NYC- Restaurant Review- Petrossian

After reviews, my cousin in NYC and I decided to have a family dinner with my uncle/aunt who flew in from Korea, at Petrossian.  Best known for Caviar, Petrossian offers what I'd call "French fusion"

Not only is their restaurant in a beautiful building on 57th, but they have quite a selection! My uncle was the only one to try the caviar and he said he liked it :)

The best part?! I saw the Geico commercial again last night! It was filmed at Petrossian lol! 

NYC- The Plaza Hotel, Home Alone 2 Style

Christmas at The Plaza Hotel, NYC

My Christmas Childhoods were always full of Family & Midnight Mass! Secretly inside, I wished for one Christmas where I could be "Home Alone 2" stuck alone in NYC renting a suite at The Plaza Hotel!

Obviously, that never happened, but until this year- I've always wondered what Christmas at The Plaza Hotel would be like!

Then I realize, Christmas is not much different at The Plaza than it is anywhere else! Regardless, it was still nice for Mike to take me to a Christmas Date here :)

I will always be grateful for the Christmas years with family, rather than lost in NYC with two burglars wanting to destroy me

NYC- Christmas Party; Meat Packing District

Mike works for a truly amazing company! They flew everyone (who are not permanently in NYC) to the Big Apple for their annual Christmas Spectacular!

This year, they rented a soundstage in the Meat Packing District! What an endless list of specialty drinks & enormous supply of unique & delicious appetizers!

We all stayed at the Martime Boutique Hotel in Chelsea! 

I'm most proud of these shoes! I wore them the entire night!

PHILLY- Christie's Bridal Shower

My little sis is getting married!!!!! Little Christie is my adopted sorority from University of Virginia! For obvious reason, she became my little- everyone always said we were so much alike! Now all grown up, Dr. Christie Kim is getting married in two weeks!!!!

Christie's bridal shower was held at Miss Rachel's Pantry in Philadelphia! It's a small vegan restaurant with lots of character! I was even full after lunch!

It was a very girly bridal shower with lots of colors, games & French maccaroons!

We all can NOT wait until California!

Merry Pinterstmas!!!

It's Pinterest Party Time again!!!!!

I fell in love with gingerbread cupcake posts on Pinterest so that's what I made, along with snowflake cupcakes & candy cane cupcakes!

BABY SHOWER- Preppy Boy Baby SHOWER

BABY SHOWER 

Theme: Preppy Boy 

My best friend, Melissa, is pregnant! She is expecting her bundle of joy in February!

Melissa's gorgeous baby shower was held at Turf Valley Country Club's Terrace on The Green (Ellicott City outside Balimore, MD)

I was fortunate to be in charge of the decorations committee lol!!!!! I had so much fun!!!

You can see I definitely used Pinterest to guide me!!!

It's definitely the largest baby shower I've ever seen!!!!! Look at that collection of onesies, mittens & other gifts!

oh! Have you seen a cuter pregnant lady? I think not!

RICHMOND- Oh, Christmas Tree

Christmas 2013

Richmond, Virginia

James Center, Shockoe Bottom 

 

Do people even say get-together any more? 

This year's annual "besties dinner" which consists of hours and hours of laughing, eating, more laughing, more eating, opening presents and taking picture was at Richmond's Shockoe Bottom!

 

Dinner was at The Hard Shell downtown! They have the best She Crab Soup, btw!

After more laughters & stuffing ourselves with seafood, we opened gifts & headed to The James Center to see the Grand Illumination & the wonderful display of hundreds of lighted deer & massive Christmas Tree! Oh what a night!!!!!

We've been through a lot together in the last ten years or so! Old friends are the best kind! It's as if we're 20 again!

And I'm Back in Virginia for a quick trip!

Girls Day at Richmond's Carytown!

Translation: lots of boutique shopping & local dining!!!!

Melinda and I started out Carytown Date eating at the new Daily Kitchen! The atmosphere was excellent! It's a fresh modern restaurant with local ingredients. We started with their chicken lettuce wraps, which are super healthy but lacked a little bit of flavor despite three dipping sauces!  I loved the shrimp Caesar salad (anchovies included) and the crabcake sandwich & sweet potatoes fries were Mellie's fav!

Then to walk off our lunch at various boutiques in Carytown!!!!! Fab'rik was my favorite with delicious scented lotions and adorable dresses! Mellie bought her new hat, too! My second favorite hands down- the toy & gift store full of gag gifts including bacon toothpaste & a grumpy cat collection!!!

Saving the best for last? Perhaps!

Carytown Cupcakes had their Christmas & Holidays selection, including Peppermint Hot Cocoa, Egg Nog & Vegan Pumpkin Spice

Candy Cane Sticks!!! Of Gum!!!!

Everyone knows I love sheetz, the classiest most fun gas station chain on the planet (yes, I said gas station and "classy" in one sentence)!!!!!

Guess what I found!!!! CANDY CANE GUM!!!!!!!!! It's amazing!!!!! Santa is in on this one, I tell you!!!

I also found butterfingers pretzels! Oh My!

CINCINNATI- Jack Binions

I decided to explore Erica's new city of Cincinnati & we wanted to try a new restaurant! She picked out Jack Binions Steakhouse located inside the new casino! What fun atmosphere with live music & delicious food!

Instead of steak this time, we wanted a lighter option and went with soup and salad! My French onion soup (reminds me of my dad) was excellent and beautifully presented! My binion all-in salad with extra lobster was divine :) add a little pelligrino and I was happy & healthy! 

Ringing in The Holidays @ Carillon Park

The Annual Ringing in The Holidays at Carillon Park!!!

What an honor to be a judge for the Delightful Dessert Contest once again!

What does that mean?! I eat lots and lots of beautiful delicious dessert and have the toughest job of deciding the best! (Yes! Really tough!) thanks to Jackie & Bucher for being great co-judges!

Indianapolis Boutique Shop & Dine

Exploring Indianapolis with Girlfriends!

What a fun day exploring the villages of Indianapolis! The big city is filled with quaint & unique villages with lots of character! Natalie and I particularly liked Broad Ripple village with all the girly shops, champaign bar & wine bars! Although 10am on a weekday isn't ideal, we still had fun!

We then tried out Cerulean at The Alexander and fell in love! Super unique concept with lunchbox style menu! You pick a delicious protein then choose from three delicious & creative sides!

Sushi with Kaitie!

Kaitie, my intern from Summer 2013, came back to town for her Thanksgiving break!

We ate sushi at Choe's Asian Bistro at The Greene and sunomono & sashimi were excellent! Our waiter was hilarious! He even went shopping while we were there and showed us what he bought!

Christmas at The Greene!

Merry Christmas!!!!!! The season has begun at the Greene with a tree lighting ceremony!!!!!
Thank you Chris & Angela for inviting us to your pre-ceremony party :) and what perfect timing! Snow for the shortest parade I've ever seen & tree lighting!

Chicago Shop & Dine!

What a fun weekend trip to Chicago! Thanks to my high school friend, Leah, for being a wonderful host! 

As soon as I arrived, we went SHOPPING at the Water Tower and bought 8 dresses :)

Birthday Thanks!

Thank you everyone for a wonderful birthday weekend!!!!! 

Thanks to Mike for surprising me and getting me the Tory Burch Boots I've been eyeing and dinner at Cocos Bistro, amazing delicious best cupcakes all the way from Georgetown in Washington DC from my best friend Mellie, and the delicious cookies made in Ohio from my best friend Rachel!

Happy Erica and I have weekends off now to celebrate our November birthdays together at Cheesecake!!!!! 

All my friends and family who didn't forget my birthday, either! Thanks for making a yucky day for me wonderful!

(I hate birthdays!)

Trip to Michigan!

My first trip to visit Krystle in Plymouth, MI outside Detroit!!! What a darling place!

We had to celebrate her new job at The University of Michigan!!!!!! Thanks for being the best host ever!!!!!

Highly recommend!!!! You can OpenTable it too!

This is one of my new favorite place!!!! Panache 224 is just so posh & delicious!!!!! We love the crab cake corn dogs, sushi & pure white cotton candy for dessert!!!!! 

Restaurant Review- Mamma DiSalvos

Arguably one of the best Italian restaurants in the Dayton Area! 

Had to get one of three of my favorite dishes! Pasta with garlic, Chicken Marsala & Clam Linguini!

Must try their salad & get Homemade Limoncello for dessert!

Dayton Pumpkin Glow!

What a fantastic unique & amazing tradition in Dayton!!!

Blueberry Cafe in Bellbrook

Our friends recommended The Blueberry Cafe in Bellbrook! We then ran into other friends who recommended the quiche & pancakes!

The peach pancake is to die for! As are the famous muffins baked by Tim the Muffin Man!

Visiting Mike in NYC

Visiting Mike's Work in New York City is a lot of excitement & lots of running around!

Hey! I think I know that guy :)

His coworkers & boss are amazing, too!

Lots of great food & conversations!

BEHIND THE SCENES- Children's Hospital Charity Dinner

Our country radio station K99.1FM is raising money for Dayton's Children's Hospital and is holding a series of events!

Famous singer & winner of The Voice (Team Blake!) Cassadee Pope generously volunteered her time and talent to help raise money! She flew (with her entourage) to Dayton to tour the hospital and have an intimate live performance at The beavercreek Milano's!

The Mayor of Beavercreek named Wednesday- Cassadee Pope Day!

Thanks K99 for inviting me & allowing me to hang out with our littlest fans!!!! Also, Cassadee, it was fun! (She's so super sweet)