“Can someone start putting Chapters and Barnes and Nobles in airports? ‘Cause the book selections in any “Hudson’s” currently fucking suck. Who’s running this world? Put a real bookstore in an airport! I swear you’ll make a lot of money!”
NYC's First Cat Cafe Opens Next Month
On December 15th, Meow Parlour (in the Lower East Side at 46 Hester Street) will be open for business. It'll be offering rentable half hour slots to scratch, pet, and play with some (I'd assume only adorable) cats whilst having some sort of hot beverage. Pretty sure the cats will be adoptable, too. Visitors can secure their spots ahead of time online, if they so wish.
You can get half hour slots for $4 with the option to stay up to five hours, making use of their wifi and baked goods. The idea of eating food and being surrounded by cats seems to contort my face a bit, but I looked into and it says that "you can bring food into the cat area but not vice versa" so I suppose that's something.
Gimmicky as it may sound, places likes this are a pretty sweet opportunity for shelter cats to be surrounded by people who want to pet them a ton before they're (hopefully) adopted by cafe patrons. These cats come courtesy of KittyKind, a nonprofit rescue group, just one of many organizations dedicated to helping homeless kitties. All the more reason to help fund NYC's other potential cat cafe, which hopes to open next spring.
Tip of the Day - Romance
I strive to be a least 10% romantic with every person I care for in my life for the duration of each relationship. How did the idea of romance become pigeonholed and exclusively linked to sexual relationships? When did that happen? Has that always been the norm? And if it has, WHY has it? You're telling me that your friendships wouldn't benefit from a little romance? Romance doesn't have to have the undertones of sexual gratification, does it? No! I'm here to tell you that no, it does not.
How can you be romantic within your friendships? So many ways.
- I've been on the receiving (and giving) end of scrapbooks that have had lasting, romantic impressions which have span years.
- Decorative swan statues outposted on a front yard as part of surprising birthday declarations.
- Writing down funny things that someone says and keeping it somewhere so you don't forget.
- Impromptu road trips solely devoted to seeing Martha Stewart's home (and nearby jail) in upstate New York.
- Bringing your own wine and going to a pool with someone.
- Hiding small gifts in someone's house for them to find at a later date.
- Mailing someone a treat they've been missing from home.
- When someone visits you on vacation and not only lets you completely plan their daily activities, but also enjoys it.
- Insisting on someone taking a walk with you. (This doesn't seem special, but when someone insists on me taking a walk with them? I fucking swoon - it's so nice.)
- Private cooking lessons with a classically trained French chef in the storefronts of Paris.
- Sharing the most perfect post-steak nap after a beautiful dinner, thus wrecking the rest of your planned evening and not caring simultaneously.
- After a sad/ominous goodbye with someone, having someone run out into the middle of the street to grab you, turn you around and kiss you infront of waiting traffic.
If I'm boasting, that's a shame that you see it that way. I'm so proud and happy that all of those things above have either happened to me or I've done for someone. I only want that kind of romance to continue in my life. I'm only letting you know about it here as kind of a public announcement for you to be more romantic in your own life. Why? 'Cause I swear to God it'll make you happier. And of all of those points listed, only TWO of them were with Nathan - and that makes me so fucking glad that I get to have friends who make up the majority of romance in my life. And that isn't supposed to be a jab at him - I don't particularly care to list and describe the complete romantic goings-on of us since that isn't the point of this post. What I'm trying to get across to you is that romance isn't just for couples. We could all use some, so maybe you should get on that.
Mom Says
“Clothes worn inside out will bring good luck.”
Thanksgiving Poutine at Mile End
Photo: thesussmans/Instagram
Photo: thesussmans/Instagram
This baby consists of rosemary-and-thyme challah stuffing, smoked turkey, cheese curds, chicken gravy and fingerling potatoes. Mile End (the Montreal deli/poutine place in NYC and Brooklyn) will be offering these limited time poutines in honour of American Thanksgiving this month. Though, since they're a Canadian-run restaurant... shouldn't they have done this last month? Anyway, I'm willing to overlook that fact since I want to eat this thing bad.
“If you look deeply into the palm of your hand, you will see your parents and all generations of your ancestors. All of them are alive in this moment. Each is present in your body. You are the continuation of each of these people.”
Cool Kids - Echosmith
I know this has been on the radio for awhile now, but I still can't get enough of it. It might be because the first time I heard it I was trampolining with two super fine ladies whom I love and so this song will forevermore remind me of that nice feeling that night. In any case, it's just a funass song.
Party Tip of the Day
Photo Credit: Woman's Day
Photo Credit: Woman's Day
The next time you're serving a large group of people, cut a circle in the center (place a small bowl on the cake and trace around it). Then cut the outer ring into slices. You'll have nice square pieces that fit on a plate, instead of long wedges that drop off the edge. You can cut the small round middle into pieces too.
HOW SMART IS THIS.
Food Trucks Near Mississauga, ON
Who the hell knew there was a booming food truck industry in the suburbs of Toronto? Over the past few months, I've made a list of some of the trucks that I've heard good things about and will eventually try.
- CORNehCOPIA from Mr. Corn - Canada’s first and only gourmet food truck specializing in corn on the cob and various corn dishes. Um, what? I love corn AND I WANT THIS FANCY TRUCK CORN. You can see their menu here.
- BeaverTails - I've never had a beavertail! Is that a thing Canadians are supposed to have tried already? I only learned what one is recently, so I'll use that as my excuse. You can see where they'll be next by following their Twitter.
- Ish & Chips - a fish & chips truck, basically. I mostly want to go here because of how much my brother Gary uses the word "ish". You can see their menu here.
- Curbalicious - whoa. Just woah. Look at their poutine (pictured below). Are we serious here? That looks incredible. You can see the rest of their menu here.
- Dirty South - Specializes in southern comfort food with a gourmet twist. "The Dirty Southern Love (picture below) is their signature and most popular sandwich, which includes crispy fried chicken tossed in a mild Louisiana butter sauce and thick sliced candied bacon sandwiched between three layers of homemade buttermilk waffles and topped with baby arugula." You can find their menu here.
These are just the ones I especially want to try, but there are obviously way more out there. You can peruse some more that roam the GTA over here.
“ZZ Top’s ‘Sharp Dressed Man’ is a great song that a groom should walk down the aisle to.”