Falafel on Broadway: Life-changing hummus and hot sauce

I was first introduced to Falafel on Broadway by a colleague, whose boyfriend stumbled upon this Middle Eastern fare jewel by accident. Located in Harlem, near the 1 train station at 125th street on the West side, it opened several months ago. Occupying a slightly cramped space, it has a high takeout counter that would dwarf anyone but the tall Turkish men who stand behind it preparing kebabs. There are four small dining tables in the back corner and nothing more. What it lacks in decor, it makes up for in the food, providing cheap and delicious treats. Highlights include their life-changing hummus and hot sauce.

Buttermilk Falls Inn and Spa: An upstate NY Secret Kept from Locals

Buttermilk Falls Inn, Milton, NY

Tucked away in the midst of a residential area caught between two sleepy Ulster County cities; a 1.5 hour trip from New York City and just a 30 minute drive from Dutchess County, NY;  lies Buttermilk Falls Inn and Spa. Until recently, the 16-room inn and luxury spa has been kept a secret from locals. A former trading post and private family homestead, the property was purchased in 2001 and converted into an Inn and Spa. Traditionally, the Inn and Spa has advertised in NYC publications and lured Manhattanites into the country for stays. The current owner, also the proprietor of NYC's Great Jones Spa, opened a farm-to-table restaurant on the property a few months ago and is looking to pull in more locals.

Barcelona, Spain: FULL DISCLOSURE

view from Barceloneta (Barcelona) beach apartment 

This photo features my good friend Anna and I relaxing on a couch after an afternoon BBQ at a friend of a friend's Barceloneta Beach apartment. It is, I believe, the perfect photographic representation of Barcelona: a spectacular seaside city filled with great people, great food and fantastic views.

After bouncing back and forth between the US and Spain for 10 years and working as an English teacher and later as a staff writer and editor at a cultural magazine in Barcelona, I've compiled a comprehensive list of places to shop and eat at, as well as visit in the city I consider my other home.