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LIZ HEATHER

April 4, 2023

March Magic 2023

by Liz Heather in Best of NYC, Food, Links, Movies, Personal, Recipes, Television


Nothing better than this view.

I do a million things the month of my birthday and I never regret it. Some people roll their eyes at the phrase “birthday week” or “birthday month” but those people tend to be supremely unhappy and I express my sympathy towards them. Here’s what happened in the birthday month!

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  • The best tweets of the month can be found over here.

  • I recapped how I did with my winter list of things to do.

  • I made my new seasonal spring list of things I’d like to do.

  • Loving the new tomato leaf candle from Trader Joe’s as well as the great new sweet carrot cake from Bath & Body Works.

Tomato leaf candle from Trader Joe’s, March 2023

Sweet carrot cake candle from Bath & Body Works, March 2023

  • Ice skating in March with friends? Always a good idea.

75% of us bought skates for this hahahah, it’s called FRIENDSHIP

  • You know the food blog Grandbaby Cakes? She just put out a new cookbook and the two main things I want to make from it? The salted butterscotch apple whiskey snacking cake as well as the chocolate pecan pie shortbread bars.

  • If you have a NYC/Queens/Brooklyn library card, are you aware that you can get free tickets to museums all over the city?

  • I have made this chicken marsala at least three times this month, it might be my favourite way to eat chicken.

Chicken marsala should legally be eaten once a week

  • I bought this Banana Republic Factory funnel-neck sweater in black as well as white because it legit makes me feel like I have a 401k.

  • I know zero about coffee, but I’ve done this heating-the-press up method a few times now when I make iced coffee and I think it might taste better when you do it?? Nathan claims there’s no difference, so I might just be argumentative?

  • In love with the tomato potato chips from Eataly.

Available at Eataly, NYC

  • Will I ever use this pasta mold from Zara Home - or will I watch it sit on a kitchen shelf each day for twenty years while I yearn to be the type of person who uses a pasta mold?

  • Love this short article: Want to Lead a Better Life? The Secret Is in the Cemetery.

  • I had brunch at Quality Eats and the short rib hash was great, but really just inspired me to make it at home.

Short rib hash, Quality Eats

  • In birthday discount news…

    • Are you aware that Target gives you a measly 5% off one item on your birthday?! It’s so insulting, I wish they’d just do away with it altogether, it’s pathetic. Why are brands becoming such ingrates when it comes to customer loyalty?

    • I went to Ulta for my free March birthday gift and they were “out of stock” at TWO locations. And nothing was offered in its place. SWEET.

    • Milk Bar is supposed to offer some kind of birthday something, but since their loyalty “program” is so new, none of the employees have been taught what the benefits of the program even are. WHAT IS HAPPENING?? (Sidenote: am I the only one who think their cookies suck?)

    • You know the bra store I love, Journelle? They got rid of their birthday month discount, too! So I guess all these companies have decided that our collective slow march towards death with include ZERO BIRTHDAY PERKS. Cool cool cool.

  • I tried the crab rangoon March special at Mimi Cheng’s and they were only all right, why is everything disappointing me lately? They weren’t terrible, just too cream-cheesy. While we’re on the topic, on what planet does crab need cheese to accompany it? Seems dumb.

March Special (crab rangoon dumplings), Mimi Cheng’s

  • I also tried this newish Croatian restaurant in Astoria, Selo, and it was absolutely nothing special. I may have to stop giving such credence to the critics at Eater.

  • My niece Layla got me an incredible birthday gift - a ticket to Tao of Glass, which the New York Times called “a fantastical and often moving tribute to the composer Philip Glass and the power of art to flow through our lives.” IT WAS SO GOOD. Philip Glass was even there on opening night, which was too exciting and I was floored by the whole evening. God, I love it when someone knows you so well and can arrange the most perfect gift.

March 2023

  • I bought new jeans after maybe a decade and I can’t be more in love with these ribcage straight ankle Levi’s I got.

  • Some things I’ve watched:

    • Tusk: I absolutely hate when American directors talk about Canada in their films, it’s always embarrassing. And jesus, the dialogue in the scene with the girlfriend: has Kevin Smith ever spoke to a girlfriend before? Needless to say, I severely hated the entire movie. I hate torture stuff. Weird that even needs to be said because doesn’t everyone? Johnny Depp was terrible. One of the most originally awful movies I’ve ever seen.

    • Scream VI: THE WORST SCREAM OF THE ENTIRE SERIES. I vowed not to even see this because I remain #teamneve but Nathan insisted so I begrudgingly went. What a shit show. It was terrible. I’ll never go to another one again, which is a little sad but also fuck everyone involved who thought it was an acceptable idea to move forward without Neve Campbell.

    • Frantic: I didn’t even know it was a Polanski movie until the end since Harrison Ford was the main draw here. It’s actually a great idea for a movie, but it just trails off midway through so I can understand why no one talks about this movie.

    • Succession: So I’ve only seen the first few episodes and here’s the thing… it’s legitimately a bad show. The dialogue is so terribly written, I’m actually confused why people praise it so much. NOBODY CALLS THEIR SIBLING SIS. Words can’t express how much I hate the camera work. Shiv’s American accent is wildly bad. I know we’re all desperate for a good show to watch, but the lies need to stop. This is unwatchable.

  • I’m not sure that I can even speak about it, but I went to a private rehearsal of a play with Michael McKean and good god, I love that man. I met him afterward and he was so kind and lovely, it was unreal. I mean, it’s Mr. Green for god’s sake.

  • So in love with these new USPS railroad station stamps. I may or may not have made a list of where each station is incase I ever find myself in that city so I can see it in real life.

Can I meet and hug the person who came up with this stamp idea?

  • I’ve been looking for a real fur coat for a few years now and I finally found her at Exile Vintage in Toronto. It was such a steal because the inner lining was shred, but my mom sewed it all up and it’s absolutely perfect now. So excited to throw out my faux-fur teddy bear coat from Marshalls that every. single. woman. owns.

  • There was an insane sale at Steve Madden in Soho and I got these new wedge heels for $16. To be clear, that’s $8 PER SHOE.

But can they replace my Terminators? Time will tell.

  • I saw the new Broadway play Shucked and… yikes. Yes, it was corniness taken to a whole new level, but parts of it were okay. If you love Rodney Dangerfield jokes, then this production was made for you.

March 2023

  • I also saw Pictures From Home with Nathan Lane and it was slow at first, but really picked up and got good. Love that man.

March 2023

  • I made a tres leches cake and words cannot describe how heavenly it was. Even if you suffer from dairy issues, I’d recommend that you pound a few Lactaids and eat this immediately.

Tres leche cake

  • I finally had lunch at Wayan (Jean-Georges’ son’s place) and I can’t wait to return. Best dishes: the corn fritters, the spring rolls (maybe my favourite at any restaurant ever), the lamb kebabs and the chocolate chip cookie with cheddar ice cream. The crab fried rice (which I was most excited for) actually wasn’t anything that special, though.

  • I had my birthday dinner at The Grill in the Seagram Building (the office building from Scrooged) and it was so great, if not insanely priced. The pasta appetizer was the most incredible thing we ate - they used this crank-type machine table-side to make the broth for the pasta sauce out of MEAT BONES and I can’t stop thinking about it. The other highlight was the gluten-free zucchini cornbread, which was magical. The only downside? Do not get the crab cake - $50+ for the most underwhelming appetizer of your life.

Pasta appetizer, The Grill (a must order)

Vowing to wear more tulle on a daily basis

  • The Mets promotional giveaways were announced if you care!

  • Some spring recipes I’d love to make:

    • Lemony Green Pea Fritters with Cottage Cheese

    • Banana, Pecan, Coconut and Chocolate Chip Blondies

    • Cadbury Egg Blondies (I’ve never even made a blondie before, but the urge is strong this season)

    • Lemon Almond Pudding Cake (love a texturally weird cake)

    • Carrot Cake Ice Cream (no ice cream maker needed)

    • Spring Couscous Bowls with Lemon Feta Vinaigrette (I made this last year and it’s spring in a bowl)

Things I’m looking forward to: I visited the insanely gorgeous Kings Theatre in Brooklyn so I’ll do a post about it this week, finally trying the bone marrow gravy at Hawksmoor, I have to get my hands on the Easter Dove Milk Chocolate and Peanut Butter Eggs, I’m trying to get a last minute lottery to see the Phantom of the Opera in its final days, I will find all of the NYC cherry blossoms, seeing the rooftop exhibit when it opens at The Met on the 18th, and finally going on a tour of the old City Hall subway station (this has been a dream of mine for years).

If you’ve got any interest in reading last month’s roundup, you can see what went down in February over here.

Baby Dog witnesses snow, March 2023

TAGS: March, March Magic, March Magic 2023, Liz Heather, monthly post, monthly roundup, birthday month, tomato leaf, tomato leaf candle, tomato leaf candle Trader Joe's, Trader Joe's, carrot cake candle, sweet carrot cake candle, Bath and Body Works, spring candles, ice skating, friends, Grandbaby Cakes, new cookbook, library card NYC, free museum NYC, chicken marsala, Banana Republic Factory, funnel neck sweater, French press, coffee, coffee method, tomato potato chips, Eataly, Eataly NYC, Shucked, Pictures From Home, Nathan Lane, Michael McKean, Philip Glass, Tao of Glass, NYU, best of NYC, Zara Home, pasta mold, ravioli mold, want to lead a better life, cemetery, Quality Eats, short rib hash, Target, birthday discount, Ulta, Milk Bar, Journelle, Mimi Cheng's, dumplings NYC, NYC dumplings, crab rangoon, Selo Astoria, Eater, Levi's, jeans, ribcage straight ankle jeans, Tusk, Kevin Smith, Canada, Johnny Depp, Scream 6, Neve Campbell new Scream, Neve Campbell, Frantic, Roman Polanski, Harrison Ford, Succession, Mr. Green, Clue, USPS railroad station stamps, Exile Vintage, Toronto vintage, fur coat, fur coat vintage, fur coat Toronto, Steve Madden, Soho, heels Soho, tres leche, tres leche cake, best tres leche recipe, dessert, Lactaid, Wayan, The Grill, Seagram Building, The Mets, The Mets promos


January 7, 2023

December Dalliances 2022

by Liz Heather in Best of NYC, Family, Food, Movies, Personal, Recipes, Television


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.

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.

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.

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?

World Cup final with my parents, December 2022

  • I will never be above latte art.

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.

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.

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.

My nephews watching Jingle All The Way, December 2022

My mom’s Christmas window can’t be beat

Christmas Day, December 2022

Our Christmas tree

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.

Ice skating at Celebration Square in Mississauga, Ontario

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

The game Use Your Words on Nintendo Switch

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.

December 2022

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.

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.

Harry Potter-looking cat ornament at Crate & Barrel

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.

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.

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.

The Rockefeller Christmas Tree, December 2022

Saks holiday lights, December 2022

Macy’s holiday decorations, December 2022

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.

Gingerbread Village at Essex Market in NYC, December 2022

  • Nothing better than a Boxing Day puzzle.

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.

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.

Baby Dog, December 2022

TAGS: December, December 2022, December Dalliances 2022, December Dalliances, Liz Heather, Christmas, monthly roundup, monthly post, Elevens Cafe, Astoria, Astoria coffee shop, The Body Shop, Wild Pine scene, Soothr, best of NYC, NYC, NYC restaurants, thai NYC, Paul Fishman, Tim Allen, The Santa Clauses, Jack Frost, Michael Keaton, The Crown, Netflix, Pepsi, Pepsi documentary, Pepsi Where's My Jet, Netflix documentaries, Scrooged, Queens, Scrooged filming locations, Scrooged childhood home, Christmas movies, A Christmas Carol, Broadway, A Christmas Carol Broadway, Playbill, Silani, World Cup final, family, family photos, latte art, Santa latte art, Santa Claus, San Remo's, Bell Book and Candle, Christmas drinks NYC, Irene Morales, Nutella stuffed chocolate chip cookies, Alison Roman, salted chocolate chunk shortbread cookies, cookies, Christmas cookies, Christmas tree, Christmas display, holiday lights, snow falling, winter sky, winter skies, ice skating, Celebration Square, Mississauga Ontario, Jackbox, Nintendo Switch, Phantom of the Opera, fox, backyard fox, spinach and artichoke Christmas tree, leftover turkey sandwich, stuffing waffles, duck poutine, duck season, duck confit poutine, Union Square Holiday Market, cheese curds, Bob's Burgers Christmas episodes, Crate & Barrel, Christmas fabric ornaments, Trader Joe's, Trader Joe's wreath, Noah Baumbach, NYPL, candy cane cold brew, Blank Street, Darlene Love, Christmas in NY, Christmas in NYC, Christmas in New York City, Rockefeller Christmas Tree, Saks holiday display, Macy's holiday display, NYC taxi cab Christmas decoration, Essex Market, Gingerbread Village NYC, Shopsin's, boxing day puzzle, family photo


December 2, 2014

Coolest Skating Rink In Ontario

by Liz Heather in Events


If you’re in Ontario and you give any kind of a shit about ice skating - THIS RINK LOOKS INSANE.

TAGS: Huntsville, Ontario, ice skating, ice skating rink, Liz Heather, best of Ontario, skating, winter, activities