Whew! Now THAT was a whirlwind!
Seriously, if you told me I would be doing this a few months ago I would have looked at you like you were insane. Florida to California to New York….in a week? Thank God for caffeine, Amazing Grass and google maps. I just think it’s funny because, seriously, my life is usually not this interesting. This is a rare occurrence….I mean, y’all know…usually things are relatively normal and not this crazy. I do apologize for the blog downtime (transferring to a much stronger server) and the untimely posts. I’m doing everything I can to stay consistent and once things settle down we should be back to normal with twice daily posting, but I appreciate y’all sticking with me as I settle in to a new routine. Thank you for your patience and understanding!
So….New York City!
Unfortunately I still can’t tell you all what my meeting was about but it was definitely exciting! I always feel like I’m writing/talking to my best friends on this thing but sometimes I have to remember that this is indeed the world wide web and some information, unfortunately, has to stay classified while details are being worked out. All in good time, friends. All in good time. 
My flight left SFO at 2:00 on Sunday afternoon. I rented a car in Santa Rosa because my car still hadn’t arrived and my flight was getting back in super late Monday night so no one could drive to pick me up. So, I rented my first car, drove down to the city, got incredibly lost downtown and finally landed at the airport. But….mad props to SFO for their FOOD! I had the best airport sandwich ever for lunch!
This is a turkey cranberry sandwich on sourdough bread and it was delicious. I had an apple on the side:
Had great conversation with my new friendJon, for the entire six hours of my flight. We talked about food, food and more food! Discussing your most memorable meals makes for great plane conversation, let me tell you. We got along so well that we split a cab into the city, which was awesome as well. Thanks, Jon!
Had a caprese sandwich a la United Airlines during my flight:
Jon had the gourmet “snack box”, which actually looked a lot better than my dinner!
Got in pretty late, East Coast time, listened to a sermon online and crashed.
This morning, still working on West Coast time, I woke up at 6am, made some coffee in my room and set out for my meeting. Picked up a chocolate banana vivanno smoothie with a shot of espresso on the way:
I LOVE these!!! Why am I just discovering them now??! So delicious and pretty healthy, too!
We had lunch at Blue Smoke, a reallyyyyy yummy barbeque restaurant down near Chelsea. Seriously, it was delicious. I ordered the Lowcountry Shrimp Burger to pay homage to my alma mater in South Carolina and it was divine. Came on a soft brioche bun with a salad and the thickest sweet potato fries I have ever come across. So gooooood!
THIS reminds me of HOME!
I was tied up for most of the afternoon but I did get a nice hour or so walk in before I had to get back to the airport. Also got a dunkin donuts iced coffee in…can’t believe we don’t have these in Northern California!
I love New York!
I wish I could have spent more time in the city and met some of you guys!! Hopefully I’ll be back at some point though in the near future and I promise to plan an awesome blog reader dinner. Upon checking in, I was told that an earlier flight was leaving for SF in 10 minutes and if I could race and make it, I was on. So what did this Southern girl do? Kicked up my heels, grabbed my bags and BOOKED IT through the airport. They were just closing the gate when I raced up and on the plane. Wheeewwwww!
Once on board, I relaxed with some dinner + wine + toblerone 
It wasn’t spectacular and I only ate a few squares of the chocolate but it was food and I hadn’t eaten in like…..8 hours. Hah
Got back to San Francisco at around 8:45 and totally snacked on an unpictured oatmeal raisin cookie. Sorry, it was a hectic moment! Grabbed my rental car and drove the hour and a half back up to Santa Rosa. I don’t even think the guys knew I was gone.
Need Sleeeeeeeep!
{ 94 comments… read them below or add one }
I love NYC too, I think it is my favourite city in the world
. Rest up!
I think that I’d like NYC now..that I am older. However, when I first went I was a farm girl who was VERY overwhelmed.
Sidenote: I don’t like this keeping secrets game. Can’t wait!
M
Dying to know what this meeting was all about to be so important to fly across the country!!!:)
Your life IS super exciting right now. Relish in it and take it all in.
Jenna,
Enjoy everything that life has to offer. You deserve it!
I hope everything works out, I bet you have a cookbook in store
Wow…what a whirlwind:)
Hope your secret meeting works out for you~
Sounds very exciting! Glad you had a good seatmate, that can make or break a flight. Just fyi, the link to Jon’s site doesn’t seem to work.
Oh man it’s amazing what you’re doing! Embrace every minute of it! Have a good day!
Oooo, if we guess can you tell us? I am thinking cookbook, or an audition to be on Top Chef or a similar show.
such a jet setter, i love it! can’t wait to find out more
I love NYC so much!! You have been in some amazing places the past week!
Jenna I think I’ve read “if you told me a couple months ago that this was where I’d be” so many times on your blog. Don’t be so silly, you ARE interesting or you wouldn’t have so many readers. I’m so excited for when you can share your news, I’m sure it’s something amazing, because you’re amazing!
What an exciting time! And no doubt that meeting is leading you to more exciting things. Congratulations on everything! Hope you can relax a bit now that you’re home.
Hope you get some time to relax soon!
Whew is right! That was a worldwind day, but you managed to get some great eats in there!
I never tried a Chocolate Banana Vivanno with a shot of espresso – thanks for the great idea!
Can’t wait to hear your exciting news!
Can I just say that I love: 1. that you feel like your talking to your BFF or a close friend on your blog and 2. that you got a mini bottle of wine on the plane! LOVE it!
Sounds like a lot of fun things!! Hope the mystery-meeting went well and WHOOHOO for the Swiss Chocolate!! Although I have to say I don’t like it much!! Too sticky-in-between-the-theeth!!
Have a good day!! Hug n.
Glad to hear you enjoyed your quick trip to NYC!
What a crazy week you have had!! I can’t wait to find out the big news. I love New York and have not been in so many years! A lowcountry shrimp burger! Yum!! I live in Charleston, SC and know how good the food is here!
Ahah oh my. What an adventure! And I really love that first photo of you ahah Definitely reminds me of a small town girl in the big city
Well, those meals on the plane/airport weren’t THAT bad. I’ve definitely seen worse. :p
I hope you have some time to relax now!
I know you said your life isn’t normally this exciting, but I just have to say it’s soooo cool! Once again, I love how you just picked up and moved across the country. And flying to NYC for a big secret meeting? You could make a movie outta this
I love your blog!!!
OMG!! You went to Blue Smoke!! That is seriously one of my favorite restaurants in the city – so glad that you got to try it.
Enjoy some much needed sleep!
I live in the city…Blue Smoke is a GREAT place to go, especially for a misplaced Southerner such as yourself (and me! I’m from NC)
I remember looking for Dunkin Donuts in Southern California when I was visiting my family and they told me that they only had Starbucks!
Your quick trip to NYC reminds me of when I lived at home with my parents and I used to hop on the train into the city for the night.
Glad you had a safe and fun trip!
Ahhh! This made me even more excited to go to NYC this weekend! Just missed ya!
I am dying to know what this meeting is for. I’m thinking book deal, cookbook, TV show…who knows! Something big, though!
So happy you’re back to your new “home” safely!
What an awesome whirlwind of a trip! Your life is exploding into such an exciting adventure!
I love those banana vivanos – reminds me of my green monsters when I’m on the road!
I can’t wait to hear the big reveal! Also I LOVE your sunglasses in the second pic!
INSANE!!!
I live in NY and I looooove Blue Smoke!! But how come your sammy looked so healthy? lol I always opt for the pulled pork and have some of my fiancees memphis style ribs
Can’t wait to hear about the big reveal! 
Wow, how exciting! It is always such a tease to go to a great city like New York, and then have to leave without really getting to explore and have fun. I am excited to hear about this meeting of yours! Congrats on all the fun new experiences you are having
new york looks delish! lol
Glad you’re having fun!
Jac
Hey Jenna, love your gray blazer, where’s it from?
Allison,
Jcrew outlet! Thank you!!
Looks like an exciting whirlwind of a trip…very cosmopolitan of you to be swooping in and out of NYC for the day! :> And good eats while traveling to boot….you know how to make the most out of your trip!
Can’t wait to hear what the big news is…
Courtney
Adventures in Tri-ing
Wow, talk about a crazy day! Your eats still look great thought!
I love Toblerone; it’s got awesome texture!
HOW EXCITING!!! NYC is in my Top 3 most favorite places in the world – how lucky that you got to spend even one day there! Can’t wait to hear what the big news is
Wow! You must be exhausted! Looks like a fun time though!
I love NYC!! I wish I could visit more. I can’t wait to hear about your top secret meeting!
glad you got there and back safely! So exciting
I love NYC!! I wish I could visit more often. I can’t wait to hear about your top secret meeting there!
Ugh the suspense!
And banana chocolate vivannos are amazing, definitely my favorite drink from starbucks
mmm i love sweet tater fries!
what a crazy weekend for you!
I am soo happy you loved New York!!! I can’t wait to hear about it.. I am sure you where right by my office.. hopefully next time we can meet each other!
Trust me…if the guys got hungry, they knew you were gone
I can’t wait to hear what the secret meeting was about!!!
I love toblerone
Dying to know what you’re up to in NYC!! Sounds like a whirlwind and so very exciting to be such a jet setter! Jenna, you have made your life what it is and with your motivation and positive energy, great things have happened for you!!
Wow I am dying to know what you were up to in NYC. Jenna, you are doing so many exciting things and I have no doubt that your positive energy and motivation have gotten you there!!
Wow I am dying to know what you were up to in NYC. Jenna, you are doing so many exciting things and I have no doubt that your positive energy and motivation have gotten you there!!
Wow I am dying to know what you were up to in NYC. Jenna, you are doing so many exciting things and I have no doubt that your positive energy and motivation have gotten you there!!
Blue Smoke is nowhere near Chelsea…but it is near a whole bunch of publishing houses!
I wonder what you’re up to…
What a whirlwind of traveling…
Glad you had safe travels
Wow! That does sound like a whirlwind!
Yay for NYC! That restaurant sounds good. I’d say I want to go check it out, but my list of restaurants to check out here in NYC is about 10 feet long! Haha. There are just so many good ones!
Hope you can find time to relax after your journey.
hey jenna..i’m super jealous of your life right now!!!!
but, i have a question about world press. I just recently got a blog (you should check it out) but I was wondering how to get the bars (like blogroll, my name..etc) on the side of the page instead of at the bottom?
THanks
How fun! You must be exhausted but having the time of your life!
I love Blue Smoke, one of my favorite ‘fun’ places to eat! Glad you enjoyed your trip
Can’t wait to hear your exciting news!
That looks like Thanksgiving in a sandwich!! Glad you enjoyed NYC. Hope everything pans out with what you’re doing and you’re back soon!
what a whirlwind trip! but it looks like you still managed some good eats! cant wait to hear about your reason for going to nyc!!
Can’t wait to hear your news! Glad you had a great trip! It made me tired just reading about it! Would have loved to do it though! Best of luck with all of your adventures!
Hey Jenna! Are you getting your own Food Network show?? You would be great by the way!
Man, I am just dyyying to know what this meeting was about!! It seems like everyone in blog world is going through major life changes right now, how awesome!!
I love NYC!! I wish I could get there more often!
Jenna Girl! So awesome! Glad you had a safe and fun even though short trip to NYC! Love the pics of NYC—makes me want to jump on a plane and hang out in NYC myself! Good Luck with everything! Thanks for sharing your life with us!!
I can’t believe you had such a whirlwind trip! I’ve heard great things about Blue Smoke but never been… love all of Danny Meyer’s other restaurants, though!
! Hope you had a successful meeting!
You owe us NYC readers a blog reader dinner the next time you are in town
Lovely eats and lovely pictures of you in the city that never sleeps! I like that sandwich with cranberry, don’t you just love sourdough bread?
xxx Julia (Taste of Living)
Love the whirlwind – insane! Can’t wait to find out what the meeting was about!
I’ve never had a shrimp burger but really want to try one!
NY looks like so much fun. My brother lives in Rochester, so I’m hoping to get some friends together and take a bus up there sometime soon
Sounds like a fun trip! I can’t wait to hear what it was about!
Looks like you had a great time in NY! I have never been there myself.
I also wanted to say that I love your site, and you are an inspiration and I gave you a little link love in my last post!
http://www.eatsleepgetfit.com/2009/10/you-can-be-runner.html
Dang busy woman!! “I dont even think the guys knew I was gone” hahaha. That would be hilarious.
When I was in my 20′s and a single mother flew 150K miles a year for work. NYC, Naples, Boston, Vail, Sun Valley, San Diego, Boulder, San Francisco….etc might be a week…ran 6 miles a day, played golf/tennis with friends, dated, ran a house and raised my son. I managed multi-million dollar design/construction projects…maybe 10+ at a time. Slept on planes, and would seriously wake up at night in my own bed and look around trying to figure out what town/city I was in. NYC was definitely one of my favorite spots.
Since you were in Chelsea, the Garment District, where there are also publishers and the offices of wowowow.com headed by a publisher and media people, will guess that you had a meeting with Joni Evans or one of the ladies at wowowow.com
I am going to NYC for the first time in November with my BBF and cannot wait! So excited!
It looks like you had fab weather though for your oh so short trip…can’t wait to hear what it was about!
Yes, Vivanno’s are great for a quick snack! Love them.
I am going to NYC for the first time in November with my BBF and I cannot wait!
For a whirlwind trip looks like you still had a great time and nice weather too! Can’t wait to hear about your meeting!
I’m so glad you arrived safely and everything is going well! You adapt so well to these crazy new adventures, and you seem to fit in no matter where you are.
I haven’t tried those vivanno drinks yet, but I love how healthy they sound!
Oh craziness! I hope your top secret project all works out!
I know things are crazy for you but I am so jealous! I love New York and I’ve always wanted to visit California
Hope whatever it is goes well for you!!
Renting cars makes me nervous . . the first one I ever rented felt like I was driving an elephant!!
It had a very long front and I drove like a snail in it! Glad you had such a fun and successful ( though can’t wait to hear more about that!) trip to NYC. You could be there for a year not do everything. Trukey cranberry looks SO good!
OMG you are SO making me want to go to NYC! I freaking love that city so much and I’d probably live there if I wasn’t spoiled enough to live in San Diego
I went last summer and I want to go back! I’m glad you had a nice time
I am so curious– what are most people’s reactions when you snap pictures of your meals? I always feel so awkward when I do it!
You have quite the exciting life now!
Sounds like you had a great time in NY, and your pictures were fabulous!
Glad you got to get home earlier than expected, that is always a welcome change!
Have a great Tuesday!
nyc is so much fun! glad you had a great time
airport foods are usually good but just wicked expensive and i am sure the boys knew you were gone 
haha.
jenna
Hey Jenna! Glad you see your back. I have been wanting to try the Starbucks vivianno’s as well, I just ever get around to it!
That shrimp burger looks good. I have never heard of shrimp burger, interesting!
Your life certainly has been a world wind! So exciting!!!I am glad you got a DD’s iced coffee:) How Boston of you
I look forward to the exciting details about the purpose of the NY trip!
ive never been to nyc but i want to go soon one day :] and that shrimp burger looks amazing!!
Glad you had fun in my city! But seriously…you don’t have DD iced coffees? I practically live on those, especially during finals week.
OMG!! You were right in my neighborhood. Hope you had fun!
You look like your having such a great time!!
What a day! I can’t wait to see what comes of the meeting!!
xo
K
I’m actually a big fan of the new United box meals… I mean, even though you have to pay for them, they’ve stepped up their game with offering some fresh, natural, upscale options. Good news for a busy jetsetter like me!
Crazy! You are such a jetsetter, eh? hehe.
I feel exhausted after reading that… super exciting though
New York, New York… always nice to visit. Can’t wait to hear about this top-secret stuff!
You were right near me! I live by Madison Square Park. Glad you had a good (safe) trip. You need to take a break soon!!
i can’t wait to hear about the secret news!
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