The General Muir

The General Muir During my brief stint living in New York, I made it my mission one Sunday morning to get a famous H&H bagel. It was chewy, it was covered in sesame and poppy seeds, it was slathered with too much creme cheese. So basically it was perfection. I ate half that sucker on a park bench across the street, feeling like Meg Ryan living on the Upper West Side in You’ve Got Mail.

The great thing about good food is it takes you back to other good meals. And that’s just what my breakfast two weekends ago at The General Muir did. Continue reading

Baking Bandits

My friend Chandra and I will travel for dessert. A few summers ago, we drove out to seemingly the middle of nowhere to Greensboro, Alabama, for a slice of chocolate pie with a thick layer of whipped cream from Pie Lab. Last summer, we ventured to Peach Park in Clanton, Alabama, to finally try the famous peach cobbler. Yesterday, we didn’t have to go far to try the baked goods from Baking Bandits at their pop-up shop. Continue reading

Lake Street Dive

It’s time to start having guilty pleasure bands that you were actually proud to listen to. None of this Demi Lovato crap and ironically liking her. Seriously, when did people stop listening to artists with talent?

Not sure what my breaking point was. Maybe it was seeing the Muscle Shoals documentary last fall and remembering what actual music is supposed to sound like. Maybe it was driving between Augusta and Atlanta last weekend with a friend and finding airwaves full of music that sounded like T-Pain was behind it. Continue reading

Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee by Jerry Seinfeld

Is there anything better than Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee by Jerry Seinfeld? During the last month, I’ve become charmed by the delightful little series where Jerry takes out a vintage car for a spin to pick up a famous comedian and the two talk life over a hot cup of coffee. I loved watching Jerry crack up with some of my favorites like Louis C.K. and Seth Myers. (Surely, a Jimmy Fallon–or Amy Poehler–episode isn’t far behind… right, Jerry?) The episodes seem to be sponsored by car companies and the conversations perhaps could be slightly scripted (but blessedly less so than his short-lived NBC show, The Marriage Ref) But I’m not bothered by any of it. We the viewer get what we want each time: an easy, neat format that brings genuine laughs between the pair and cool cars. Plus you can’t help but love a video that captures comedy legends (and longtime pals) Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks adorably eating their regular dinner together over TV trays. Continue reading

Celeste and Jesse Forever

Photo from Sony Classics

I’m a bit overwhelmed by the movie I just finished. Celeste and Jesse Fovever was one of those relationship movies that actually felt genuine. Let’s be honest, most of us don’t have a Kate Hudson magazine assignment meet-cute. So well done, Rashida Jones for co-writing a movie nary a cutesy shopping or makeover montage, but with relatable characters making mistakes in relationships and having regrets. And then growing and moving on. True life. Continue reading

The Bright Star in Bessemer

I’m no food photographer and this photo proves it, but you can’t blame a girl for snapping a quick shot of a meal she’s a) dying to wolf down (I had a mad case of hankry) & b) been waiting years to have. Monday marked the beginning of my fourth year in Birmingham, but all I wanted to do was get to Bessemer and have lunch at The Bright Star. Continue reading