Good Morning, Baltimore!

Good morning, Baltimore! Every day’s like an open door…

When I visited my boyfriend in Baltimore last weekend, I could not get this song out of my head! Jake works as the marketing intern at Under Armour (cue proud girlfriend moment) and I recently visited him in the southern city. He’s living in a cute little townhouse, or “rowhouse” as locals call it, within walking distance of bars, restaurants, and sightseeing attractions. 

We spent a chunk of weekend talking and catching up, but Jake also played the role of tour guide and showed me his Under Armour offices, as well as some of his favorite hangouts. Here are some pictures from the weekend, if you’re interested.

We ate lunch at Mother’s Federal Hill Grille, a pub-type restaurant, and I ordered the best buffalo chicken sandwich I’ve ever had – it came with melted cheese, bacon, and homemade blue cheese dressing. People in Baltimore love spice and are specifically partial to Old Bay, since the mixture was invented there, so my sandwich had a generous amount of spice and flavor. 

Jake ordered the equally delicious chili burger. 

From the elevated Federal Hill Park, we could see the Inner Harbor and downtown area.

This building  – which I think is the American Visionary Art Museum – has beautiful tiled art on the sides.

Baltimore recommendations: Cowboys and Rednecks (C & R pub) for drinks and county music, Mother's Federal Hill Grille for tasty and spicy pub food, and Federal Hill Park for great views of the harbor. Make sure to lounge by the Inner Harbor and try Baltimore's famous cuisine: Maryland blue crab! 

Baltimore isn't as big or bustling as NYC, but the city is great for a relaxed weekend getaway.  

Walking the Brooklyn Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge may be constantly packed with slow-walking tourists yielding cameras, but the famous landmark also gives some of the best views of the Manhattan skyline. I feel it’s a crime to live in New York City and never walk across the bridge, which has connected the boroughs of Brooklyn and Manhattan since 1883. As you stroll along the suspended structure, some of the most famous sights in the world lay right in front of you: the Statue of Liberty and Freedom Tower to the left, the Empire State Building to the right, and even the buildings surrounding Time Square and Grand Central Station.

The Brooklyn Bridge has special meaning to me in particular. On the last night I saw Jake before I spent a semester in Germany, we walked across at sunset and shared many heartfelt words. Now I always associate the bridge with love and hopeful futures. 

Last week I walked with my mom from Brooklyn to Manhattan, and the views were even better than she thought. She told me she felt like Miranda Hobbs (shout-out to any Sex and the City fans who understand the reference!) and that everyone should be able to visit the Brooklyn Bridge in their lifetime. I felt so lucky and happy to share such a beautiful landmark with her.

If you’re visiting New York City in the future, don’t forget to add the Brooklyn Bridge to your itinerary.

Meeting Martha Stewart and a Mother-Daughter Weekend in NYC

So many exciting things have been happening at work and in my personal life, keeping me happily entertained but too busy for any downtime. First there’s my amazing editorial internship at Martha Stewart Weddings. I stayed late several times last week to help with an insanely fun project, and I also had an “intern lunch” with the beautiful Martha Stewart! She’s just as funny, smart, and good-natured as she appears on TV and it was a pleasure to hear an hour-long speech from the lifestyle mogul. Then my mom came to visit me in New York City, and we spent the weekend exploring some of my favorite places, walking around the West Village, and pigging out on brunch – mimosas included! And later today I’m hopping on a bus to visit my boyfriend in Baltimore, since he’s interning at the Under Armor corporate office there. 

I figured now would be the perfect time to document some exciting parts of my summer, before the pictures start piling up too much! Here is my life lately:

Martha Stewart's new cookbook, Clean Slate, signed and personalized by the domestic goddess herself!

My mom and I eagerly awaiting wine, escargot, steak, and duck at Balthazar in SoHo.

A cheeseburger and fries from Shake Shack – a New York City classic.

A beautiful sunset at the Mets baseball stadium. Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia hosted an "intern outing" at the game!