An's List - The August Edit
August favorites, bucket list fall travel destinations, recipes I'm excited to try
I’m writing this week’s newsletter from The Marlton Hotel, another great spot I’ve recently discovered in Manhattan. I love the ambiance and the interior. The music is not too loud, and lots of people around me are here to write and work from their laptops, so that’s motivating, especially on days when I want to be productive. The Greenwich Village crowd is a bit older and much more my vibe and speed, so, naturally, I'd make it my dream neighborhood to live in (probably when I’m at a much older age and can afford to buy in the city, of course).
This week started quite slow, but things started to pick up in speed a little bit towards the end of the week. I spent some time planning for fall travels, emailing a couple of hotels and brands that I want to work with, and applying for some upcoming fall campaigns. My mood has been pretty meh lately, but at least walking around to browse the shops or hiding away in a cafe somewhere in the city always helps.
On Thursday, I got invited to the Act+Acre’s Daily Hydro Shampoo and Conditioner ($10 off the full system with code CAFEHYDRO) launch pop-up at Rhythm Zero in the West Village, and it was cool to grab a cup of coffee and get a first look at the ‘hydrating’ duo. I love the light blue packaging, and the scent is nice. Excited to get mine in the mail next week!
Finally, I started The Summer I Turned Pretty, after hearing so much about it, and I’d have to admit I did cry a few times. I think it is the perfect summer series, a teenage show made for millennials, just as good and binge-worthy as Gilmore Girls when fall weather comes around. It also makes me want to do a road trip to the Cape before the summer ends. And no, it still does not make me a Swiftie. :P
End-of-summer & fall travel wishlist
As shared, I want to do a road trip before August ends, and Massachusetts is calling my name. I want to make Maine road trip a yearly tradition (I’ve been going up there every summer for the past 3 years!), but this time, I don’t want to drive that far up, just for lobsters.
Cape Cod, located off the coast of southeastern MA, is a popular summer destination known for its beaches, seafood, and quaint coastal towns like Eastham, Provincetown (P-town), and Chatham. As compared to Maine, I feel like I can get similar experiences without having to drive too much, coming from NYC. I did Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and P-town for the weekend, blog post here, back in summer of 2023.
Nantucket is also on my list, but I feel like it won’t be worth it just for a day trip, considering how much time, effort, and money you’d have to put in. Martha’s Vineyard is a much easier to access island, so I’d suggest to visit it over Nantucket.
I’ve been going to the Hamptons pretty much every year, but I don’t know why I don’t feel the pull as much this year. I’ve heard the lines for some of the popular spots like Round Swamp Farm, Guerney’s, The Surf Lodge, Crow’s Nest, and Duryea’s get crazy this year (all because of Tiktok!). If I were to go, I’d definitely go back to Coopers Beach (it’s my most favorite beach in the Hamptons hands down!) and explore Amagansett (a stop at The Row is a must!).
In October, I’d love to do a road trip to the Berkshires, Massachusetts. There are some really cool cabins at Prospect Berkshires (fun fact: Zook Cabins are their cabin builders - remember this? You can book your next cabin stay with Zook Cabins, including the cabins at Prospect Berkshires!). I also have Life House Hotel on my list then explore Lenox and go to two art museums: MASS MoCA (specifically James Turrell C.A.V.U.) and Clark Art Institute - inspired by this solo trip that Lizzy shared last year. Then I’d love to dine at Stissing House again!
Havard Museum of Natural History has a really cool ‘Glass Flowers’ exhibition that I want to check out, called Glass Flowers: The Ware Collection of Blaschka Glass Models of Plants. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is on top of my list to visit when in Boston, so I will make it happen very soon.
Stay tuned for my Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Amsterdam list, after I get back from the trip, of course!
Recipes I’m excited to try (and will share on vlogs)
Eleven Madison Park (EMP) Granola - all because EMP is in the news this week for their announcement (they’re adding fish, shellfish, and poultry to their menu again!). I’ve never dined there, but I’ve heard complains and opinions. I have so much respect for the excellence and artistry that they do, but I don’t think I can ever justify spending that much on a meal. For my birthday this year, I went to EMP’S new bar, Clemente Bar, located just upstairs, for some light bites and cocktails, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
Sungold tomato pasta from Misipasta - I’m sure I cannot recreate the texture of the tagliolini since they make their pasta in-house. I thin the pasta sheet is cut by a tool with tiny strings, lined up in parallel lines. I will give this recipe from Wishbone Kitchen a try since the recipe is so simple and it calls for store-bough bronze-cut spaghetti!
My Egg Roll Recipe
My Bun Bo Hue Recipe
August Favorites
Devoción Coffee deserves the top spot in this month’s favorites because I’m genuinely a fan of their coffee. I frequent all of their locations in Brooklyn and Manhattan! Get 20% off your online purchase with my link or my code ANTRIEU. I’d recommend the TORO if it’s your first time trying it out, and VERANO is excellent for cold brew. Get this, and no fancy equipments required!
If you watched last week’s vlog where I went thrifting in Brooklyn, you’d recognize a lot of the pieces I’ve been wearing on repeat this month. I love that secondhand clothings gets the love and attention they deserve because I can certainly resell my designer labels even if they’re not perfectly new. New clothes are so expensive these days, and a lot of them aren’t even well-made. My three favorite thrift finds this month are this Columbia shirt (from L Train Vintage in Bushwick), this brown Comme Si shirt (from this collection, worn below, thrifted from Beacon’s Closet in Manhattan this week!), and these silk embroidered pants that fit me like a glove. No regret on spending full price on the blue Comme Si shirt though. It’s a beautifully made shirt, and I adore the colors!
Comme Si brown shirt (S) | Donni black scallop pants (M) | Jcrew tote | Saint Laurent sunglasses | BAGGU shopping tote | Manolo Blahnik suede flats - similar
I’m passionate with scents when it comes to shower products, but there are three stand-out products that I cannot pick a favorite — all are excellent: Jones Road shower gel (FREE Mini Mascara with $85+ purchases), Aesop Eleos body cleanser, and Salt & Stone Bergamot & Hinoki body wash.
Peach & Lily ginseng collagen mask is the best mask for hydration and glass skin. Put it on for a hour or go to sleep with it, and you will wake up with the most supple and glowy skin. It’s a treat every time!
I reach for OPI Secs Appeal so often this past month because it is the perfect true red polish shade. Skip a Beet is my go-to when I want something slightly darker, a perfect Bing cherry share.
Cactus Store’s last plant sale was one of the coolest things that I went to all summer! I saw two people walking out with my wishlist plants, and I was just a few minutes late. The line formed at least 30 minutes before the sale started. I recognized a plant YouTuber, Summer, whom I had watched for years and I saw myself in her video, here. It was a fun experience regardless of me going home empty handed, practicing self-control.
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My current wishlist
Style
My search for the next carry-all tote bag continues because this tote (shared last week) is too wide and not practical for my lifestyle. I returned it because I wouldn’t think I’d reach for tote that size as often. Lesson learned because I’d rather wait to buy higher-end leather tote, secondhand!
left: A.EMERY Flora flip flops; right: A.EMERY Kinto flip flops
left: The Row Stella slipper flats; right: The Row men’s loafers
Home
I’ve been after a pedestal and some rustic vintage pots to liven up my living space since forever, and I really haven’t come across anything good. I placed an order from Zara Home for a few decor items and ended up returning everything because I hated the quality. I’d have to stick with local thrift store and Facebook Marketplace for now or would rather not have cheap things in my home.
Imagine the exact picture below with some droopy tulips!
left: Service Project ice cream cup; middle: Tekla face towels; right: Service Project tray set
Lastly, in case you missed, I’ve decided to add Amsterdam to my itinerary with Copenhagen and Stockholm. It’s been pretty fun building my city maps, and of course, I will share my lists with you when I get back!
Thanks again for being here. Have a great weekend!
An :X