The next item on my personal NYC checklist was to visit the Harry Potter store on Broadway. I was glad I decided to walk because I experienced my first snow of winter. Being outside while it’s snowing is one of the only things I enjoy about enduring cold temperatures. However, after 20 minutes of walking, I was thankful to step into a warm building. I wasn’t looking for anything specific but still enjoyed my time browsing. Time was flying by, and I needed to get back to my hotel if I wanted to squeeze in a visit to The Dead Rabbit.

I dropped my shopping bags in my room and traded them in for a book before heading back outside. Another 25 minutes later and I was walking into the most packed bar I’d ever been to. People were standing shoulder to shoulder, and almost every chair was full. I did one unsuccessful lap around the ground floor before making my way upstairs. Again, every seat was full except for tables held for reservations. Desperate to shed some of my layers, I moved against a wall facing the bar with the smallest ledge to rest your drink. My time was limited and I was determined, so I found space to stand at the bar while I looked over the Christmas-themed cocktails. I have to say luck must’ve been on my side that day because the couple to my right was paying their tab. After securing my seat, I ordered the Cookies and Cream cocktail (Irish whiskey, Guinness, cacao, oat milk, vanilla, cookies) and a Scotch egg.

While I was waiting, I had the chance to look around and noticed there was money stapled to any available wood. Wanting to feel included, I pulled out an Australian 10-dollar bill and was given a Sharpie to sign my name. Once finished, the bartender grabbed a stapler and attached my contribution to the ceiling. My Scotch egg came out just then, and it was the perfect bite to keep my energy up. I read through a few more pages of The Hunter by Jennifer Herrera before closing out and heading back to Conrad Downtown.

I had an appointment at Cartier on Fifth Avenue before my dinner plans I was rushing to make in time. New York City traffic in December really is no joke, and even though I gave myself extra time, I was still running behind. Once I was inside, I was led up to the fourth floor to wait. An associate came out to greet me and led me into another room to discuss my engraving and polishing. I wanted my initials and, after choosing my font, I was given a receipt and a tracking number so I could track the progress. I headed back to the ground floor to window shop and kill time before my dinner plans. While I was browsing, I called one of my friends to see if they could meet me for drinks before sitting down to eat. We met at an underground bar, Little Dipper, aptly named with the zodiac sign-themed cocktails. After catching up for a bit, it was time to make our way to Zou Zou’s.

If I’m being honest, I famously do not have a good sense of direction, but this restaurant was definitely a bit of a challenge for us to find. Eventually, we found our way and connected with the rest of our friends. Our group of five was seated right away, and one of my friends immediately put in the dips platter while we reviewed the drinks menu. We ordered our meal family-style, making sure we could try as much as we could from the menu. The lamb chops and Brussels sprouts were my personal favorites of the evening. I can’t wrap up the evening without mentioning we had a surprise drop-in at our table. My cousin stopped by our table since he and his son were in town visiting his daughter. My family is spread out across the United States, and it was great to see them, even if it was just for a brief moment. Looking forward to my next trip to New York!

— Fiona Stewart, account executive