Holy cow. I’m really wishing we were setting the clocks back an hour this weekend, not springing forward! I just got back from a go-go-go trip to New York City and well, I could really use an extra hour of sleep. Since my 36 hours in the Big Apple seemed like a marathon, I’m posting here to my running page. 
My trip to NYC was actually for work, but I was able to sneak quite a bit of good things in. I thought it’d be fun to share everything I managed to pack into my quick stay in the Big Apple, via iPhone/Instagram!
After driving five hours down to NYC on Thursday, I needed lunch! I think I manage to go to one of those build-your-own-salad places every time I’m in NYC, and I get so completely anxious when I have to quickly tell them what I want in my salad. So many choices! Oh, note that this would be the last time I saw vegetables for the next 48 hours.
Lunch wouldn’t be complete without dessert, and I happened to be right near a Bouchon Bakery. Two mini macarons, please! Coffee & Vanilla Bean… I probably could have eaten about ten more of the vanilla bean.
I got done working Thursday night close to 10pm and found myself a few blocks from a Trader Joe’s. Yay! I only get to visit TJ’s when I’m in big cities so I had to stop in. These cookie thins are amazing — they’re like a crispier Lorna Doone with a hint of coconut flavor.
Oh, this was the view from my hotel view. Not too bad! 
I stayed at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square. Imagine staying here on New Year’s Eve!
I had work to get done Friday morning, so I headed to Central Park for a nine mile run at 5:30am. It was darker than this (this is actually an iPhone picture of CP from December) and I was really surprised how many people were out. I’m basically the only crazy girl out running at that hour when I’m at home!
Nine miles = hungry runner = breakfast from two places. I tried to be smart with a huge fruit salad, but I couldn’t fight the magnetic attraction of Magnolia Bakery as I walked by.
Most people go to Magnolia for the cupakes, but I usually go for the other stuff there (hello, banana pudding!). I had a delicious cinnamon sugar one when I was in NYC for the marathon. This time I tried Blueberry Crumb, it might be the best muffin I’ve ever had.
I hurried back to my hotel room so I could ice Timmy Tailbone and get started on work, and when I walked into my hotel room I could hear a band playing. No surprise, I walked over to the window and saw Otto & the gang organizing a little pep rally in the middle of Times Square! I’m not lying when I say Syracuse takes over the Big Apple…
After wrapping up work and checking out of my hotel, I wandered around Times Square waiting for my brother to get into the city… we had tickets for the Syracuse semi-final game Friday night! My brother hadn’t seen much of the touristy parts of Manhattan so I gave him an abbreviated tour based on what I know.
I started to feel a little faint while waiting for my brother to arrive… sugar to the rescue! I folded and bought a cupcake at Crumbs Bake Shop — White Chocolate Blueberry (vanilla cupcake with blueberry preserves and white chocolate cream cheese frosting). I had low expectations since I’m usually not very impressed with Crumbs, but was so surprised to actually love it! Cupcake was very moist, and the blueberry filling was amazing.
After a quick tour of Times Square, Rockefeller Central, and Central Park we made our way to John’s Pizzeria. I think I make it to John’s every time I’m in the city — love their thin and crispy pizza. The only picture I have of that is of empty plates I sent to my mom — I was so hungry I didn’t think to take a picture until we got up to leave.
A walk-by of the Empire State and Flatiron Buildings and we made our way to Doughnut Plant! This place has been on my NYC foodie bucket list for a few years. My brother has a soft spot for doughnuts, so I knew he would be more than okay with a little pre-game sugar fix. This one above was my brother’s — Pineapple Glazed!
And I got the Peanut Butter Blackberry Jam! I was really feeling fruity flavors on this trip. I loved it, it was like eating a glazed donut and a crunchy peanut butter and jelly sandwich at once. Hmm, maybe I should make a PB&J on donuts…
On to the Garden! We headed into the Syracuse game early to soak up the atmosphere… unfortunately that was probably the most exciting part of the game, since Syracuse ended up losing to Cincinnati after a terrible first half. Oh well, March Madness really starts next week!
… a tough loss is nothing a little Shake Shack can’t fix! We needed a little pick-me-up… in the form of super crispy fries and concretes. Mine was some sort of special — banana graham caramel mixed with vanilla custard. It actually tasted like my beloved Magnolia Bakery banana pudding!
And in case you’re wondering… I was able to fit into my jeans the next day. Between our quick tour before the game and after, my brother and I actually walked 6.5 miles! Which, combined with my morning run, means none of the above deliciousness counted.
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I loooove all of this! I haven’t been to many of those places, however…will have to add them to the list. One of the nice parts about NYC is that all the walking really does add up, and when it’s nice out it’s easy to walk for miles.
I thought about asking you if you want to meet up to run again, but then thought of your current state and thought, if I were you, I wouldn’t want someone asking me to go for a run. I hope you’re feeling better soon!
that muffin looks great! I posted about blueberries today…big craving for those lately so that muffin is right up my alley!
I’ve been craving berries of all kinds lately… can’t get enough, unfortunately most berries aren’t in season up here in NY until early summer!
Wow! It looks like you had a great time and ate a lot!! I’m so jealous!!!
It was super busy but fun
the muffin and cupcake look amazing!!!
so jealous of your shake shack meal – i live on the west coast but every time i visit NYC i hit up the shake shack because their food is unrivaled!! that photo is making me want to catch the next plane over there just to get shake shack..weird much? haha
I loved Shake Shack! I was bummed I didn’t get to try a burger but I definitely will next time.
Lucky you! You got to eat the doughnut plant’s PB&J! I don’t get to NY very often. I was there 2 years ago & the only time I was able to go to Doughnut Plant, they were closed! I almost cried.
Oh no, I’d have cried! The doughnuts were so good, and the people were so friendly! Such a nice change of pace in NYC.
Looks like you had so much fun!! I still have yet to visit Magnolia’s, although I did fall in love with Clinton St. Bakery the last time I was there!
Ohh, Clinton St. Bakery still remains on my NYC bucket list – I’ve heard they have pancakes to die for!
LOVE this post! More like it, please
. We are really two peas in a pod, Liz. My sweet tooth is raging with jealousy over here. So cool that you got to see your boys play. I put them in the finals on my bracket…though I had to go with my alma mater as the champs. March maaaadness!
I need to plan a trip to DC and we can go sugar crazy for 36 hours down there, they must have some great bakeries to explore!
Yeah!!! I like that plan.
Just read your latest post on ‘Cuse being down a player? Yikes. They better pull through for the sake of my bracket and your sanity.
I should have signed up for the Cherry Blossom Run! That would’ve been a good excuse. There’s always next year!
Yeah, it should be interested how they play without Melo – he’s their giant Center. Life goes on…
I loved Crumbs…my favorite cupcake on our NYC trip
I might be a new fan! I really used to hate Crumbs, but they might be winning me over!
Looks like such a fun weekend! Can you believe I”ve never been to The City?! Unbelievable, right?!
Sorry! But, YES, just remember it JUST actually started- I’m watching the games at work 
I am dying to go. Craig & I were going to go for our one year, but somethings came up & we might have to postpone until next year. I WILL get there though. Definitely!!
As soon as I heard about Syracuse, I thought of you immediately.
Oh man, you’ve got to visit NYC! It’s so much fun even just for a long weekend, and really there’s no bad time of year to visit!
Lucky you get to watch games at work! I just nervously periodically check my phone!
i am so envious of your proximity to NY! i went there in sept for a week and loved it.
It’s always fun to spend a couple days in NYC – always something new to explore!
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