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Growing up, I heard a lot about the famous Neiman Marcus chocolate chip cookies, kind of like when you’re a kid and people are always talking about acid rain, quick sand and piranhas so you think it’s statistically inevitable that you’ll run into them. To that point, I’ve still never had a cookie from Neiman’s, but I do hope they’re still churning them out. I have, however, had a rotisserie chicken at Harrods. There’s something that feels so vintage about eating in a luxury department store, it’s one of the most ladies-who-lunchiest things you can do nowadays. It’s instant glamor for the whittled soul. Having a drink is also fun—loosens up the shopping experience, liquid ease if you’re the sort to feel anxious when looking at things you can’t afford. Time definitely moves differently in these places, too—it’s all a bit ‘island of the lotus eaters.’ If you’re in London, the rotisserie restaurant in Harrods is good, dark, and savory and the wine bar at the bottom of Fortnum and Mason is a nice place to pass the time (also recommend the lemon and vanilla marmalade from the floor above).
Mar 27, 2023
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Specifically the downstairs Lincoln Center Whole Foods, with its windowless cafeteria. My favorite place for my thirty minute lunch break. A midtown third space oasis.
You’ve got it all—your tour groups, your business men, Bad Roman, bad public art. A place I’m strangely nostalgic for, as it was one of the first places I visited on my first trip to New York (in 2015, on a high school band field trip).
One day I may have to write a Benjaminian Arcades Project-esque ode to this particular commercial complex.
Apr 2, 2024
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My office used to be above Barneys at 660 Madison Avenue. I used to have lunch at Viand 2-3 times a week at least. I love all Diners, especially ones in New York, but Viand is different. It’s from a long fading tradition of NYC coffee shops - super narrow, with a bar on one side and 2 seater booths on the other. There’s no bathroom which is shocking to the hordes of tourists who find their way to it after seeing the windows at Bergdorf Goodman or going ice skating in Central Park. It’s also cash only, and their ATM has a $3.00 fee. The thing that separates Viand from other diners is the food. Their versions of everything you know are the best. They’re known for their full turkey dinner, which I’ve gotten on Christmas Day before going to Grace Church downtown for their Candlelit Eucharist. Their cheeseburger deluxe is perfect, tuna melt - perfect, Chef Salad - Perfect, BLT - perfect, blueberry muffin on the grill - perfect. It’s also amazingly expensive and I gasp every time I get the bill because it usually means that I have to get more money out at the expensive ATM. The prices keep all the riff raff out, which means that you can always find a seat, and what’s $25 for a perfect sandwich and a coke?
Jan 27, 2023
This is a gem of a restaurant. Lit by candlelight, the 18th century house is adorned with wooden chairs, gingham couches, grand fireplaces, and a bar cluttered with glass bottles that catch the flames burning at each table. I felt as though I was invited into someone’s home, and the glasses and plates were recently pulled from their cupboards.
We ordered a radish special, which I topped generously with their freshly whipped butter and flakey sea salt. I finished the meal with a velvety cup of coffee and a super sticky toffee sundae, served in a silver dish with homemade vanilla ice cream and whip.
I want to be there every night, and I feel that its specialness would remain robust in the face of my frequent visits.
Jan 24, 2025
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Taking care of yourself can feel hideously step-by-step now… scientific and ingredient-laden. Brushing your hair still feels whimsical and wild! It’s genuinely a therapeutic process for me, I think because I have a lot of hair and untangling it sometimes requires brute force and since there is a clear before and after to behold, it always makes me feel better if I’m feeling low. There’s a lot of propaganda around messy hair (Chloe S., French women), but life is about getting to know yourself. So if you’re feeling burnt out on cold little serums and vials of goo (all love though) or are tired of letting the rats' nests rule, try brushing your hair more. Caveat that you need to find the hair brush that works for you—doesn’t have to be made of boar bristles and mother of pearl,I like the OG brush from Olivia Garden over at Ulta.
Mar 27, 2023
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Bar Italia is a classic spot in the Soho neighborhood of London. The best for people watching and generally feeling like you’re in it. The patronage is diverse: bikers, tweedy intellectual families, Italians, women in white skinny jeans sitting on mens laps. Getting a table outside at night on a weekend can be difficult, but it is worth stalking the movements of whoever looks like they’re on their last sip of cappuccino. I’m not sure exactly what the history is, but you can just tell there’s history, which is a special thing in its own.
Mar 27, 2023