Last week, I had an ex-colleague turned friend from Seattle come to visit me for a few days. I had so much fun showing her all of my favorite NYC spots!
Early Sunday morning on our way to the airport, when we were just 10 minutes away, I drove over a ditch. Knowing that the roads to the airport are extremely bad, I constantly have to change lanes, however, there’s a huge truck next to me at the time. My front left tire was almost completely blown-out. After almost 2 hours of waiting, my partner finally came with a used tire with wheel. I went home and passed out for the entire day. These days, any car-related problems instantly send me to a panic mode (for having been in a few car incidents in the past!). It’s convenient having a car in NYC, but dealing with parking, tolls, and all of the fees related to cars is so not fun. It’s all a part of adulting, and as annoying as it sounds. We all have to just go through it.
Recent favorite moments and things…
For spring this year, I’m obsessed with vintage oversized Ralph Lauren striped shirts and rugby shirts. And last week, I happened to stop by Front General Store in DUMBO while I was out with my friend, and I saw that they had a bunch of them in-store. Each retails for at least $80! So I searched and found SO MANY GOOD OPTIONS ON EBAY! Below are my first 2 orders, coming next week, and I will place a few more and update you on stories VERY SOON!
And of course, sharing with you my plant list aka what I’m planning to add to my plant collection this year
Rhipsalis paradoxa - It’s known as ‘the ‘it’ girl of rhipsalis,’ and I’ve after a full and lush hanging pot of it for years. This week, I decided on this 5-in one, so you’d either see or hear me talking about it pretty soon. It’s harder for me to commit to anything more expensive right now because there’s a risk of me either under or overwatering it. Rhipsalis plants tend to be pretty picky!
Hoya linearis - Another one that’s known as one of the most difficult plants to grow, among all of the hoyas, so I am unsure if I can take one in my care right now. In the summer, my backyard space is a heaven, and all of my plants thrive. However, they do struggle when the temperature drops below freezing, and the lack of light in the kitchen really affects everything.
Dracaena Dragon Tree - Now, I just want to be clear that I want an actual tree with the perfect height and weirdly architectural shape like this one which is sold out and can only be picked up locally. Dahing Plants in Chinatown looks like they’ve got a few great large-enough options, so I’m going to stop by their store this weekend.
Ficus ‘Audrey’ - I’m sure you see this one coming because it is a classic. I still have yet to find ‘the one’ after all of these years, so wish me luck this time! Last year, a few plant stalls at Union Square Green Market have a few pretty good medium-sized trees, so I want to check there first! Facebook Marketplace has some decent options, but people still list them at very high prices.
Philodendron tortum - It’s an aroid, but the foliage gives palm, fern-like, definitely one of the more interesting philodendrons out there. Here’s the link to the plant I bought (will do an unboxing on stories next week or whenever it arrives!)
Again, who really knows if I come across some other cool plants along the way as my taste evolves and changes. You’d just have to stay tuned and keep your eyes peeled for surprises and hidden treasures, and that’s what life is all about.
Some common (but not so common nor average) plants I own and recommend (easy-care and low maintenance)
Hoya obavata ‘splash’ from Pistil Nursery - I have the regular ‘unplash' version that I bought at Pistil Nursery, in-store, in Portland many years ago, VIDEO HERE and it’s still so big and full to this day. It is one of my absolute favorite hoyas because of its round-shaped deep-green leaves.
Bowiea volubilis from Arium Botanicals - I remembered purchasing it on the train after an event in NYC last year (I paid $55 + $10 shipping for a 4” pot) - VIDEO HERE. So glad to see it being back in-stock again this year. Note that the stems/foliage of this ‘climbing onion’ does die off as the plant goes dormant, so don’t freak out and be quick to throw it away. I just left it alone and watered it occasionally, and magically, it went alive a couple of months ago. The bulb has also doubled its size! I had to repot it (up 2 inches) and made a little trellis for the foliage to climb.
Scindapsus pictus Exotica or silver satin - Now in terms of care for this one, you just have to place it in a bright spot, never direct sun, and water it very sparingly. Mine goes through a period of dramatic growth with massive leaves, and not it’s just chilling in my kitchen corner.
Cebu blue pothos - Remember when plant shops used to allow one Cebu blue node cutting with one leaf back in the pandemic days? It’s, luckily, widely available and so cheap now that I think everyone should consider because of its cool blue-tinted green leaves. If you allow it to climb, its leaves would also get massive with fenestration. I just let mine trailed from the top of the fridge, right next to my Scindapsus pictus Exotica, and they’re both thriving even though there’s not too much light in that corner.
Rhaphidophora tetrasperma aka Monstera ginny - I don’t currently have one, but used to (and sold it for a pretty good money when I moved from Seattle to NYC). It’s one of the most satisfying and fast-growing houseplant I’ve had, and I’m thinking about getting a starter plant if I come across one in-store or at the farmer’s market. Highly recommend it if you’re looking for something that climbs to fill up the vertical space in your home.
Plant shops in NYC I love:
Tula House - 59 Meserole Ave,, Greenpoint: great cactus and succulent plant selection, some tropical plants
Cactus Store - 5 Essex St, LES: open in the spring/summer/growing season only. They have lots of weird and wacky cacti, big and small!
Crest Hardware & Urban Garden Center - Williamsburg: Now this is a hardware store, but the garden section in the back in the real gem! They do have some rare plants as well, so go check it out!
Dahing Plants - 289 Grand St, Chinatown: lots of plants, available both in-store and online. I’m certainly impressed with their tree selection!
Noble Plants - 106A W 28th St A, Midtown: I found out about the shop and learned about the owners/couple many years ago (years before I moved to NYC) from this video on The New Yorker’s Youtube channel. I went there last year and saw Mr. Markovic in his flesh, and I thought it was quite cool. Gotta stop by again very soon as I’m sure there’s something weird and wacky waiting for me in there!
Adding more food spots to my NYC spring/summer
Continued from this list I shared last week…
Sip&Guzzle - 29 Cornelia St: cocktail bar on Cornelia Street in West Village, and in case you didn’t know, I used to live on Cornelia Street, but in Bushwick, Brooklyn.
COQODAQ - 12 E 22nd St: We have a fried chicken enthusiast in our household, and it’s not me. I’d go out of curiosity with not a lot of hope because I’m not too big of a fan of these modern Korean spots in NYC. Food tends to be the same, kinda meh, and you’d end up paying for the ambiance and fancy interior/location which is not much of my vibe these days.
Sappe - 240 W 14th St: younger sister restaurant of Soothr, one of my favorite Thai restaurants in NYC. It’s a skewer shop, focusing on Thai grilled and BBQ dishes.
Okiboru House of Udon - 124 2nd Ave: The first Himokawa styled udon in NYC! The flat wide noodle looks satisfyingly bouncy and chewy, and I cannot wait to try. And if you’re also a fan of noodle with dipping broth, visit its older sister restaurant, Okiboru House of Tsukemen. I’ve been, and it’s also one of my favorites in nYC.
Frog Club - 86 Bedford St: known as one of the hottest and most debated restaurants where you can only get a table by emailing (and they rarely reply... like what?) Also photographs aren’t allowed inside. I wonder what’s REALLY AND ACTUALLY behind that green mysterious door (inside the building that used to be home to Chumley’s aka a historic pub that first opened in 1922.). There’s the other friendlier Frog (wine bar) in my neighborhood you should definitely check out if you’re not a fan of the other one.
Chelsea Living Room - 243 W 14th St, Chelsea: A new jazzy restaurant that promises cosy and chic vibe. I’m interested in trying out their martinis.
Demo - 34 Carmine St, Greenwich Village: I love a good natural wine bar, especially if it’s from a team that’s previously known in the city, Wildair aka a natural wine bar on my list that I have yet to visit! Demo’s food actually looks promising.
Mama’s Too - 323-325 Bleecker St: This Upper West Side pizzeria has been on my list to try for years, and I’m so glad to hear that they recently opened their second location. And it’s in the West Village!
San Sabino - 113 Greenwich Ave: Don Angie’s sister and next-door Italian-American restaurant with a seafood focus. All of their hand-crafted pasta dishes look insane, and everyone raves about the Shrimp Parm.
Lastly, my thoughts on some NYC food I’ve tried recently…
Thanks for reading and subscribing. Happy spring!
An :x