a few friday links

The Manhattan Dolls

My sister got married on Monday! To help the newlyweds celebrate we surprised them with a "singing telegram" of sorts. Three Manhattan Dolls showed up to their apartment on Monday night and serenaded them with My Funny Valentine, Fly Me to the Moon, Apple Blossom Time, and Blue Skies. Sweet, right?

This Barbara Ehrenreich interview on Fresh Air about her new book, Living with a Wild God: A Nonbeliever's Search for the Truth about Everything, was interesting: "The religions that fascinate me and could possibly tempt me are not the ones that involve faith or belief. They're the ones that offer you the opportunity to know the spirit or deity. ... I think most readily of West-African-derived religions which involve ecstatic rituals where people actually apprehend the spirit or the God or whatever that they are invoking and that they are trying to contact — I have respect for that. But don't ask me to believe anything."

I'm feeling the need for a change and have been coveting this hair/cut for awhile now. To perm or not to perm. I can't believe I'm even writing that...

The midwives are back...

These honey mustard roasted chicken thighs are so easy and delicious. I've been eating tons of greens of late; I've got my eye of some of these main-dish salads.

The Depth of the Problem. The ocean is a vast, deep place. Via Mary.

Happy Friday!

vigilante copy editor

babymoon in brooklyn

We're only two months away from our little family of three becoming a family of four. So we decided to go to Brooklyn for a mini babymoon. We left Stells in California with my awesome parents (where she had the time of her life eating ice cream, riding on the carousel and stream train at Tilden Park, going to story-time, taking the Ferry into San Francisco for lunch at Slanted Door, etc) so that we could enjoy each other, see our friends, stay out late, and just be us for the weekend. We visited with my sister and many friends. We ate and drank our way around Brooklyn (Talde, Seersucker, Lavender Lake, Cafe Pedlar, Reynards, Moim, Blue Bottle), we browsed through the stacks at McNally Jackson, walked around Smorgasburg, took the ferry from Williamsburg to DUMBO, played a few rounds of ping pong and pool at Brownstones Billiards, and relished just being with each other and the friends and family we don't get to see enough. Needless to say, my feet and back were pretty tired at the end of every day from hauling my very pregnant belly around, and we came home so excited to hug and kiss and cuddle our girl.

heart + nyc

Central Park, NYC

Time flies.

The week before last we flew down to Southern California at the last minute to support my Mom and visit my Dad in the hospital and where he was undergoing test after test for issues with his heart. The worst part was the not knowing, not knowing what the problem was and not knowing if it was treatable. Luckily and thankfully he is on the mend with a cocktail of meds to keep his heart beating at a regular pace and keep everything else in check. Phew.

And then last Sunday we flew to New York for the week. While Jordan worked I visited with my sister and various friends, explored Carroll Gardens (hello beautiful brownstones), took Stella to the park and Central Park Zoo, and took lots of walks. Some highlights: the current Blue Bottle fruit buckle (carrot and coconut) and the saffron snickerdoodle (always a favorite), lunch with my sister at Prime Meats, a trip to the Central Park Zoo with friend Caroline and her daughter Thea, Rouge Tomate food cart burgers with my sister in the park, delicious dinner with my sweets at Frankie's Spuntino 547, Jack Tilton gallery show opening with friends Anna and Kambui followed by an evening stroll through Central Park and dinner at Kefi, amazing challah french toast at Watty & Meg, browsing through the lovely clothes et al at Bird, catching up with friends Sam and Andrea over brunch at Clover Club, and discovering Bengali Tiger (Sixpoint Beer).

Now we're home. This morning I'm looking forward to a well-crafted coffee from Subrosa, enjoying the warm 80 degree weather, and making some yummy food for Stells who came home from New York with a runny nose. 

the twee party

"But if the Masts are Luddite chocolate-makers, they're also figures in a very contemporary caricature. More than anyone else in the New Brooklyn artisan movement, they exemplify to an almost implausible degree the daguerreotype stereotype of the bristly hipster, in newsboy cap and tweed britches, pedaling his penny-farthing to a north Brooklyn industrial space to make handcrafted nano-batch sweetmeats. If you've ever wondered what a Christopher Guest documentary about Brooklyn artisans might look like, Google 'Mast Brothers YouTube.'" Benjamin Wallace, "The Twee Party," New York Magazine

I found Wallace's whole article about artisinal Brooklyn foodstuff et al amusing in an I would totally buy all those pickles and jams and baked goods and chocolates  kind of way. And I'm the first to admit that I think Mast Brother chocolates taste pretty darned great...

mexico and new york and home again

We're back!

We spent a few relaxing days in San José del Cabo. I'd never been to Cabo before, and have always thought of it as a beach town extension of Orange County, i.e. lots of fake tans and fake boobs, lots of bros, lots of "what happens in Cabo stays in Cabo." And while that might be the case in Cabo San Lucas (we didn't actually venture to that Cabo), San José del Cabo was lovely.




We stayed at the Cabo Azul, a beautiful hotel on the beach (sadly not swimmable due to the intense current). We spent every day at the pool, lounging, and reading, taking Stella in the water, and eating delicious tacos.


My parents joined us in Baja, which was such a treat. They helped with Stella, and were able to give us a break from around-the-clock parenting.



In the 5 days we were there, I was actually able to read 2.5 books. What a luxury! I've always been an avid reader, clocking in 2-3 books a week. Since Stella was born, I haven't had the time or the attention to focus on reading. It makes me a little sad from time to time that I'm not able to read as much as I used to or would like, but I know this isn't how it will be forever. We still buy books every week, so when my focus and ability to sit down with a good book returns, I will have stacks to pick from.





From Mexico we flew to New York. We stayed in Dumbo, in a nice loft we found on Airbnb. The apartment, complete with a roof terrace and views of the Manhattan Bridge, was right upstairs from Almondine Bakery. My sweet tooth was quelled every morning with a buttery, incredibly flaky almond croissant. My god those croissants are good. I'm glad Almondine is all the way in Brooklyn, and not right outside my door here in Oakland. The temptation would be too much.



I love New York in the early summer when it's not too hot yet but the evenings are warm and people spill out onto the sidewalks.

Some highlights: browsing in Powerhouse Arena, walking across the Brooklyn Bridge (my first time) with my dear friend Anna, bumping into friends Sam and Andrea at the fantastic Cooper Hewitt Sonia Delaunay show, picnicing with friend Caroline and her baby Thea in Central Park, finding the perfect red and white striped espadrilles in Nos, strolling Stella along the waterfront in Dumbo, sampling the yummy fries and souvlaki at Souvlaki GR, sitting on the roof terrace with my sister eating cheese and crackers with a chilled glass of rosé, oh the list goes on...






Stella showing her auntie Sarah her new favorite bottom lip trick at The Standard.




Stella getting some cuddles from her auntie Anna at Dessert Truck Works.


This photo should be called "giant baby takes New York." Seriously, Stells looks ginormous.




Found words on Berry St. in Williamsburg, right around the corner from Blue Bottle. Sadly, I didn't get to try Sarah's affogato. The ice cream maker was broken. I did, however, eat many saffron snickerdoodles, graham crackers with chocolate ganache, coffee cakes, fruit buckles, and rosemary shortbreads.

We had a great trip, and now it is so good to be home.

sarah's affogato

I can't wait to try my sister's affogato, mentioned here in the Wall Street Journal (!), when we visit New York this summer.

I acquired such a sweet tooth post pregnancy. My internal dialogue goes something like this: Vegan banana chocolate cherry walnut scone at my coffee shop? Well, don't mind if I do. A little chocolate ice cream for dessert? Yes, please. Extra plop of jam on my morning toast? Couldn't hurt...

It's a good thing breastfeeding and carrying around a 16 lb baby everywhere keeps me trim.

Espresso + Gelato? Certo!

If you love a milkshake, and the prospect of iced coffee is enough to turn a dour day upbeat, it's time to embrace the affogato—the Italian version of a grownup soda-fountain drink. The caffeinated wonder combines hot espresso with cold gelato to create a melty, spoonable (or gulpable) treat. A newfangled rendition has turned up at Blue Bottle Coffee in Brooklyn, N.Y., where pastry chef Sarah Cox pours a single pulled shot over a half-cup of homemade double chocolate stout and milk chocolate ice cream. You can try it at home with whatever scoop you prefer—keep in mind, if it's a richer flavor, follow Ms. Cox's modest measurement; if a milder choice, make it three quarters of a cup of ice cream.

Mmm, mmm...sounds tasty, right?

new york i love you, but i'm glad to be home...

We're back from New York!


Here's Stella, all bundled up, after visiting her auntie Sarah at Blue Bottle in Williamsburg. Sarah's treats are to die for...I loved the Brooklyn Bootleg S'mores.

Me and my parents at Blue Bottle:



A few highlights (notice how most of them center around good food...):

Introducing Stella to her auntie Sarah. Here we're stopping for a snack at The Standard:


Yummy ramen at Ippudo:


Delicious dinner at Prime Meats, where all the handsome waiters sport mustaches and look and dress like debonair lumberjacks.

Stella loves going out for dinner. She loves the noise and the people. Restaurants usually put her happily to sleep.

Brunch at Freemans with the family and my long-time friend Anna:



Visiting with my sister. Here we are at Diner in Williamsburg.


Showing Stella the city:

new york, new york

We are heading to snowy New York next week to visit my sister and various friends who haven't met Stella yet.

I zapposed this pair of bright yellow Hunter wellies (and the cable sock insert) to help me brave the icy, cold streets.


Have I mentioned before that I'm a planner? Having a baby has thrown some of my obsessive planning out the window. It's hard to keep to a schedule when I'm not the one controlling the schedule anymore. The transition from planner to take-it-as-it-comer has been remarkably easier than I expected.

However.
I have never flown with an infant before. Or packed to travel with an baby (who knew you had to take 2 outfits a day in case of accidents?!). This means that for the past few days I have made lists of items to get and bring, started organizing Stella's outfits for the week we will be traveling, stockpiled diapers, and agonized over what I will pack to stay warm (and that will allow me to be a little presentable and breastfeed on the go). Luckily, Stella was given 3 perfect winter weather suits, so baby girl is all set for New York.

When thinking about what to pack for myself, I was inspired by this Garance Dore photograph.

See, it is possible to be stylish in the snow. Thus the bright yellow wellies...

blue bottle (brooklyn) + my sister = new york times

I'm so proud of my sister, Sarah, for moving to Brooklyn this fall to work at Blue Bottle and for making it into the New York Times within a month of her arrival! See the article all about the baking she's doing at Blue Bottle.

Finally, as of Tuesday, 160 Berry Street officially enters Phase 2. Last month, Sarah Cox, who kneaded and tempered her way through Rubicon and then Dynamo Doughnuts, packed up her life and drove across country, from San Francisco to New York, with her boyfriend, Josh Capone (now at Sho Shaun Hergatt), to start acclimating to a life of baking in a new (i.e., still under construction) kitchen. “My plan is to carry on Caitlin’s whole idea and execute it,” she says, “We’re going to do a lot of the same things we do in the Bay Area but use local products in those recipes, so we can represent this location, our neighbors and really have that community feel about the products.”

I seriously want one of those "Brooklyn Bootleg" S'mores...