![\"Trattoria\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.newyorkcitygal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/Trattoria.jpg?resize=640%2C346\")
<\/a>Trattoria Bolognese in Midtown (photo courtesy: Zagat.com)<\/p><\/div>\n
Trattoria Bolognese is one of those rare and wonderful NYC restaurants that has been around for awhile. I remember eating there often in my twenties, as it was located right around the corner from my parents\u2019 building. Serving delicious old school Italian fare in a casual, warm setting, Trattoria remains one of my favorites \u2013 and a perfect setting for lingering conversation.<\/p>\n
Alexandra and I hadn\u2019t seen each other since she glammed me up for my photo shoot back in June<\/a>, so we had a lot to catch up on. We talked about summer getaways, the ebb and flow of professional contentment and coping when life throws you a curveball.<\/p>\n Alex has been my rock through so many trials and tribulations, a soul sister whom I have cherished since childhood. We already have our next bonding session scheduled and I can\u2019t wait.<\/p>\n Speaking of wonderful women, I also had the pleasure of catching up with my dear friend Lauren. A fellow hospitality marketing pro, Lauren was the first person I connected with in the industry a decade ago. I remember thinking when we met that if everyone in the biz was as awesome as she is, I was going to love being part of it. I was right.<\/p>\n Lauren invited me to join her at a fantastic networking event hosted by the Adventure Travel Trade Association and Colombia Tourism. Held at Barraca<\/a> in the West Village, the night offered great opportunities to mingle along with delicious Latin cuisine and beverages. Among the interesting folks we chatted with \u2014 a freelance writer who has ridden halfway across the country on a bicycle and a twentysomething finance rep by day\/travel blogger by night.<\/p>\n The finance gal asked lots of questions about parlaying her passion for travel into a career change. Happy to share my experiences as a career changer, I found myself thinking how fortunate I am to love what I do. The varied work I did before couldn\u2019t have been a better preamble for it had I planned it to be.<\/p>\n And I couldn\u2019t be more blessed to have amazing women like Lauren and Alexandra to remind me of all I have to be grateful for.<\/p>\n<\/body>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"