A Negroni and French haute couture one day, a Jack & Coke and hot dogs the next

Visiting the new French luxury concept store Printemps, trying Korean carbonara at Golden HOF and eating unlimited hot dogs at a hockey game.

It’s easy to hate on the deluge of everyone everywhere all at once telling you what to buy, where to dine and who to care about every single second of the day. Curse this land of overconsumption, lack of original thought and TikTok-fueled groupthink! But, when I looked back on my week, a lot of the things I really enjoyed were brought to my attention and influenced by the Big Bad Internet.

I discovered the new play All Nighter via an Instagram ad. I finally tried the viral Apollo Bagels and visited the new opulent French luxury store Printemps because they were all over my feeds. I ordered the spicy ddukbokki carbonara at Golden HOF after taking one look at it on Foodie Habibi’s story. I instinctively crossed the street to grab a freebie can of sherbet Celsius from a PR giveaway because I saw Wishbone Kitchen rave about it. I bought this handy lil Yeti stackable cup the second a friend texted it in a group chat.

Maybe it all means I have no thoughts of my own and we’re all doomed to bland uniformity. But I also just love discovering the things that other people love, or that I would not have known about otherwise. It’s fun, let’s just have fun.

Before we get into it, speaking of feeds and being influenced. What’s going on, why is everyone eating the greatest pancakes I’ve ever seen every day? I’m keeping a running tab because with each new syrupy story I see, I’m faced with the sad realization that I haven’t tried a single one of the below. This gap in my knowledge is bothering me, because pancakes make me levitate. So this is my public vow to eat more pancakes this Spring. Keep influencing me, please.

Pancake reporting courtesy of @strictlythegoodstuff, @everythinggreatstartswithf, @handmethefork, @lamb_chop97 and some personal friends of mine.

Dispatches from the Corner Booth

Tales from a week of dining.

A luxurious trip to French fashion Disneyland in FiDi.

I was suspicious that the new French luxury concept store Printemps, recently opened in FiDi, would be one of those traps that looks great on Instagram but leaves you feeling hollow IRL. But I had my mouth agape, uncontrollably whispering “wow,” the entire time I was inside. I intended to stop by briefly to check it out, but then I ended up staying until closing. At the entrance, I snapped a picture of the carnival-like coffee bar Café Jalu, not realizing Alexander Wang was waiting right next to me; we then browsed the futuristic sneaker room together.

Upstairs, I was admiring the raw bar Salon Vert when the hostess warmly asked if I wanted to sit, or grab a glass from a nearby roaming wine cart. A half dozen oysters and one “Lucy in Diamond” cocktail later, I was sold on what this French fashion Disneyland had to offer. Next up came twists and turns through a winding beauty corridor, ending in a champagne bar—my kind of light at the end of a sweet-smelling tunnel. Then a royal descent down a grand staircase, opening up to the glamorous Red Room Bar. They didn’t have a spot open to sit, but you can take any drink “to go” as you browse the store. I ordered a Kafé Negroni, infused with coffee, and sipped it in a plush patterned corner booth in the drop-dead gorgeous shoe room.

At every turn, I noted how they had packed the place with staff, in a good way, eager to ensure they were Doing Their Best to make this a Really Great Experience. Mission accomplished.

A Korean pub feast and pulling an All Nighter in Midtown.

My main takeaway after a visit to the brand new Korean pub Golden HOF in Rockefeller Center: the spicy ddukbokki carbonara with supple rice cakes is stupidly good, and I can’t stop thinking about this dish. We also got some other light and bright snacks like the tuna tartare and cucumber salad, as well as a basket of six Gochujang glazed fried chicken wings. I will be back here.

We then rushed off to catch the play All Nighter. I grabbed a double portion cup of a Prosecco-based specialty cocktail and took my seat in a small shiny theater (is this place new?). The play had some flaws for sure, but it excelled in bottling up the feeling of college-age girl group dynamics, peak 2014. I laughed every time Julia Lester’s character appeared, I teared up when they broke out in a nostalgia-inducing rendition of Wrecking Ball.

We stopped in Frena to debrief, where I had a very good white Negroni.

A perfect girl lunch in between art gallery hopping in Chelsea.

I think it’s supposed to be 78 degrees tomorrow. Might I interest you in a stroll through art galleries in Chelsea? Guided by my art aficionado friend, we enjoyed Tyler Mitchell’s Ghost Images at Gagosian, Jean Dubuffet’s Hourloupe Cycle and Kylie Manning’s There is something that stays at Pace, as well as Camille Henrot’s A Number of Things at Hauser & Wirth. Other shows that came recommended to me if you want to keep going: Joan Jonas’ Empty Rooms at Gladstone, Laura Owens at Matthew Marks and Sharon Core’s Facsimile at Yancey Richardson.

For a bite in between stops, I can always rely on The Orchard Townhouse, especially in an area where good lunch options are slim. The chopped salad with crispy chicken, the crab rangoon dip and a cup of fries forms the ideal girl lunch spread. Bonus points for refreshing NA options here as well, particularly the orange spritz.

A hot dog, margarita and ice cream party with a side of hockey in New Jersey.

I had the best night of my life at a New Jersey Devils hockey game. OK, slight hyperbole, but what business does Prudential Center have offering up such a good time? We bought resell tickets in their new “Pier Club” section, which is basically just converted boxes made available to us plebeians. I started with a tasty margarita at the pleasantly line-free private bar. I then had to be held back from overdoing it at the all-inclusive food station. It’s best if you know this about me now: nothing gets me going quite like a hot dog.

Riding a high, the ghost of frat parties’ past possessed my body, and I had the urge to order two Jack & Cokes at the bar (?). The bartender demanded to see my ID because what adult is paying stadium prices for Jack & Cokes. Embarrassing! But we press on, spirits undeterred. I assembled a cheese and charcuterie board, as one does, and snatched a box of popcorn. Then, cue a full ice cream bar. I paired my vanilla scoop with a Bud Light to close out the night. Oh and yes, the game was good too!

A viral bagel taste test in FiDi.

I tried Apollo Bagels for the first time this week, at their new FiDi location. I got an everything bagel with cream cheese and tomato. It was good. I like PopUp Bagels better.

Bathroom Mirror Selfie

Design inspiration from restaurants.

Let me live inside the splendid, fantastical, opulent world of Printemps forever, designed by architect Laura Gonzalez. Don’t expect to buy much from this week’s luxury list, but it’s sure pretty to look at.

1. I double dog dare you to buy the exact pink rock crystal bubble lamp that sits atop the champagne bar.

2. The floral pendants that hang from the ceilings throughout the store feel straight out of a fairytale. Can I interest you in a pink flower chandelier or porcelain bloom sconce? Some more whimsical glass flower lights here, here and here as well.

3. Fill your shelves with the same coffee table books they have in the Red Room Bar, such as this gorgeous Flowers one or this insane high-end Chanel book.

4. The crazy patterned upholstery in this place is the stuff of dreams. My urge to get a new accent chair is now high, such as any of these from Anthropologie, Lulu & Georgia, Arhaus, or Urban Outfitters.

5. Assemble a dining set inspired by the one at the raw bar, with green Sabre flatware, green painted plates like this one or this one and whimsical glasses.

6. I wanted to walk away with so many French fashion and beauty treats, like this lil Jacquemus bag or a new bottle of Leonor Greyl oil.

7. Instead of a full circus tent like they have in the café, go for a mini version.

8. Bring in the Art Nouveau influences via these coasters.

The Reservation Desk

Curated dining suggestions.

Every Monday, I host an open call on Instagram asking for your dining dilemmas, to then resolve right here before the weekend. Be sure to follow along and submit your own queries each week, for a chance to have your night curated by Corner Booth, too.

Dilemma #1: Girls night out, 3 UWS. OK kudos to this person for catching the one neighborhood I didn’t include in my GNO guide last week. It’s a near impossible res, but Tatiana serves up a great time, pulsing with the energy of an excellent playlist; their black bean hummus with spiced lamb is one of my favorite dishes ever. As an alternate, sip tall glasses of perfect frozen piñas at Tiki Chick before firing up some rounds of Trust Mes at SUGARFISH. Keep it classy with some live music at The Wallace Lounge piano bar after.

Dilemma #2: Weeknight dinner before a movie at Angelika. I had such a good time munching on popcorn chicken and seoul’sbury steak at the lively Korean restaurant C as in Charlie. It’s also pleasantly quite affordable. If you’re in the mood for a pre-movie glass of wine, stop in the small, very European feeling wine bar Elvis. There’s always THISBOWL right there too. ;)

Dilemma #3: Date with my GF, want sexy/cocktail vibe and live jazz music. I think a visit to Saint Tuesday, Midnight Blue or The Nines are just what the doctor ordered here.

---

Say hi and follow along in real-time on Instagram!