Spring in Brooklyn

When we moved to Brooklyn from the Upper East Side in Manhattan last year, I didn’t think anything could match the beauty of Central Park during spring, or any season for that matter.

This rang true until last Sunday after an late morning jog. I was walking back home from Fort Greene Park and turned onto Dekalb Ave, the lively street filled with restaurants, bars, coffee shops and chic boutiques.

The flowery blooms were falling gently from the trees and showering me as I walked out of the park. The temperature was perfect and there was a small crowd outside of an Italian coffee shop sipping their iced lattes.

I almost had to pinch myself because it felt like a dream but then I remembered— no, it wasn’t a dream. It was spring in Brooklyn.

 Older and Wiser in Las Vegas

When we think of Vegas, the words “relaxing” and “rejuvenating” aren’t exactly the adjectives that come to mind.

When I was a newly-minted 21 year old, I couldn’t wait to embark on a weekend in Sin City. Turns out, the dream was true. Las Vegas was exactly how I had always imagined. Cocktails galore, scores of bachelor / bachelorette groups, massive pool parties and night clubs that stay open until sunrise.

A few weeks ago, My husband and I headed to Las Vegas for an experience entirely different from my 21-year-old POV.

We landed in Las Vegas in the early morning hours after a wonderful 5+ hours in Mint class service via JetBlue. A few glasses of sparkling sauvignon blanc and a lovely 1-hour nap did the trick to make the time pass by quickly.

Unfortunately, when we arrived at the Bellagio Hotel + Resort, our carefully selected hotel accommodation via our American Express Platinum card benefits, they were unable to check us in early. We left our luggage with the valet and walked the strip trying to stay awake.

At around noon, we received a text that we were able to check-in for a room. We were hoping for an upgrade through AMEX, but the Bellagio’s policies are a bit outdated as they consider a “view” as an upgrade. Our Stay-Well King Size room was at the end of the hall, and I decided to let it go and complain to AMEX after my vacation.

The next two days was a Vegas experience I had never had before. I remembered every moment (sans over-drinking), my husband and I lounged by the pool all day, enjoyed the world-class cuisine scene and went to bed before 10 PM.

It was exactly what the doctor ordered. Older and wiser in Las Vegas exceeded all of my expectations.