***NYC Cherry Blossom Update (as of Friday April 4): The cherry blossoms at Central Park and Hunter’s Point South Park in LIC are currently IN BLOOM, much earlier than prediction! My hope, with this cold and rainy weather, is that they would last for about 5 days up to a week. Full cherry blossom guide is behind the paywall, so go NOW if you’ve got the chance!

1. The Adventure of Domenico Gnoli (March 18 – May 23, 2026) at Lévy Gorvy Dayan (19 East 64th Street, New York)

Born in Rome, Domenico Gnoli (1933–1970) was a prolific painter as he established himself as a master of perception, composition and meticulous detail. Sadly, he died of cancer at the age of 36. Gnoli’s paintings at Lévy Gorvy Dayan immediately caught my attention when I first saw them on my fyp: the tightly-cropped and large-scaled paintings of ordinary objects. I love the clean lines and muted color palettes, and they the exact types of paintings that would help me relax but make me wonder if there’s more to them.

2. Easter Sunday brunch has been the tradition in my family for years, and I look forward to it every year. My cousin is in town this week, so I’ve reserved a table for us at The Bar Room at The Beekman this Sunday.

• If you’re in Midtown, I’d recommend checking out the Easter Parade and Bonnet Festival happening in front of St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Fifth Avenue. I happened to be right in the midst of it on Easter Sunday 2 years ago, and it was such a fun sight to see! I’d head up there again if I didn’t have a late brunch already reserved downtown.

• If you’re downtown, Raf’s offers a $75 pre-fixe Easter brunch menu. I’ve been there for dinner when they first opened and have always wanted to come back for brunch. Café Mulberry looks so cute and perfect for brunch with family or girlfriends! I’ve been to La Mercerie in SoHo and would recommend it, too!

• If you’re uptown, Birley Bakery has Easter chocolate treats such as Easter Bunny and Mother & Hen Family, worth to check out! I’m sure the iconic Viennese cafe, Café Sabarsky, will be packed, but you can test your luck there.

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First off, I’m slightly sad to announce that Tulip Day at Union Square is not returning this year. It is moving to Washington, DC, and tickets are already sold out! I was so jealous of everyone who got to participate in the previous years because I tried and never got a chance to score a ticket. I love free events like this, and tulips are my favorite spring flowers, too. At least, spring is coming up, and that means I can treat myself more often with tulips either from Trader Joe’s or my local floral shops for a really good price!

16 things to do in NYC this March!

1. Sara Hagale - “Maybe You Know the Place” - artist’s debut solo exhibition at Hashimoto Contemporary

• 54 Ludlow Street #A (LES) • Tuesday - Saturday 10 am - 6 pm • February 21 - March 7, 2026

Sara Hagale is an artist based in Huntsville, Alabama, whose work is inspired by her life and expressed through line drawings that capture subtle emotional nuances. I’m especially drawn to analog artwork that relies on traditional tools, and here, it is simply pencil on paper. The result is precise, minimal, and playful, inviting viewers to pause and reflect. I’m a huge fan!

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Last week’s 16 Fun Things to Do in NYC was so loved, so I thought I’d share a part 2. I also have a series, called Hidden Gems and Inspiring Places in NYC (3 parts are up!), where I share more NYC spots that I love and frequent. If you’re on TikTok, check out my Best of NYC series for laptop-friendly cafe, shop, and restaurant recommendations. Thank you for subscribing and following along!

16 Fun Things to Do in NYC in February 2026 - part 2

1. This week, JCREW threw a big party celebrating the collaboration with 5 American designers (Buci NYC, Collina Strada, Eckhaus Latta, Patrick Taylor, & Tanner Fletcher) on the ‘remix’ of the classic JCREW Rollneck. The collection launched on Thursday, 2/12/2026, and I thought it’s one of many great collabs JCREW had been rolling out lately. Not sure if you’ve stepped inside any JCREW stores recently, especially in NYC, but I’d highly recommend that you do for styling inspiration and classic American clothes at accessible prices.

JCREW Rollneck sweaters I’m currently eyeing - left: JCREW X Eckhaus Latta Rollneck sweater (love the colorblock!); right: JCREW 2025 Rollneck sweater in stripe, Ivory Ruby Raisin

2. I’d never pass an opportunity to capture the special moment to savor later with family and friends when I see a photo booth (bonus if it’s a vintage black and white one!). In NYC, I’ve come across a few, mostly at hotel lobbies like the Ace Hotel in Midtown and The Roxy Hotel in Tribeca.

Old Friend is a stand-alone booth with 2 locations, one in the LES and one in Williamsburg that I’ve been wanting to stop by. It’s FREE this Saturday for V-day in collaboration with Free People (145 Allen St., LES, 10 AM-7 PM), and I already know that the line is going to be super long!

• On my list: BUBBY’S - Tribeca, AUTOPHOTO - LES, Union Pool - Williamsburg, TV Eye - Ridgewood, Otto’s Shrunken Head, Carousel, & Lou’s Athletic Club - East Village

3. The Noguchi Museum, located in LIC, Queens, is one of my all time faovrite museums, and I go at least twice a year. Starting this month, they have the Noguchi’s New York exhibition up (February 4, 2026 – September 13, 2026), and I plan to stop by end of this month. It’s even better in the summer because you can sit outside and hang at the garden. Once you’re here, you have to pick up an Akari light sculpture or go have a browse at the Museum shop. I bought my Noguchi Akari 1A and 10A here!

4. I’ve been recommending a lot of people to hotel lobbies and hotel bars because those are great options for these dreadly cold winter days. In the daytime, I’d like to get cozy up at a dimly lit hotel lobby in the city (mostly in Manhattan and sometimes in Brooklyn), order a coffee, and work. It’s also a great place to grab a drink alone or catch up with friends. Sharing a few of my favorites in NYC below *with a few bonuses with historic mural art and vibe-y interiors (not a complete list!)!

left & middle: one of the crispyiest gin martini I’ve had in nyc is at Monkey Bar, Midtown West, mural by Edward Sorel ft. 60+ legendary figures of the Jazz Age who frequented the bar; right: Bemelmans Bar (cocktail piano bar + cover fee) at The Carlyle Hotel, UES, mural by Ludwig Bemelmans

left: Lobby Bar at Ace Hotel Brooklyn (great and spacious WFH spot that allows laptops! I love the Midtown location, too!); middle: Lobby Bar at Hotel Chelsea; right: The Bowery Lobby at the Bowery Hotel

I also love Chez Nous at The Marlton Hotel because Greenwich Village is my favorite neighborhood ever! I think the crowd here is very much my kind of crowd. It’s always so lively, and I love that people of all ages and walks of life can come here to read, write, and work or simply catching up with friends. The right side of the lobby is for walk-in, non-guests, and the left side is typically reserved for guests.

• On my list (for small bites and drinks at night!): The Polo Bar, The King Cole Bar at the St. Regis Hotel, Delmonico’s, The Bar Room at The Beekman, Titsou Bar inside Hôtel Le Fouquet's, Swan Room at Nine Orchard Hotel, Portrait Bar at The Fifth Avenue Hotel, The Champagne Bar at the Plaza, The Mark Hotel Bar, Chez Zou at Pendry Manhattan West

5. I came across a TikTok video this week of someone sharing their experience about a sign painting class. So yes, you can learn how to paint signs. It’s a 2-day weekend workshops hosted by @letter_boy at the New York Sign Museum ($750) in Brooklyn. They also do tours, book here, at Noble Signs (2465 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, $25 - $30) on Fridays and Sundays, and I think it’s a super fun idea if you’re into art and design.

6. I love collecting little figurines and art objects, things like National Park magnets for the fridge or match books from restaurants that I’ve been. This past weekend, I stopped by the LEGO store in Flatiron, initially was to to pick up this horse set for Lunar New Year. Both my partner and I were born in the year of the horse, so we like to collect horse things. We did end up with the Lucky Cat instead because it wouldn’t take up as much space and was perfect for Lunar New Year. I also painted my nails red this week because red means luck.

my favorites for Fire Horse year, Lunar New Year occassion - left: Galloping Horse Canvas; middle: Plum Blossom; right: Lucky Cat

7. My perfect morning in Bushwick, Brooklyn starts with a cup of coffee or matcha with a cardamom bun at La Cabra, then I’d walk to La Cantine for yummy bites if I feels hungry. Foster Sundry would be my next stop cheeses or specialty grocery items such as tin fish, pasta, or beans (these do make great gifts!). If I’m in the mood to thrift and have my car with me, Beacon’s Closet would be my next stop. February is when I start thinking about the next plants to add to my home, and Little Shop of Soil is my favorite stop. Roberta’s pizza dough has been my go-to for many years, and I do still love going to the OG location Roberta’s Bushwick every time I crave their pizzas. The bee-sting pizza is really that good, and the famous original with tomato sauce or the margherita is also my go-to.

8. If you watch my vlogs, you’d know I share a lot more about places and things I typically frequent in NYC. And I love my neighborhood, Bed-Stuy. It’s quiet and places feel a bit more hidden and special. If you’ve never been, I’d definitely recommend a cocktail and live jazz night at LunÀtico. Saraghina Restraurant is known for their pizzas, so it’s a great spot to start. Saraghina Bakery is right next door, and it’s where I’d walk to pick up a fresh sourdough loaf for the week. For coffee shops that are laptop friendly, my favorites are Milk & Pull (Black-owned, and they’re my neighbors!), Rita & Maria, Early Yves, and Padmore’s. If you feel like dancing, I’ve been to The Red Pavilion, an Asian-themed club, and would recommend their cocktails as well. Xanadu Roller Arts is an ice skating rink I’ve just learned about, and I’ll definitely keep that in mind the next time I have a group of friends in town.

There’s a beginner-friendly mahjong event at Early Yves Cafe next week on February 18, and it sounds like a fun night to come out and meet up with the neighbors! I’ve been meaning to pick up a mahjong set and learn how to play since forever! We might just walk over and go for it last minutes! 🐴

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9. Treat yourself to a facial or get some rest & relaxation at a spa.

• Stalles Studios & Spencer’s, SoHo - The 2 chic spa places that I’ve seen them non-stop being tagged on influencers and creators I follow. The interior looks so nice, and that’s gotten me so curious. I’d love to check it out!

• QC NY Spa, Governors Island - BOGO during your birthday month! I went with my friend for my birthday a couple of years ago and had such a relaxing day. Go if you like saunas and the pool has amazing view of Manhattan, a short ferry ride away from FiDi!

• Renew Day Spa 2, Chinatown Manhattan - My friends went, and they said they liked it. Personally, these types of massages are heavily depended on who you’re getting. Generally, you’re getting a more casual, but reliable, and affordable experience if you’re in Chinatown.

• Hanare, Williamsburg Brooklyn - Japanese head spa. This is from the same team at Salon 87 where I get my haircut.

• AIRE Ancient Baths - They have a pretty good reputation so far, so I’d love to check it out in the near future!

• Bathhouse, Williamsburg & Flatiron - I’ve been to the Williamsburg location for an influencer event, and they hand out a gift card. I’m planning to stop by and check out the Flatiron location this month!

• SoJo Spa Club, New Jersey - I initially wanted to do this on my birthday and spend at least 6 hours here, but it was all booked up. I’d do this on a random weekday and head over to Fort Lee for Korean food after. Yes, you’d need a car, and there’s a toll fee you’ve got to pay, too!

10. A fun and perfect night out in the Lower East Side, to me, would always involve some window shopping (home and vintage shops), a glass of natural wine and small bites to share with friends. My friends and I did a girls’ night at Cervo’s, and it was so much fun catching a ride at a festival in Little Italy before grabbing another drink to end the night. Le Dive are Casino some of the buzziest bars. Attaboy and Double Chicken Please’s back room (I walked in DCP, ate and drank in the front room before!) are speakeasy-style bars and next on my list!

11. Soups and noodle soups belong in my #1 favorite food category. I love a pipping hot and clean bowl of broth with noodle and lots of veggies in it, and for this reason, I think Vietnamese cuisine wins it with its diverse options. Soup is comforting and satisfying, and it’s not always for sick or cold days. I crave soups pretty much every day! If you love soups (and coffee), I’d urge you to book a ticket to travel to my home country, Vietnam, to experience it all. I promise your mind will be blown. Anyways, I make a lot of soups on a regular basis at home but do love to dine out for soups that I can’t make at home. Here are some of my favorite soup spots in NYC:

left: Tokyo Shoyu ramen from Ramen Ishida, LES; middle: duck soba at Sobaya, East Village; right: 1/4 roast duck and wonton egg noodle soup with beef muscle - my go-to order at Great N.Y. Noodletown, Chinatown Manhattan

left: Haidilao Hotpot, Flushing - we love the tomato, green pepper, tom-yum and Mala spicy broth!; middle: Okiboru House of Tsukemen - must-try: the tsukemen, LES; right: Bun Rieu at Banh Anh Em

left: Raku - 3 locations, NoHo, East Village & Midtown - my go-to orders: ebiten, gyunan or spicy niku with a side order of mochi; middle: Ichiran, Williamsburg; right: 1915 Lanzhou Hand Pulled Noodles, Chinatown Manhattan - I’d go for the regular sized noodle and spicy broth!

12. A perfect Sunday in the UES starts from brunch at Café Sabarsky and then a browse at Neue Galerie upstairs. The last time I went, I just walked up the stairs to the gallery without a ticket. There’s a bathroom downstairs, so you can try taking the elevator up to the gallery up after your meal at the cafe. If not, it’s free every first Friday of the month! Pro-tip: go line up at least 30 minutes before! Salon 94 is a free gallery located just across the street, so you should also stop by! Otherwise, The MET and Guggenheim are both nearby!

13. I cannot believe that it comes the day when I’d recommend desserts to everyone! To be honest, I don’t have a sweet tooth and wouldn’t care for cakes or ice cream for years. Now, I think baking yourself a birthday cake or make it for your loved ones for their birthdays is such a cute idea. I’d order a cute cake from a local baker that I follow on IG or simply go grab a slice if they own a bakery. Recently, I’m so down for the idea of going to a nice restaurant purely for desserts, and my partner and I did exactly that last Sunday. We went to Gramercy Tavern (1 Michelin star for quality cooking and known for their dessert menu!) for a walk-in at the tavern last Superbowl Sunday and got sat right away. The service was incredible, and I’d highly recommend it! Or if you can get a table at Don Angie, the dessert menu is to-die-for. I hope their food is still good because they’ve lost their Michelin star in recent year.

14. For good Bánh Mì in NYC, order take-out from Bánh Anh Em - Must-try: all of them, but I especially love the OG cold cut. If you’d prefer to dine in, I’d recommend to arrive 30 - 45 minutes before the restaurant is open to avoid waiting in line for too long.

Banh Mi from Ba Xuyên in Sunset Park is cheap and cheerful, but it never hits. Bánh Mì Cô Út is my new go-to spot in Chinatown Manhattan because they make their bread in-house daily. They’re Viet-owned! Toppings and fixings lean a bit too sweet, but I’d come back every once in awhile. Bánh Mì Saigon is my other go-to, not the best but decent and consistent every time. These are all cash-only establishments!

15. Besides soups, dim sum is my other rainy or cold day favorite tradition. I’m obsessed with their shiu mai, and most of everything there are good and consistent. It can get busy on the weekends, but I guarantee you that it’s worth the wait. Their dim sum offerings are really the best I’ve had in NYC hands down! If you go, try to go early before 2 pm because things do run out.

16. Lastly, February is Black History Month, so I think one easy way to show support is to seek out and buy from any Black-owned businesses in your neighborhood or local area. In NYC, NYPL and The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem have a lot of resources such as books, events, and art exhibitions that aim to educate the public with topics about African American, African Diasporic, and African experiences.

• Tour Louis Armstrong House Museum in Corona, Queens (34-56 107th Street, Corona, NY). He was a jazz pioneer, America’s first Black popular music icon, and known as the one that put American jazz on the world map.

• Get tickets to the next show at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem - known as the premier venue for African American music and culture.

• Has anyone been to Tatiana by Kwame Onwuachi, the restaurant everyone couldn’t stop talking about last year?

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I have some friends in town, and we’re planning a triple Aquarius night out this weekend. Stay tuned for what I’m up to on my IG stories. Don’t forget to subscribe and see you next week!

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An

Lunar New Year or Tết (for us Vietnamese) is on Tuesday, Feb 17, 2026. And this year, it is the Chinese/Vietnamese Zodiac’s year of the Fire Horse! The ‘fire’ element and the ‘horse’ Zodiac sign combination occurs every 60 years, and it symbolizes action, freedom, speed, and breakthrough. Although there are many not-so-positive superstitions associated with one’s ‘birth year’ (I was born in the year of the horse!), I’d like to believe that it can bring many positive changes.

I love how February this year is a perfect rectangle, with 28 days or four 7-day weeks beginning on Sunday and ending on Saturday. My dad, brother, and a few of my friends are also Aquarius, so my calendar is looking so full this month. Happy birthday to all of my fellow Aquariuses out there!

This week, I got a haircut, went to a few events, and unboxed so many packages (got a Kiehl’s restock, new Lancome mascara, & Jones Road launching eyeshadow sticks). My order from The RealReal also came, and everything was perfect! In the kitchen, I made BLT sandwiches, Pasta Alla Vodka, Bò Kho (Vietnamese beef stew with carrots and potatoes), and no-knead bread to eat with grandma’s meatballs! More on my vlog, coming this Sunday!

catch up with me on the vlogs!

For Tết, I’m planning to pick up some Bánh Chưng (glutenous rice cake with pork belly and mung bean, wrapped in banana leaves) and Giò (Vietnamese pork ham), pickle some mustard greens, and make Thịt Kho Trứng (Vietnamese Braised Pork Belly with Eggs) to eat with rice. Of course, call home because it’s another year I don’t get to spend it with my family. I miss them dearly!

16 Fun Things to Do in NYC in February 2026

Since my birthday is on the 16th and it’s also my lucky number, I want to share with you 16 things to do in NYC this month (most can be done alone, with your partner/s or a group of friends).

1. Lunar New Year celebrations in Chinatown Manhattan

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Hidden gems and inspiring places in NYC - part 4

Hidden gems and inspirin…

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What I’m listening to:

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In recent years, Substack has taken over the writing world because it’s easy for writers, from high-profile journalists to niche creators, to create and share. I love that I can immediately transfer my iPhone photos, HEIC files without having to convert them to JPGs. My Substack homepage is one of my favorite places that I go for ideas and inspiration, and I’d prefer it even more than Pinterest. In addition, there’s a clear path to make an income from paid subscriptions, and the content shared on there seems to be a lot more personal and authentic. As compared to traditional media like blogs, the Substack platform is algorithm-free, ad-free. Writers have control, and they own their email list.

How are you lately?

October feels like it flies by! Who else is excited for the holiday season?

I wanted to have my regular haircut before this weekend since I’d have to shoot outfits for a few brand projects, only to find out my hairstylist has been promoted to a director position at the hair salon. Hence, his rate has been raised again, like 3 times since he started or I last discovered him. I fully support talented people and think they deserve the advancement, but it gets tricky for me as a client. I love his work so much, and I don’t think I want to deal with bad haircuts at this point. However, I can’t even book him, not until next month. For now, I’ll just grow out my hair a little and have it cut short before I fly out to see family for the holidays.

Last night, I called home and talked to my mom and sister, and honestly, I just wanted to fly home and be home with them all the time. Or maybe have them join me here in NYC? That would be my biggest life-long dream. I love and miss my family so much!

Anyway, besides me being busy applying for holiday campaigns and filming for YouTube, life is good, and I very much look forward to the holidays. I’m also planning on doing VLOGMAS 2025 because, honestly, I love being busy. So, be sure to tune in for a lot of fun holiday content and giveaways.

• Watch VLOGMAS 2024!

Hidden gems and inspiring places in NYC - part 3

• Hidden gems and inspiring places in NYC - part 1 & part 2

Disclaimer: The more I travel, the more I understand the importance of sharing responsibly so that the places attract the right kind of attention and audience. If you follow me on IG, TikTok, and YouTube, you’d know I always try to tag and share locations where I think helpful and necessary. Please know that I want to do my part in helping to make your travels more ‘local,’ but it’s also on you to do your own research. Content similar to this week’s is often put behind the paywall because writing travel guides, sometimes paid, is one way I can earn an income as a creator. If you’re able, I’d love to have you! Paid subscription gets you access to my 3-year+ archive of content and a new newsletter every Friday. Free subscribers get one every other week. As always, reach out if you ever need anything, and thank you for your support!

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1. Cafe Zaffri - Middle Eastern restaurant in Union Square

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People often also want to know if there are bathrooms (since many places don’t have bathrooms for customers) and outlets (to charge their electronics) along with laptop usage and public wifi. My answer would always be ‘It’s tricky!’ because there are so many to keep up with in NYC, plus people change the rules all the time. My advice is to make sure to do your own research before going and come prepared — come with your laptop fully charged, bring noise-canceling headphones (some cafes play loud music!), and have some sort of wifi/personal hotspot plan (just in case the wifi at the cafe is slow or not working). A lot of cafes in NYC no longer allow laptop usage on the weekends (to promote conversations and to best serve everyone) or have the 90-minute wifi limit. I would suggest to get up and purchase something else if you plan to stay for longer than 90 minutes.

Since I’ve been doing content on social for a bit now, I know a lot of people have opinions about the type of content that has something to do with sharing someone’s local favorite spots. I hate the gatekeeping mentality, and I think sharing is caring! I know there are also a lot of bad tourists out there, so please do your part to remind everyone to do their part and help keep places and things nice for the next person. If you go (because you’ve seen my posts), please share it with care and good intentions. Thank you for being a subscriber!

MY FAVORITE COFFEE SHOPS IN NYC - PART 2

1. Maru Coffee - Williamsburg

320 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn, NY

Maru is the famous LA-based coffee shop that I’d go out of my way to make it to, every time I’m in LA. They just opened their first location right next to my favorite vintage shop, Sorbara’s, and coffee shop, Devocion, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NYC.

The line when I went last Saturday was about 30 minutes, and so glad we all loved our drinks. I usually get matcha at Maru in LA because it is solid every time — I always get my matcha latte iced, unsweetened, with oat milk. My friend got it sweetened and agreed that the unsweetened was better! That’s the trick because any sweeteners would have easily masked the matcha flavor. I also don’t like sweet creamy dessert-like drinks in general. In terms of coffee, we also tried their two most popular coffee offerings: Bonbon (Santo espresso, signature cream, sugar rim) and Iced Breve Macchiato (Santo espresso, signature half & half), and I loved them both. The macchiato is pretty smooth and creamy, and I can tell why it’s the crowd’s favorite! I asked about their famous ‘cream top,’ and they said it’s only specific for LA. If you go, aim for early in the morning weekdays!

2. Gem Home - Lower East Side

181 Mott St, New York, NY

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June feels like it’s flying by, and this week, despite the heat wave, I feel like I’ve been out there doing all of the things. Here’s a recap!

Sunday

Sunday was a pretty exciting day for many voters in New York, and I could feel it in the air. My local voting site was busy, and everyone seemed to be in a good mood. After voting, I treated myself to 2 bottles of orange from my favorite local natural wine shop, Wild Wines. Then I went to Trader Joe’s to pick up some ingredients for spring rolls this week. I had avocado toasts with chili crisp, pickled red onion, thick slices of heirloom tomatoes, and a side of fruit multiple times this week.

Sundays are usually my rest days, so I always try to make time to read. I took a quick little nap on the lounge chair in the backyard and started on this book, shared in last week’s newsletter.

The Brooklyn Bridge photo at sunset was actually from our Saturday walk after we spent a couple of hours working at a cafe in DUMBO. Highly recommend a sunset walk across the Brooklyn Bridge from Brooklyn to Manhattan because the views are unbeatable!

Monday

Mondays are my admin and email days, meaning I typically make time to apply for campaigns and pitch my ideas for potential brand collaborations (yes, it’s something that content creators don’t often talk about! This is what a manager or an assistant would do. I’m completely on my own, so I always am out looking for future opportunities while juggling past and present projects.

Tuesday

I started writing this week’s newsletter from the Walker Hotel lobby in Tribeca, drinking an iced cortado while taking an AC break. There's a block-long line for a beauty pop-up across the street, and from my window, I can see all the knockoff designer goods being haggled near Canal Street and Broadway.

It’s 1:11 pm and 98°F with an extreme heat warning.

I was glued to my phone because it was the last day for everyone to vote in the NYC 2025 Democratic Primary Election. I voted for Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old New York State Assembly member and democratic socialist, and was so thrilled to see the election results by the end of the night. He is set to be the Democratic candidate for New York City Mayor, making history as the first Muslim nominee! As I’ve said this many times before, I’m proud to be a New Yorker! I love this city and its people!

• The Row Spring 2026 Collection

Wednesday

On Wednesday (Preview Day *press invite), I stopped by the Aesop Queer Library at Rockefeller Center to pick up a book and had the best time at Hermès MYSTERY AT THE GROOMS' event. Also, Jenna Lyons was in my close proximity when we were in line for our bag check!

• LEMAIRE Spring/Summer 2026 collection (June 25, 2025) - one of the strongest collections form Lemaire I’ve seen in recent years! I would replace everything in my wardrobe to everything Lemaire if I could!

Thursday

I unboxed some packages and filmed the try-on/unboxing portion for this week’s Youtube vlog while prepping all of the ingredients for dinner. We had grilled butter beef, squid, and shrimps and made spring rolls with lettuce and herbs, pickled carrot and daikon radish, and my Vietnamese dipping sweet and sour fish sauce (recipe behind the paywall).

• I finished 10 episodes of The Bear Final Season in one seating, and I did not like how it ended very much, especially for Carmy (ugh!). Plot-wise, there wasn’t a lot to discuss about, and it seemed like people were just trying to heal and learning how to forgive and to love? I wanted more restaurant actions, not just talks! The wedding episode was cheesy, and it felt like one of those youth group retreat activities we did back in the days (everyone, including me, always ended up crying at the retreats, and it’s crazy to think about it now! lol). There were a lot of closed up shots, yes, to focus on the emotions, but those were not flattering angles! My eyes got watery during one of the episodes that Syd (Ayo Edebiri) was in (or more her acting was pretty good!). Earlier this spring, I actually saw Ayo walking into a hotel in Midtown, just random, and I was just right there filming a fitcheck. I could tell that it was her right away because she looked exactly like how you’d imagine (even though it’s just a quick few seconds).

Friday and Saturday

Finalized this week’s newsletter for the 6 pm Friday schedule and edited Sunday vlog for the 10 am schedule. Fridays and Saturdays are my editing days, so my partner and I would usually head to a cafe in Brooklyn or Manhattan for a couple of hours then we go explore the area for the day. Even after 4 years (on our 5th now!), I feel like I still discover new spots, and it’s a new exciting day every day.

• Dior Summer 2026 show (June 27, 2025) - Creatively directed by Jonathan Anderson! He killed it as his first collection for Dior, honestly!

watch my vlogs!

High summer or heat wave in NYC

Here are my recommendations: where to go and what to wear + what I bought this week!

5 PLACES TO GO

TO COOL DOWN, CATCH UP WITH FRIENDS, WORK, CHILL, OR SHOP IN NYC

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I’m sharing with you my list of home decor and design shops, including stationery, plant, book, vintage, and thrift shops that I love and frequent in New York City.

Bookmark this post and check back often, as I will make frequent updates.

Fishs Eddy - kitchenwares & home goods

889 Broadway, New York - Union Square

BEAM - furniture, lighting, home goods, and gifts

Brooklyn Store: 272 Kent Avenue, Brooklyn - Williamsburg

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First, there’s one great news I’d like to share! My YouTube channel officially meets all of the requirements for monetization, and that means I can enable ads on my videos. It’s been one heck of a journey, but I’ve learned so much throughout this process. I love documenting bits and pieces of my life and sharing them with you! Currently, I’m also working on some projects (one related to my family’s business), and I cannot wait to share more with you!

This week, I want to share with you a list of all of NYC's happenings, spring-related, including all of the fun pop-ups and openings that I’m excited about. At the end, I will share with you some of the new pieces that I’ve recently added to my wardrobe. We’ll dive deeper into the world of shirts, my favorite clothing category to talk about. So it means a lot if you consider subscribing below and to my YouTube channel, too. I’m making a Sunday Roast on vlog #69 this Sunday!

NYC Openings & Pop-ups

MATCHA CAFE

I visited 12 Matcha, the new two-storied matcha cafe on Bond Street in NoHo, today. There was already a line of about 20 people by the time we got there at 8:55 am, their third opening day, and the wait to get inside was about 35 minutes.

Good news! Their matcha is GOOD and STRONG (be careful when drinking with an empty stomach), and yes, it’s the best that you can get in NYC right now! There is plenty of seating, laptops allowed, and free wifi!

THE FRICK COLLECTION

Another exciting opening or more like a reopening is The Frick Collection, after 5 years of closure and a $220 million renovation! The official opening date is April 17 (1 East 70th Street - Upper East Side). I discovered the Frick mansion during my first trip to NYC and fell in love with the impressive collection of Old Masters drawings. It was where and when I got the idea for my first arm tattoo (from a painting!). Last year, I stopped by its temporary location with a mission of trying to find that painting, but it wasn’t there.

The Frick’s opening is one of the most anticipated museum reopenings in New York this spring, but I think I want to wait until at least early May when the tree leaves come back and the flowers are in bloom. And to find that painting again!

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Just a PSA to make sure to cook your food thoroughly, especially chicken and pork. Be careful when consuming raw seafood or any excess amount of ingredients such as spices and oil. Simplify your food and remember to eat a colorful diet. Whole foods over processed food, always! And don’t forget to wash your hands!

On a lighter note, I want to start a series sharing with you my ‘best of NYC’ lists, starting with Asian food since it’s the most asked question for me over the years. I do have a paid NYC guide over on Thatch (they’re moving to a new platform, Mindtrip, so I’ll have to make some migration and updates soon!).

My first response when someone DMs or asks for my Asian food recommendtions would always be ‘What kind of food do you like?’ or ‘What are you looking for? Tell me specifics!’ because there is something for everyone. In contrary, New York City has plenty of cheap affordable eats, and traveling to NYC doesn’t have to cost a lot of money if you know where to go.

*Make sure to bookmark or save this post as I will make frequent updates as I go.

Best of NYC - Asian Food

Best dim sum: East Harbor Seafood Palace - Brooklyn Chinatown (Getting dim sum is my rainy day comfort food! Tips: go early for best and fresh selection and go before 2 pm. Fast and friendly service. Love that they don’t use the typical soy sauce and chili as dipping sauce, but the mustard and chili instead. I’m obsessed with their Siu Mai!)

• Runner ups: House of Joy (Chinatown Manhattan), Tim Ho Wan (East Village. Some dishes can be oily!), Nom Wah Tea Parlor (historic & always busy!), Golden Unicorn Restaurant (Chinatown Manhattan. Kinda inconsistent sometimes! They no longer have the ladies coming with the carts and replace them with the cat robots.)

Best Chinese: Che Li - East Village & Flushing (Shanghainese. Must-try: wine-soaked chicken and osmanthus rice cakes), Noodle Village - Chinatown Manhattan (good overall!), Din Tai Fung - Midtown (my go-to order: pork xiao long bao, Shanghai rice cakes, vegan dumplings, sticky rice shao mai, beef noodle soup, shrimp & pork spicy wonton in sauce, & chocolate shiao long bao!!!)

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This week, I rewatched The Boy and the Heron, and regardless of it being bland and sleepy (and having a totally different storyline — it’s about grieving and finding one’s life purpose and truth), it brought me back to my childhood. I knew I wanted to do fashion and design ever since I was a little girl, and that was probably where my appreciation for art came from. From within. I dreamed a lot, like seriously, I felt like I was in a dream state all the time.

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My birthday is this Sunday, and I feel like I’ve spent so much time this entire week trying to secure a reservation on my NYC list (subscribe below to view my list of places I want to get in this time).

To be honest with you, I care a lot about the food and places I’m spending my time and money at these days. I care a lot about the experience. Even though I cannot commit to a 30-day in-advance booking, I’d wait in line and plan my day around just so I could make it work for a spot. However, there’s a line that I draw. I’d never pay someone to wait in line, pickup and deliver my food, and especially pay to those who resell or flip dinner reservations. No shades to anyone who does, but I think I can do those things myself. And it’s fun for me!

Last year, I spent the entire month of February in Vietnam, and I felt lucky that I got to be with my family. We also celebrated my dad’s and my brother’s birthday, and that’s something we’d never gotten to do as a whole family in a really long time. In 2023, I reserved a table at Rolo’s, ordered a cake from La Cantine, and bought a few bottles of natural wine from Wild Wines (all of my favorite neighborhood spots!). My friends also brought over some bottles, my cousins (and a friend flew in), and that was a lot of fun. For someone who’s not a cake person, I like the idea of making myself a small birthday cake and making it a tradition, and I think I might be a fun activity to do for the vlog. Lmk!

But here’s my NYC list of ideas and things to do and where to go to celebrate your birthday if you’re in NYC or visiting NYC.

Restaurants & bars ~

The Polo Bar - call to book. I called this week, was on hold for over an hour, and was just to be told nothing available for the next 30 days. Someone, please get me in or send tips on how I can reserve a spot!

Jazz night at The Django - You can order drinks and food while enjoying the live music. There’s a minimum drink order + cover charge for the music - vlog here

Torrisi Bar & Restaurant - Yes, it’s that good, and I do recommend their lunch service if you can’t get in for dinner. Even though my dinner reservation was at 11:30 pm, so late, I really enjoyed the experience. I’d be back in a heartbeat!

Don Angie - I had my birthday dinner here (also kinda late/after 10 pm because that was what available) back in 2023 when my cousins were in town. All of us agreed that everything was excellent! However, skip San Sabino, its sister restaurant next door, because the food didn’t live up to the hype. We dined there for my partner’s birthday last year, and we all didn’t think it was anything special. The flavors were all over the place, and the desserts were overly salty!

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1. Albertine Book

972 5th Ave, New York - Located in: Cultural Services of the French Embassy - Upper East Side

Located in the historic Payne Whitney mansion on…

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I was in SoHo the other day and was shocked by the amount of people and lines in front of shops and restaurants. There’s even a line for ice cream!!! If you’re visiting NYC, I do recommend heading to Brooklyn for at least a day for a lazy afternoon (most places don’t even require advanced planning nor reservations!). It’s quieter plus the picturesque brownstone charm minus the crazy crowd.

An's Guide to Brooklyn - part 1

Popular Brooklyn neighborhoods + my Food and Drink 2023 List

An's Guide to Brooklyn - part 2

Vintage and thrift shops, home decor and furniture shops, grocery stores, & specialty shops

An's Guide to Brooklyn - part 3

For part 3, I’m sharing my Food and Drink List of 2024 plus a few newly discovered hidden gems in Brooklyn.

Now, let’s start with a few free things that I plan to do this summer that you TOO can do if you’re visiting. The rest of the content will be put behind a paywall, and I kindly ask that you ‘subscribe’ or ‘upgrade to paid’ as it helps support this work.

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Happy to send specific NYC recommendations that best fit your needs and schedule, so feel free to DM me on IG!

Free summer movies in Brooklyn:

I’ve been to Monday movie nights at Bryant Park with friends a few times before, and it’s always so much fun. This summer, I have two on my list that I want to check out, and they’re both in Brooklyn.

• Movie Nights in Prospect Park - North end of Prospect Park Meadow, closest to Third Street and Grand Army Plaza entrance - Wednesdays, ends July 17

• Movies With A View at Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 1 Harbor View Lawn - Thursdays, in July and August

Pro tips: Pack along a picnic blanket (I have a mini and 2 of these regular-sized mats that are great for the parks and beaches.), snacks, and drinks. Plan to be there before the movie starts if you want to grab the best seat in the house.

Other free things I’ve done and would recommend:

• E-bike or walk the Brooklyn Bridge. I can confirm that it’s fun and worth it! Best early in the morning to avoid the crowd or late in the afternoon around sunset to avoid the heat. :)

• Experience the vibe of Red Hook - this will be on my Youtube video Vlog 11

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• Go to the beach! Yes, Brooklyn has a few in Coney Island, and most are accessible by train. LIST HERE!

• Brooklyn Flea in Dumbo - Saturdays + Sundays

• Hot Honey Sundays - dance parties

• Smorgasburg Brooklyn - open-aired food market, Saturdays in Williamsburg and Sundays in Prospect Park

My 2024 Food, Drink & Shop List (by neighborhoods)

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