as soon as I asked for his advice. I took it to heart and went with tuna for both my appetizer and entrée. My co-worker and I shared the tuna and avocado appetizer, which was the perfect portion to share while not being too rich. It seemed like a perfect summer appetizer.

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My entrée, which wasn’t quite as delicious as the appetizer, was a Japanese inspired tuna dish, served rare and accompanied by seaweed salad and ginger. But, when dining at a steakhouse in Chicago, one can’t be too picky about the tuna I suppose. Was it perfectly rare? Nope. Was it filling, a healthier option than most things on the steakhouse menu and left me satiated? You bet!

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Now, if you’ll excuse me, it’s time to chill out with some gentle yoga stretches compliment of the DVD I brought with me on the trip and my delicious NEST candle which I bought on sale at Bliss this afternoon.

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For those of you who enjoyed yesterday’s travel post, next week will include another installation which features my favorite hotel room necessities when traveling.

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