weekend bike rides and such

Wow, guys. It's been a while. The summer has this way of filling my days with so many blog worthy things but no time to actually recount them. Who wants to sit in front of a computer when the weather is lovely anyway? So bear with me as I catch you all up on the last couple weeks!

At work we finally had a photo shoot for the first project I worked on in the office. The clients have tons of stuff, so it took me forever to clean all their junk out of the kitchen for a good shot. Who needs eight types of salt?! 

Kurt got me a sewing class for Christmas and I finally got around to attending. It was a great, incredibly basic introduction to sewing. I can finally wrap my head around bobbins and all the knobs and levers. It even inspired me to break out my dusty machine and get it all set up. Now I just need a project! (The class I took was the "Beginners Basics" from the Sewing Studio in Chelsea. I would highly recommend it!)

Jenn, Kurt, and I attended the Architecture League's First Friday happy hour at the office of Grimshaw Architects. Kurt was not happy about the "green wall" but it was such a good backdrop for a photo!

After the happy hour, we celebrated Andrea's birthday at the Brooklyn Tap House. We rode our bikes there only to be stranded by a rainstorm and had to take a cab home!

After retrieving our bikes the next morning, Kurt and I got ambitious and planned a bike ride all the way to 79th Street on the Upper West Side from Brooklyn.

We paused at the Pier I Cafe for a drink and some food.

Cruise ship setting sail down the Hudson.

Battery Park City

Tear Drop Park

World Trade Center progress

Hudson River

Irish Hunger Memorial

We had time to kill before our evening plans, so instead of riding back to Brooklyn, Kurt suggested we take the water taxi which picks you up at the southern tip of Manhattan and drops you off at Ikea in Red Hook. Thank God. I'm not sure my little legs could have handled another bridge after all those miles we logged.

Once safely back in Brooklyn, we stopped by my new favorite bar, Botanica, for a glass of wine. It's always lovely there.

Then we decided to grab some pizza at Two Boots for dinner before meeting up with some friends for a birthday party at Franklin Park. Too bad being fashionably late also means that there is nowhere to sit at the bar :( so Kurt and I had the bright idea to take a stroll through the neighborhood while waiting for the crowd to thin out.

We came across this lovely little wine bar called Little Zelda in Prospect Heights. It's really teeny but has an awesome vibe. Kurt and I have continually been on the lookout for places that are coffee shops during the day and serve alcohol in the evening. We like to pretend we are European sometimes most of the time and it's just nice to not have to yell to talk at the person sitting next to you like you have to do at most bars. {image thanks to Kurt}

We ended up talking to the owners (nicest people ever, live in the neighborhood, named the place after their adorable baby etc) and learned that they have been operating the coffee shop for a couple months and just got their liquor license in the last week. Do we have good timing or what?! I can't wait to go back and hang out on a gorgeous evening sometime soon.

On Sunday, Kurt and I visited some friends down the street. Kurt wanted to share his photo slide show from his trip to Samoa/New Zealand (I've been bugging him for a guest post for here too....one of these days) and we had yet to see their apartment. It sounds creepy but I love seeing other people's homes. It's always so exciting to explore a new place. These two have a cute little 2 bedroom in Kurt's neighborhood. The layout it a bit quirky but they have a small balcony plus this awesome roof deck, one and a half baths (trust me, no one has more than one bathroom), and I think I may have spotted a dishwasher in their kitchen. It doesn't take much, but this visit may have rekindled my moving urge!

Cookout in Kurt's backyard. This is a regular occurrence during the summer months. It's not quite a jungle back there yet, but it's only a matter of time before the plants (mainly cucumbers) take off.

Jenn and I attended a happy hour event a the New York Design Center during the week. You could mingle through several showrooms on one floor who were serving drinks and snacks. We love a good party.

My favorite was this little cup of crème brûlée. Delicious and oh so adorable.

Door knobs by our host, S.A. Baxter

During the week, Kurt and I decided to grab dinner at Alma in Brooklyn. It's located along the Columbia Waterfront and the rooftop dining area has an amazing view of Downtown Manhattan. We rode our bikes because Kurt assured me it would not rain locked our bikes up moments before the bottom of the sky fell out. 

Once the clouds cleared, there was a gorgeous view of the nighttime skyline.

New stairs are going in at the UWS townhouse! Exciting progress!

Jenn and I measured an Upper East Side apartment as a new project this past week. I almost stole the clients' dog. She was so cute.

After measuring for several hours, Jenn and I rewarded ourselves with lunch at the new Food Hall at the Plaza Hotel.

We went with sandwiches from No. 7 Sub. Not sure you can see from the picture, but my sandwich had crushed up BBQ chips on it. Loved. It.

Remember when I checked out our chocolate shop progress? Well it turned out quite nicely!

After enjoying our sandwiches, we just couldn't pass up all the delectable sweets offered at the other counters and both got a cupcake from Billy's Bakery to be enjoyed back in the office later. Oh, and who knew flavored marshmallows were a thing? We both got a sample of a Passionfruit square from Three Tarts NYC and it was heavenly.

Women in Architecture breakfast discussion at the Center for Architecture

Friday post-work, pre-mani pedi drink at Qi

The Weather Channel is dead to me. We had planned on going to the Belmont Stakes this past weekend (even thought my beloved I'll Have Another scratched out) but wimped out because the forecast called for rain. Instead, it was a gorgeous afternoon and I was kicking myself all day for not going. Next year!

Instead of having a blast at the horse race, we had a cookout at Kurt's and played Monopoly. I can honestly say I had never played it before and now I remember why. It's awful and boring and takes forever. 

I cleaned out my closet! It's been needed for a very long time. Somehow I was able to purge an enormous pile of stuff and my closet is still full. How is that possible?! Now the question is what to do with all the cut items. I plan on taking a lot to Goodwill but would like to sell a few pieces. Anyone up for a group stoop sale?

I had purchased a coupon to Fonda in Park Slope a while back and Kurt and I got around to using it this weekend. Despite suggestions from our waiter, we shared a few small plates and some beers. I was heartbroken that they were out of the Avocado Cheesecake for dessert, but the Tres Leches cake was a suitable substitute. I have a feeling we missed out on the margaritas and guacamole because every table around us was having that exact combination. It's a little on the pricey side for Mexican food, but I guess we will have to go back and try!

Phew! I'll try to check back in more often. Have a great week!