Cool Girl Itinerary 01: Chinatown/LES

NYC Cool Girl Itinerary 01, RESTO 11

Hi Friends,

Happy Monday!

Last week was a blur; I have some bits and bites I want to share with you all in a more in-depth reflection, but this week’s post is another ode to New York. This one’s mostly for my paid sub friends; thank you so much for being patient while I figure out the rhythm of weekly RESTOs and think-pieces with paid guides and resto reviews.

I’m starting a new series of “perfect” NYC days, starting off with a very cool girl part of town: Chinatown/LES. You’ll find my full guide to the perfect day in the neighborhood below (after the RESTO)! If you’re interested in reading and are not a paid subscriber, I’d love to share this info with you for the cost of a monthly coffee (or you can use your free paid post option). Thanks for reading!

Reading/Watching: Mickey 17

Mickey 17 was, unfortunately but expectedly, not for me. As a girl who does not love sci-fi or Robert Pattinson, I found the film to be a drag. This 2:15 movie felt like a 3-hour epic, and Pattinson’s voice and accent were unbearably annoying.

On a positive note, I liked how politically in-tune the film was, with the antagonist as an eery allusion to this Trump Musk era.

Overall, I found the concept to be somewhat interesting but none of the characters to be dynamic enough to make me want to root for them or keep watching the big screen. Thank goodness for AMC popcorn and a full theatre; if it weren’t for those two accoutrements, I might have left early.

Eating: Noodle Soups

I was deathly ill (the post-travel/NYC bender flu) for a bulk of last week, so my first few bites back in civilization were pho and katiew (Cambodian pho). I will never not be down for pho, so I thoroughly enjoyed having consecutive days and meals of meat, noodles, broth, herbs, and spice.

Styling: My Keys?

Elizabeth got me the Miffy Starry Night keychain at the MoMA design store last week, and I’ve suddenly become obsessed with my keys. Isn’t she so cute?

Treating: Butter

While I didn’t do any baking while in recovery mode, I did tuck into many a French breakfast radish with salted butter and flaky salt. I also love the same toppings on dates!

Obsessing: Over Nothing, really

It’s been a mentally and physically draining week, and I’ve just been adapting a head empty facade to keep chugging along. Not all weeks can be filled with obsessive behaviour, I suppose!

The Perfect NYC Day: Chinatown/LES

The ideal days for this particular perfect day are Thursday and Friday; all of these spots are open on these weekdays but not (too) overcrowded. Make sure to dress in your coolest outfit, bring a digicam, and do lots of people watching throughout the day!

9AM Morning Coffee: Deploy Coffee

• Deploy occupies the space that was once Kaigo Coffee Room, the specialty coffee shop that gave me my first taste at barista-ing. While my pours at the time were premature, through Kaigo, I developed my love for Ethiopian pourovers and cortados. I often unknowingly play dumb at WIP, an automated response to starting a new job with a new team that is always eager to share their knowledge and preferences with me, but it’s fun to see the commonalities in palates and preferences across the coffee board.While I have yet to check Deploy out myself, I know the charm of 120 Lafayette St and their pretty pours will satisfy coffee snobs and sweet treat lovers alike. (Unfortunately probably no restroom)

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