Lately, I've been spending a lot of time hanging out around my own neighborhood, Harlem, as part of an exciting project I'm working on (more details to come). I love the budding coffeeshops and restaurants on Harlem's restaurant row and jump at the first chance to bring my friends from downtown NYC to this side of Central Park. Before the summer is officially over, I'll be squeezing in a few more patio beers and outdoor brunch sessions at my favorite spots in Harlem.

For brunch, my favorite spot is Barawine. Bottomless mimosa - need I say more? The interior decor is bright and minimalistic, and the outdoor seating leads up to a row of brownstones to lust after. All the while, the DJ is making sure everyone has a great time.

For some post-brunch caffeine boost, head over to Double Dutch Espresso. This intimate rustic spot serves up a perfect cup of joe and, dare I say, offers the best cup in the neighborhood. Indoor seats are usually hard to snag as it's a local favorite spot to work, but the outdoor patio is generally open while weather permits and ideal for some peace and quiet in an otherwise busy city.

If coffee is not for you, then head a bit north of Double Dutch and try some tea at Serengeti Tea & Spices. They have several different iced teas, from Africa, to cool you down on a balmy day. The tasting room is well-stocked with teas and spices of all variety, and feels like a hidden gem, just waiting to be discovered.

By this time, you're probably ready for something sweet. Pop into Levain Bakery - yes, there is now one uptown - for some perfectly baked oversized cookies. Indulge in a cookie (or share it with a friend), or order some fresh baked bread to go. This place won't disappoint.

Funnily enough, I find that no matter where I'm headed to in Harlem, I always find my way to Streetbird Rotisserie. Perhaps it's because the A/C train is right at the corner, or perhaps Streetbird is the perfect representation of Harlem's history. The interior is a celebration of the art and culture of the Harlem, while the food is a mix of Asian/African cuisine that punctuates the tastebud of the neighborhood.

In today's "Travel Stories" series, my friend Isabelle Engler takes us to Taiwan. I've long wanted to visit Taiwan and schemed about how to make it part of my regular trips to Asia but so far, all plans have failed. For now, I will have to experience Taiwan vicariously through Isabelle, whose photos wonderfully capture all the poignant moments of a trip. Enjoy these! 

Visiting Taiwan was familiar yet foreign. I recognized places from childhood, but a lot had changed. I was inspired to (re)learn about the people, nation, and my hometown in Taipei. There was so much hope and love (and delicious food), not to mention everywhere was clean, orderly, and convenient. We spent one week in Taipei and another week touring around the island. It was wonderful to show my husband where I grew up and eat our way around the country.

We started the island tour in Jiufen. I had fond memories of this gold mining town in the mountain when my mother took me on a trip with her friends decades ago. I remember the beautiful fog that rolled into the mountain at dusk while we enjoyed traditional tea in a tatami room. I had looked forward to visiting Jiufen again with my husband.

This time, Jiufen was packed with tourists from Hong Kong and China. We took a shuttle up the winding mountain and squeezed through the crowded and narrow alleys. After trying several street food stands, we escaped the crowds by visiting a cozy tea house overseeing the ocean. The staff taught us to make tea with their loose tea leaves and tea sets. Each tea set was hand-made by the owner, giving it a personality of its own.

First, we warmed the tea cups and the pots with hot water, which was boiled and kept hot in a separate cast-iron pot. We then poured the water out of tea cups and pots, and then refilled with hot water with loose tea leaves in them. Each steep only took 20 seconds with a 5-second increment for each steep after. Our Oolong tea was accompanied by house-made tea plums and tea cheesecake.

We didn't have time to browse around the handmade tea set collections on the way out before venturing to our next destination. There are so many other tales, old and new, that I could share from each town in Taiwan. Each is as precious to me as that afternoon of delectable tea, snacks, and the ocean breeze in a small mining town north of Taipei.



Website: portfolio.isabelleengler.com

Instagram: instagram.com/isabelleengler

Between traveling for work and traveling to see family, I love to spend any time off staying put in New York City. A night in at a downtown NYC hotel is my kryptonite - I even got engaged at The Standard in Chelsea. That’s why I jumped at the chance to try out one of New York’s latest luxury hotel: citizenM. The marketing copy on the hotel website set the bar high: a smart hotel with no tired old cliches.

I had walked by citizenM hotel many times and its edgy outdoor art pieces has always caught my eye. Once inside, it’s easy to see that the cool artful lobby gives the Ace Hotel a run for its money. The laidback livingroom vibe made me feel comfortable and settled no matter what I was wearing as I walked in. The lucky hotel guests access the rooftop bar with a lush green theme and busy midtown views. My friends and I took full advantage of the cloudbar - it’s rare to find a rooftop bar in New York where you don’t have to fight the crowd and noise. I can’t be the only one who loves to check out the fitness situation at my accommodation, and I was even pleased with the gym with its city-views.

The rooms may be on the small side, as one might expected in NYC, but the best part of this hotel is the digitally-outfitted rooms. I can turn on the TV (with HBO movies), adjust the temperature, turn off the lights, set a wake-up call, and read citizenM stories all from their in-room tablet. Punchy copy on just about every product keeps the mood light: the soap promises to turn even the longest-haul traveller into a sparklingly clean and nice-smelling human being again.

Free wi-fi and Instagrammable decor, that’s how you run a hotel in 2015.

It was hard to board the JetBlue flight home from San Juan. We even chanced missing the flight just to stay a little bit longer on the beautiful island. Puerto Rico, like its Caribbean neighborhoods, is full of vibrant colors. Strolling down rows of freshly-painted homes in Old San Juan, it's easy to see the charms of the island. Undeniably, the color that caught my eye was shades of blue. From the fierce waves of the ocean to the cobblestones in the shade, I spotted calm and relaxing blue tones at every turn.