Williamsburg Smorgasburg: East River State Park

Imagine over 100 food vendors in one place: grilling, frying, smoking, freezing, wrapping... the world is your oyster.

As a matter of fact, oysters are an option there, too! I should note, it is EXTREMELY crowded, understandably so. Tents as far as the eye can see.

Smorgasburg is like a foodie's dream. All of those cult-following edible creations over the years - like nori wraps, ramen burgers, raindrop cakes, etc. - can be found in one massive place... and it's on the water!

My favorite thing to eat there (preferably in mass quantities, the sauce is majorly addicting) are the summer rolls from Lonestar Empire.

As a vegetarian, I like to get their tofu and mushroom option, however, my boyfriend raves about their slow-roasted brisket. The veggies are crisp and refreshing, the sauce is sweet and salty, and the mushroom and tofu add some great body to the easy finger food.

And how amazing is that view? You can see the Empire State building in the distance, and if you could see to the left (beyond the edge of the picture) you would see One World Trade Center.

After a walk down by the water, and a few savory snacks, the dessert options are limitless. I already mentioned the raindrop cakes, but there are all kinds of craft ice creams and baked goods available.

If you're anything like me, you might be pretty full by the time you get to "dessert"... but don't you worry, I have a solution to that problem!

People's pops. Let me tell you, if I could purchase boxes of these from the grocery store to keep around for all the days of the week, I would.

People's pops makes shave ices right before your eyes as well.

What makes them particularly special, though? I mean, you can get a popsicle anywhere... but can you get a raspberry basil popsicle anywhere? Probably not. How about melon mojito, rhubarb tarragon, ginger pear riesling, peach jasmine...

Ok. Now I really want popsicles. 

If you're ever staying in the city, I don't think that it's possible for me to emphasize how strongly I recommend visiting Smorgasburg. As a matter of fact, it's probably the best place you could possibly eat on a visit in the city, since you get to try so many from the list of the-best-of, all in one stop.

Happy eating!

Brooklyn Flea, Part 2: Fort Green

You may or may not recall my first visit to The Flea... it was doughnut filled and lovely. Well, I went back, but this time to a different location. The Brooklyn Flea in Fort Green is significantly larger!

I spotted these really lovely, authentic African style textiles. Along with the piles of beautifully dyed heavy-duty fabrics were books with details about traditional patterns and colors. I was torn between at least five of them, but decided on a black, heavy tapestry with white geometric design. It happens to be at the top of that black pile!

Up and down the aisles of tents were plenty of shiny, beautiful knick knacks and treasures. 

When I found these gorgeous Vivenne Westwood shoes mixed in amongst re-purposed dinosaur toys, my heart skipped a beat... no pun intended! They're the kind of shoes that I used to look at pictures and admire, but had never seen in person.

There was no shortage of stylish, colorful vintage and antique styles...

Or new, stylish hand-crafted goods!

Just like at the first flea market, there was some pretty amazing ephemera and vintage paper goods.

I particularly loved these old glasses! These were the cartoons my parents showed me as a kid, and it was amazing seeing them immortalized on glassware, similar to the Welch's jelly jars of my own childhood!

If you're anywhere around New York and trying to find the right flea market, this is a great option! It's not the largest necessarily, but it's definitely one of the most fine-tuned and nicely curated.

Something to do in... Brooklyn, NY

The weather is getting nicer and we all want to get outside! So I'm going to interrupt my Iceland stories for a bit of New York in the springtime. -brief pause-

So if you're in the New York/New Jersey area and you're looking for a way to enjoy the absolutely positively fabulous weather we've been having, why not take a quick trip out to Brooklyn?

I mean, for starters, if you like doughnuts half as much as I do...

On a nice, sunny Sunday, we swung by the Brooklyn Flea by the Manhattan Bridge Archway.

Treasures and treats everywhere you look, we found some super cool vintage prints that I plan on having framed.

Having come from the medical sciences and biology in school, I found the antique and vintage diagrams particularly awesome. One labels different common species of bugs and insects, the other details the most basic level of the nervous system.

There's a little something for everyone! Knick knacks, furniture, hand-made crafts, some really beautiful jewelry...

Or maybe photography is your thing? I thought these were super cool.

After you've had your fill of doughnuts and made your special finds, maybe take a walk around the park! You'll find plenty of places to sit and enjoy the sunshine, or wander through if you're in need of the walk. After that doughnut, you know I went opted for the latter of the two.

Beautiful views everywhere you look; there's nothing quite like New York City in the spring. Living so close by, I'm in and out of the city all year 'round, but this is by far my favorite time of the year here.

We wound up crossing the bridge to TriBeCa after the flea market to grab a drink and some super-seriously-monstrous nachos from South's. That'll be another post for another day, though!