I spent the day with my good friend Luke exploring Chinatown, Little Italy, and the LES.

We kicked off the morning in Chinatown at the Chinese Lunar New Year’s Firecracker Festival. There was confetti everywhere!

After the firecracker ceremony we headed to Mulberry street for some authentic Italian food at Cafe Napoli.Chicken parm, warm bread, and ravioli go a long way on a freezing day.

When we finished lunch we knew it was time for some italian desserts. We enjoyed pastries and coffee at America’s first espresso bar, Ferrara’s.

We spent the rest of the afternoon walking around the LES as Luke smoked his pipe. I have to say, I love the smell of his chocolate/mocha tobacco. It smells like coffee is brewing every time he has it going.

We walked all the way to the outskirts of Alphabet City and into the Tompkins Square Park before walking back to Union Square and heading home.