unique new york

last night, i returned from a weekend trip to new york city...as always, it was a blast. i hadn't been in approximately 3 years, which is WAY too long considering that like 75% of my friends live there. so, a few months ago when my good friend gleni asked me to be her friend-date to a superchunk show in september, i figured it was a fantastic excuse to make my way back to NYC. highlights & pictures below!

immediately upon my arrival, i navigated the subway with a nice british woman who was on my boltbus from boston, and met up with my loooongtime friend jacob (seriously, kickin' it since sixth grade). as an appropriate first stop, we grabbed some hipster lattes and macchiatos at gorilla coffee in park slope and i felt really uncool.

after a brisket and potato salad dinner at dale talde's brooklyn BBQ joint pork slope, i enjoyed some whiskey sours and manned the jukebox with gleni at this great little bar next door called the high dive. they had all these homemade mixes, so my selections included urge overkill's "sister havana," brian jonestown massacre's "vacuum boots," and the replacements' "bastards of young." nailed it, even if we were the only ones paying attention.

on saturday, i had a mini-reunion and mega-ramen at momofuku noodle bar in the east village, with three of my friends from marist. pork buns and spicy miso ramen 'til i die, basically. it was lovely to see everyone, and the food was delicious! 

after lunch, gleni and i strolled through washington square park, where we saw a rainbow (top of the post), and this really cool dude who was entertaining passersby with marionettes he had made. in the second picture, the woman standing with him is his inspiration for the marionette! it was awesome and uniquely new york. 

then, we strolled through the west village and went to the big gay ice cream shop, which really needs no explanation. i got the "bea arthur," and gleni got the "salty pimp." solid.

we pressed on to the DUMBO art festival (that stands for down under the manhattan bridge overpass and has nothing to do with the disney elephant). it was a gorgeous day, and there were some really cool pieces!

before we headed to the show that night, we refueled with some kiiiller iced coffee at caffe vita on the lower east side. we were in search of a bite to eat (which ended up being this incredible sesame pancake with peking duck at vanessa's dumpling house) when i saw the sign below and just had to take a picture.

while i was trying unsuccessfully to get a good shot, this kid comes up to me and asks if i would take a picture with him. i did it, asking if it was for a dare or something. 

"sort of," he says. "are you in college?"

i laugh. "no! i'm old." 

"you don't look old!"

he comes back a minute later with his little posse, asking if i'll do him a big favor. 

"will you give me a kiss on the cheek?"

"it's for a skateboarding video!" his long-haired friend pipes up.

clearly, i HAD to do it at this point, right?

beaming, he walks triumphantly away, yelling, "you made my night! NEW YORK, baby!"

i'm so glad i could make this young man's cougar dreams come true, but i just know this photo is going to resurface someday. or next week. 

finally, the original purpose of this weekend...SUPERCHUNK! i had seen these guys before a few years ago, and once again, they did not disappoint.

the best part of superchunk shows is that the audience is literally all 40-something dudes trying to relive their early '90s glory days. i don't really know why. ladies, superchunk is great! listen to them. anyways, there is never a line for the women's room, and most of the guys are all married 'n junk so the creep factor is minimal. but seriously, you haven't lived 'til you've shouted along to "slack MFer" with a bunch of balding, middle-aged men. you just haven't. there were, however, 3 women in their late 30s in front of us having the BEST time, and gleni and i immediately saw ourselves in 10 years.

eleanor friedberger from the fiery furnaces came out to sing a few tunes, and i think there were 2 encores. it was crazy and fun.

we stopped for a nightcap on the way home at this laid-back bar called the magician, which had a great vibe. one of my favorite things about new york is that i can never see it all when i visit. i'll be baaaack!

5 things i love: cover songs edition

i was listening to #1 on the list below the other day, and got to thinking about how many random covers i have in my itunes. some are better than others, but i'm certainly not a cover song snob. this is pretty much the most random list ever, so fair warning. what are your favorite cover tunes?

in no particular order:

1. the vines - "ms. jackson" (outkast cover)

ok, i know i said no particular order, but this may actually be my favorite ever. they somehow turned a funky hip-hop tune into a stoner slow-jam. LOVE.

2.  no use for a name - "turning japanese" (the vapors cover)

i actually had this version of the '80s classic in my itunes foreva-eva as being by MxPx, until i realized the error of my ways like, last year. not that y'all care. is it sacrilege to say that i like this better than the original? 

3. better than ezra - "laid" (james cover)

i swear that kevin griffin is probably the only person who can do that falsetto justice. awesome.

4. rooney - "here today, gone tomorrow" (ramones cover)

love me some ramones, but another one that's better than the original IMO. i also have a lot of nostalgic attachment to this one since i pretty much listened to it 24/7 during the winter of my senior year of high school. le sigh. ignore the random weird notebook scenes in this video, it's the only one i could find.

5. my gay uncle - "back that thang up" (juvenile cover)

does ANYONE else remember these guys (and girl), from this random cover band competition that mtv had in like, 2000ish? it was love at first sight/listen, and i played the hell out of this super-crappy demo version (and probably the only version). but i still get so happy every time it starts playing because there is some solid, raw white boy rapping going on here. apparently, i'm not alone: one youtube comment reads: "JYEAH!!!! Best cover ever? Perhaps." somewhere, juvenile is smiling.

virtual housewarming party!

after just about 2 months and lots of comcast and couch drama, i'm FINALLY all settled into my new home, and i had some friends over this past weekend to celebrate! i'm pretty proud of my new abode, since it's the first place that i've completely been able to decorate exactly as i'd like. i thought i'd give y'all a peek. so queue up this spotify playlist, pour yourself a glass of wine, and have a look around!

living room! 

yes, i bought a bird lamp ... because i could.

bought this beacon street print at the sowa open market a few months before i moved to FL. still love it!

antique "kitchen" table & chairs!

(it says "delighted you're here")

the tree was entirely a project (lots of decals), but i think it came out pretty nicely, right?

lovers tarot print that i got at an art fair in orlando

the kitchen is always so sunny & i love it!

with the garland lit, at night

i also bought a bunch of stupid shit i didn't need, like this fake spice thing.

and this old mailbox, where i keep coupons.

the bathroom's a little dated, but i like it just fine.

and finally ... what 20-something girl DOESN'T have a decoupaged print of kurt cobain on her wall, amiright?!

what's on your happy list?

i've read about this idea before (namely in this fabulous xojane article), but the other day, i saw another piece that suggested everyone come up with at least 10 things that automatically make them smile or feel comforted and happy. you know, like a go-to smile file for moments when you're kind of bummed out or just want to feel happier.

after a particularly grueling commute this morning and an uncharacteristically grumpy mood this week, i thought it would be the perfect opportunity to make my list. i'm sure there are thousands and thousands i could add, but i'll stick with 20 for now. PLEASE leave your lists in the comments! i was having so much fun quizzing my friends about this earlier, and it's so cool to see what makes everyone happy.

a cup of dunkin' donuts coffee.
new england (especially boston) in the summertime. 
driving on a sunny day with the windows down and my favorite music playing.
men with southern accents.
chicken piccata.
hanson. (come at me!)
hip-hop dancing.
nice, france. 
baking a cake from scratch.
synchronicities.
vacation anticipation.
foodgasms.
finding my new favorite song and listening to it on repeat.
cinnabon smell at the mall.
sister act 2/the princess diaries/cheesy rom-coms/vh1 countdown shows.
smiles from cute strangers.
sinbad.
waking up and realizing i don't have anywhere to be (formerly SNOW DAY FEELING).
chocolate-covered gummy bears.
having the perfect buzz at a great concert.

the past few weeks in food

i was originally going to do a mega-post about all of these recent happenings, but i decided that since most of them involved food (with the exception of the rob sheffield karaoke party last weekend), i'd focus on that!


clam chowder - saloon, somerville ma

i stopped in here a few weeks ago for an after-work drink with my old neighbor, nicole. the place is a modern speakeasy, and embarrassingly hard to find -- at least for me -- as the only sign is a small lamp, wayyyy up high on the side of the building. once i made my way through the dark doors and down into the basement, i was  digging the vibe. after my frisco sour (well-made and potent), i decided that i was in the mood for a bite. they have a limited food menu, but the clam chowder was rich, creamy, and perfect. and how cute are those dang potatoes?!

PEI mussels, braised short rib, and concord grape gelato - upstairs on the square, cambridge ma

i went here with a friend for restaurant week, and was certainly not disappointed in the food nor the decor. it looked like an alice in wonderland acid trip, as you can see from the picture of the wall that i snapped. this was one of many zebras prancing alongside us as we dined. anywho, the mussels and short rib were awesome, but i really just want to talk about this gelato. sorry, it was too dark to fully capture its deliciousness, but they put one of those vanilla pizzelle things in it and some peanut butter on the bottom of the bowl and it was like a gourmet, deconstructed PB & J. whoa.

chicken enchiladas - la casa de pedro, watertown ma

i've been on many a patio this summer, and this one takes the cake. my friend and former roommate, kari, is moving this week, so we decided to meet up here and have some sangria and yummy latin food. i always order chicken enchiladas anywhere, but these ones were especially fabulous. and they came with fried plaintains and yucca. hello! but seriously, the patio. you would never believe it was in the middle of an office park!

salad with crabmeat, avocado, heirloom tomatoes, capers & asparagus - rowes wharf sea grille, boston 

my dear mom came down to visit last weekend, and joined me for my absolute favorite summer activity in boston - movies by moonlight at the harbor hotel. i think it actually may be called something different now but SO WHAT, WHO CARES. it'll always be movies by moonlight to me. basically, you show up super early to score a seat on their terrace, and then you eat and drink and chat until dusk. then, they show a classic/old movie on their inflatable screen, with the ocean as the background. it don't get better than that. anyways, after the meals of the week, i wanted to get something on the lighter side, and opted for the house entree salad. it was surprisingly filling and tasty, especially when i threw some of the leftover guac from our appetizer in there. probably ate the equivalent of 2 avocados. i don't hate it!

the tampon-ic plague

while i may be a grown-ass woman, there are certain things that i still just can’t bring myself to do. chief among them is buying tampons when there’s a male cashier. he could be a sweet 75 year-old, a fugly 22 year-old, or a hot 30-something. he could be ron jeremy, he could be ryan gosling; none of this matters in the slightest. well, actually, buying tampons from ryan gosling would probably be the worst thing that could ever happen to me ... ever. even thinking about it makes me want to curl up in the fetal position and eat macaroni and cheese until the embarrassment subsides. 

i get that we’re all human. everybody poops. dudes know that we ladyfolk are visited by a two-bit whore of a frenemy every single month. however, there’s just something deeply unsettling, socially mortifying, and downright weird about obtaining supplies intended for my hoo-ha from a complete (male) stranger. like, i might as well just stroll into walgreen’s, hijack the intercom, and scream, “i'm bleedin’, y’all!”. 

please believe me when i tell you that i’m not a squeamish person in the slightest. i’ve endured many a brazilian wax. i’ve eaten sea urchin. hell, I’ve even used the restrooms at hampton beach. but put me in a line with some tampax in my hand and a man at the register, and i literally just fall apart. i sweat. i shake. tears form in my eyes. i contemplate shoplifting, and then imagine my face on the front of the boston herald, along with the the headline, “local woman faces prison sentence for stealing feminine hygiene products.” at this point, one of of two things usually happens: i put the box back on the shelf and go on a pharmacy-crawl until i find some dour old lady to ring me up, or i pile insane amounts of candy, gum, and gossip mags into my basket to distract from the glaring awkwardness of my purchase. 

the latter tactic never helps much -- there’s always that 30 seconds of pain and suffering, during which the employee and i desperately try to avoid eye contact, and he asks me if i’m a rewards member. 

honey, getting through this transaction was reward enough.

delusions of anthropologie

I pull the fluffy, multicolored patchwork duvet cover off of the moss green pillows, and imagine how much sweeter my dreams would be if I were snuggled comfortably in that that antique brass display bed, clad in a whimsical cream-and-pink striped nightgown. Before I drift off to sleep, I page through Barbara Ireland’s 36 Hours: 125 Weekends in Europe, and plan an overseas getaway with my adoring, slightly scruffy boyfriend.

I wake in the morning and sip my French pressed coffee from a monogrammed ceramic mug, as I gaze out of my brownstone window at the bustling city block below. After a shower, where I try out my new cedar wood-scented goat’s milk soap, I slide open the bedroom closet to reveal a collection of dresses, sweaters, a-line skirts, and flowing blouses -- all in jewel tones and organized by color. It’s pretty brisk today, so I select a plum shift dress and goldenrod cardigan, accessorizing with a gray scarf, silver charm bracelet, and feather drop earrings. I lace up my ankle boots and take one last glance in the mirror, slathering some rosebud salve on my lips and throwing a soft chestnut leather satchel over one shoulder. 

The farmers market is abuzz this morning, and the delicious smells of fresh fruit and flowers mingle in the air with just-popped kettle corn and hazelnut lattes. I pull a piece of stationery -- replete with printed pastel birds -- out of my bag, and survey the list for tonight’s dinner party. A baguette to slice and spread thick with truffle butter, organic mushrooms for the ragout that will accompany the beef tenderloin, and five Granny Smiths for apple crisp a la mode. Once all of the ingredients are purchased, they go straight into the basket of my vintage bike, and along for the ride to a nearby park. I nestle under a shady oak, and spend the next few hours journaling in my Moleskine.

Upon my return home, I discover that my boyfriend has already started preparing dinner, and he gets up from the tufted teal settee to greet me. I inhale deeply, trying to identify each savory spice. While the beef is roasting, I uncork a bottle of pinot noir and pour two glasses. We slice apples into a copper pot as I pore over the crisp recipe, dog-eared in my gluten-free dessert cookbook. We share a brief, impromptu slow dance in the kitchen when Paolo Nutini’s “Loving You” begins playing from my laptop, before we’re interrupted by the familiar beep of the timer. 

The crisp is in the oven, the candles are lit, and our farmhouse table is set with hand-painted dishes, antique flatware, and paisley cloth napkins. It’s just about time to change into my lace cocktail dress, break in my slingback heels, and apply some lipstick. I’m in a muted mauve mood tonight. 

I slide off the sweater and dress, pull on my t-shirt, and button up my jeans. “Thanks,” I say, handing the garments back to the fitting room attendant, “but I need a little more time to think about this.”

5 things i love right now

1. this song, "chloe," by emblem3 



so, i've been hearing this song for weeks but never really paid attention to who was singing it until i saw a segment on the local news about how hundreds of tweens and teens showed up to the square one mall in saugus last weekend to see some boy band named emblem3 (lolz). so, because i'm super old, i looked these fellows up and realized that a) i vaguely remembered them from the last season of x factor, and b) i loved this song! then, on about sunday, it fiercely overtook me and i was annoying everyone by randomly shouting "CHLOOOOOE!" i love it even more after reading that it's loosely based on khloe kardashian. heh!

2. root beer floats

TODAY IS NATIONAL ROOT BEER FLOAT DAY!! i found this out today at work because we had make-your-own root beer floats. which is ironic, because i've been randomly obsessing about root beer floats for the past two weeks and finally broke down and made my own this past weekend. prior, i think i'd only had one in my entire life. they're my new thing. nostalgic, yummy, refreshing, and perfect for summer.

3. this song, "jump into the fog," by the wombats



this song is about spending the night with a hooker. but it's so glorious!

4. the 77 bus

when i used to live in boston proper, i was strictly a t (subway) girl. then, when i moved to melrose, i would drive to the t station and park. now, in arlington, i could not resist the intrigue of the 77 bus, which literally picks up right outside of my building. sure, i fell down when i got onto the bus the first time, and got off at the wrong stop, but i'm learning and becoming one of the bus people. i can get to davis, harvard, and porter squares without having to worry about massholes getting all up in my grill OR parking. love it! and there was a cute baby on my last ride that everyone was making faces at. the bus brings people together.

5. this blog (strawberry fields whatever)

my friend gleni introduced me to this great little blog some time last year via a post about dazed and confused, so naturally i fell in love. three girls write about pop culture, music, food, and whimsical fun stuff. they post playlists and cool pictures and it's really just a wonderful read when you want to feel inspired and happy.

hiya, hyannis: cape cod weekend

despite living in the northeast for 25+ of my 27 years and in new england for 15+ years, i'd only been to cape cod ONCE before this past weekend. for summer vacations, my family was all about maine and canada; i've been to ogunquit and kennebunkport and ottawa more times than i can remember because my dad always hated the cape traffic. i always thought he was exaggerating.

that is, until it took us 3 hours on friday night to get from my friend's house in andover, massachusetts, to hyannis, massachusetts: a trip that should normally take about 1.5 hours. woof. thank god that the three of us kept each other entertained by talking about TMZ headlines and friends and all that fun stuff that ladies talk about.

but anyways! we had a lovely time once we actually arrived. the weather on saturday was absolutely picture-perfect. we got up early and enjoyed some breakfast at the b&b we were staying at, before walking down to the beach and spending a few hours just sittin' and rotatin'. the afternoon was spent eating lunch and shopping on hyannis' vibrant main street, and taking a little trip down to check out the kennedy compound. we had a pre-dinner drink (vodka/lemonade/iced tea/fresh mint for me) on the patio at a cute place that looked out at the harbor, and grabbed tapas at embargo on main street. we finished the evening with a beer at yet another patio, just watching the bachelorette parties go by. a great little weekend trip, for sure. picture time!

beach!

and again

and again

adorable & delicious gelato place, run by a husband & wife.  i got nutella & sea-salted caramel!

he was a QT

kennedy compound

house love

honorary kennedys

more house love 

ahhhhh

waterfront drinks

we got the comfy couches!

boathouse

tapas! pulled pork tacos...

& lobster/chorizo-stuffed quahog!