Where to go and what to do! yee-haw

Nearly once... or twice... or three times a week I get a facebook , email, or social media message of someone going to NYC and wanting tips/ advice of cool things to do!

With the ONLY REAL CITY in my eyes. Real city defined by these elements: culture, food, fashion, architecture, public transit, entertainment, night life, bars, restaurants... and so on. There are endless things to do.

I love to help each time, and I'm flattered all of you keep asking! But, since it can be time consuming and I become extremely repetitive... I thought I'd link everyone to this blog!

There are the typical tourists things you can do, but I'll give you a list of absolute MUST DO's! And, Since I was on a budget the entire time I lived there, half the things on this list, won't be expensive.

Some are places to eat, some are sights to see, some involves original Picasso paintings, and since I'm a news guru, some are media based!

1) If you like authentic Asian food, Vanessa's dumpling is definitely the place to go. There is one in the lower east side. But I suggest you try the one in China town, to get the full experience. PS while you're in the city I suggest you install yelp unto your phone. You'll need it to help you find restaurants, etc. here is a link to the lower east side location for Vanessa's dumplings http://www.yelp.com/biz/vanessas-dumpling-house-new-york

2) The NBC experience store is great. They also offer a tour upstairs of NBC studios. This includes: the Dr. oz show, Saturday night live, news studios, Jimmy Fallon studios, and so on. It cost 24 bucks. But I PROMISE it's worth it. When will you ever be able to stand in Saturday night dressing rooms again in your life?

NBC is right next to Rockefeller plaza located on 49th street between 5th and 6th avenue. The tour is around 70 minutes long.

3) WALK THE HIGH LINE!http://www.thehighline.org/ It's a great way to see Manhattan. ( as if you're not going to be tired from the shock of walking enough.) The high line is in Chelsea, The lower west side of Manhattan. It's an old train track they renovated into a walking/ park type of place. It's gorgeous and below the high line is Chelsea market. A great place to eat, and that is home of the food network! so you can see where Rachel Ray use to shop for her 30 minute meals. It has over 10 unique , gourmet restaurants. More importantly it has the best gellato and cupcakes you'll ever put in your mouth--bring your sweet tooth ;)

4) try a frozen hot chocolate at serendipity's. It will be the best thing you've ever drank. And they're known for their frozen hot chocolate. It is a trendy/ rich/ ritzy (whichever adjective you'd like to use) part of Manhattan in the upper east side.http://www.yelp.com/biz/serendipity-3-new-york

5) GO TO A COMEDY SHOW! Anytime you're walking near 42nd and 2nd avenue (times square) and hear "comedy show tickets" this way.. I suggest you buy one and go! It will literally be the funnest times of your life! It is the BEST DATE my boyfriend and I have ever been on, in our two and a half years of dating! .... We saw four acts, and they were all wonderful. ADVISORY: don't pay anymore than 10 bucks for a ticket, or bring your parents there. Some jokes are definitely not appropriate for family outings ;) .... ps each comedy club makes you pay/ buy a two drink minimum rule. So make sure you do not pre-game, and have to get a cab to take you two blocks to your hotel . Their drinks are potent!

6) check out River Side park or Columbia University in the upper west side. Both are breath taking. And river side park is the park shown numerous time throughout the movie "you've got mail." Also on 113 and Broadway is the Seinfeld Restaurant. Although no filming actually occurred on the inside of the restaurant, It is worth checking out! here is a pic I snapped walking through the block one day.

7) go by the CNN studios. It's near Columbus circle in the upper east side. great area of the city!

8) Go, and explore union square. It's a urban, young, area of town. They always have unique fresh markets, shopping, and parades there. Also you can see where my school, New york film academy was!

9) GO TO THE METT! http://www.metmuseum.org/ The museum takes a ' pay what you wish/ donation' fee. The suggested price is 10 bucks. But they are understanding. As a student and an intern I paid only three dollars to see original Picasso, Monet, paintings. This museum takes a while to explore, but it is completely amazing, and worth it. I suggest you do it in the morning when it's less crowded, and your creative juices are flowing. Another free museum is the public library located on 5th avenue. (Yes, the library Carrie Bradshaw get's married in ;) ps if you don't get that reference, or know who she is-- maybe you shouldn't be visiting the city! lol

The museum allows you to see Gutenberg bible, Hitler's first book ever written , civil right collections from marches, and many more stimulating and intriguing things... FOR FREE! Plus the library is absolutely gorgeous inside, with amazing architecture, so that's an added bonus.

The Museum of sex is also fun. And the MOMA (museum of Modern art). However, they can get pricey. Here is a link to free/ cheaper museum based on their hours. http://www.newyorkology.com/archives/2012/02/free_museum_hou_3.php

10) Try cuban food, and try SOPHIE's! http://www.sophiescuban.com/ I've only tried the one on west 45th street in midtown. So that is one I suggest, it is amazing. For 10 bucks you get tons of food, and a meal that will feed three, or last you three meals. This place is so good they even have posers/ copy restaurants in the city. But they're no where near as good as Sophie's! It's a must try!

11) On the same note-- go to Little Italy. It's almost like Epcot at Disney world... you close your eyes and you're in Italy ;) Le mela is my absolute favorite restaurant in the city! They have salads and Italian wines to die for. You must try a freshly made Conolie, eat at Le Mela, and explore that area while you're in the city!

12) Explore grand central. Just do it. It's grand, and magical. Ps they're food/ chili has been featured on the food network. So if you need a break from walking try one of their 30 million food stands with chili!

13) Go to a game in Madison square garden! I got to see the Lady vols play for only 10 bucks. It's a great experience. I can guarantee some sort of event will be going on in the arena while you visit. (Hockey, concert, basketball) etc.

14) Try to explore Bryant, Washington, and Central Park (if you can't do all three choose one) Each are unique, exciting, and breath taking.

15) Also if you want a great aerial view of the city DON'T go on top of in empire state building . Go " on top of the roc" Rockefeller plaza . It's a little more expensive but you get to see all of Manhattan , Staten island, some of long island and jersey up there . It's breathtaking ! Ten times a better view

16) You have to also try crumbs cupcakes while you're there! they are amazing. and they have over 5 locations in the city!

There are obviously a ton of more things I could tell you to do. But these are 'must do's.' You can read my previous blog post to find out more of where to go out, eat, and explore the night life the city has to offer.

17) go to the flatiron district of the city! That area and Flat iron building is my absolute favorite area of Manhattan. After exploring the architecture there , I'm sure it'll become your favorite too !

PS when you're riding the subway here are a few tips!

remember the green line is always the east side, and the red is the west. also numbered.... 123=west 456= east L train takes you to Brooklyn. also downtown is exactly like it says.. you're going south. uptown= north. hope this makes since! I promise the grid/ subway system is super easy. you'll get the hang of it. Or you can just look at a map ;-)

Also feel free to email me if you get lost, or have additional questions everyone! celledg2@gmail.com

Eat Healthy, Be Happy. (If it can go bad ,it's good for you. If it can't-- It's bad for you!)

So, for those of you who don't know. I no longer live in the city. 1) I was no longer truly happy there. 2) I could no longer afford it. However, I love New York with all my heart and have a half a year's worth of experience living there.

One thing I loved about it , was the food. Not because the top chefs in the nation (or world for that matter) cook and live there, but because everything is healthy, organic, and fresh. I say this, because I know for a fact! Each bodega, office, and grocer order from a place called fresh direct http://www.freshdirect.com/about/index.jsp;jsessionid=2LyHPGtYcySpkgfbqMg8hJCz1b7qKqyTTTnWp8hhvtDfmSFYppj1!-1320995938!-1018207326?siteAccessPage=aboutus&successPage=/index.jsp

Fresh Direct is huge warehouse that stores organic: fruits, fresh meats, and so on from local farms in Pennsylvania, New york, Jersey, and Connecticut. If you're driving from Manhattan to the LGA airport, you'll be sure to see the ginormous warehouse. Here is a picture of one side of it, up close.

This may sound dumb, or rude, or both. but that has been the largest adjustment moving back to the south, is the food. Yes, I was born and raised in Tennessee. But living in the north opened my eyes . And I want to carry the eating habits and health I picked up with me. I also want to inspire / teach you to do the same! It is easy, and affordable.

I had never really eaten organic food before 1) because I couldn't afford it. 2) because unless you shop at the fresh market in Knoxville, or local produce markets it's not that easily accessible.

But in a society such as New York, that is all that was available. That was nearly my only option. Most of you asked how I lost so much weight and toned up-- yes, it's true that sadly I could only afford one meal a day (lol). And I walked nearly a mile everyday. Even with riding the subway, you still have to walk to the nearest subway stops.

But the REAL secret was that I was constantly eating healthy, and organic foods.

For example-- In nearly 6 months I had fried chicken/ food in general, one time. At Brooklyn bowl to be exact. (side note, not only is a great place to go-- it's know for it's chicken and oyster appetiser. you must try if you're ever in Williambsurg, Brooklyn!) If you want fried foods, you have to seek out the restaurants that serve them, or offer them as their specialty.

I'm not bashing my culture of the south, or my grandmother's cooking-- but the reality is, It's NOT HEALTHY. here is a quick poll of the states with the highest obesity and type 2 diabetic rate . It was taken in 2010, so it has most likely changed since then. And you guessed it, Tennessee/ southern states rank top ten each year.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/122405/Obesity-Diabetes-Across-States-Clear-Relationship.aspx

It's not because we're lazy, and don't work out or know what a gym is. It's because that is what's readily available in southern states. This blog is not a rant to bash any culture or anyone. It's to vent, and to help show you how to lose weight, and live a healthier life style like I am trying to do.

This milk is what I drank the entire time I was in New York. It is only, 4 bucks. I say ONLY because I'm still use to the absurd prices/ cost of living in the north. Drinking this, or using it with your cereal will make the difference, and I promise you can even taste the difference. Call me crazy, or judge me. But the cost of being healthy now-- is a lot less inexpensive than the medical bills you'll have to pay in the future. (If you have unhealthy habits and don't change them.)

Yes, sometimes I go a little crazy and like to snack on kale chips, seaweed and things like that. But if those aren't practical snack/meal replacements for you. Try these. These are my favorite,(below) and they are delicious. You can get them at publix or any grocery. Especially the fage 0% Greek yogurt with Blueberry. It's so sweet, sometimes I use it as a dessert, and only 120 calories for the whole serving!

For some reason, I can't post the rest of the pictures. but you get the point! Fresh Salsa, vegetable straws, sliced avocados, Greek yogurt, and organic blue tortilla chips truly make the best snacks. They fill you up-- and they're inexpensive. Ditch the Doritos you're eating and use these... you'll be good to go ;)

I'm not saying I'll never eat some good ole' banana pudding again, or a slice of cake. I am simply saying that I do not want to put anything into my body unless I know it's fresh and where it came from.

Recently, when I first moved back to the south, I ate a strawberry from walmart. Moments from biting into the abnormally large, chemincally growth induced strawberry...It had a strange, zingy, horrible flavor. I could literally taste the chemicals. Five months prior to living in the city I would have never known, or tasted the difference. But after eating organic fruits -- now I can. If I could taste the chemicals from one strawberry.... enough to make me spit it out like a crazy person, imagine what that 's doing to people's bodies? Imagine how unhealthy these chemicals must be!

PS here is a list of the lowest calorie fruits http://pinterest.com/pin/36802921924689035/

As a trainer once told me, If you can't pronounce the ingredients on the label.... It's probably not good for you. And your body can't recognize it either! This is most comonly known for sugar and butter subsititues.

So this blog is to help you and I learn how to eat fresh, home made, and home grown meals! I'd love to hear your ideas for healthier dinner recipes. Grilled chicken becomes old :)

Also if you know of great farmers markets that are year round in your area, I'd love to hear about it!