Graduation week eats
Friday things no. 10 (on a Monday)
This newsletter is coming at you live from an official college graduate! Look, Mom and Dad! I’m using my degree! Whether we know each other IRL or not, I cannot thank everyone enough for keeping up with what I’ve been writing and eating during this final semester of college.
If you’re looking to show me a little more luck and love, tell a friend to subscribe! Or hit that little heart up top.
We’ve got five Things this Monday morning. I only have eight days left in New York, so come back next week for even more celebrating. I can smell many bagels in my future.
🥐 Librae Bakery
I’ve watched Librae Bakery slowly open up shop for the past month and was so excited to check them out when they finally opened. Last Sunday I got a huge sourdough loaf (so huge I had to send half home with my parents) and a pistachio rose croissant — might be the best croissant I’ve ever had. They’re a family business in the heart of Cooper Square, and I can’t recommend Librae enough. We even got some pastries from them the morning of my grad ceremony.
🍵 $10 Drink from Matchaful
Because we all need to channel our inner LA girl sometimes. On Tuesday I set out to visit every Housing Works Thrift Store in lower Manhattan because Tuesday is student/senior discount day. (More on that below.) I needed a pick-me-up, so I grabbed an expensive drink from Matchaful on Mulberry. It didn’t blow me away, but it was the most unique tasting matcha I’ve ever had. The “Secret Garden” promises to help you FOCUS and is full of matcha, GABA tea, rose, lavender, ginkgo, raw honey, and oat milk. Look at that pep in my step!
🐟 Mokyo
I’ve been to Mokyo before with my friend Lucy, and when my parents asked me to find a place for dinner the night before my graduation, Mokyo it was. It’s a Korean small-plates place on St. Mark’s owned by the same team behind Thursday Kitchen East 8th, which is much harder to get into than its little sister on St. Mark’s. Every time my parents have come up to New York for a meal this semester, we ate some version of lamb and rice. This time I was determined to force them out of their comfort zones. Check out the plates we went with below.
🍨 Union Square Cafe
On the night of graduation (after my dad took a power nap) we ate at the Union Square Cafe. In high school I read Stephanie Danler’s novel, Sweetbitter, and it was pretty influential in my decision to move to New York. Danler wrote it while working at the Union Square Cafe while she was in grad school at The New School. Felt very fitting. Thank you, Mom and Dad, for allowing this dream to come to fruition! And for the good meals along the way.
🥨 Pretzel sign
And finally, that bit about my thrift trip. Not sure where I’ll be living after my upcoming stint in my childhood home, but this sign will be front and center.
Congrats, Claud !!!!
Congratulations!! I love A Party of One! Best of Luck to you!!