Merry Christmas!
Winter List 2021
Is it insane that I still make these seasonal lists when the world is crumbling around us? Hope not! I think itâs so beneficial to come up with fun little ideas of things youâd like to do and then to actually do them. Yes, I pay bills and live an adult life, but if you arenât having any small/silly adventures on a weekly basis, I think youâre living wrongâŚ? Hereâs what I want to do during this beautiful, snowy, perfect season that is finally upon us.
I would love to either ride a snowmobile or go skiing. Either one will be an acceptable snow transaction.
Eat a latke. I never have and Iâd like to.
Waste away in Margaritaville. In Times Square. I know that this sounds so insanely lame, but I really want to and I refuse your judgement.
Visit the Transit Museum because Iâve never gone and it seems like my kinda place.
Eat moussaka. I never have and it seems like a good winter dish.
As always, I encourage you to create your own list because weâre all rotting away and it might be nice to try something new.
Autumn List 2021 Revisited
Autumn is no more! Is it just me or does it feel like the season began a year ago? Does time exist anymore? Letâs recap how I did with my autumn list of activities.
1. Go to Downeyâs for our annual visit.
I truly canât believe I didnât do this - itâs been the first year in many years that Iâve been in town and just couldnât find the time to go. It sort of feels nice to not be tethered to expectations of yourself. Am I⌠growing up? Is this growth??
2. Make turkey poutine with Thanksgiving leftovers.
You know what? Didnât happen. But I did have duck poutine, so Iâm taking a half point because thatâs still some sort of bird poutine. God, that phrase is awful, I promise to never say it again.
3. Make apple fritters or an apple fritter cake.
I made an incredible apple fritter cake and it might be a staple now for Thanksgiving. And such a great alternative to boring old apple pie.
4. Learn the Phantasm theme on piano.
Didnât do it but really thought about it.
5. Eat the steak at LâArtusi.
I did and it was good! Nothing too too special to ever must eat again, but very good.
2.5 / 5 Thatâs a pass, baby!
The Best Tweets of December 2021 So Far
Christian Dior Exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum
You know how I feel about going into Brooklyn (no one should ever need to go to Brooklyn), but this exhibit makes it fully worth the trek. The Dior exhibit is on until February 2022 and if youâve ever enjoyed the fashion exhibits put on at The Met, then youâll absolutely love this collection.
âWith objects drawn primarily from the Dior archives, the exhibition includes a vast array of over two hundred haute couture garments as well as photographs, archival videos, sketches, vintage perfume elements, accessories, and works from the Museumâs collection.â
Here were my very favourites pieces in the collection (included in the captions are the places I would wear them to).
Can you see why I love going to these exhibits? How can you not imagine where youâd wear each beautiful piece you see? In any case, you really should go. Tickets available over here.
Navigating November 2021
Should I comment on how fast this year has gone by or is that just a commonality of general life now and never needs to be said again?
Hereâs what went down in November.
You can find my favourite tweets of the month over here and here.
I wrote about the very best Thanksgiving recipes. Iâm going to do this type of post again for Christmas recipes soon.
I detailed my visit to the Treasures exhibit at the New York Public Library.
My friend Irene & I tried the pizza at Di Faraâs in Brooklyn and while it was good, it was nowhere near worth the drive out there. Just way too far, we might as well have gone to New Jersey. Good pizza, though!
Hereâs some advice on how to have a cheaper Christmas this year because everything costs a million dollars now?
If youâve never been to the Octagon House in Irvington, New York then you now have no excuse not to go for yourself.
New things I watched:
Only Murders in the Building - phenomenal! Everyone should watch! Canât recommend it enough.
Squid Game - yes Iâm the last person on earth who watched it and yes it was fantastic. That old man! Fuck!
The newest season of Curb Your Enthusiasm - yeah, I think I canât watch anymore. I think Iâm done with love/hate relationships because thereâs no actual love here and why am I doing this to myself?
The newest season of Big Mouth - the shame episode is phenomenal. This is just such a good show, Iâm so glad it exists.
The newest season of Nora From Queens - this season was really up and down for me, but it finished really strong. This is corny but the idea of not being lost if you have people you care for and who care for you? I love it. Iâm in. The father is by far the best character and maybe the main reason I keep watching at this point.
Thatâs Entertainment! Have you heard of this old movie? Itâs not even a movie really, itâs a collection of moments from old Hollywood productions. Iâd never even heard of Esther Williams, but oh my god what a woman.
I made these salty vanilla espresso chocolate chip cookies that exceeded expectations. I think I might only like cookies that have chocolate in them. Itâs nice to finally realize this. Itâs also nice to admit to fully being a child with this preference.
I canât remember the last time autumn in New York looked this beautiful.
A list of ten things you should do before Christmas (with the exception of visiting the Waldorf since it reopens in 2023).
Slightly obnoxious reminder: GET GIFT RECEIPTS.
Have you tried a satsuma mandarin? A seedless beauty.
New seasonal candles at Trader Joeâs!
My brother Garyâs podcast has returned and his first episode back was about Alf and it couldnât be greater.
Nathan and I saw Jeff Daniels in To Kill A Mockingbird on Broadway and it was so, so good. Everyone should see him in it. But it was also just such a great feeling to be out on the town and dressed up.
Weâre redecorating our apartment right now and I couldnât be more in love with our new washroom shelving. I feel like that sentence might make you sad for me, but donât be! Iâm actually living a really fun, cool life.
Iâve been craving tomato soup lately and the one at Il Bambino in Astoria is too perfect. But stay far far away from the one at Astoria Bier & Cheese because their tomato soup is putrid (which is weird because their sandwiches are great).
Iâve made this 10-ingredient lentil bolognese a few times and I think itâll be in my permanent recipe rotation. Itâs really hearty, but not at all bland and you really donât miss the meat.
Iâll forever love Boursin cheese, this will always be true. And their new fig & balsamic flavour? Out of this world good.
I went to the beautiful restaurant on the water Red Hat on the River with my dear friend Diana and it was good! Nothing spectacular, but good. The mussels are the main reason to go, in my opinion. Tasty as hell.
Iâm really on the fence about reusable gift wrap, but it does look simplistic and pretty.
I visited the Lyndhurst mansion that has been newly decorated for the holidays and it was very quaint. I will admit that the Octagon House was a little bit more exciting, but Iâll never turn down a visit to a nice house in the country.
Loved this list of 90s Dad Thrillers, itâs just such a good genre.
Have you heard of the dollar-store-esque store Five Below? I hadnât until this month and Iâm mad I didnât know about it sooner.
Can someone please buy me the winter spiced cranberry Sprite? Why does it look so damn good?
Loved, loved, loved this performance (below).
So I perused the new Chrissy Teigen cookbook and thereâs really nothing exciting in it. And is it just me or does she use fish sauce as her âspecial ingredientâ in almost every dish she has? And I like fish sauce, but this is getting ridiculous.
The fabric ornaments at West Elm are extremely cute this year. Did I need to buy a mouse wearing a sweater when I saw it and fell in love with it? I guess this is my life now?
Absolutely addicted to the new herbaceous cheesy bites from Trader Joeâs. A smaller, fancier mozzarella stick? Iâm in, baby. (Also their seasonal rosemary nuts are fantastic.)
I had THE worst eyelash extension experience at Wow Threading Studio on 26th Street and no one should ever ever ever get eyelash âclusterâ extensions. They couldnât be worse. (Scathing review in the Yelp link.)
Incase you love seasonal episodes:
I bought a new winter mug with white snowflakes on Etsy and Iâm in love.
Tried a donut from Mochi Mochi and you know what? I donât like donuts that much these days, but this one I liked. Less dense than other donuts. (Tip: if youâre looking for Squid Game Dalgona candy, they sell them here at their location in Herald Square.)
The Union Square Holiday Market has begun and the duck fat poutine from Duck Season was INSANITY. So, so good. Better than some Canadian poutines. Go immediately.
As soon as the colder weather starts, I always buy one new couch blanket (I guess adults call them throw blankets) and Iâm in love with this Banana Republic Factory one (in the Burnt Umber colour). What is umber? Couldnât tell you. But I can tell you that itâs chocolate coloured.
The Metropolitan Postcard Club sponsors a special two day show every November where approximately thirty-five to forty postcard dealers from around the nation and the world attend to introduce their cards to the public, so of course I went and here are some of the best ones I came across.
I went to see the Dior exhibit at The Brooklyn Museum and I reviewed it over here.
The Thanksgiving croissant returned in all its glory! It is now $9 (because 2021 wonât let you have affordable things anymore), but itâs still amazing tasting. I also tried Milk Barâs apple cake which was good but way too sweet. And their cinnamon pretzel soft serve was delicious. This place exhausts me with their new menu items, I donât know how they continuously keep it up.
I think Iâve found the greatest scent of all time at Bath & Body Works: Fall Citrus Harvest.
Iâve mentioned my love of Supermoon Bakehouse before and my sweet friends Katie & Greg (thankyouthankyou!) got me a giant box treats from them that was absolutely decadent and incredible. Everyone must visit this bakery.
Some things Iâm looking forward to this month:
I made this home movie of the holidays a few years ago that I might make again this year since we havenât been together as a full family since December 2019 and I beg you to maybe do one of your own as well because you will watch it over and over, I promise.
If youâre at all superstitious or just, like, a cool person - donât forget to buy your bayberry candles!
Will I be watching all of the snowy movies on this list? Iâm only human, I have to.
While Iâm in Ontario, I really want to get my hands on this vegan cheese thatâs supposed to be incredible.
Iâm planning on making roast beef on Christmas Eve mainly so I can make these roast beef sandwiches for lunch on Christmas Day.
If you have any interest in reading what went on in October, come on over here.
The Best Tweets of November 2021
The Octagon House
I had the opportunity to visit the Armour-Stiner Octagon House in Irvington, New York earlier this season and good god, what a beauty. The house has started giving inside tours throughout the autumn and winter seasons and Iâm so glad I was able to get tickets.
Some history on the house: âIt was built in 1859â1860 by financier Paul J. Armour based on the architectural ideas of Orson Squire Fowler, the author of The Octagon House: A Home for All Occasions. Fowler believed that octagonal houses enclosed more space, provided more interior sunlight, and that its rooms were easily accessible to each other. The architect of the house is unknown. It is the only known octagonal house based on the domed colonnade shape of a Roman temple. The dome was added and the house was enlarged during 1872â1876 by Joseph Stiner, who was a tea importer. The ArmourâStiner House is said to be one of the most lavish octagon houses built in the period, and is now one of only perhaps a hundred still extant.â
Itâs truly just an incredible house, there have been haunting experiences (but really, if a house is older than a hundred years it has to be at least a little haunted, thatâs just proper ghost etiquette) so that makes it even more exciting in my mind. If you have any desire to see it for yourself, you can find tickets and more information on the house over here.
Treasures Exhibit at The New York Public Library
As far as I know, the NYPL has never had an exhibit like this one before. It showcases literary pieces from their world-renowned research collections - from a draft of the Declaration of Independence to the original Winnie-the-Pooh and Friends and more. Here are the coolest things that I saw.
This is Charles Dickensâs desk, writing slope, lamp, desk calendar, and chair (below). Fun Fact: âIn the fall of 1940, the mayor of New York City, Fiorello La Guardia, was invited (or took it upon himself; we donât know which) to sit in Dickensâs chair and see how it would have felt to have been the great author. Whereupon he broke right through the caning in the seat, and nobody has ever been allowed to sit in Dickensâs chair since that date.â
This is the 1623 first folio of William Shakespeareâs works. Itâs just insanity to be able to this see this person.
This is Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, Kanga, and Eeyore. Pooh was purchased at Harrods department store in London and given by A. A. Milne to his son Christopher Robin on his first birthday, August 21, 1921. The rest of the toys were received as gifts by Christopher Robin between 1920 and 1928.
This is Arthur Rackhamâs design for the cover of the original Cinderella in pen and ink with watercolor from 1919.
And this is Charles Dickensâs paper knife from 1862. It is made of ivory, a catâs paw and metal. Evidently he was a dog lover, but his daughter Mamie persuaded him to let her keep a cat, Williamina, who later gave birth to a litter of kittens; all but one - Bob - were given away. Mamie related that âthe masterâs cat,â so called by the household servants for his devotion to Dickens, would âfollow him about the garden like a dog, and sit with him while he wrote,â and even snuff out candles with his paw in a bid for attention. After Bob died, his paw was fashioned into this paper knife. It is likely that the paper knife was not actively used, and that it was regarded as a decorative tribute to a beloved pet.
You should definitely take some time before or after your visit to walk around the library itself because itâs breathtaking. Itâs been around for over a hundred years and itâs a miracle that itâs still so well preserved. Itâll always blow my mind that itâs free to see.
There are other incredible things to be seen (Virginia Woolfâs walking stick - the one that was found near the water where she killed herself, the Bill of Rights, Thomas Jeffersonâs handwritten copy of the Declaration of Independence, etc.) so you really should go take a look for yourself.
Tickets are completely free and can be reserved here for a timed entry.