Kelley Louise is a travel entrepreneur, Founder of Impact Travel Alliance and passionate about storytelling and social good! Come explore her favorite 7 secret NYC spots!
I’ve known Kelley Louise probably for as long as I’ve been in New York City. I was introduced to her through a friend in common somewhere back in 2015.
Throughout these past years, I’ve been following her work and how she’s also changing the travel industry across the globe!
A travel entrepreneur passionate about storytelling and social good, Kelley specializes in creative marketing and social media management for clients in the travel and impact space. She is also the Founder and Executive Director of Impact Travel Alliance – the world’s largest community for socially conscious travelers.
Kelley has built her career through carefully selected opportunities in the United States and abroad, including leadership roles in entrepreneurial endeavors, social good projects, marketing and media strategy.
A content creator herself, Kelley is an avid photographer and writer, and runs a travel and lifestyle blog, The Culture Collective – focused on travel & lifestyle, she showcases local gems and off-the-beaten-path adventures, and covers social good, empowerment and entrepreneurship.
A passionate connector, Kelley has an innate ability to build loyal and diverse communities.
Kelley has a bachelor’s degree in Media & Culture from The New School. She lives in Brooklyn, and you can follow her adventures on social media account: @KelleyTravels.
Now, take a look below and see her favorite 7 secret NYC spots!
League of Kitchens
“Hands down, my favorite experience to recommend to New Yorkers and newcomers alike. League of Kitchens is an Airbnb-style format that offers you the opportunity to take a cooking class in an immigrant’s home. Nothing beats breaking bread and learning about someone’s culture through food.”
Pretty awesome, right? These amazing cooks host you + 5 people at their home and teach everything about their traditional cuisine from back home. Plus, you are able to go home with a detailed shopping list of what to buy and the recipes, so you can also cook at your own home.
Oh, it’s also a great opportunity to meet like-minded people!
Nowadays
“I’ve been a part of the Mister Sunday crowd since it’s early days in Gowanus Park, and it’s been amazing watching how Eamon and Justin have grown this community. Nowadays is their permanent outpost, which opened in 2017. Go for the music, stay for the good vibes and crowd.”
And I love it too! I’ve been there a few times and it just gets better and better!
The music is fantastic, there are a few food trucks so you won’t get hungry, drinks have super reasonable prices, you can be sure you’ll have a fantastic time and even get to meet a few new friends!
They’re located in Ridgewood, Queens, but it’s an easy commute through the L train to Halsey station.
Hours:
Monday – Wednesday: 4pm – 12am
Thursday – 4pm – 2am
Friday – 4pm – Late
Saturday – 12pm – Late
Sunday – 3pm – 12am
Location: 56-06 Cooper Avenue
Other Infos:
- Nowadays is always free except for indoors on Friday and Saturday nights, and indoors and outdoors every Sunday until 9pm.
- The kitchen closes at 11pm Sunday through Thursday, and 1am on Friday and Saturday.
- 2-for-1 happy hour runs from 4pm to 8pm Monday to Friday.
LIC Landing
“The magic of the NYC skyline never gets old, and LIC Landing is one of my favorite places to soak in the view. Bring friends and grab a drink – take some time to enjoy the slow(er) life in NYC.”
This beautiful, brand-new waterfront park at Hunters Point South, offers a 2000 sqft outdoor event space and a high-quality outdoor café.
It definitely has a priceless view of the city!
Try going before sunset and you’ll be able to witness Manhattan’s lights lighting up.
After all, we all know how beautiful this experience can be! While you’re around the neighborhood, be sure to explore close by spots like The Standing Room, a great bar and comedy bar!
Hours: Every day – 7am – 10pm (Summer Hours)!
Location: Center Blvd. between 50 Avenue and 54 Avenue
Beer Street
“Beer Street is the bar that ruined all other beer bars for me — other bars just don’t compare. Somehow, all other menus just don’t compete with Cory (the owner’s) exceptional taste and attention to detail. Pro-tip: If you’re indecisive on what you want to order, follow Beer Street’s golden rule — Trust your bartender.”
Well, to start, they were chosen as “America’s 100 Best Beer Bars by Draft Mag” for the years of 2014 and 2015.
Located in Williamsburg, they have 10 taps with amazing draft beer, plus great wine, cider and other drinks.
Hours:
Monday – Thursday: 5pm – 1am
Friday: 5pm – 2am
Saturday & Sunday: 12pm – 2am
Location: 413 Graham Avenue
Furnish Green
“From the conventional to the quirky, Furnish Green has it all. My favorite vintage furniture store in the city, Furnish Green is great for finding anything from a well-designed dresser for your bedroom to a vintage carousel house (the latter of which I have).”
These guys are vintage experts! Every week you can expect 5-15 new items in the store. As they say, their philosophy is:
“To provide creative local consumers with unique, well-made, long-lasting and reasonably priced pieces of furniture.”
Pretty cool right!? Plus, in a city where most people buy at the same stores, you’ll be sure to have different items decorating your beautiful home!
Hours:
Monday – Friday: 10am – 8pm
Saturday: 10am – 6pm
Location: 1261 Broadway, Suite 309
Bistro Petit
“This is a big statement, but I stand by it: Bistro Petit is the best restaurant I’ve ever been to. It’s a charming little spot – only fitting about a dozen or so people into the entire space – and you can’t help but to fall in love. The cuisine is French/Korean fusion, and BYOB. For the perfect date night, bring a bottle of red, and sit on the bar stools for a view of the kitchen and sit side by side with your date.”
The owner and chef, Sung Park, is truly an artist, in the kitchen. His bold and innovative cooking style is surely what makes the difference for his guests, and obviously, what makes them come back.
Located in South Williamsburg, they explain that they only use only use the freshest seasonal ingredients, local produce, natural organics, grass fed beef, local fish, and free-range chicken.
Plus, for vegetarians, they have great options, so don’t worry about it! You can go and be sure to have a great time!
Hours:
Wednesday – Saturday: 6pm – 12am
Sunday: 6pm – 11pm
Location: 774 Driggs Avenue
Erie Basin
“An exceptionally well-curated collection of jewelry (both vintage and new pieces that were crafted using antique stones), pretty much everything you see at Erie Basin is one of a kind. Even if you’re not ready to invest in your next piece of fine jewelry, they’re worth the follow on Instagram for some daydreaming.”
Launched in 2006, the store is located in the far end of Brooklyn in a neighborhood we adore called Red Hook! They are “specialized in antique and vintage jewelry, but also have a selection of furniture, art, and objects dating from the 18th to mid 20th century.”
The brand is, up to date, basically a one-man show, and was founded by Russell Whitmore. An avid collector and antique lover, Whitmore launched in 2014 a fantastic collection around antique gemstones he has collected and many are exclusive, one-of-a-kind pieces.
Hours: Wednesday – Saturday: 12pm – 6pm
Location: 388 Van Brunt Street
Thank you to my dearest friend, Kelley Louise, for these truly amazing 7 secret NYC spots! I loved them all and will surely visit the ones I haven’t been to yet!
You should too, after all, exploring New York, through the eyes of true New Yorkers, is definitely the best way to do it!
Photo Credits: Courtesy of Tutti del Monte, Clay Williams for The James Beard Foundation and all the venues.
*Last Update on April/2020.*
Fê is our Founder & CEO! She’s Brazilian (Yup! Not a New Yorker!), but her indescribable passion and curiosity for NY makes her a New Yorker by heart. Fê worked in companies like Kimberly Clark, Quintessentially, Vogue Brazil and Iguatemi Group, and after 12 years of working for these fantastic companies, she decided to go solo and move to NYC!
She lives in Brooklyn since April of ’15 and has been tirelessly working on BTSNYC, working with huge companies on corporate projects, practicing her Arhatic Yoga meditations, finding time for gym and friends! Phiuf!
