Cousin Nell: Mood Boosting Plans You Should Make This Winter
Happiness exists at karaoke bars and bathhouses.
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Housekeeping
If you haven’t read last week’s newsletter on the wild world of spiked protein, check it out. It’s weird and fun and we like that. You can expect more similar, interview-style content in the coming weeks.
Today, I’m stoked for y’all to read a full length guest contribution from RA’s Chief Coolness Officer, Cousin Nell.
Mood Boosting Plans You Should Make This Winter
By: Nell Goddard
One of my more Boomer qualities is that every January, I buy myself a Farmers Market wall calendar and proudly hang it on my kitchen wall. Each flip of the month brings a flurry of beautiful botanical style drawings of species of mushrooms, or passionfruit, or for June 2023’s centerfold, British Isle Cheeses! Anyway, highly recommend.
You know what else I recommend? Making plans. In general, I’m a fan of plan making (read, on planning my own birthday parties). BUT, I believe plan making to be borderline essential in January. You’re coming down from the high of a holiday season filled to the brim with (maybe too many) plans – and for me, I need a few goal posts to run towards during the quiet, gray weeks that follow New Years.
So, I’m writing to you with a smattering of fun, quirky, diverse, wholesome and delicious plans (that are all pretty NYC centric, sry!) that you can propose to your various text threads and give yourself microjoys to fill up your cold months before spring and summer’s spontaneous energy seep back in. Turn the blank stare of your January monthly view into one filled with any combination of the below, and I am confident you’ll shake those winter blues, or better yet, lock them out altogether.
Let’s get into it:
First up, dinner and a built-in show at Russian Samovar
Midtown is BACK BABY. You heard it here first. Well probably not, I think this has been brewing for a while, but hear me out nonetheless that in between the tourist traps and stuffy corporate vibes, there are GEMS in the hinterlands above 34th street.
Russian Samovar is one of those. We recently had our holiday company party here and after walking in with zero expectations beyond what I know from my Russian-Jewish Brighton Beach in-laws, I left (stumbled) out of there in a haze of joy and ready to plan my return.
Not only is the food absolutely delicious, but the vibe is impeccable. Quick history: this place used to be called Jilly’s Canteen, and was a frequent haunt of Sinatra and his “good ole boys” (aka the Rat Pack), Johnny Carson, and more. The restaurant was sold in the 80s to Roman Kaplan and his partners, dancer/actor Mikhail Baryshnikov and poet Joseph Brodsky. In other words, it’s perfect.
You’ll have dinner in their main dining room downstairs and be audience to a nightly performance around their grand piano with Russian folk music and dancing. Then, shimmy upstairs to their second floor bar for a final final before you sail into the midtown air (maybe to Jimmy’s Corner, next. But I’ll save that for another week).
Menu highlights: martinis (duh), the borscht!, dumpling soup, beef stroganoff, blinis with smoked salmon, Russian salads (TW: they are mayo and egg forward).
An afternoon on Arthur Avenue, with a luxuriously drawn-out lunch at Zero Otto Nove
It’s probably going to be too cold for the Bronx Zoo, but in warmer weather, that is another excellent preamble to this adventure.
Either way, Arthur Ave is well worth the trip. Grab the Metro North from Grand Central (pro tip: buy a weekend pass for $5 for any interborough trips, including this one). Meander your way around Arthur Avenue, buy some pasta, breads, fresh mozz, cured meats, pastries, whatever your little heart desires, and then head to Zero Otto Nove.
Zero Otto Nove makes you feel like you’ve straight up left the country. The waiters all wear well-tailored black and white uniforms, grab sips of espresso at the bar between set ups, and are attentive and lovely. They have a ton of space, so a group shouldn’t be a big deal (they are walk in only) – we slid right in with a group of 6 last time I went for a late Saturday lunch.
Everything I ate here was incredible, but don’t sleep on the pizzas or the baked clams app. Or any specials they have going around. The antipasto platter is a lovely way to start.
If you’re in the mood, get a bottle of wine. Embody the Italian spirit that seems to say – what could possibly be the rush? Let your cheeks get flush, soak it all in, and finish it off with an espresso before you float out the door with your carb blanket and a smile on your face.
A soak and chill (or warm up) at Bathhouse in Williamsburg
What sounds better on a cold winter’s day than a sauna and soak moment, with a full body massage thrown in? One that’s in a chic hotel, well priced, and in a neighborhood surrounded by great restaurants to take your blissful self afterwards.
If you book a service, you’ll get their full day pass included which lets you luxuriate in their baths and saunas for as long as you please.
A cozy dinner at Inga’s Bar followed by karaoke at the illustrious Montero’s
Inga’s is the perfect cozy dinner spot for a chilly night. Set in a townhouse in Brooklyn Heights, you’ll approach the restaurant feeling like you’re straight out of Moonstruck, and walk into an upscale (but decidedly unfussy and warm) tavern. Recommend making a rez, but if you have to wait for a table, see if you can squeeze your way to their lovely little bar in the back and warm up with a bev while you wait.
Don’t sleep on the burger, celery salad, or the pork chop if they have it on the menu. (Last time I ate here, my mom and I sat next to Chuck and Nancy Schumer. Chuck warmly told us he loved the pork chop but was so/so on the celery salad. Nancy disagreed re: salad. They were awesome).
Next, if it’s not too chilly, stroll two blocks west to the Promenade and take in the best views of the city through crisp clear winter air. Walk south until it spits you out at Remsen St and work your way down to Atlantic Ave where you’ll quickly see the glowing neon sign for Montero’s. If you don’t know Montero’s I actually don’t want to tell you too much. Just go with a good attitude, some cash, a karaoke song at the ready, and smile with patience at the older gentleman in suspenders who I hope is still working the door.
If Montero’s is too crowded, continue the good vibes at Floyd’s and play some bocce.
Start a cookbook book club + host a dinner party
It’s like a book club, but instead of reading a novel that 4/10 of you actually read, you’ll find some food-interested / cooking-comfortable friends, select a cookbook, and cook the book together.
The host should take the main dish and a side, and guide the others to apps, additional sides, and a dessert that suits your main (you’re the executive chef). And of course, bevs! Start with a signature drink and encourage friends to bring wine or any other dinner complements.
Go catch a last minute show and dance it out
Don’t take our live music for granted. Go see a band you’ve never heard of at a spot you love (Pete’s Candy Store, Baby’s All Right, Elsewhere, and Knitting Factory all hold a fond place in my heart for this exact use case). Simple, easy, never a bad idea.
Along the same vein, cozy up with a Guinness and catch a traditional Irish session at Hartley’s in BK or 11th Street Bar in EV
Last time my friends and I were at Hartley’s, we were greeted warmly by the bartender who said, “It’s great to have you guys back. You’re kind of fall and winter people here, aren’t you?” I like the concept of “wintering” at a bar. Some are just built for seasonal use. Traditional Irish pubs are some of those. I’m talking wood interior, candles, a proper pour, and a warmth that can’t be faked.
I get that traditional Irish music (or “trad” as I just learned it’s called) might not be everyone’s thing, but if you’re open to it, a cozy night with other locals, plus talented musicians dropping in to play a tune or two might just make you forget the windchill factor and change your tune. Both of these spots attract incredibly talented musicians (a friend of mine plays at both spots in between playing violin on Broadway, hey Martha!)
Alright that’s all y’all! Report back with any additions that fill up your cup this winter. We’re all in this together.
In solidarity,
As always, thank you for reading. This remains the best part of the week, every week. If you enjoyed Nell’s advice, consider sharing this with a friend or coworker. Hope you all have an amazing weekend.