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I would characterize myself as a good gift giver. I’ve never struck out, and rarely get stumped. But if I really have no idea what to give someone, I get them a box of Louis Sherry Chocolates. The company is a New York original from 1881. Their flagship store was in the now former Hermes store on 62nd and Madison. (Now, they do all their business from somewhere in Florida) The original 12 Piece tins come in a variety of very good colors. The flavors are always the same, my favorite is the Sicilian Orange with the horse on it. I also like them because the tins are as good as the chocolates and you can keep them forever. I met someone who’s family has their grandmother’s beat up one from the 50’s. I also heard that F. Scott Fitzgerald used to keep his pencils in one.
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This is specifically for NYC people. In Ridgewood Queens there is a hole in the wall high quality chocolate shop.
It’s run by an eccentric and amazing man named Constantine and his wife. He will talk your ear off for a half an hour about “the benefits” of chocolate and how it’s a panacea for pretty much everything. How big chocolate gives away most of the cocoa butter to the cosmetic industry. He’ll also talk to you about how he asks ChatGPT about chocolate and it’s wrong a lot of the time.
You’ll then buy a bar even though it’s small and $10. But you will go home and have a little piece after dinner and never taste chocolate the same way again…
Feb 7, 2024
michigan-based chocolate company that makes the most fun, artful, and delicious chocolates known to man. every once in a while, my detroit friend will surprise me with these and for a moment my life feels perfect.
Sep 7, 2024
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I love going to buy one dark scotchmallow because I always leave with +3 samples and it’s like a perfect lil box of chocolates
Aug 14, 2024
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I get sick of reading on vacation, and frankly, it seems wrong to stare at pages all day when you’re somewhere fun. For the past few years, my girlfriend and I have rented a house on a Greek Island. Before I leave NYC, I call an art store in Athens and have them stretch a few canvases for me. When I arrive, I pick them up along with some oil paints, turpentine, and some other supplies and go straight to the ferry. At the house, I set up an easel out of ladder and some wood, in a cave next door to the house that has an amazing view of an azure sea cove below. The cave offers some welcome shade from the blazing Greek sunshine, and it feels great to paint pictures in the open air. The cave makes it private, but the opening to the Aegean Sea makes it not feel claustrophobic. The paintings are usually dry by the time we leave, and I got this old lady down the street to hold my supplies until the next summer when I return. I once saw pictures of Julien Schnabel’s Montauk studio which is basically a gigantic deck with three huge walls and no ceiling, which was kind of my inspiration for trying this. Painting takes longer than sketching in a little book, and it’s more physical than photographs. Every time you look at the paintings, you’ll remember the place where you did them. Everyone should try it.
Jan 27, 2023
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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
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I think I’m the only person I know who uses handkerchiefs under the age of 80. My mom probably gave me one when I had a runny nose and I never looked back. There’s a handkerchief in my left pocket at all times. I throw them in the laundry at the end of the day and pick up a new one in the morning. I buy them in packs of 10 and chuck them away when they get dingy looking. There’s no way to teach someone how to use one, it’s just about folding. They’re way better than Kleenex for the sensitive skin around your nose, and it just feels much better to touch cotton rather than dry paper.
Jan 27, 2023