Happy Sunday! I hope you have spent this week well. I managed to catch up with old friends, pay my bills on time and burn my stomach while cooking in just my sports bra and running tights - you win some, you lose some.

This week’s round-up is actually two-weeks worth of places and things - lucky you! With Memorial Day last weekend spent in Napa + work travel to London, I didn’t get around to posting last week, so here it is for you now in one big delicious chunk. Covering not only New York, but also Napa, California and Providence, Rhode Island. Enjoy!

Let me know if you try any of the places I’ve mentioned below - i’d love to hear your thoughts!

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Culture

Bottle Rock - This music festival happens every year during Memorial Day weekend in downtown Napa. It’s become a bit of a tradition for myself and some friends to fly into Napa each year for the festival, exchanging days listening to music with wine tasting in the area. This year’s highlights were Bruno Mars and The Killers. The Killers put on one of the best shows I’ve seen, true performers who connect with the crowd and are there for the fans.
City Winery Loft - City Winery is an event spot / restaurant in lower Manhattan. Recently they’ve opened “The Loft” a space above the main venue. As of right now the Loft seems to still be growing into itself, unsure of exactly what it is supposed to be and feel like. We listened to some amazing French music by The Blue Dahlia, but the venue itself felt a little strange. I definitely prefer the main venue spot at City Winery.

Out & About

Union Square Market - This market happens four days a week, but it is at its best in the Summer. Flowers, fresh produce, cheese, bread and musicians playing in the square. It is an all around sensory experience.
Bed-Vyne Wine - A little wine shop in Bed-Stuy attached to a bar of the same name. Its a great shop and right as you walk in has a table full of delicious wines at a $10 or less price point. They do tastings on occasion and the people running the shop have always steered me in the right direction with any questions I’ve had or recommendations asked for.
The Dean - This hip boutique hotel in Providence, RI reminded me a bit of an Ace Hotel. Modern Decor, a young staff, a coffee bar in the lobby with a restaurant / cocktail bar next door. Prices are reasonable as well. I’ll definiteley be looking to stay here next time I’m in Providence.

Food

Long Island Bar - Located in Brooklyn on Atlantic Avenue not far from Cobble Hill, this is an excellent spot for a date or some late night eats. This is an upscale diner meets cocktail bar, with a 1950s vibe. And the full kitchen is open late. If you do go, I highly recommend their fries.
Mills Tavern - I spent a short amount of time in Providence, RI for work and while there our clients took us to Mills Tavern. It is an upscale American grill. The food is good. A solid option, but nothing that might blow you out of the water. With its white table cloths and white button down + tie adorned staff, it reminded me of a place my parents might go for their anniversary dinner. Good food, nice atmosphere, but a bit too proper for your average weeknight dinner.
Gott’s Roadside - located in Napa, this is a local roadside grill that has expanded to four locations in the Napa / Bay area. It reminds me somewhat of a Shake Shack or a more upscale In-n-out. The burgers are delicious - they even carry the impossible burger on their menu, and they also feature salads as well as chicken burgers and fingers. I’ll definitely be back, next time I’m in Napa.
Oxbow Market - This indoor market features local Napa vendors as well as local bites. There is seating both indoors and outdoors and it’s a great place for a relaxed dinner or simply to wander through if you are in the city.
Calistoga Inn - While in Napa we went up to the town of Calistoga. It is a very Americana small town, which reminded me of what America in the 1950s may have looked like. Calistoga is known for its spas and mud baths from the natural springs that run there. We didn’t make it to the mud baths, but we did make it to the beer garden at the Calistoga Inn. Surrounded by greenery, this is an incredibly peaceful place to spend an afternoon drinking or eating. They do both flights of wine and beer here and also serve a full menu.
Good Move - this taco and cocktail bar is located a little off the beaten path in Greenpoint. And it is DELICiOUS. The tacos are on point, I tried three kinds - the fish taco, steak and al pastor. I think the Al Pastor was my favorite because of the little spicy kick it finished with, but each one was finger lickin’ good. The margaritas too were the perfect mix of boozy and not too sweet. I had mine over the rocks, but they also serve them frozen - something I’ll definitely be back for. Good Move is now one of my top favorite spots for tacos in the city.
Pisillo’s - In the Financial District (FiDi) is a little pocket of Italy. Pisillos is located in this small pocket and serves up some very yummy, and very large, sandwhiches. These sandwhiches will set you back between $12-$15 but they are two-day sandwhiches, and easily shared between 2, possibly 3 people. I would recommend checking out the sandwhich list online before you go in as there are a lot of options. I had the Pisillo sandwhich - thought I couldn’t go wrong with the shop’s signature sandwhich and I was right. I enjoyed every bite of that sandwhich, even a day later.
Freehand Hotel - This recently opened hotel has a number of restaurants dotted throughout thebuilding as well as a rooftop that is open to the public. The modern design is pleasing and incredibly instagramable. Brunch is expensive (an egg sandwhich is $15), but the food is tasty and the atmosphere is such that you would want to hang out all day in the dining room with all the foliage and the natural light flooding in.

Drink

Skyline Bar - This bar is located on the river in Providence. There is an outdoor patio which is a divine and peaceful place to sit and sip some wine while the sun is out. However. The inside of this restaurant looks like Miami meets My Super Sweet Sixteen meets High School Prom. It was altogether too much with silver chairs and walls, white table cloths and purple blue neon lighting throughout. Extermely off putting. But the wait staff were incredibly nice and, again, the patio is divine. If you go, I’d recommend staying outside.
4th Avenue Pub - this inconspicuous pub sits on 4th avenue in Brooklyn, just down the street from Atlantic Barclays, in between Park Slope and Bouerum Hill. There are 25 brews always on tap, but the magic of this place lies in its shaded backyard - the perfect place to spend a summer afternoon. There is also free popcorn available if you feel like a snack.
Berg’n - On Bergen street between Bed Stuy and Crown Heights, this is a large family friendly bar. Big enough to host any party you’d like to throw. Food vendors line one end of the big hall, with vendors such as Migthy Quinns serving up the goods. The one down side is that it can get quite loud, but none the less its a great place to spend some time.
Stone Brewery - Originally based in San Diego, Stone Brewery now brews in Napa as well and has recently opened up a restaurant / bar space on the river. Its a beautiful old stone building that is worth a visit. Their beers are good too.
Flora Springs Winery - I became a member of this winery last year when I was in Napa for Bottle Rock. If you are ever in Napa, a visit to their estate is a must. Its a gorgeous stone mansion surrounded by vineyards. Their tasting room in Napa also has a lovely shaded patio for tastings, if you can’t make it out to the estate. I prefer red wines to white ones, but Flora make some lovely not-too-sweet whites that I adore.