It had been ages since T and I had done a date night in the city, so when he proposed an evening down there and a bit of shopping for my Christmas present, I jumped at the opportunity. I was off that Friday, so went into the city by late afternoon so we could make the most of our time down at the South Street Seaport.
We started with a visit to the SJP boutique, the first US permanent location for Sarah Jessica Parker’s shoe line. It was a bit after 3PM so we had the store to ourselves for a bit. I was super pregnant at the time so hadn’t worn nice heels in quite some time, so it was so fun to peruse their options and feel fancy for a bit. I can’t say enough wonderful things about the staff. They patiently let me try on lots of different options and sizes (shoes get tricky post-pregnancy!) as I tried to narrow down my choice. I ended up with these beautiful slightly netted option with a touch of sparkle – wearable in the office yet just a touch of bling for my feet. Perfection.
From there, we went up to the rooftop where there is a temporary bar area called Tank set up alongside the brand new Winterland Rink that’s there through March. The view from the roof is amazing, with the Brooklyn Bridge visible only slightly in the distance. It was a bit cloudy and rainy when we were there but thankfully it cleared for a bit so we could get the full experience with the view. We also enjoyed some great pre-dinner treats at Tank, like this butternut squash soup and (for me) a mocktail.
For dinner, we had reservations at the then newly opened R17, a New American restaurant and cocktail lounge from executive chef Cassidy Hallman. The wintertime décor featured cozy fireplaces throughout the space, which was perfect on that chilly damp December night.
There was a lot of the menu I had to abstain from – from the delicious crudo to the extensive cocktail list. All reasons for a return visit. Highlights for me were the beet salad with whipped ricotta and hazelnut crumble (pictured, above) and the short rib. They even were able to make me a mocktail so flavorful that I didn’t feel left out. Their menu is small and changes regularly (everything we had is no longer available) so look forward to seeing what they’re offering on our next visit! Hopefully their much lauded Hamachi crudo will still be on the menu…
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