Alicia Keys Totally Had it Right

I am obsessed with New York. Here's the thing - when you are walking around those streets you feel completely ALIVE! When I walked off that plane at JFK with blood shot eyes due to the 2 hours of plane sleep I got after taking that Unisom (bad idea when you have access to the internet on the plane because then you don't sleep and it makes you zombie-ish all day) I was ready to tear this city apart. For only a week I think I accomplished my goal.

So here's the 411 on the new job. Love it. Enough said. LOOOOOOOOVE it. Yes I feel like my head is spinning in a million different directions and I am not sure which direction is the right one to take and there are even more people I need to meet with in a tiny period of time to really get a feel for this industry and environment... but seriously I was made for tech and tech exists to make my life better. Also I dream at night about how to get tech companies better exposure which means I am a workaholic and don't hate because I love it.

As far as my New York adventures - From getting followed around the city and subway system by a strange man that wanted to buy and flip skyscrapers and also run for President of the United States, to eating at the most gorgeous eating establishments with exquisite cuisine, I would say I have it pretty darn good right now. But wait - it gets better. I will be coming to NYC frequently! This time around I stayed with the fantastic Krystal Kimball and her lovely Barton girls in Long Island City and became a regular (or WILL become a regular) at a few local establishments. Here is the rundown because I want you all to enjoy this as much as I have.

Cranky's - world's best cupcake - always get vanilla on vanilla and keep it simple. Trust me on that. Classic. Unreal. If you saw me eating that cupcake you see below you would have thought I was taking ecstasy.

Tuk Tuk - I didn't think I could ever find a peanut sauce to rival my dad's and I have been searching high and low. This may be the closest yet. Get the steamed broccoli with the peanut sauce and you won't regret it.

Asiate at the Mandarin Oriental - best fancy and expensive meal I have ever had and I have eaten a lot in my lifetime. If you eat here be prepared to be pampered and feel entirely elegant.

Westville - the menu's are written out and copied on paper I used to write on during High School. The veggies are AMAZING! They either come separately for $5 or 4 sides for $14 - naturally I went for the 4 and I ate there twice this week. My body is better off because of it for sure and yours will be too.

I clearly couldn't stay away from the chocolate souffle either. Who could?

The Mercer Kitchen - possibly the best herbal mint tea I have ever consumed. I went into Nirvana after drinking it. I am so zen now... The breakfast looked incredible but I just wanted tea.

The Empire Hotel Rooftop - It might be due to my insatiable crush on Chuck Bass, or it could be that they were giving away free spice cupcakes the night we were there, but whatever the reason I felt cooler after hanging out at the rooftop lounge of The Empire Hotel.

Whole Foods at Union Square Park and just Union Sqaure in general - Get a coconut water with pulp at Wholefoods and then sit in the park and either watch a game of chess or some street performer. They aren't broadway stars but they are interesting and real which to me is very entertaining. Farmer's Market is every Friday - local artists show off their goods - when I move here I will have their masterpieces adorning my walls.

The Cupcake Cafe - By Union Square and Westville as it turns out, this place is great if you want a cupcake that looks like a floral Monet painting. You can also read a great book while delicately eating your sugar fix like a sophisticated New Yorker because it is attached to a bookstore.

I will close with something you all hear too much of - My Diet Coke addiction. It's not like I am proud of it but when you love something you talk about it a lot. So anyway, it continued in NYC but here's the thing - THEY DON'T HAVE FOUNTAIN DIET COKE ANYWHERE!!! So I probably consumed less. So here's to you New York! I'll be back in 2 weeks to discover more of your incredibleness. Until then... cheers!