While most New Yorkers headed out to the Hamptons or some sort of beach vacation for this Labor Day weekend, I stayed right here and enjoyed the holiday weekend in the Big Apple.
After dinner and a night out with the FreelyBe team on Friday, a handful of us woke up bright and early the next day for a trip to the great American armpit landmark of Coney Island to celebrate my good friend Meredith’s birthday.
Awww 
I’d heard a lot about how Coney Island is pretty rough around the edges and, well…it was…but that doesn’t mean we still didn’t have what I’d consider one of the most fun Saturdays since living here.
We walked the boardwalk, rode the rides…
…goofed around at the beach bar…
…and enjoyed some classic boardwalk foods, of course.
Oh, just meat-on-a-stick. Classy.
All in all it was a great day…I’m glad I got to experience the famous NY destination, and I had such a blast with my amazing friends!
Fast forward to Sunday, where I started the day off at Liberty Church, followed by Jessi and mine’s typical brunch tradition. Jessi’s friend Danny was visiting from out of town, so we wanted to take him to a top-notch NYC brunch.
Mission accomplished.
I know I say this all the time, but Freemans was thee best brunch I’ve had in the city so far. It was also just a really fun and cozy little spot tucked away in an alley (so, you know, only “true” New Yorkers know about it ;)).
Usually I go with savory dishes for brunch, but their simple Greek yogurt with fresh fruit and homemade granola dish sounded so appealing to me.
SO good. All I kept thinking was, “uh, why don’t my yogurt bowls ever taste this heavenly?”
I couldn’t go without something savory, though, so Jessi and I split sides of hash browns and cheesy grits.
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I’ve never had grits before, so when I saw them on the menu I knew I just had to try. And, well, let’s just say I have a new favorite food.
…now who wants to take me to the South for a cheesy grits cooking demo?
After brunch we continued our Sunday tradition of wandering aimlessly through the city. And when I say “wandering aimlessly,” I actually mean en direct route to 16 Handles.
We rounded out the day with a stop at a backyard concert at our favorite SoHo cafe, and later, a night out on the town.
At a VIP table.
With a famous fashion designer who will remain unnamed.
I’m a bragger. Sorry I’m not sorry.
On the agenda for today is a cozy day in with movies, food, and prayer time; in other words – the perfect ending to a quite perfect holiday weekend.
How did you spend the 3-day weekend? Vacation or staycation?
1. I find meat to be less enjoyable if it’s not on a stick…or in stick form, like a Slim Jim. MMMMMM
2. I’LL TEACH YOU TO COOK GRITS! I consider that the best lesson I learned going to school in the South..
3. You look really cute in your glasses. Like, really cute.
“or in stick form, like a Slim Jim. MMMMMM” <— LOL!
Oh, and those glasses? They're my friend Jessi's. We call them the world's best flirting accessories. Guys are all over 'em!! hahaha
What a fun weekend! Totally know what you mean about coney island being rough around the edges. My friends and I ended up there in a limo on our prom night (not a good idea). The driver stopped for two seconds and someone tried to open the door of the limo, we couldn’t yell at the driver to move fast enough! Crazy times…
Grits are SO underrated. A childhood fave right there, they’re really good with bacon 😉
Miss you lady!
Miss you too!! We need to organize some sort of rendezvous soon, agreed??
Helen says
Sounds like perfection! I can’t wait to head back over to the US to try new foods you mention. :0) Last time I was over I tried beer bread and now I get frequent packages of it from my US relatives
I need to try grits asap: cheesy, stodgy carbs…right up my alley! Glad you had a great weekend, enjoy the rest of it
Juliette @ Finish Your Broccoli says
omigosh… freeman’s is my favorite brunch place! it’s so cozy and the food is always out of control. i can’t wait to shack up there when it starts to get colder. love love love.
Looks like a great weekend! I didn’t go anywhere this weekend but spent some time shopping, seeing a movie, eating good food, and just plain relaxing/being lazy! It’s been a nice break
Amy@ahealthyandhappyheart says
Looks like you had a nice staycation
My staycation was full of cleaning, laundry, and football! Have a wonderful week 
Vacation/ Staycation-I left m apartment but came to my hometown and spent my time catching up with family and friends all weekend:) And I cannot believe you’ve never had grits-I guess it really is a southern thing?
Dilek&Alba says
Is that bow tattoo yours? How cute!!! And you’re really making me want to take a road trip to NYC.
-Dilek
yes - a bow
http://girlmeetslife.com/2010/11/bow-love/
KatherineB says
Proud of you for eating grits! Still trying to get my Yankee (NJ native) boyfriend to get with the program. I’m afraid he’s just had them cooked so poorly before he’s traumatized to try again!
Bahaha, meat on a stick is all kinds of classy!
Your weekend sounds perfect! And that yogurt bowl DOES look heavenly. I have been dying to go to 16 Handles, and now that I live in NYC, there is no excuse!
Yes - you must!!! Best in NYC (esp the cake batter flavor. I die)
Angelica says
Where did you get that pendent necklace?! I love it.
Urban Outfitters! It was a few years ago though :/
debbie says
I’ve always wanted to go to Coney Island, hah. I just feel like it’s one of those places you have to go.
Labor day holiday is a good holiday; no school / work / etc, its a good excuse to barbecue and eat fro yo and be outside and with friends… except that it means summer is over.. :/
Glad you had a fun one, though!
This is the first time in YEARS that I’ve gone the staycation route for Labor Day weekend, and I certainly wasn’t disappointed. Lots of friends actually ended up coming to ME and there was football, BBQing of meat, cookouts, and buffalo chicken dip. Mmmm.
Ohh it sounds like you had such a wonderful weekend! How fun that you went to Coney Island- I’m sure it was such an experience! And yay for a new brunch place… I feel like that too with my yogurt bowls, somehow restaurants make them better! I went more the staycation route this weekend but am busy every weekend for the next 2 months, so it was nice to relax a bit.
I am still on a quest for good grits. Everyone always raves about them but I’m still on the fence! I stayed home too… I feel so much more relaxed than when I went away and got back late Monday night!
Every time I hear about Coney Island, I always think about the Death Cab for Cutie song. It looks like such a fun place. I love carnivals! 😀
We have a few Coney Island-esque places around here too - super fun days out! Looks like you had a fab weekend
Alba&Dilek @TwoBaklavaStory says
Gracie you give off such positive energy about life! I love reading your blog!
Kiah says
Sure does sound perfect!
I’ve always wanted to go to Coney Island-I feel it’s in too many books not to be an interesting place.
That’s what I love about the NYC scene, you could end up anywhere at any given point in time. Even at a VIP table with a famous fashion designer (DYING to know who it was!). TI’ve always wanted to live in NYC even if for just a year, maybe one day!
wait wait… why unnamed?! brag some more! I wanna know who it was! 😉 we love your bragging.
Looks like a great 3-day weekend! I’ve seen so many TV shows that feature Coney Island and I wanna go- would you say it’s worth the trip?! I had a staycation and got ready for the first day back to school, aka my first day teaching!