Fall Fridays Vol. 9

Welcome to the final Fall Fridays! I know that autumn technically ends on December 20th, but I refuse to acknowledge that. If I see a Santa display then that means it’s Christmas. The seasons (as I know them) are: spring, hell, autumn, Christmas, winter - I don’t make the rules.

BAKING/COOKING

I made a rice krispies pumpkin pie for American Thanksgiving and it turned out pretty well! Kind of a perfect dessert for a kids table.

View fullsize

Rice krispies pumpkin pie

CRAVING

The duck confit poutine from Duck Season at the Union Square Holiday Market that reopened this week.

DRINKING

Spinach smoothies in the morning as soon as I wake up. I never thought I’d get into it, but it’s annoying how good it makes me feel.

EATING

I’ve started making omelets with caramelized onions and goat cheese daily and I have to tell you: it really makes you think you’re better than other people. It’s so fast and easy and delicious that I’m a little mad I didn’t start doing this sooner.

EXPERIENCING

I went to see the miniature train exhibit at the New York Transit Museum (in Grand Central Station). I don’t know when my passion for miniatures began, but it’s deepening at an alarming pace.

View fullsize

Miniature trains display at Grand Central Station, NYC

LISTENING

It’s Black Friday, so the Christmas playlist is officially playing.

LOVING

Family Matters Christmas episodes. I should probably do a post on other sitcom Christmas episodes, I can sense how much you want that.

SHOPPING

Got some gingerbread whipped cream from Target for the rice krispies and whoa. It would be heavenly in a mug of hot chocolate.

View fullsize

Gingerbread whipped cream at Target

WATCHING

I watched the new episodes of The Crown and this show is just sick. Showing conversations between two dead people that no one can corroborate? Get a life.

WEARING

Sometimes I wear all one colour and it tricks me into thinking I’m stylish. Sometimes it works and then sometimes I look like a farmer.

View fullsize

“She could be a farmer in those clothes.”

These weekly roundups have been really fun to do, so don’t be surprised if Winter Wednesdays turn up in a few weeks…

December Dalliances 2022

View fullsize

Christmas Eve view, December 2022

• You can find my favourite tweets of the month over here and here. (I also made a list of my very favourite Christmas tweets.)

• I recapped my autumn list of things to do and made a new seasonal list of things I’d like to do this winter.

• I compiled my favourite photos of 2022.

• I finally wrote about my trip to Las Vegas from back in September.

• I read and reviewed Dave Grohl’s memoir.

• I went to the newly opened (and fantastic) Museum of Broadway.

• I got a seasonal latte at Elevenses Cafe in Astoria and it was very cute, I’d go again.

• I have fallen in love with The Body Shop’s new scent Wild Pine. I’m fearful that it may be a seasonal scent, so I’ve already stocked up.

• I ate at Soothr and it was so, so good. Love a new thai place.

View fullsize

Paul at Soothr, NYC

• Some things I watched this month:

  • The Santa Clauses (the new Tim Allen show): Ugh, it was terrible. Maybe I’m not the audience it’s supposed to be for, but still - just a stinkfest.

  • Jack Frost: I love Michael Keaton, but I just couldn’t get past the first half hour. It’s way too sad.

  • The Crown (seasons 3-5): Loved the season three Wales episode. The moon landing one was also perfect. It’s a great show, but extremely depressing if you’re binging it over a short period of time.

  • Pepsi, Where’s My Jet?: God, I hated it. Netflix has this annoying habit of making documentary series out of things that could easily be 40 minutes long and it is obnoxious as hell. You do not need to watch this. Read the Wikipedia page about it instead, you’ll save yourself so much wasted time.

• I was looking up trivia for the movie Scrooged and learned that the childhood house in the movie is a real place in Queens! So obviously I walked over to see it in person. Insanity that it hasn’t changed after all of this time.

View fullsize

Frank Cross’ childhood home from Scrooged (1988) in Queens, New York

• I won a lottery ticket to see A Christmas Carol on Broadway and… YIKES. I can’t describe how bad it was. First of all, IT WAS A ONE MAN SHOW. And I didn’t know that beforehand, so yes that’s my fault. But oh my god, it was agony.

View fullsize

A Christmas Carol on Broadway in New York, December 2022

• Are we all aware of how garbage the brand Silani is? I tried it for the first time and lord was it bad. Never again. Spend the extra dollar and eat something edible.

• I watched the final World Cup game with my parents and I’m glad France lost, give others a chance to win too, ya know?

View fullsize

World Cup final with my parents, December 2022

• I will never be above latte art.

View fullsize

Latte art from San Remo’s in Etobicoke, Ontario

• I went to Bell, Book & Candle for some Christmas themed drinks and it was great. Love a divey, but good bar.

View fullsize

With Irene at Bell, Book & Candle, NYC

• Is it even Christmas if I don’t make Nutella stuffed chocolate chip cookies? I also made a few batches of Alison Roman’s amazing chocolate chunk shortbread cookies that were a big hit.

View fullsize

The Nutella stuffed chocolate chip cookies from Ambitious Kitchen

• Obviously I went to my parent’s house for Christmas and it was exactly what I wanted & needed.

View fullsize

My nephews watching Jingle All The Way, December 2022

View fullsize

My mom’s Christmas window can’t be beat

View fullsize

Christmas Day, December 2022

View fullsize

Our Christmas tree

View fullsize

Snowfall before Christmas is everything to me

• Went ice skating for the first time in twenty years and it was great. Think I’m gonna buy some skates and make this a yearly thing.

View fullsize

Ice skating at Celebration Square in Mississauga, Ontario

• Jackbox and Nintendo Switch games remain the perfect family activity around the holidays.

View fullsize

The game Use Your Words on Nintendo Switch

View fullsize

The game Use Your Words on Nintendo Switch

• My mom and I saw a wild fox in her backyard and it. was. incredible. It was just playing in the snow and I can’t believe we got to see him/her.

• Winter skies might be the best skies.

View fullsize

December 2022

View fullsize

If only I could bottle this kind of blue and keep it in my pocket

• I made the Christmas tree spinach and artichoke dip and it was a hit. It did not look pretty, but the flavours were great.

• I also made a leftover turkey sandwich with STUFFING WAFFLES and it was so, so good. Again it photographed rough, but tasted incredible. I used this recipe to make the waffles. Definitely have to do this again.

• The main reason to go to the Union Square Holiday Market? Duck confit poutine at Duck Season. It’s honestly a better poutine than some Canadian places.

View fullsize

Duck confit poutine at Duck Season in NYC

• I fell absolutely in love with the newest Bob’s Burgers Christmas episode, The Plight Before Christmas.

• Crate & Barrel continues to have the cutest fabric Christmas ornaments.

View fullsize

Harry Potter-looking cat ornament at Crate & Barrel

View fullsize

Fabric snowman ornament at Crate & Barrel

• Trader Joe’s had Christmas wreaths this year, so I got one and it was perfect. It makes me feel so together to have a wreath on my door. I still have it up. I don’t want to say goodbye.

View fullsize

Christmas wreath from Trader Joe’s

• I went to see Noah Baumbach talk about his new movie White Noise at a NYPL event and it was very all right. I wish he’d talked more about older movies of his that I’ve loved, but I guess it makes sense that he didn’t since he was promoting this one.

View fullsize

Noah Baumbach speaking at an NYPL event promoting White Noise, December 2022

• The candy cane cold brew from Blank Street? Unparalleled.

• One of my favourite things to do in December in New York is to walk around the city looking at the holiday lights and listen to that Darlene Love song on repeat.

View fullsize

The Rockefeller Christmas Tree, December 2022

View fullsize

Saks holiday lights, December 2022

View fullsize

Macy’s holiday decorations, December 2022

View fullsize

Holiday taxi display on Fifth Avenue, December 2022

• I went to Essex Market to see their Gingerbread Village display, which was cute but I wish it was bigger. And since I was there, I took a look at the sandwich menu at Shopsin’s and holy christ I need to go back.

View fullsize

Gingerbread Village at Essex Market in NYC, December 2022

• Nothing better than a Boxing Day puzzle.

View fullsize

Boxing Day, December 2022

Some things that I’m looking forward to this month: I’m going to get real dressed up and go see Moulin Rouge on Broadway with my friend Diana, I’m excited about seeing the Restaurant Week menus for this season, I’m going to start using this first-of-the-month checklist again, Classpass is doing a free monthly promotion right now so I’ll keep doing that until it starts charging again, and I really can’t wait to make this lasagna soup.

View fullsize

The Heathers 2022

If you have any interest in the other monthly roundups of 2022, they can be found here: November 2022, October 2022, September 2022, August 2022, July 2022, June 2022, May 2022, April 2022, March 2022, February 2022 & January 2022.

View fullsize

Baby Dog, December 2022

Navigating November 2022

View fullsize

How we intend to spend the remaining winter nights

• You can find the best tweets of the month over here and here.

• TIP: If you don’t pay for a Spotify subscription and you hate ads: just close the app every time an ad starts and then reopen the app and the song will start. How did it take me years to learn this?

• So for the first time in nine years, Milk Bar didn’t have their Thanksgiving croissant. Criticisms have been declared and letters have been MAILED. If you think I’m kidding, you really don’t know me.

• I rarely go to bars, but I went to Witching Hour in Brooklyn and I just loved the layout and general vibe. Must remember.

• I returned to Minetta Tavern and it’s not as great as it used to be! You’re very crammed into each table and the food wasn’t really worth the price anymore. So that’s rough to realize.

View fullsize

Poppies should be worn year round

• I also went to Don Angie for the first time and the lasagna is as good as they hype it up to be - same with their incredibly photogenic salad. Make sure to skip the veal tartare and the dessert, though.

• I tried the Thanksgiving dumplings from Mimi Cheng’s and they were just all right, which was a little disappointing. Maybe I’m still in mourning for the Milk Bar croissants.

• The Starbucks seasonal drinks keep making me sick and I keep returning for more. Someone explain?

• Obsessed with this slip I got from Free People.

• Made a batch of the insanely good Alison Roman chocolate chip shortbread cookies for the freezer, to make closer to Christmas.

• So there was a beautiful, summer-y day in early November so I found an outdoor pool and headed to The Rockaway Hotel. Day passes for their heated pool are $30 all season, which is kind of amazing.

View fullsize

The Rockaway Hotel Pool, November 2022

View fullsize

Tanning in November

• Some links I loved:

  • This great Times piece on all kinds of stuffing.

  • Some good cookie-making tips from Ina.

  • I had no idea Coney Island used to have these grand, gorgeous hotels.

  • How to donate stuff straight from home.

• I got a drink at Miracle on 9th Street which was very cute and the drinks were great. If I’d known it was all the way over near Avenue C, I might not have gone but I’m glad I did.

View fullsize

Drinks at Miracle on 9th Street, Manhattan

• Some things I watched:

  • Terrifier: okay I shouldn’t really count this since I saw a total of fifteen minutes before leaving the room. But Nathan continued watching it, so I could hear all the screams and sounds from the bedroom and I still somehow had nightmares?? So no I won’t be watching the sequel.

  • We saw Halloween Ends on November 1st and it has to be the absolute worst Halloween of the entire franchise. Just unreal. It felt like punishment for trying to watch a horror movie past October 31st, so lesson learned.

  • The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror XXXIII: it’s a bit depressing to hear how old Marge’s voice has become (this is an awful thought to voice and I apologize), but the Halloween episode was so good this year (especially the last segment).

  • Falling For Christmas: I am not a Hallmark movie person, but I was bored so I put this on and… I’m still firmly not a Hallmark person. These types of movies aren’t even enjoyably bad, I don’t get it.

  • A Christmas Story: this was never in my favourites of Christmas movies and it’s a very okay movie. Hundreds of better Christmas movies, though.

  • Knives Out: it was completely all right, nothing fantastic. I really hated Daniel Craig’s accent and the whole throwing-up-if-lying detail. Just seemed like a bad first screenplay idea.

  • The Fabelmans: it was good but not as epic as I’d hoped. It was really good at showing the memorable relationships through a child’s eye, especially when a kid starts to see his parents as real people.

  • The Crown (seasons 1-2): Love it, can’t wait to keep going. John Lithgow is wonderful. Loved this line: “I find, in general, people have very little understanding of who they are. One has to turn a blind eye to so much of oneself in order to get through life.”

  • Don’t ask me why but I watched some of the last season of The Big Bang Theory and just UGH. What a terrible show that was. The fact that the writers made Penny pregnant in the series finale even though there were countless episodes beforehand where she confidently said she wasn’t going to have children. JUST UGH. Of course it was written by a man.

• I’ve already gone a few times, but the Union Square Holiday Market is really great this year.

• You’re already Christmas shopping so just a gentle reminder: get the gift receipt.

• The snow is coming and you will slip and possibly fall. Act accordingly.

• I used to absolutely love Yogi Bear’s All Star Christmas Caper (it came out in 1982) and it absolutely still holds up. Link over here if you have kids and/or love nostalgia.

Some things I’m looking forward to this month: of course I’ll be lighting my bayberry candles on Christmas Eve as well as New Year’s Eve, December is always the most expensive month but it doesn’t have to be, don’t forget to buy your mistletoe, I’ll definitely watch some of these, I’ll absolutely watch The Snowman yet again, I’ll make a family Christmas video again, if you’re in Ontario you kind of have to ice skate on this gorgeous path, and once again I’m begging you not to give lottery tickets as gifts.

View fullsize

If you have any interest in reading what went on in October, come on 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?

Here’s 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. I’m 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 Fara’s 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!

View fullsize

Di Fara Pizza, Brooklyn

• Here’s some advice on how to have a cheaper Christmas this year because everything costs a million dollars now?

• If you’ve 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! Can’t recommend it enough.

  • Squid Game - yes I’m 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 can’t watch anymore. I think I’m done with love/hate relationships because there’s 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, I’m 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. I’m in. The father is by far the best character and maybe the main reason I keep watching at this point.

  • That’s Entertainment! Have you heard of this old movie? It’s not even a movie really, it’s a collection of moments from old Hollywood productions. I’d 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. It’s nice to finally realize this. It’s also nice to admit to fully being a child with this preference.

• I can’t remember the last time autumn in New York looked this beautiful.

View fullsize

The Bow Bridge in Central Park, November 2021

• 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 Joe’s!

View fullsize

New winter candles at Trader Joe’s, November 2021

• My brother Gary’s podcast has returned and his first episode back was about Alf and it couldn’t 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.

View fullsize

November 2021

• We’re redecorating our apartment right now and I couldn’t be more in love with our new washroom shelving. I feel like that sentence might make you sad for me, but don’t be! I’m actually living a really fun, cool life.

• I’ve 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).

• I’ve made this 10-ingredient lentil bolognese a few times and I think it’ll be in my permanent recipe rotation. It’s really hearty, but not at all bland and you really don’t miss the meat.

View fullsize

Vegan Lentil Bolognese

• I’ll 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.

• I’m 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 I’ll never turn down a visit to a nice house in the country.

View fullsize

Lyndhurst Mansion, November 2021

View fullsize

Beautiful Diana inside the front door at Lyndhurst Mansion

View fullsize

One of the bedrooms inside Lyndhurst

View fullsize

Tiffany windows inside Lyndhurst Mansion

View fullsize

I’ve never wanted to live in a bathroom more

• Loved this list of 90s Dad Thrillers, it’s just such a good genre.

• Have you heard of the dollar-store-esque store Five Below? I hadn’t until this month and I’m mad I didn’t 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 there’s really nothing exciting in it. And is it just me or does she use fish sauce as her “special ingredient” 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 Joe’s. A smaller, fancier mozzarella stick? I’m 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 “cluster” extensions. They couldn’t be worse. (Scathing review in the Yelp link.)

• Incase you love seasonal episodes:

View fullsize

• I bought a new winter mug with white snowflakes on Etsy and I’m in love.

• Tried a donut from Mochi Mochi and you know what? I don’t like donuts that much these days, but this one I liked. Less dense than other donuts. (Tip: if you’re looking for Squid Game Dalgona candy, they sell them here at their location in Herald Square.)

View fullsize

Mochi Mochi Donut, NYC

• 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.

View fullsize

Seasonal Poutine at Duck Season with duck fat fries, duck confit, fresh cheese curds, duck gravy $17

• As soon as the colder weather starts, I always buy one new couch blanket (I guess adults call them throw blankets) and I’m in love with this Banana Republic Factory one (in the Burnt Umber colour). What is umber? Couldn’t tell you. But I can tell you that it’s 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.

View fullsize

Found at the Metropolitan Postcard Fair, November 2021

View fullsize

Found at the Metropolitan Postcard Fair, November 2021

View fullsize

Found at the Metropolitan Postcard Fair, November 2021

View fullsize

Found at the Metropolitan Postcard Fair, November 2021

• 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 won’t let you have affordable things anymore), but it’s still amazing tasting. I also tried Milk Bar’s 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 don’t know how they continuously keep it up.

View fullsize

Details of the Thanksgiving croissant, November 2021

View fullsize

The Thanksgiving croissant, 2021

• I think I’ve found the greatest scent of all time at Bath & Body Works: Fall Citrus Harvest.

• I’ve 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.

View fullsize

A care package from Supermoon Bakehouse

Some things I’m 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 haven’t 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 you’re at all superstitious or just, like, a cool person - don’t forget to buy your bayberry candles!

• Will I be watching all of the snowy movies on this list? I’m only human, I have to.

• While I’m in Ontario, I really want to get my hands on this vegan cheese that’s supposed to be incredible.

• I’m 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.