WORDS:: CHYKA KEEBAUGH

Mothers Day in New York City, could it get any better than that?

I mean, really! Having the opportunity to see the sights with your daughter in one of the most exciting cities in the world is the stuff dreams and memories are made of. I am so excited to be reunited with Chessie in the city she is calling home, especially in Spring (when it’s getting colder and colder at home in Melbourne!) where I can pound the pavement and take in as much as I can.

New York is one of my most favourite travel destinations. The sights, the sounds, the smells - all of it are so intoxicating, and even though I have been back and forth many times over the years, this is a city that always has something new to offer and entice you back.

Chessie is living in Brooklyn, and it really is a borough that I haven’t explored before. So this time around I am lucky to have my Chessie showing me how to live like a local, introducing me to places off the beaten track away from the everyday hustle of Manhattan.

Places I have loved eating + drinking at…

11 Howard - The bar in this lovely hotel has been a fun pit stop that offers a little peace and quiet. I am quite partial to a G&T, and I figure, I'm on holiday - a little tipple midday to recharge me for an afternoon of playing tourist is totally acceptable!

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Joes Shanghai - This traditional, old school, jam-packed, noisy as all get up Chinese restaurant that had a queue 30 deep to get in. Delicious dumplings smack bang in the middle of Chinatown.

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Carthage Must Be Destroyed - A gorgeous, entirely tonal cafe in Brooklyn where pink rules. Loved the pink plates and pretty much everything about this place - it does have a strange no photo policy, but with everyone taking photos of everything these days (me included!) I am more than happy to abide by the rules.

Juliette's the local wine bar near Chessie's place, it is a gorgeous French style bistro with masses of hanging greenery to give the space an indoor garden feel.

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Places I love to shop at…

Story - Never have I been so excited to visit a store! Everyone has been telling me what amazing vignettes they create in this store, and that the concept is a retail game changer. " Set in a 2000 square foot store located in Manhattan’s 10th Ave. retail corridor, STORY is a retail concept that takes the point of view of a magazine, changes like a gallery and sells things like a store. That means every four to eight weeks; STORY completely reinvents itself -from the design to the merchandise – with the goal of bringing to light a new theme, trend or issue."

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Anthropologie - A longtime favourite, this store never fails to excite me. The print and pattern, the windows that will blow your mind, and homewares that will make your heart explode. They do ship to Australia but seeing all the products in real life, set up in one of their amazing in-store installations is so inspirational.

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ABC Carpet + Home - An old favourite, I could spend hours in this store - and I do! Wandering around, touching everything like a little child!! It’s a must visit store when travelling to NYC, full of print and pattern and colour. And don't forget to hit up their restaurant ABC kitchen, like the store - it has fantastic decor and delicious food.