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Happy Friday!
Painting by Lindsey Frances
Things that have happened recently:
Well now I can’t see William Barr without thinking about this.
Remember that time I went to a great little diner in New Jersey but didn’t take any photos because an old man wouldn’t leave me alone? Not only did I go back, but I photographed the inside, talked to the owner for more than an hour and wrote about it all for Roadtrippers.
The Instagram aesthetic is over (thank the Lord).
Things to do in New York this weekend:
Governors Island is open for the season and all ferries will be free this weekend—if you go, say hi to the chickens for me.
Jane’s Walk—free events inspired by Jane Jacobs—is hosting a tour of the former US Lighthouse Depot grounds in Staten Island on Saturday and Sunday.
The five boro bike tour is on Sunday. Here’s the route, if you want to join—or avoid—the bikers.
Things I’ve discovered recently:
I am a sucker for before/after photos, but this series from the New York Times is next-level cool.
I am deep into a new obsession with Lily Tomlin and I’ve been working my way through her movies. The Incredible Shrinking Woman was life-changing, Grandma was excellent, Big Business and All of Me were silly but fun, she was wonderful in Nashville and The Late Show, and if anyone can help me watch a VHS copy of The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe that I recently (impulsively) bought on eBay, I’d really appreciate it.
Man, I’m so excited for the return of this show. Have you seen the trailer yet?
I was in Ohio for a week, and while I was away it seems that all of New York bloomed. Yesterday it was in the 80s, but now it’s rainy for the foreseeable future. I have plans to see a movie on Sunday but otherwise my weekend is free. I’m sure there will be at least one diner breakfast in there, although sadly it won’t be at Kane’s Diner in Flushing because it closed on Wednesday (RIP those insane menus). Now that my hobby became my job I find myself kind of listless on weekends—if anyone out there wants to explore abandoned places or hit up cemeteries in New York, let me know!
Happy Friday!
Painting by Lindsey Frances
Things that happened this week:
I’m obsessed with Schitt’s Creek (I’m still crying thinking about last week’s episode) and very upset that the sixth season will be its last, but I’m devouring everything I can about the show and its creators/actors, including this recent Esquire interview with Dan Levy.
The New York Times profiled ham (I want an oil painting of that lead photograph for my apartment).
This story about a 3-year-old who witnessed his father murder his mother sounds straight out of a movie but it’s real life.
Things to do in New York this week:
Cherry blossom season is one of my favorites (I wrote about the D.C. cherry blossoms for Roadtrippers recently) but I always forget that Roosevelt Island has a great crop of cherry trees. The Four Freedoms Park festival is this Saturday—don’t forget you can take a tram!
Saturday is Record Store Day—my favorite place to shop for records in the city is Human Head in Bushwick.
One of the Staten Island cemeteries that I tried to visit recently is opening on Sunday for a few hours—you can come help clean up or just visit the infrequently-opened historic grounds.
Things that I’ve discovered recently:
I’ve been playing Jenny Lewis’s new album On the Line on repeat recently, in addition to this ‘90s acoustic playlist because I still know every single word to every song that was on the radio in the ‘90s.
How to be happier at work.
I finally decided to get one of these, and although it makes my toilet look like its belongs in a nursing home, the science behind it is pretty, ahem, solid.
Hi! It’s been quiet over here on the old blerg for the past few months while I settle in to my new (dream) job at Roadtrippers—you can see what I’ve been up to over there on the magazine and follow along on Instagram, if you’d like. A lot of what I used to post about on here will end up over on Roadtrippers in some form, but I plan on still popping back in here when I can to write about things that don’t quite fit on RT.
I’m headed back to Cincinnati in a few weeks for work and I’ll head north for a few days to visit my family but I have a few fun stops planned in between (of course). I was obsessed with Grace & Frankie for a few weeks but I finished season 5 and 2020 and season 6 seems so far away—what else should I start watching? I just finished this book and loved it—I’m about halfway through this one and I feel as if it hasn’t really lived up to the hype, unfortunately. Have a great weekend!
Happy Friday!
Illustration by Lindsey Frances
Things that have happened recently:
The Jussie Smollett story is crazy, but it doesn’t change the fact that the number of hate crimes rose 17 percent from 2016 to 2017 (gee, I wonder why).
It’s almost Mueller time.
My recent trip to Mexico City just further proved that the border wall is ridiculous. “Whether or not the wall gets built, it is America’s new symbol. It stands for a nation that still thinks “freedom” means freedom from restraint but no longer pretends that everyone can be free, and it enforces that reality through cruelty, domination and racism.”
Things to do in New York this weekend:
For Black History Month, the Urban Park Rangers are hosting a discussion about Seneca Village, a community of predominantly African-American property owners, who once lived in what is now Central Park, on Saturday from 1-2:30 pm.
CatVideoFest, “a charitable nonprofit dedicated to bringing the joy of cat videos to the masses and raising money for cats in need” is playing Saturday, Sunday and Monday at the Alamo Drafthouse in Brooklyn.
Sunday is the last day to see the 17th annual holiday train show at the Transit Museum store in Grand Central Terminal.
Things I’ve discovered recently:
I started reading this book on the plane and I’m really loving it.
In case you missed my announcement yesterday, I’ve started a new job as a Community Editor at Roadtrippers and it still seems too good to be true (I will, however miss those free books from Penguin Random House).
On my flight back from Mexico, I watched Generation Wealth and it was an equally fascinating and depressing look at the global quest for wealth and fame (by the same woman who made the also excellent documentaries Thin and The Queen of Versailles).
I had a very lovely time in Mexico City, but I’m always happy to be home, sleeping in my own bed (in between Mozart howling at me, of course). I dove right into my new job yesterday and first days are always overwhelming but I still can’t really believe that I get to think about road trips now for a living (dreams do come true!). Working from my tiny apartment will have its challenges, but hopefully Mozart will be happy that I’m home more often (I’m also taking recommendations for nice sweatpants :). I have plans this weekend to do a bit of light trespassing and hopefully at least one diner breakfast, so I have no complaints. I hope your weekend is happy!
Happy Friday!
Bodega cat illustration by Lindsey Frances
Things that happened recently:
Is there any better way to describe the current state of things than the Mars Rover’s sad last words, “My battery is low and it's getting dark.” Here’s a good visualization of how it’s spent its 14 (lonely) years on the planet.
This is a fascinating look at the science of addiction, written by a former addict turned professor of psychology.
Good news: Amazon has canceled its plans to build a corporate campus in Long Island City and we’re not sad about it. Bad news: it’s been a year since the Parkland shooting and nothing much has changed. Unsurprising news: Men are still trash.
Things to do in New York this week:
The Love & Resistance: Stonewall 50 exhibit opened this week (and runs until July) at the main building of the New York Public Library.
The H. H. Biddle House, a NYC landmark constructed on Staten Island in 1845, is having an open house on Saturday from 1-4pm, which is also opening day for their new exhibit, “Time in a Bottle, a rare collection of Staten Island’s historical past etched in glass.”
One of my favorite New York City parades—the Chinatown Lunar New Year parade—takes place this Sunday at 1pm.
Things I’ve discovered recently:
The latest additions to my obsession with #influencer culture: these destinations are being destroyed by tourists, why food made to be Instagrammed is problematic, inside the Instagram mafia, what not-to-do when photographing private homes and are we already post-lifestyle?
Interested in dinosaurs? Skip Jurassic Park (the book) and read this fascinating account of fossil hunters and the people who collect them (yes, Nicholas Cage and Leonardo DiCaprio are mentioned) instead.
A good (and sad) look at the history of prefab diners in Manhattan.
Depending on when you’re reading this, I’m either on my way to, or have already arrived in Mexico City! Upon returning from Egypt I vowed never to travel to a country where I couldn’t drink the water and then the next trip I booked was to … Mexico. But I already got my Hep A and Typhoid vaccinations out of the way for Egypt so I’m packing the Imodium and hoping for the best 🤞! My friend Francesca is spending six months in Mexico City and my friend Jim is flying in from California to meet us so I’m excited to spend a few days in the sunshine (highs forecasted into the 80s) with two of my very favorite people. I’ve been uncharacteristically loose with my itinerary for Mexico, so if there’s anything you think I should see—or eat, sans cilantro—let me know! I have a few posts scheduled for next week and some exciting news to announce next week, so I’ll see you back here soon—have a great three-day-weekend!
Happy Friday!
Illustration by Lindsey Frances | Prints available here
Things that happened recently:
This is a fascinating look inside of the Westbeth Artists Housing complex, the last remaining artists’ housing in New York.
In preparation for the State of the Union Address, a giant inflatable Trump Rat (a nod to the infamous union strike rat, Scabby) was erected in Columbus Circle. I didn’t watch the SOTU, but I did love Stacy Abrams’s response and it’s hard to decide who had a better reaction: the Democratic women, 11-year-old Joshua Trump, Nancy Pelosi or this woman.
Billy Eichner is writing and starring in a new romantic comedy and I wish I could buy tickets already. Speaking of strike rat, I miss Difficult People (RIP).
Things to do in New York this week:
Saturday is the Flushing Chinese Lunar New Year Parade (it’s the year of the pig!) and while I’ve never been to the one in Flushing, the Chinatown celebration is one of my favorite parades in the city.
Sunday is the Til Death Do Us Part oddities market hosted by JC Oddities in Jersey City. This is the market where I found Flapjack and some other great pieces for my curiosity cabinet and it’s usually much better than the overpriced and overhyped Oddities Flea Market in Brooklyn.
The 143rd annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show takes place Monday at Tuesday at Madison Square Garden. My mom and I went last year and it was really fun but you can also watch the live stream here.
Things that I’ve discovered recently:
When I’m old and racked by dementia, I’ll still be able to sing Stick Stickly’s address (which apparently isn’t valid anymore, sad!) and I laughed out loud when I saw this tweet.
I love making fun of millennials as much as anyone (submitted for your approval: a yacht influencer) but I recently finished this book and it was a fascinating and sobering look at all of the factors that have made us the way we are.
We’re finally going to see They Shall Not Grow Old (after seeing the trailer ten thousand times, it finally has a wide release) on Saturday and on Sunday I’m trying to decide if I want to go to IKEA or to the Jersey City oddities flea market—either way I’ll probably be buying things I definitely don’t need and can’t fit in my tiny apartment. I’ve been rearranging some things in my apartment in anticipation of some new projects, so I might do an updated apartment tour post when that’s all finished. Next week I head to Mexico City for a few days and I’m being uncharacteristically loose with my itinerary but I’m sure it will be a good time. After a January that seemed to last for much longer than it was supposed to, February (the most expensive month to live in an apartment) seems to be speeding by. Have a great weekend and happy Lunar New Year (I’m an ox, but the pig is my favorite of the Chinese zodiac signs)!
Happy Friday!
Illustration by Lindsey Frances
Things that happened recently:
Yes, it’s cold: at least 20 people have died because of the subzero temperatures in the Midwest, the USPS suspended mail delivery in some areas, and here is the difference between climate and weather (Anyone Who Understands This 2020, please).
Praise Bhagwan—a movie based on the Wild Wild Country documentary about the infamous 1980s cult and Ma Anand “tough titties” Sheela is in the works.
A bit of sad news: a 22-year-old mother died after falling in a (non-ADA-accessible) subway station. And a bit of good news: this 11-year-old is making nursing home patients’ wishes come true, Julie Klausner has raised thousands of dollars for Planned Parenthood in the name of MAGA trolls who have been attacking her after former Ohio Governor John Kasich (and all-around garbage person) stole her seat on a recent flight, and I’m loving that formerly vilified women from infamous ‘90s scandals are finally getting to tell their stories.
Things to do in New York this week:
Saturday is Groundhog Day, but Mayor de Blasio won’t be attending the annual festival at the Staten Island Zoo because of the infamous 2014 Staten Island Chuck scandal.
Sunday is the Super Bowl, which I don’t care about, but I do care a great deal about Super Bowl snacks. Randy’s Donuts recently received a pretty drastic makeover for the big game, but I hope they return to their classic look soon.
There is one more week left of New York’s Winter Restaurant Week, which actually lasts three weeks.
Things I’ve discovered recently:
Dream job alert (“fasten your meatbelt” 😂 )
I recently finished this book, a surprisingly readable and enjoyable book about blood. This review in the New York Times says that the author, Rose George, “rips open her topics as if they were bags of chips,” and I’ve already put this book of hers on my library hold list. Speaking of books, here is an interesting look at how Instagram and Amazon have influenced book cover design, and the cover for Margaret Atwood’s Handmaid’s Tale sequel, The Testaments, was revealed this week.
This is 100% what I imagine Mozart’s days look like when I’m at work.
January always feels like the longest month of the year, but we made it - Happy February! The weather here in the city is supposed to warm slightly this weekend and then it’s back into the 50s next week (where is our snow??). On Saturday I’m headed to Brighton Beach with some friends to fill up on hearty Eastern European foods (hopefully we can find this Georgian cheese bread). On Sunday my friend Trent has generously invited me over for brunch and I know whatever he makes will be amazing, so obviously I’m working hard on my winter body this weekend. I’m currently reading this book because it was recommended by my fantasy best friend, Samantha Irby—I love a good missing person(s) thriller but I hate not knowing the twists so I’ll either plow through it or flip to the end (I know, I’m a monster). Have a great weekend and stay warm!
This post contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click on a link, I may receive a ~very small~ commission in return, which I will probably use to buy more books because I have a book hoarding problem.
Happy Friday!
Illustration by Lindsey Frances
Things that happened recently:
We never got our promised snow storm last week here in the city, but in western New York Niagra Falls is an icy winter wonderland (I wonder how the Twist O’ The Mist is doing?)
Season five of Schitt’s Creek started last week and Catherine O’Hara continues to prove that she is a national treasure.
Every day I am more and more OVER white men, but Nick Sandmann is the worst combination of my two least favorite things: white men and teens.
Things to do in New York this week:
The Implicit Tensions: Mapplethorpe Now photography exhibit opens today at the Guggenheim (and Saturdays are pay-what-you-wish from 5-8pm).
We have had a pitiful amount of snow this season, but this Saturday from 11am-3pm you can see the man-made stuff at the annual Winter Jam in Central Park.
There are still a few tickets left for this special screening of one of the best movies ever made, Matilda, at the Alamo Drafthouse in Brooklyn on Tuesday night.
Things that I’ve discovered recently:
Kaylah (of The Dainty Squid) recently started making her adorable pouches again and they’re all so great it’s hard to pick a favorite. I use one of her tiny pouches as a makeup bag every day and it’s held up really well but I already want another one.
My dad is a super talented musician and songwriter—but don’t take my (biased) word for it and go hear his latest songs on his Youtube channel or better yet, buy his CD (I designed the cover!).
Sometimes I get grumpy and think that design doesn’t matter but this bike company ingeniously changed their box design and decreased their shipping damages by 80%!
On Sunday I’m going to Governors Island on a special off-season trip with a new Instagram friend and I’m super excited to poke around the island while it’s closed to the public. Last weekend I went to Staten Island to find a neglected Merchant Marine Cemetery and not only did I find it, but various veterans’ groups found my post and have vowed to clean up and care for the historic space. My love for abandoned places runs deep but I’m so happy that this burial ground is finally getting the attention it deserves and that my strange habit of traipsing through cemeteries may have finally had a small, positive impact on the world (file both under: good things that can come from strangers the Internet). I’ve been plowing through my overwhelming stack of library books and I finished this book and started this one this week (both excellent). I very rarely cook, but I made chili last weekend and it was so good I might make another batch again soon. Have a great weekend!
Happy Friday!
Illustration by Lindsey Frances
Things that happened recently:
Women have been told how they should act/look/do literally everything since the beginning of time, but Gillette made a (very good) ad addressing toxic masculinity and surprising no one, men are upset about it.
There are two Fyre Fest documentaries currently streaming (I watched Hulu’s earlier this week and I plan on watching Netflix’s version tonight) and I continue to be obsessed with white, millennial influencer culture gone wrong.
A new report from the WSJ alleges that Michael Cohen tried to rig polls in favor of Donald Trump, but more importantly, he continues to drag Trump down with him. Speaking of Trump, I have to at least mention that millions of Americans voted for a 72-year-old man who can’t even spell the word hamburger (but at least we can all find a bit of joy in the commentary on our National Moron’s incompetence like this, this and this).
Things to do in New York this week:
Film Forum is screening the classic (and one of my favorite movies) Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory on Saturday and Sunday at 11 am. It’s part of their Film Forum Jr. series, but if you really think about it, this movie is quite dark.
Saturday is the 2019 Women’s March in DC and there are affiliate marches all over the country, including NYC. Here are my photos from the 2017 march in DC and 2018 in NYC.
Sunday night (into Monday morning) is your last time to catch a total lunar eclipse until 2021.
Things that I’ve discovered recently:
A co-worker let me know that you can now get a DNA test like 23andMe for your cat.
Samantha Irby, author of two of my favorite books—Meaty and We Are Never Meeting in Real Life—and all-around hilarious human, has started a newsletter and I’ve never hit “subscribe” so fast.
New Orleans is the only other city that I’ve visited that’s made me think “I could live here” (the cemeteries alone!) and this article is making me feel that way even more (ugh, that humidity though).
Apparently we’re in for some snow (finally!) and I hope it’s a lot—nothing makes me happier than traipsing around the city (or a cemetery) in the snow. It’s been brutally cold here so the lack of snow is making me grumpy about winter. I don’t have any plans for the three-day weekend but I’m sure I’ll find a diner or cemetery (or several) to occupy my time. I’ve been sick this week with my second cold of the season so I’ve pretty much watched everything that Amazon or Netflix has to offer but I’m looking forward to the second Fyre Fest documentary (my mind was blown that it is pronounced “fire” and not “fry,” which my brain had been seeing all along). I started reading this book and I’m already halfway through it in two days because I can’t put it down. My library hold list is daunting, but there is just nothing like a really good book (speaking of libraries, I recently finished and loved this book too). Have a great weekend and stay cozy!
Happy Friday!
Illustrations by Lindsey Frances
Things that have happened recently:
My friend Trent was interviewed by thekitchn.com about his quest to cook every Ina Garten recipe. You can follow along with his journey (he’s halfway through nearly 1,200 recipes!) on Instagram—come for the mouthwatering food photos, stay for the hilarious photoshopped photos.
Lin-Manuel Miranda and his friends have purchased the Drama Book shop to save it from shuttering. I wish I could purchase all the classic businesses that need saving, and New York needs more Lin-Manuel Mirandas.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has proposed a higher tax on high earners to fund the Green New Deal, which means that "Once you get to the tippie-tops, on your $10 millionth dollar, sometimes you see tax rates as high as 60% or 70%. That doesn't mean all $10 million dollars are taxed at an extremely high rate. But it means that as you climb up this ladder, you should be contributing more," Ocasio-Cortez said. Here’s why that would totally work (and despite what our current garbage administration would like you to believe, climate change is an actual threat to all of us).
Things to do in New York this week:
Today is the first day of Jerry Seinfeld’s residency at the Beacon Theater, which I would love to see—if tickets weren’t INSANELY expensive.
Celebrate Alexander Hamilton’s birthday (he was born today, 262 years ago) by taking a tour of his house, located in (appropriately) Hamilton Heights.
On the Basis of Sex, the Ruth Bader Ginsburg biopic gets a wide release today. Go see it and send some good, healing vibes to RBG—she needs them and god knows we need her (I’m seeing it tomorrow!).
Things I have discovered recently:
I can’t stop thinking about this incredible article about the “burnout” phenomenon. She focuses on its effect on millennials, but I would argue that anyone living and working in today’s “hustle” culture is equally affected.
The wonderful world of Mouseland, what if dinosaurs had hair and an eloquent defense of a childless life.
I just started watching Good Girls—starring my fantasy wife, Mae Whitman and my new fantasy best friend, Retta—and it’s so good! Season One is currently streaming on Netflix.
It’s supposed to be pretty cold here this weekend, so I’ve been making mostly indoor plans including diner breakfast (of course), a movie and maybe a trip to the Transit Museum—I just became a member and it’s been a while since my last visit. It probably wasn’t wise to begin my cemetery project in the middle of winter, but maybe I’ll find the energy to visit a few new ones this weekend. Otherwise, I’m in full hibernation mode, mentally. Ever since I bought myself a new vacuum on cyber Monday because I’m actually 80 years old, I’ve been happy to spend my weekends cleaning my tiny apartment and snuggling with Mozart (on her terms, of course). Have a great weekend and stay warm if you’re in the northeast!
Happy Friday!
Illustration by Lindsey Frances / Download a free printable calendar here
Things that happened recently:
Egg roll squirrel is my 2019 aesthetic.
Jada Yuan traveled to 52 places in 2018 for the New York Times and she recently wrote this insightful recap of her extraordinary year. Speaking of travel, here’s how not to be an asshole when you travel, and here are some places you should probably take off of your travel list.
President Elizabeth Warren? Despite the face that literally anyone would be better than the current sentient meat sack, I’m in.
Things to do in New York this week:
Sunday is the last day for the NYC Winter Lantern Festival at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Garden in Staten Island. Here are some photos from Snug Harbor—in the summer and in the winter—and the hidden cemetery nearby.
Sunday is also the 22nd Annual Brooklyn Three Kings Parade, which kicks off at 2:00 pm at the intersection of Meeker Avenue and Graham Avenue in Williamsburg.
Monday is your last chance to see this year’s Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center (here’s a guide to other holiday delights in New York, if you’re not ready to let the holiday spirit go yet).
Things I’ve discovered recently:
What if the placebo effect isn’t a trick?
I’ve been slowly picking up my reading pace after taking a few weeks off at the end of the year (much-deserved, I think!) and I’m loving this memoir by folksinger Dave Van Ronk. He says that everyone who moves to New York feels as if they arrived ten years too late, and that really resonated with me especially since I’m deep in mourning from the (inevitable and seemingly constant) loss of New York staples like the Pearl Street Diner.
It’s killing me that I’ll never be able to go back in time and see these in real life.
After a few weeks of road trips and what felt like constant plane travel (four flights around the holidays is four too many!), I’m happy to be back in New York for the foreseeable future. I’m looking forward to diner breakfasts, city adventures and catching up on movies (I just signed up for the AMC Stubs A-List program, so I can see three movies a week for just $19.99 a month, which seems almost too good to be true!). Speaking of movies, I watched Bird Box (like everyone else in the world) and liked it, Life Itself and hated it (despite the obvious joy of watching Oscar Isaac do literally anything) and I’ve been told I’d like Roma so I’ll probably watch that this weekend. I just put a bunch of books on my hold list at the library—I’m most excited to start this one next week—and I’m ready to start crushing my 2019 reading challenge. Have a great weekend, and I hope your new year is off to an excellent start!
Happy Friday!
Illustration by Lindsey Frances
Things that happened recently:
The government is currently shut down because our President is a petulant child.
I’m skeptical of A.I. assistants, but how can you not love this commercial for Google Home?
2018, in photos.
Things to do in New York this week:
Tours of New York City’s largest prop house, Eclectic/Encore Props, aren’t usually offered on the weekends but there is one this Saturday via the NY Adventure Club. You can see photos from when I took the tour here.
The only NYE party I’d ever consider paying for is the one at the Olive Garden in Times Square.
It seems like pretty much everyone I know has gone to, and loved, the Hilma af Klint exhibit at the Guggenheim, on display now until February 3rd.
Things I’ve discovered recently:
If I could just sleep until 9am every day I think my life would vastly improve, and I’m not alone—80 percent of people have work schedules that clash with their internal clocks.
I’ve decided that the first thing I’m going to treat myself to in 2019 is my very own squatty potty.
You can catch up on all four seasons of the best show of 2018, Schitt’s Creek, on the PopTV app (including the bonus holiday special), and Vogue recently published this interview with Dan Levy about the show’s incredible fashion. Ew, David.
I recently spent a few days in Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois visiting roadside attractions, eating my weight in cinnamon rolls and enjoying that famous MidWestern hospitality. I came back to New York to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with my mom, and then I headed back west to Ohio, where I’ll be until the 31st. I’m not looking forward to starting the New Year in a cubicle (RIP my own office), but I do love the beginning of a new year and the feeling that anything can happen. I don’t make resolutions, but I hope my 2019 is filled with more road trips, diner breakfasts, good books and all the whimsy I can find. The world can feel dark and hopeless, but there are bright spots too—I hope you can find and spread some joy in 2019, whatever that means to you!
Gift Guide: Book Lovers
I have always been an unabashed book nerd. I used to salivate over the Scholastic Book flyers and I earned more personal pan pizzas at Pizza Hut through the Book It program (which is still going on??) than any kid should ever eat in one lifetime. I have very vivid memories of spending a significant portion of my childhood in the library, and I was once a member of the Wishbone fan club. There were some years as an adult that I barely read, and looking back I know now that I’m my happiest when I’m reading voraciously. This year I’ve read 61 books and I’m looking forward to keeping up the pace next year. So grab your library card and a book light and browse this gift guide for the book lover in your life.
1 / Most days, I use one of my many Strand totes as my main bag and I just can’t stop buying more. They’re constantly debuting new designs and it’s impossible to just pick one.
2 / Christmas cards for the book obsessed.
3 / Wear your favorite quote literary quote.
4 / Hang this mini version of a famous NYPL lion on your tree—will you get Patience or Fortitude?
5 / I don’t know why I love gnomes so much, but everyone is cuter when they’re reading.
6 / A pack of bookmarks for the person who is always marking her place with an old receipt.
1 / A tiny, wearable bookmobile.
2 / Mozart is always laying on my stuff so this pin is a good depiction of my life.
3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 8 / 10 / Some of my favorite books that anyone should love: Nothing to Envy, We Are Never Meeting in Real Life, The Westing Game, The Road to Jonestown, As Always, Julia and A Gentleman in Moscow.
7 / I’m old enough to remember the physical cards in library books, so I love these socks.
1 / Keep a reminder of the beloved Strand dollar racks with you at all times.
2 / Very true.
3 / The titles of notorious banned books are revealed when you fill this mug with warm liquid.
4 / I’m also old enough to remember physical card catalogs, so I love this notecard set.
5 / I was gifted this NYPL tote this year and it’s so well-made and beautiful in person.
6 / Not sure if this Old Books candle actually smells good, but I do love the smell of actual old books.
Books just might be the very perfect holiday gift—they’re cheap, easy-to-wrap and the very best ones are life-altering. Also, if you’re a last-minute shopper, most books can be purchased on Amazon with two-day shipping or—even better—head down to your local bookstore. Physical bookstores don’t only have books, but usually sell a large selection of totes, cards and other cute little tchotckes that make great gifts.
Some of the best books I read this year: Dopesick / Let the Great World Spin / The Museum of Extraordinary Things / I Must Say: My Life as a Humble Comedy Legend / The Hate U Give
Gift Guide: I ♥ New York
It’s no secret that I love New York. I first visited the city when I was 14, and I sent my sister a postcard proclaiming that I was going “move here as soon as possible!” ASAP turned out to be 13 years later, but with more than five years under my belt as a New Yorker, I don’t plan on leaving any time soon. Sure the city is crowded and smelly and loud. But it’s also exciting and diverse and sometimes downright magical. So grab a street pretzel and a dirty water dog and browse this gift guide for the New Yorker (physically or mentally) in your life.
1 / I spend far too much on paper goods from Rifle Paper Co. every year, but I just can’t resist their cards, calendars and prints.
2 / Hang Zoltar on your tree and then go visit him at Coney Island— he’s located right next to Grandmother’s Predictions, underneath the Wonder Wheel.
3 / Hang this subway car ornament on your tree twenty minutes after the rest of your ornaments for a true MTA experience.
4 / Toast to the New Year with this Brooklyn Brewery glass, featuring the classic Milton Glaser logo (and take a free tour of their Williamsburg factory).
5 / The Strand is famous for their totes (and mouth-watering dollar book section) but these little zippered pouches are just as cute and versatile.
6 / I have pretty much every single item ever made featuring the classic “We Are Happy To Serve You” Greek coffee cup, but this plush cup is the most ridiculous (and cute).
7 / My love of Mister Softee runs deep enough to want this pillow for my couch.
8 / Proclaim your allegiance for a certain subway line with these glass ball ornaments (the D is my favorite train, but the A/C ornaments would also be appropriate for me).
1 / I love these city storefront watercolor prints from Lindsey. There are four different ones available in my shop, but the Cafe Reggio one is my favorite. She’s also available for commissions if there’s a specific scene/store/city you’d like her to paint.
2 / There’s a vintage key tag for every neighborhood, show and interest you can think of, but You’ve Got Mail is the perfect movie and “thank your” will always me laugh.
3 / Before I ever moved to New York, I took a subway token to a jeweler to have a custom necklace made, but now you can buy them directly from the Transit Museum.
4 / Broadway: A History of New York City in Thirteen Miles will make you want to walk the entire length of Broadway (and also, wish you could go back in time).
5 / Keep some of New York City’s famous “champagne of tap waters” with you at all times with this portable water bottle.
6 / Read all about Roosevelt Island’s sordid history, and then go see what it’s like today.
7 / Massimo Vignelli’s 1972 subway map was more beautiful than it was functional, so maybe it’s more useful as a pair of socks than as an actual directional aide.
8 / I’ve yet to see The Nutcracker ballet, preformed every year at Lincoln Center, but I do have one of these ornaments.
9 / Dr. Couney exhibited infants in incubators at Coney Island and in the process saved thousands of lives. This is the fascinating account of a true story that is truly stranger than fiction.
1 / I told you I can’t resist coffee cup-themed items, and this print is still one of my favorites. Get free domestic shipping with the code HOLIDAYFREESHIP or save 20% off of your entire order with the code TREATYOSELF20 at checkout.
2 / I know Sex & the City put Magnolia Bakery on the map—and the resulting hordes of tourists made visiting its West Village location insufferable—but I still think they have the best cupcakes in the city. It’s a bit pricey to ship their treats directly, but I would pay anything for a tub of their divine banana pudding.
3 / This Sputnik Chandelier Ornament is modeled after the Met Opera’s famous chandeliers, but even if you’re not an opera fan it still looks festive.
4 / Display this sanitary grade magnet in your kitchen to put your dinner guests at ease.
5 / Mother Pigeon is my favorite New York City installation artist, and you can “adopt” one of her cute creations.
6 / I’m not sure why, but I’m fascinated by New York City’s trash and I’ve always loved the sanitation department’s medical-inspired logo.
7 / It’s hard to choose any one thing from Fishs Eddy when I literally want everything they sell, but this dish towel from their Boardwalk Collection would look great in any kitchen.
1 / I’m obsessed with the designs on New York City manhole covers and I wish I had space in my apartment for this mat (although, I do always manage to be able to find the space, should anyone be interested in buying this for me 😉).
2 / Bellevue: Three Centuries of Medicine and Mayhem at America's Most Storied Hospital is one of the best books I’ve ever read and it’s a must-read if you’re at all interested in medical or city history.
3 / Greenwich Letterpress has the best selection of cards, and “Season’s Eatings” highlights all of the great foods that you can find in New York.
4 / The Collage City Collection is another great pattern from Fishs Eddy (I told you I couldn’t pick just one).
5 / When I first visited New York, I was obsessed with the iconic “brown bags” from Bloomingdale’s so I love this ornament version.
6 / Show your love for the classic Brooklyn accent with this tray from Fishs Eddy’s Brooklynese Collection.
7 / These mini pillows would be great gift for a baby or an adult with a bookshelf (I have several—thanks Katherine!).
8 / Try as I might, I just don’t like eating black-and-white cookies, but I still appreciate their position as a classic New York treat and wouldn’t hesitate to wear this pin.
New York might have a reputation for being pricey, but some of the best things in the city are absolutely free. The Met Museum is still free (or rather, “suggested donation”) to New York residents, The America Museum of Natural History is always pay-what-you-wish (in-person, at the ticket counter) and of course all books are always free at the library (I want, but don’t need, this black card).
Just walking around is the best way to experience New York, or for just $2.75 you could ride the subway all the way from the northern tip of Manhattan to the Rockaways in Queens. I’ve met so many wonderful people in this city, but I’ve lost just as many—to LA (ugh), Portland and even Florida—so all this New Yorker really wants for Christmas is more New York friends willing to explore far-flung corners of the city with her.
My favorite New York places: City Island / Roosevelt Island / Manhattan Cemeteries / Conservatory Garden / Snug Harbor / Flushing Meadows / Coney Island / Dead Horse Bay
Gift Guide: Cemetery Lovers
I love wandering around cemeteries for many reasons—they’re quiet, peaceful, uncrowded (with the living, anyway) places full of beautiful imagery, typography and history. You can learn a lot about a city by visiting its cemeteries, and I try to seek them out whenever I can. Although cemetery tourism might seem like an oddball hobby, I’m not alone in my macabre interests. So grab some flowers or stones and browse this gift guide for the living who feel at home among the dead.
1 / Kaylah was nice enough to send me one of these pouches a few years ago, and I still use it every day as my makeup bag.
2 / Stories in Stone: A Field Guide to Cemetery Symbolism and Iconography is great little book to take with you on your cemetery strolls to help identify what you see along the way.
3 / Wicked Clothes has several t-shirt designs that I love, but this one is my current favorite.
4 / Show your love for the paranormal with this cute 5” x 7” screen print.
5 / BoneBox is the gift that keeps giving—each box includes various osteological specimens such as skulls, claws, teeth and baculum—all year long.
6 / These cremated remains labels are free from the USPS, but I’ve ordered them twice now and never received them. Maybe the third time will be the charm, or maybe they know that I’m not actually affiliated with a funeral home.
7 / Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers was one of the first death-related books I ever read, and I loved it so much I read it twice.
1 / I’m always surprised that you can find cheap medical models on Amazon, and this numbered skull is under $30.
2 / I saw this pouch in person last weekend at the Oddities Flea Market, and I was delighted to find that it had a black-and-white striped interior and looked/felt even better in person.
3 / If you’ve ever wondered what happens to our some of our most famous dead, Dead Presidents: An American Adventure into the Strange Deaths and Surprising Afterlives of Our Nations Leaders is entertaining, informative and might make you want to plan a trip to visit the graves of our departed leaders.
4 / George Saunders’s Lincoln in the Bardo takes place mostly in a cemetery and is a moving and imaginative novel about grief and the meaning of a life.
5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / Creepy Co. has too many great pins to choose just one from their Macabre collection, including classic winged skulls, “Just Buried”, All Men Are Cremated Equal, Funeral No Parking and Yearn for the Urn.
1 / I don’t have the space for a full-sized skeleton, but that hasn’t stopped me from putting it on my wishlist for the future.
2 / When I lived in Brooklyn, I was a member of Green-Wood Cemetery and it was great. Individual memberships are only $50 a year and include free tickets and discounts on talks and events. Also, nothing says Good Morning! like a cemetery mug.
3 / Carry around a bottle of this cleaner to tidy up some headstones while you’re exploring.
4 / I’ve never done gravestone rubbing, but this kit looks like it has everything you need to get started.
5 / Advice for Future Corpses (and Those Who Love Them): A Practical Perspective on Death and Dying is a great book to help you prepare for the inevitable death of you and everyone you love (Merry Christmas!)
6 / This Handbook for the Recently Deceased is actually a blank journal.
7 / I have one of these cardboard funeral signs and I love how simple (and cheap) it is.
8 / I’m always wondering if I should start wearing earrings again and these little skull studs are tempting me.
If you’re really in the giving mood, buy your cemetery-loving friend an actual burial plot! Space is limited in New York City cemeteries, but plots can still be had at Green-Wood starting at around $21,000 (holds three burials, what a deal!). Chances are, if you or someone you know enjoys wandering around cemeteries, they will also like this gift guide for your weird friend or be interested in following along as I attempt to visit every cemetery in the five boroughs.
Some of my favorite cemeteries: Valley of the Kings / Woodlawn / Rehoboth Mission / First Calvary / Old Burying Ground / Letchworth Village Cemetery / Cementerio De Santa Cruz
Gift Guide: Road Trip Lovers
I’m never happier than when I’m planning or taking a road trip. International travel has its advantages, but the US is so big and diverse that I love nothing more than hitting the road and seeing strange and unusual corners of the country. In my daily life, I love not having to drive or maneuver a car into tight spaces, but I love the freedom of driving on road trips. So grab an atlas and put on a ‘90s playlist while you browse this gift guide for road trip lovers.
1 / Sometimes I forget I own an instant film camera, but when I do remember to bring it on road trips I’m always grateful to have physical photographs to look through when I get back.
2 / Learn from my mistake and don’t wait until the last minute to buy your film. It’s reasonably priced on Amazon, but almost double the price if you buy it the day before you leave at Urban Outfitters.
3 / This has been my go-to camera case for years—it’s sturdy, padded and might get you some strange looks (something I’m very used to).
4 / I upgraded my camera body this year to a full-frame and I love it so much (perfect for getting those big roadside attractions in the frame).
5 / I sold off all my other lenses after I realized I was only using this 35 mm, and I’ve never regretted it.
6 / There’s a reason these backpacks are so popular—they’re lightweight, comfortable, durable and are surprisingly roomy. I have the black/red version (thanks, Jim!) but I saw someone with this striped version recently and wondered if I could possibly justify buying a second.
7 / Never underestimate the value of extra memory cards. I prefer the 32gb size because I find that I fill up 16gb cards too quickly. Luckily, these are available at most drug stores around the country if you forget to bring multiples.
8 / This isn’t the most sturdy tripod on the market, but it is incredibly light, compact and fits in a backpack. I actually broke the first one I owned when it fell out of the case (my fault), left it in an abandoned building and immediately bought a replacement.
1 / Most rental cars will have built in USB ports, but bring a car charger just incase (with two ports so your passenger can use it too).
2 / I have this book and tragically forgot to bring it with me on my most recent Route 66 road trip. I won’t be making that mistake on the next one, but it’s fun to flip through even when you’re not using it to navigate on the Mother Road.
3 / I bought the wired version of these noise-cancelling headphones for my Egypt trip, and I wouldn’t have survived my snoring Uncle without them. They’re great for plane rides, noisy hotel neighbors, or for zoning out in the passenger seat.
4 / I don’t need a huge wallet when I go on trips (I leave all of my store/club cards at home), so this card case is perfect for just the essentials.
5 / After what seemed like a lifelong search for a waterbottle that doesn’t leak, I’ve been happy with this Camelbak version. I can throw it in my backpack with my camera and not worry about a catastrophe.
6 / No commercials and the ability to download epic road trip playlists to your phone are reason enough to buy a monthly Spotify subscription (a 3-month subscription is only 99 cents a month until December 31st).
7 / The perfect road trip food.
1 / I bought this Route 66 towel from the Standin’ on the Corner shop in Winslow, AZ, but luckily it’s available online, along with a lot of other great road trip-themed designs (free shipping for Christmas orders).
2 / I’ve been collecting squished pennies since I was a kid, and while the machines are getting harder to find, I still come home from my road trips with a few new ones to add to my collection. I’ve filled several of these souvenir penny books over the years and I think I actually need a new one, if anyone is looking for a last-minute gift for me.
3 / A friend once brought this toilet spray on a road trip with us and ever since I’ve realized what a great (and considerate) idea it is to have this on hand when you’re sharing a tiny hotel bathroom with someone.
4 / Stamps might not seem like a sexy gift, but I’m notorious for not having stamps with me on trips when I’d like to send postcards. A roll of Forever stamps would be handy, but there are always several fun designs available like dragons, Disney Villains or The Art of Magic. Side note: when did stamps become 50 cents??
5 / I can’t stop singing the praises of these waterproof high tops from Keds. They feel like a sneaker but keep your feet dry without the bulkiness (or sweatiness) of traditional rain boots. Most of my road trip stops are outside, and these shoes are great to pack for all weather conditions.
6 / A bunch of my favorite roadside attraction photos are currently available as prints in my Society 6 shop, but if there’s ever a specific photo you’d like me to upload just let me know! Also, Society 6 is literally always having a sale so you can usually get things a bit cheaper than the list price if you’re patient.
7 / I have this album for my Instax prints and it’s great to have them stored safely and in one place. These albums are cheap, come in various colors and I love the bizarre phrase “Pieces of Moment” and random numbers on the front.
The perfect gift for a road trip lover might just be to plan a road trip with them! I always have several road trip ideas floating around in my head at any one time and I’m always looking for people to actually just take them with me. The older I get, the more I value experiences over things, and my most cherished memories are of trips taken with good friends. So if you have a friend that loves the road as much as I do, gift them a few essentials and then promise to help them use their gifts and make some memories out on the open road.
Some of my favorite road trip destinations: South of the Border / Farnham Colossi / Cave City / Pioneertown / Roswell / Twin Arrows / Coon Dog Cemetery / Roadside America
Gift Guide: Diner Lovers
I’ll be suspending my regular Happy Friday link round-ups until after Christmas and doing some gift round-ups instead. I’m obsessed with reading gift guides and I hope you are too. So grab a cup of coffee and a plate of eggs because first up is a guide for diner lovers.
1 / A keychain to declare your diner allegiance to the ultimate in fantasy diners, Luke’s.
2 / For those days when you can’t make it to your local breakfast spot, flip your omelettes like a pro with this spatula.
3 / Fact: syrup tastes better when it’s poured from a classic slide-top diner syrup bottle.
4 / It’s not a true diner unless it has simple, glass salt-and-pepper shakers in an easy-to-clean metal caddy on every table.
5 / Name a more iconic duo. I’ll wait.
6 / I’ve never actually seen anyone order diner pie, but they sure do look pretty on the counter, especially when they’re on a nice cake stand.
7 / Sadly, Tabasco is the hot sauce you’ll find most often in diners, but the best ones know that Cholula is the superior choice (sometimes you just have to ask for it).
8 / Everything looks better with a face, especially food. These prints are perfect for any size kitchen and look good alone but really shine as a set.
1 / I have this clock in my bathroom and it’s hard to be stressed that I’m running late for work when the bearer of bad news reminds me of a classic diner.
2 / I have a similar kettle and I’ve so far resisted painting eyes on the side, but it’s probably inevitable. I don’t have room for a coffee maker in my play kitchen, so a kettle looks nice sitting on my stovetop while keeping what little counter space I have free of gadgets.
3 / Most of the coffee mugs in my collection come from local diners (and they’re sadly not usually available online), but you can’t go wrong with this classic shape and striped design.
4 / Replace your boring Post-its with guest check pads for quick notes.
5 / I’m not a huge fan of statement mugs, but this is a sentiment worth remembering.
6 / If you’re brewing coffee for one (*raises hand*) this filterless pour over coffee maker is cheap, efficient and environmentally friendly.
7 / Just like syrup, creamer just tastes better when it’s poured from a diner style stainless steel covered milk creamer.
8 / The paper version of this iconic Greek coffee cup is getting harder to find at diners, but the ceramic version can be used over and over again.
9 / One year I received not one, but two of these sugar skull spoons from friends for Christmas and it’s the perfect stocking stuffer for your spooky, coffee-loving friend.
1 / Ketchup on everything (but especially french fries, hash browns and breakfast sausage).
2 / I know diners aren’t really known to have a toaster pastries, but this clutch would be the perfect breakfast accessory and it has an interior zippered pocket to hold your cash (a lot of classic diners are cash only).
3 / Fake foliage is a big part of classic diner decor, and this fake pothos plant looks just like the real thing (years of dust not included).
4 / Most diner pendant lamps are vintage, but luckily you can find newer versions pretty easily.
5 / Bring your love of breakfast into the bedroom (or the living room) with a plush donut or stack of pancakes pillow.
6 / Toothpicks are usually available by the register and this bird dispenser is both whimsical and hygienic.
7 / Don’t forget to grab a mint before you leave the diner (or your house) to freshen up your coffee breath.
The very perfect gift for a diner lover might just be to take them out for a genuine diner breakfast. Some diners offer gift certificates, but supporting a local diner (before they close due to rent hikes or catch on fire) by patronizing them frequently—and tipping well—is a gift for everyone involved.
Some of my favorite New York diners: Kane’s Deli Flushing Diner / The New Floridian / Square Diner / Tom’s Restaurant / Pearl Street Diner / Broadway Restaurant / Neil’s Coffee Shop
Happy Friday!
This time of year always makes me think of my life icon, Julia Child (Julie & Julia is available on Netflix and My Life in France is a must-read, as is the follow-up, The French Chef in America).
Things that happened recently:
Our toddler-in-chief has been a bad mood lately, and honestly it’s the first relatable thing about him.
Michelle Obama’s memoir, Becoming, was released this week, and everyone at Penguin Random House received a free copy so I’ve added it to my never-ending to-read list. This video of Ellen bothering Michelle while she signs books at a Costco made me LOL (“when they go low, we get high”).
I’ve finally gone full millennial and started eating avocado toast every morning (topped with Trader Joe’s magic Everything But the Bagel Seasoning) just in time for a drastic rise in the price of avocados.
Things to do in New York this week:
Get an early start on your Christmas shopping (I’m about half done already, no pressure) at the Renegade Craft Fair this weekend, held at the Metropolitan Pavilion on West 18th Street from 11am-5pm.
Maybe this will be the year I finally brave the children at the New York Hall of Science to see Gingerbread Lane, the Guinness World Records record-holder for largest gingerbread village, on display now until January 21st (so I have time).
Next week is Thanksgiving, which means that on Wednesday you can see the Macy’s Parade balloons as they’re inflated in the streets surrounding the American Museum of Natural History. I’ve gone twice (here are my photos from 2017 and 2016), and the lines are long but it’s very worth the wait.
Things I’ve discovered lately:
I was very happy about yesterday’s first snowfall, even more so since I have new boots and a new coat that I love.
I’ve been watching (and rewatching) a ton of movies lately including Carol (more devastating every single time I see it), Ghostbusters (the female version, so much better than it got credit for), The Miseducation of Cameron Post (basically Boy Erased, from a female perspective) and I’ve fully committed to a rewatch of the entire Ally McBeal series (I was so obsessed when it originally aired, that I taped every episode on VHS—luckily now it’s available to stream on Hulu). Anything else I should add to my watchlist?
Because you probably need it, here are some photos of a cat in a tiny jean jacket.
I have plans to go to my favorite Brooklyn diner, Tom’s Restaurant, on Saturday and it’s been far too long since I’ve had their divine Danish pancakes (with cinnamon butter!). My mom and I are going to hit up another diner in Yonkers on Sunday and I plan on exploring while she checks out the casino nearby. There’s no more snow in the near future forecast, but I’m always happy to take what I can get. I’m hoping the weather cooperates on Thanksgiving for the the parade, and afterward Francesca and I have plans for two dinners, like good, over-eating Americans (and of course, we’ll be dressed for the occasion). I hope you have a great weekend and enjoy your short workweek and holiday!
Happy Friday!
Bodega Flowers by Lindsey Frances
Things that happened recently:
We still have a sentient bag of excrement as our President, but at least there were some notable gains from the midterm elections on Tuesday. Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III is on his way back to his hollowed-out tree stump, Trump’s replacement definitely violates the Constitution, and beloved hero RBG is literally crumbling along with our democracy.
Men are still the actual worst, but I would probably still vote for one in 2020.
In what is probably too obvious of a metaphor for our current times, The Hall of Fame for Great Americans (in the Bronx) is in serious need of repairs.
Things to do in New York this week:
Saturday night a friend and I are going to see David Cross at BAM and then to the Trump Dump: American Tantrum Book Tour with The President Show’s brilliant Anthony Atamanuik at the Bell House—tickets for both shows are still available.
Bring your Halloween pumpkins and gourds to a Pumpkin Smash event this weekend, and turn your old jack o’lantern into compost for city parks and green spaces. Times and locations for all five boroughs can be found here.
The first major American retrospective of Andy Warhol in thirty years opens Monday (to the public) at the Whitney Museum of American Art (where I once saw Leonardo DiCaprio).
Things I’ve discovered recently:
Diets most definitely do not work, and we should all be intuitively eating.
Speaking of food, I just finished this book and it made happy that we no longer live in the age of embalmed milk and slimy military meats, but we still have a long way to go.
For years slipping bra straps were the bane of my existence but I just bought three new racer back bras and I wish I hadn’t wasted so much of my life fishing around for fallen straps.
I was excused from jury duty after just two days, which was a relief despite my lifelong eagerness to be selected for a case (be careful what you wish for!). I’m happy to be able to savor my last few weeks in my own office before we move uptown—and into cubicles—at the beginning of the new year. The weather lately has been absolutely perfect and despite the time change, I love this time of year (I once read an entire book about Daylight Saving time and I still don’t understand it). I’m looking forward to our comedy double header on Saturday night, and my mom and I have plans for diner breakfast before we check out this year’s Canstruction contest (our fifth time going!). I’ve decided to work my way through the Meryl catalog again this winter, and I’ve already rewatched Out of Africa (now I want to reread the book) and the underrated Plenty—I have Silkwood queued up next. Have a great weekend!
The most fantastic thing about the New York Botanical Garden’s annual Orchid Show is the orchids themselves