Birthday Adventures

Hello! Nik and I went on a little adventure yesterday, birthday adventures to be exact! We took the tram (!) over to Roosevelt Island, and spent a few hours wandering the island. It's mostly residential with parks, and an abandoned, kinda-spooky old smallpox hospital. Fun! Spring finally showed it's face, so it was nice soaking up some sunshine. 

Nik took me to Hangawi for dinner afterwards, and we splurged for the Emperor's Tasting Menu. Insanity! Course after course came out and it was so fun. It's not a super-fancy place, but they have so many subtle, nice touches to everything and the food was just so PRETTY (and super-delicious!) He, of course, embarrassed me by having the staff come out and sing "happy birthday" to me, complete with a big gong. My face was bright red and the whole restaurant was singing, clapping, and staring. Just wait until his birthday, I say...

Queens

Obligatory selfie on the tram crossing over to the island.

Pretty floating candles outside Hangawi

Pretty chocolate-y things from Lagusta's Luscious that Nik got me. Berry box is ceramic!

Birthday brunch. 

Storm King Art Center

Last Thursday, Nik and I rented a car and drove up to the Storm King Art Center in the lower Hudson Valley, NY.  It's about an hour and a half drive north of NYC (but we were caught in traffic, of course, so it took about two hours...) We also picked a day where it was 95°F out and SUPER-humid. Ugh! It was worth all the heat and sweat though, because this place is beautiful! It's set on 500 acres of gorgeous landscape, surrounded by mountains, with amazing sculptures dotting the land. Some were surprising in their placement and it was fun to come over each oncoming hill to see what was next. Also, because it was so freaking hot out, I think we were pretty much the only people there. We rarely saw other visitors, which made the experience pretty fun. Yay no tourists! I took a billion photos, but I narrowed it down to some of my favorites. I bet that this place is absolutely gorgeous in Autumn...

We also stopped by Beacon, NY (which is about 20 minutes away from Storm King), to check out some shops. Such a cute little town! I'll definitely go back there, probably by train, and explore further (when it's not so hot, ugh!) 

This reminded me of a Praying Mantis

Lost head

He's so strong!

I got this.

Thumbs up dude.

Hey man.

Little cutie.

Mermaid boat, by Roy Lichtenstein. I was so excited to come across this!

Love, love, love! "Five Men, Seventeen Days, Fifteen Boulders, One Wall" by Andy Goldsworthy. It wound through the trees in the forest, and then diminished into the pond...

...and came out the other side of the pond...

...and continued up the hill.

Peace 

Happy Weekend!

A rooftop in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, before the fireworks on the 4th of July

This has been such a fun week! Nik and I hung with some friends on a rooftop on the 4th of July, and then we went on a little adventure outside the city yesterday. I am feeling refreshed today and ready to work and get stuff done (which is rare on a friday!) I'm gonna run with it. Will share more about our little adventure on Monday!

Happy Weekend!
xo,
Michelle