Chinatown BUNanza: Searching for the Best Pork Bun in Flushing, Queens

Last weekend, I porked-out in Flushing, Chinatown. It was a BUNanza! See, Saturday was the start of Lunar New Year and I decided to celebrate by eating SO MANY pork buns. I visited bakeries and restaurants all over Chinatown and sampled so many savory buns (and one sweet one). It was a delicious, fun self-guided food tour. Ready for some BUN FUN?

PORK BUN 101

“What the heck is a pork bun?” You may be asking. It’s a protein-packed, easy to eat, yummy, grab-and-go Chinese snack or brunch food (dim sum). A fluffy bun with a pork filling that ranges from savory to slightly sweet and often includes chives or onions for flavor and texture. They are typically steamed or baked, best served hot. I found a surprising amount of variety of buns during this BUnanza.

Ice Skating in Bryant Park is an NYC Winter Must: Here’s What to Expect

I’m a California girl who’s made it through 11.5 New York winters (a remarkable feat, I know). Along the way I have honed several coping methods for getting through these cold, dark months. Top of my list: long underwear (my fave fit is Uniqlo men’s), wool socks (my faves are from Costco), hot chocolate (trolling this Instagram), and ice skating.

Ice skating! An outdoor activity you can really only do because it’s cold outside! This is a delightful winter antidote and I try to go every year.

January 14, 2020January 14, 2020

NYC Visitors Beware: 9 Things New York Locals Will Judge You For (and 9 Things We Won’t!)

It’s a New York cliche that NYC locals aren’t always the nicest to those visiting our city. Like most cliches, this one is grounded in reality. New Yorkers can be rude, yelling at you if you block our path. We can be passive-aggressive, barging in front of your perfectly posed photo. That said, for every one New York local like that, you’ll meet ten who are friendly, helpful, and kind…a judgmental. Yep, judgey. This city is diverse AF but the vast majority of us are united by…a discerning eye. Ranging from kinda-sorta judgmental to EXTREMELY. Here some New York cliches we will judge you for, visitors of New York. And also some we (most of us) won’t. All in good fun.

1. Footwear Fashion

NEW YORKERS WILL JUDGE YOU FOR...

Wearing flip flops.

We know how filthy these streets are and we know how disgusting your feet will be at the end of the day. Unless you’re near a body of water or just got a pedicure, don’t wear flip flops in NYC.

BUT WE WON’T JUDGE YOU FOR…

Wearing comfortable walking shoes.

Leave the Manolos for fictional fashionistas, the Big Apple is a pedestrian city. NYC visitors (and locals too) always seem to walk more than they think they will so keep it comfy.

2. Subway Etiquette

NEW YORKERS WILL JUDGE YOU FOR…

Standing on the left side of the escalator

The RIGHT side of the escalator is for standing, the LEFT side is for walking. This is New York gospel. Locals WILL yell at you if you break this rule.

BUT WE WON’T JUDGE YOU FOR…

Getting lost on the subway

January 7, 2020January 7, 2020

How to Start Blogging Again After a Massive, Unannounced Hiatus

STEP 1: Clear away the mess of clothes strewn over the chair and finally sit down at your desk to write. I’m going to do it! Get back in the game! I got this!

STEP 2: Realize this piece of furniture is a completely unsuitable working space (it’s been used exclusively as a dumping ground for weeks). Oh HELL yes! This is mad convenient! Cleaning is my favorite form of procrastination! Whoopee!

STEP 3: Clean that desk. Clean it like you’re a Roomba and it’s your singular function in life! I can’t stop at just the desk! Clean that bedroom like you’re at an open call for the inevitable live-action remake of Disney’s Cinderella! Might as well keep going, I’m in the groove! Clean the entire fucking apartment like you’re hosting brunch for your boyfriend’s entire extended family!

STEP 4: Get completely distracted (heyyy Youtube), don’t write one word (wahh so hard to be at my desk after a 9-hour desk job wahh!), and feel awful about it (wahhh I suck). Listen to podcasts to shove those negative thoughts out of your mind!S

STEP 5: Continue this shitty, unproductive cycle once or twice a month, for several months.

August 23, 2019August 23, 2019

New York Weekly Minutes #50

Way back when (read: May 2019 – so honestly not that long ago, but…I’m my harshest critic…anyway) every Friday on the blog I would feature New York Weekly Minutes. Fleeting moments from my week that made me stop and think, “I’m so lucky to live in NYC!” or, “Bahaha this city is ridiculous and I love it.” It’s that back-to-school time, which always brings a burst of productivity. So here I am, trying to get back into the swing of blogging things wit some minutes from the past week(s).

Outdoor Yoga on the LIC Waterfront

Outdoor yoga is a joyful idea in theory and in photographs it’s absolutely FOMO inducing. But I was there, on this grass in this moment of NAMASTE under the sweltering New York City sun and WHEW was it grueling! Borderline brutal! If you can’t resist a drenched downward dog with a view, the LIC Waterfront hosts FREE yoga every Saturday at 10AM – go on a cloudy Saturday, or find a sunset option!

August 21, 2019August 21, 2019

An Illustration of Every Mets Game 2019

Andrew Herman’s beard immediately makes him stand out among the throng of fans waiting to enter Citifield on a beautiful Sunday afternoon in June. The beard is the same brilliant orange found on all Mets merchandise and it perfectly suits this life-long Mets fan. Herm, as he is called by his friends and thousands of Instagram followers, is here for his 30th game of the season. The 36-year-old Queens native plans to attend every New York game of 2019, including the times they play at Yankee Stadium.

Artist Herm Herman is illustrating every Mets 2019 home game

Herm’s goal is grander than simple attendance, he’s not exactly a typical season pass holder. Each game he sits in the stands with a piece of paper, a brush pen, and draws the action that unfolds. He might take a break for some crinkle fries, but by the 5th inning, he moves on to watercolor. “I’m really good at drawing the back of people’s heads,” he laughs. Herm Herman is a freelance artist and illustrator and he’s illustrating every Mets home game live at Citifield.

August 15, 2019August 15, 2019

Take a Day Trip to Montauk for All the Summer Fun You Can’t Quite Get in NYC

No New York cliché summer is complete without a trip to the Hamptons. Contrary to what you might believe from episodes of Real Housewives or current fundraiser scandals, you don’t have to be a high roller to trek out to the east end of Long Island and enjoy beautiful, breezy beaches. My fella and I woke up at 6:30AM last Saturday, put our bikes on the LIRR, and didn’t get off until three hours later at the very last stop: Montauk. Hamptons adjacent but sans snobbery, Montauk is awesomely accessible by public transport and makes for a fantastic summer day trip form NYC!

A Day Trip To Montauk from NYC= SO MUCH SUMMER FUN

Imagine CLEAN, NOT CROWDED beaches! I know that’s hard to believe, New Yorkers, but they are the reality in Montauk! I AM SERIOUS: Montauk Beach has so much free sand space, so very little garbage, and is a walkable distance from the LIRR train station!!

Excuse me while I jump for joy.

Walk south (make a right) from the train station to get to the beach. You’ll find an adorable beach town, so quintessential it seems like every single store sells souvenirs and surf supplies. It’s a summer fantasy life out here! Montauk Brewing Company beers flow from every tap!