Weekend Docket: East of the East River

This is how it went on a Saturday just east of the East River:

1. PS1: watched tots armed with exercise balls dunk themselves in the kiddie pool on ourway to the stairs that lead up to what will be an unsurprising exhibition by PS1 standards. Gawked and smirked then sat outside on the cool concrete with a pilsner while watching the Hindu dancer steal The Blondes' thunder.

2. Biked to Fatty Cue, started off with whisky and pickleback shots (see image here). Love: Pullman's toast with master fat, bbq duck and red curry, steamed bao, peanut butter and pretzel pie. Best drink: Smoking Bone (whiskey, tabasco and chocolate bitters, etc.).

4. Walked over to Marlow and Sons for an El Heriberto tequila cocktail.

5. Biked to Dram for a penicillin scotch cocktail with a touch of Laphroaig, our whisky of choice: smoky, woody and leathery.

5. Dessert at Diner: flourless chocolate cake.

Happy indulgent weekend.

The Underdog

This photo represents the 1974 World Cup final, Netherlands v. Germany, one of only 2 times the Netherlands has ever made it to the World Cup Final. Unfortunately, despite a promising start in the first half, they lost to Germany 2-1. We'll be rooting for the Underdog today, Studio Square, LIC.

Weekend Docket: Philly

This is how we like to do it on the cheap. Took the 5pm Bolt Bus on a Friday to the most underrated city within a 2 hour driving radius, with enough time to catch some bistro fare at the bar on the Square then head to...Well, let's back up a bit here. If you've been keeping up with our National saga you'll know that amid the impossibility of getting tickets to the BAM Opera House (read below) we were forced to take our business to the new "Maxwell's" for good shows, the Electric Factory: a place to get away if you didn't feel like swinging hipster or preppy that day and you were maybe, also, feeling a little homesick for a San Fran-esque crowd without missing the Fliers kick some Blackhawks bum and knew you could get a running, albeit tipsy, tally from the band on stage. Although we thank The National for bookending our favorite songs, not everything we report is perfect. The sound guy must be a drummer, because the drums were the only thing that sounded close to record-perfect that night. Our ears are still ringing as we say good-bye to frequencies never to be heard again. Saved the cabfare and walked the 20 minutes back to the Hotel Palomar, our new favorite place to stay in Philly. We turned in. The only thing open late (read: 12:30am) was a bar, a club or greasy Pete's Diner. The next day we crossed the river to the Penn campus and ate at Jose Garces' answer to no-good-Mexican-west-of-Chitown, Distrito. Maybe it's because our prayers for good Mexican had already been eclipsed by last weekend's trip to Newport at Perros Salado (get the guac and the chilaquiles). With the exception of the carnitas and hamachi tacos, we could have taken it or left it. Ok, we would have taken the tres leches dessert along with the tacos. Enough whining. Since this is after all a blog about the things we love, we're here to declare our love for Philly- a love that's been in the making since we stepped foot off that first Chinatown bus five years ago- so much so, we're already planning our mid-summer retreat with Hotel Palomar as our home away from home.

From Mystic to Newport

It'll be awhile before we stop day-dreaming of cruising down Ocean Drive, the wind in our hair, our skins delicate from the sun, forgetting that we didn't take our antihistamine that day, giddy from the blood orange margaritas, our bellies full of lobster, chourico and the best damn guacamole for miles...

Weekend Docket: 1st Hamptons Saturday

Today was our 1st Saturday in the Hamptons since October. The clouds cleared just in time as we stood on the crystal clear Montauk shore, rubbing our bellies full of lobster rolls, slaw and bisque. We made our requisite visit to the Steven Alan outpost, admired the Carlos Motta chaise lounge and tried on the vivid summer prints by Rachel Comey while contemplating the oversized fringe scarfs that double as sarongs. We stopped into the Candy Kitchen on our way out towards the 454 for butterscotch sundaes, homemade maple walnut ice-cream, black & white ice-cream sodas and malteds. Shy away from the tempting rhubarb-strawberry pie. There should never be such a thing as frozen pie, especially when the rhubarb stalks are sprouting up as we write.

Spring in Brooklyn

In the last 6 years we can't remember the last time it was this warm in the month of March in NYC. Yesterday we came out of hibernation mode, starting off with last summer's favorite brunch spot Vinegar Hill House (yes, the Reuben Sanchez is still permanently on the menu). Then we strolled down Henry Street, weaving through the strollers, took a left on Atlantic and walked through Boerum Hill, where we lingered at Darr over hunting trophies and burlap sacks. We browsed Hollander & Lexer across the street, took note of the rack of white linen vests and seersucker shirts. More burlap sacks at Smith & Butler before we finally rested our feet at Clover Club amid an updated menu of sours, bucks, mules and a handful of spiced almonds. Hopefully it's not just a tease but we'll get a true Spring the rest of this season.

The bar at Vinegar Hill House

Unmarked exterior of VHH

Clover Club: 

Carrera Sour of anejo tequila, pear nectar and jalopeno syrup and fresh lemon juice; spiced almonds

Uncle Buck of silver tequila, chartreuse, pineapple, lime and ginger syrup

Spicey Pete of single malt scotch, Velvet Falernum, ginger beer, lemon, orange and agave syrup

Weekend Docket: Happy Halloween

Tonight we have one extra hour of witching, thanks to the daylight savings fall-back. As we sit here, mouths agape, watching the Halloween horror show that has already begun at Wisconsin between the Badgers and the Boilermakers, we're also considering how to take advantage of this extra long night. These photos remind us how innocent things used to be when Halloween really was only about witches, masks, skeletons and pumpkins versus the thick mob of Lady Gagas and Twilight vampires we hope to be treading through tonight at the West Village annual Halloween parade.


New York's Village Halloween Parade, 7pm (6th Ave. between Broome and 23rd Sts)

Weekend Docket: Hamptons in the Fall

We could write sonnets about our favorite season Autumn. What's on the docket for a quick Fall getaway is taking the car up to the Hamptons to revel in the ghost-like ambience that takes to the streets come October, long after the maddening crowd of Summer has shut its doors to return to the City. We love meandering around the quaint villages, checking out the pottery and sales racks at Steven Alan, resting on Rugby's bamboo furniture next to the acoustic guitars, gawking at the wild turkeys along the backroads, and then staying indoors at night to listen to the rain as we prepare dinner. Homemade bruschetta, cauliflower soup drizzled with truffle oil and (dare we flatter) some of the best lobster rolls we've ever eaten.

We recommend stopping in for drinks and a quick bite at The Living Room inside the Maidstone Inn on the East End, where the bar serves up a tasty, little house concoction called a pumpkin martini made from organic vodka then dusted with nutmeg and cinnamon. The iconic Inn was redone by Swedish hotelier Jenny Ljungberg. But her style of Scandinavian design has nothing to do with minimalism. Instead you'll walk into a rich, gem-toned painted room cozily furnished with an eclectic, colorful mix of vintage-inspired upholstered loveseats and chaises. Look underneath the window bench and you'll find vintage boardgames too. Perfect for wiling away the hours when it starts to get stormy.

Outdoor shower at the Surf Lodge, Montauk
Private cottage and surfboards, Montauk
Rugby store, Easthampton
Wild turkeys, Southampton
Dinner, Southampton
Warming up, Southampton

Weekend Docket: Rain Rain Go Away

The weather outside is telling us to stay in and take shelter with something old and familiar. We think we've finally got an excuse to do a board game marathon, and revert back to those early not to mention culturally crucial years. Hey, blame it on the rain. 


This premature winter inspires take-out from Num Pang, the amazing Cambodian sandwich counter off Union Sq with the unique daily specials (if it involves duck and rhubarb, it must be et) and one of the best meatball sandwiches in Manhattan. Num Pang means "sandwich" or "bread" in Cambodian, and frankly these made-to-order sandwiches, served on a freshly toasted baguette with their signature chili mayo and house-made pickles, rival the similarly prepared Vietnamese samich. Thanks to those meatballs. And that duck confit. Ok, fine, the pork belly too. Afterwards we'll crawl under the blankets and watch Cinema Paradiso for the 67th time, hoping it rains all the way to Monday so we don't have to guilt ourselves into changing out of our pajamas to say hello to the outside world. 


Num Pang
21 East 12th Street, NYC