#AdventureswithKaren: Episode 2

It's been a month since the start of my #AdventureswithKaren project. So let's do a little recap of all the places my friends and I have visited so far:

Schaumburg, IL:

Schaumburg, Illinois is a small city about 30 minutes outside of Chicago. There was a decent mall close by and plenty of chain restaurants that appealed to the regular and unimaginative omnivorous tastebuds. My saving grace was a Whole Foods Market which is stocked with fresh produce and yummy prepared foods. Also a treat was the Ned Brown Forest Preserve, which features a beautiful paved bike and running path.

Ft. Lauderdale, FL:        

Even though Ft. Lauderdale is incredibly different from my hometown and from LA, the tropical Floridian weather reminded me so much of spending time with my family in Taiwan that I became homesick. It also made me nostalgic of when my mom and I went to Orlando, FL for Co. Dance Nationals in 2004. All of that is to say that my family and friends were on my mind!

Atlanta, GA:
The last time I was in Atlanta I was there only long enough to make one stop; I visited The Lucky Exchange, where I purchased this gem of a jacket:

But this time around the weather was nicer and I had much more time to explore. Piedmont Park was perfect for a picnic:

Pittsburgh, PA:

My stay in Pittsburgh was brief but pleasant. There is a path that runs along the Ohio River on which you can go for a nice stroll or jog. I really wish I had the opportunity to visit the Andy Warhol Museum, but I suppose that's something I'll look forward to the next time I am in town.

Providence, RI:

Providence, Rhode Island, home to Brown University and Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), is the epitome of a quaint east coast city. The picturesque apartments and condos are stacked side by side and look like something out of a magazine:

Using my UCLA ID I was able to visit the RISD Museum for only $5. My favorite exhibitions were Andy Warhol's Photographs and Graphic Design: Now in Production:

On campus at Brown University

Washington D.C.:

The last time I was in Washington D.C., I barely had enough time to walk through the National Mall. This time I made sure to visit a few of the Smithsonian Museums, including the Hirshhorn Museum and the National Air and Space Museum. I even had a drink and a bite to eat in Adams Morgan, the young neighborhood my good friend Darby lives in:

Barbara Kuger's Exhibit at the Hirshhorn Museum

National Air and Space Museum

Adams Morgan

Old and new friends at Roofer's Union

Philadelphia, PA:

Philadelphia surprisingly had a great selection of vegan and vegetarian restaurants. I visited PS & Co, a newly opened cafe which serves organic, gluten-free, kosher, and vegan fare. They had only been open 5 days when I visited so they were serving a very limited menu. I had the sweet potato quiche, a chocolate chip cookie, and a cup of their Indian Spice Chai tea. The food was delicious but the best part of the cafe was the decor and ambiance:

PS & Co in Philly

After lunch I took a walk through Rittenhouse Square. It's the perfect place to people watch or to do absolutely nothing and soak in the sun. I chose to read my kindle for a few hours:

Rittenhouse Square

For dinner I decided to check out the highly acclaimed vegan restaurant, Vedge. The menus are "globally inspired (and) use locally sourced ingredients that closely follow the beautiful Northeastern seasons":

The grilled seitan entre at Vedge

Join me on my next adventures out and about via Instagram, or check back soon for more updates!