Winter List 2022 Revisited

It really feels like I made this winter list about a year ago. Here’s how it went!

1. Take at least five bubble baths.

• C’mon, I’m not an amateur. Of course I did this one.

2. Finally get my own ice skates and skate around this beautiful rink.

• Bought skates! I couldn’t get to that gorgeous rink in Huntsville, but I did manage to skate on this wonderful figure-eight rink in Etobicoke.

3. Go skiing.

• Sadly, no. But this is top priority this year.

4. Make lasagna soup.

• Made! Ate! Loved!

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Lasagna Soup - looks horrifying, tastes heavenly

5. See at least two Broadway plays.

• Death of a Salesman, Moulin Rouge and Shucked!

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January 2023

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January 2023

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March 2023

4/5! Love when that happens! Spring list coming tomorrow!

February Feats 2023

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Backyard snow, February 2023

Forgive the lateness, it will absolutely happen again. Here’s what went down last month!

• The best tweets of February can be found over here. And my favourite Valentine’s Day ones can be found here.

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Nathan at rehearsal for The Tonight Show, February 2023

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The Tonight Show outfit #2

• Okay, so two biggest things: Nathan did his second Tonight Show and his special GOT REVIEWED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES.

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Nathan’s NEW YORK TIMES

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• The French baguette candle from Bath & Body Works? Whoa. I hate how much I love it.

• Could not be more in love with this black sweater.

• Had dinner at The Bar Room and the grilled chicken on top of their caesar salad was unparalleled. Another thing I love doing when I’m eating in midtown is going to JG Melon afterward for coffee or dessert. It’s the only move.

• Speaking of good moves, have you ever sat out on a patio just as the weather’s starting to change and ordered a Peroni? Just one, for the whole afternoon? Might be the answer to everything.

• I had a blister on my heel and these Band-Aid Hydro-Seal bandages worked perfectly.

• I got drinks at Nubeluz by Jose Andres at The Ritz-Carlton and it was so lovely. The service is great, the views are wild and the drinks and food were perfect. The only thing that made no sense was the waitress/hostess uniforms, but I’m picky as hell??

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View from Nubeluz, NYC

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Love when places care about wallpaper, at Nubeluz

• I tried two products from Hero since I love their blemish patches - the lightening pads and the brightening stick and both were shit. Returned.

• I made these Greek chicken meatballs and they were so bland, so I think I’ll stick with that sweet and spicy recipe I love.

• I ate at Golden Unicorn in Chinatown and it was really nothing special. I did love the atmosphere, it was very 90s banquet hall-y. But the food was wildly underwhelming.

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Pigs at Golden Unicorn, NYC

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Chinatown, NYC

• Also ate at Olio E Piu and wow was that bad. It was just insanely loud, had way too many 22 year olds with flashes going off, and the dessert was hard as a rock. Never again. Hate getting burned like this.

• Went to The Guggenheim to see the Nick Cave exhibit and yes it was good/fine, but my dumbass thought it was the other Nick Cave. So that’s on me. I guess I’ll just always be disappointed by the exhibits here until they decide to make use of their central space again like they used to do years ago.

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The Guggenheim, February 2023

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The Guggenheim, February 2023

• Some things I watched:

  • The Player: this started out as one of the coolest movies I’ve seen in such a long time (especially the opening twenty minutes) and then as it went on turned into one of the worst? That rarely happens, so that was confusing.

  • Pamela, A Love Story: so great. One thing I especially love about her? At the first sign of abuse in any of her relationships, she’s out the door. You don’t hear that a lot and it makes me love her even more. God, it’s still infuriating that Hulu made that series without her permission.

  • Split: okay, I may be the only person with this opinion (HOW?!). but holy hell did I hate this movie. It should be studied how polarizing M. Night Shyamalan can be. I have absolutely loved some of his movies and I have wanted to vomit at others. How can this be possible? I don’t understand it.

• I had this stupid little reaction video blow up on Instagram, which is wild. Stay out of the comments though, it’s crazy in there.

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• I was also in Canada for a little bit, so I went skating, ate that perfect caesar at Scaddabush, shoveled driveways and basked in numerous snowstorms.

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Parent’s backyard, February 2023

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Ice rink, Etobicoke

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Caesar salad at Scaddabush, Mississauga

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Baby Dog & Dad, February 2023

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I took this while laying in the snow and it might be my favourite photo of all time.

Some things I’m looking forward to this month: so many birthday things, it’s almost aggressive.

If you have any interest in reading what went on in January, come on over here.

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Winter sunsets, man.

Nathan on The Tonight Show

Nathan returned for his second Tonight Show appearance and he was phenomenal. Link below!

January Jewels 2023

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The best Costco parking lot view, hands down.

Oh my god, this month is the ten year anniversary of this blog.

How.

If you don’t know me very well, let’s just say that I don’t have a great reputation for following through with things, so this seems a little crazy.

Okay, I wrote that last sentence and now I’m thinking about it and lately I do try really hard to follow through with things. What the hell was I talking about? Years ago, I used to be terrible at it and my head still gets stuck in that mindset sometimes. I think it’s really easy to think you haven’t changed since we’re hardest on ourselves, but maybe it’s smart to take a moment to actually see how far you’ve come. Clearly I can follow through with things because it’s ten years later and I still love writing in this space. I’m rambling when I’m really just trying to say thank you for even wanting to read this. Any of this. I do it because I love it, so anyone who even kind of cares about it makes me so happy.

ANYWAY, here’s what went down last month.

• I finally wrote about the Thierry Mugler exhibit at The Brooklyn Museum, as well as the new Museum of Broadway.

• I wrote my annual best of the year list.

• I recapped how my 2022 resolutions went.

• I found my favourite photos of 2022.

• I made my resolutions for this year.

• Nathan’s special came out and it’s so, so good. (If it weren’t, I would’ve “forgot” to mention it here, so you can trust me.)

• I compiled the best tweets of the month.

• I stopped by FIT to see the student creations in the lobby.

• Nathan and I saw Death of a Salesman on Broadway and yes it’s good, but it would’ve been smarter of me to look up the plot beforehand. Sometimes you need to prep yourself for a horribly depressing, but beautifully written piece of work.

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Death of a Salesman, January 2023

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Before the most depressing play of all time

• I also saw Moulin Rouge with my dear friend Diana and it was a beautiful spectacle. We had such a fun time, but maybe because we had an edible and we’d have fun anywhere together? The musical itself was like diabolical karaoke. The sets and performers were unbelievably good, though.

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You should always dress for the musical/play you’re about to see

• Sephora birthday gifts are back as well as the always-underwhelming Ulta birthday gifts as well.

• Made and loved these sweet and spicy chicken meatballs.

• I’d never made penne alla vodka at home before, so I made the Half Baked Harvest spicy one and it was terrible. Crushed red pepper flakes should be banned as an ingredient, it always tries to bring life to a dish that is seasoned poorly.

• Okay, so I might need to do goat yoga.

• Love this list of little changes you can make to your home.

• There’s never a bad time to head to a pool, so Diana and I went to the one at the TWA Hotel that’s open all winter long.

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The pool at the TWA Hotel at JFK, NYC

• My friend Paul introduced me to apple nachos and after I made fun of him for a few minutes I ate them and now I make them multiple times a week. (Sliced apples, almond or peanut butter, grainless or normal granola pieces and chocolate chips.)

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Apple nachos that are unfortunately amazing

• Speaking of Paul, he has a TikTok account with his husband Richard and it’s perfect, you should take a look.

@thingsmyhusbandlikes Rhymes with “did I stutter?” #thingsmyhusbandlikes #butter #tastetesting #gayfoodie #testofthegays ♬ original sound - Paul + Richard

@thingsmyhusbandlikes Butter girl is her new nickname @thingsmyhusbandlikes #thingsmyhusbandlikes #buttertok #butter ♬ original sound - Paul + Richard

• I made lasagna soup and it was exactly what’s needed on a cold night. Leftovers were a nightmare because Nathan was out of town so it was just me eating beef soup for four days straight, but nonetheless! Great recipe for a family.

• God, I love Mercer Street in Soho. I didn’t even know they had a Zimmerman store. I bought one of their swimsuits years ago and it’s still my favourite to this day. Look at these beautiful pieces.

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Zimmermann, Soho

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Zimmermann, Soho

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Zimmermann, Soho

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Zimmermann, Soho

• And are you kidding me with these coats from ZCRAVE (also on Mercer)?? I want a closet full of these beauties. One for every mood.

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ZCRAVE, Soho

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ZCRAVE, Soho

• I went to a sale at Showplace Backstage where they sell used/vintage pieces from film & television.

• Got drinks at the lounge inside the Mandarin Oriental and it was nice, obviously overpriced but still nice.

• Had dinner at Carne Mare, which has such a beautiful space, it’s perfect for a special occasion. The caviar mozzarella sticks were slightly overrated but everything else was good and the service was stellar. Can't wait to go again.

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Mozzarella sticks with caviar at Carne Mare, NYC

• The Body Shop came out with a new winter scent (Wild Pine) and I’m head over heels in love. I’ve always wanted to smell like a big, beautiful Christmas tree year-round and now I can. (This sounds sarcastic, but I’m deathly serious.)

• Tried the pistachio cream cold brew at Starbucks and yep, I forgot again how sick that cream makes me. Can they please stop introducing new cream flavours?? I think it’s abundantly clear that I will not learn, so they just need to stop.

• I know absolutely nothing about wine (other than South African reds taste like trash) but oh my god, the wine brand Josh? Truly putrid.

• I think I’ve finally learned that hair serums do absolutely nothing for my hair. I’ve been going through all of my hair products that I never use and it’s really wild what we’re told we need for our hair. Getting rid of it all. I can’t wait to have a clearer dresser top.

• I like to sit and peruse the new cookbooks at Barnes & Noble every so often and the Don Angie one seems kind of great (the spicy crab panzanella and the spiced lamb ragu with marsala and fennel, specifically). The new Via Carota one however was a real letdown. I hated that it was organized seasonally for some reason.

• So I got a frother recently and wow was it not worth it. Returned it immediately. I think I was expecting espresso-machine-level frothing, so I kind of set myself up for disappointment.

• I got a new Kipozi straightener after using my niece Layla’s over the holidays and oh my god it’s insanely good. I’m gonna do a short video about it because I still can’t believe how long the curls last.

• The winter mushroom soup at Giorgio’s of Gramercy continues to be untouchable.

• Went to Little Ruby’s Cafe in Soho and it was a perfect lunch spot. Also rediscovered Blue Ribbon after completely forgetting about its existence and it remains a great late night place.

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Little Ruby’s Cafe, Soho

• I know it’s pretty dated, but I always love Bistro Les Amis. I hope it never shuts down.

• I finally went to Bistro Eloise for the first time in Queens and it’s wild that such a great restaurant is in a little plaza mall. Maybe not wild actually, but unexpected. Had the best onion soup in all of NYC (that broth was unreal). Escargots was fantastic, the specials were wonderful and the service was perfect, too. Go, go, go.

• Had one of the worst banking experiences of life with TD Canada recently, so I’m gonna transfer everything completely to another bank. Don’t fuck with me, CORPORATIONS.

• I made this short rib bolognese and it was heavenly. I will now always make short rib at home. It’s overpriced when you order it out and the fat is always kept on it when it’s served, so it’s absolutely not worth it. When I made the recipe, I did everything instructed but at the end when the meat is cooked, I separated all of the fatty bits to throw away and it elevated the sauce times a million.

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Short rib bolognese

• Some things I watched:

  • The Banshees of Inisherin - so incredibly good and unexpected. Cannot sing enough praises about it. To anyone who thought it was boring: grow up.

  • The White Lotus (both seasons) - obviously season two is juicier, but both were good. Love Steve Zahn. Is the show as great as everyone laments? Maybe? It’s hard to say because yes it’s good, but aren’t we all so sad and broken right now that anything even mildly good is considered revolutionary? Personally I liked it mainly because I like to watch people on vacation.

  • Jennifer’s Body - holy god did it suck. Why the hell was this on my must watch list for over a decade? SUCKFEST.

Some things that I’m looking forward to this month: I’d love to go ice skating at least once more this season, I know it’s lofty but I’d also love to go skiing and I really want to make a tres leche cake after recently discovering that it’s my favourite cake in the world.

If you have any interest in reading what went on in December, come on over here.

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Baby Dog thinks you should come to bed

Student Designs at F.I.T

The Fashion Institute of Technology is showcasing some student pieces right now in their lobby and they are breathtaking. I’m not sure if this is a normal occurrence, but I’ll make sure to stop by to check every time I’m in that neighborhood from now on.

Look at these beauties.

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Einab Weingarten

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Cooper Mittleman

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Claire Weitnauer

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Nadia Phie

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Jillian White

Absolutely stunning.

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Nathan Macintosh - Money Never Wakes

2023 Resolutions

It’s 2023. How.

Before I let you know what my 2023 resolutions are, here are some other things of note that you might be interested in doing right now.

Every January I make sure to:

• Mark down all important anniversaries/birthdays/holidays/weddings (also Daylight Saving Times, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, Thanksgiving) on my calendar.

• Check expiration dates for passport/license/health card/insurance/vet vaccinations and write down any important renewal dates.

• Schedule all your doctor, dentist and hair cut appointments for the entire year.

• Go through your entire fridge and throw away anything expired (this should really get done every month, but I’ll tell you right now that I never remember to do that).

RESOLUTIONS

1. Read at least one book per season.

2. Take Baby Dog on an adventure at least twice a season.

3. Try at least one new restaurant each month.

4. Properly go on a date with Nathan at least once a month.

5. Every month, cook something I’ve never cooked before.

6. Go on a solo, alone trip.

7. Have at least one advertiser on this site.

8. On the first of each month, try something new.

9. Buy a keyboard and start playing piano again.

10. Have my book in at least one bookstore by the end of the year. Even if I have to self-publish and then physically put it on a shelf myself.

God, I love a resolution. Everyone should make at least one resolution for themselves, even if it’s something small or something purely aimed at one’s frivolity. We’re all headed the same place, shouldn’t we enjoy some of this time right here and now? Happy new year!

You can see how I did with my 2022 resolutions over here, if you’re interested.

And if you’re looking for more resolution ideas, here are some past ones of mine: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014.

(UPDATE: To see how these resolutions went, come on over here.)