Reviews #9

There’s nothing quite like sitting down to write on a cold and snowy winter day. Yes, I’m surprisingly still in NYC! A couple of snowstorms didn’t scare me away - mainly because indoor dining is back and better than ever. I’ve also really been enjoying the forced downtime that snow days bring. Of course, I have my low and lonely days, but for the most part, I’m learning to take advantage of the time I have with myself - especially during the weekdays. In this last week, I finally finished my first book of 2021, started listening to a new podcast, started watching a new Youtuber, and indulged in some yummy meals. If you want my Valentine's Day fit (pictured below) details, read until the end!

My first read of 2021 was Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue. The book follows the life of the Jonga family, a Cameroonian couple and their son, pursuing “the American dream” - the house in the suburbs, the 9-5 job, higher education, and of course, American citizenship. The main plot of the book focuses on the Jonga family’s experience first years living in NYC as African immigrants. Along the way, one is introduced to the many people that either complicate or enhance the Jonga’s lives. It took me a bit to finish the book because it’s quite lengthy. Yet even with its long ended descriptions and various subplots, I felt as though the book fell short. There were many major moments where I felt as though Mbue just glossed over a significant emotional response or character connection. Sometimes it would be many chapters until something of importance was actually being explored in-depth, even though there were so many mundane details. Regardless of my disagreements with the way the plot was executed, I still finished Behold the Dreamers and actually feel glad that I read it. I liked the many parallels between the Jonga’s desires and that of many South Americans I know who immigrate to the US; there is such beauty in their idealized and innocent view of America. I wouldn’t personally recommend the book but would be curious as to how someone else who’s read the book feels about it. 

In the thick of quarantine, I discovered content creator/podcaster/influencer Alexis Barber. I adore everything she puts out because they happen to align with topics that are of deep importance to me. She consistently and authentically discusses racial matters in the US and in her personal life, budgeting in her twenties, dismantling diet culture, and more. She also explains the ways in which these topics are intertwined. And if you think they don’t have overlap think again and go follow her. I have been binging her podcast this week, specifically, the episodes where she interviews her nutritionist and Freckled Foodie. I love how thoughtfully she leads her conversations because I feel like I’m listening or chatting with a friend.

Let me know if you end up following her - she’s great!

Continuing on the wave of social media, I’ve also been binging Gretchen Geraghty’s YouTube videos. Gretchen is a bubbly, twenty-something-year-old influencer living her best life with her boyfriend and adorable golden retriever puppy in Allentown, PA. I love watching her videos while I’m doing work as background noise (lol, I mean this positively!) She loves clothes, fitness, Trader Joes, and talking A LOT - all things I can really relate to. If you like watching the MacDonald sisters you’ll like Gretchen’s videos. I personally loved watching her 30 Days of SoulCycle video and her recent Trader Joes haul.

On Valentine’s Day, I went to brunch with my wonderful friend Nur. I’m so happy I convinced her to come up to Midtown because I really wanted her to try a cafe I love. It’s called Blank Slate and it’s one of the best casual, Aussie cafe options in my area. We got lucky and snagged one of the heated huts outside the cafe. The outdoor huts always provide a very intimate dining experience, but this hut was actually REALLY warm which is always a plus. We had our jackets off the entire time! Even though the indoor dining option is open for Blank Slate and for most restaurants in NYC now, I like to opt to eat outside when possible. We shared the egg and avocado sandwich and the garbanzo green salad. Both were great to share and very filling. Nur also ordered the cauliflower soup. We also both got hot drinks - I got a matcha drink and she got a latte.

For dinner on Valentine’s Day, I obviously went to dinner with my Valentine (Sebastian <3). Getting a reservation for indoor dining on Valentine’s Day was a challenge. Nonetheless, I persevered by putting myself on the Resy waitlist of every restaurant in NYC. I scored a 6:45 pm table at Fairfax in the West Village. Fairfax is a romantic, dark-lit, tavern and bar with limited seating indoors. They’re also part of the Amex x Resy yurt experience, which means they offer an exuberantly expensive outdoor dining option in a beautifully decorated canvas tent with a prix fixe menu. Sebas and I opted for the casual experience, dining at a small table and ordering a bunch of dishes to share. We had the burger, duck breast, tater tots, and fried artichokes. Everything was delicious, but the burger really stole the show. I wish we had each ordered a burger instead of splitting it.

I wore my thrifted skinny bell-bottom jeans, a knitted Top Shop top (out of stock since Top Shop is out of business), Zara loafers, my Wandler Georgia shoulder bag (my specific bag is out of stock), a Claudie Pierlot coat (found it second hand !!), and Brandy Melville scarf (purchased in Paris).