october 2022 - Wanderlogue

october

2022

Really not sure how we got here but suddenly the leaves are turning and we’re all looking for fall shit.

October began with freedom. Freedom in the form of a negative covid test. It was time to emerge back into the world, and just in time to see autumn in its glory. The weather, save for a few gloomy rainy days, was perfect. The days were getting shorter, but golden hour was still something that happened well after work. Weekends were filled with people enjoying the season for all it has to offer. Gourds galore. Cider donuts.

Spooky season is not my favorite. I’d much prefer to skip over Halloween entirely, but it’s tolerable. For me, October is existing outside as much as possible, getting out of the city to appreciate the scenery, and frequenting farmers markets to pretend I actually like apples (I don’t). And most importantly looking forward to the festivities to come before the depression of real winter hits again in the new year.

the little things: morning routines in the neighborhood

Perhaps this newfound freedom really has me appreciating the little things, like the ability to exist outside in my own neighborhood, run errands on a Saturday morning and hit up some of my favorite spots for a breakfast that feels like a treat. A sit down breakfast at Bright Side before a salon appointment. Picking up bread and pastries at La Bicyclette. Wandering the waterfront between errands and picking up a breakfast sandwich from Court Street on the way home. It’s the little things.

culture fix

We’re high brow, and we are low brow. This month was just filled with irresponsible consumption of content some nostalgic, some obligatory, one that was actually productive.

good bites

Cooler temperatures means it is soup and hot beverage season once more and I couldn’t be happier. This month was filled with coffee and pastry runs (01, morning bun from breads bakery before a farmers market haul), hot asian soups after brisk days outside of the city (02, five senses; 05, dun huang), disassociating on the 7 train all the way to flushing on a weeknight (03, haidilao), spontaneous late weeknight dinners we had no business dining that well on a tuesday (04, zouzou), and stumbled upon unplanned dinner choices (06, jiang’s kitchen).

Sibling in town also meant a lot of sporadic eating. Had more boba in a week than I usually do in months on this coast. Finally went to Wen Wen in Greenpoint. Did weekday WFH neighborhood lunch runs at Win Son and Lella Alimentari. It’s fun to pretend to be on a travel budget while at home. Less fun when you live in one of the most expensive cities in the world, but alas, we win some we lose some.

leaving the city

fall weekends are for seeking out fall shit. and while this has been another year of missing the apple picking pumpkin patch excursions, we did get a few field trips in.

first to connecticut, for a lovely day at grace farms

and then a drive up to the catskills to see the fall colors in all their glory (and a stop by hudson for the small town vibes)

current obsessions

bookstores: just, all of them

fall produce: I mean, just look at these colors?

tini itinis!!

It’s one of the rare months where the temperature is generally tolerable, which means more time existing outside, even without plans, which means lots of street wandering and choosing to walk over train whenever possible, which means more tiny itineraries are at play!

I love a bridge walk on a brisk day and coming from Williamsburg that drops me off right in the middle of the Lower East Side. Which offers plenty of tini itini options.

01 – obligatory walk through essex market to pick up provisions, grab a bite, etc (can also be a final stop before heading home)

02 – shopping, or at least stopping by favorite shops like The Assembly

03 – must go into any bookstore passed and P&T Knitwear is always a solid one

04 – cold brew for the walk home @ Kodawari

05 – and a slice of pie from Petee’s for good measure

came for the croissants, but made a morning out of it

01 – patiently wait in line for some IG famous croissants at L’Appartement 4f

followed by a walk to enjoy said croissant and coffee on the Brooklyn Heights Promenade and in the picturesque neighborhood streets

02 – provisions + cookware shopping at Sahadi’s, Dellatietras and Whisk

03 – one more coffee to go, from Stumptown

cobble hill is rly growing on me, and particularly love this on a weekday off

01 – solo lunch at East Wind Snack Shop

02 – perusing the italian goods at Tavola

03 – obligatory stop into one of my favorite bookstores Books Are Magic

04 – sweet treat pick up at The Chocolate Room

what's cooking

didn’t do all that much this month, and when i did, didn’t put in much effort

matcha raspberry latte

pesto grain bowl

new finds

For some reason Japanese small shops have been taking over north Brooklyn, and you won’t find me complaining. I can’t help but drool over the ceramics and provisions at Dashi Okume and Cibone in Greenpoint. And then on the east side the folks behind Okonomi/Yuji have been quickly taking over the neighborhood. As You Like is a gem of a cafe with local ceramic goods as well.