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NYC Weekend Getaway

NYC Weekend Getaway

Hey friends! We spent this past weekend in beautiful New York City after some much needed time together. As busy as we are, we’re being much more intentional on how we spend our time. A lot of times our weekdays flow between work, long commutes, meetings, pickups and drop offs, maintaining health routines and manning the fort at home. The balance is hard, but I’m grateful for our shared calendar because it comes in handy in more ways than one. Needless to say, our weekend getaway was just what we needed.

We stayed at the Dream Downtown in West Village, but to be pretty honest with you all it wasn’t quite the dream. The lobby smelled like urine and backed up sewage, and the carpeted hallways were pretty filthy. It looked like they hadn’t been vacuumed in a while. One of our pet peeves is feeling like our money wasn’t spent on something worthwhile, but there were a few upsides to it. Our room had a pretty awesome view of the Empire State building, and we also lucked out with getting a table at the hotel’s rooftop lounge on a Saturday night, which from what we were told isn’t always easy to find.

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We kicked off our weekend with a late night stroll around the neighborhood where we stumbled upon a pizza place. We opted to stay in on Friday since we got in late and also had an early morning photoshoot on the High Line, which ended up being so much fun! There was an abundance of laughter the entire time, mostly at Luis because he’s so damn ticklish, but also because so many people would just stare at us as they passed by with either a look of confusion or appreciation for our out-of-the-norm dynamic. But let’s be real, we’re pretty good looking so what’s not to stare at?

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The remainder of the morning and afternoon was spent in our hotel room resting, taking pictures, watching tv and catching up. Out of all the activities we did the entire weekend, this was one of my faves. Life has been going at full speed, and we three don’t always get the chance to connect or rest like we’d like to. Those intimate moments served as a reminder of why we love being and doing life together. It was perfect.  

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I love the social media platform because it can bring people together. We met Stacey on Instagram, and we instantly connected! When we decided to make a trip to the city, planning a meetup with her and her hubby, Keith, was a given. That evening we met up with our new friends for dinner at Buddakan, and let me just say it was uh-maze-ing. I ordered a whole sea bass, which was deboned (hell yes!) and cooked and seasoned so perfectly deliciously while Katie and Louie ordered pork fried rice, pot stickers and steak. The veggies had the perfect crunch and balance of sweet and savory, and besides going goo-goo gaga over the food, the endless conversations with these two were so refreshing. It’s always a beautiful feeling when you come together with people who understand you and delve into deep conversations without any hesitation. Our night ended at the rooftop lounge of our hotel, and although we paid an overly priced minimum to get in as a group, we lucked out with the semi-secluded table and the view that came along with it. It was a great end to the night!  

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On Sunday morning we did our own thing. I kicked some butt with Stacey and Keith at Switch while Katie and Louie visited Middle Church with Dr. Rev. Jacqui Lewis. They had the best time there, and came back feeling so renewed from the message to music to the inclusion of all people. Louie even cried during church, and for those who don’t know him, it takes a lot for him to do that. What I love about my family is that we give each other the space to do whatever we need for our body, soul, mind and spirit. For me, that was centering my temple with a hard ass workout, and for Katie and Louie that looked like church and soaking in a beautiful time of music and inclusion. By the time we reconvened we all felt great!

That afternoon we went to Bareburger for lunch. Stacey and Keith hyped it up so much, and wouldn’t stop raging about the “impossible burger”, which is plant based. Katie and Louie both tried it and were so amazed at how tasty it was. I opted for a salad with a quinoa and chia seed burger, which was also super yummy! We don’t usually do vegan burgers, but last night Louie said he was thinking about it and craving it. Like whoah…who is this? I never thought I’d hear him say he craved something plant-based.  

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We walked over to Washington Square Park, did the whole touristy thing, and took pictures by the arch. On the corner of the street was Stumptown Coffee Roasters, and in remembrance of National Coffee Day Louie ordered a nitro coffee. We found a garden that had the most zen energy. People were readings books, some were just sitting and listening to music, and well, we decided it was the perfect spot for some more pictures.

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After such an amazing weekend spent in good company, we felt ready to dive back into our busy reality. Friends, disconnect happens. Life happens, but it’s important to take time for yourself and with loved ones. Enrichment doesn’t only come in tangible items, but it also comes when spending time with family or those we cherish. This is what enriched us. If you find yourself disconnected or tired, may you find the time to re-center and enrich yourself. As always, thanks for reading!

 

Xo,

Raq  

Photography: Jeff Thatcher Photography

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