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Apr 13, 2026

NYBG: ORCHID SHOW 2026

Apr 13, 2026

The most fantastic thing about the New York Botanical Garden’s annual Orchid Show is the orchids themselves

Apr 13, 2026

Alexandra 6/15/18 Alexandra 6/15/18

Happy Friday!

Things that happened recently:

Sarah Huckabee Sanders is rumored to be leaving her White House Press Secretary role soon—but which one of these highly qualified candidates will replace her?

I can't get enough of this "daredevil raccoon" that climbed a Minnesota skyscraper. She eventually made it to the top unharmed and was trapped and released on private property in the suburbs.

Aparna Nancherla is one of my favorite people to follow on Twitter (her bio photo never fails to make me laugh), and the Washington Post did a great profile of her recently.

Things to do in New York this week:

Tonight from 8-9:30 PM the New York Philharmonic is performing a free concert in Prospect Park.

Saturday is one of my very favorite New York events, the Coney Island Mermaid Parade. Last year it was rainy, but this year it looks like the weather will be perfect. Here are my photos from 2017 2016 and 2014.

Saturday is also the 13th annual Jazz Age Lawn Party at Governor's Island. I've never been to the actual event (it's a little pricey) but I've watched it from outside of the fences and it always looks like a good time and I love the '20s costumes.

Things that I've discovered recently:

This woman lives in my dream apartment and you can rent it for events!

I've reached the halfway mark of my Goodreads challenge for the year, and I'm comfortably a few books ahead. I'm currently reading this book (thanks for the rec, Lindsey!) and it's so good that I'm trying to savor it and not miss anything.

Before I went on vacation, I realized that I was out of Instax film too late to buy it on Amazon. I ran to Urban Outfitters at lunch, only to discover that their film is more than twice the price of Amazon, so learn from my mistakes and plan ahead or stock up now!

My mom and I are planning on grabbing breakfast (probably at Tom's on the boardwalk) and watching the Mermaid Parade in Coney Island, which has become on of my very favorite New York traditions. We'll probably also swing by the art walls while we're there to check out what's new (here are the walls from 2015 and 2016). Sunday is Father's Day, so don't forget to send a card or tell your Dad he's super cool—although I have to argue that my dad is, in fact, the actual coolest. I'm already sliding into my usual post-vacation depression, although it's nice to get back to my routines for a few days before I start dreaming of and planning for the next road trip. I'm overwhelmed by the amount of photos I took and the amount of delights we packed into five days, so look for those posts to start trickling in soon. Have a great weekend!

Alexandra 6/8/18 Alexandra 6/8/18

Happy Friday!

Things that happened recently:

Kate Spade took her own life this week—her personal depression was seemingly at odds with her cheerful eponymous brand, but was it really?

I'm kind of obsessed with the fact that Melania Trump disappeared from the public eye for weeks—where did she go, what did she do?? Of course, no one could blame her for needing a break from these fine people.

Is the body positivity movement a scam? Speaking of bodies, I just finished this book and I think it should be required reading for anyone that currently inhabits one.

Things to do in New York this week:

Saturday is the annual Pet Day at Deno's Wonder Wheel Park in Coney Island. There is a costume contest at 2pm (!!) and pets ride the Wonder Wheel (with their owners) for free.

Speaking of pets, Sunday is the annual Pug Fun Day at the Alice Austen house on Staten Island in memory of Austen's own pug, Punch.

I'm extra bummed I'll be missing this free talk on Tuesday about the fascinatingly strange Carl Tanzler, aka Count Carl von Cosel, a doctor who was found in 1940 to be living with the corpse of his former (beloved) patient.

Things that I've discovered recently:

I went to World Market on my lunch break this week to buy this frame with duck feet that Kaylah mentioned, but they didn't have it. So I went down the block to City Cakes (home of the half pound cookie) and bought this Rainbowdoodle instead. A portion of the proceeds from every cookie will be donated to the NYC Anti-Violence Project, so I felt even less guilt.

I know I've mentioned that these are the BEST no-show socks I've ever tried (and it feels as if I've tried them all), but I've been wearing them nonstop lately and they continue to impress me. If you've never bought Bombas before, they're pricey but believe me these are worth it—and first-time customers get 25% with this link (and I will get a discount too, but I wouldn't recommend these if I didn't really want to sing their praises!).

A friend passed along this Twitter account to me and it's my new favorite follow. And if you're not familiar with the best Wheel of Fortune contestant ever, Raymond, you're missing out.

As you read this I'm on my way to Phoenix for an epic five-day road trip with my road trip bestie, JMP. We're renting a car and making our way to Albuquerque over the five days, with stops in Arizona—including a super special wedding and a stay at my third and final Wigwam Motel—and New Mexico. I'm happiest when I'm on the road with a Google Map full of kitschy stops and even the 100+ degree temps can't make me any less excited (it's a dry heat, right??). I'm sure you'll get sick of hearing about this road trip after a few hundred posts, but I've been planning it so long that I can't believe it's finally happening. I've scheduled a few posts here while I'm gone, but you can also follow along on our road trip via my Instagram stories, if you're interested. Have a great weekend and pray that our pasty, white, indoor bodies survive all that desert sun!

Alexandra 6/1/18 Alexandra 6/1/18

Happy Friday!

Illustration by Lindsey Frances | Prints available here

Things that happened recently:

The Roseanne reboot was canceled after a(nother) racist Roseanne Barr tweet. I was a fan of the original but never watched the reboot—here are two good op-eds about the cancellation from Roxane Gay and Lindy West. Even the dictionary couldn't resist throwing a little well-deserved shade.

This was my first week at my new job (as a Senior Designer at Penguin) and everyone has been very welcoming so far, but here is why office friendships can sometimes feel awkward.

Until I can actually take care of my own rescue dog, I will forever be swooning over available shelter dogs Instagram and I'm not alone—here is how the Internet is changing the way dogs find homes (a purely good use of the Internet for once!).

Things to do in New York this week:

Shakespeare in the Park started for the season on Tuesday with Othello. I'm not much of a play person but I love Shakespeare in the Park—it just feels so very New York to me. If you can't get to the park early to wait for tickets, you can enter the virtual lottery every day before noon via TodayTix (but don't do that because I'm trying to win it). This is also a good time to remind you that footage exists of a very young Meryl Streep in a SITP production of The Taming of the Shrew and it's fantastic.

On Sunday the Urban Park Rangers are giving a free tour of Historic Coney Island. I haven't been yet this season, but it's one of my very favorite places to visit (all year-round).

Celebrate Brooklyn starts up again on Tuesday with a performance by Common and the line-up for the rest of the summer looks equally promising.

Things that I've discovered recently:

I'm trying desperately not to buy everything from this Etsy shop.

John Donohue is sketching all of the restaurants in New York and he was recently interviewed about the project on Gothamist. Speaking of restaurants in New York, Lindsey has added a few more to her series (like the Coney Island one above) and you can buy prints of them here.

The first half of the fourth season of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (its last!) is now available on Netflix. I still can't stand Kimmy but I put up with her for Titus and Lillian—can they get a spin-off please?? Speaking of cults, here are a few more books I need to add to my ever-growing list.

The Illuminated Mausoleum tour at Woodlawn got cancelled twice due to rain and rescheduled for this Saturday ... when I can't go :( David and I have a graduation party Saturday night, but the rest of the weekend is open. I'll probably get diner breakfast with my mom at some point—I hear the Neptune in Astoria is living on borrowed time, so we should probably get there soon. I get off work at 4pm today—hooray for Summer Fridays!—and next Friday I have off altogether. I still have a ton of posts left from my Memphis/Mississippi trip but next week I'll be headed on another trip, this time out west for a very special occasion and I still need to find something to wear, eek! I hope you have a great weekend!

Alexandra 5/25/18 Alexandra 5/25/18

Happy Friday!

Things that happened recently:

I didn't watch the Royal wedding (lol), but I'm more obsessed with Meghan Markle every day—here's a video of an adorably woke 11-year-old Meghan fighting against the patriarchy one dishwashing soap commercial at a time.

I don't know if this is the most efficient use of government funds, but the USPS is issuing its first-ever scratch-and-sniff stamps this summer. The popsicles are cute, but it's hard to beat these Mister Rogers stamps that are currently available. Speaking of the USPS, I ordered these months ago and never received them—time to order again!

In a bit of personal news, I start a new job at Penguin Random House on Tuesday—I'll be a Senior Designer in their creative services and marketing department. I've been in a similar role at 92Y for four-and-a-half years and I'll miss my coworkers (and all those Jewish holidays!) but I'm excited for a change and all those free books (they've already sent me a few to get started, including this book which has been on my to-read list forever).

Things to do in New York this week:

Coney Island is getting a new ride (named after an old one) when the Astrotower opens this Saturday in Luna Park.

Big Gay Ice Cream stores in New York and Philly have brought back their weird-but-intriguing Cheetos-flavored soft serve through this weekend and I kind of need to try it.

Wednesday is the first Manhattanhenge of the season.

Things that I've discovered recently:

Have you watched Evil Genius on Netflix? I finished it last weekend and there's no arguing that it's a fascinating (true!) story but I do feel conflicted about how they covered Majorie Diehl-Armstrong's very obvious mental illness.

I finished this book this week and it has made me even more interested in the still-strange Roosevelt Island. I also regret that I never got to explore the Goldwater Hospital (that mortuary sign!) before it was demolished in 2015.

I recently started following this Instagram account and it inspired me to start re-watching episodes of Sex and the City only to discover that—20 years after it started!—it hasn't aged well.

I've had a gross head cold since Sunday and I'm being dramatic about it but there's almost nothing I hate more than a stuffy nose (ughhhhhh). Saturday is Francesca's birthday (and my dad's—happy birthday dad!) and we'll be celebrating her in the park if the weather cooperates. I don't have any grand plans other than that, so I'm happy to rest up and try to kick this cold to the curb before I start my new job on Tuesday. If you have any secret remedies for unclogging my face, let me know and have a great weekend!

Alexandra 5/18/18 Alexandra 5/18/18

Happy Friday!

Things that happened recently:

Sales of instant print cameras keep climbing while sales of digital cameras are declining. I have one of these and I really should use it more—having physical prints feels so special and the film is more affordable than the film for original Polaroid cameras.

I'm sure by now you've listened to this audio clip—are you team yanny or team laurel? Originally all I could hear was yanny but the closer I listened the more I heard both at the same time. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

This is an interesting article about the evolving nature of friendships in the smartphone age. I was particularly struck by the idea of “Dunbar’s number”, which says that everyone knows an average of 150 people who might come to their wedding or funeral. "50 of these make the next cut to buddies, about 15 are good friends, around five confidants form our circle of trust, and finally we have an average of 1.5 people we deem our closest relationships."

Things to do in New York this weekend:

Are you going to watch the Royal wedding tomorrow? I couldn't sleep one night this week and ended up reading this interactive FAQ about the nuptials. I don't care much about American celebrities, but I've always had a soft spot for the British Royals (especially Meghan Markle and her soon-to-be sister-in-law the always flawless Kate).

We were supposed to take this Woodlawn tour last weekend but it was rained out. Things aren't looking great for this weekend either, but hopefully the weather Gods are kinder to us on Saturday night.

I've only seen a few of the Met Museum's annual fashion exhibits (this one was definitely the best), but the current one—Heavenly Bodies—just opened and it looks great.

Things that I've discovered recently:

For decades Steffan Dam, a Danish artist, has been creating this insanely beautiful cabinet of curiosities made entirely of glass.

I had no idea there was the "Sistine Chapel of comic-strip art" hidden at the back of a bar in Midtown and now I want to go.

I had a bad week for Internet recommendations. I finally bought these shoes after seeing them advertised everywhere and hated them the second I tried them on. I also finished this book and pretty much hated the last two-thirds. I don't want to be that person that hates on popular things, but I feel manipulated and annoyed—I really hope that no one ever hates anything I recommend this much!

David is visiting his brother in Atlanta this weekend and we have Monday off for Shavuot so I have a three-day weekend filled with ... not a whole lot—and I couldn't be more excited about it. The Illuminated Mausoleum tour at Woodlawn was rescheduled for this Saturday so hopefully the rain holds off because I was really bummed when it was cancelled last weekend. I don't have the best luck getting into Woodlawn in inclement weather—and right now the forecast for Saturday says 100% chance of rain—but this tour looks so cool that I'd be really sad to miss it.

I'm planning on making a Target run and maybe checking out the Trader Joe's that just opened a few subway stops away from me, but mostly I'm looking forward to a lot of lounging and finishing the last three episodes of this crazy documentary. I'm glad to be done with Manhattan Beach because I just picked up this book and this book from the library and I can't decide which one to start first, they both look so good. Have a great weekend!

Alexandra 5/11/18 Alexandra 5/11/18

Happy Friday!

Things that happened recently:

If it feels as if the subway trains are running at a glacial pace, it's because they are.

Our toddler-in-chief has backed out of the Iran Nuclear Deal, and here's why that's such a bad idea (fun fact: my mom and Francesca attended the taping of this episode).

Melania Trump clearly didn't take her own (awkwardly worded) advice when she "designed" this logo.

Things to do in New York this weekend:

Saturday is an illuminated mausoleums tour at Woodlawn. I haven't been to Woodlawn (in the Bronx) nearly as much as I have been to Green-Wood, but it's just as beautiful.

Sunday is Mother's Day, and I (with no selfish intentions whatsoever) bought my mom and I tickets to see the ultimate mother-daughter movie, Postcards From the Edge, at the Alamo Drafthouse in Brooklyn (there are still tickets available!). I've never read the book, but I'm sure it's excellent.

Speaking of Mother's Day, it's not just for moms of human babies.

Things that I've discovered recently:

This Instagram account of food with faces is tailor-made for me. Through their feed I discovered Nouar and her incredible paintings, some of which are available as prints in her Etsy shop.

I don't read much while I'm on vacation, but I managed to finish this book on the plane ride home (bringing my total to 25 for the year, so far!). Despite vowing to only read books I own my library hold list has gotten out of hand and four books just became available at once—I want to read them all obviously, but I can't wait to finally start this one.

A co-worker recommended this place to me for when we were in Memphis, and I was suspicious at first about the shaved ice/soft serve combo, but it was SO good. Does this exist anywhere else? Someone needs to open one in New York asap—this is an Instagramable dessert trend that I could totally get behind.

My friend Katie is visiting from Portland this weekend and staying with me and Mozart in my tiny closet apartment. We're going to brunch on Saturday and then to the mausoleum tour of Woodlawn at night. Sunday I'm spending with my mom, including breakfast at our favorite diner (7th Avenue Donuts and Diner), the movie and then maybe a whirl around the new Target near the Alamo (these are just a few of my mom's favorite things). It's only been a few days since I returned from our little road trip down south, and I'm already dreaming about the next one (Arizona and New Mexico in June!). Have a great weekend and Happy Mother's Day to all the mamas out there—of both human and animal babies.

Alexandra 5/4/18 Alexandra 5/4/18

Happy Friday!

Things that happened recently:

If you haven't watched Michelle Wolf's entire brilliant set at the White House Correspondents Dinner, watch it here. I love that she refuses to apologize because she actually did nothing wrong.

The guy that killed 10 people and injured 15 with a van in Toronto recently, claimed that he did it as part of the "Incel Rebellion." If you have no idea what the "incel" community is (like me), here's a good article explaining who they are and why they're so dangerous.

Six months ago, 2,924 gorgeous color slides made in parks across New York City in the summer of 1978 were found in a cardboard box. An exhibition of the photos will be on view from May 3 through June 14 at the Arsenal Gallery in Central Park (near 64th Street) and you can see some of them here.

Things to do in New York this weekend:

Through a Different Lens: Stanley Kubrick Photographs, an exhibition of photos that Kubrick took while working for Look magazine beginning when he was just 17, opened at the Museum of the City of New York yesterday. It will be on view until October, and Gothamist has a preview of some of his incredible photographs here.

About half of the cherry trees at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden are in peak bloom. I check this bloom map almost daily in the spring because I'm a nerd, but if you can't make it to the park here are some photos of their beautiful blossoms from 2017, 2016, 2015, and 2014.

Saturday the Queens Historical Society is giving a walking tour of Flushing Cemetery from 2-4pm. I've somehow never been to this cemetery, but it was established in 1853 and it's the final resting place of Louis Armstrong, Dr. Adam Clayton Powell, Sr., Dizzy Gillespie and many Quaker families.

Things that I've discovered recently:

Still obsessed with Wild Wild Country? Tough titties.

I love these paintings of storefronts and signage by Emily Thompson. She doesn't sell prints, but she does sell originals and I'd love to own one someday. She also posts photos of her often-vintage inspiration on Instagram.

The greatest predictor that I'll buy something is if it's mentioned by Kaylah on her blog, and this week I bought these LED lights for my curiosity cabinet after seeing her use them for a similar collection.

I'm actually in Memphis as you read this—I met my dad here and we have a full itinerary for the next few days. Of course we're going to Graceland and the Civil Rights Museum, and I intend to eat a lot of barbecue in between. We'll also be dipping into Mississippi to sell our souls at the Devil's Crossroads and visit Elvis's birthplace in Tupelo. We finished this Elvis documentary last week so I'm ready to see the Jungle Room and tour Sun Records to see where it all began. It's already summer in New York I guess (spring was nice for the week it lasted!) and I think I picked the wrong time to try out this new deodorant. Have a great weekend!

Alexandra 4/27/18 Alexandra 4/27/18

Happy Friday

Things that happened recently:

Peter Knoll, heir to the Knoll furniture company fortune, died of hypothermia after living for years in an Upper East Side multi-million dollar townhouse without heat. I'm fascinated by eccentric, New York heirs and heiresses, and Knoll's story reminds me of Hugette Clark—I loved this book about her and have this one in my queue.

Meanwhile in Brooklyn, burrito-sized rats are terrorizing Brooklyn Heights and a mail carrier was "too overwhelmed" to deliver 17,000 pieces of mail.

After 40 years, they've finally arrested a suspect in the Golden State Killer case. I've had this book on hold at the library for a while, and now I'm even more excited to read it.

Things to do in New York this weekend:

Saturday is my very favorite New York event: the dachshund spring fiesta in Washington Square Park. The gathering starts at noon, and they will sing the "dachsong" at 1pm. I've been twice—in 2015 and 2017—and the hardest part is leaving the park without stealing someone else's dog.

The New York Adventure Club is giving tours of the Treasures in the Trash collection and there's one on Saturday. We took a tour during Open House New York and I just love so much that this exists.

There is a World's Fare going on in Queens this weekend—100 vendors from 100 cultures, including food, music and art vendors will come together as a homage to the other World's Fairs that happened in Queens.

Things that I've discovered recently:

Francesca showed me an ad for this pet glove and I impulse bought one because Mozart has been shedding tumbleweeds. It works great and she hates it way less than a traditional brush—my mom had me order one for her Maine Coon so maybe we'll start a cat hair craft business.

Lindsey is trying to help me with my journey into the scary world of skincare and she recommended a charcoal face sponge for my weird oily but flaky skin. I still feel very lost in the world of beauty products, but I've been loving how smooth this weird, slimy Korean face sponge makes my skin feel.

My mom alerted me to the existence of "the new Grumpy Cat," Loki the sphynx. I already love sphyx cats, but Loki looks so angry all the time and he is definitely my spirit animal.

My mom and I are definitely going to the dachshund fest on Saturday—if you listen closely, you may be able to hear me squealing with delight every five seconds. We'll eat breakfast beforehand but I have to choose between the Washington Square Diner or the Waverly Diner. It's a good problem to have, however—it's becomingly increasingly rare to have more than one option for a classic diner in one neighborhood. I'm intrigued by the World's Fare but a bit wary of the admission price and I get overwhelmed by crazy long lines and trendy foods at festivals (I tried the lackluster Ramen Burger years after it was the 'it' thing). David and I watched part one of this Elvis documentary last weekend—I'm going to Memphis next weekend!—so I'm looking forward to the second part with fat, jumpsuit/Vegas-era Elvis. Have a great weekend!

Alexandra 4/20/18 Alexandra 4/20/18

Happy Friday!

Things that happened recently:

As much as I love to hate "gender" reveal parties, they're not only stupid (pistols or pearls!) but the thinking behind them is bigoted and dangerous.

I'm still savoring everything I can about the Michael Cohen (shady "New York lawyer" straight out of Central Casting) raid—HANNITY—and this is a great comprehensive list of every embarrassing story he has tried to kill for Trump and his other smarmy clients.

Cynthia Nixon might actually have a real chance of winning the New York State Governor's race, and even if she doesn't she's already succeeded in having an impact on Cuomo's policies.

Things to do in New York this weekend:

Happy 4/20!

This is the last weekend to see the Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Garden. If you can't make it to the Bronx, I went last weekend and took a million photos, as usual.

A new exhibit opened on the MET rooftop called We Come in Peace and it's no Psychobarn, but it still looks pretty cool.

Things that I've discovered recently:

A dachshund museum opened in Germany and I need to get there immediately.

I finished this book this week (I loved it!), started this one (so good!) and I put a hold on Barbara Ehrenreich's new book about accepting death after reading this New York Times review.

I randomly came across these Muffler Man statues on Instagram and I sent the link to David and my mom hoping someone will eventually buy me one (HINT). They're custom made, available on Etsy and the hardest part is choosing which one(s) I'd want.

After a false start to spring last weekend, winter returned this week. But, things are looking promising again this weekend, with highs in the low 60s (perfect light jacket weather, IMHO). Tomorrow my best lady friends and I are going to spend the afternoon eating our way through Arthur Avenue, the "Little Italy" of the Bronx. The four of us have been making an effort to go on adventures every few months—the North Fork in the summer, Sleepy Hollow in the fall and Dyker Heights around Christmas—and any day that starts with fresh mozzarella and ends with a freshly-filled cannoli is a good day. I have no plans yet for Sunday but the weather looks equally pleasant so I'm happy to bask in the sun—even if it's indirectly shining on me while I'm on David's couch watching Netflix. I hope you have a great weekend and that it's warming up (but not too hot, unless you're into that) wherever you are!

Alexandra 4/13/18 Alexandra 4/13/18

Happy Friday!

Things that happened recently:

A 28-year-old Russian woman went into the hospital to have ovarian cysts removed and ended up dying when she was accidentally embalmed.

Roxane Gay is editing a month-long series on Medium called Unruly Bodies. I'm excited to read them all, but this one by Samatha Irby is my favorite so far (and if you haven't read her hilarious book, do so immediately). Speaking of bodies, I am fascinated by the diet industry and the overwhelming evidence that diets just don't work.

I am relishing any news that puts us closer to a possible Trump impeachment, including the recent raid on his lawyer's office. Here's why the raid is "particularly perilous" for everyone involved.

Things to do in New York this weekend:

The Green-Wood Cemetery tours are always top-notch, but this one on Saturday looks particularly interesting to the design-nerd in me. The trees at Green-Wood have just started blooming and the weather on Saturday will be perfect for a cemetery stroll.

Sunday looks like it will be a little rainy, but Central Park is offering a tour of the usually off-limits Hallett Nature Sanctuary from 2-3:30pm.

On Monday night the FIlm Forum is screening The World of Tomorrow, a documentary on the 1939/1940 World's Fair in Queens. I tried to buy tickets online but they appear to be sold out. Tickets may still be available at the Box Office, which might be worth trying since I'm obsessed with the two New York World's Fairs.

Things that I've discovered recently:

This photographer spent ten years tracking down the original locations of classic vinyl album covers, and his photos are mesmerizing.

I started and finished this book this week and I couldn't put it down. I've been interested in Hurricane Katrina stories since reading this harrowing book, and the story of the Zeitoun family is a heartbreaking one.

Because I am endlessly impressionable, I bought this moisturizer after seeing it on several blogs. I'm not sure if it's actually working miracles yet but it smells so good I almost don't care. Also if you ever wonder why I buy everything on Amazon, mine was $10 more when I impulse bought it at a Duane Reade 😑.

I am thrilled that the weather is finally warming up and I love watching the city come back to life in the spring. I never made it to the Orchid Show last weekend so maybe I'll make it there on Saturday (shaping up to be a beautiful day to spend at a garden). On Sunday David will have a rental car so of course I've already dreamed up various itineraries and adventures that we could take (some or all of which might be abandoned). I've been feeling quite grumpy these past few weeks (am I'm having my Jesus Year a bit early?—a term I just learned thanks to Lindsey) but I'm hoping that this spring weather and shedding some layers will help.

If you're in the mood to shop, Society 6 is having a sale starting Sunday—you can save 25% off on these kitschy roadside attraction prints with the coupon code APRIL25 (or buy some of those featured Happy Friday illustrations that you've had your eye on). I hope you have a great weekend!

Alexandra 4/6/18 Alexandra 4/6/18

Happy Friday!

Things that happened recently:

For nearly 20 years, Sam Barsky has been knitting sweaters of landmarks and taking photos of himself wearing them in front of his inspiration. The New York Times did a profile on him recently, but the real goldmine is his personal site, where you can see all of his photos. I looked at every single one of them—each better than the last—and I can't wait for new ones.

I'm still going through withdrawal after finishing Wild Wild Country, but luckily for me there is always another cult to read about—like this crazy one in Upstate New York. Its leader just got arrested in Mexico last week and extradited back to the U.S. on federal charges of sex trafficking.

On Tuesday, we had second-row seats to this talk with my fantasy best friends Lauren Graham and Mae Whitman at 92Y. Our tickets came with signed copies of Graham's latest book and I've loved both of her previous books so I'm excited to read this one.

Things to do in New York this weekend:

I didn't know that parks had opening weekends, but this weekend is the official opening of Prospect Park. The weather forecast isn't too spring-like, but there's yoga, a scavenger hunt, bird watching and the Smorgasburg food festival.

Saturday is the opening of The City Reliquary's sculpture garden in conjunction with their current exhibition, NYC Trash! Past, Present & Future. The garden features art made entirely of trash, something I've been fascinated by ever since reading this book.

The Urban Park Rangers are hosting a tour of the Little Red Lighthouse on Saturday. I took a tour of the Lighthouse with Open House New York, but tours aren't offered very often.

Things that I've discovered recently:

When my mom and I were at the Mütter Museum, she was telling me that someone once found an envelope of smallpox scabs inside of a library book—I didn't believe her, but I looked it up and found out that it's true! If that doesn't gross you out, you will love this book (but no guarantee it will—or won't—come with an envelope of scabs).

I recently discovered Judee Sill when she randomly came on Spotify. Sill died of a heroin overdose when she was just 39, but not before writing and recording some really incredible songs (she wrote Jesus Was a Crossmaker).

One sign shop in Brooklyn makes all of the signs for all 472 subway stations in New York. I love transit graphics and anything subway-related—there are 1,640 signs in the Times Square station alone!

I have the day off work because of Passover, a perk of working at a Jewish cultural organization. I'm getting frustrated with winter's refusal to leave the city, but I'm trying not to let it get me down. I'd like to get to the Orchid Show soon (maybe Sunday, after diner breakfast), and all I can think of is how warm and summery it is inside of their greenhouses. Saturday we might go check out the Morbid Anatomy pop-up at Green-Wood Cemetery, which is luckily only a few blocks from David's apartment. I just started watching Parenthood again for the ??th time and I'm really loving this book, so I'll probably be spending the rest of my time with both. I hope you have a great weekend!

Alexandra 3/30/18 Alexandra 3/30/18

Happy Friday!

Illustration by Lindsey Frances // Buy prints here!

Things that happened recently:

Trump has appointed John Bolton as National Security Advisor, despite the fact that "when Mr. Trump first assembled his cabinet, he rejected Mr. Bolton for secretary of state because of his eccentric brush mustache"—an actual statement in the New York Times that sounds like it's from an Onion article, like most White House news these days. Appearances aside, Bolton is a scary choice and I wish Trump had just picked this Mark Twain wax figure from the Niagra Wax Museum of History instead.

I'm still jazzed about the powerful the March For Our Lives (here are my photos from the NYC march) and I'm continually inspired by the grace and power of the Parkland teens. Here is a good article about the gun debate and the underlying culture war it represents.

I don't go to concerts too frequently because I'm a thousand years old and I don't like standing or crowds, but I've been obsessed with Dodie lately (this album is SO good) and she just announced her North American tour dates—tickets go on sale for her Brooklyn concert today.

Things to do in New York this weekend:

Saturday is the opening of Morbid Anatomy's pop-up exhibition at Green-wood Cemetery, “The Power of Images: Life, Death, and Rebirth.” Green-wood's Fort Hamilton Gatehouse will house the exhibition and library until Sunday, June 24th.

Saturday is also the opening of Emilio Villalba's exhibition No One at the Booth Gallery. I love Villalba's eye paintings, and although I'm sure I can't afford an original I'd still love to see them in person.

Sunday is Easter—and April Fools' Day, my least favorite "holiday"—and I'm so glad I'll be in town for the Easter Parade, one of my favorite New York events. I missed it last year because I was in Ohio, eating at the bizarre (and now-closed) Cathedral Buffet, but you can see photos of past bonnets here and here and festive dogs here and here.

Things that I've discovered recently:

I've been absolutely obsessed with the 6-part documentary, Wild Wild Country on Netflix (two words: blended beavers). Have you seen it? I just finished it and I can't stop thinking (or reading) about it. If you're as fascinated by cults as I am, I have literally recommended this book to everyone I've ever met—if you have any recommendations for more to read or watch about cults, send them my way!

Am I the only woman on the planet that didn't realize what was going on in this sticker?

I've raved about Schitt's Creek before (and will likely do it again, and again) but every aspect of the show is so smart—here's a good write-up celebrating the fashion featured, including my favorite character(s), Moira's wigs.

I have had a Week—nothing major, but a ton of tiny annoyances that have added up to me feeling as if I've been walking around with a cartoon black cloud over my head lately. BUT, my mom and I are taking a day trip to Philadelphia tomorrow (her first time!) to check out the Mütter Museum (my third visit!), hunt for medical models at Professor Ouch's Odditorium and eat cheesesteaks smothered in whiz. I love Philly and the weather is supposed to be delightful, so things are looking up. I'm also excited for the Easter Parade on Sunday, and I'm planning on having these and these for Easter dinner. I hope the weather is warming up for you and that you have a great Easter weekend, however you celebrate.

Alexandra 3/23/18 Alexandra 3/23/18

Happy Friday!

Things that happened recently:

Cynthia Nixon announced her candidacy for Governor of New York, and although Trump has me wary of celebrity politicians, I can't help but be excited about her positions. This isn't a reason to vote for her, but I've seen her and her wife several times on the subway and it should be obvious that I'm a total Miranda—I'm also thinking it might be time to finally buy one of these notebooks.

Does anyone else watch This is Us or The Fosters? Both just ended their respective seasons, and I was a weepy mess through both of them. The Fosters is ending this summer and I'm accepting suggestions for another cheesy, weepy family show (I'm a little wary of the spinoff).

John Oliver trolled Mike Pence in the best way possible this week, by making a book about Pence's pet bunny, Marlon Bundo, and publishing it two days before the Pence family's own Bundo book came out. Oh, and in Oliver's version—which is currently number one on Amazon's best-seller list—Bundo is gay (like the real Marlon Brando, says Oliver).

Things to do in New York this weekend:

The Like Life: Sculpture, Color and The Body exhibition opened this week at the Met Breuer. It's on view until July 22nd and brings together sculptures by well-known artists alongside wax effigies, reliquaries, mannequins, and anatomical models.

The New York City March For Our Lives starts Saturday at 10am on the Upper West Side near Central Park's 72nd Street entrance and ends at 6th Avenue and 43rd Street.

Coney Island's opening day is this Sunday, and the first 98 people in line when the park opens at 10:45 am will receive free rides on the 98-year-old Wonder Wheel. I went to opening day in 2014 and 2015 and it will be chilly this year, but I'm still hoping to make it out.

Things I discovered recently:

Two weeks ago I mentioned Rosie O'Donnell's fantastic portraits of the Trump administration (you can buy prints!), but I think I might like Jim Carrey's even more. Speaking of Jim Carrey, if you haven't watched Jim and Andy: The Great Beyond on Netflix, add it to your queue even if you've never seen Man on the Moon.

I started reading this book based on a suggestion from someone who saw my Westminster post and I'm loving it—my only regret is that I didn't read it before I saw my first dog show.

I've been playing my entire Spotify library on shuffle lately and rediscovering some real gems including this incredible album of early American women blues singers. My dad and I are taking a trip to Memphis in May, and we're planning on driving to the Devil's Crossroads in Mississippi, where legend says that musician Robert Johnson sold his soul to the Devil for the ability to play the blues.

Tonight David and I are going to see The Isle of Dogs, and I'm looking forward to drooling over all of the Wes Anderson-y details and beautiful typography. On Saturday friends and I are taking a tour of the catacombs of St. Patrick's Old Cathedral, and I'm hoping that we'll still have time after the tour to join the March For Our Lives. I'd also love to go to opening day at Coney Island, although I'm not looking forward to the chilly weather and eating a hotdog with my gloves on—spring is really taking it's sweet time this year, isn't it? The snow on Wednesday was pretty, but I'm so ready to shed my heavy coat for something a bit less cumbersome. I hope you have a great weekend and hopefully you're seeing signs of spring, wherever you are!

Alexandra 3/16/18 Alexandra 3/16/18

Happy Friday!

Things that happened recently:

Have you noticed that the "gifs" option has disappeared from your Instagram stories? Here's why.

I wouldn't say that I have a sweet tooth, but I love sugar just as much as anyone—and know that I eat way too much of it (I love Easter candy so much that Francesca just bought me this pillow). Here's a good way to start cutting back, without missing out on sweet treats.

The legal battle for Charles Manson's body has been resolved, with rights awarded to his grandson (I swear I wasn't in the running, despite being obsessed with this book).

Things to do this weekend:

There are still tickets left for two "Spirit of the Irish" ghost tours tonight at one of New York's most haunted places, The Merchant's House and Museum. The Merchant's House is a gem, but it's currently being threatened by a proposal to build an eight-story hotel next door, the construction of which would potentially destroy the fragile 186-year-old landmark building—here's how you can help with the fight to save the house (or support the cause by taking a tour!).

Saturday is St. Patrick's Day, and while I'm not a huge fan of green eggs or drinking at 8am, I do love parades. I've never been to the city's St. Patrick's Day Parade, but maybe this is a good year for it since it falls on the weekend.

I'm devastated that I missed the registration for this free tour of Gravesend Cemetery—the oldest cemetery owned by the City of New York—on Sunday. I went there once, only to find that the cemetery is open by appointment only. I'm trying to reach the Parks Dept. to see if I can get on a waitlist, so wish me luck!

Things I discovered recently:

I texted my mom asking her to pick up this lamp while she was at Target (she goes once a week) and she replied "Why do you need that?" Despite her savage judgement of my decor choices, she did end up delivering, and I love it so much. Now every time I turn on the light I'm reminded of Mr. Rex and Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, both of which make me very happy.

I found this article about the "Santa's Workshop" of Brooklyn and discovered that Lou Nasti and his team are the masterminds behind some of the most memorable Dyker Height's Christmas decorations and other mechanical displays around the city. You can take a tour of his workshop via the New York Adventure Club (which I will definitely be doing someday soon).

After finishing this book I was hungry for more about life in the tunnels, so I watched this documentary (so good!). I'm forever fascinated by pre-gentrified New York but I also know that I wouldn't have lasted five minutes here in the '70s-'90s.

My mom and I have plans to go to yet another doomed diner this weekend, The Silver Spurs diner, which is closing at the end of the month after 40 years in business. I wish diners weren't dropping like flies, but I guess all we can do is say our goodbyes and try to patronize the ones we love as much as we can while they're still around. Other than that, I have no weekend plans—David and I explored an abandoned school last weekend and I'm excited to start going through my photos. I've been taking a Lightroom class at work, which has invigorated my interest in photo editing and I used my shiny new camera for the first time so we'll see how those turn out. I think I'm officially over this cold weather and more than ready for a real spring—I've seen some signs of life popping up around the city, but hopefully the temperatures rise a bit soon. Have a great weekend!

Alexandra 3/9/18 Alexandra 3/9/18

Happy Friday!

Things that happened recently:

I've said it before, but it was another exhausting week to try and keep up with all of the chaos—I mean Energy!—in the Trump White House. After seeing Sam Nunberg's name pop up everywhere I groaned about having to learn about yet another off-the-rails Trump team member, but it turns out this was a story worth tracking.

Wednesday's nor’easter seemed like it was a dud until it finally arrived in the afternoon with blizzard-like conditions and ... thundersnow! Snowfall predictions varied wildly—prompting the New York Times to use an actual shrug emoticon in their headline—but in the end only 2.9" fell in Central Park. This is our second snowstorm in March so far, a somewhat fitting celebration of the 130th anniversary of the famous blizzard of 1888 (I just reserved this book at the library).

International Women's Day was on Thursday, and if you're a lady I hope you celebrated yourself. If you're a man, I hope you took a moment to recognize all of the wonderful women in the world—the New York Times did this great feature on fifteen women who were overlooked by their obituary writers. If you're still on the lookout for images of female empowerment, here are some photos from the 2017 Women's March in DC and the 2018 Women's March in NYC.

Things to do this weekend:

Thursday was the opening day of the new exhibition, Before the Fall: German and Austrian Art of the 1930s at the Neue Gallerie. The Neue Gallerie, with its focus on German and Austrian art, is my favorite niche museum in the city. The March First Friday has passed, but on the first Friday of every month admission to the museum is free from 6-9pm.

I just found out about the Jim Henson exhibit at the Museum of the Moving Image, and I'm hoping to go see it this weekend (it ends March 31st).

On Sunday the Urban Park Rangers are hosting a free walk along New York City's oldest bridge, the Highbridge, which connects the Bronx and Manhattan. It was built in 1848 and public access was restored just recently.

Things I've discovered recently:

I have always been obsessed with miniatures—I had this book as a kid and made all sorts of tiny thing for a dollhouse I never had—so I could watch these videos of tiny food being prepared all day long.

I started (and finished) this book this week. I borrowed it from a friend years ago and like most books I've randomly plucked from my shelves, I feel silly that I waited so long to pick it up. Although it's now 25 years old, it's still a fascinating look at homelessness in New York, and I'd love to read a "where are they now" about each person she met in the tunnels (although it would probably be bleak).

If you're not following Rosie O'Donnell on Twitter, I recommend that you do if only for her incredible portraits of the Trump administration like this one and this one. And this seems like a good time to remind you that 16-year-old me made a brief appearance on the Rosie O'Donnell show, and it was just as awkward as you might be imagining.

I feel as if I may be getting sick, so I plan on taking it easy this weekend while trying to convince myself out of getting a full-blown cold (fyi, this never works). I would like to get to the Georgia Diner in Queens before they close for good at the end of March, and maybe check out the Jim Henson exhibit afterwards on Saturday. I haven't done much exploring lately, but I'm still catching up on blog posts from my past road trips, and planning for future ones—Memphis in May and Arizona/New Mexico in June. March might actually be my least favorite month, but I have a few things on my calendar to keep me distracted from the dreary weather. I hope you have a lovely weekend and send immune system-boosting vibes my way!

Alexandra 3/2/18 Alexandra 3/2/18

Happy Friday!

Things that happened recently:

On Thursday the Met ↑ began charging full admission to anyone who is not a New York resident or student from New York, New Jersey or Connecticut. The ticket is now good for three days, and includes admission to the Met, the Met Breuer and the Cloisters. A lot of people are unhappy with the new policy, including artist Ai Weiwei, who vowed never to go to the Met again because charging full price to non-New Yorkers is "like taking the jacket off a poor person."

David saved a recent issue of the New Yorker for me so I could read this article about modern day polar explorer Henry Worsley's incredible Antarctic journeys. I'd never heard of Worsley before, but I've been interested in polar exploration ever since I read Endurance, an excellent book about Shakleton's famous voyage.

I mentioned it at the end of this post, but I recently started a Society6 shop. There are tons of fun roadside attraction prints over there, and if you ever see a photo of mine that you'd like as a print, don't hesitate to ask!

Things to do this week:

Today is the opening of the David Bowie Is exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum and tomorrow is the first day of the annual Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Garden. I am going to try to get to both in the next few months, but here are some photos from the past five orchid shows if you're already dreaming of spring: 2017 // 2016 // 2015 // 2014 // 2013

Tonight, The Morgan Library and Museum is hosting a screening of the John Waters/Divine classic, Pink Flamingos. We paid our respects to Divine in Baltimore back in October, but I would love to do a re-watch of the entire Divine oeuvre.

After a movie marathon on Saturday, I'll have seen all of the Best Picture nominees, so you better bet I'll be watching the Oscars on Sunday. I don't have the space to throw a viewing party, but if I did, I would be making this piñata, printing these fun ballots and making cookies with this.

Things I've discovered recently:

In the '80s, the Public Art Fund commissioned "Wheatfield—A Confrontation" on the site of a landfill in Battery Park. The 2-acre wheat field was just two blocks from the World Trade Center and eventually yielded more than 1,000 pounds of consumable wheat. I often wish I had been able to see New York during the '70s and '80s (watching this is as close as I'll probably get) but in reality I probably would have been terrified and constantly mugged.

I love a lot of the art commissioned for subway posters but I never knew that you could buy prints until I looked up Ryan Peltier and found that his Edward Gorey-like illustration was available from the New York Transit Museum Store (I bought one, and now I just have to figure out where to put it).

I started reading this book after my friend Lindsey suggested it and I'm loving it so far. I read Rebecca when I was in high school and fell in love with Daphne du Maurier's gothic storytelling, but I have no excuse why it took me so long to read another of her novels. Lindsey also sent me this article, which made me love du Maurier even more: “What a pity I’m not a vagrant on the face of the earth,” du Maurier wrote in her diary at 21. “Wandering in strange cities, foreign lands, open spaces, fighting, drinking, loving physically. And here I am, only a silly sheltered girl in a dress, knowing nothing at all — but Nothing.”

Tomorrow I'm doing this five movie marathon to catch up on all of the Best Picture winners at the AMC in Times Square (thoughts and prayers that I don't get bedbugs). The day starts at 10:30 am with Dunkirk, followed by Darkest Hour, Call Me By Your Name, The Post and Get Out. This might be the first time in my life that I'll have seen all of the Best Picture nominees before Oscar night so I'm looking forward to watching on Sunday night. My prediction is that Three Billboards will win, but I'm rooting for The Shape of Water.

When I first moved to the city, I frequently did solo double features, so I'm no stranger to spending most of the day in a movie theater. The most movies I've ever watched back-to-back in a theater is three, but I've already seen The Post and Get Out, so I can leave early if I'm feeling over it. There are three of us participating, so we need to coordinate our snack plan—thankfully the art of snacking is something at which we all excel. I'm also hoping to fit in a diner breakfast before we get started, and I have TBD brunch plans on Sunday. I hope you have a great weekend, and enjoy the Oscars, if you'll be watching.

Alexandra 2/23/18 Alexandra 2/23/18

Happy Friday!

Happy Year of the Dog! Illustration by Lindsey Frances

Things that happened recently:

It's hard not to be consumed by the news of the Florida school shooting, and I'm continually tearing up reading about the victims. But I'm equally moved by the survivors and their activism—especially Emma Gonzáles, who I am fully endorsing for President. If you want to get involved but are overwhelmed with the options, everytown.org seems like a good place to start. Speaking of those badass teens, RIP Marco Rubio.

I loved Jennifer Wright's book on plagues, but she also consistently writes articles that have me doing the Meryl clap to my computer screen, like this one about the culture of toxic masculinity and how it (coupled with easy access to guns and assault weapons) should not be overlooked as a cause of the mass shooting crisis in the US.

Some happier news: this week I booked a night in my third and final Wigwam Motel for June. Kaylah and Jeff graciously invited me to their wedding in the desert, and lucky for me it's close to the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, AZ so I can complete the holy trinity of 'wams. Arizona has Wigwam Village No. 6, which is one of only three remaining Wigwam Villages—No. 2 is in Kentucky and No. 7 is in California.

Things to do this weekend:

The Brooklyn Flea is hosting a mini record fair Saturday and Sunday from 10am - 5pm in Industry City. I'm always on the lookout for new (to me) records, but right now this one is at the top of my list.

Sunday is the Chinese Lunar New Year Parade in Chinatown. I just bought a brand new camera, and I hope the rain holds out so I can try it out on the colorful floats and confetti-filled streets. I haven't been to the parade since 2014, but it's one of my favorite parades here in the city.

You only have a few more weeks to go see all of the Oscar-nominated movies. David and I just saw The Phantom Thread last week and it was ... weird? The Shape of Water and Get Out are still my personal favorites, but I'm most looking forward to seeing Call Me By Your Name, which I've already decided I'm going to love (and I plan to read the book too).

Things I've discovered recently:

My friend Jen tagged me in an Instagram photo of this incredibly gross and amazing chocolate heart from the Edible Museum and I immediately went to the website and wanted to buy everything they sell.

I recently bought this old-school alarm clock because I'm trying not to sleep with my phone close to my bed. If you're starting to feel like you're attached to your phone in an unhealthy way (like me and ... probably everyone else I know) here are a few ways you can start to (slowly) break up with your phone.

I had seen these cremated remains labels from the Post Office, but it never crossed my mind that you could just order them and have them shipped completely free until I saw this tweet. I immediately ordered a two-pack (the limit) and will be putting them on every package I send from now on.

My uncle is in town for some operas this weekend, so we're going to meet him for breakfast tomorrow at Cafe Luxembourg. He introduced me to their baked eggs and they're so good. I live only a few subway stops away, but it doesn't feel right to eat there without him, so every time he's in town is a double treat. As of right now, the weather looks dreary for the next few days, but last week I also predicted that we were done with snow for the year and the next day ... it snowed.

I'm really hoping the rain shifts away from Sunday so we can see the Lunar New Year Parade (here's a map of the route), but maybe I'll get lucky and just the threat of rain will keep away some of the crowds. We may not agree on much, but I think we can all agree that the Year of the Dog will be a cute one—I'm hoping this is my year to finally run into my favorite Instagram dog, Noodle (he lives in Harlem!). Have a great weekend!

Alexandra 2/16/18 Alexandra 2/16/18

Happy Friday!

Things that happened recently:

The new Gerber "spokesbaby" is literally the cutest baby I've every seen in my entire life and I tear up every time I see a photo of his smiling face (oh, and he also has Down Syndrome).

The new TWA Hotel at JFK won't open until 2019 but I'm already excited to grab a drink in their lobby. I will also be forever grateful that Jim and I made it to the TWA Flight Center for Open House New York weekend before renovations began.

The daily stories coming out of the current garbage administration are hard to keep up with and maddening to say the least, but this Op-Ed from the wife of former White House Staff Secretary, Rob Porter, is a must-read.

Things to do in New York this week:

Today is the Firecracker Ceremony and Cultural Festival in Chinatown to celebrate the beginning of the Chinese Lunar New Year. There will be lion dances, giveaways and 600,000 firecrackers to ward off evil spirits and welcome the Year of the Dog. I went to the Firecracker Festival in 2013 (yes, it was loud), but I'm most looking forward to the parade this year.

Jihan Zencirli of Geronimo has made this amazing balloon installation as part of the New York City Ballet Art Series. If ballet isn't your thing, there will be free public viewing hours of the installation February 17 through February 25, Mon-Fri 10 AM – 6 PM and Sat-Sun 10 AM – 12 PM.

On Monday, my mom, Francesca, David and I are taking this NY Adventure Club tour of Eclectic Props, "New York City’s largest collections of antiques, furniture, and accessories for rent on the East Coast." I'm excited for the tour, located in a 95,000 sq ft former Pepsi factory, but I'm also looking forward to getting breakfast at this diner beforehand.

Things I've discovered lately:

My mom and I went to the Oddities Market in Jersey City last weekend and she bought me a glass eye from Oddball Oddity. Amanda chatted with us for a while, and not only is she incredibly nice and knowledgeable, but she has the best collection of glass eyes I've ever seen (and they're very reasonably priced).

Speaking of eyeballs, I recently discovered Emilio Villalba's incredible eye paintings and I can't wait to go see his upcoming exhibition at Booth Gallery starting March 31st.

This guy spent a year building a sphere from 42,000 green-tipped matches and then, of course, he lit it on fire. I generally hate watching Internet videos but I was mesmerized by the sphere catching fire (and that smoke at the end!).

I hope you all had a lovely Valentine's Day (David made us the most delicious steak) 💖 I think I'm going to try to check out the New York City Ballet balloon installation on Saturday and I'm excited to not stray too far from my neighborhood, for once. On Sunday David and I have our eye on some abandoned buildings to explore upstate, and Monday we'll be taking the tour of Eclectic Props. I think we may be done getting snow this winter (sad!) but sometimes March surprises us with a bonus snowstorm (fingers crossed). I hope you enjoy your weekend, and your extra day off on Monday, if you have one!