Last week, I made a trip to the East Coast. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to me, a Nor’easter was coming in behind me.

The GT team made it into New York City on Friday morning with ease despite the rain starting to come down. We had a lunch meeting that had been planned for weeks. After getting to know clients over great food at Bedford & Co, with wine hand-picked by our very own wine expert and columnist, Eunice Fried, our team made a mad dash to the train station to make it back before the weather hit. It didn’t work — downed trees caused massive delays.

For once, though, luck was with me. I was staying in NYC for the weekend, so I didn’t have to fight chaotic weather, and I was able to start the leisure portion of my business trip (bleisure, anyone?!).

I tried the Ace Hotel downtown, offering interesting room choices like bunk beds, mini rooms and full suites. The non-stop, buzzing lobby is open to the public, and people were sitting with coffee from Stumptown working on their laptops for hours on end. Not what I am used to for a hotel scene, but it seemed to fit New York well.

Attached to the hotel is John Dory Oyster Bar. Its happy hour scene is also buzzing, and I enjoyed $2 fresh oysters and a dry Riesling at the bar, looking at the drizzle. After, I headed to see my first Broadway show – A Bronx Tale at Longacre Theatre, just as funny and magical as I expected. By the time it ended the weather was cold but had cleared up some, and I walked through Times Square before hopping in a cab.

As thousands of flights were canceled as the deadly Nor’easter traveled to Massachusetts, NYC stayed  calm, and my 7 a.m. flight Sunday morning was on time and got me back to LA in time for lunch.

Sometimes the weather gods are with you, and I cross my fingers it happens again!

— Carly Allen, executive vice president, associate publisher