New York: Brunch at Peels

Peels, a restaurant from the folks behind Freemans, opened a few months ago on the Bowery.

Upstairs it’s sunny and spacious with booths and long tables; our party of six fit comfortably in a corner booth. I felt like I was eating in someone’s chic country kitchen.

Almost everyone ordered the make your own breakfast sandwich “build-a-biscuit.” Possible fillings are scrambled eggs, bacon, country ham, sausage, and four kinds of cheese.

A scrambled eggs and sausage combo.

The vegetarian build-a-biscuit, with just scrambled eggs and cheese.

I got the flap jacks — buttermilk pancakes with fruit compote.

The accompanying maple syrup slayed me with its cuteness.

The flap jacks were on the thin side. Good, but not memorable.

A side of shredded hash browns.

Peels Breakfast: fried eggs, house smoked bacon, toast. My friend liked her dish, but after seeing everyone else’s orders, she wished she got a build-a-biscuit instead.

A buttery pecan sticky bun. The pastry case on the ground floor offers all their baked goods plus sandwiches and beverages (like Stumptown coffee) for take out.

Peels
325 Bowery (corner of 2nd St.)
New York, NY 10003
(646) 602-7015

The NY Art Book Fair 2010 at MoMA PS1

Last weekend was the fifth annual NY Art Book Fair, a free event at MoMA PS1 in Queens.

My friend renamed it the Tote Bag Convention; there were tote bags galore, for sale and in use.

Hand-embroidered book clutches by Olympia Le-Tan.

When you turned a crank on the other side of this wooden book, the shoes “walked.”

Mugs at the Art Metropole table.

Keeping with the theme of the Fair, I bought a Nieves Books tote bag, a Vampire Rules zine, and Rome-antic Delusions.

Five Reasons Why Halloween is the Best Holiday

1. Halloween food

My kingdom for these cakes and marzipan figures from Dean & DeLuca.

2. Halloween music

Halloweenradio.net has three channels — regular Halloween radio, Halloween oldies, and Halloween atmosphere (creepy sounds like “Rats All Over the Body”). Halloween oldies is my favorite because their playlist includes “Do the Rigormortis,” “Zombie Jamboree,” “I’m in the Ground for Good,” and this classic:

3. Halloween products

Decorative Halloween gear can be odd in the middle of summer, so I prefer functional items which can be used year-round — like mini bottles of hand sanitizer from Bath & Body Works. I have “Vampire Blood” and “Bat Bite”; they smell nice.

The “go goth!” and “free cuff bracelet!” are dubious, but the names of these OPI nail polishes override that: Unripened, Nevermore, Sanguine, and Obscurity.

A few weeks ago I bought a bat cookie cutter in Delaware for 29 cents. That was an exciting day. I also want these cupcake baking cups.

4. Halloween smartphone apps

Angry Birds has already taken over my life; now there’s Angry Birds Halloween. Doodle Jump has a cute, free Halloween update and Plants vs. Zombies is on sale for 99 cents until the end of October!

5. Halloween TV shows

I enjoy being inundated with special Halloween episodes and horror movie marathons, but it isn’t really Halloween until It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is on TV. One of my favorite scenes:

San Francisco: Bob’s Donut & Pastry Shop

A 24-hour donut shop in the Nob Hill neighborhood. Hot donuts taste even better after midnight.

They start making donuts around 9-10 PM. You can call ahead or check their Twitter to see when they’re ready, but we got lucky and arrived in the middle of a live donut making session.

A whole rack of cooling donuts. Cool faster, damn you.

At last, paradise by the neon light. This classic glazed donut was fresh and hot and so, so delicious.

Lots of people come here for the apple fritters. I liked the fresh apple chunks inside, but after having a hot donut, a room temperature one just couldn’t compare.

We tried an old-fashioned cake donut too (not hot); I really learned the best plan is to get whatever’s fresh out of the deep fryer, regardless of what kind it is.

Late night donut paparazzi showdown.

If every neighborhood had a 24-hour donut shop like Bob’s, the world would be a happier place.

Bob’s Donut & Pastry Shop / @whatsfreshest
1621 Polk Street
(between Sacramento Street & Clay Street)
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 776-3141