Paint The Town Chic: Travel
Travel
Whether you're a local or a visitor, taking a tour can be informative and entertaining! I've taken a few tours in NYC which I've loved, but when I heard about Like A Local Tours, I knew I had to give it a go! As someone not quite a local or a tourist of NYC, I'm always looking for experiences that show me a different side of one of my favorite cities!

Like A Local offers tours around Manhattan and Brooklyn that allow you to experience the city as a local. These highly curated tours hit all the hotspots, featuring food, local history, instagrammable spots, and more! This review focuses on the Behind The Scenes at Industry City tour!

First off, Industry City, located in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, is a 6 million square foot space filled with food, shopping, and co-working space. Fun fact, it is the largest privately funded adaptive reuse project in the country! And believe me when I say this space is amazing!
What makes this tour unlike any others is the opportunity to visit makers in their natural habitat. The tour typically includes 3-4 maker stops, but we enjoyed 2 (since it was the weekend, many people were not at work.) The first stop on our tour was Wanna Date, a delicious spread made from dates. This vegan and allergen-friendly spread is an alternative to nut butters and other sugary spreads! It comes in 4 flavors, but the chocolate date spread was my favorite!
Our other make stop was Micòl Ceramics. The pottery was beyond gorgeous. It was amazing to see Micòl work in person as well as get a demo! I've never seen pottery made in person.

Next were the food stops. This tour has 4-5 stops at various eateries at Industry City, including some savories, sweets, and a beer tasting! As this was a media tour, we made our way through the stops without lingering. However, I discovered some of the tastiest spots in NYC, all in the same area!
The highlight for me was THE BEST vegan ice cream from Blue Marble. The flavor was Bread & Roses and it was hard to believe that this was vegan! We also stopped by Li-Lac Chocolate and One Girl Cookies for some samples. The Earl Gray cookie at One Girl Cookies was the other highlight for me!

We were even given a sneak peek of the beautiful new location of Sahadi’s, a cult favorite! This spot will include a cafe to eat in, along with the groceries they are known for. I cannot wait to come back when they are open.
We ended the event with a tasting of the delicious Lemongrass Kölsch from Big aLICe Brewing Co. They have a pretty cool menu - if you're a beer drinker, I definitely recommend checking them out.

What I didn't get to document very well was the art that covered Industry City. Everywhere you turn is another mural or work of art. It's worth walking through just to see the art.
I had a blast on this tour. I learned so much about a place I had never been. The tours are typically between 3 - 4 hours long with extensive walking. Prices vary, but includes food (and sometimes drinks) with the cost.

Interested in checking out a Like A Local tour? Get 15% off your tour with code INDUSTRY15. 

Excuse me while I'm decide which tour to try next...taking suggestions!








Thank you to Like A Locals for inviting me to experience this tour. All opinions shared above are my own!
July 15, 2019

{Around NYC} Like A Local Tours + Discount Code
Whether you're a local or a visitor, taking a tour can be informative and entertaining! I've taken a few tours in NYC which I've loved, but when I heard about Like A Local Tours, I knew I had to give it a go! As someone not quite a local or a tourist of NYC, I'm always looking for experiences that show me a different side of one of my favorite cities!

Like A Local offers tours around Manhattan and Brooklyn that allow you to experience the city as a local. These highly curated tours hit all the hotspots, featuring food, local history, instagrammable spots, and more! This review focuses on the Behind The Scenes at Industry City tour!

First off, Industry City, located in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, is a 6 million square foot space filled with food, shopping, and co-working space. Fun fact, it is the largest privately funded adaptive reuse project in the country! And believe me when I say this space is amazing!
What makes this tour unlike any others is the opportunity to visit makers in their natural habitat. The tour typically includes 3-4 maker stops, but we enjoyed 2 (since it was the weekend, many people were not at work.) The first stop on our tour was Wanna Date, a delicious spread made from dates. This vegan and allergen-friendly spread is an alternative to nut butters and other sugary spreads! It comes in 4 flavors, but the chocolate date spread was my favorite!
Our other make stop was Micòl Ceramics. The pottery was beyond gorgeous. It was amazing to see Micòl work in person as well as get a demo! I've never seen pottery made in person.

Next were the food stops. This tour has 4-5 stops at various eateries at Industry City, including some savories, sweets, and a beer tasting! As this was a media tour, we made our way through the stops without lingering. However, I discovered some of the tastiest spots in NYC, all in the same area!
The highlight for me was THE BEST vegan ice cream from Blue Marble. The flavor was Bread & Roses and it was hard to believe that this was vegan! We also stopped by Li-Lac Chocolate and One Girl Cookies for some samples. The Earl Gray cookie at One Girl Cookies was the other highlight for me!

We were even given a sneak peek of the beautiful new location of Sahadi’s, a cult favorite! This spot will include a cafe to eat in, along with the groceries they are known for. I cannot wait to come back when they are open.
We ended the event with a tasting of the delicious Lemongrass Kölsch from Big aLICe Brewing Co. They have a pretty cool menu - if you're a beer drinker, I definitely recommend checking them out.

What I didn't get to document very well was the art that covered Industry City. Everywhere you turn is another mural or work of art. It's worth walking through just to see the art.
I had a blast on this tour. I learned so much about a place I had never been. The tours are typically between 3 - 4 hours long with extensive walking. Prices vary, but includes food (and sometimes drinks) with the cost.

Interested in checking out a Like A Local tour? Get 15% off your tour with code INDUSTRY15. 

Excuse me while I'm decide which tour to try next...taking suggestions!








Thank you to Like A Locals for inviting me to experience this tour. All opinions shared above are my own!
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Happy Halloween! This is the first year in a long while that I've really gotten to enjoy all things Halloween.  Last year my sister and I made the short trip to Sleepy Hollow, less than an hour away from New York City and had a blast but quickly learned that EVERYTHING sells out in October.  This year we really wanted to take advantage and properly plan a trip!

Since I go to NYC often enough, an old co-worker had mentioned a jack o'latern festival that was worth visiting.  After further investigation, I learned that The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze is a popular yearly family-friendly experience that has been happening for 14 years!
You may be wondering why I'm still talking about jack o'lanterns if Halloween is today, but luckily Blaze goes on until November 24.  There are over 7,000 pumpkins in the entire display which is huge.

My favorite exhibit was the planetarium.
I'm still amazed at how detailed this pumpkin carvings are. I wouldn't even know where to begin carving them.
The creations these artists come up with are really amazing.  Photos don't do this displays justice, especially the ones that involved motion like the Planetarium.  I shared just a few  of my favorites, but the exhibits are worth seeing in person, so I recommend getting tickets and making it a fun trip.

I'm answering a few more questions that I thought of when planning my trip, but feel free to comment on the post or email if you have more questions!

How Do I Get There?
Obviously driving is ideal and free parking is available for ticket-holders, but we made the short trip on the Metro North. It was just under $25 a person, but the train goes along the Hudson River and the views are beautiful!

What Else Is There To Do There?
Honestly we didn't do much exploring in the area.  I came across this article from Historic Hudson Valley with some options but at first glance, there wasn't anything in the immediate area for people on foot!

However a quick train/Uber ride away is Sleepy Hollow. I really loved that town and there's quite a few things to do there, but that's for another post.

Where Do I Eat?
There is not much in the area.  But we did come across a little Hibachi place within walking distance that was cheap and so delicious!

Let me know if you decide to check out Blaze!


October 31, 2018

NY Hidden Gems: The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze
Happy Halloween! This is the first year in a long while that I've really gotten to enjoy all things Halloween.  Last year my sister and I made the short trip to Sleepy Hollow, less than an hour away from New York City and had a blast but quickly learned that EVERYTHING sells out in October.  This year we really wanted to take advantage and properly plan a trip!

Since I go to NYC often enough, an old co-worker had mentioned a jack o'latern festival that was worth visiting.  After further investigation, I learned that The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze is a popular yearly family-friendly experience that has been happening for 14 years!
You may be wondering why I'm still talking about jack o'lanterns if Halloween is today, but luckily Blaze goes on until November 24.  There are over 7,000 pumpkins in the entire display which is huge.

My favorite exhibit was the planetarium.
I'm still amazed at how detailed this pumpkin carvings are. I wouldn't even know where to begin carving them.
The creations these artists come up with are really amazing.  Photos don't do this displays justice, especially the ones that involved motion like the Planetarium.  I shared just a few  of my favorites, but the exhibits are worth seeing in person, so I recommend getting tickets and making it a fun trip.

I'm answering a few more questions that I thought of when planning my trip, but feel free to comment on the post or email if you have more questions!

How Do I Get There?
Obviously driving is ideal and free parking is available for ticket-holders, but we made the short trip on the Metro North. It was just under $25 a person, but the train goes along the Hudson River and the views are beautiful!

What Else Is There To Do There?
Honestly we didn't do much exploring in the area.  I came across this article from Historic Hudson Valley with some options but at first glance, there wasn't anything in the immediate area for people on foot!

However a quick train/Uber ride away is Sleepy Hollow. I really loved that town and there's quite a few things to do there, but that's for another post.

Where Do I Eat?
There is not much in the area.  But we did come across a little Hibachi place within walking distance that was cheap and so delicious!

Let me know if you decide to check out Blaze!


Read more
Happy September loves!  It's a bittersweet month - I'm sad that summer is ending but I love that fall and holiday season is around the corner.  I live for the next four months, but more to come on that!

It's also bittersweet that Philly Photo Pop, the city's first pop-up exhibit, is ending in 3 days.  I had the opportunity to stop in when it first opened in May and wanted to share just a few of my favorite snaps from the exhibit.
My favorite wall, designed by These Pink Lips, was all about girl power! What better place than here to get a photo of fellow bloggy babes Melissa | The Skinny Affair and Cate | Cate Colechic!

Everyone needs a photo in front of a star background.  Now I want this as an accent wall in my home!

This interactive exhibit is great for boomerangs as well as photos.

Again with the stars - I'm a fan!

And finally this cute wall from Visit Philly!

There are many other selfie spots and installations inside the five rooms that make up Photo Pop.  What makes this pop-up so special, aside from being the first in the city, is that the exhibits are designed by so many talented local artists.

Photo Pop is open through September 3, and you can find tickets and other info here.

September 01, 2018

Philly Photo Pop Roundup
Happy September loves!  It's a bittersweet month - I'm sad that summer is ending but I love that fall and holiday season is around the corner.  I live for the next four months, but more to come on that!

It's also bittersweet that Philly Photo Pop, the city's first pop-up exhibit, is ending in 3 days.  I had the opportunity to stop in when it first opened in May and wanted to share just a few of my favorite snaps from the exhibit.
My favorite wall, designed by These Pink Lips, was all about girl power! What better place than here to get a photo of fellow bloggy babes Melissa | The Skinny Affair and Cate | Cate Colechic!

Everyone needs a photo in front of a star background.  Now I want this as an accent wall in my home!

This interactive exhibit is great for boomerangs as well as photos.

Again with the stars - I'm a fan!

And finally this cute wall from Visit Philly!

There are many other selfie spots and installations inside the five rooms that make up Photo Pop.  What makes this pop-up so special, aside from being the first in the city, is that the exhibits are designed by so many talented local artists.

Photo Pop is open through September 3, and you can find tickets and other info here.

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Escape Tote c/o - Use code ESCAPE for 10% off your tote at The Little Apple (until 5/29)

It feels like we flew through May!  I for one am looking forward to a long weekend and the start of summer fun.  I've had such a busy month attending events and finding things to do around Philly which would be perfect for this weekend, some of which I'm sharing below!  But first, how cute is this tote, which I got from The Little Apple in Manayunk!  It's super high quality, durable and just plain cute.  The tote also comes in olive or black.

Dress | Wedges, old (but similar here) | Denim Jacket, old (but similar here)

3 Things To Do In Philly For Memorial Day (or all summer!)

I always feel that Philly comes alive in summer.  Today I'm sharing just 3 things to do for Memorial Day, and beyond, for anyone who is visiting or lives in Philly!

  • Photo Pop Philly - Guys, I'm obsessed with Photo Pop, the first interactive exhibit in Philly (think along the lines of Museum of Ice Cream but featuring local Philly artists!)  I had the chance to preview it earlier this week and the photo opps are just never-ending.  Each exhibit was carefully designed to fit into the red, white and blue theme, perfect for Memorial Day.  Entry is $25 and you can purchase tickets here.  
         Tip:  End your visit with a trip to Scoop De Ville, which is right next door.  The ice cream is   
         amazing the shop is super cute.

  • Morgan's Pier - I attended MANNA's Guac Off at Morgan's Pier last night and it reminded me of how much fun this venue is.  The restaurant/bar is situated next to the river and you can't beat the view.  I've only been for happy hour, but the pretzel and the french fries are yummy but I can't wait to go back for brunch and/or dinner.  
         Tip: Dine on the upper deck if you can.  The views are amazing - see above!
  • Penn's Landing Summerfest & Spruce Street Harbor Park - Just down the road from Morgan's Pier you can find two of my favorite spots in Philly!  Spruce Street has become a Philly favorite since it opened a few years ago, and features restaurants and entertainment in a boardwalk-like setting (it's the closest you're getting to the beach in Philly!)  If you're in the mood for ice cream (yes, again with the ice cream but it's summer, right?!), stop by Franklin Fountain and get the peanut butter ice cream!  I also checked out Summerfest this month and it's just as great as I remember.  Lots of rides, amusement park entertainment, a roller skating rink and food (get the funnel cake and the crab fries - you'll thank me later!) Both of these venues are kid friendly!
         Tip: Stop by for a bite at the Moshulu - a restored ship with a cool outdoor bar that serves  
         delicious food/drinks!

I'll be sharing more fun stuff to do in Philly, so stay tuned.  I'm also going to get on a more consistent blogging schedule in June (fingers crossed) but make sure you're following me on Insta as I've been more active posting there!

Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend loves!

SaveSave
May 25, 2018

Escape To Philly for Memorial Day Weekend + Tote Discount Code
Escape Tote c/o - Use code ESCAPE for 10% off your tote at The Little Apple (until 5/29)

It feels like we flew through May!  I for one am looking forward to a long weekend and the start of summer fun.  I've had such a busy month attending events and finding things to do around Philly which would be perfect for this weekend, some of which I'm sharing below!  But first, how cute is this tote, which I got from The Little Apple in Manayunk!  It's super high quality, durable and just plain cute.  The tote also comes in olive or black.

Dress | Wedges, old (but similar here) | Denim Jacket, old (but similar here)

3 Things To Do In Philly For Memorial Day (or all summer!)

I always feel that Philly comes alive in summer.  Today I'm sharing just 3 things to do for Memorial Day, and beyond, for anyone who is visiting or lives in Philly!

  • Photo Pop Philly - Guys, I'm obsessed with Photo Pop, the first interactive exhibit in Philly (think along the lines of Museum of Ice Cream but featuring local Philly artists!)  I had the chance to preview it earlier this week and the photo opps are just never-ending.  Each exhibit was carefully designed to fit into the red, white and blue theme, perfect for Memorial Day.  Entry is $25 and you can purchase tickets here.  
         Tip:  End your visit with a trip to Scoop De Ville, which is right next door.  The ice cream is   
         amazing the shop is super cute.

  • Morgan's Pier - I attended MANNA's Guac Off at Morgan's Pier last night and it reminded me of how much fun this venue is.  The restaurant/bar is situated next to the river and you can't beat the view.  I've only been for happy hour, but the pretzel and the french fries are yummy but I can't wait to go back for brunch and/or dinner.  
         Tip: Dine on the upper deck if you can.  The views are amazing - see above!
  • Penn's Landing Summerfest & Spruce Street Harbor Park - Just down the road from Morgan's Pier you can find two of my favorite spots in Philly!  Spruce Street has become a Philly favorite since it opened a few years ago, and features restaurants and entertainment in a boardwalk-like setting (it's the closest you're getting to the beach in Philly!)  If you're in the mood for ice cream (yes, again with the ice cream but it's summer, right?!), stop by Franklin Fountain and get the peanut butter ice cream!  I also checked out Summerfest this month and it's just as great as I remember.  Lots of rides, amusement park entertainment, a roller skating rink and food (get the funnel cake and the crab fries - you'll thank me later!) Both of these venues are kid friendly!
         Tip: Stop by for a bite at the Moshulu - a restored ship with a cool outdoor bar that serves  
         delicious food/drinks!

I'll be sharing more fun stuff to do in Philly, so stay tuned.  I'm also going to get on a more consistent blogging schedule in June (fingers crossed) but make sure you're following me on Insta as I've been more active posting there!

Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend loves!

SaveSave
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I spent July 4th in one of my favorite cities, NYC!  I've been many times, so I've seen many of the typical touristy spots already.  But I'm lucky to have a sister who lives there and can suggest some hidden gems around the city to check out, which of course I'm sharing with you.  This visit one of those places we went to was the New York Transit Museum, which highlights the history of the transit system and even has original cars dating back to the early 1900s which people can walk through!  

Forever 21 Floral Maxi (Under $25!) | Charlotte Russe Sandals, old (similar in black here) | Lauren Conrad Bucket Bag (also comes in 3 other colors!)

Seen above are original turnstiles from various decades.  They even had one from 1894 - so incredible!

A quick note on my outfit!  Yellow is one of my favorite colors for summer, so I immediately fell in love with this dress.  I knew it would be perfect for NYC.  I love the cold shoulder detail and the ruffle hem, and it also comes in a pretty red version.  I paired it with my trusty lace up sandals and my new bucket bag which I'm obsessed with.  It may look small, but I fit ALL the essentials in it.  Scroll down to the bottom to shop the look and some other similar pieces!

Now back to the museum...
BRT Standard Car from 1916.  Fun Fact - at 10 ft wide, this car offered additional seating to combat overcrowding.  

Check out that transit map from the early 1920s! 

R-1 Train Car from the 1930s, which took on the somber look from the Depression era.  Fun Fact - this train inspired a classic swing song! 

I got a kick out of the original period advertisements like the one above, which can still be seen in the cars.

R-11 Prototype from 1949.  This car was originally designed for the 2nd street subway that was never built.  Fun fact - this car was manufactured by a company in Philadelphia!

How pretty is that door with the circular windows!  These vintage subway cars are so much prettier!

R-33S from 1963.  Fun Fact - many of the 51 million visitors to the 1964/65 World's Fair traveled on the "World's Fair Express" which included this car!

The color scheme was so bright and cheery, and was unique at the time!

Those colors tho!!

 Shop The Post



If you're a history buff like me, the New York Transit Museum is worth checking out!



July 08, 2017

Yellow Floral Maxi + A Visit To The NYC Transit Museum
I spent July 4th in one of my favorite cities, NYC!  I've been many times, so I've seen many of the typical touristy spots already.  But I'm lucky to have a sister who lives there and can suggest some hidden gems around the city to check out, which of course I'm sharing with you.  This visit one of those places we went to was the New York Transit Museum, which highlights the history of the transit system and even has original cars dating back to the early 1900s which people can walk through!  

Forever 21 Floral Maxi (Under $25!) | Charlotte Russe Sandals, old (similar in black here) | Lauren Conrad Bucket Bag (also comes in 3 other colors!)

Seen above are original turnstiles from various decades.  They even had one from 1894 - so incredible!

A quick note on my outfit!  Yellow is one of my favorite colors for summer, so I immediately fell in love with this dress.  I knew it would be perfect for NYC.  I love the cold shoulder detail and the ruffle hem, and it also comes in a pretty red version.  I paired it with my trusty lace up sandals and my new bucket bag which I'm obsessed with.  It may look small, but I fit ALL the essentials in it.  Scroll down to the bottom to shop the look and some other similar pieces!

Now back to the museum...
BRT Standard Car from 1916.  Fun Fact - at 10 ft wide, this car offered additional seating to combat overcrowding.  

Check out that transit map from the early 1920s! 

R-1 Train Car from the 1930s, which took on the somber look from the Depression era.  Fun Fact - this train inspired a classic swing song! 

I got a kick out of the original period advertisements like the one above, which can still be seen in the cars.

R-11 Prototype from 1949.  This car was originally designed for the 2nd street subway that was never built.  Fun fact - this car was manufactured by a company in Philadelphia!

How pretty is that door with the circular windows!  These vintage subway cars are so much prettier!

R-33S from 1963.  Fun Fact - many of the 51 million visitors to the 1964/65 World's Fair traveled on the "World's Fair Express" which included this car!

The color scheme was so bright and cheery, and was unique at the time!

Those colors tho!!

 Shop The Post



If you're a history buff like me, the New York Transit Museum is worth checking out!



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