5 OUTDOOR THINGS TO DO IN NYC THIS SUMMER

Now that Memorial Day has come and gone, it's the unofficial start to Summer. And that means it's time to soak up some SUN and take advantage of these long Summer days. Although New York City is known for being a concrete jungle, the city has a lot to offer when it comes to life outdoors. So, I'm sharing five things to do outdoors this Summer in NYC.

1. Bryant Park

There are an array of parks all over Manhattan, but this one is worth braving the crowds for. Bryant Park hosts a ton of events during the Summer months. You can take a FREE Yoga class in the park, watch a movie on the lawn, preview a Broadway Show & even attend an all you can eat ice cream festival. This is the perfect place to gather with friends and enjoy all that Summer has to offer.

Located: between 40th and 42nd Streets & Fifth and Sixth Avenues., New York, NY 10018

2. Grand Bazaar Market

This outdoor market is located on the Upper Westside and is OPEN every Sunday from 10am-5:30pm. Being NYC's largest curated flea market with 100+ vendors, you can expect to find everything from clothing, jewelry, antiques to local food vendors. It’s a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon and support local artists. 

Located: 100 West 77th St., NY, NY 10024 (at Columbus Avenue)

3. Rooftop Bars

Summer wouldn't be complete without a visit to a rooftop bar. Whether you're going for the breathtaking skyline views, the Instagramable cocktails or just to cool off from the heat, there is something for everyone. Click here for a list of some of the best rooftops in the city. Cheers to Summer!

Pictured: Loopy Doopy Rooftop / Prosecco & Ice Pop Cocktails

Located: 102 North End Avenue, New York, NY 10282

4. Boat Basin Cafe

This is one of the best kept secrets (in my opinion) on the Upper Westside. In a somewhat hidden location, Boat Basin Cafe sits right on the edge of Riverside Park overlooking the Hudson River. It's laid back atmosphere is accompanied by casual dining, frozen drinks, beer on tap and waterfront views. This is one of my favorite places to bring my Georgia friends when they come to visit, because they never expect to see a place like this in the middle of the city.

Located: W 79th St, New York, NY 10024 

5. Madison Square Eats

One of the best parts of Summer is dining al fresco. And Urbanspace has several pop-up food markets all around the city including Madison Square Eats that hosts 20+ vendors of local NYC restaurants. It's the perfect place to grab lunch on the go or meet friends after work. Seasonal ONLY May/JUNE. Open Daily 11am-9pm

Located: Worth Square, Flatiron District New York, NY 10010

ALSO RECOMMENDED:  THINGS TO DO IN THE SUMMER IN NEW YORK 

XO, Rae 

NYC LIVING: 12 RULES OF LIVING IN NEW YORK

Living in New York City isn't always easy. Although most New Yorkers couldn't imagine living anywhere else, including myself. It takes a certain amount of patience and resilience to live here. However, there are some ways to make the day to day life in the city a bit easier. Here are some tips for living in New York.

1. MASTER THE ART OF PACKING FOR THE DAY

A typical day in New York can consist of many things; including work, a gym session, happy hour or even a night out to dinner and a Broadway show. Packing a bag for the day is essential. Because often times you don't have time to make the trip home in between activities. I usually carry with me everything from a change of shoes, dry shampoo, hair brush, make up bag, jacket, a book, umbrella and phone charger. Most places including restaurants have bag check so you never have to worry about having your hands full when out somewhere. 

2. DRESS IN LAYERS

No matter the season here in the New York, you will often find yourself constantly stuck between hot & cold. Being that you will spend most of your time outside, you never know what the weather may bring. Wearing layers that you can remove or add is key. This way you can be comfortable no matter what the temperature is outside or even inside.

3. ALWAYS CARRY CASH

Although we live in the world of debit cards and Venmo. There are still many places in the city that ONLY accept cash. This includes Bodegas, your favorite food truck and even some restaurants. Always carry cash, you never know when you may need it. 

4. ACCEPT THE FACT THAT YOU WILL ALWAYS BE RUNNING LATE

New Yorkers may often seem like they're in a hurry. And that's because more often than not, they are. Walking blocks/avenues, hailing cabs and chasing after the Subway is exhausting. No matter how much you plan ahead, you can't predict traffic or the MTA for that matter.

5. LEARN DIRECTIONS (CROSS STREETS) 

When it comes to directions, New Yorkers go by streets and not addresses. Even when taking a cab, make sure to know the cross streets of your destination. Because chances are high your cab driver won't know the physical address if given by itself. 

6. TIP YOUR DELIVERY GUY

The holy grail of New York City is delivery. You can get Chinese takeout, weekly groceries or even a bottle of wine delivered right to your apartment doorstep. But having this luxury means someone else is doing the heavy lifting. Which often includes schlepping through the snow, rain and even up flights of stairs. Make sure to tip accordingly. 

7. FIND FREE THINGS TO DO IN THE CITY

It's no secret that living in New York is expensive. However, there is always something to do in the city and often times it can come with little to no cost. It's all about staying up to date on the latest events and FREE things to do in NYC. Year round there are free concerts, festivals, street fairs, free museum days and more that don't have to break the bank. 

8. DON'T TAKE UP THE SIDEWALKS

New Yorkers walk with a purpose. And if given the chance they may in fact run you over if you're in their way. In order to avoid this, steer to the right when walking on the sidewalks, in order to let people pass you on the left. And NEVER stop in the middle of the sidewalk. Step to the side if needed so foot traffic can keep moving. This is basic NYC etiquette. 

9. BE NICE TO THE SUPER OF YOUR BUILDING

The Super of your apartment building is essentially responsible for any and all maintenance. At some point or another you may need your Super for any one of these things: re-caulk your shower, kill a rodent, install your window AC unit or even help you get into your apartment after locking yourself out. So needless to say, it pays to be nice to your Super because you never know when you may need him to come to your rescue.

10. NEVER GET ON THE EMPTY TRAIN CAR

There is no worse feeling than when you realize that you just stepped into any empty train car. Leaving you with no choice but to wait it out until the next stop. Because it means one of two things: either there is a homeless person making that train car their home for the night or the AC isn't working and you're going to be sweating for the next few minutes until you reach the next stop. Neither of which make for a pleasant train ride.

11. TAKE A CAB AFTER MIDNIGHT

Remember when your parents used to tell you; nothing good happens after midnight. Well, this applies to the Subway in New York City. Not only will it take you twice as long to get home due to train delays, you'll most likely have to endure drunk passengers or a crowded train with standing room only. Taking a taxi or Uber is totally worth the extra money spent to get home safely.

12. MAKE TIME TO ESCAPE THE CITY

New York can take a toll on you with long work hours and the constant hustle of the city. So it's important to take advantage of any downtime you have. Whether you take a day to Netflix and chill, spend an afternoon at Central Park or book a weekend getaway, do it often. 

What are some rules of living in NYC that you've adopted?  

XO, Dana Rae

SHINY AND NEW: THE RELAUNCH OF REINVENTING RAE NYC

If you're reading this, then you are seeing the NEW and IMPROVED site for REINVENTING RAE NYC. Ahhhhh, I'm so excited to share this NEW space with y'all. It has been weeks of editing, writing, late nights and LOTS of coffee! But it is FINALLY done and I could not be more HAPPY with the outcome. And if you're new to my blog- WELCOME! 

When I first started this blog (almost 2 years ago) I had no idea where it would take me. Over the past two years, I have learned so much and grown as a writer. I love being able to share with you, my life here in New York City as well as everything in between. Blogging has also connected me with some amazing creatives and other bloggers. I want this new site to be BIGGER and BETTER and full of more content!

SO, WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT TO SEE ON THE NEW SITE? 

Well, to start, this is a whole new platform. I moved all of my content over from Blogger to Squarespace. Which is a HUGE upgrade in itself. I also revised EVERY SINGLE BLOG POST!! I updated the content, images and made sure it was relevant to the blog overall. I'm also going to be posting new blog posts each week that will cover everything from beauty, lifestyle, travel and of course all things NEW YORK. And I'm also working on a new monthly blog post that will feature the "BEST PLACES TO BRUNCH IN NYC". l'll give you the low down on all the hot spots, as my friend Leigh Ann and I, brunch our way through the city. In addition, I'm looking forward to sharing more 'Guides to NYC'. So, whether you have never visited New York before or you've been to the city several times, you can have access to all the latest things to do during your visit. 

I promise there is much more to come in this relaunch of Reinventing Rae NYC. And I can't wait for you to check it all out! Thank you for being here and following along!! 

XO, Rae

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NEW YEAR, SAME DREAMS

Happy New Year, y'all! I'm excited to get back to blogging and share even more content with you in 2017! Not gonna lie though, I'm kinda sad the holidays are over. I love how the city transforms into this magical place during the month of December. But I guess all good things must come to an end sooner or later. And maybe that's a good thing, considering all the indulging that I've done the past few weeks with holiday treats and cocktails. Thank GOODNESS for yoga pants!

A New Year is kinda like having a fresh start. Whatever held you back last year or didn't bring you joy, you can leave it all behind in 2016. And that is exactly what I plan on doing. Since leaving my 9-5 corporate job in the Summer of 2015, I have been in this awkward transition phase. I worked from home for awhile and have since been putting ideas together of starting my own business. My dream is to create a Lifestyle Brand that reflects me and has something for everyone's budget. And it has proven to be harder than I ever imagined. Not that I thought it would be easy, don't get me wrong. But having BIG DREAMS also means BIG CHALLENGES. So, here I am, back to the drawing board and pushing myself to do EVERYTHING I can to get this business off the ground this year. 

I was recently explaining to a friend, over brunch, how you loose some of your confidence when you haven't worked in awhile. I have always been driven in my professional life. And I always succeeded in any position I held. But when you strip everything away and get back to the basics, it's easy to forget what you are actually capable of. You constantly fight off doubt and start to question yourself. 

I also, allowed my personal life to overshadow my dreams and goals last year. My parents divorced and the aftermath was more that I could handle at times. I spent months just feeling like my whole world was coming apart and I didn't know how to fix it. And it caused me to be distracted and unfocused on my life.

For me, 2017 is going to be a year of CONQUER. I want to conquer the FEAR, DOUBT, COMPARISON and DISTRACTIONS. And I want this year to be the year I let go of anything that doesn't serve a purpose in my life. It is possible to live your best self, you just have to want it bad enough.

How will you make 2017, your best year yet?!

XO, Rae

YEAR 2 OF LIVING IN NEW YORK CITY

On October 10th, 2014 at 3 A.M., I crossed over the George Washington Bridge and into Manhattan. Moving to New York was never something I saw myself doing, but when life brings you opportunities, sometimes you have to take it and RUN! It's hard to even believe that it's been 2 years already. I still feel like I just moved here but also strangely feel like I've been here forever. That's the thing about New York, once you live here you instantly become attached. My first year living in New York was one to remember. It was full of amazing experiences and growth. And year two has been just as memorable. Here are some of my favorite memories over the past year. 

STANDING ATOP THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING

Seeing all of New York City from 86 floors up above, gives you all the feels. It also, gives a whole new meaning to the phrase “Empire State of Mind”. It reminded me how lucky I am to be able to call this concrete jungle, home. 

SUNDAY FUNDAY IN BROOKLYN

This Summer, my brother visited NYC for the very first time. I was excited to get to show him around the city. But I also wanted to show him life outside of Manhattan. And Brooklyn is the next best borough. We first walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, then grabbed pizza at Grimaldi's (best pizza in Brooklyn) and finished the day drinking beers at the Brooklyn Brewery. By far, one of my most favorite days.

TAKING MY MOM TO SEE 'THE COLOR PURPLE' ON BROADWAY

The moment I learned that Heather Headley would be taking on the role of Shug, I knew I had to see this show. And what better show to take your Mom to during a girls weekend?! It was one of the best shows I have seen thus far. After the show, I pulled my Mom quickly aside and stood to wait for the cast outside. We got to have our playbills signed by all of the main cast including Heather Headley and Cynthia Erivo. I was freaking out (on the inside of course). Sharing that moment with my Mom was amazing. 

SEEING ALICIA KEYS PERFORM IN ROCKEFELLER CENTER

I may have had to wake up at 4:30 A.M. to only stand in the back of the crowd behind a street light pole. But to hear Alicia Keys sing LIVE made all of it worth it. Not to mention, I got to share the moment with my best friend. We bonded over Alicia Keys music over a decade ago, when we first met and I'm pretty sure we will dance to 'No One' one day at my wedding. 

WITNESSING MY BEST FRIEND PROPOSE TO HIS BOYFRIEND

That dinner, those words and the tears shed will always be a night to remember. I can't wait to help plan their wedding and stand next to my best friend as he says 'I Do'.  Love is Love. 

FINDING NEW FRIENDSHIPS

Moving to a new city means meeting new friends. And although there are millions of people here, it almost makes it harder. Everyone is busy with work and the city hustle, so it's not often you find long lasting friendships. But I have been lucky to meet some amazing people and I am so glad I get to call them friends.

I never could have imagined all the things that would come with living in New York City. Every day still feels as exciting as the next. I can't wait to see what the next 365 days bring!

XO, Rae

FALL BUCKET LIST 2016

It's finally cool enough in New York City, where you need an extra blanket on your bed at night. I love how the city changes with each season. And FALL is no exception. As the leaves start to change in Central Park, we pack up our shorts and tanks, break out the sweaters and trade in our iced lattes for PSLs. There is so much in the city to look forward to in the Fall. Here are a few things I have on my bucket list to capture the most of the season.

1. Walk through Central Park to see the Fall foliage with a Pumpkin Spice Latte in hand. (Basic, I know)

2. Bake Pumpkin Bread. It's one of the few things I'm actually good at baking.

3. Take a trip to upstate New York with friends. We actually have a beautiful house from the 1800's booked for an upcoming weekend. Can't wait!

4. Visit a festival and sip apple cider. 

5. Carve pumpkins. You're never too old to celebrate Halloween, right?!

6. Find a new favorite Fall scented candle at Bath & Body Works.

7. Ice skate in Bryant Park at the Winter Village. 

8. Drink copious amounts of wine with my best friend. She is visiting NYC for the first time, next month! #girlsweekend

9. Take new headshots for the blog. Any suggestions for local NYC photographers??

10. Explore a new neighborhood in the city. 

What are you adding to your FALL Bucket List?  Comment below. 

XO, Rae

YOU ARE EXACTLY WHERE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE

Lately, when talking to friends the same words seem to pop up in conversation, 'never say never'. I was reminded of these words again as I scrolled through Facebook this morning & looked back at an old status I wrote in 2010. 

I had no intentions on ever moving to New York City. I was perfectly content with my life in Atlanta. It was only tempting to move because my best friend had literally just moved from Atlanta to New York & I felt lonely. But I knew my life was in Atlanta and I had worked so hard to build that life. My career was just starting to come together & I was surrounded by the people I adored most. 

Fast forward almost 5 years later and life changed drastically. I started to be more open to the possibilities of leaving it all behind to pursue bigger things. Literally over a year's time I would contemplate the move to NYC. I was in a different head space than previously and I was ready to see what more was out there for me. So, I took a leap of faith and made the decision to move to NYC in the fall of 2014. The moment I actually committed to the idea, it seemed like everything fell into place. I didn't have any hesitations from that point on. Everyone was extremely supportive of my decision and not one person tried to convince me otherwise. So, I took all the encouragement and promised myself I would make the most of this new chapter. 

I didn't have a job lined up when I moved to New York. My plan was to take some time to get moved and adjusted to the city. I got anxious to get out there so 3 weeks after, I landed a position with one of the top medical practices. I was ecstatic to say the least. From my first interview, I knew this was the job for me. Immediately, I felt like I was taking NYC head on. But 6 months in, I couldn't do it anymore. I loved the job but the work environment was not ideal. It was not an easy decision for me but after a lot of consideration and countless nights crying over bad days at work, I made the decision to resign. The day I gave notice, I felt like I could breathe again. I didn't feel stressed or bad for what I had just done. I felt like it was what I had to do. I had never quit a job like that ever in my life. I've always held long term jobs ever since I was 15 years old. So, this was new territory for me. I didn't really have a plan B. And I was okay with that, for once. Which if you know me, I never not have things planned out. I'm a planner by default. But I knew I wasn't happy. I also remembered that I promised myself to live a different life here in New York by any means necessary. And I wasn't willing to compromise my happiness after leaving everything behind in Atlanta.

I wrote this Facebook status a year ago today (the day before my last day at my job):

A year later, I haven't looked back since. I took a chance on myself. And honestly I've never been happier. The past year has allowed me to get back to what's important in life. It has made me realize how unhappy I was all those years living at my job that I had always put above everything else. It has given me the opportunity to strip down to what I really want in life and what I never want to settle for. I've been blessed enough to be able to work from home, travel, write my blog and just enjoy living in this amazing city. 

My dream is to be an entrepreneur. And I'm hoping to make that happen sooner than later. I often let fear get in the way, but then I am reminded of how far I've come and all the things I've done that I never thought where even possibilities. So, I'm saying, never say never. Don't hold yourself back from things you want or deserve in your life. Everything happens for a reason. I honestly believe that. Be open to the possibilities of changing your mind. Trust the process and know that you are exactly where you're supposed to be. 

XO, Rae

I ❤️ NY: YEAR 1 OF LIVING IN NEW YORK CITY

I recently celebrated my 1 year anniversary of living in New York City. October 10th, 2014 at 3 am is when I officially became a resident of New York. As I drove over the George Washington Bridge into Manhattan, there were so many emotions. Mostly I remember feeling excited for what was to come with living in New York. There I was in a packed SUV with my best friend & my Mom. After 16+ hours of driving up the east coast, I was anxious to get to my new apartment. We pulled up shortly after 3 am and made the decision to go ahead and unload the SUV. 

My first dose of NYC apartment living was carrying boxes up five flights of stairs. I think I cursed most of the way up and down.

 After about an hour we finally had everything unloaded and into the apartment. I had seen the apartment in photos prior to moving but seeing my bedroom in person, it was even smaller than I remembered. I was unsure if any of my things would fit and wondered how could I live in such a small space. I mean here I was literally downsizing to a small bedroom barely big enough for a full size bed from my spacious 900+ sq. ft apartment in Atlanta. I started to break down. There it was, all the months of preparation of moving, leaving my job, leaving all of my friends & my life behind in Atlanta along with being cooped up in a car for 16+ hours all hit me at that exact moment. I remember I just slid down the wall as the tears ran down my face and I began to question everything. This went on for about an hour. Everyone was nice or maybe smart enough to just let me be alone for awhile. I finally pulled myself together and came out of my room, walked into my best friends bedroom where he, his boyfriend and my mom were all siting there drinking wine. My eyes all swollen from crying, I smiled and asked for a glass for myself. 

So there we sat until after 6am drinking wine and laughing at my meltdown. I knew in that moment, that everything would be okay. I just needed to release all of the emotions that had been building over the months prior to moving.

I look back on that day now and I think how happy I am that I embarked on this journey of moving to New York. 

Living in New York has been exhilarating. It hasn't been perfect by any means but pretty darn close. The energy you feel here never wears off. That's what I love most about this city. You always feel inspired here. Each day is something different and to be in awe of. I can't describe it in words, you have to feel it for yourself. I hope that feeling never goes away. This past year has also had many unexpected moments. I landed an amazing job when I first got here and then quit after 6 months, I started a blog about my life and have taken the time to rediscover myself. The Subway once terrified me, now I'm the one getting asked for directions. I can hail a cab even in the rain. And I have even learned how to dress like a New Yorker. So many changes have happened in just a year but in a strange way, I feel it was all meant to be. 

I could not have made it through the past year without the support of my amazing friends and family. 

To my Grandfather, who without him I would not have been strong enough to make the decision to move to NYC and make this life change. He inspired me to live a life with NO REGRETS. And to him, I will always be grateful for instilling that in me. I miss you everyday Granddaddy and I hope I’m making you proud. 

To my Mother, who is always by biggest supporter in life. She never tells me my dreams are too big or too crazy. I owe her everything for always being there for me. I love you MOM!

To my brother and my Dad, Thank you for believing in me and telling me how proud you are. It means more than you will ever know. I love you both!

To my best friend Lindsey, thank you for taking my calls on good days and bad days. Most of all, thank you for not letting distance change our friendship. I am so lucky to have you as my friend. 

To Danny, Thank you for taking a chance on living with your boyfriend's best friend after have only meeting me once in person. Thank you for being there on days I needed it most. I am so glad we have become friends over the past year.

To my best friend Will, it was YOU who convinced me over the course of 5 years to move to New York. You knew way before I did that I would love it here. Thank you for always pushing me in life and always being there. I can't imagine my life without you. In the end, its always you & I.

To all of my friends and family who have encouraged me on this journey, who have called, sent cards, letters or just been there for me. Thank you!! Nothing in life is worth having if you can't share it with the people you love most.  

I knew moving to New York would change my life. I just didn't know how. And I'm so glad it did. I am not the same person I was 12 months ago. I feel more confident, more open to change and more willing to let life take me where I am meant to be. My friends tell me how happy I sound on the phone, so I guess it shows. Anything is possible if you let it be. Don't be afraid to make a life change. It could just be exactly what you need. Thank you New York for an incredible first year. I can't wait to see what this next year has in store for me. 

XO, Rae

FALL BUCKET LIST 2015

It's finally starting to feel like FALL in New York City after being HOT and HUMID the past few days. I can't wait to FINALLY sip on a PSL and wear my favorite sweater and ankle booties. I also made a bucket list of things, I'm looking forward to doing this Autumn.  

1. Send out Holiday cards to friends & family.

2. Stock up on Fall scented candles.

3. Plan a day trip to a winery. I came across this one, that has a tasting room in a renovated barn. And I've been wanting to make a trip to upstate New York, so this is the perfect excuse to go.  

4. Host 'Friendsgiving' in the city. This will be the first year that I won't be going home to see my family, But I'm really excited to have Thanksgiving here with friends and see the parade.

5. Enjoy some of the best of things to do in New York during Autumn. Of course this includes seeing the Fall foliage in Central Park.

6. Find a new pair of snow boots for winter. A necessity for surviving Winter in the city.

7. Visit the New York Botanical Gardens. They have a FRIDA KAHLO exhibit that I’m dying to see.  

8. Spend a whole day baking.

9. See the Broadway Show WICKED. 

10. Go to the iconic Village Halloween Parade.  

What are you planning for your Fall Bucket List?

XO, Rae

NYC RESTAURANTS: PRUNE IN THE EAST VILLAGE

New York is a food city, no doubt. With so many restaurants in the city, it is often hard to choose one. But there are some restaurants that are like none other. Living with a foodie, my best friend, Will has been dying to go to PRUNE.

So, this past Sunday, we went for dinner. Located in the East Village, PRUNE is popular restaurant known for it's infamous Chef Gabrielle Hamilton. She's also the author of the New York Times Best Seller book called: 

Blood, Bones and Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef'.

We got lucky and arrived in time for the first seating of dinner at 5:30pm. Typically there is a wait for Brunch and Dinner service. When we arrived I was able to capture a rare moment of the restaurant completely empty. And although small in size, the experience is anything but that. And to make the night even more complete, we actually spotted Chef Gabrielle Hamilton walking by the restaurant with boxes in tote.

Below are some of the amazing dishes we enjoyed during our meal. The cocktails were amazing as well. 

Featured Appetizer: Fried Oysters with house tarter sauce

Halibut with cherry tomatoes in a spicy tomato broth

Grilled Broccoli, chili butter, pecorino

Charred Beef Ribs with anchovy butter

'Straw and Hay' Pasta with green tomato-chicken liver sauce

Dessert: Summer Pudding

I definitely recommend dining at PRUNE if you're willing to spend a bit more on delicious good quality food. GO EAT!

XO, Rae