4 Things I'm Obsessing Over Right Now

Bronx Mural by Tats Cru

Have you ever seen, tasted, or heard something and you can’t stop obsessing about it? I know, obsessions can be both good and bad. Hopefully these four things that I’ve recently come across are healthy obsessions, so I wanted to share. 🙂

“Keepin’ It Bronx”

Last week I made the trip to the South Bronx, specifically to explore Mott Haven and Port Morris, and I saw the above mural by Tats Cru. I came across other amazing street art too, and I’ve become a bit obsessed with all of it, but especially “Keepin’ It Bronx.” So much so, that I wish I had a smaller version so I could hang it in my apartment. There’s a lot of great stuff happening in the South Bronx too, so stay tuned for more on this area of the city.

By the Way (a gluten-free bakery)

As someone who admittedly battles a carb addiction on an ongoing basis, I’m attempting to reduce the amount of gluten that I consume because I feel much better when I don’t eat it. One weekend, while debating whether I should walk into Le Pain Quotidien, I walked in By the Way instead, but only to look. Just steps from my apartment, this completely gluten-free and kosher bakery apparently makes every treat with love because I didn’t miss the gluten one bit. (I did more than just look.) Now, I can’t stop wanting more muffins. This one is a daily struggle. By the Way also makes cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and other delicious gluten-free baked goods. The shop is located at 2442 Broadway and there’s one on the Upper East Side as well.

Skyline Red from Sawtooth Vineyards

{Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot}

For my wine drinking readers, this bottle of red is jammy, yummy, and affordable. It’s not a New York wine, but rather, the bottle is from Idaho. Yes, Idaho. Until recently, I didn’t know that Idaho produced wine. In fact, Skyline Red is the second Idaho bottle that I’ve tasted and liked (two for two). Mike and I shared a bottle of the blend with dinner last weekend at Cornelia Street Cafe, one of our favorite restaurants. After liking both Idaho wines, I’m wondering if it’s a sign that I’ll be making a trip to the state soon. I hope so. I’ve heard great things about Boise, and Idaho’s landscape looks spectacular!

The “Modern Love” Podcast

I read the NY Times “Modern Love” column long before there was ever a podcast. If you haven’t checked it out, you should start. The column features personal essays about love, but these relationships are not all necessarily romantic. Some explore a parent with a child, others delve into the lives of single couples who marry, and still others could describe an exchange between siblings or a family unit. The podcast is an audio version of each story and read by a famous actor or personality, and it’s just so good. You can listen here on NPR.