NYC was just voted the world’s favorite city. This month was my twelve-year anniversary of living here, and I love it here, too. But NYC can be a serious drag sometimes! (Remember the popularity of this Onion article?) So, although I often point out the positives of the city, in an effort to be even-handed, here are nine things about NYC that can drive you batshit crazy...
NYC pizza tastes like cardboard. There, I said it.
Rats come out when the sun sets. Kids at playgrounds will actually say, "Ok, let's go, it's rat time!"
Summer is humid and blazing hot; winter is bone-chillingly cold.
Many people you know have been mugged at one point or another. (When I was mugged in my twenties, two guys in hoodies came up to me and told me to give them my wallet. In a moment of very uncharacteristic bravery, I actually negotiated with them to see if I could just give them my cash and keep my wallet because I had a Nordstrom gift card from my boss in there! They said yes!)
The average wait time at a West Village restaurant on a typical evening is 90 minutes. 90 minutes!
Everyone's apartment is TEENY TINY. For example, our friends share a one-bedroom apartment with their two kids—the baby sleeps in a mini crib at the foot of their bed and the toddler sleeps in the closet!
As a thirtysomething adult with a full-time job, it’s very normal to not have a car, dishwasher or washing machine (and have to trek to the laundromat).
The city is filled with models. (For example, at the playground this summer, Alex ended up casually chatting with her!) So, you find yourself walking down the street feeling pretty good about yourself, and then you pass a gaggle of these ladies and you're like....oh, well, okay then.
Random things are psychotically expensive. For example, one chocolate-chip cookie will run you $4. One drop-in children's music class is $25. And I ordered a lemonade at a cafe this summer and when the check came it was $10. $10!
When the dating and relationships company HowAboutWe reached out to me about going on a NYC date, I really wanted to say yes. But the catch was: Alex and I are pretty homebound in the evenings. We typically put both kids to bed, then eat dinner and pass out ourselves. We miss date nights! We are so boring! We have watched so many 30 Rock reruns!
But then it occurred to me: What if we could have our date at home? I checked out their site, and then I saw it. AT-HOME COUPLES MASSAGES. SAY WHAT?!
Amazing, right?! Who knew that was even a thing?! We were pinching ourselves. Although HowAboutWe began as an online dating site, they've since launched HowAboutWe for Couples—where they help couples find awesome dates. You browse their list of dates, book the ones you like, and go. They take care of all the details. It's great for people who want to do exciting offbeat stuff but don't have time or energy to plan everything themselves.
After living in New York for twelve years, I thought I had figured out almost everything there was to do here. But I was surprised to see dates I’d never thought of: couples astrology readings, old-school Brooklyn food tours, gondola rides in the East River...and, of course, at-home couples massages.
So, after both boys were in bed, we cracked a bottle of rose and put out bowls of nuts, olives and kettle chips...
...and shoved the toys to the side of the room. :)
Two really nice and friendly massage therapists arrived and set up folding massage tables in our living room.
We provided our own sheets and towels, and they put on relaxing spa music with sounds of rainforests and ocean waves.
Needless to say, it was such an incredible date and definitely the coolest night we've had in ages. What a luxurious treat!!! I've been a basketcase recently with a toddler and newborn, so it was so amazing to do this for ourselves and then just roll into bed after the massage (next to Anton's co-sleeper, haha) instead of commuting home.
I'd highly recommend HowAboutWe for Couples, which has so many fun date ideas. You can sign up for free and browse their dates in New York, San Francisco, Chicago and Seattle (and they're expanding to new cities soon). BONUS: Get $50 off your first date through this link, until December 31st. Thanks so much, HowAboutWe!
Our new neighborhood faces the Hudson River. This means that it's extra cold and windy in the winter (we've been warned by all our neighbors!), and we're a bit farther from restaurants and stores, but the flip side is that the evenings are so, so beautiful.
(My little walking buddy)
How was your weekend? The crisp fall weather was gorgeous! After a nutty week, this weekend was great and restorative. (Thanks for the sweet comments.) Here are a few more photos, just for fun...
We met this lovely street artist, who Toby thought was Santa. His head almost exploded.
We met some friends at the playground. (Funnily enough, this little guy above was Toby's very first friend.)
Anton has been smiling like crazy! It kills me!
On Saturday evening, we had peanut-butter-and-jelly-sandwich picnic in the grassy meadow in front of our new building (where Toby has had all his birthday parties). Anton passed on the sandwiches and instead ate his hands.
These were the views! Since our building is way over by the water, Alex and I were talking about how feels like we live in the suburbs but in Manhattan. It's a funny mix. Looking forward to sharing more photos of our new apartment once we finally get it decorated.
The scene on my desk on Monday morning made me smile.
This morning Anton and I rallied and went on a little adventure in the West Village...
I rarely go to press events, but Blue Hill restaurant—which also has a beautiful farm and fancy restaurant in the Hudson Valley—was doing a tasting of their new yogurts, and I thought they'd be fun to try. So Anton and I got duded up and headed over.
The four yogurts have vegetable flavors: beet, carrot, butternut squash and tomato. Don't you love the packaging? Those illustrations are fantastic. 
My two favorites were beet (sweet and smooth) and butternut squash (which tasted like pumpkin pie, with cinnamon, nutmeg and clove). But while some other guests raved about the carrot and tomato, I wished they were a little sweeter. You could definitely taste the vegetables! The tomato had a funny under taste, as Ms. Woodhouse might say. 
Anyway, it was a fun morning—felt restorative to be out and about:) Would you try veggie yogurts? Which yogurts do you like? I also like this kind, which my friend Abbey turned me onto.
We really like renting houses on vacation (they're typically more spacious and less expensive than hotels, and you feel like a local). But some people—my mother-in-law, for example—get freaked out by the idea of renting someone else's place. What if it's gross? Dirty? A scam?
Isn't that a smart idea? Wouldn't you like to try it? (My mother-in-law will be psyched:)
Under the categories of "Biting Off More Than We Can Chew" and "Things You Shouldn't Do With a Newborn and a Toddler," we have decided to move...Read More >
When Alex and I stopped by City Hall four years ago to pick up our marriage license, we saw a bunch of couples tying the knot. Some wore tuxedos and puffy white dresses, some were in casual clothes and one entire family was wearing Mets jerseys. It's a giddy scene over there. I always thought it would be a fun tourist destination; you could spend an hour on the steps outside and people-watch. Or throw confetti!
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