24 Hours in New York City // All About MoMA

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Visiting Tips //

Give yourself at least 2 hours to get a taste of the exhibits.  To be honest, you can probably spend a day in there if you want to explore every nooks and crannies.  If you're short on time, try to check online and pick out some exhibits you really want to see and focus on those first.  Don't forget to set aside some time at the end for the MoMA Store!

Getting Here //

Address: 11 W 53rd St, New York (Between Avenue of the Americas and 5th Avenue).

MoMA is surrounded by a few subway stops, but I highly recommend spending some time walking through the streets of NYC to get to MoMA. The city blocks are short and there's so much to see at every corner.  If walking is not ideal, I recommend getting a cab/Uber as the subway system can be very confusing.

bye bye nyc...hello san francisco

My next goal is to visit the newly renovated SFMOMA in San Francisco.  The brand new structure in itself is a great piece of art.

This MoMA story is the last installment of my 24-hours adventure in New York City.  It's been lots of fun sharing the different things I did in NYC with all of you!  Thanks for all your comments here and on Instagram....and thanks for following me along!

If you're curious about the other legs of my NYC adventure, click links below for previous posts:

Korea Town Beauty Shopping & Yummy Dessert @ Grace Street Cafe

The Food Edition @ Caracas Arepa Bar + Spot Dessert

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24 Hours in New York City // The Food Edition

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I flew down to New York City recently to meet up with my brother, who flew in from Asia for a short visit.  How short?  It's literally 24 hours in total!  We both have our must-do list - His was museums and mine was k-beauty shopping in Korea Town (read about this part of the adventure here).  But there is one thing we both want and love and that is food!  Given our limited time, here are the two spots we hit in our 24-hours adventure in the Big Apple!

~ caracas arepa bar ~

At first glance, Caracas is not one of those flashy eateries on Manhattan.  If you aren't looking for it, you most likely would have missed it during normal hours. During my first visit many years ago, there was a long wait for a table, so we accepted the offer to sit at this tiny bar in the very back of the restaurant.  I was a bit taken aback at first because it was so dark and cramped, but as soon as the food came out, all my doubts were gone.  And I've been hooked ever since...

Ordering Tips //

Do it tapas style and share among your party - That way, everyone will get to try different arepas + the delicious starters.  If you order the soup, get small for individual serving or large for sharing.

Getting Here //

Address:  93 1/2 East 7th St, New York (East Village). 

Closest subway stop is Astor Place, but if you're not familiar with NYC's subway system, I highly recommend taking a cab or Uber for convenience.

~ spot dessert bar ~

I was introduced to this East Village dessert hotspot a few years ago.  And I've been coming back to Spot every time I visit NYC because they are just that good!  The staff here is also exceptionally nice and patient even when this place gets super busy during the post-dinner hours.

Ordering Tips //

If you're coming here after dinner like we did, I recommend ordering 1 less dessert than the number of people in your party, for example, order 2 to share among 3 people.  These desserts are pretty rich and heavy!

Getting Here //

Address:  13 St Marks Place, New York (East Village).  There are 2 other locations.

Closest subway stop is Astor Place (less than 1 block from the stop), but if you're not familiar with NYC's subway system, I highly recommend taking a cab or Uber for convenience.  And if you stop by Caracas first, you can walk over here (less than 5 minutes).

~ it's all about the food ~

One of the great things about New York is the extremely wide variety of foods you get to try.  You can go super high-end or budget-friendly.  And what I love is that you also get to choose between fusion and authentic cooking or both, whatever you prefer.  

What are some of your favorite good-eats from your travels? Do share with me here!

Thanks for stopping by!

If you're curious about the other pegs of my NYC adventure, click links below to previous posts:

Korea Town Beauty Shopping & Yummy Dessert Tasting @ Grace Street Cafe

All About MoMA (Museum of Modern Art)

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Hidden Gems Of Boston // Brunching at McCabe's

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I hope to bring you more hidden gems around Boston!  I love brunch and can eat it probably for all my meals.  What is your favorite local brunch place?  Do share with me!

Thanks for stopping by!

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Spa-aaahhh Time With Bliss Spa Boston

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I started going to Bliss Spa in San Francisco back in 2005.  I don't remember how I got to know about them, but it really doesn't matter because it was love at first sight!  I've had many spa "trial and error" experiences and realize that I get what I pay for - I once had an allergic reaction to an extraction done (probably due to un-sanitized tools) and once had a manicurist cut too deep into my cuticles and resulted in major bleeding.  Needless-to-say, I've since learned to be very selective when it comes to spas!

With Boston being my adopted home these days, this Bliss location has become my go-to spa.  It's relatively small, but the high-ceiling design ensures that there is plenty of natural light coming through the space, giving it a very welcoming vibe.

some tips to ensure you get the best spa experience

I know that with Bliss' pricing, it is a splurge.  Since I don't go every month, I try to "reasonably" justify the visits by dividing the cost by 3 (I usually go once every 3 months) and it's essentially one less eating-out dinner per month.  I know I'm fortunate that my budget allows for this splurge, and I think the most important thing is that you find a spa you love and your skin loves and that the place is clean, has a responsible staff and offers you amenities to substantiate what they charge you. 

With that in mind, I am sharing below the 6 things you should look out for when checking out a spa.  Being able to verify these things will help you make your "justified" spa choice and will ensure that you walk out of the place completely happy and worry-free!

my Top picks for bliss pampering

Bliss checks all of the above and that's why they have my loyalty all these years. In case you're interested in checking it out, I want to share what I like and why I enjoy going there so much.  I'll start with a few of my favorite treatments that I've been getting since day one.

Not your ordinary spa

While the facials and manicures are awesome, what I always look forward to is what I think sets Bliss apart from other spas I've visited.  I always make sure I tag an extra hour to my appointment just to be able to enjoy this little gem, which is their amazing ladies' locker room and waiting room facilities.  And here's why...

~ 6 reasons I love bliss so much ~

REASON ONE // The housekeeping staff always keeps the ladies' locker room clean and neat (I mean, just look at those perfect rolls!!).

REASON TWO // An abundance of Bliss skin care and body care products!

REASON THREE // The eucalyptus steam shower (The heavenly combination of eucalyptus-scented steam + Bliss hair and body products + rainshower = Bliss).

REASON FOUR // The wall decors are to die for.

REASON FIVE // I can live in this waiting room forever.

REASON SIX // Last but not least, the amazing service from an experienced crew performed in an ultra chic and clean environment.

something unique at every bliss location

In case you're interested in visiting a Bliss on your next destination trip, there are currently 21 locations across the U.S. and internationally.  Majority of them are located inside the W Hotel.  And if you know someone who lives at the W Residence, there is a 10% resident discount (Only selected W Hotels have W Residences).  What's so cool about these locations is that each one has a little uniqueness to it.  While you can expect consistent service level, there's always an element of surprise when you walk into a different Bliss.

~In the U.S.~

Bliss Spa in the U.S. (From top left) // Chicago, Atlanta, Hoboken, Soho NYC, 49 NYC, Dallas, Hollywood, Scottsdale, San Francisco, Fort Lauderdale, South Beach, Washington D.C..

 

~Internationally~

Bliss Spa Around the World // Barcelona-Spain (row 1), Doha - Qatar (row 2 #1), London - U.K. (row 2 #2 + row 4 #2), Hong Kong (row 2 #3), St. Petersburg - Russia (row 3 + row 4 #1).

The Boston Bliss is located inside the W Boston at 100 Stuart St, Boston, MA, on the mezzanine level.  For other location details, visit Bliss Spa site.

I hope you've find the 6 tips in this post helpful in finding a good spa or in re-examining the one you've been going to.  I also hope that you've enjoyed the visual tour of Bliss.

What is your favorite local spa?  Would love to hear from you!  And if you're visiting Boston and would like some recommendations for estheticians at the Boston Bliss, let me know and I'll be happy to share.

Thanks for stopping by!

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