Day 1
We were eager to leave Ohio, and just get to New York. So we limited our stops and made straight for our Airbnb in Jersey City. After figuring out the enigma that is street parking, we took an Uber into the city for the night.
John’s main priority was to get some new shoes, so he got a pair of Timberland boots in SoHo. That neighborhood is incredible, it’s the fashion distract and it shows. Everyone walking on the street had “drip” (designer clothes, style, personality), and it just makes everyone look more attractive. I imagine there is a lot of pressure to constantly look put together. We were very hungry so found an italian restuarant called La Pecora Bianca and ordered some drinks and pasta. I had cacio e pepe bucatini, while John had a mushroom garganelli.


After dinner, we walked around for a bit more in SoHo looking for a new bar to drink at. Luckily it wasn’t that hard to find, and we ended up in a place called La Diaspora, where I ordered us two shots of Don Julio Reposado, we each got a proper cocktail as well.

It was getting late, and the dogs needed to be walked before bedtime so we asked for the check, but they just made us another round of drinks! (and then brought us the check) so we quickly downed another cocktail each.

We hailed an Uber, and when we got back to the Airbnb we drunkenly took each dog on a long walk. We then attempted to get more to drink, but the nearest 7/11 didn’t carry any alcohol, thank god.
Day 2
Our plans for an early start today, were immediately derailed by last night. I woke up at 9AM (late for me). Our first priority was getting the rental car cleaned and returned. On the drive we discovered a broken traffic light, so were stuck in a side street with no exit. So I had to perform a 30 point turn in our Grand Wagoneer to go back up the street, I think John was grateful that I was driving for that. Once the car was done we took an Uber straight into the city. John had more shopping to do: a sweater. And he needed it, it was rainy, cold, and windy today. After shopping we went to get lunch at Rubirosa, a pizzeria recommended to me by an American 35 customer, Jenna, who I met at Rotie Cellars. She wrote it down on a napkin for me.

Don’t let the small front deceive you. After walking through the door you’re greeted by a red curtain (like from a stage), and the host walks you through a labyrinth consisting of a bar, and three kitchens punctuated by little dining rooms in between. The cramped walls and low ceilings guided us to the tinest table at the very back of the restaurant. We ordered a half and half pizza. Half fresh tomato, arugula, with balsamic glaze; and half Tye Dye: vodka sauce, fresh mozz, and pesto.

This was my first New York pizza, and it did not disappoint. The two of us at the entire 18 inch pizza. After lunch we stopped by Wallowa county native, Tyler Hays’s store: BDDW. It’s a bespoke furniture store for ultra-wealthy clients, imagine an art museum where you can touch and buy everything. We basically went there to show off to the staff that we (mostly John) have a relationship with the owner. After that we went back to the Airbnb to take care of the dogs, and do some work for our jobs. And most importantly nap, and hydrate to prepare for the night!
The first stop once we got back in the city was a college bar called Off The Wagon, near NYU. John got a gin and tonic, and I got a disappointing Negroni (about what I expected lol). After finishing our drinks and chatting with the bar tender about cringey movies we popped into a smoke shop to get some gum. I got some Reeses and we decided it was time to make our way uptown for our dinner reservation with Lindsey and Claire, at 9:45PM.
This was out first time on the subway this trip, so easy to use, we took it to midtown. When we got up to the surface we were greeted with this view

Since we had some time before our reservation we decided to hit up another bar, The Parlour Room. John took this photo of me on the way.

This was hands down the nicest bar I’ve ever been too. We got seated in the loft (it had it’s own smaller bar).

We had more good food there, I had mushroom arancini, and John had chips and dip. We closed our tab and walked towards our final bar of the night, Pebble. On the way I tried to find a garbage can and ended up at Rockefeller Center Plaza, no trash can to be found, 1 star.
John and I got to Pebble before Lindsey and Claire (they were at a Broadway show), and got settled. When they did arrive, they arrived with a bang: immediately knocking a glass off our table! haha. Dinner at Pebble was amazing, we had bread and butter, sliders, shrimp cocktail, deviled eggs, and steak tartare with quail egg, and mushroom tartare. All excellent. Lindsey and Claire got martinis, I got a twist on a gin and tonic called a Kathy Mccarty. It was very dark in there, I have no photos. I enjoyed their company, and it was the overall best time so far this trip. It was midnight by the time we finished dinner, so we took some photos before they taxied back to Brooklyn.

Lindsey & Claire
