Last weekend I went to Brooklyn, N.Y., for my friend’s bachelorette party. The festivities began on Saturday, but I traveled in a day early to visit another friend who lives in Brooklyn. I hadn’t seen her in months, so catching up over dinner and drinks was a priority. We began our night at Café de la Esquina. The restaurant façade resembles an old-fashioned diner. It was a beautiful summer evening, so we sat outside. I started with the margarita con fruta, while my friend had a tequila drink. We split chips and guacamole while deciding on our main course. We both ordered the grilled steak tacos with onions, chile de arbol and salsa — they were messy but delicious. On our way to dinner I commented on a cute bar we passed while walking to the restaurant, so we decided to check it out after we finished our meal. Post Office is dimly lit with an antique feel and quiet enough to hold a conversation. My friend and I sat in comfortable chairs next to the large front windows. We both ordered the Ginger Ginger, a rye drink with lime, sparkling wine and fresh ginger — spicy yet refreshing. Following my relaxing Friday night, I woke up early to meet my friends for the bachelorette celebration. We spent the afternoon at McCarren Hotel & Pool. Being familiar with the neighborhood, I had a hard time containing my surprise to see such a beautiful space hidden in the middle of the bustling area. We ordered food and drinks while lounging poolside. The water was a perfect respite from the hot weather. The pool is open to hotel guests, and daily pool passes are available for daytime or evening use. Later, dinner was at Juliette in Williamsburg. The French brasserie atmosphere was appropriate for the bride-to-be, who studied abroad in Paris and will be returning for her honeymoon. We ended the evening with drinks and dancing at Manhattan Inn. It was a fun weekend full of great food and even better company. — Katie Skrzek, digital media manager