Cousin in Manhattan

over christmas break Cousin came to visit from LA. altho i'd planned to stay home and just chill out until after NYE, that plan flew out the door once Cousin got here b/c there were just too many things to be done in NYC and Cousin needed a place to stay. her usual abodes had all been occupied/taken/were too inconvenient (1 was in Queens, the other was already hosting somebody and the last had recently gotten a girlfriend which meant Cousin could only stay over on a rotating schedule. phew that's complicated).

it was all fine and dandy tho b/c Stinky was visiting NYC w/her new Aussie boyfriend so i was required to be back in the city regardless. came into the city w/the family and all the kids got haircuts (including me. it's a little high maintenance but the cut was very necessary considering how long it's been since my last 1) before the fam and i had dim sum at Jing Fong. now how ironic is this? Stinky and the girls were also gonna be getting dim sum and since i've only taken them to Jing Fong i knew they would be going there. Cousin also had friends going out to dim sum and i knew, in my heart of hearts, that Jing Fong would be where they would be going too. and we all sort of converged there all around the same time. i just missed Stinky and the girls (they were leaving when we were sitting) and Cousin's friends were waiting at the same time we were and sat only a little before us. when it comes to dim sum Chinatown is just as a small as ktown at 3 am.

after brunch i went to South Street Seaport to meet up w/Stinky and Bubby and Cousin's crew all came along in tow since they didn't really have any plans either. we went to Jeremy's Ale House for quiet drinks. honestly, not really a fan of this place. such a local dive. bras flung everywhere, not much in terms of ambience, and when we went to go order beers, they were pretty much out of everything but would wait to let us know until after we'd ordered. and to top it all off, Bubby and i got Yuengling and it was flat. how whack is that? regardless it was good to sit down and catch up w/Stinky who hasn't been to town since she moved back from Australia.

Cousin got tipsy from 1 cup of cider and considering she hadn't really slept the night before, she wanted to lay down for a nap but i still had loads to chat w/the girls so she went over to Snoopy's (conveniently located in Chinatown) while i went over to Heartland Brewery for more beers. a little disappointed that the Heartland at South Street Seaport doesn't have pumpkin ale (my favorite) but we totally snacked out on nachos and deep fried dill pickle spears. sounds weird right? it's hard to explain but i thoroughly enjoyed them altho they definitely must be eaten hot. the batter's sort of like boardwalk onion ring batter which is what makes it yummy. and they do taste exactly like they sound but somehow it's still good.

went to Snoopy's afterwards to pick up Cousin but she was totally passed out. instead i got introduced to playing Wario Ware on Wii. so much fun. Snoopy advised me it's even more fun to play when drinking. i'm sure it is just based on how fun it was when we were sober. can't wait...

once Cousin woke up we went for dinner before heading over to 40/40 Club to watch the Celtics vs. Lakers game. aish. i know it's technically a sports lounge but only ballers would go there to watch the game. we had a decent number of ppl so we got a private room to watch the game which was real comfy but once again, it was to watch sports, not club. it was kind of surreal.

La Boheme

w/o Debs in my life, i prob wouldn't have anything cultural/sophisticated to talk about, let alone anything truly exciting in the "real-world" sense of things. but luckily for you and i, she is in my life and so i have this entry.

Debs had bought tickets to La Boheme performed by the NYC Opera at Lincoln Center for her lil' sis who ironically wanted to see Rent instead of it (Rent is based on La Boheme, something i didn't know until Debs told me at the opera house) so Debs asked me to go instead. i was really psyched to go but worried too since i don't do too well at truly cultural events (i always fall asleep at ballets and orchestras/symphonies when they're held indoors). i didn't have to worry b/c La Boheme was performed beautifully and i really enjoyed it, at 1st straining to read the supertitles and then not caring about them near the end. gotta love that Puccini.


since it was Friday night, i'd already gotten a bunch of calls about events going on and was sort of relieved about attending the opera w/Debs since it took off some of the pressure of trying to figure out where to go and what to do. afterwards, we went to grab some dinner at Heartland Brewery in Union Square (pumpkin ale's now available. it tasted like a beer-y version of pumpkin pie so i was in heaven) before heading over to Slate for GJ's boyfriend's bday party where Prez was. i was excited for Prez and Debs to meet b/c i think they're both adorable ppl and they're both my pseudo-dates sometimes, plus they're amongst my friends w/the least drama which i love the most.


Debs only stayed for a little at Slate (she gets uncomfortable in super-Asian crowds having grown up all twinkie) and that's when random chaos started. Chipmunk, Snoopy and GMoon called (all separately) a bunch of times trying to get into Slate but the doorman was being a douche and wasn't letting anyone else in (it was only 1 am-ish at the time). turns out GMoon and Chipmunk were w/Institution and they'd tried to get in w/about 12 other dudes and no girls(way too much sausage to get in anywhere really). they all travelled over to meatpacking but Chipmunk came back around by himself and i got him in under the "he's-my-boyfriend-and-i-need-him-to-walk-me-back-home-so-pls-let-him-in" pretense. eventually the group went to ktown and Prez and i opted to get food at Kunjip where i ran into Snoopy (who seemed pretty pissed that i hadn't called him back). he went on to norebang while Prez and i and the rest of the group stayed.


turns out Institution and GMoon were eating at the Japanese place above Kunjip (i know ktown's small but sometimes it's a little too small) and we all finished around the same time and headed back to Feil (after a lot of loitering in ktown w/all the guys trying to figure out where to go next and where to meet girls-since i was the only girl at this pt). some of us ended up at Institution's apt drinking Modelos and talking about ridiculous stuff until 7 am. what a weird weird night. it started out so nice and classy w/Debs and ended so frat-ish w/Institution and the guys.

Family-style with family (part 1)

oh god, i've eaten so much food this weekend...

went to Kenka on St. Marks for dinner w/Debs which was so so good. It was great to see Debs and have the chance to talk w/her about everything that's been going on w/her and w/me. turns out i've been missing a lot. Debs will be moving out of her Chelsea apartment in about 2 weeks and be (temporarily i hope) heading back to our hometown in Jersey until she finds an affordable and decent living arrangement. she had some promising callbacks that night so i'm crossing my fingers that she won't even have to make the temporary transition to Jersey. Anyways, the whole name of the restaurant is Taishu-Izakaya Kenka but that's a mouthful so i just refer to it as Kenka. I actually really really like this place. It's a little loud and rambunctious but that just made me more relaxed about the whole thing. Debs and i were starving so we ordered a sashimi appetizer, french fries (at Debs' request), fried garlic (also Debs' request, but it definitely hit the spot, and luckily we would not be kissing each other at the end of the night. i was informed by Debs that in Japan they always eat fried garlic in the fall/winter time to strengthen their immune system in light of the colder weather. smart ppl those Japanese) and agedoshi tofu (the tofu inside was so yum and still moist. one of the better versions i've tried). Debs got an oyako don entree while i went for the curry rice. we both enjoyed ours and were satiated at the end of the meal w/o being uncomfortable. and the whole bill, including my beer, was $42 w/tip. i love this place.

a couple of things to know before going: the chairs look ridiculously small, but don't worry, they'll hold you (unless you're ginormous. i wonder what they do then). also, the small containers w/pink crystals in them given at the end of the meal is for the cotton candy machine in the front of the restaurant. Debs and i did not know that, and while i did not particularly want it, Debs lamented the fact that we didn't get to make our own cotton candy. however, don't fret too badly for her b/c we got soft serve from the Automaton on St. Marks and while it wreaked havoc on Debs' lacto-intolerant tummy, i quite enjoyed it.

went again to Yura for brunch w/Gohm. i got a delish omelette w/havarti, tomatoes and mushrooms. YUM YUM. it came w/their delicious cornbread and mashed potatoes. Gohm unfortunately, did not heed my previous raves about the bread pudding french toast and instead went w/the banana french toast. he was very impressed by the banana inside the french toast but other than that the whole thing was a little sweet. also saw Little Miss Sunshine this weekend (thanks again Debs!). the movie was touching and inappropriately hilarious at the same time. if you like that combo then check it out. hung out at the Heartland Brewery after the movie where i munched out more than i should have. did i mention that Gohm and i had dinner at Jackson Hole? i think i ate a heart attack in that single meal, but (secretly) it was worth it. however, i could live w/o all the screaming kids running around the restaurant but i guess it's a small price to pay, particularly if you sit outside.

ok, i haven't even gotten to the piece de resistance of all this food talk but am exhausted and blogger's being a bitch by not letting me put up pics...another time.