On Various NYC Culture Items
2025!! Okay! Here we go!!!
First, let me be the 1Mth person to wish you a very, very happy new year. January 6th is the anniversary of one of the most bizarre and concerning events in recent US history, but it is also my sweet father’s birthday and it’s snowing in NYC! A mixed bag!!
NYC Congestion pricing “started” at midnight last night. There’s been so much dramatic news, starts and stops and litigation, but suddenly it’s live. A very basic read: cars will be charged $9 to enter the city at peak times. Proponents of the legislation say there will be less traffic, less pollution and the MTA will bring in a lot of $. People against it argue that $9 is a LOT to charge, especially given how expensive parking already is and that the MTA is so poorly run that it wont know how to effectively utilize the money.
Places to Eat
Mắm- zero frills, very delicious Vietnamese food in LES
Chambers - recently met someone who made the bold claim that they have the best wine list in the city. The wine was great, but the roast chicken and sweet potatoes are worth a visit all on their own
Gage&Tollner - One of the best martinis1 in the city and a NYC institution
People to Know
Soo-Young Kim @ SYK Skin - I first met Soo-Young on her last day at Rescue Spa, and she has since opened up her own cozy studio in Soho under her own name (iconic). She’s become a friend and not only is she the best facialist in the city, she is also a wonderful person to spend an hour with. Book time with her, you will not regret it.
Isabel Kardon is also a friend, a somme at The Modern, and on Substack. Isabel started doing private wine tastings last year and they are always a good time. She’s knowledgeable, but not pretentious and a very fun hang. Highly recommend working with her for a wine tasting with your friends or inviting her to your office to impress your coworkers at a corporate event!
Culture to Consume
Gypsy just opened on Broadway and it’s excellent. Personally, I think the music is just okay (sorry Sondheim diehards), but Audra McDonald is an absolute force of nature as Rose. The original Kris Jenner.
Nueue Gallery - a tiny gallery in NYC owned by the Estee Lauder family. While they have a number of great Klimt paintings, the main event here is The Woman in Gold. The story of the history of this painting is amazing and the movie is also good. Right now they also have an exhibit about Egon Schiele, who painted some incredible stuff before he died of the flu (!) at 28.
Lastly, I’m thinking about writing a piece about some NYC hotel/unions gossip as well as a round up about the many, many people running to be the mayor. If you know anything about either of those topics, let’s chat.
I also wrote this while listening to the new Bad Bunny album. It is very good.
<3 P
Dont @ me, but I love this debate
Love