Car: 2011 Honda CR-Z -- I am still in the process of test driving the hottest hybrid cars on the road! When this stunning, red two-seater was dropped in my driveway, I was ecstatic. I knew the kids would not be able to ride in it, so I knew in order to experience it I had to plan a whimsical day in NYC. Driving to NYC in this car was an experience, to say the least. The dashboard is very hi-tech; I felt like I was in "The Jetsons" while driving it. It definitely had some kick, like the big-time sports cars! The great thing about lots of new cars like this one is that they have a USB connector for devices like the iPod, which allows you to control them via the dashboard. I really rocked out during my drive! When I arrived at The Peninsula Hotel valet, the attendant really flipped for the car, just like everyone else who sees it!
Spa: Marma Point Massage followed by Shirodhara at The Peninsula Spa by ESPA -- First, I must begin by saying The Peninsula Spa is stunning and a very luxurious treat! Every single aspect of my experience there was magical. I was treated like a princess! The Marma Point Massage is super for stress relief. Warm oils were poured on my body while the therapist used deep long strokes to distribute the oil. She then applied pressure to the energy points on my face and body. Then, my favorite part: the Shirodhara treatment, which is an Ayurvedic treatment dating back thousands of years. Warm oil flows in a continuous stream on the third eye, and it's supposed to be amazing for the mind. I felt like I had awoken to the truth. It was and always is a life-changing treatment. Following the massage, I was escorted to the relaxation room where I was given rose petal water to dip my hands in and coconut water to drink while I sat in quiet contemplation! After all this, I stepped into the steam room and then to the rain shower ... absolute heaven!
Juice: Green Spice at One Lucky Duck -- A trip to NYC would not be complete without a visit with one of my favorite vegan hippie friends, Daisy, so I swung by and picked her up. We then proceeded to a very hip little juice bar called One Lucky Duck. This place is very cool. We sat in the two-table juice bar and sipped our green drinks while catching up!
Lunch: Candle Café -- After our green drink and a much-needed catch-up conversation, we went to the Candle Café for lunch. The Candle Café is one of my favorite vegan restaurants in NYC. It is the real deal--not too fancy, but a cool, down-to-earth place. We started with the seitan chimichurri, which was amazing. I got the Aztec salad with avocado and tahini dressing, like I always do, and Daisy got the Cajun seitan sandwich. The food is so scrumptious I can't rave about it enough. They even have Dr. Bronner's soap in the restroom for hand washing. It really IS the little things...
Vegan Treats: Coconut Lemon Doughnut at BabyCakes -- After dropping Daisy off, I then proceeded to the Lower East Side to visit this much-talked-about bakery BabyCakes. It is a kosher bakery that is vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, egg-free, and agave-sweetened. I then consumed one of the best treats I have ever had. It was a coconut lemon doughnut that was baked and not fried, of course. Who needs eggs and milk to make a scrumptious dessert?
Yoga: Open Class with Yogeswari at Jivamukti Yoga -- Ahhh, this mat-to-mat class was just what I needed to get me the stretching I so craved. Jivamukti Yoga is one of my favorite yoga studios on the planet. Like the Candle Café, it too is the real deal. This class was particularly great. It was so crowded that we were mat-to-mat, but the energy was transforming. We chanted, stretched and sweated for almost two hours ... I even saw a few celebrities! After class, I proceeded to the Jivamuktea Café where I got a Chakra Smoothie for the ride home. I made a mental note to self: come back to the café and order the quinoa and kale plate! It looked great!
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