Whenever my sister Alyssa comes to town, it never feels like we have to entertain, but it’s always fun to take her to someplace new. 🙂 During her recent trip, we decided to check out the recently opened Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club in Brooklyn. It’s sort of hilarious in a way—bringing the best of Florida recreation to NYC—but it’s also a ton of fun. 

My favorite part about the club was that it really did feel like a spot to just chill. There are two bars, both serving up sunshine-inspired cocktails, but there are board games to borrow and lots of tables to just chat and hang out with friends. We had to wait an hour and a half for a court, but it went by in a blink in an atmosphere like that.

Have you tried shuffleboard before? The only time I played before was at an old-school resort in Maine. One tip: It’s not as easy as it looks!

PS: More NYC recreation.

(Images via Grub Street)

A couple of weeks ago, I made a quick trip to Providence, Rhode Island for just one night. I had the pleasure of staying at The Dean, a new boutique hotel that just opened on Fountain Street in a 1911 building that used to be a brothel. Talk about a turn-around: The vintage décor and college-inspired atmosphere make it feel so sleek and urban. In fact, the design team is Brooklyn-based, a connection that’s evident from the moment you walk in.

When I was in college in Massachusetts, Providence was a short 20-minute drive from my school, offering a small dose of city culture whenever my friends and I needed to get away. I loved roaming Thayer Street, and spent many nights seeing a cappella at Brown University, located nearby.

It was fun to return—even for an overnight—and see how the city continues to evolve. The Dean, with it’s karaoke lounge and German-inspired beer hall on-site, is such a cool new spot. I highly recommend popping by (even for a cup of Bolt Coffee) the next time you’re in town.

PS: A lobby selfie.

(Images via Yatzer and Sketch42)

The first time I heard Carla Bruni—the former First Lady of France—sing, it was on the 500 Days of Summer soundtrack. The song that was included, called “Quelqu’un m’a Dit,” is breathtaking. I listened to it over and over again before deciding I wanted to hear more. When I discovered her latest album, Little French Songs, I was hooked. Now, Carla’s music is a part of my regular morning routine. There’s something so soothing and peaceful about her voice. It totally calms my brain before a hectic day. 

Right around the time I found Carla’s music, she announced an international tour with a stop in New York. I’m going to hear her perform at the Town Hall this week, and I can’t wait. It will be my dose of French culture, which is perfect timing since I leave for Paris four weeks from today.

Are you a Carla Bruni fan?

PS: My favorite song on her new album.

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Excuse the radio silence last week—my beloved MacBook Pro decided to completely crash. One minute, it was totally functional (well, maybe slightly low on hard drive space after five years of use). The next? Frozen. The only sign of life was that colorful spinning pinwheel, usually not the best sign. 

After a tearful call with Apple and a trip to the genius bar, I got the bad news: There was nothing they could do. I’m up and running—at last!—with a new machine, but only after a last-ditch trip to Tekserve to find out if there is any data they could save. The whole time I was there, waiting patiently for my ticket number to be called, all I could think of was Carrie Bradshaw, and the Sex and the City episode where her computer crashes. Matt had a similar response to Aidan: “Oh, did you try this?” Yes. Yes, I did. 🙂 

It’s a sweet reminder of Carrie’s advice in that episode: No matter how much stock we put in our digital devices, when they crash—just like in life—all we can do is breathe and reboot.

Oh, and maybe remember the value of backing up. 

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Happy Friday, my darling readers! What do you have planned for the weekend? My sister is visiting from California and I’m SO excited. We’re hoping to see a Broadway show, but spend lots of time just hanging in Brooklyn, too. Wishing you a wonderful and relaxing weekend ahead. Here, to get it started right, a few happy posts from around the web:

How I feel come Friday. (And Saturday…)

The Tonight Show time lapse.

Ode to Jackie O. 

Perfect for a Derby party.

Another way to pot plants at home.

One (very real) NYC fear.

A new way to organize all your pics.

Strap hangers.

The best way to celebrate warmer weather.

Two words: Paul. Rudd.

(Image via Note to Self)