New York, Again.

So, last week, I:

• turned 25 (the fact that I’m even 25 is atrocious. Seriously, where my quarter-life crisis at!)
• survived a polar vortex
• saw my favorite band play my favorite song which also happens to be on my favorite album (answers: Neutral Milk Hotel, “In the Aeroplane Over the Sea”, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea)
• visited my favorite city, New York, and was reminded yet again why this city remains my fave.

I miss museums a lot — or I guess, the easy accessibility of art museums. Meanwhile, over in SF, we won’t even have a MoMA again until 2016. 🙁

The Samsung Galaxy Studio Pop-Up in Soho might just be the only place on earth that allows you to design T-shirts, takes ridiculous selfies of you jumping around in photobooths, serves you Sprinkles cupcakes and Illy coffee, redeem points for prizes, drool over all the Samsung swag — for free. Get on that, New Yorkers.

And because no trip to NY would be complete without the presence of good food:

Char Siu Mayo Don at Totto Ramen

Totto Paitan Ramen at (where else?) Totto Ramen

Duck confit at Balthazar

Duck shepherd’s pie at Balthazar

Roasted baby beet salad at Balthazar

Macaroni au gratin at Balthazar

Pacman shrimp dumplings at RedFarm

Crispy skin smoked chicken at RedFarm

Biscuit sandwich at Maysville

Cookies at Schmackary’s

A set of Ladurée macarons to celebrate the birthdaytimes