4 Things I’m Obsessing Over Right Now

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.

What things have you been obsessing over lately? Please share!

By the Way baked goods photo from their Facebook page, Modern Love photo from their Facebook page.

Also, you can listen to the Tracy’s New York Life podcast – episode 1 and episode 2 if you haven’t already.

Posted on November 3, 2016