NYC City Hall weddings

When Alex and I stopped by City Hall four years ago to pick up our marriage license, we saw a bunch of couples tying the knot. Some wore tuxedos and puffy white dresses, some were in casual clothes and one entire family was wearing Mets jerseys. It's a giddy scene over there. I always thought it would be a fun tourist destination; you could spend an hour on the steps outside and people-watch. Or throw confetti!

Refinery29 recently stopped by City Hall and snapped photos of 21 happy couples; see the full slideshow here.

Would you get married at City Hall? Did you? xo

P.S. Wedding with a pink dress, and my friend's City Hall wedding.

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Humans of New York

When you walk around New York City, it's easy to get in a zone and barely notice the people around you. But Brandon from Humans of New York reminds you that everyone has a beautiful  story to tell. He takes photos of strangers on the street and elicits funny quotes about their marriage or kids, or asks them simple frank questions like, "What was a difficult time in your life?" or "When were you most scared?" Every time I visit the site, I get sucked down a rabbit hole.

I cannot wait for his book to come out this fall.

P.S. This was a great one:
"There’s six people in every relationship: you, the person you think you are, and the person your partner thinks you are. Then there’s your partner, the person they think they are, and the person you think they are."

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Manhattanhenge

Twice a year, the sunset aligns perfectly with the east-west grid of New York City, and the golden rays shoot down the streets. This beautiful phenomenon has been nicknamed Manhattanhenge. Head's up: it happens this Friday and Saturday around 8:20pm, and you can see it from any crosstown street. xoxo

(Photo by Ashley)

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Cup of Jo Guide to NYC

Today is officially the first day of summer! Whoot whoot! We made it!!! For summer fun, I wanted to link back to the complete Cup of Jo Guide to NYC featuring where to eat, sleep, shop and play, as well as a very romantic date idea, a secret playground and how not to look like a tourist. Hope you enjoy it! xo

(Photos by Smith & Ratliff and the New York Times)

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Swimming lessons on the roof!

So, my #1 tip for living in New York is to make friends with someone with a rooftop pool:)...Read More >

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Three great NYC bike rides

Ten years ago, when I got my first bike in New York City, I was definitely nervous to ride it around town. Would I spend the whole time dodging cabs and pedestrians? But I was surprised to discovered beautiful routes that feel breezy and bucolic—where you can soar over bridges, pedal under magnolia trees or visit a little red lighthouse. Here's a guide to three amazing rides, sponsored by Poland Spring...Read More >

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Summer's here!

After a never-ending winter, New York has finally enjoyed a stretch of balmy weather. Aren't you excited for summer? We went to Washington Square Park the other day and waded in the fountain. The water was sparkling clean (officially) and Toby was in heaven splashing around.
And to top it off, we saw a rainbow:)

Hope you're having a good day. Stay dry in all this rain!

P.S. The full Cup of Jo Guide to NYC.

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How to Piss Off Every New Yorker in 36 Seconds

Made me laugh.

P.S. How not to look like a tourist in NYC.

(Via Swissmiss)

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Rain room

This week, the new interactive exhibit Rain Room opened at the Museum of Modern Art. Heavy rain pours down in an enormous room, but when you step into the rain, the area directly over your head dries up. So you can walk, dance and kiss in the rain without getting wet!

"The overall effect is mesmerizing," reported Gothamist. "A semi-blinding white klieg light at the back of the room disorients your field of vision while highlighting the millions of individual raindrops showering down around you on all sides. The motion sensors are so sensitive that you can sweep your arm through the deluge and still keep your shirt dry. Move too quickly, however, and you can get good and soaked if want."

The lines are going to be insane, especially since only 10 people are admitted at a time, but it would be worth waiting. Since MoMA members get priority access and exclusive viewing hours, it might even be worth joining.

How cool is that?!

P.S. Cool art exhibits: Swings, slides and marrying Prince William.

(Photos by Random International, MoMA and Katie Sokoler/Gothamist)

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Weekend getaway

We did something kind of funny last weekend...
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Tilda Swindon sleeping at MoMA

Actress Tilda Swinton will be sleeping in a glass box at MoMA at unannounced times between now and the end of the year. It's part of a performance piece called "The Maybe." “Those who find it chance upon it for themselves, live and in real shared time," the museum said in a statement.

This is definitely one of those "is this art?" moments. What do you think?

P.S. More awesome art: Swings, indoor playground, whispering secrets, and marrying Prince William.

(Photos by Gothamist, via Kottke)

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Motherhood Monday: Bringing your child's favorite book to life

Every night, Alex and I read Toby bedtime stories. His absolute favorite is One Sunday Morning, which tells the story of a boy named Minho, who spends the day at Central Park with his dad. Whenever we read the book, Toby's eyes light up. We realized that he was imagining that he was the little boy in the book. Seeing how excited Toby was, Alex decided to actually make the day come true. Here are Alex's photos...Read More >

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NYC Date: Kiss at the top of the Empire State Building

Valentine's Day is a week away, so love is in the air. One romantic thing Alex and I have always wanted to do is kiss at the top of the Empire State Building. It's beautiful and iconic, and it feels like something all New Yorkers should do.
The catch? We're too neurotic: I'm scared of elevators, and Alex is scared of heights. Foiled!
But when Coach, inspired by their sensual new fragrance, asked us to share what love means to us, I figured it was time to bite the bullet and finally experience a kiss above our favorite city.
The elevator took us up 86 stories. I was nervous (that we'd get stuck in there forever, naturally), but Alex kept me calm.
At the top, we were nearly a quarter mile above the ground!
We felt giddy to be up there. New York City has been the backdrop of our entire relationship; we met at a party, went on our first date, fell in love, got engaged, got married and started a family in a tiny apartment—all in downtown Manhattan.
The views were stunning. (I'd also love to see it on a sparkling sunny day or late at night—the building is open until 2am.)
And there's the kiss! We did it!
Have you been to the top? Now I know what we've been missing all these years! It was a wonderful morning....now we just had the elevator ride back down. :)

Thank you so much for the encouragement, Coach Love! And, in celebration of love, check out their adorable Facebook app and share the little things you love these days.

P.S. 7 NYC date ideas...

(Sponsored by Coach's new fragrance, Coach Love, a warm woody floral. Photos by Bonnie Tsang. Green swing coat by HATCH)

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Backyard dreams

Do you have a backyard? Alex and I have always lived in small apartments without outdoor space, but we daydream about having a yard (or a little garden, we're not picky!) someday. Here are 9 jaw-dropping backyards that would feel magical for reading the paper and sipping evening cocktails...
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NYC plushes

Oeuf just launched a collection of NYC plushes, including the Empire State Building, a yellow taxi and a Brooklyn brownstone. (Can you imagine a little one cuddling with a brownstone?! Ha, I love it.) The plushes would also look great on a grown-up sofa.

P.S. Toby's not-so-cute pillow pet.

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Swing art installation

I'm a huge fan of interactive art exhibits (like the Grand Central secret and the New Museum playground), so my jaw dropped when I heard about the current Ann Hamilton show in Manhattan. Her installation features 42 swings, which, in turn, move an enormous billowy curtain. "When the swings are in action, the curtain, made of a lightweight silk twill, rises and dips, and the air is stirred, causing further billowing and fluttering," writes the New York Times, "Pigeons and an actress provide a soundtrack." Some people glide on the swings, some lie on the ground under the curtain and some sit on benches to take it all in. The show runs through January 6th at the Armory. I can't wait to take Toby!

(Photos by Philip Greenberg for the New York Times)

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