Annnd it's Monday.

I do believe we did.

For those of you dying to hear what Dr. H and I finally settled on for our 4th of July vacation (anyone!?!)... brace yourselves... it was a STAYCATION... and it was awesome! I confess, we actually barely "stayed" (I think our waking-hours-at-home grand total was under 4) but that's because we were busy exploring new parts of NYC, day-tripping to surrounding areas, scoring coveted reservations and even went back in time with Dave Matthews. It was relaxing and adventurous, work-less (YAY!) and an escape from my home/home-office fatigue. Here are some of the highlights of our Staycation adventure.

Did you know that you can do some incredible hiking just 1 hour north of NYC!? Growing up on Long Island, I was only familiar with the LI Sound side of Westchester County, but thanks to my Albany-born hubby, I've discovered the beautiful Hudson side and I love it! The riverfront small towns are packed with charm and the Hudson Highlands are a gorgeous place to hike and enjoy some fresh air. 

Not a skyscraper in site!

Cold Spring, NY from above

We travelled about 75 minutes north and got off in Cold Spring. The hiking trails are about a 10 minute walk from town, 15 total from the train station so no car needed!

My cocktail on the left was served in a chili pepper
Dr. H's on the right came in a flask w metal straw!

On Thursday night, we scored an IMPOSSIBLE-to-get reservation at ZZs Clam Bar, a 15-seat restaurant in the Village which I've had my eye on for months! The all-raw menu was out of this world delicious and I tried and loved everything from uni (that's sea urchin!) to oysters (and I never eat oysters!) The cocktails were also pretty outrageous as you can see from my shameless mid-meal photo snaps. Dr. H and I also loved the chic, inmate space which made it feel like we were at a dinner party more than out to a restaurant.

Friday the sun was shining bright and this water-loving girl was in need of some beach time so what's a car-less NYC couple to do? Head to the Rockaways of course!!

The view from the A Train, note JFK airport on the distance on the left!!

THIS IS NEW YORK CITY!!! (GOD I love this place!!) 

It could not be easier to get from anywhere in NYC to a beach that feels worlds away. There are plenty of Brooklyn options as well (I like Brighton and Coney Island is great,  but we wanted to stay away from 4th of July/Hot Dog contest crowds!) but we took the A to the S and in about 75 minutes went from our apt to this spot by the sea. I also highly recommend Playland Motel for delicious seafood and of course a post-beach beer:)

Finally, on Saturday we hopped on another train (man we take a lot of trains!), this time bound for Saratoga by way of Albany (Dr. H's hometown!) to see Dave Matthews Band (with Bela Fleck!!) at SPAC. Saratoga is a charming little town with a massive amount of culture, from shopping and art to the racetrack and the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, SPAC (summer home of the NYC Ballet as well as a great outdoor concert venue). 

Just a few people ready for a concert!

Though it's been more than a little while since I thought about a Dave Matthews song (other than when I'm jamming to 90s on 9 of course) DMB did not let us down and the beautiful evening brought back a flood of middle school memories for Dr. H and I (which were funny to share since we hadn't met one another yet!)

So there you have it. A staycation for the ages and everything you need to know about how to travel far and wide in NYC without traveling very far or wide at all!!

The Staycation (part ii. of ii.)

my hood. 

Happy Friday my friends!! As promised, here are the eats and adventures from the Dr. H/Merry Meri Staycation extraordinaire. Enjoy!

* Grey Dog

The counter. So many delicious options... good luck!

With three locations throughout downtown NYC, including 1 just up the block from our apartment, Grey Dog is quickly becoming our "go to" for a delicious meal and cool vibe. The diverse menu has everything from soups, salads and sandwiches to breakfast items and beer so good luck picking just one (you can always share that mac and cheese:) A no fuss establishment, orders are placed at the counter by patrons and then servers bring everything to the table of your choosing. Chill, reasonably priced and oh so tasty.

* The Bitter End

A Greenwich Village staple.

The self-proclaimed oldest rock and roll club in New York City, The Bitter End has played host to musical greats such as Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Lady Gaga and Norah Jones, but it's infamous brick backdrop stage also hosts small gigs for local musicians. The interior is simple (and likely unchanged since 1961!), the drinks are not too overpriced and the music is great. The Bitter End is perfect for a low key date night or the starting point for a night on the town with friends.

* Extra Virgin

The Extra Virgin scene (during warmer months!)

Perfectly stated by its NY Times review, Extra Virgin is a West Village gem. I mean, when a place gives you two options of olive oil to dip your fresh, warm bread in, you know the meal is gonna be a winner!! Extra Virgin is awesome for brunch or dinner, with a simple yet inventive menu filled with pasta, meats and seafood that will seriously please your taste buds. Cozy and candlelit inside, with a sweet patio out front, I lurve me some Extra Virgin.

*Rosemary's

The massive and simply decorated space feels very glam.

A gorgeous spot with delicious food and a rooftop farm supplying many of their ingredients? Don't mind if I do!! Dr. H and I had our first Rosemary's experience for brunch, but we will most definitely be heading back for dinner soon. An unassuming storefront that opens into a stunning, high ceiling-ed dining space, this Italian restaurant serves a seasonal and totally unpretentious menu of breads, pastas, meats, cheeses, seafood, vegetables and taaaasty sauces. I hear their cocktails are pretty fabulous as well.

* Eataly

Yes cheeeeeeese.

Have you ever gone grocery shopping at Batali's Eataly? Known by many as a spot to dine (there are 9 different restaurants within the huge 23rd st establishment, including one on the roof!) the market is filled with every sort of delicacy, from meats and cheeses to fresh produce, homemade pasta and sauces. Dr. H and I shopped for unique ingredients, brought them home and enjoyed a delicious/fancy pants meal in the comfort of our own sweatpants!

*Honorable Mentions

- Remember my love for the Standard Biergarten? Well I'm thrilled to report that this place is even MORE awesome in the winter. The "garten" is fully enclosed and extremely well heated and the lack of summer crowds makes it a relaxing spot to enjoy a cold beer and a giant hot pretzel!

- The New York Knicks. Dr. H and I went to a game on Sunday night and watched our blue and orange perform at a level that we haven't seen this consistently in years. Check out the newly renovated MSG (they're 2 of 3 years through the project) and enjoy oogling the famous peeps in "Celebrity Row" while watching Melo, J.R. Smith, and Felton take NY to the top!

- Silver Linings Playbook. Dr. H and I saw this flick and while we definitely enjoyed it, I'm not sure it lived up to the hype for either of us. An unexpected love story between Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper, I enjoyed the excellent acting, but wasn't entirely sold on a storyline which felt (to me) rushed at times. Check it out nevertheless to fully prep for "awards season".

The Staycation (part i. of ii.)

Stay home.

This past weekend Dr. H and I spent 5 consecutive days off from work and at home. Abandoning our usual hustle, bustle and urge to travel for catching up on sleep, saving money and relaxing, this was the longest "Staycation" of our relationship. Manhattan is quiet and romantic during Christmas, so we were able to enjoy our city, our home and one another's uninterrupted company for days on end (we still like each other!) Since "getting away" by staying home was new to me, I thought it might be fun to share some of the things that I think made our Staycation a success... Tomorrow I'll cover our eats and activities, but today, here are some Merry Meri tested and Dr. H approved Staycation tips:

(1) Clean up!

The first day we both had off we (I!?) made cleaning up a priority. I wanted to tackle the dust bunnies, piles and nagging list of household chores right off the bat so that they wouldn't be hanging over our (my!?) head the entire time we were home. Plus, it's awesome to be home when your place feels tidy and smells fresh, so take an hour or two and straighten up, then kick back and enjoy.

(2) Workout

Dr. H and I did an impressive amount of eating, drinking and lounging over the long weekend, so working out was a must. We seized our quieter-than-usual city and schedules to go to a SoulCycle that's often hard to get into and used each other as motivation to actually get on the bike. The workout allowed us to spend countless hours on the couch with very little guilt.

(3) Split up

I think part of what made our Staycation such a success was that we didn't feel obligated to stay together the entire time. We ran some of our own errands and didn't hesitate to fly solo for personal favorite activities (mani/pedi for her, uninterrupted couch lounging for him?). Just like solo time for independent interests on travelling vacations, make sure you and your bud don't feel obligated to spend every waking minute together.

(4) Sleep (late and often)

Dr. H and I are excellent sleepers - we can still sleep well into the morning (and perhaps I saw the clock strike noon while still in bed one day?!) Unlike a vacation, staycationing relieves you of any "see it now or never" pressure (there's always, tomorrow, or next month, or next year!) so seize the luxury of excessive sleeping. 

(5) Go for walks

No destination in mind, just go for a stroll. Dr. H and I took full advantage of the empty sidewalks, meandering down streets we usually skip and enjoying the fresh air. Strolling like a tourist in our own town allowed us to notice things we usually rush past and enjoy just being in a place we love.

(6) Do  things you've been meaning to do...

We started watching Game of Thrones, busted out our new Would You Rather game and painted a chalkboard wall (it's AWESOME). Waking up without a plan for several consecutive days gave us time to think of all the things we've been wanting to do at home and actually DO them!