new york in february

I returned from New York last Tuesday, where I'd been spending a few days with my mother and sister, who'd both never been before. (My role was the unofficial tour guide/taxi hailer/chief lunch adviser.) On the previous Friday, our first full day, we headed over to Central Park and Fifth Avenue; leaving the girls to shop I paid a visit to The Frick, which was wonderfully peaceful. I had the Garden Court to myself.

And then on to the MoMA where I managed to catch the Matisse exhibition a day or two before it closed. It was seriously beautiful and probably the most inspiring exhibition I've seen in a long time. My favourite part? The films projected on to the walls of the gallery showing Matisse cutting shapes out for his assistants to pin up and arrange under their master's direction.

The next day we zoomed up to the top of the Rockefeller Center, which gave us this superb (albeit rather gloomy) view of the city. It even started to snow whilst we were up there. For lunch we headed down to Balthazar in SoHo. I'm a big fan of the London version, but was excited about checking out the NY original, which didn't disappoint. I had the usual - a Bloody Mary and steak frites.

Sunday was spent meandering along the High Line (after excellent bagels and coffee from Black Seed, recommended to me by a friend). I popped back uptown to The Met after lunch, where I spent a couple of hours sketching. I found a fabulous multicoloured pencil in the gift shop which naturally, I went a bit mad with. Later on I met with the lovely Marisa from Stylebeat.

Another sketch. It was cold whilst we were there, that's for sure. Even walking along the streets to get from A to B would bring us out in tears after about twenty minutes. Good excuse to pop indoors for a hot chocolate though.

I took a cab down to The Marlton Hotel on Monday morning, to meet with the guys from Lonny Magazine (more to come on that soon). I absolutely adored The Marlton - the interiors, the design and the excellent restaurant next door, Margaux, where we enjoyed a good meal on our first night (I highly recommend the cauliflower custard).

The interior of Margaux - leather banquettes in the perfect shade of olive green, beautiful teal and pink tiles, lovely chairs, mirrors and light fittings. It all just works so spectacularly well.

Later on I pottered around Greenwich Village, before picking up a book to take home from the wonderful Three Lives & Company bookshop. In the evening we flew home, tired but happy after a very good break. Mum and sister loved it. I didn't sleep on the plane, but I did watch Paddington, which, as much as I love the Big Apple, filled me with joy at the thought of returning to my home city... Until next time, New York.