Columbus Circle ● NYC

Welcome to what very well may be the coolest restaurant in the city: Robert, on the 9th floor of the Museum of Arts and Design. 

Killer views of Columbus Circle and Central Park and amazing food.

MoMA ● NYC

At the Museum of Modern Art on Target Free Friday. 

Where the art is so simple that it's hard to understand.

The Hudson ● NYC

Barbeque in Queens (view of Manhattan from Queens above), fireworks at the Hudson and a rooftop bar. 

A very happy Fourth of July.

Fireworks at the Hudson

Ben and I at the Macy's Fireworks Show

Celebrating with Kara and Matt

Ending the night on the rooftop of Brass Monkey

Levain Bakery ● NYC

Afternoon treat: a massive Walnut & Chocolate Chip Cookie from Levain Bakery

[167 W 74th Street, NYC]

Roosevelt Island ● NYC

On the hottest day of the heat wave so far this summer, I explored the Upper East side. And ended up walking 11 miles. I was dying for any chance to sit down, so stumbling across the Roosevelt Island tram was more than ideal. You've probably seen the tram in movies (Spiderman!), but it really was cool in person. A low metro card fee lets you take off over the East River for a two minute ride. I literally rode it there, walked around for 10 minutes and rode it straight back. But the silence of the island and the views were worth it. Check out the video below!

Staten Island ● NYC

On a whim, Kelsie, Seth and I made the quick decision to hop on the Staten Island Ferry and spend time outside the city. It's free, so as interns and students trying to make every last dollar count, we obviously didn't need convincing. The ride gave a perfect view of our Lady Liberty, and the Staten Island 9/11 Memorial (see below) was really touching. Other than that, plans didn't exactly work out.

Kelsie and I were so excited about the Staten Island Zoo, but by the time we figured out (and by figured out, I mean harassed bus driver for answers) and arrived at the zoo, the sign read "Closed." Luckily, a native Staten Islander was kind enough to tell us that our next stop, the Snug Harbor Cultural Center, was probably closed, too. After four weeks in the city, I guess I had slipped into the mentality that everything is always open. I don't think we've ever been happier to head back toward the skyline, and to our real summer home.

Memorial commemorating Staten Island's 9/11 victims

(Note: the memorial frames where the towers used to stand, and where the new World Trade Center is being constructed)

Along the streets of Staten Island

The only animal we saw at the Staten Park Zoo -- from outside the gate.