Destination: New York City, NY.. Part 2

I can't seem to get onto my blog much anymore but I have so much updating to do!  I NEED to be better about logging my random thoughts, ideas, fashion obsessions, travels, and music craves more often to all you blog readers out there..  I always wonder who stumbles upon my blog and takes the time to sift through the pages and if you're a random reader just passing through, I hope you enjoyed your time here! All right, now for the moment you've all been waiting for.. New York Part 2!!

I had to break this blog up into two sections mostly because I took over a billion pictures in New York and because this particular post needed it's very own post..

SO the main reason for going to "the city" was because Chris was in the running for Cosmo's Bachelor of the Year!  All contestant's got to go to NYC and partake in the festivities of being the bachelor for their state.  Chris was representing Hawaii and he got to be on the Today show and Sirius Radio's Cosmo channel, super exciting stuff!  Showcased nationwide television AND radio!!  They had a private party for just the bachelors and for the workers at Cosmo when they made the announcement of who won the contest.. don don don... Mr. Ohio won.  Sighhhhhhh....  So close.. Top 10!!  At least he got to have the experience and was featured on all the local news channels in Hawaii...

NOW on to the good stuff... Lucky for us Studio 54 was having a ONE NIGHT ONLY event where they were paired up with Sirius Radio!!!  Oh.. Emm.. Gee....

They are officially closed now and on rare occasions will open its doors for a little bit of partying.. Let's just say the alcohol flowed freely (complete open bar if you read between the lines), the celebrities were all around.. Donald Trump, Cameron Diaz, Ryan Philippe, and others were all in attendance that night.. And the bachelor population was at an all time high..  I can't even explain the awesomeness of this epic night.. I can officially say I danced the night away at STUDIO 54 in NEW YORK!!!

Avicii DJ'ing!!!

My very own Hawaii bachelor...

Yehawwwww TEXAS!!

From California to New York...

We weren't ready for the picture yet..  Except for Maine...

Ok, we're ready now!!  P.A.R.T.Y.

Hey Alabama... ummmm.. I like your pink murse.. no really... seriously... where did you get it?

Some of Chris' friends met up with us for some craziness...

Don't mind the shirtlessness...

Me and Connecticut go way back... Filipino!  Filipino!  Filipino!!

Ladies take your pick of bachelors... Mr. Idaho, Mr. South Carolina, or Mr. Delaware...

I got HAWAII!!!

Looks like Mr. Virginia does too...

Who knew the Real Housewives of New Jersey was going to show up?!

NOT amused....

YO!  New Mexico!!

4am Korean food cravings...  I love you can get food at any time of day in NYC..  Although I don't really remember much at this time, I do remember ordering bibimbop and loving it.. I think..

WHAT an experience.. one of the best nights ever I must say and totally felt like I was a part of history..  Thank you New York for some of the best nights of my life!!

...There is something in the New York air that makes sleep useless.  Simone De Beauvoir...

New York, New York... Part 1..

It's time to play catch up with some blog posts that I have seriously been slacking on.. A few months ago we headed to New York, New York for a mini vacay.. I had never been to New York as an adult (except for a six hour layover which was enough time to grab lunch and do a little shopping in one of the neighborhoods) and I was SUPER excited to check out this east coast town.. Now I'm a west coast girl through and through but I could seriously spend some semi-long term time in the city..  Over the course of our 5 day trip I finally figured out how to use the subway system and could navigate my way around like a pro!  I was made to live there I concluded!!  We did so much while there and it was so easy to get around that you could knock out 20 things on your "to do" list and not even realize it.. Get ready to get bombarded with pictures.. I in fact have to break up this blog into two parts otherwise the pictures would get a little cray, cray...

Waiting for my train to come.. with my Missoni in tow.. you may remember from my blog post back a few months ago about how I was pining for the luggage.. I got it!!

Empire State of mind...

Our hotel was right across the street from Madison Square Garden and Penn Station.. couldn't have asked for a better location!  Oh yeah and you could see Times Square down the road too..

A few of my friends from high school moved to New York to pursue their dream of opening up a restaurant/bar..  It's been opened for about a year now and highly coveted in the New York restaurant scene.. I'm not even kidding when I say the food was some of the best I've had.. It's called Hudson Clearwater and it's behind this little inconspicuous door which first enters into a garden like area.. up the steps is the cutest intimate restaurant.. I'm so proud of them and rave about their food.. and drinks..  Reunion!!

That night they introduced us to a true speakeasy-like bar.. During the day it literally dubs as a barber shop... but at night through the door which is actually the entire wall that moves to the side, you enter into the hot spot... So insane!!  I present the Blind Barber...

He thought he closed his eyes...

Late night taxi cab confessions...

For our first official brunch, I made reservations weeks in advance for the Beaumarchais in the meat packing district on the recommendation of a friend of mine.. Here's a hint if you decide to go.. around 3pm the shades are drawn and bubbly is flowing.. the Beaumarchais turns into a day club! It's cruise ship french themed.. Pretty awesome is what it is...

I decided the $5000 La Debauche was a little more my taste...

Taking a stroll through the meat packing district... In style of course...

We happened to stumble upon... Times Square!!!

Chris surprised me with one of my Birthday presents to a Broadway show!!! WICKED!!!  It was AMAZING!!  I highly recommend this show if you are in New York..  All I can say is "toss, toss".. you'll get it when you see it...

Looks like Chris found the Cosmo issue he was in!!  Check out the reaction from the dude in the back.. NOT amused...

Soooooo... for my other Birthday present, these were all secrets kept until last minute by the way, we headed to Brooklyn..

So much creative artwork along the way to see...

The River Cafe!!!  I actually had never heard of this restaurant before but Chris used his research skills and found a restaurant "with a view" as he said... He did good.. I repeat.. he did good...

Yeah... I'd say that is quite the view.. of NEW YORK CITY!!!  Actual view from our table...

The Brooklyn Bridge dessert...

 Artsy picture taking...

With all the walking we did, I tried bringing flats with me everywhere and then switch into my heels once we got to where ever we were going...

Since we were on California time we couldn't sleep at a normal time.. So after dinner we tried going to the 9-11 Memorial.. Apparently you have to make reservations.. during daylight hours to visit.. Whoops.. maybe next time.. at least we tried!!

Blends right into the New York life..

Columbus Circle..

Carnegie Hall...

 Central Park...

I loved this view.. so iconic from so many movies...

Just hanging out.. on our very own rock..  Prime real estate in the park...

My Mom worked for Elizabeth Arden for years when I was younger.. Seeing this made me think of her and the opportunities she put aside to raise my brother and I instead.. sighhhhh....

This illy espresso shot was so necessary during my stroll through Soho... Geared up for some shopping!!  It was the last day in New York and I had to get in some shopping and one of kind "anything".. I did a little damage.. kind of a pro at that.. I'm not proud.. ok, yes I am...

So blog post number 2 will have to wait for now but let's just say our last night in New York did not disappoint...

These were the repercussions from our last night in the city... yeah.. just wait till I post about that..

....the travels we add to the miles on our lives....