May 27, 2021

Hello from LA! I took my first post-pandemic flight earlier this week, and the sunshine, good vibes, and overdue catch-ups with close friends has been well worth the trip (which wasn’t that scary!).

Before I head south to visit my sister in Orange County, I’m currently installed at the new(ish) Cara Hotel, which opened last year in the height of the pandemic, yet its breezy open spaces make it naturally-inclined to host socially-distanced gatherings and meet-ups. Now that the heat of summer is upon us, the shaded outdoor seating areas and courtyard restaurant should serve guests and visitors equally well. They also offer up a delicious, ahem, espresso negroni (see below…).

1.

Last Sunday I rode my bike over to Long Island City on what turned out to be one of the hottest days NYC’s had this year. I knew there home-cooked pancakes awaiting my arrival, but I didn’t realize just how massively rewarded (literally) I’d be for the trip across the Williamsburg and Pulaski bridges. But I should have! My friend Jonathan is nothing short of a perfectionist when it comes to mastering a recipe, and his fluffy, plate-sized pancakes (adapted from this recipe, but with an added secret ingredient or two) were—forks down—best in class. Pancake hounds might also enjoy this recipe adapted from the ever-popular Hi-Collar coffeehouse in my neighborhood, which I’m hoping J will try to master next.

2.

New York has always been an extraordinary metropolis whose whole is greater than the sum of its parts, but I’ve also always felt that Manhattan is the organ-holding torso that pumps blood and oxygen to the rest of its boroughs (And if anyone has a difference of opinion, ok! But you’re also wrong.) It looks like I have some muscle in this bar fight, too: Reggie Nadelson’s new book Marvelous Manhattan looks at all the generations-old restaurants, bars, and shops, from Russ and Daughters to Caffe Dante and Three Lives bookstore, that keep this spectacular town twinkling. 

3.

This is the first time in at least a few seasons that a couple of bags and purses which aren’t fanny packs are catching my eye. That fact alone feels like a change worth celebrating (perhaps with a new bucket purse by Alaia, designed in the label’s signature corset-style aesthetic). I’ve also been lusting after Lemaire’s minimalist, hand-molded leather Tacco bag in a shade of Baltic blue after seeing it sported by my friend Erin—something I could truly replace my fanny pack with, given its everyday wearability. And then there’s the showstopping limited-edition capsule collection of totes by Sacai x Tomo Koizumi, which are ebulliently tiered in layers of colorful ruffles. I mean…go big, or go back into lockdown, right? 

4.

Stacey Abrams for the second week in a row! Last time I went into her side hustle as a highly-accomplished romance novelist, but as this Skimm’d From the Couch podcast episode proves, there’s really nothing this multi-hyphenate with serious brains and courage can’t do. There are too many gems to quote, but here Abrams discusses ambition (for herself, for women, for women of color), voter rights and protections, spreadsheets for keeping track of goals, and how “Selena Montgomery” came to be. 

5.

So what’s all this buzz about coffee-based cocktails? Along with Cosmos, these caffeinated, boozy relics of the early aughts seem to be making a strong comeback. There’s one on the current menu at the speakeasy-style cocktail den, Raines Law Room, as well as at Rosemary’s new east side location. Here in LA, at Enrique Olvera’s astoundingly superb new Mexican restaurant Damian, they offer a classic Mexican after-dinner Carajillo, a stomach-soothing blend of espresso and Licor 43 (aka Colt 43) over ice.  The most interesting iteration I’ve seen (and tasted) so far is here in LA at the Cara Hotel’s on-site restaurant. The espresso negroni is a blend of espresso and campari, deepened with an amaro and chocolate bitters, topped with a classic orange peel. It’s kind of the perfect after-dinner sipper for people who can’t decide if they want coffee and a not-too-sweet dessert, or if they’d just prefer to just drink their calories. 

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