Family dinner at Mokja

Posted on October 20, 2024 by mlenoach

Last month, we had dinner at Mokja in Astoria. The food was amazing, and I still can’t forget how cute this restaurant was.

The restaurant had a very romantic kind of vibe. There were lights and flowers everywhere.

Another thing I loved about the restaurant was that it had a lot of personal touches. They had bag holders at each table. They also had bowls, cups, and silverware for kids. It was so cute and made my daughter feel special.

I will definitely be back. I recommend it for date nights, families, and small groups.

Goodbye Summer

Posted on September 21, 2024 by mlenoach

At the beginning of summer, I created a bucket list of things I wanted to do and created a bingo card. As fall officially starts tomorrow, I took the time to reflect on everything I accomplished.

Here is my summer bingo card.

Not a blackout, but I definitely got a bingo!

This summer was filled with great moments!

We were also so lucky to travel this summer. We visited my family’s beach house in Shirley (which I already wrote about), the Great Wolf Lodge in Pennsylvania, and the beautiful island of St. Thomas.

We visited the Great Wolf Lodge for our wedding anniversary. Maxi loved the water park and all the activities on-site.

In August, we went to St. Thomas with my husband’s family. We had a blast, and it was gorgeous!

The Westin Beach Resort & Spa at Frenchman’s Reef

Now, I’m ready for the fall!

Broadway Week – 2 for 1

Posted on September 14, 2024 by mlenoach

I was fortunate to participate in Broadway Week this year. I got to watch not one but two shows, and all tickets this week were two for one.

I saw SIX with my girlfriends. The show was about the six wives of Henry VIII. I loved it. The vocals were amazing, and it was an empowering show.

I also saw The Great Gatsby with my good friend. Of course, I read the book and loved the story. The costumes and backdrops were gorgeous! The icing on the cake was that they had a Filipino actress as the main lead, Daisy.

That Place – An Omakase Experience

Posted on August 15, 2024 by mlenoach

A few months ago, I found an Omakase hidden gem in Astoria called That Place. The restaurant has a cool speakeasy vibe, and the food is fantastic. You can choose a 14-course or 18-course dining experience. It is an amazing place for date night or a special occasion. Yelp has it listed as closed, but I’m hoping it is just for the Summer because I would love to eat there again.

Here are some photos of dinner.

Enjoying the Summer at Shirley

Posted on July 18, 2024 by mlenoach

I recently got to enjoy my family’s beach house on Long Island.

We had a great time at the beach, eating, boating and clamming. Most importantly we had much needed family time.

Summer Bucket List

Posted on July 9, 2024 by mlenoach

Summer is here, and I’m all for it! This year, I decided to turn my bucket list into a bingo game to motivate myself and keep me present. Most of the time, I get caught up with life, so I hope this will keep me focused throughout the summer and, most importantly, have fun with my family. I’ll report back on how I’m doing.

Sunday at Sotheby’s

Posted on May 21, 2024 by mlenoach

This past Sunday, I got a guided look at the Old Masters and 19th Century European paintings and works of art at Sotheby’s with the New York Junior League’s WOC Affinity Group.

I’ve never been to Sotheby’s before. It has a museum-like feel but with the bonus of being able to touch the art.

Our Sotheby’s specialists went over some beautiful pieces. What I loved the most was that they spoke about the art itself, the framing and significance of the touch-ups, and the caring of the artwork. One of the highlights of the experience was looking at some artwork under black light to make comparisons.

Overall, it was an amazing experience. I look forward to visiting again and checking out a collection before it is auctioned off or experiencing a live auction.

Here are some photos of the day.

Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater

Posted on April 10, 2024 by mlenoach

In February, I got to take part in the legendary Amateur Night at the Apollo. I had a blast! I got tickets through the New York Junior League’s Women of Color Affinity Group. League members got tickets together and it was a straight-up party when we got there. Amazing vibe and great people.

The kid portion of the competition was cute. The girl who won was so talented. With the adult portion, not all performers were great and many got booed pretty badly. The top three winners was definitely well-deserved though.

Overall, I had a blast and would love to do it again.

Dinner with the girls at Jasmine’s Caribbean Cuisine

Posted on April 9, 2024 by mlenoach

My friends and I have been exploring various restaurants in the city. Two weeks ago, we visited Restaurant Row and Jasmine’s Carribean Cuisine.

The restaurant had an amazing vibe, was filled with warm bright colors, and had yummy, flavor-filled food.

I was meat-free that night, as I was observing Lent, but all plates were empty by the end of it all, and my friends and I loved all the dishes.

Eclipse Fun

Posted on April 8, 2024 by mlenoach

We headed over to the Poconos to watch the eclipse. Although we knew we wouldn’t be able to see the full eclipse, it was fun to visit our friend’s house, have some space, and enjoy nature.

It was a bit cloudy, but we still got to see some cool eclipse stuff with and without the glasses.

The Casual Explorer

exploring NYC, and beyond, one day at a time

Category Archives: Exploring