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LIZ HEATHER

October 25, 2022

September Shenanigans 2022

by Liz Heather in Best of NYC, Food, Halloween, Ideas, Links, Movies, Personal, Products, Recipes, Reviews, Television, Travel


Early fall sunsets are easily the best ones all year

Officially the latest monthly post I’ve ever done, I’m sorry! I promise it will never happen again. We’re right in the middle of autumn and everything is overwhelming, but a good kind of overwhelming. Here’s what went down in September (oh god that feels like a year ago).

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

  • I finally went to visit the video rental space Kim’s Video downtown.

  • I made a collection of my favourite photos from the summer.

  • I recapped what I did off my summer list of things to do.

  • I wrote my autumn list of things that I intend to do this season.

  • I did a podcast with Nathan that can be heard over here.

  • I know I’ve mentioned how good Aquaphor is for ashy elbows, but I’ve also discovered that it’s incredible at healing damaged pimple areas. For instance, when you pop one and it goes so wrong. I did this recently and then put some of it right on top and it was completely healed in two days.

  • I’ve tried the Carbone jarred pasta sauce and it was great! It’s overpriced, so I’d only buy it on sale. And some flavours can be a little too oily, but overall it tastes great.

  • I finally saw Nope and I think I liked it. It’s probably my least favourite of his movies, but it was enjoyable to watch. That shoe standing upright bothered me for way too long before I looked it up and connected the idea of “bad miracles” but other than that, it was all right. Love the way that man promotes a movie.

  • I had dinner at Fiaschetteria Pistoia and the duck ragu was really good. It’s an aggressively tiny restaurant, but the food made it worth it.

  • Since it’s illegal to operate any cashless operation in New York City, if you ever see a place trying to tell you otherwise - report them! To consumers@dca.nyc.gov - I do it all the time.

  • Some things I watched:

    • The Woodstock documentary on Netflix: only three episodes, great watch. You will hate all concert promoters by the end of it.

    • Volcano: okay, I can finally settle this debate. It is NOT better than Dante’s Peak.

    • Never Have I Ever (newest season): I almost wanted to hate it (why? I’ve watched all the seasons? I can’t explain this?) but I keep loving it. I can acknowledge that younger people have every right to hate this show. The supplementary characters just keep getting better and better.

    • The Keaton episode of New Girl: I’ve never seen this show because it looks bad and I wouldn’t like it. That being said, I watched this one because it was a Halloween episode and I also thought there was a chance of Michael Keaton being in it. God, what a mistake. This episode only confirms what a terrible show it really is. Can we retire fat suits already?

    • Killing Me Softly: honestly just a wild ride of a movie. Everyone should watch it.

    • Hocus Pocus 2: okay, let me start this by saying that this movie isn’t for me. It’s for children. And I can respect that. I just wish that more characters from the original were in this one, that would’ve made me so much more into it. Nothing will beat the original in my mind and that’s perfectly acceptable.

  • So I went to Las Vegas again and I got to eat at the new Martha Stewart restaurant The Bedford. Of course my expectations were high because 1) I love her and 2) she’s never opened a restaurant before. The servers are extremely well trained (which is wonderful, I love this detail) they have even been taught to say “cheers” in Polish. The attention to detail on the decor of the individual tables as well as the entire space is perfection, even the temperature was just right. However, there had to be cons. All burgers should have round buns, what reason is there to mess with that simple fact? The smashed potato (which is smashed table-side) is an incredibly stupid idea and almost seems like a joke on the white people who would actually enjoy it. Small side orders of sauces should absolutely never cost $9, that’s ludicrous. The fries were wildly overcooked in overused oil (how does one mess up french fries?) and the prices, sure, they were outrageous but that fact tracks since it’s in Las Vegas. The homemade mustard was really tasty (maybe because you never come across homemade?) and her béarnaise sauce was perfect. The oysters Rockefeller were good, if only a little bit chilly. All in all, it was an experience. One that I’ll happily never have to have again.

The Bedford in Las Vegas

Oysters Rockefeller at The Bedford in Las Vegas

Am I wrong or does this burger bun belong at Wendy’s?

  • I also ate at Bazaar Meat By Jose Andres in Vegas and it was spectacular. I got the cotton candy fois gras, the patatas bravas and the meatball. Love this man. Love his food.

  • I tried the tacos at Dirty Taco (an LA street-style taco place) in Grand Central Terminal and the duck skin tacos were only all right, but the steak ones were fantastic. The tortillas were also great. Also, maybe it’s a bad idea to have the word dirty in your name?

  • I made these pumpkin lasagna rollups that have the exact right amount of pumpkin in them.

Pumpkin lasagna rollups

  • Also made this blueberry buckle that tasted especially good with some maple syrup on top.

What’s a buckle? Basically cake… yeah it’s just cake.

  • I finally went to the Manhattan location of The Alamo and this theatre is great, but impossible to find. It’s also where the new Kim’s Video is hiding.

Who on earth is expected to easily find this place, you tell me

  • I had brunch at Sala in Astoria and just wow. I never thought I’d have the best BLT of my life at a tapas place. Everyone needs to go.

  • I read the Chloe Hilliard book Fuck Your Diet: And Other Things My Thighs Tell Me and… meh. Can we all make a pact to never use the phrase eating clean ever again? The book was really very okay, I think I just wish it was more about her being a comedian and less about body stuff. It’s obviously my fault since the title really does say it all.

  • If you aren’t watching the Halloween episodes of Bob’s Burgers this month, you may not be cooler than I am.

Some things that I’m looking forward to doing this month: oh god, so many Halloween related activities, I can’t wait to finalize our costumes, I’m definitely going to make these pumpkin cookies again, I’d love to make garlic chicken meatballs with orzo for dinner on a rainy night, I really want to walk around Central Park with Baby Dog since all the leaves are changing and I’d really love to have next month’s roundup post written on time. Fingers crossed. Oh and here’s a link to all of the fall festivals happening around NYC right now.

If you have any interest in what went on in August, come on over here. I also have an autumn highlight reel on Instagram if you care to see what I’m up to this season.

Baby Dog with the last of the summer sunflowers, September 2022

TAGS: September, September 2022, September Shenanigans, September Shenanigans 2022, monthly roundup, monthly post, sunset, sunset photo, Canada, Baby Dog, Liz Heather, Nathan Macintosh, Aquaphor, pimples, healing pimples, Carbone, Carbone pasta sauce, jarred pasta sauce, Nope, movies, trailers, Jordan Peele, Fiaschetteria Pistoia, best of NYC, NYC restaurants, duck ragu, cashless, cashless NYC, report cashless places, Woodstock documentary, Volcano, Never Have I Ever, Keaton episode New Girl, New Girl, fat suit, Killing Me Softly, Hocus Pocus 2, Las Vegas, Martha Stewart, The Bedford, Martha Stewart restaurant, smashed potato, tableside, homemade mustard, bearnaise, square burgers, french fries, Bazaar Meat by Jose Andres, cotton candy fois gras, Dirty Taco, LA tacos, pumpkin lasagna rollups, blueberry buckle, buckle, The Alamo, Manhattan, Manhattan movie theatre, Kim's Video NYC, Kim's Video, Sala, Sala Astoria, Chloe Hilliard, books, Halloween episodes Bob's Burgers, Bob's Burgers, sunflowers


July 1, 2021

June Jaunts 2021

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


strawberry season.JPG
strawberry season.JPG

July always feels like one big long nap to me. There’s never really anything going on, kids are off school, adults seem to work less, it’s kind of great in that way. Maybe I won’t hate it this year? In any case, here’s what went down in June.

  • I compiled the best tweets of June over here and here.

  • I visited and wrote about the new Rockaway Hotel and pool.

  • I did Nathan’s podcast amidst his hiatus.

  • I recapped what I did from my spring list and made an upcoming summer to-do list, which I really encourage you to do on your own.

  • I read and reviewed The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Archor.

  • I’ve almost finished watching Living Single and seasons one through four are definitely the best ones. Love the episode where Kyle says goodbye to an old jazz venue that gets demolished, such a solid show.

  • I just saw the latest issue of the LCBO magazine and someone needs to pick me up that dill pickle vodka immediately.

  • Dying over how good the Strawberry Pound Cake candle smells from Bath & Body Works. Also picked up the Whipped Coffee candle for later this year from their semi-annual sale.

  • I went on an impromptu day trip to Connecticut.

  • I met up with Irene in Chinatown so I went early to walk around because man, I love that area.

June 2021

Doyers Street, NYC

Irene!

Me!

  • I ate at dell’anima and it was insanely disappointing. It felt like being in a cafeteria at the mall, it’s just a terrible location. I wasn’t expecting much since I knew it was on 11th Avenue, but still. I had no idea it would be so deeply casual (which is upsetting for an NYC restaurant). The food was as average as could be. Also, can we stop with the plastic cups at restaurants? It’s time.

  • I also stopped by Anfora which is a pleasant little spot, especially before or after dinner.

  • I went to Daily Provisions and tried their roast beef sandwich and salted caramel brownie and does everywhere just suck this month? And I support Danny Meyer, but he truly is the master of overpricing food. Also - on what planet can a brownie taste bland?? Tell me??

  • I’m on the lash extension train again (I know, I’m weak) and I just got them done at Lash Princess in the city and they look incredible so I’m definitely going to return.

  • I rewatched Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding and yep, still great.

  • Love the stationary/toy store Modern State on the Upper East Side.

  • I’ve heard about cotton candy grapes for years and have never been able to get ahold of them, but I just found them and whoa! Everything you want them to be and more. Am I bothered by the fact that they’re 1000% modified and MUST be terrible for humans to eat? A bit.

  • I finally ate the Wednesday sandwich special at Mama’s Too on the Upper West Side and it was pretty incredible. It was a roast beef au jus with horseradish cream on top of their house-made pizza crust. It was a little heavy on the fatty pieces of meat, but once those were taken out, it was insanity to eat. Take a look.

Roast beef au jus with horseradish cream at Mama’s Too, NYC

  • We saw A Quiet Place 2 in theatres and yes it’s an okay movie but it was too suspenseful for me after not seeing a movie in theatres for so long. I don’t think I want any more suspense in my life.

  • We also watched The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It at home and meh. Patrick Wilson can still get it, though.

  • Yet another great song off of Olivia Rodrigo’s album.

  • I finally got a reservation at Forsythia and it was looooovely, I can’t wait to go again. The restaurant itself is beautiful and such a perfect date place, the chairs are gorgeous and comfortable, the service was flawless and the pastas were phenomenal (the garganelli was a standout for sure). And god knows how much I love a place that serves their bread with olive oil as well as butter, WHY DOESN’T EVERY PLACE DO THIS?

  • I had to try the panzanella salad at L’Artusi and of course it’s great, but it’s also just so genius to put the cheese ON THE BOTTOM of a salad like this one. (Also, I’ll forever support whatever this team wants to do.)

Heirloom Tomato & Burrata Panzanella with Stonefruit, Sourdough, Basil, Yuza, Nigella at L’Artusi, NYC

Bucatini with Pancetta, Tomato, Chiles, Pecorino at L’Artusi, NYC

  • I tried the new Milk Bar cookies at Whole Foods and they truly taste like the cake truffles at their stores, so watch out.

  • The two best gelato flavours at il laboratorio del gelato? 1) Peach 2) Ginger. I’m telling you.

  • I’ve been looking for the perfect navy raincoat for years and I finally found her at J. Crew on sale for $71.

  • I tried the gelato at Anita Gelato and even though the wild strawberry with ricotta & mascarpone was really good, there’s no way it’s worth waiting in line for twenty minutes.

Wild strawberry with ricotta & mascarpone with a vanilla scoop, Anita Gelato in NYC

  • A great piece, with great photos on NYC reopening.

  • I made hash browns at home and does everyone do this already? It’s ridiculously easy and satisfying and I had no idea.

  • I’ve been on a real orzo bender lately and this tomato one was great. So was this lemon basil one (I added a ton of fresh parmesan and it was nuts).

  • This sketch is old, but I just saw it for the first time and man it’s great.

  • The new Halloween trailer is out and I want to love it but can’t we just let some things die?

  • This Target candle reminds me of Florida vacations and I want to buy ten.

  • I stupidly ate at Eataly (don’t do it, especially if you live in New York, you should know better) and of course it was bad. What a smart idea to eat at a place called Le Pizza & La Pasta, I’m a moron. Even smarter, I got the steak tartare and it was as bland as the day is long (and look I know I’m a clown for not even ordering pizza OR pasta when it’s in the name). The basil vodka cocktail was pretty good, though.

  • One thing that Eataly is good for, though, is selling really good dried pastas. I finally tried the brand Afeltra (the pasta as well as their canned tomatoes) and wowza. Definitely will be buying again. Best dried brand I’ve tried so far. Oh! I also bought this Ponti Balsamic Vinegar that tastes like candy, it’s so good. It’s thicker than other balsamics, so maybe it’s more of a finishing vinegar but I highly recommend.

  • I made these white chocolate apricot scones (and then later that week some white chocolate strawberry scones) and they were phenomenal. I did use cake flour because that’s all I had and I think that might be the reason they tasted so great. Also, it’s a wildly easy recipe to follow incase you’re intimidated by the word “scone.”

White chocolate apricot scone

  • I started watching the new season of Dave and it’s so well done I could scream (do you remember how good this part was from last season?). Such a good show. I do sort of hate men more by the end of each episode, so I don’t know what that’s about but I think I’m okay with it.

  • Bought a new nonstick frying pan (the GreenPan) and it’s incredible. Sometimes the answer is new cookware, no matter the question.

  • Nathan bought a new filtered shower-head and it’s making me excited for every shower now. Just a powerhouse. Feels like I’m at a hotel in there.

  • Since it’s summer, I’d love to make these summer recipes:

    • Grilled Caprese Skewers with Halloumi and Sourdough

    • Pan-Seared Scallops with Chorizo and Corn

    • BLT Pasta Salad

    • Summer Coconut Chickpea Curry

    • Strawberry Crumble Coffee Cake

Some things that I’m looking forward to: I’m not usually into miniseries but Nine Perfect Strangers looks pretty good so I might watch that, we’re going to TWO weddings this month so that will be wonderful, and I really need to get back in a pool so I’m working on that happening.

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

TAGS: June Jaunts 2021, monthly post, monthly roundup, Liz Heather, L'Artusi, strawberries, strawberry recipe, scones, scone recipe, easy scone recipe, The Rockaway Hotel, pools NYC, Nathan Macintosh, Positive Anger, Living Single, TV, movies, trailers, LCBO magazine, dill pickle vodka, strawberry pound cake candle, bath and body works, whipped coffee candle, Chinatown NYC, Irene Morales, Doyers Street, Forsythia, pasta NYC, best pasta NYC, Dell'anima, Anfora, Daily Provisions NYC, Danny Meyer, roast beef sandwich, lash extensions, Lash Princess NYC, Baywatch Hawaiian Wedding, Modern State NYC, toy store NYC, stationary store NYC, cotton candy grapes, Mama's Too!, sandwich special NYC, best food NYC, A Quiet Place 2, The Conjuring The Devil Made Me Do It, movie 2021, bread and butter, restaurants NYC, panzanella salad, bucatini NYC, panzanella NYC, Milk Bar, Milk Bar cookies Whole Foods, Il Laboratorio Del Gelato, gelato NYC, Anita Gelato, peach gelato NYC, ginger gelato NYC, J. Crew, raincoat sale, navy raincoat, wild strawberry, hash brown recipe, NYC reopening, tomato orzo, lemon basil orzo, parmesan, best recipes, talking to children, talking to children sketch, new Halloween trailer, Target candles, Eataly, Eataly NYC, Le Pizza and La Pasta, basil vodka, Afeltra pasta, Ponti Balsamic Vinegar, finishing vinegar, white chocolate apricot scone, white chocolate strawberry scone, Dave, Dave new season, Green Pan, GreenPan, nonstick pan, filtered shower head, summer recipes, Sour, Olivia Rodrigo


January 15, 2016

10 Cloverfield Lane

by Liz Heather in Movies


Ummm, this looks fantastic. 

TAGS: Cloverfield, 10 Cloverfield Lane, movies, Liz Heather, trailers


December 21, 2015

Anomalisa

by Liz Heather in Movies


All you ever have to say to me is "Charlie Kaufman's apart of this" and I'm in.

TAGS: Charlie Kaufman, Anomalisa, movies, trailers, Liz Heather


November 10, 2015

Sisters

by Liz Heather in Movies


Trailer Thoughts

  1. When did Ike Barinholtz morph into the babe-liest babe of all babe time?

Yeah, that's my only trailer thought. 

TAGS: Sisters, Ike Barinholtz, babe, movies, Liz Heather, trailers


October 30, 2014

Movie To Watch - Baghead

by Liz Heather in Movies


I saw this movie forever ago and I still think about it every so often. Other than really liking it, I like to encourage almost everyone I know to watch it. You can stream it over here, if you like. I absolutely loved it.

(Also, Happy Devil's Night!)

TAGS: Baghead, Duplass brothers, movies to watch, movies, trailers, good movies, Liz Heather


July 8, 2014

The Skeleton Twins Trailer

by Liz Heather in Movies


You should know I'm gonna be ALL UP IN THIS MOVIE. Can't wait. Love everyone in it. Comes out September 12th.

TAGS: Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, Luke Wilson, movies, trailers, The Skeleton Twins, Liz Heather


April 22, 2014

Fed Up Documentary Trailer

by Liz Heather in Movies


If you want to get me really pumped up and excited to see your documentary, make sure it's about any of the following:

  • 9/11
  • Cults
  • Serial killers
  • American food

Do that and I'm YOURS. Can't wait to see this. Comes out May 9th.

TAGS: Fed Up, documentary, obesity, Liz Heather, movies, trailers


November 6, 2013

Is The Man Who Is Tall Happy?

by Liz Heather


Obviously, I'm really excited to see this. It opens in limited release on November 22nd. 

TAGS: Michel Gondry, Noam Chomsky, Is The Man Who Is Tall Happy?, trailers, Liz Heather


August 7, 2013

Her Trailer

by Liz Heather in Movies


Her - Spike Jonze

I feel like this could be really good.  

TAGS: trailers, Spike Jonze, Her, Liz Heather


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