LES Pickle Day

When the whole weekend is busy, why stop at Sunday?  That was kind of how we ended up at Pickle Day two weekends ago.  Unsure of how to spend the day, I went to Time Out New York to see if there were any events.  When I saw the listing for Pickle Day I figured it would likely end up being something small like three stalls but didn't care because it would at least get us moving.  We could check it out and if it turned out to be nothing special we would just hit up brunch.

When we arrived in the Lower East Side we found way more than three stalls.  There were actually about three blocks of stalls.  In addition to booths of pickle purveyors like Divine Brine and Pickle Me Pete (15 picklers in total), plenty of the neighborhood restaurants set up booths where they sold snacks featuring pickled ingredients.

I started with a hand roll from Blue Ribbon Sushi.  There were four versions, each with a different type of picked veggie.  I went with the mustard green version.  Because the ingredients were simple, the seaweed flavor really came through and I thought it paired well with the pickle taste.  Next up was Black Tree where Albert got a pickle pot that included pickled fruit in addition to the typical pickled cucumbers.  I've never had a pickled blueberry but I didn't hate it.  You got to choose what type of fruit infused brine to drizzle on top and we went with apple.  It added a hint of sweet to the vinegar base.  The third stop was Krupa Grocery which made the strangest sounding concoction that I had to say I tried it.  It was a beet stained pickled egg that was filled (like if it had been deviled) with chicken liver pate and topped with cocoa nibs.  The brine was a little sweet and the filling was somewhat salty and rich.  I was so nervous to try this one but I was impressed to find it kinda worked.  Since we were still planning to go to brunch we limited ourselves to only one more stop at Sour Puss Pickles where we got a large garlic dill pickle to gnaw on.  They were stronger than half dones but the garlic and dill flavors were still subtle - no puckering when you eat these.

I can't wait to go back to Pickle Day 2015 because there are so many more vendors I want to try.  I love that the Lower East Side is celebrating its Eastern European heritage...even though most pickle production seems to have moved to Brooklyn and is done by hipsters instead of old Jewish folks.

30 Before 30: #12 - Go Apple or Berry Picking

Apple picking is not much of a thing where I'm from.  As you creep closer to North Georgia you may find corn fields and hay rides, but in the Lowcountry that stuff is a bit harder to come by and apples are not one of our major crops...which would make picking them nearly impossible for a weekend activity.  But here in the Northeast it's all anyone does in the Fall.  I have become so jealous of all the cute Instagram pics that invade my feed in September/October.  All the girls look so great in their cozy flannel and I can't resist a small child standing next to an oversized pumpkin.  I had to get in on the action.  At this point the activity has become cliché but I don't care; I had a blast.

On a cool autum Saturday I headed to New Paltz, NY with some girls from book club.  I was a bit hungover but I could not miss my last chance to go apple picking before my 30th birthday so I grabbed a large iced coffee and a bacon egg and cheese and headed to Port Authority for the hour and a half ride upstate.  Side note: this was the first time I've ever gotten to use the phrase "I'm going Upstate" and I liked how it sounded.

A short cab ride from the bus station took us to Jenkins & Lueken Orchards and dropped us off at their general store.  Here, you can buy apples and pumpkins that you didn't pick yourself (but...why?) as well as local goodies like homemade peanut butter (I picked up some of the chunky monkey variety with chocolate chips for Matt), apple butter (got a jar of this for Matt's bday as well), jams, pies, sausages, and ciders.  We immediately grabbed some apple cider doughnuts (a specialty) to share.  Like everything else there, they were very inexpensive, just $1.25 for three.  They are the airiest cake doughnuts covered in cinnamon sugar.  We held of on the rest of the shopping until after the other activities.  Most people must drive up there on their own (vs. the bus/taxi method we used) because there were no paths to get to the orchards and fields.  We looked like silly city girls trying to cross the small highway.  We first walked through the corn maze (not much of a maze...more like...just...corn, but cool, nonetheless) and then took a little hayride.  It was finally time for the main event!  We went back to the store to pick up our apple bags and pickers and were warned that it was the end of the season so there wouldn't be much left on the trees.  We were not deterred.  We were mostly in it for the experience and only needed a couple bags to make a few pies.  It's not like we were stocking up for the winter.

After getting enough apples and some extra items from the store we had a taxi (that we called in advance) take us back into town.  New Paltz looked like a town right out of an ABC Family tv show.  Very quaint with a hippy skew.  I would definitely recommend an apple picking excursion combined with a bed and breakfast stay and a tour of a nearby vineyard.

Apple picking was a success and definitely something I would do again next fall!

Date of Completion: 10/18/14

E's Bar

It's good to have friends in different neighborhoods.  It makes you feel worldly.  It's even better when those friends make a point to explore their own neighborhoods and let you know of new, fun places.  That's how we learned about E's Bar, a spot that just opened about 3 months ago in the UWS.

With stickers on the ceiling, red pintuck cushions, and neon signs they are clearly going for a grungy, East Village vibe.  They're almost there, but it's still a little too new and clean to feel truly dive-y.  The food menu looked good with some well priced specials but we had already eaten so we focused on two far more important things: drinks and games.

Drinking is fun.  Games are fun.  Put them together and you're bound to have a blast.  They have Sorry and Connect 4, but my favorites are Cards Against Humanity and Jenga.  Cards Against Humanity is an obvious choice because it gets hilarious and obscene, especially when you're imbibing.  Jenga, however, may sound like an odd choice.  What makes Jenga here particularly fun is that it's dirty Jenga.  Someone has written tasks on the blocks that must be completed before the blocks are replaced on the tower.  It's kind of like Jenga: Truth or Dare Edition.  I am a big fan of day drinking, but sitting around for hours on end can get a tad boring.  Throwing games into the mix keeps it lively.  It also means I'm likely to stick around longer - nice thinking, E's Bar.

Lonestar Empire

Last week I went to my first ever SummerStage concert.  SummerStage is a concert series in Central Park that provides both free and not free music throughout the summer.  Concerts are always a good time but my mind was blown when I saw they had food and beer stalls.  Lo and behold!  Food and beer makes the music sound even better!  If anything, I thought it would be simple burgers and hot dogs, but they actually had about three fancy food vendors from the Brooklyn Flea set up.  We got all of our food from Lonestar Empire, who put their Texas-style smoked meats (brisket and pork) in both sandwich and taco form.  The tacos had great slaw; the sandwiches had perfect pickles - good toppings all around.  They don't have a brick and mortar store so make sure you head to Smorgasburg to taste their meat (that's what she said).  And if you haven't been to a SummerStage show, definitely put that on your bucket list.

 

North River Lobster Company

A good chunk of our Sunday was spent aboard the North River Lobster Company's vessel or, as I like to call it, "Lobstah Boat".  The downside is that there are no crazy food or drink specials so you can't plan this as an all you can drink booze cruise unless you plan to shell out the bucks.  The upside is that it's no-strings-attached easy.  The boat sets sail four times per day for a 45 minute ride around the Hudson.  You don't need to buy tickets to be able to leave the dock, you just have to be on the boat (which is free to enter).  The doors remain open while the boat is docked so you are free to chill for as long as you want.  In our case, we boarded at around 4:30 and hung around the deck, soaking up the sun and drinking beers (a bucket of 6 for $24 - a dollar off per beer) until the boat set sail at 6 PM.  At some point in there, we ordered some food.  I thought the shrimp po boy was definitely lacking, but I enjoyed the lobster roll.

Basically, this is like The Frying Pan, except it actually moves.  Since the company just launched, it's not crazy packed yet.  It's a great way to enjoy the views the city has to offer but with no sort of forced payment.  Some of the best things in life really are free.  I wish the lobster roll was one of them.

3 on Thursday

I had such a great time while my Mom was here - we just walked and walked for three days.  Exploring quaint West Village streets and uncovering restaurants in my own neighborhood.  It's easy to feel sad once she's gone, but thankfully my life has been so busy I almost don't notice.

I used to live one short block away from JG Melon's which could explain why it's my favorite burger in New York.  When you find your first love, you fall and you fall hard.  That's what happened to me with Melon's.  Because I lived so close, I discovered it on day one in the city and then made a habit of going about twice a month for their bacon cheeseburger and cottage fries.  When I went to JG Melon's for supper last week I surveyed the scene and realized I don't just love it because it was my first New York burger that happened to be super convenient.  I love it because it's goooood.  The bun soaks up the juice and squishes down as I go in for a bite.  The pickles' brine is well suited for the burger and the...well, it all just makes for a good, meaty bite.  I also love the atmosphere.  It's a tiny place and everyone has been working there for about 30 years.  Dark wood and hunter green abound with some form of melon artwork in every nook and cranny.  All the preppy folks of the UES - my people - congregate here in their button down, khaki, and docksider glory.  If you know me and you know my own outfit choices, this alone is heaven.

Although I left work after 8:30 last week, I was still able to get to the park to catch the Philharmonic as the soothing sounds played through the Great Lawn.  We were a little too far away to hear every note played but it was just loud enough to provide beautiful background music for our picnic.  It's free - definitely something everyone should check out!

Albert came through with another great cookbook - this one even better than the last!  I fell in love with Deb Perelman's blog, Smitten Kitchen after falling down an internet recipe rabbit hole.  The photography is gorgeous and the recipes inventive.  But it's her story that truly resonates with me.  There's no hook to her cooking, such as "five ingredients or less" or "4 meals in 40 minutes".  Like me, she cooks just because it's something she likes to do when she comes home each night.  Also just like me, she cooks in a tiny Manhattan kitchen.  Can I be her when I grow up?

3 on Thursday

I am so excited for my Mom to arrive in the city tomorrow!  Her idea of a good day in Manahattan is EXACTLY like mine so I imagine there will be plenty of exploring, meandering, and eating going on.

've always wanted to go to a movie screening in a park, but after six years in NYC I only just made it.  It sounds like something you could just pop by last minute, but it actually takes some planning.  The park fills up hours in advance and since no movie would be complete without snacks, forethought is necessary.  Albert and I went to one of the HBO Summer Film Fest screenings in Bryant Park and even though the park was too full for us to use the blanket I toted along, we got seats at one of the small tables around the park.  We could still see everything and were actually able to beat the crowds when it came time to leave.  The movie of the night was Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (the 70s one with Gene Wilder - a personal fave).  The audience clapped and cheered when Charlie found his golden ticket and when the Oompa Loompas watched Veruca Salt go down the chute with the other bad eggs.  I also loved that they played a Looney Tune to start off the evening and the old school HBO movie intro just before the feature.  One of the coolest things I've done in the city.

One of the best parts about bubble tea is puncturing the plastic film with that fat straw.

For my birthday this year my parents offered to get me the tablet of my choice to replace my laptop.  They helped me research the options and about 2 weeks ago I went to pick up my shiny new iPad.  I absolutely love it!  It was such a generous gift so I am definitely putting it to good use by writing up a storm and watching HBO Go in bed.  It's so much fun having a new toy and even better when that toy can improve your daily productivity thanks to some handy dandy apps.

3 on Thursday

This past weekend finally showed us some warm weather and I can't help but get my hopes up that it will continue to feel like spring.

My friend Brian is full on amazing.  He has revitalized the under-served school system of New Orleans and just when you think he's done it all, he starts pretty much the coolest company ever.  Dinner Lab is a members only dining experience that introduces salivating foodies to new chefs through no frills dinner parties at locations that vary from lofts to warehouses.  No assigned seats.  No repeating venues.  This is going to be huge, people.  Check out this video to get a taste.

It's the little things that have been most frustrating to replace since having my purse stolen a few weeks ago.  One such item is my keychain.  The one I had was the perfect size and like much else I own, monogrammed.  My Mom was awesome enough to find the perfect replacement in my favorite colors of green and navy that suits me to a T.  Get it?  It's embroidered with a T.  

After almost six years in New York, I finally made it to the TriBeCa Film Festival and felt just as cultured as I had hoped.  I was lucky enough to receive all-access passes for Sunday the 28th, the last day of the fest and wanted to take full advantage.  I made sure to see a foreign film ("Just A Sigh" - kind of a disappointment with a couple storylines that went nowhere) because subtitles seemed like something I needed to do at an event like this.  I also saw "Prince Avalanche," a great character study starring Paul Rudd and Emile Hirsch that I think will be huge.

3 on Thursday

Between post-work cocktails, a Broadway show, trivia night, and an out of town visitor, I am ready for my [comparatively] calm weekend.

I was lucky enough to get invited to see Ann through work, which means I have now seen my first on-woman show.  I was worried it would get boring having just one person standing on a stage for two hours, but they managed to keep it lively by alternating between speaking directly to the audience and stepping into a flashback-esque sequence.  The boredom is also cut by the sheer fact that Holland Taylor is a great actress.  For someone who typically has a very formal, almost affected way of speaking, she adopted quite the Texas accent to portray Texas' ball-busting, sassy former Governor, Ann Richards.  I was even more impressed when I realized Taylor also wrote the show.  This may not be a spectacle of a musical, but it was a delight to watch.

Andrew and I were originally going to go somewhere expected, like a nearby happy hour, for a long overdue catch up session.  But then Andrew sheepishly suggested we go to a bathhouse, giving me full veto power if I was weirded out by the idea.  Since I'm always up for something different I gave a hearty "why not?" and packed my bathing suit when I left for work.  The Russian and Turkish Baths has been in the East Village since the late 1800s...and I'm pretty sure they haven't updated the facilities since then.  Believe it or not, that's actually part of its charm.  I fully expected to be sandwiched between some overweight,bald, hairy Russians and my prayers were answered, but there were actually all sorts of people there - and only some were heavily accented.  I sweated it out in all the various rooms and even tried the ice bath.  I felt renewed when I left.  For $35 it's a steal of an activity that I'll definitely repeat.

One of many downsides to having my purse stolen was losing the phone that I had inside.  The upside to losing my phone, however, meant I had the opportunity to pick out a new iPhone case.  So many options!  My last case was super boring - I picked it up when I got the phone and it was a very simple black.  Yawn.  This time I got a great ikat pattern from my favorite store, C Wonder, in my second favorite color, navy.

3 on Thursday

Who's ready for the weekend?  ME.  It took far too long, but Spring has finally sprung and I can't wait to enjoy it.

I'm all about using social media appropriately.  Cole Haan has developed a great tumblr tracking Subway Style.  This links to their current branding with their logo in MTA-style lettering and their recent campaign around the NYC subway system.  Instead of just showing pictures of their own products, they focus on general NYC fashion, which is an entity unto itself, and encourage engagement with a "This or That" voting series.  They show that they "get" New York fashionistas - and that does way more for brand loyalty than any product shot.

I recently took a cooking class with co-workers in an amazing loft space.  At Miette Culinary Studio, Chef Paul Vandewoude assesses your skill level and tailors how much you do accordingly.  He was great about explaining why he took certain approaches and I walked away having learned a lot - but I would expect nothing less from a man who was the head chef at someplace like Tartine.  I also walked away full.  We started with a salad topped with wine poached pears and blue cheese, then moved on to perfectly cooked chicken with fresh tomato sauce over cauliflower almond puree, and finished off the meal with molten financiers and fresh vanilla ice cream.  There was a sommelier on site to pair everything with wine, but we also drank the whole time we cooked (which always makes the kitchen more of a playground).  The prices are actually quite reasonable so this is not a bad idea for an excursion with friends or a cute anniversary gift.

I'm not sure why, but today I just really felt like a New Yorker.  I was hyper aware of the fact that I was doing a NYC-style commute - much different from the car-bound commutes of other cities.  Maybe it's the change of the seasons (finally!) that makes everything more vivid and alive - every breeze that passes through my hair tingles.  Whatever it is, I feel like a city gal today and there are few things more quintessentially New York than the "we are here to serve you" coffee cup.  

3 on Thursday

I had such a wonderful time with my parents while they were here for a long weekend.  It was much colder than we expected, but we didn't let that stop us from running around the city!

If you haven't been to the MoMA yet to see Edvard Munch's "The Scream," get there now before it closes on 4/29.  It's amazing to walk right up to such a famous piece of artwork, but I found some of his other pieces even more interesting.  That Munch was one weird dude.

I wanted to do something special for my Daddy's birthday, which fell on the Saturday of his visit.  I did a little research and learned that their school, La Scuola, was holding a class on Saturday afternoon.  For about $60 per person, we learned all about Prosciutto di Parma from the experts while Eataly's head chef prepared us a 3 course meal that the sommelier paired with wine.  I learned a ton, took plenty of notes, and plan to put my new prosciutto skills to work soon. If you're a food nerd like me, I highly recommend checking out Eataly's upcoming classes.

I decided to host the Passover Seder this year, my first in an apartment with a real dining table suitable for dinner parties.  My Mom helped me organize the menu and pick out new placemats and dinnerware, but I was still nervous about how it would turn out.  Based on the fact that one guest went back for thirds, I'm guessing the food was good - phew!  My Passover menu was as follows: deviled eggs, olives/pickles, haroset, brisket, quinoa with tomato, avocado, basil, and lemon vinaigrette, sweet potato casserole, asparagus with peas, and sorbet with berries for dessert.  I was also pretty pleased with my centerpiece.  While we were at Calliope over the weekend, I noticed they used a mug as a vase and it looked beautiful.  I took 3 mugs in two different shapes and filled them with tightly packed carnations in two shades of pink: "my colors are blush and bashful"..."your colors are pink and pink".  Hoping somebody got that Steel Magnolias reference...otherwise that last sentence was weird.

3 on Thursday

Once again, the quiet weekend I had planned has been booked up with activities and once again I don't care because I know I'm going to have a great time.

For years, Saturday night has been 80s night at Canal Room.  The cover band is ridiculous, half the people come dressed up, and you will likely walk away nice and drunky.  It's pretty much a guaranteed good time.  It's also a $20 cover and the drinks are pricey so I recommend some heavy pre-gaming.  If you haven't been, this should be on your NYC bucket list. 

A sex toy party is not my sorta thing.  I don't like to talk about that sort of thing at all, but my friend was hosting and needed to fill the room so I went in support.  Next thing I know, I'm having lickable and tingling lotions rubbed into my arm and being shown a variety of "bedroom accessories".  Talk about being completely out of your comfort zone.  Fewer people showed up than expected which meant I couldn't sink into the background - awkward!  I'm still very conservative and uncomfortable talking about personal stuff like this, but I suppose there's something to be said about pushing yourself to do something different...even if it makes you giggle awkwardly.  I'm sorry, I couldn't bring myself to post a pic of the toys so all you get is one of me testing out a lotion.

Back in the day, our group at my company was super tight.  Plenty of my original coworkers have moved on to other jobs and now that everyone is so busy, there doesn't seem to be the same level of camaraderie.  Every so often, we try to plan a little reunion at a bar to reminisce.  It's crazy to see how much we've all grown over the years and it's nice to see those early bonds (like the ones forged with my first cube-mates pictured above) remain strong.

3 on Thursday

It is very weird to come back from a beach vacation spent entirely in bikinis to freezing cold New York.  At least my trip away gave me the reminder I needed that it won't always be cold and dreary.  Spring will soon arrive and I can spend all my time outdoors.

New favorite nail color: Essie's "School of Hard Rocks".  It's a green that falls somewhere between army and avocado skin that's dark enough for winter without being a downer.

Before leaving for vacation I attempted to ice skate.  It's definitely a fun winter activity but my Southern blood was not prepared for it.  I basically wobbled around the rink.

My favorite picture from my Curacao vacation.  I tore through three books while I was there and my favorite place to read was on our room's private patio.

3 on Thursday

I should probably take things slow this week in preparation for a much needed vacation, but that just wouldn't be as interesting so I've been running at full speed and trying new things.

Grand Central turned 100 last week and it is just as beautiful now as it ever was.  It is one of my favorite places in the city, and I love that I get to walk through it every day.  Like many of us, I often keep my head down, changing the song on my iPod or looking out for street signs.  But if you're ever walking through the gourmet food market in Grand Central, do yourself a favor and look up so you can see this beautiful chandelier.

Lindsay is on the committee for Sunrise on the Rocks, which sends children with cancer and their siblings to camp for free with the money raised from their fun events.  This year, they raised enough to send at least 2 kids to Sunrise camp and give them a very special summer.  When being charitable involves food and an open bar, it's hard not to be philanthropic.  Hopefully you can tell by the pic above that we managed to have a great time while raising money.

I went to my first Knicks game on Monday night!  It's hard not to have a great time when you're only 10 rows back from the players, but it was just a great atmosphere in general.  I'm proud to have another team to support! 

3 on Thursday

The smart thing to do when you're in two major weddings that are two weeks apart would be to take the weekend in the middle to relax.  But that wouldn't be fun, would it?  Instead I went to DC to spend some time with my bestie and had a fabulous time.  Now it's a mad dash to get everything at the apartment ready before people start arriving in NYC tonight!

Though the majority of our time in DC was spent at the bars, Liz and I had a little bit of time before my bus to check out the National Cathedral, which happens to be in her neighborhood.  The cathedral is gorgeous and as grand as can be.  As beautiful as the nave is, it was also cool to walk around the 7th floor observatory, which provides perfect views of DC and its suburbs.  Liz and I thought we were back in France where we met - this could rival most of the European cathedrals we toured.  

Though I hate shopping for clothes, I will give Zara credit as one of the few stores I will tolerate.  It has become a go-to, so I'm sure you can believe how ecstatic I was that they launched their online home store (the one thing I don't mind shopping for) in the US on Tuesday!  There are already too many items in my shopping cart... 

After a couple years of hearing about how fabulous Soul Cycle is, I finally tried it last week.  Soul Cycle is an intense spin class that incorporates light weights and a stadium seating layout.  Two things make these classes so popular: the instructors who yell encouragement throughout the class (to get you through the on-bike pushups) and the great music selection (you pedal to the beat).  I loved my workout, but the price is a big downside.  It costs $32/class (with no frequency discounts) plus $3 for shoes (which have to be purchased each time).  I've heard competitor Flywheel is slightly cheaper, but that's a hefty price to pay for a class.  My gym offers spin classes with great instructors.  It may not be quite as fabulous as Soul Cycle (and isn't frequented by trendy Upper East Side ladies), but it'll just have to do...for now.  

3 on Thursday

I loved having a 4-day weekend.  I spent the first two days running from event to event and the next two days barely leaving my bed.  It's all about balance.

I have wanted to see Clybourne Park since I read an article about it in New York Magazine back in April.  I loved the idea of a set playing such an important role in a show and wanted to see what it was all about.  Two months later, the show won the Tony for Best Play and I became determined to see it before it left.  I didn't want to make the same mistake of letting silly errands get in the way of me seeing a great show, like I did with Venus in Fur and Scotsboro Boys.  When I found out it was closing on Sunday, I made the decision to get tickets and see it over the weekend, even if it meant seeing it by myself.  Thankfully, it didn't come to that as Lindz was up for an evening of cheap theater, thanks to the beauty of rush tickets.  It was fabulous.  It was dark but still hilarious, touching on latent racial issues.  From the actors to the set designers, bravo to all involved.    

Yes yes, my favorite season is ending and it's sad, but I am completely consoled by the return of football season.  I returned to the Pourhouse to watch the Dawgs snag a W with my fellow NYC fans.  I was in a rare state after participating in the hour of open bar before kickoff, but I still managed to get a pic with the two handsome boys above, Matt and Aaron Kooden. We Savannahians never stray far from one another, but I guess that's what happens when you bleed red and black.   

I'm a total aquarium freak, but I don't hate on the aquarium's close cousin, the zoo.  I can't believe I have lived in New York for five years and never made it to the Bronx Zoo.  This place is huge and amazing.  I can't recall ever coming in such close contact with a tiger so that exhibit quickly jumped to the top of the list.  The gorillas were my other favorite.  They had such clear personalities!  A ticket will set you back $30, but it's a completely worthwhile activity.  If you're like my Bubba and I, you'll try to read every plaque in the place (much to the chagrin of my sister-in-law who finds us much too slow).  This zoo is much too large to read everything.  Lindz and I were there for 4.5 hours, and I didn't come close to soaking up all the random factoids I wanted.  I think I'll just have to turn this into an annual excursion to learn it all.