Miami Beach Botanical Gardens

 

After Hurricane Irma, pretty much all of the South Florida region has needed a major make over and clean up session. Majority of landscaping and natural fauna was damaged and destroyed. I was amazed at how powerful the "not eye" of the storm was. I mean, thousands of pounds of giant palm trees and mangroves were completely uprooted. I have been wanting to take a walk over to the Miami Beach Botanical Gardens for quite some time now, and thought now would be a perfect time. Though, the gardens are not nearly as covered in green perfection as a month ago, the grounds have started undergoing the major clean up. Palm trees have been stilted and down trees, plants and branches have been cleared. The garden remains a wonderful city escape. The oasis is full of butterflies, the sounds of water fountains, and plenty of Florida sun peering through the many floral bushes and palmetto branches that survived the storm. It will only take a short while before new sprouts grow and the natural pruning of the storm will result in more beauty. #floridastrong xo RCN

NYC: Nolita

 

If you are looking for an adorable (and very pink) place to eat and drink in Manhattan, head down (or up) to Nolita. Nolita stands for North of Little Italy, and by golly is this neighborhood worth the stop. Ever since Pietro Lolita and Cha Cha Matcha took root, bloggers, tourists, and locals have flooded the hotspots, and trust me it's worth it. These two, hip and vibrant restaurant and cafes, are just around the corner from one another. Grab a yummy steak sandwich from Pietro, or one of the mouth watering cocktails. Then complete your trendy food tour by grabbing a beautiful tea, to go, at Cha Cha Matcha. Each place is dreamy in their own way. Pietro is pink from head to toe, or as they like to call it, "Pink As F***". Excuse my language! Cha Cha is a tropic getaway in the crowded streets of NY, where on a hot day like the one we visited, you can cool down with a delectable iced ginger matcha drink or a matcha soft ice-cream twist. The tall, thin, hipster guy working the register is the nicest man, ever! A little customer service goes a long way, no wonder people keep coming back! I couldn't help myself, but order a warm drink just for the powdered palm trees. You can't get that on an iced matcha ;) Be sure to make a stop at both next time you’re in the neighborhood! xo RCN

Go To Tulum!

 

Zach and I spent the long weekend in Tulum, Mexico for my girlfriend Roxie, and, her now husband, Michael's wedding. It was truly amazing. Beautiful and special describes everything from Roxie's traditional Mayan wedding ceremony on the beach (no pics allowed, sorry!), to the taco welcome party that started the weekend off with family, friends, laughter, and chorizo tacos under the starry sky. Tulum beams with Mexican culture and colorful character, the perfect place for riding bicycles along the roadside edge. The jungle lined curbside led to bungalows serving sweet mojitos and savory guacamole, and shops offering unique local handmade finds. A must see adventure in Tulum, is the ancient ruins; both magical and rich in history. The laid back vibe is nothing short of relaxing, and the bright ambiance and fashionable beach crowd gives the eye everything desirable. Dare I say, too many perfect snapshot spots to remember the vacay - an Instagramer's dream! We stayed beachside at Coco Tulum (totally recommend!!) and found our favorite dining spot just a four minute walk away, Posada Margherita. Yes, it is an Italian restaurant, but worth the break from traditional Mexican food for one night, because the authentic Italian cuisine is divine. A top 5 pasta pick, of all time - who knew, in Tulum!? And, if you are lucky enough to reserve a spot at Hartwood, make reservations a month in advance. You will also be VERY far from disappointed, and have a chance to savor the fresh local seafood catch of the day . We will be back to Tulum, but for now, we are headed home to the Atlantic! xo RCN

Morada Bay

 

I realize that the last three posts in "Explore", are all spots in Islamorada. I guess that speaks to how much I love it. Morada Bay, is a must stop in the Keys. Even if you are headed all the way down to Key West, it's worth a pull over for lunch at the Beach Cafe.

My first trip to Islamorada, we were unable to eat and visit Morada Bay because the Netflix television show Bloodlines was being filmed. Ever since then, my friend Danny has me hooked  and I am really obsessed. Link to check it out, HERE. The second visit was a success, and I was able to watch the sunset with a ridiculously large cocktail in hand.

The white sand is soft and powdery while the palms above swaying with the breeze perfect the island soundtrack. The Beach Cafe salad is my favorite, with seared Ahi Tuna. Zach loved the Mahi-Mahi tacos. You can't go wrong with fresh fish. And if you forgot your suntan lotion, there is a quaint beach shop located in a parked vintage airstream trailer right beside the cafe. I had to pick up an extra Sun Bum key lime lip balm, just because. We have already decided our next visit to Morada Bay will be for the Full Moon Party! xo RCN

Cheeca Lodge & Spa, Islamorada

 

Zach surprised me for my 30th birthday. I am not surprised he planned a beautiful getaway for us, but I was surprised about what he planned. I LOVED it.

Islamorada in the Florida Keys is less than two hours from our home in South Beach, which is a perfect distance for a night away. Zach arranged with my girlfriend about watching Ethel for the night. THANK YOU Col!! Colleen, her husband Steve, and sweet boy Hudson, joined us for brunch at Yardbird on my birthday morning before we ventured off to The Keys. Also, a surprise! Oh, and Yardbird is one of the best restaurants in SOBE. Check it out HERE. The Eggs Benedict and pretty much everything else on the menu is to die for.

We checked into Cheeca Lodge early afternoon with champagne in hand and more awaiting in the room - good move Z. I slipped on my new favorite swimsuit from PacSun and we headed out paddle boarding on the still ocean. Kayaking, snorkeling, fishing excursions, golfing etc. are all available at the resort. They even have clear canoes! We spent majority of the afternoon just chilling by the water sipping on daiquiris and munching on Grouper ceviche, yum! Early evening, we took a quick trip off the resort to Morada Bay (very close to Cheeca) to see the sunset on the bay. Upon return to Cheeca, we ordered take out from Nikai, the sushi restaurant on property, and ate dinner at the tiki bar right off the beach. The sushi was wonderful. I love a unique roll option, which they had! My favorite rolls were the Big Kahuna: tuna & avocado topped with lobster salad, pineapple ginger glaze & toasted macadamia, and the Dirty Vegas: tempura shrimp & escolar tartar topped with spicy hamachi, sweet chili garlic sauce, tempura crunchies & black sesame seeds. So, so good!

The backdrop and beauty of Cheeca is perfect for a romantic and celebratory weekend in both daylight and darkness. The long dock is a perfect little stroll under the stars before bedtime. We closed off the night with a toast on our private balcony. I will never forget my 30th birthday or Cheeca Lodge. We will be back! xo RCN 

Florida Keys Brewing Co. & Islamorada Beer Co.

 

Zach and I share a very dear friend that recently visited us in Miami. Danny made the short trip from Philly to hang out for a few days and also to run the Miami Half Marathon. We figured since running 13.1 miles can take a lot out of a person, why not help Danny get his groove back after the race by celebrating with some cold beer and sunshine (Z and I sat this race out!). Being that Islamorada is not all that far from Miami, we figured let's all make it a first together, and head south to the Keys to enjoy some local beer after the weekend run. 

Both Florida Keys Brewing Co. and Islamorada Beer Co. are located in Islamorada. Both places are designed colorfully, stocked with delicious on the spot brewed beers, and full of fun bar games. We went for the beer, though giant life size Jenga can be quite fun, too. Florida Keys Brewing Co. was my favorite of the two stops. And, if you are along for the ride and don't actually enjoy drinking beer, you may at the least enjoy reading the names of the brews, like, Pelican Poop, Iguana Bait, or Rum Smuggler.

I'll be back to the Keys in a couple of months. Any suggestions for other cool places to visit? Please let me know! xo RCN

Winterfest 2017

 

I love to do a lot of cold weather activities, particularly skiiing and ice skating. When Zach and I lived in NYC, we used to meet each other at the Bryant Park ice rink after work to skate and grab a drink/appetizer for date night. I really miss it, but at least this holiday while visiting fam in Jersey, we had the chance to go skating at Penn's Landing in Philadelphia, at the Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest. Zach, Courtney (my SIL), and I went for a trip into Philly one night to test out our skills. The food vendors and drink options were fabulous too, including one of my favorite Jose Garces restaurants, Village Whiskey. We grabbed a drink inside the heated lodge, beside the fire pits outdoors, before heading onto the ice. The views were gorgeous while skating, overlooking the Delaware River. What a perfect night it was! Next year we want to reserve a super cute cabin room with the whole fam, can't wait! xo RCN

Always Visit Terrain

 

Every time I am in the South Jersey area visiting family, I make a point to stop at Terrain. Located only about thirty minutes from my parent's home in NJ, across the bridge, in Pennsylvania, lives my favorite store experience. Founded in 2008 as a garden nursery in Glen Mills, PA, Terrain has now grown to be a lifestyle joy, inclusive of home goods, fashion accessories, and more. From the cutest floral gardening boots to the warmest wool socks and greatest cookbook, everything is merchandised throughout a greenhouse style space surrounded by flowers and plants of the season. I fell in love with Terrain the moment I stepped foot, back in 2011. So much so, that I had a few custom made terrariums designed for table decor at my wedding. Zach and I, and our parents, still house the terrariums in each of our homes, today. 

I continued my tradition to visit Terrain while I was home this Thanksgiving. Zach and I met up with a friend for lunch at the Styer's Garden Cafe. The farm to table restaurant on site is yet another reason why Terrain is an entire lifestyle experience. The food and coffee tastes as delicious as the plants and decor look. After galavanting around the winter wonderland, I sat at the cafe with Danny and Zach sipping on a warm apple pie latte and catching up on everything Z and I have missed in Jersey over the last few months. 

This November and December the tree farm and outside nurseries, dawn beautiful handcrafted evergreen wreaths and magnolia leaf garlands. The warm and magical atmosphere screams holiday cheer and captures you in a world you will always want to take home with you, including the adorable wooden sleigh (perfect for holiday family pics!). If you live, frequent, or stumble through the Glen Mills, PA area or Westport, CT. make an effort to visit. I promise you will not regret it. And, if you are lucky enough to be near the newly opened Anthro & Co. in Walnut Creek, CA. or Palo Alto, CA., also enjoy exploring Terrain there. xo RCN