Gettin’ Carried Away

A few weeks ago, as I sat at my work desk, typing away, the topic of my co-worker’s birthday came up. My friend (and boss), Shanna, asked, “What should we do for Becky’s birthday?” Becky instantly responded with, “I want to get some frozen hot chocolate from Serendipity.” It was at that moment that I had made my mind up: we were going to New York!

~* Carrie at the 69 Bayard Restaurant *~

Serendipity is a fantastic restaurant in New York City, and I will tell you more about that in a bit. Before we decided to go on the trip, we needed two things: a flight and a place to stay. American Airlines had the best deals… check! And because I went to college at NYU, I still knew a few people in the city. Stay in Brooklyn with my old roomie Georgie… check! We were well on our way to jet-setting off to New York for what was sure to be an unforgettable weekend.

I am happy to say that Becky and I encountered very little snags on most of our journey. Flights landed early, we had no problem finding a taxi, and I was about to find out that my old roommate was living in comfort and convenience!

Georgie’s cozy two-bedroom apartment is nestled in Williamsburg, right next to the L train, just four stops away from Union Square! Our first night in the city, I told Becky the one thing I wanted to eat was a yummy dinner from my favorite place in Chinatown: 69 Bayard Restaurant. As its name suggest, it’s situated at 69 Bayard Street, near Mott Street. You’d know the place by it’s dollar bill-clad walls. That’s right — the entire place is surrounded by dollar bills, taped to the walls by food lovers from all over the world. They also leave little messages and drawings on the bills, giving the space even more character. My advice on a meal at 69: get the sesame chicken!

~* Dollar bills on the walls of 69 *~

The next day, we made Becky’s birthday wish come true, and headed to Serendipity 3. It’s located on 60th between 2nd and 3rd Ave. Becky, Georgie and I all ordered frozen hot chocolate. I got the peanut butter flavor, because the waiter assured me that it tasted like a Reese’s peanut butter cup. He was absolutely right! However, it was a bit more than I could handle. The 21 oz. goblet seemed never-ending. I suggest sharing this decadent treat with a friend. However, they will give you a to-go cup if you ask for one! And if you are lucky, the owner (and author of many cookbooks), Stephen Bruce, will be there to take pictures and sign autographs!

~* Carrie perusing the humongous menu at Serendipity 3 *~

There’s plenty more to tell! Stay tuned for more about NYC including the Miro cafe, the Blue Note jazz club and the Spike Hill bar.

** Photos courtesy of Becky’s amazing Canon D20… which I will be purchasing very soon!

I consider New York City my home away from home. I’ve been coming here at least twice a year since 2005! I am currently staying in Williamsburg (Brooklyn) at my college roommate’s pad. I will be gone for the weekend, but check back come Sunday for some fantastic features about the fun, food and frolic in the Big Apple!!

As I stated in an earlier post, Americans cannot always be readily admitted to a given country with just a passport. Some countries require you to obtain a visa in order to be admitted into their territory… for even a short visit.

The best way to determine whether or not you need a VISA is to research the country’s Embassy or Consulate. Travel agents are good resources if you have any questions.

Some of the things you need to consider are as follows: the duration of your stay (a few days, a week, a month), the nature of your visit (work, school, leisure) and whether or not you would like to re-enter the country (if you happen to leave for a weekend getaway to a neighboring country).

In order to determine whether or not you may need a visa, visit this site for more information. You will find everything you need!