Autumn in New York

Now that I'm home for winter break, before all the craziness of pre-study abroad sets in, I have, dare I say it, too much free time. It seems like I have all day to blog and not much to blog about!

So, I'm dipping into some of my adventures from this semester. Early in November Zac and I took a full day to explore the city, running all over the Upper East Side. Zac had been dying to take me to the Frick Collection all semester, and we couldn't help but window shop up and down 5th Avenue, popping into Barneys, Bergdorfs, Bendels, Tiffany's...you know, the usual (I wish).

Our first stop was The Frick, a museum I knew nothing about. It's housed in Henry Clay Frick's Gilded-Age-era mansion, one of the few remaining in New York, and the house itself is a museum. 

It's very different from walking through the Met or the MoMA, as the old furniture and decorations remain, with most of the art hung on the wall as casually as a family portrait. You almost feel like a guest in Mr. Frick's home, admiring his impressive collection while wandering through one of his sitting rooms. 

The front entry is the only place where you could take pictures, so we took full advantage!

After the Frick we strolled (literally) across the street to Central Park, where the Sunday crowds hadn't quite filled the park yet, making it movie-set-perfect.

Funny story: I was admiring a woman's hat while we were walking, and happened to look at her companion and realized it was Jillian Michaels from the Biggest Loser! I made Zac double back so we could get a better look. You never know who you're going to see in New York!

The weather started to warm up mid-morning and I was able to shed my coat. The fall weather stuck around- we were lucky and managed to avoid snow all semester!

After a little window (and a little actual) shopping we were in need of a brunch break. Serendipity was packed as usual so we opted for a little Greek place on the corner. I cannot remember the name of this place but it was adorable, and sooo delicious!

After a little more shopping, a hankering for hot apple cider drew us to Bryant Park, where the Christmas market had just been set up and the ice rink was in full swing. 

I love New York in the fall, when all the leaves are changing, everyone is layered up in sweaters, and the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center is still being strung with lights. We had a packed day in the city but it was picture-perfect (so perfect I forgot to take pictures of half of it!). Commuting to the city twice a week made it hard to appreciate the city anymore- I saw it as the place where I worked, and riding in on the train became a chore rather than something exciting. But somethings (or some people) make you fall in love with a city all over again, and New York changed seasons at just the right time.

It's crazy to think that I won't be back in New York until probably August for my (eek!) last semester of school!! But I'm looking forward to my semester abroad and one more summer of freedom!

Outfit details: Button-up, J. Crew (similar). Sweater, Gap. Skirt, Gianni Bini. Fleece tights (similar). Trench coat, H&M (similar). Bag, vintage Coach. Bracelet, KJP 'JFK' bracelet. 

Oheka

Anyone who has seen the new Taylor Swift video for 'Blank Space' knows it was filmed on a big, beautiful estate that looks like a replica of a European palace. Most people don't know that the video was filmed entirely at Oheka Castle on Long Island.

Built in 1919 on the highest point on the island, Oheka is one of the most famous mansions on the Gold Coast. Gossip Girl, Sex and the City, and Royal Pains were all filmed here, as was the classic Citizen Kane (it was the replacement for Hearst's San Simeon estate), and it served as inspiration for Gatsby's estate. Most people know it now, of course, thanks to T-Swift. I actually just watched the video for the first time Saturday morning (mostly because I wanted to see Oheka and mostly because people won't stop talking about it!).

Zac and I visited Oheka last weekend for dinner, and I already want to move in (yeah, that'll never happen). You can, however, stay in the guest rooms in the castle, or host a wedding or event. Kevin Jonas, Megyn Kelly, Joey Fatone, and Anthony Weiner have all been married at Oheka.

This is actually the valet parking area when you pull into the estate after driving up the massive driveway (which is where they're riding horses in the video). 

via YouTube

Look familiar?

Duck spring rolls and calamari to start.

Chicken for Zac...

And salmon and shrimp for me!

Unfortunately they didn't allow us to ride bikes around the study...

Trying to sneak into the suites...

Outfit details: Dress, Prabal Gurung for Target (available on ebay). Heels, Cosmopolitan (they look just like the Valentino Rockstud heels only they were $12!). Necklace, J. Crew.

Rise of the Jackolanterns

For the record, I really hate surprises. Even worse, I hate knowing that a surprise is coming. It leaves me with too many questions (all of them superficial)- what do I wear? Are we inside? Outside? Where are we going? What are we doing? What do I need to do with my hair??

Even though I really can't stand surprises, Zac insisted on keeping our outing Wednesday night a secret, even if I did figure it out before we arrived.

On the grounds of the Old Westbury Gardens (which I have been dying to visit in the daytime) every year is the Rise of the Jackolanterns. Basically, a bunch of people with crazy amounts of talent get together, and carve pumpkins, fit them into different designs, and fill the garden with the pumpkin statues. The are dinosaurs, gangsters, the NYC skyline...well, you can see for yourself.

Yes, these are made of pumpkins!!

The dinosaurs were my favorite section of the walk. The sculptures were enormous and so elaborately carved that I can't imagine how long it took to put them together.

This entire tree is filled with smaller pumpkins! 

We weren't supposed to take photos while waking through the tree tunnel to the second half, but that's never stopped me. 

The first half was very eclectic, switching from New York-themed pumpkins, Broadway, dinosaurs, Disney princesses, and sports stars, with a little section at the end dedicated to all the stars who passed away this year. Then, you are led through a red-lit tree tunnel to Part 2, which was completely under-the-sea themed.

Typical, talking through all of my pictures...

Even though it is starting to get colder (cue Game of Thrones reference), I'm glad to be able to do fun fall things with all of my friends and break out all of my fall outfits! If only this weather could last...

Tonight our whole group is headed to the Old Bethpage Village Restoration, so y'all can expect a new post over the weekend! I hope everyone has a happy Halloween, I can't wait to share my costume!

On the Farm

I'm baaaaack!!! This has been an absolutely crazy month, with non-stop, back-to-back events, between commuting to the city twice a week for my internship, classes, Zeta stuff, Homecoming, and Clarissa visiting!! This weekend will actually be my only weekend that is completely off for another month, so I will be taking full advantage of it with lots of sleeping and Netflix.

For now, I wanted to share a little adventure we all took Friday morning. As much as I complain about hating Long Island, I usually exclude the East End, home to vineyards, orchards, cute little farmhouses, and the Hamptons. Since it's fall, what better way to celebrate than to go apple picking?

As I mentioned, Clarissa visited this weekend (finally!) and I wanted to her a) meet my friends and b) experience something fun on Long Island. So we all piled into the car and headed out east.

We could not have picked a more beautiful day to be outside- the weather was perfect, as we're still in the middle of our Indian Summer, and there wasn't a cloud in the sky the entire day. We hopped on the Apple Express (we all turn into children when you let us loose, so of course we wanted to ride on the express) that took us around to the back of the orchard, where they had just opened up new lanes for the morning. Armed with our quarter-peck bags eager to be stuffed, we hurried into the orchard! 

Emi captured this amazing photo of me- I'm in love! Time in invest in a fancy new camera? I think so.

Photo cred to Emi.

How cute is this candid? I stole it from Amanda's lovely blog (which you should all follow!).

Photo credits to Emi and her schnazzy camera. 

Fun fact: Clarissa actually hated the texture of apples up until this morning, because who can resist a fresh, juicy apple that you picked with your own hands? 

Outfit details: Bag, vintage Coach. Hat, Vineyard Vines. Sunglasses, Ray-Bans. Boots, Coach. Jacket and shirt, Ross.

It's not a trip to the country without an apple cider donut and a few honey sticks! While I didn't get my roasted corn, I guess that means I'll have to take another trip!

After our bags and bellies were full, we drove up and down Sound Avenue, the main road that is home to countless little farm stands and orchards, where we found a few flowers, pumpkins, delicious iced coffee, and another Harbes family stand with a few attractions that were definitely meant for children, but like I said, when has age ever stopped us?

I love seeing my friends from home and my school friends getting to know each other, and I couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day. If you're in New York this season, make a trip out east, you will not regret it!