Our final day in New York City began with a fantastic brunch.
One thing I’ve noticed about New York City is that out-of-towners could walk right by a little gem of a restaurant without even realizing it was a restaurant at all from the outside. Many little restaurants do not have any signage outside and if you aren’t with someone who knows the ins and outs of the city, you might completely miss some real treasures! Quite inconspicuous.
That was the case with the little place my friend Merri took us to late Sunday morning for brunch. From the outside, Hudson Clearwater blends in with the other buildings, but when you walk inside, you’re immediately enveloped in the cozy atmosphere of the beautiful restaurant.
The menu wasn’t overwhelming and featured a few special dishes. After our late night on Saturday, we all ordered coffee to start and boy was it strong! It woke us right up! (Since I’m a huge almond milk lover, I was pretty excited when they had almond milk available to stir into my coffee. Yes!)
I ordered the herbed French omelet as my main meal and it was packed with fresh vegetables and cheddar cheese. I ate every last bite with no trouble.
After brunch, we decided to spend our last day exploring. Hudson Clearwater is located right in the neighborhood of the famous Friends apartment and as a big-time Friends fan, I made sure to snap a picture!
“I’ll be there for you…”
We then headed over to Bryant Park to check out the ice skating and wander around some of the adorable shops in the area.
I loved this little part of the city! There was so much to see!
We spent several hours in the area before heading back to Merri’s apartment. Leah and I had a 6 p.m. flight back to Florida to catch!
I made sure to buy a bag of chestnuts for the bus ride home.
Yum!
This weekend was an absolute whirlwind and I had the most fantastic time. New York City during the holidays is just as amazing as everyone says it is and I only wish I had more time to explore and take in all of the sights. It was so special to be in the city with my girlfriends during this magical time of year. Spending quality time with some of my best friends rejuvenates me but also makes me miss them 10 times more! Luckily we have a couple of weddings and wedding-related festivities coming up in 2013, so I know I’ll get to see all of them in a couple of months again.
The countdown begins!
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I was so excited the first time I went to New York and we passed the Friends building. One of the best sitcoms ever 🙂
That all looks like so much fun!!! So cool you got to see the FRIENDS apartment ( you took the picture just like they show it in the show!)
Love your blog!
I love the holiday shops at Bryant Park! I’m trying to get back there this year, but the weekends get busy so fast. I’m hoping to get there just before New Years.
Ah, love the FRIENDS apartment photo… best show ever!
I live in NYC and now have a list of bars I have to visit. I’m not much of a bar fly, but the places you went looked like so much fun!! Christmas decorations and snow indoors and spiked hot chocolate? Yes please! Glad you had a great girls weekend here. New York is so much fun over the holidays! You have to come back in Autumn, though. When the leaves are changing, New York is such a beautiful city.
I am OBSESSED with Friends! When I went to NYC in high school (last time I went there) we took a tour of NBC studios and I loaded up on Friends paraphernalia. Didn’t even think to go by the apt, but I’m not sure the other 7 people in our group would have been too into it anyways. If only they were still filming that show I would make it my life’s mission to be an extra and/or see a taping. That balcony reminds me of the episode where Ross is trying to tell Rachel he likes her and the cat jumps on his head. Best. Show. Ever.
I have loved reading your recap of your NYC trip! It sounds like you had a blast. I will definitely need to make a list of all the great restaurants/bars you tried 🙂 Happy Holidays!
I haven’t been to NYC during the holidays, but it sure does look magical!!
Ahhh!! The FRIENDS apartment!
NYC during the holidays is on my travel bucket list…this makes me wish I could go right now! Glad you had such a great time!
I miss FRIENDS- hands down the best TV show!
New York is absolutely beautiful during the holidays! You visited at a great time.
It seems like you had a great trip! Looked like so much fun.
Glad you had a great trip! Bryant Park is one of my favorite spots.
After your post and then giving NYC restaurant recommendations to my boss today, I’m dying to get there for another visit! I miss living there sometimes. 🙂
Love your big ole scarf! Is it one of those circle ones or a long strip?
Glad you enjoyed NYC!
LOVE your big cosy scarf! Looks like you packed lots in! I’d say that brunch was much needed after the 5am finishing time the night before!
You have completely made me want to go to NY like right now. It’s all I can think about!
I LOVE brunching in NYC, there’s nothing like it! You have to always go with a NYC-er though because they know all the best places, especially since, like you said, some of the best places are little hole in the walls!
I’m soo jealous you got to see the Friends apartment! I’m a HUGE fan of that show. My sister lives in NYC, and without her guidance, I would never know where to go/eat! You’re right about everything being kind of hidden. I’m glad you had a wonderful time in the city with your friends!
It looks like you have had a ton of fun!!! Im stuck preparing for finals :/ I bet Sadie will be glad to have you home!
I’ve never actually had chestnuts! Ill have to try them!
Julie, you always look like you’re having the best time ever! It doesn’t matter if you’re sweaty from the gym, or with your girlfriends in NYC! It’s obvious that you’re loving life!
I haven’t been to NYC during Christmas in years but it’s so magical. So glad you had such an amazing trip!
What a great trip!
Wow sounds like so much fun!
Love all the recaps of your time in NYC! My husband and I are heading up there for New Year’s, and I’m getting some ideas of things to do 🙂 Can’t wait!
Oh how I miss Friends! May have to pop in a DVD tonight! Glad you had a great time!
Hey Julie,
I just wanted to leave you a quick comment and say thank you! I moved to Ocala a little over a year and a half ago and haven’t had much luck finding local healthy stores. I frequent Vitalize nutrition often and LOVE the staff but was looking for more of a grocery selection. Today I finally stopped in at Earths Origins after hearing you speak of the bulk bins and such a few items. Let’s just see I will definitely be popping in there move often. Great selection! Thanks again.
Jackie
Glad you had such a great time!
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh FRIENDS! Best tv show ever. So cool you stopped by to see the apartment. I love all your other pictures too and sounds like you had an amazing weekend.
I live a block from the Friends building! And my old apartment was on the same block as the Seinfeld diner. So random.
So fun!! I love that you’ve eaten at places I’ve never been and now I’m making a list of places to check out the next time I’m in NYC. (I even lived outside the city for a few years!) 😉
I CAN NOT BELIEVE YOU GOT TO GO TO THE FRIENDS APARTMENT. Sorry for the yelling but that is what is going on inside my head right now. It is going on the bucket list as I type. Sounds like an awesome trip!!
it sounds like you had an awesome trip! I bet you are dying to go back already
I am SO jealous that you got to see the Friends apartment!!
“I can handle this. ‘Handle’ is my middle name. Actually, ‘handle’ is the middle of my first name.”
I am loving all your cozy scarves!! Christmas time in New York is definitely on my bucket list!!
I love NYC during the holidays! So many fun things to do and see – I feel like you could never see it all! Even if you lived here! But you did definitely encourage me to buy some chestnuts this week 🙂
I don’t like the cold but New York seems like the kind of place that would be better to visit around Christmas time- hmm maybe that should be our next overseas trip?!
How cool you got to see the Friends apartment! I miss that show! 🙁
Love the pic of you guys by the blue christmas tree!
Looks like so much fun!
I love that they have roasted chestnuts on the corner, my sister sent me a picture of her eating them on the subway 🙂
ahhh love your pictures!
I JUST came back from nyc today. Isn’t that place just magical?!?!
I am so jealous that you got to see the Friends building!! That was and remains to be my all time favorite show 🙂 If I ever went to NYC I would definitely want to see that and Rockafeller center (especially at Christmas time… how amazing would it be to see the big Christmas tree all lit up in person?!!!!)
I loved Briant Park when I went to NYC last month, it was so pretty and the little shops surrounding the ice rink are gorgeous. I managed to pick up some really unique Christmas presents there. Glad you had a great time.
I’ve always wanted to go ice skating in NYC! One day. It looks so pretty 🙂 Sounds like a wonderful trip to NY!
NYC has to be so pretty this time of the year. I cant wait to visit sometime. I love traveling!
i was just in ny for thanksgiving and saw those HUGE chestnuts on the streets. did you like them??? im korean and i’ve been eating them since i was a kid. i had a funny conversation with another asian friend of mine bc we werent sure if non-asians ate them…haha you hear the lyrics…”chestnuts roasting on an open fire…” and i just assumed everyone ate them~!! haha 🙂 love your blog~!!!
Julie, your NYC adventures make me so excited to move there in June! If your friend Merri has any advice in regards to finding an apartment or basic tips that she has ever shared, let me know! I’m afraid that finding a place to live will prove more difficult than getting a job was.