After yesterday’s awesome VITALITY workout session that I hosted with my personal trainer and Equinox, we headed over to Beecher’s Cellar for their happy hour special!
We were all amazed by the Cellar’s decor and atmosphere! It is a small space, probably able to fit around 85-100 people, but lit with warm candles throughout. Featuring a full bar, cow hide covered booth seats, and benches made out of the original building.
Our service last night was wonderful and their happy hour specials were the best deal I’ve seen in ages!
It was wonderful to catch up with some of the VITALITY class attendees afterwards in a non workout based setting. It was actually the first time I’ve seen many of these ladies in anything other than ponytails and workout gear. Randomly, my trainer, Lauren, and I both brought white tops and skinny dark jeans to change into for the happy hour!
After the happy hour Bo and I headed downtown for dinner with a few of our friends. I’ve been craving Mexican all week so was thrilled when we were able to snag reservations at Mole Mexican Bar & Grill, a small Mexican restaurant on Jane Street we’d passed by many times before. Believe it or not, it’s quite difficult to find authentic Mexican food in New York City, beyond Rosa Mexicana and Dos Caminos.
The food and drinks were absolutely what we wanted! The drink menu was an extensive, including plenty of tequila based drinks beyond margaritas. I started with a tequila and grapefruit cocktail which was delicious. But, their margaritas were the real show stopper. It even came with red pepper infused salt!
The space, while tiny, had a wonderful energy including Mexican music! The staff was also very friendly and helpful even though they were jam packed last night.
After studying the menu for what seemed like ages, I finally decided to go with my old favorite, a quesadilla. I used to order a veggie quesadilla every Friday night when my sorority sisters and I went out for Friday night dinners.
Last night’s quesadilla was enormous! I was only able to eat half of it but every piece was vegetable filled and dripping with gooey cheese.
It was a fun night that continued at Hotel Griffou until I finally called it a night when I was close to falling asleep on their comfortable velvet couch. On my way out, I passed a familiar looking guy and within seconds did a double take to realize it was John Mayer. He definitely looks nothing like he used to when I spent evenings listening to Room for Squares on repeat each night of freshman year.
THEN NOW
The wine, tequila, and double workout, while fun, left me exhausted. I slept in until 10am this morning, missing the yoga class I had hoped to attend.
All was not lost though, because this week’s pancake breakfast was even better than last weeks! I took a note from Meghann’s book and topped the whole wheat pancakes with peaches and bananas!
This was the perfect fuel for a three mile recovery run and shopping in Columbus Circle.
The short day flew by and I can’t believe it’s already 6pm! I’m currently curled up in my new pair of CEW recovery socks, silk pajama bottoms, and my favorite hoody while enjoying amazing fall scents from new candles and sipping on a lovely glass of wine. This my friends is going to be the perfect Sunday evening!
Question: Tell me, are you a pumpkin lover or hater? I find it so amusing that people are so passionate about this topic. If you love it, what’s your favorite pumpkin thing and if you hate it, what’s your favorite fall food?
glad it was so fun! wish i could have made it! beecher’s cellar looks awesome i’ve never been but i’ll have to try it out. and yikes – what a disappointing fall from grace for john mayer, haha.
Those pancakes look delicious!!! Pancakes are the perfect weekend breakfast!
I love the concept of pumpkin – it signifies fall, it’s healthy, it can “spice” up ordinary things and you can add it to everything…but to be honest, I’ve never really been pleased with most pumpkin things I’ve eaten. The pumpkin pancakes, cookies and muffins I’ve had always end up dry. I love pumpkin pie, but after a few bites I get bored of it. So to answer your question, I am a pumpkin fanatic, but I’m not sure why haha
…ooh, but I do love pumpkin beer! No recipe for that though 🙂
Favorite fall food is Apples hands-down….and then anything with Apple’s in them like Apple Pie yummm
A few things…
1. Love the pumpkin question! When everyone lists out their excitement for the fall season, I find pumpkin lattes high on the list. I do enjoy those seasonal delights from Starbucks but don’t really get into pumpkin otherwise. That is, except for Halloween pumpkin picking!
2. Love your white lacy top at Mole.
3. 100% agree with you on lack of good Mexican options in NYC. Two recommendations: El Parador at 34th & 2nd Ave; and for something more hole-in-the wall The Little Place in Tribeca. Both yummy and authentic!
Amanda: I love pumpkin too but have never tried the Starbucks drink! Also, I am lusting over this lace top at Piperlime http://piperlime.gap.com/browse/product.do?searchCID=4016&cid=4016&vid=1&pid=241616&scid=241616002. We’ll have to try those Mexican restaurants, thanks!!
Pumpkin LOVER! Some of my favorites are: pumpkin pie, pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin pasta, pumpkin bread/ muffins, and pumpkin yogurt bowls [plain Greek yogurt + pumpkin + cinnamon + stevia + cereal/ crushed graham crackers] 😀
VITALITY was AWESOME! Lauren truly is amazing and it was so great to meet you!!!
i look forward to the Fall just so I can have my pumpkin oats! I will never turn down a good pumpkin chocolate chip muffin either!
Alyssa: YOU were awesome! It was so wonderful meeting you this weekend. I wish you lived in the city! Please let me know if you’re ever around for a workout class or yoga!
How can you hate pumpkin? Have you seen one? it’s just so cheerful! Also, it tastes like fall. Also, they’re great for jack-o-lanterns, and if you don’t like pumpkins, you don’t like jack-o-lanterns, and wouldn’t a crying jack-o-lantern be the saddest thing ever?
Cat: I so missed meeting you this week! I know, what’s up with the pumpkin haters? I absolutely love all things fall and winter, even snow!
Nothing speaks of fall like pumpkin. I love pumpkin pie with walnuts on the top. I love pumpkin muffins. What’s not to love? I also love Pumpkin Spice coffee drink at Starbucks. Yummy!
Nora: That is exactly how I feel. I’ve actually never had the pumpkin spice coffee drink at Starbucks but do love a good pumpkin muffin. Hmm, I think I want to make some this weekend!
MMm…a good margarita makes me happy. I think Mexican is one of the hardest types of foods to find authentic and fresh tasting food in any city. Kind of frustrating since I love it so.