Explore!

Location | New York, NY

The Pantheon in Roma

Lately I’ve been aching to go back to Europe. I miss the history, the food (the gelato!), the friendly people and just the magic that you feel in Europe that I don’t feel while in the states.

What I miss most is just hanging out around the Pantheon. When I first read about the Pantheon, I couldn’t even fathom it’s impressiveness until I actually saw it in person. Ngoc and I went there 3-4 times in our 3.5 day stay in Roma. Not only did we try every famous gelateria in the area, we went back to some of them more than once.

Not long ago I wrote an mini travel review in regards to the Pantheon that was part of a writing contest on Trazzler. You can still read the review here.

I’m still thinking about gelato.

Location | New York, NY

So, I love how the weekend comes and I already screw up my New Year’s Resolution. I didn’t have a chance to take any shots at all this weekend… BUT I did see Daybreakers on Friday and Avatar on Saturday, so does that count as inspiration? Sunday I went to ‘inoteca and Saints Alp. We were supposed to go to Baohaus, but unfortunately… it was closed! So ‘inoteca was the next choice. (Which was ok, overrated if you ask me).

Location |  New York, NY

You’ll be disappointed to hear that today’s 365 has no photo, but I do have a topic… the Harvard Business Review. HBR is a fantastic little magazine that costs a whopping $16.95 when it’s a double issue. As my aspiration to do better in business, the articles are insightful, but… to get a subscription… it’s $99 for 10 issues!!!

Anyone want to get me a subscription?

Location | New York, NY

Take-home box from Amy Ruth's

Hmmm, why does it seem that my inspiration tends to come from food? Today, as a divisional outing, we went to Amy Ruth’s in Harlem for lunch. I’d heard about Amy Ruth’s before, but had never gone. Right next to the 116th stop (it goes under Central Park!), we arrived and entered the next door “event” space. We were all seated and the event was “catered” style from next door.

Lemonade or Sweet Tea. Fried Chicken, Fried Catfish, Cornbread, Macaroni & Cheese, Collard Greens, Sweet Mashed Potatoes, and Peach Cobbler… MRMMMMM!

Luckily after eating I got a take out box to take some of the leftover food home — YAY! I just finished half of the boxed portion off for dinner. Yum…! Inspiration done.

Location | New York, NY

So... Shake Shack is on the ceiling

Today is brought to you by Shake Shack on the ceiling. Yes, I know it’s a ridiculous thing… it’s not inspirational, but it DOES make me warm. So I discovered why my apartment was very cold. For some reason there’s 2 vents on my ceiling, one above my fridge, the other in my bathroom and they both have cold air streaming out of them… why? I have no idea why. It feels like air conditioning. Where on earth is that air coming from? No idea.

Is it coming from upstairs? Perhaps my upstairs neighbors, who are already wildebeests, are also living in an igloo.

Anyway, so I ended up putting a Shake Shack bag (which is perfectly square) over the perfectly square vent. Now I have a bag on my ceiling… but at least it’s warm now! HOORAH!!

Location | New York, NY

Gianduja Custard at Shake Shack

Today’s inspiration is brought to you by the Shake Shack January Monday flavour of the month – gianduja. Gianduja is a type of chocolate that’s made of 30% hazelnut paste. Hence the lovely hazelnut topping on the custard. It’s $3.50 for this small scoop, but it’s well worth it because Shake Shack offers some really amazing custard flavors. Here are this month’s flavors:

• Monday: Gianduja
• Tuesday: Blood Orange
• Wednesday: Salted Caramel
• Thursday: Roasted Peanut
• Friday: Carrot Cake
• Saturday: Mint Chocolate Chip
• Sunday: Cinnamon Toast

I’ll probably stop by again on Sunday for Cinnamon Toast. My favorite custard flavors are “Coffee and Donuts,” “Bellini,” and “Red Velvet.” I’ve had some weird flavors too (melon mint….), but usually Shake Shack does not disappoint. I’m looking forward to the bananas foster flavor around Mardis Gras! Only 3 months until then!

Location | Ace Hotel, New York

Latte at Stumptown in the Ace Hotel

I have to say, I LOVE the Ace Hotel so far. I’ve been dying to check out the new Stumptown in the Ace Hotel, and today, here I am! At first I thought there was no seating, but I was so excited to hear that you sit inside the hotel lobby. Free WiFi, waiter service too…! Baristas dressed up in prohibition era type clothing… love love love this place! Not to mention that Stumptown coffee is amazingly good (trust me, better than any Starbucks).

Location | New York, NY

This is Steel Train

Today’s 365 is brought to you by Steel Train. What is Steel Train you ask? Well I didn’t know until about 2 hours ago. They’re an indie rock group from Jersey. I went to the Brooklyn Bowl tonight for Albert’s birthday and part of the Brooklyn Bowl is a music venue so there was a Steel Train concert! I’ve never really been into indie rock, but I have to admit that they were pretty good.

It reminded me of the days when I used to be more into music. I’d know all the latest bands and try to essentially “keep up with the Joneses.”

Anyway, while at the Brooklyn Bowl, I made friends with a guy from Japan who’s a guitarist in a band. Didn’t get his contact info though, or else maybe I’d be going to more indie rock concerts?

Location | New York City

Glenfidditch Scotch - Aged 12 Years

Yesterday was the beginning of what would turn into a long (and fun) night. It was New Year’s Eve, I was hosting a bash at my friend, Ning’s, and with a fridge filled only with alcohol (beer, beer and more beer) as well as a bar stocked with whiskey, vodka, rum, etc, we were ready to party.

When the night was winding down, my friend John decided he’d take it upon himself to teach me how to drink (and enjoy!?) scotch. Ning had 2 bottles of scotch in his apartment, Glenlivet, Aged 12 Years Single Malt Scotch Whisky and Glenfidditch, also Aged 12 Years Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

Now, I know absolutely nothing about scotch. Frankly, I had no idea that it had to be distilled in Scotland. You’d think I’d make a connection… scotch… Scotland… scotch… Scotland… and no… I did not.

So here’s John’s advice (and this is assuming that you’re like me, knowing nothing about scotch):

• Scotch is a sipping drink. It must never be swallowed like a shot.
• Scotch is a sweet drink. Smell it before you sip.
• Sip the scotch so that it is at the front of your mouth, where the tip of your tongue is (where the sweet receptors are) and swirl slightly to taste
• Swallow the scotch and breathe out through your nose. Keep mouth shut (or else you’ll feel the scotch burn).

As strange as this all sounds (and also slightly obvious). This took me FOREVER to master. Boy, I felt completely ridiculous trying to do this careful “dance” in my mouth with tongue, scotch, breathing, mouth shut. Of course, my mouth and throat were burning after awhile because I was having trouble trying to understand how someone could enjoy scotch.

I have a feeling that it’s going to be one of those “acquired taste” things, but maybe I can get into it? Despite that completely tipsy drunken feeling I had only after a little bit.

Location | New York City

So until I actually get the blog up and running, I’m starting my new project here. It’s called 365. Essentially I’m going to try to blog about 1 thing every day that I find inspiration in, or something that I’ve learned about. The cool thing is… it goes really well in conjunction with the Explore! blog. It’s part of my resolution to explore and seek out new things and find inspiration in the everyday. Hopefully I’ll be able to move these entries off of Explore to their own home soon.