A day (or week) in the life
My Columbia Street Diet // Oct 2025
My refrigerator has been broken for three weeks —I think I’ll try to get it fixed this week. I don’t really keep anything in there so one can argue it’s a waste of electricity. But every now and again—a chilled bottle of champagne or white burgundy is needed. I hate sparkling water but I keep that stocked as well —like an extra toothbrush. But since it's been out of commission, here's how and where I got fed.
Sunday, Oct 12th
The staff at Black Fox knows the routine—though I switch it up when I have the time. Most mornings–a large cold brew to go. If I have time–I’d prefer a hot coffee; but cold coffee is better for my sprint to the ferry. Black Fox rotates their filter and espresso options; so I try to give myself more time; but it always seems like a mad dash to pier 11. Drinking a coffee out of a ceramic cup and easing into the day is one of life’s fine pleasures; but time is a luxury I can’t afford.
I draft the Popina Lunch wine specials on the ferry and throw it on the gram to stir some excitement. It's raining & I suspect it will be super slow so the specials need to be legit. I check in with the team at Popina then head over to The Wine Cellar –our new wine shop a few doors down. I bounce back and forth trying to balance connecting with an industry table, hanging with some regulars, and catching up with a friend who is in the beginning stages of opening a restaurant. Some regulars plan to dine at Popina; but pop into the shop to do some cellar raiding and share a bottle of Raveneau Blanchot 2013; which was super cool because I had the 2014 two days before at Penny. It’s not a wine I get to drink; so a very special treat.
I ended up at Kru in Williamsburg for some more wine and Thai food. I help the team with the wine list so maybe I’m biased; but it’s one of my favorite spots in the city. We end up at The Gutter sipping some subpar Guinness. We debate on if rain is romantic and laugh about getting caught in a summer storm a few years back. Her uber arrives–maybe a touch early.
Monday, Oct 13th
It’s the first day for my wine shop manager; so I needed to be on it–though I probably should have taken her up on that nightcap. I always forget Laurel’s hours; but I think they’re open on Monday; so I grab my coffee at Black Fox and pistachio croissant at Laurel. The coffee at Laurel is solid; but there’s something about sipping that coffee on the ferry. The shop closes at 8pm then I head over to Winner where Daniel Eddy is throwing a birthday dinner for our friend Matt. A bunch of old-school sommeliers sharing wine and memories–not a phone in sight: just being present with each other.
Tuesday Oct 14th
Up & at em–probably stayed out too late. I walked down to Red Hook for some exercise and to check on my boat after a super windy weekend. Luckily we didn’t get the Nor’easter they talked about; but we did have some pretty big gusts. I thought about stopping at Defontes; but ending up getting some Hibino for lunch instead. I hit Poppy’s for coffee and funny enough–they use Black Fox beans.
Later that night we had a former food critic in the restaurant so I made sure the team was in good shape and even taste-tested some pasta. A bit late –I hopped in a car to meet Billy at Zero Bond where Red Hook Tavern was doing a pop-up. What a fun night. We consider pints at Dead Rabbit; but we’re feeling good and call it.
Wednesday, Oct 15th
I woke up and walked to Hawa on Church St. The guy behind the counter knows my order; so I feel like a regular. I get the Triple A Party; which is an acai smoothie & sometimes get a doubleshot of wheatgrass if I need a boost. My throat is a bit scratchy so I opt for a shot of the green stuff; which comes with a slice of pineapple.
Dan Petroski (Massican) and Darren Palace (Sandhi/Evening Lands) are meeting me at the shop at 2pm; but I have a few errands to run before. I get some keys copied at the hardware store; but stop at Bicycleta on the way back: picking up a ham & cheese sandwich. I’m a big fan of their stuff; but they close early so I don’t always make it. I scooped an extra ham/cheese + a brie/fig sandwich for a friend that “can’t remember the last time she ate lunch.” I’m pretty sure she didn’t eat lunch that day either. We used to talk about a long lunch at Le Bernadin; but I think we’ve given up on that.
Around 4pm, after a couple glasses of wine, we ordered F&F pizza to the shop. That clam pizza with some of their calabrian chili oil –we’re in a good spot. Not only did we pop some of Massican, Sandhi, and Evening Lands; but we opened a bunch of wines we wanted to share from top producers in France, Spain, and Italy. We gravitated back to the restaurant; where Dan & Darren enjoyed a martini reset. They had a table in the side dining room; which turned into a revolving group –people coming and going. In the main dining room–I had some friends at the bar & the team from Penny/Claud at table 8. I may have told Chase I was going to dine with them; but there was a lot going on. I ended up joining them for dessert & plenty of fancy wine. We got to try Tino Kuban’s 2021 Les Echalas Blanc alongside some heavy hitters like Leflaive Chevalier & Corton-Charlemagne by DRC. But the magnum of 2010 Jamet stole the show & the table was divided on the 2011 Rinaldi Brunate. Dan blinded everyone on a bottle of 2021 Montevertine Pergole Torte; but it wasn’t showing great. We started getting into some older chartreuse, japanese whiskey, and amaro; but we called it right before 2am.
Thursday, Oct 16th
Probably not my most productive day–feeling the daze of three big nights. I’ve been ordering quesadillas from Mex Carroll Diner on Columbia Street since we’ve opened & it's my go-to on tough days. I’m obsessed with their salsa verde; which seems to bring me back to life after a night of drinking. I can’t confirm this; but I’m pretty sure the price has gone up by a dollar every year. They got me hooked–I’m happy to pay.
There’s a side dining room buyout at the restaurant with some wine people; so I go by to say hello. It’s a BYO party with lots of wine and they try to get me to indulge; but I’m beat up from the last couple days. I walk home over the bridge –grabbing some buffalo wings from Ryan Maguires. I flip through a bunch of movies & land up on some mindless action flick.
Friday, Oct 17th
Up early and hit Apollo Bagel before the crowds. Coffee & ferry routine. Today we have a wedding at Popina so I’m there early to make sure the setup goes smoothly. The couple getting married has two wedding planners so they take over around noon. I sneak in the kitchen for a makeshift sandwich—Winner bread, burrata, and marinated squash. It’s not the most complete sandwich but it holds me over till family meal.
Later that night I met a friend at Eel Bar. The place was buzzing. I walk to Forsythia to say hello to another friend. I ended up staying for a riff on an Americano cocktail, which was super tasty. We ended the night with a bottle of champagne at Somm Time, which I’ve never been to.
Saturday, Oct 18th
I was happy to learn The Great Community Bake Sale was hosted on Maiden Lane which was on my way to the ferry. I stopped to say hello to some friends & scooped a bunch of goods for the team. My team LOVES a sweet treat –especially before a big night. I bopped back and forth & then snuck down to the Red Hook piers for some beers. Around 7–we walked back to the restaurant & I immediately got pulled into service. Jen, Jason, and Rose had their last meal together before they move to Germany. They’ve been weekly regs since we’ve opened and we’re going to miss them dearly. The wine was flowing–83 Margaux on one table in the side dining room & Mugnier/Roulot on another. Inside–Leflaive Bâtard & Combettes with some Filaine & Schaefer-Frohlich GG for good measure. I might have seen some Boisson Meursault and LaLu Barolo floating around before I bounced to Long Island Bar. A few martinis and a negroni later–we decided to cap it off at Brooklyn Inn where we stayed until last call.
Sunday, Oct 19th
I scheduled a massage with Coco for 10am at Fishion; so I headed to Chinatown. I forgot that I hadn’t done the wine specials so I scrambled to get those up before I arrived. Thirty minutes into my massage and I remember someone special-ordered a chess pie for 11am pickup. I remember telling chef and putting it into our event software platform; but my brain was mush & I started worrying that the guest would arrive to no pie. I spent the next hour –wondering if I should tell Coco i needed a minute; but she was in the zone so stayed put while my mind wandered. I immediately checked my phone & was happy to learn the pie was long gone. I usually stop at Tasty Dumpling or Maxi’s Noodle; but I skipped it & headed to Spa 88 on Fulton for a steam/sauna/cold plunge session. After the two hour detox –its Los Tacos on Church Street for a late lunch.
I head to Brooklyn to work on the website for the wine shop; but get distracted by a friend. I end up calling it an early night and head back home to watch Black Rabbit & pass out early. I never got my fridge fixed; but hey—there’s always next week.