20 Trendy Restaurants: Overrated to Underrated

Trendy restaurants in NYC are always extremely hyped on social media, but are they really worth the money? Most of these places serve the food via "family style" but not really. They want you to order several entrees depending on how big your party is and share them all. The only issue is that for instance for a party of 4, they recommend about 6 entrees at over $20 a piece plus drinks and tip. Once you leave these places, you're about $75 in debt and most likely still going to grab a slice of dollar pizza later. So that all of my readers don't make the same mistakes that I did, I decided to rank 20 of the trendy restaurants I've been to in NYC from most overrated to most underrated.

1. Avra Madison: Pretentious, snooty, expensive. Not recommended. 
2. Stanton Social: The food is good, but the portions are very tiny and overpriced. The oreo pancakes look normal sized on Instagram, but in real life, they're silver dollars.
3. STK: The menu is basically all steak and the steak is not even that good. The atmosphere is attractive, but rather basic.
4. Tao: The food portions aren't too small, but $35 for kung pao chicken is a bit much. 
5. Sushi Samba: The sushi is just okay.
6. Beauty & Essex: Gorgeous atmosphere, but the food portions are very small and it's really expensive. Gotta go for the Instagram though! 
7. Buddakaan: Known to be a go-to spot for the Kardashians which is cool, but I personally did not enjoy the food.
8. Bodega Negra: Home of the famous melting chocolate ball with a cake underneath. Really nice spot, but expensive
9. Vandal: Really cool atmosphere and amazing desserts! Great for birthday celebrations.
10. Loopy Doopy Rooftop Bar: Worth it for the Instagram. The drinks are very tasty and the sunset view is beautiful! 
11. Mr. Chow: Another spot with many celebrity spottings and the food is pretty good to be honest!
12. Nobu: Extremely hyped thanks to Drake. Many celebrity spottings and amazing sushi! 
13. Hotel Chantelle: The rooftop is beautiful and the brunch is really good. Cheap drinks ($1 shots!) and not a very expensive place overall.
14. The Smith: The mac and cheese is worth the trip. 
15. Cafeteria: Open 24 hours which is really cool and it's comfort food so how can it be bad? 
16. Bar Pitti: Worth it. 
17. By Chloe: Rather expensive for a grab and go spot, but it's all natural vegan food so it's understandable and well worth it. The guac burger is to die for! 
18. Fig & Olive: One of my personal favorites. Beautiful atmosphere and rather low key. 
19. Catch: Great brunch deals and large portions. Price matches up to serving sizes and location/atmosphere/hype.
20. Hillstone: Very underrated spot. Great food and decent portion sizes. Expensive but not terrible. 

Hopefully this helps out all you food connoisseurs and now you know my opinion on what restaurants to avoid and what restaurants to attend! 

Broke Summers in the City

New York City is one of the best places to be in the summer. From rooftops to parks, there are endless amounts of fun things to do. The only problem, is that it is also one of the most expensive cities in the world. To help you guys out, I crafted a list of fun things young people enjoy in NYC that cost little to no money! Check it out:

• Central Park: A great place to tan, toss a frisbee, have a picnic, or relax with some friends! 
• The Highline: A great place for views of the Hudson and to capture your next 'gram! 
• FIT Museum: If you're into fashion, you have to check it out. 
• Bronx Zoo: Discounted rate for Fordham students! 
• MoMA: Free on Fridays from 4-8 PM. 
• Brooklyn Botanical Gardens: Escape the city craze for a chill day in BK! 
• Bryant Park: Free movies brought to you by HBO as well as free yoga classes! 
• Coney Island: Beaches, food, friends, and rides. 
• Brooklyn Bridge: Beautiful especially during the sunset! 
• Kayaking on the Hudson: Available in Tribeca at Pier 26 or Upper West Side 72nd St at Pier 96. 
• Brooklyn Brewery Tour: Free tours and tastings from 2-5 PM on Saturdays and Sundays.
• Smorgasburg in Brooklyn: Free to enter, but you must be prepared to drop some money on a ramen burger, alcoholic popsicle, or cheese fries!
• Beauty Bar's Martinis and Manicures: Only $10 for a drink and a manicure.
• Summer Stage: Over 100 concerts in 16 boroughs, all FREE. Check out Time Out for a list of shows and locations! 
• Broadway Bites: Midtown food fair, very affordable. Hurry though, they close for the season on July 14th! 

Hope this list was beneficial and pumped you up for the rest of the summer! These are all must hits before it's back to school. Enjoy! 

Supreme is Supreme

Supreme is one of the most unattainable and exclusive street wear brands today. Unlike other street wear brands, Supreme is based in New York City, which makes it, like NYC itself, restricted only to those who can afford it. As I’ve mentioned in a previous post, simple box logo t-shirts are really only available through secondary resale sites for hundreds and hundreds of dollars. It’s quite insane, but the question is why is it so appealing? Is it the exclusivity of the brand? Is it the fact that the only real Supreme stores are located in glamorous and fashion-forward cities like NYC, LA, Tokyo, London, and Paris? These are all potential reasons, but like most brands, Supreme has become so incredibly hyped because of its prevalence in popular culture. I was interested in seeing what Wikipedia had to say about the brand's popularity considering it is a rather new hype. Wikipedia states: 

Fashion photographer Terry Richardson has produced some of the brand's most notable photographs, including of Michael Jordan, Kermit the Frog,^[16] Three Six Mafia, Lou Reed, Lady Gaga, Neil Young,^[17] and Morrissey. Kenneth Cappello^[18] is the man responsible for some of Supreme's most notable photo tees like Mike Tyson, Dipset and Raekwon.^[19]Notable people who have worn Supreme clothing in public include members of the group Odd Future,^[20][3] and (EXO) Byun Baekhyun, and Odell Beckham Jr.

These references to Supreme in pop culture are not even the first of them and do not do the brand justice at all. I decided to adjust the facts by adding a few more notable appearances! View my changes below: 

Fashion photographer Terry Richardson has produced some of the brand's most notable photographs, including of Michael Jordan, Kermit the Frog,^[16] Three Six Mafia, Lou Reed, Lady Gaga, Neil Young,^[17] and Morrissey. Kenneth Cappello^[18] is the man responsible for some of Supreme's most notable photo tees like Mike Tyson, Dipset and Raekwon.^[19]Notable people who have worn Supreme clothing in public include members of the group Odd Future,^[20][3] and (EXO) Byun Baekhyun, and Odell Beckham Jr. Recently, Supreme can be found on many more celebrities including Bun B, Chris Brown, Drake, Frank Ocean, Jim Jones, Justin Bieber, Kanye West, Jonah Hill, Pharrell, Teyana Taylor, John Mayer, Maxwell, Swizz Beatz, Lady Gaga, Mos Def, The Dream, Wale, Tyler the Creator, Adam Yauch, Nas, Kid Cudi, and P. Diddy. Supreme is also incredibly large in Asia. Asian celebrities like the boy band BTS are often photographed wearing the brand which influences its hype in Asian pop culture. 

Because of Supreme's popularity in popular culture, it's become an extremely desired brand and is not exactly available to the public. Celebrities, public figures, extreme collectors, and wealthy individuals are really the only people who the brand is attainable to. Something that many people fail to remember when reflecting on the Supreme hype is its popularity in Asian fashion. Asian countries are notorious for street wear brands and as an American brand, Supreme is widely renowned in Asian countries for its exclusivity and overpriced resales. It's one of those brands that people think you're "cool" just because you wear it. In Asian countries specifically, the Supreme appeal is of equivalence to high end sports cars. "Guys in Asia simply get more girls if they wear Supreme. It’s as simple as that. Supreme is definitely not an underground brand in a city like Seoul or Tokyo" (Kiuru). Asian and American celebrities are often photographed wearing Supreme which makes it appear to be a brand that only "anybody who's somebody" wears.

Overall, Supreme is ridiculously hyped right now and it's all because of who's wearing it.

I Took a Pill in Ibiza… NOT!

Last August, my friend Brenda and I embarked on a rather unorthodox trip for two very young girls. Fascinated with the glamorous hype that is Ibiza, we decided to visit the renowned party city for a little fun in the sun. My family and friends were rather skeptical of this decision to use our hard earned money on a trip to this foreign island, but we convinced them that it was worth it and would be an experience of a lifetime. Since we were going to be flying several hours and taking up to 3 planes considering there are no direct flights to Ibiza (unless you take a private jet), we decided to stay for one whole week so we could truly experience everything. If you’re ever contemplating visiting Ibiza, I highly recommend it. Contrary to popular belief, Ibiza is not just a city consisting of wealthy individuals swallowing pills all the time. Ibiza is beautiful and the culture is magnificent.
It is by far one of the most laid back places I have ever visited. The people were all extremely friendly and there was just so much to do throughout the days. Whether it be concerts and raves or theatrical shows and water sports, there is only one word to describe Ibiza: fun. Of course, I’d be ignorant to believe that some of the visitors on the island were not consuming illegal substances, but the great part is, you don’t have to involve yourself with those individuals if you don’t want to. Brenda and I made plenty of friends and talked to so many cool and interesting people who were also sober like ourselves. While it may seem like the island is pretentiously filled with Birkin-carrying housewives and intoxicated frat boys, Ibiza is actually a very chill environment. There are street markets where you can find handmade apparel and jewelry or even get your hair braided and look like an island resident. While there’s plenty of designer stores and expensive restaurants, there’s also
authentic Spanish cuisine all over the island with the best paella and the nicest servers. Everybody in Ibiza made me feel extremely comfortable in the foreign atmosphere. Of course, we had to experience one of the raves at the glorious Ushuäia Hotel. Martin Garrix’s show Multiply is one of the most amazing concerts I’ve ever attended. Looking around, I didn’t feel like I was surrounded by a bunch of high strangers, it was more like a bunch of people having a good time enjoying music. It might be shocking to hear, but I didn’t see any drugs or scarily intoxicated individuals throughout my whole week in Ibiza. When people say that Ibiza is a party island, they’re right in a way, but it’s so much more than that. It’s an island with amazing culture, beautiful beaches, good food, music and fun times overall. When asked if I recommend Ibiza as a vacation spot, I’d give it a 10 out 10; highly recommended. It’s definitely an experience worth every penny and if you do go, don't listen to Mike Posner in his hit single "I Took a Pill in Ibiza". Be like me and don't take any pills. This is a trip you want to remember, trust me!

All About the Hype

Whether you're in NYC, LA, Miami, or any other major city, you're bound to run into a ton of "hype beasts" each day. The latest fad all over the world, but especially in major cities is streetwear brands. Palace, Adidas, Yeezy, Comme des Garcons, Supreme, Bape, and Billionaires Boys Club, you name it! Some of these brands are so hyped that they resell for an absurd amount of money more than their retail price. Personally, I don't understand why a Supreme box logo tee (pictured below) should retail about $25 and resell for almost $800.

As you can tell, the shirt is so plain and simple, but authentic ones are extremely rare and hard to purchase through retail which gives it its value to "hype beasts". The same value is given to Kanye West's collaboration with Adidas. His Yeezy 350 V2 sneakers retail $200 through Adidas and other sneaker websites but there are extremely limited quantities which makes them difficult to purchase through retail. If you happen to be one of the lucky people who do get a pair in your cart, you will be able to resell it for over $600 depending on the pair you get. Personally my least favorite pair of Yeezys are the zebras, yet they were the most hyped and hardest to purchase through retail sites (pictured below). 

NYC vs. MIA

About one month ago I returned to New York from a week long trip to Miami. This was not my first time in Miami, but it was the first time I truly experienced Miami and didn’t just spend every day by my resort’s pool. New York will always be my one true love, but Miami is a very close second. While visiting and exploring this city, I realized how different the culture truly is from New York even though it’s also a major city in the US and just a three-hour plane ride away.

First of all, Miami is spacious. There are so many different parts of Miami and everything is approximately 20-minutes away from each other. The restaurants, bars, clubs, and stores are so much bigger than ones in New York. When my friends and I hit the town in New York, I always end up covered in some sticky beverage because there’s physically no room for people to walk around establishments without bumping into other people. Also in Miami, I realized that the lines and wait times are much shorter and way more relaxed, while in New York it seems like every time there’s a wait time for something it’s super stressful for all parties involved. Second, Miami is expensive but cheaper than New York. Restaurants that would be extremely overpriced in New York are cheaper in Miami, hotels are cheaper in Miami, and most importantly Ubers are cheaper in Miami! A 20-minute Uber ride in Miami averaged $10 while in New York, a ride of the same distance costs about double or more. To be driven short distances in Miami, I paid about $3-$5 every time while in New York, it’s almost impossible to get an Uber ride for less than $8 even if you’re only going 10 blocks. 

Next, Miami fashion is extremely different from New York. In New York, black is in style year round and it’s, of course, not socially acceptable to walk around in a bathing suit. In Miami, the days are filled with people walking about in their wet bathing suits and the nights are filled with a rainbow of clothing. Everyone wears outfits that are fun. In addition, I was shocked to see girls in fancy establishments wearing denim shorts with heels. In New York, it would never be acceptable to wear such an outfit in fancy restaurant such as Zuma or STK, but at these chains in Miami it was totally not frowned upon! This really gives New Yorkers a taste of what a laid back city looks and feels like. 

As it is a big city like New York, there are definitely some tourist spots in Miami, but let’s be real, not many people vacation to Miami to visit buildings or museums. People want to be outside. If you ever find yourself in Miami, you MUST visit the Wynwood Walls. Basically it’s a strip of walls with beautiful, abstract, graffiti art on them and they’re extremely picturesque. The walls are so cool, fun, and necessary for your Instagram account! 

Finally, the best food in Miami is Latin food. A lot of the Miami residents are Peruvian, Cuban, and other Hispanic cultures from Latin America. Latin food is always a good idea, but it’s especially a good idea in Miami! My personal favorite restaurants are CVI.CHE 105, a trendy little Peruvian restaurant with amazing ceviche, and Yuca, an amazingly authentic Cuban place located on Lincoln Road. To sum up, if you ever find yourself in SoBe, don’t just sit by the pool all day even though it’s extremely tempting. Experience the culture in Miami especially if you’re a New Yorker like myself. Miami is such a fun and different experience and I really want to return ASAP!

Let's Get Started!

Welcome to Food. Fashion. Flights. I began this lifestyle blog because my three favorite things to do in the world are eating, shopping, and traveling. As a young girl in her 20s living in New York City, I have had some amazing experiences and I plan to have many more this summer! I'm dedicating this blog to people who are also looking to have fun and exciting experiences this summer. My blog will feature all kinds of different events, trends, and destinations that will make this a summer for the books! I plan to report on food or music festivals, free things to do in various cities, travel spots that everyone should save up for a visit to, fashion and art exhibits, and more! I will be using my own personal research and experiences, along with feedback from friends to share all of the hottest spots to experience during the season. Stay tuned!