How to Take NJ Transit to MetLife Stadium for the World Cup (2026 Guide)

24/06/202608/11/2026wareontheglobe Leave a comment

MetLife Stadium and Meadowlands station ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Dan & I went to the FIFA World Cup game at MetLife Stadium (or “NY NJ Stadium”) on Monday, June 22 between Norway and Senegal. It was a super fun experience, and you can read about our experience in detail here. This post, however, details our experience traveling from Hoboken, New Jersey to Met Life stadium before the game, as we have received so many questions about it! We also took the train to Philadelphia for a second match, and here is how that day compared.

Met Life stadium world cup with flags out

Made it to the game!

Amongst the few options available to reach MetLife Stadium, we opted to take NJ Transit from Hoboken Terminal directly to the stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All in, the experience was easy and much less stressful than the news would have you believe. We would take NJ Transit again without hesitation (aside from the cost).

NJ Transit train to MetLife Stadium for the World Cup

NJ Transit really is a decent way to go!

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Gjelina NYC: Good Food, Great Cocktails, and a Genuinely Good Use of Your Chase Sapphire Reserve Dining Credit

15/06/202608/11/2026dancozzi Leave a comment

Update July 18, 2026. I just checked the list of available restaurants for the Chase Sapphire Reserve Dining Credit and Gjelina NYC has been removed. I will update this post again if I notice it is back.

In June 2026, Fleming and I visited Gjelina to use our Chase Sapphire Reserve dining credit ($150) which was expiring on June 30th. We won Off-Broadway lottery tickets to see Cecily Strong in What Happened Was at the Audible Minetta Lane Theatre, a thirteen minute walk away from Gjelina. Overall we had a great experience and would dine at the restaurant in the future, even without the credit, if win the area.

This post reviews Gjelina and also how to use the Chase Sapphire Reserve dining credit.

The Buttermilk Panna Cotta with Candied Basil and Sea Salt was a highlight.

The Buttermilk Panna Cotta with Candied Basil and Sea Salt at Gjelina was a highlight of the evening.

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Is Bermuda Worth It? Our Honest Review from NYC

31/03/202608/11/2026wareontheglobe Leave a comment

Bright blue water off the beach at Coco Reef Resort, Bermuda

Bermuda is one of the easiest island getaways from NYC, just a 2-hour flight, but is it actually worth it? After a long weekend of beaches, food tours, and a few travel mishaps, here’s my honest take.

At A Glance

📍 Location: Bermuda
✈️ Flight Time from NYC: ~2 hours
📅 Trip Length: 4 days / 3 nights
💰 Cost Level: $$$
🚗 Getting Around: Taxi + Hitch app
🏨 Where We Stayed: Coco Reef Resort (not recommended)
⭐ Highlights: Food tour, Crystal Caves, St. George’s
⚠️ Watch Out For: Expensive taxis, inconsistent hotel quality

Street scene in Bermuda showing the island's British colonial influence

Bermuda! There was a solid British (kind of Irish) theme) present throughout the island due to it being a British outpost for years. This was pretty interesting.

My husband and I spent a long weekend in Bermuda last Labor Day weekend. It was our first visit and the simple reason – it is only 2 hours from the NYC area and there was a relatively reasonably priced flight that fit our schedule. We had a very nice time, but we have certainly been to nicer islands (in our opinion). I think I need to go back (and we will, I have my eye on the St. Regis!) for longer and stay elsewhere for a different experience on the island. This post details what we ate, where we stayed, and what we did during our weekend getaway to Bermuda so that you can recreate our trip on your own!

Coastal scenery in Bermuda during a long weekend trip from NYC

Bermuda is very pretty.

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Manzana de Java: The [Current] Best Restaurant In San Juan

11/03/202608/11/2026wareontheglobe Leave a comment

Bisteca fritta. Manzana de Java. San Juan, Puerto Rico.

We have been to San Juan, Puerto Rico numerous times. It is one of our very favorite places to eat and drink, especially thanks to some restaurant recommendations from local friends. In March 2026, we returned for a long weekend simply to escape the cold. Given that two of our favorite restaurants are permanently closed (Jose Enrique and Celeste), I had to find some new restos! I came across Manzana de Java in my research and then saw that it was one of Bad Bunny’s favorite restaurants. Sold. I booked a reservation several weeks in advance and could only get the first seating of 6:30 PM.

The entrance to Manzana de Java restaurant in Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico

The entrance to the restaurant.

La Manzana de Java, literally translating to the Java Apple, is located in Santurce on a quiet street. It’s truly a whole in the wall with only 20 seats. Hence, the difficulty in securing a reservation. La Manzana has 3 seatings nightly, the early seating (5:30, 6:00, and 6:30), a regular seating (7:00, 7:30), and a late seating at 9:00 or 9:30. Tables are grouped in groups of 2 or 4, and it could be difficult to have a much larger party here without renting out the whole restaurant.

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Lillie’s Victorian Establishment: One of the Best Christmas Bars in NYC!

02/12/202518/10/2026wareontheglobe Leave a comment

Ceiling of Lillie's Victorian in Union Square covered in giant ornaments, garlands and Santa figures above the bar

*Updated for 2026*

It’s Christmas in New York City, and time to review another one of my favorite holiday spots in the city: Lillie’s Victorian Establishment! Lillie’s is one of those over-the-top Christmassy bars and restaurants, where everyone wants an Instagram picture. I have been to the Times Square location numerous times at both Christmas and otherwise (it is one block from my office), and I want to the Union Square location last November (2025) to see the Christmas decor first hand. This post details a visit to Lillie’s Victorian around the holidays and how to get inside, even without a reservation!

Lillie’s Victorian Union Square.

Long dining room at Lillie's Victorian in Union Square, with red napkins on wooden tables under a ceiling packed with Christmas ornaments

Very fun decorations at the Union Square location starting mid-November.

Lillie’s Victorian Establishment

With two locations, Lillie’s Victorian Establishment is a year-round Victorian-era British Pub in New York City named for late British actress Lillie Langtry. The restaurant’s namesake arrived in New York in 1882. Her American debut was set for New York’s Park Theatre, which burned down on October 30, 1882, the day she was due to open. According to Lillie’s, only a charred sign with her name survived. For your purposes, Lillie’s is most famous for its elaborate Christmas decorations, which go up year in mid-November.