The crazy life of Rachel!: Goodbye Empire State!

Farewell New York!

Well without further delay, here is the final New York post. It's sad, but true. I am just as heartbroken about it as you, because it means that New York is really over (my trip...not that the actual city is over...). That my small time in the big city has run its course.

But alas, let's save our tears until the end! Right now we still have an adventure to finish!

So, to pick up where we left off, lets journey back to the beginning of October. After we hit some of the sites and partied like it was 1999, it was time for a family reunion. My cousins Lexie and her husband moved to the Empire State about 6 months ago so she could go to school. And I am sure you know where this is heading...

Yep, we met up in the big city! It was like a scene from a movie! She took the in train in from Long Island, I took the subway in from Queens. We meet in the middle of Times Square, just across from The Naked Cowboy (true story). Our eyes met, and we embraced on the corner of 48th and Broadway! (Once again, true story!)

While it was a struggle to navigate the subway to Brooklyn, we eventually made it there like old pros! She took me to an awesome nyc experience of a food truck festival. It was right on the pier at the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, and let me just tell you, the food was to DIE for!

Food Truck Heaven!

I had a 3 cheese grilled cheese on rosemary bread with caramelized apples. It was heavenly. Don't forget the fresh squeezed lemonade with chia seeds! And to top off our deliciousness, home made ice cream sandwiches made with oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and a dash of salt. O.M.G. Please excuse me while my taste buds explode. De-vine!

Eating lunch with Brooklyn on my mind!

Me and Lex

Trust me, we finished it all!

People think this is what SLC looks like...?

After we headed for a nice walk along the water and another jaunt across the Brooklyn Bridge, we went shopping in Soho. It was aamazing. I literally wanted one of everything. If only I had money...

NYC from Brooklyn

Brooklyn Bridge to Manhattan Bridge.

Empire State!

Another leisurely jaunt across the bridge.

Cousins in the city!

After some souvenir shopping and phone charging we headed back to meet my girls. (The had ventured on out to Coney Island for the day without me. Trust me, I made sure they knew exactly what subway line to take and when to get off. I was worried they wouldn't make it without me! I'm not even kidding...)

We wanted to see the Friends Couch from the TV show, but the line was too long. So I bid my lovely Lexie adieu, and the rest of us headed back to Brooklyn for some real life NYC pizza. One word, Grimaldi's.

Totally worth the wait! (Thanks Rach Smith

for the suggestion!)

Cheesy goodness!

Pizza pizza pizza. Remember how I said New York food was amazing? It's still true. This little place was right under the Brooklyn Bridge, so it was an awesome setting too. What's even better, when we finished with our lavish pizza filled meal, there was a nice firework show over the water! It was really romantic!

The next morning we headed back to 8 o'clock coffee, aka Central Perk to relive our favorite Friends memories. (the line was not 3 hours long this time!) It was magical. We got to see real props from the show and see our favorite Friends moments! Not to mention sit on the infamous orange couch! It was almost like Ross, Rachel, Monica and the gang were there with us!

Central Perk!

Memorable wardrobe from the show!

Who could forget the Big White Dog?

Friends!

One of my favorite Friends moments!

Just hanging out at Central Perk!

We then headed up to NYU and walked around campus a bit, as we headed over to Washington Square Park. Look at that arch! Reminds me of the one in Paris! (Ok NYC and Paris really aren't that similar, but they're both awesome...?)

My first thought when I saw this street...

Selena was no where to be found. :(

Washington Square Park!

Since I met up with my cousin the day before, it was only appropriate to meet up with another NYC friend of mine the next day, right? So we headed up to the Upper West Side and met my buddy Heather Roberts. We worked at the spa together years ago, and she moved out to the city awhile back. I kept telling her I would come visit, but never did. Now I kept my promise!

My friends were good sports and tagged along for our lunch date, but we all had a good time.

Me and Hets! Yay!

After we devoured more good food, we head over the the CP. That's right, Central Park! It still amazes me how they have this huge awesome park in the middle of the city. It makes me so happy. We rented bikes, went for a row on the boats, and were able to Imagine with John Lennon. Also, we saw a TV show being filmed, which, for the movie and TV buff that I am, made me extremely happy!

Bethesda Fountain!

Bike rental!

Row, row, row your boat!

Me and Stac!

Strawberry Fields Forever!

Let me just say, this was MUCH harder than it looks! I struggled

for a good 5 mins before I got in the groove.

Bless you Cristi for being my navigator!

We worked up quite the appetite on our adventures in the park, so we once again headed to the best burger joint in the whole wide world. Hello Shake Shake! It's nice to see you again. This time we were at the Grand Central Station location, which was still just as yummy as the other one. Sigh. Oh Shake Shake. I still miss you everyday.

Shake Shack round two!

Well, now. The time had come. It was time to say goodbye. It was time to leave my city. But not before a few more stops along the way!

The next morning, we headed back into Times Square to finish our souvenir shopping. And we did, a lot!! We also stopped by the LOVE Statue, which was pretty cool. I hid a note in Central Park for my cousin to find. (True story. It's like a treasure hunt!) and we hit Ellen's Stardust Diner, which I have to admit was mostly for my benefit. You see, the whole waitstaff sings! That's right, SINGS! Basically it's like being in the middle of a live Broadway show. Haha so I pretty much loved it.I went with my pop to this place the last time I was in the city. So it'll now be a tradition!

Saying goodbye to Times Square!

Loving the Love Statue!

Ellen's Stardust Diner sing Bang, Bang!

After we said farewell to my city, we headed to the airport. It was almost time to take off, but I had to do one more thing before I left. That's right, shake shack one more time! ;) haha it was the prefect send off!

Third times the charm!

It was so hard to say goodbye. The city still calls to me. Literally! I can hear it say my name. (But that could just be Lexie trying to convince me to move out there...) So there you have it my friends, my week in the city. I hope you all enjoyed reliving the experience as much as I did! I honestly can't wait to head back. I can guarantee you it will not be long before I head East again. It was a blast and so fun to experience it with my friends. Adieu New York!

Here are a few photo extras to enjoy!