Hanson

Le Basket rules! It's a little deli on the corner of 3rd and Broadway in NYC. The food is good, but the best part is the outdoor seating, which is really just a fenced off part of the sidewalk. It's great because in the summer you can just post up on Broadway with your friends and drink beers (at deli prices, not bar prices) in the middle of downtown. They even have a semi-secret bathroom!

The weirdest part about Le Basket though, is that Le Basket means Basketball, not the Basket, so the deli is called "Basketball." The owners are pretty Japanese though, so I think maybe they just chose a word? Or didn't know the true meaning? Or they love basketball-- who's to say really.

I got a muffin but I'm not trying to front and act like it's not really just cake, like some people do.

Every once in a while (maybe every 6 visits or so) you'll get lucky and they'll forget to charge you for guacamole. This was one of those days.

PS Have you ever noticed how Chipotle prices vary by region. It's like, $6 (pre-guacamole) in San Diego and $8 in NYC.

I bought two books: The Skating Rink and Antwerp, both by Roberto Bolaño. He's probably my favorite writer, but I've only read his two major novels and then two of his shorter books (Amulet and Nazi Literature in the Americas). Antwerp is supposed to be pretty great though, so I'm looking forward to it. I haven't heard that much about The Skating Rink yet but I'm sure I'll like it.

I got a beanie made by Brixton. It's super nice quality and the fit is great, and even better is that they're having a 50% off winter sale. The only problem is that it had a big hole in the top that I didn't notice until I got home-- I think it was from when the store attached the tag.

I didn't want to return it so I sewed it, and then used a lighter to fuse the beanie together and make sure it won't fray. Almost good as new!

Do you know that Ghostface song "Kilo" where he lists the colors of tops? Well that's how I am, but with Uniqlo socks: Red socks, blue socks, green socks, yellow socks. Purple socks, beige socks, white socks, grey socks...

And I quote: "Ma Bell send you a whopping (That's the breaks)"

Sometimes you want something delicious, something unique. More than just a meal, but an experience.

Other times you want Subway.

I got some new vitamins, which is weird because I never wanted to be one of those people who takes vitamins, but whatever, life happens you know?

Just got a physical. Everything's fine ;-)

Great little diner on Bedford Ave. at N. 9th, in Williamsburg. It's been around forever and is ran by a cute Polish family. It's a place where Eastern Europeans and young Brooklynites can enjoy a nice bite to eat. The food is good and affordable; I recommend the split-pea soup.

I got a $40 gift card for Christmas and I've already blown through it. This charge was to my credit card, because the burrito exceeded the card's total. Worth it though!

I finally bought shelves (I've lived here like two months). It was freezing and I couldn't catch a cab so I stole a cart and pushed the shelves home. I live close though, and don't worry, I brought it back. My room looks nice too ;-)

I work at a certain magazine that rhymes with Spice, and it's right by Bagelsmith in Williamsburg. So nice to be able to get a fast, cheap breakfast every morning. $4 for a bacon egg cheese or a bagel with loxspread + coffee can't be beat.

Got this rad Ralph Lauren hunting shirt. Ralph Lauren is definitely my favorite brand; I think it's funny and I like that only old dudes and fake thugs wear it. You can usually find it on sale for pretty cheap too, and so people think you're a rich WASP when really you just know where to look and how to target clearance racks. I feel like Polo looks dumb on its intended audience and rad on goofy 21 year olds.

I think this was the first time I took a cab home from the airport. Usually I take the airtrain to the subway, but I was in no mood to deal with that, plus it was late at night. I guess a bonus to living closer to JFK is that I can get cabs home for $35 as opposed to the $50 to get into the city.

New Metrocard; my first at the $104 rate. Meanwhile, the service gets worse (I live off the G :-[ train). I've said it before and I'll say it again: why aren't they selling more ads for the subway?! It could keep prices down. There's already some ads so it's not like there's some dogmatic anti-advertising ideology at work. If they covered the train in ads, like they do in other countries, they could keep prices reasonable (obviously they have to be somewhat high, or there would be too many riders, etc.) and afford to keep stations nice and tracks in good shape.

One of my top 5 foods is the "California Dreamin'" sandwich from Safeway. Turkey, ranch spread, bacon, avocado. Add cheese and onions. It's almost perfect, except the name is super dorky.

Key Foods is okay, way worse than trader joe's and whole foods but better than uhhh not eating, I guess

Did you know that if you buy a Chipotle giftcard for over $20, you get a free burrito. This is that burrito.