NYC
January 2026
**this is primarily an “updates” post**
January has been a month of firsts, which is by all means appropriate.
I flew to New York on January 6th and since then it’s been a whirlwind of friends, apartments, apartment cats, a restaurant, a scarf, and the flu, which is always lovely... Just kidding. It’s not.
After flying into LaGuardia, I collected my two suitcases and got an Uber to Clinton Ave. When I arrived, my new roommate, Ciara, was in the kitchen with the cat, Zelda. She showed me the apartment and I settled in.
My stage at Stars, the wine bar opened by the same group as Penny and Claud (Josh and Chase), was on Friday, January 9, so the next couple days were spent gearing up for this endeavor. I finally made it to the JB Prince store on E. 31st, and the kind sales-person helped me pick out a wood saya for my knife, which I was very excited about.
Grand and Jinxy were also in town visiting with the Athens Classic Center on their annual Broadway shopping trip, so I was fortunately able to meet up with them a couple times which was absolutely lovely.
My stage went well, although I did not do anything particularly wild. I merely shelled eggs, peeled potatoes, and something else that most likely didn’t require a lot of skill (I was there only a couple hours). The team had already seen me at Penny in October, and given that the position was for prep, the interview process was for the most part pretty chill. After a couple days I spoke with Chef Josh, and we scheduled my first day.
The first couple weeks at Stars have been a bit cumbersome, partially because I am getting used to a new kitchen with new recipes, and partially because I was coming down with a horrendous sickness, and for two days leading up to my visit to urgent care I was a little woozy on cough medicine and DayQuil (looking back, I definitely could have handled my demise more responsibly). Nevertheless I am here, and tomorrow I will be back at work, masked of course ( I also went yesterday, but they didn’t need me today, given that Wednesday is typically my weekend). I am excited to get back in the groove and continue to push past the first stage of awkwardness.
Sunday is my birthday, and Monday Chubby Fish and Penny are doing a collab. I was late to make it to Resy when they first dropped the announcement so now I am on a waitlist, but leaving it up to fate to decide if I get in, which would be fun. I think James and Devon will be the ones in NYC.
Last Sunday it snowed 12 inches, and I’m hoping the next time there’s a blizzard I will be feeling well and therefore able to go sledding in Central Park like all the other freaks (I used this word lovingly). If I read the posting correctly, a New York Library card (which I have now) gets you a skate rental, a ticket, and a cup of hot chocolate at the Central Park ice skating rink all for $16 and I can’t wait to do this.
I crocheted myself a scarf out of the extra yarn I had for my fingerless gloves, but now I want to make myself a bonnet. All the cool girls are wearing them…
Lots of love from NYC,
B.
January 21, 2026. Amy’s broccoli pot pie. Brooklyn, NY. This is my go to comfort food from childhood that you can’t find everywhere, so when I do I snag them. I always eat them upside down. Don’t ask why ;)