My Year In Lists, 2025

Everything I did last year, except the movies: goal-maxxing, abandoned drafts, dining downturn, music, theatre.

The past is already becoming blurred and indistinct.

One of my friends was surprised when I told them that I’m really bad at planning ahead and staying organized, given how much I do. But I tend to just make a bunch of plans and then panic at the start of each week when I look at my calendar. I am even worse at looking back, but writing this newsletter has been a good way to try and get better with retrospective thinking, even if punctuality remains a struggle.

Another confession: I’m really bad at the actual act of writing. Longtime readers know this because I keep mentioning it, but I often fall behind with my publishing schedule. Part of that is being overly ambitious, but I also don’t really think with words, let alone have an inner monologue. Sometimes it takes an inordinate amount of time and effort to “warm up” into writing mode.

Paradoxically, I’ve been seeing fewer movies because I spend so much time writing about them. So coming into this new year, you’ll hopefully notice a shift in what and how often I’m writing, but there’s no real structure.

Also: I’ll be turning on paid subscriptions very soon. It will be very very optional—there won’t be much behind the paywall—and should be thought of as a virtual tip jar.

Anyways, now that we’re over a week into this new year, here is a big list of what I did during the last one. (Besides movies; my list of top films of 2025 will be coming later this month.)

This is a very long post so feel free to just skim as you please.

---

Goals I Had Set for 2025

Not Writing Related:

• More unstructured hangouts with my friends ✅

• Bike a century (100 miles) ❌

  • Only got to 75 🙁

• Hang up all my framed posters and pictures ❌

  • They’re still leaning against every wall of my apartment

• Host a public food event ✅

  • Did it twice!

Writing Related:

• Review new releases on a regular basis ✅

  • I wrote about over 90 movies in some form, whether it was a full length review or a festival capsule. This was not a sustainable pace.

• Get approved to cover Cannes ❌

  • One day either Buttered Popcorn will be such an unstoppable juggernaut that they have to let me in, or an established publication will send me to France.

• Write something in exchange for money ✅

  • See below

Critics Emerging

In March I was one of six people to take part in Reverse Shot’s Emerging Critics Workshop. (I joked at the time that only six people applied but there were probably more.) For three days, I and my fellow emergers holed up in a conference room at the Museum of the Moving Image, where we took part in off-the-record conversations with established critics, editors, and filmmakers. I learned a lot about the wonderful world of film crit and have maintained friendships with nearly everyone in my cohort. But the most valuable aspect of the workshop was writing a review for Reverse Shot and going through the editing process.

My assigned film was a first-person Cuban documentary about its filmmaker’s struggles with government censorship and its Kafkaesque absurdities. It was really tough to write about as it sort of contextualizes itself. It took me a few months to get my draft into readable shape. But my editor was very patient and only minor changes were needed for the final draft. The piece finally went up in October! I had great experience working with Michael Koresky on this, especially because he left in all my puns. Hopefully it won’t be the last time.

---

Goals I Have Set for 2026

Not Writing Related:

Running it back—

• Bike a century (100 miles)

• Hang up all my framed posters and pictures

Writing Related:

• Achieve balance and write at a more sustainable pace (lol)

• More collaborations!

  • I had a fun time riffing about a “cinéma du offal” for Guts Magazine. I would love to do more collabs with other Substack writers, whether it be about movies, food, or anything in between. There’s potential to throw a dinner party together. If you’d be interested in doing something together, get in touch!

• Write more about cooking

  • Remember when this newsletter was about film and food?

• Write more about old movies, less about new ones

• Nab some freelance assignments

  • Money is nice, and working with an editor is even nicer. I’d love to get more bylines.

---

Another Year of Popcorn

Most Viewed

• The Best Places To Eat & Drink Near the Lincoln Center

  • Maybe I should do these for every arthouse in New York because it is very SEO friendly.

• Food & Drink Ideas For Your Oscars Party

• How KPop Demon Hunters Became This Year’s Overachieving Asian American Movie

• Breaking Down the Oscar Nominated Short Films: Live Action & Documentary

• The 2025 Oscars Dinner Party Recap: Act One

  • Planning has already begun for this year’s Oscars dinner… My pie in the sky dream is for the Academy/someone to sponsor this event and bring it outside of my apartment.

Abandoned Ideas for Newsletter Posts and Excerpts From the Drafts

A night at Alchemist, the arthouse fine dining restaurant with a blunt social message

I spent $1,000 on one dinner in Copenhagen and all I have to show for it is 2,000 words of unreadable mess. A lot of it was just blow-by-blow of what I ate and it was boring. I don’t know if it’s at all pitchable to another outlet, but if so I’d happily return to it to make it better. But this is the intro:

Halfway through my six-hour, four-figure dinner, I finally snapped. Placed before me was a sliver of quick-cured rabbit, sliced so thin it was nearly translucent. It was draped over a metallic ribcage. Our server informed us that a significant percentage of the global population struggles with food insecurity, and this dish was meant to symbolize that hunger. How awful, we’re meant to think. Here we are eating this luxury meal while people are starving! I waited for her to follow up this bleak bit of information by saying something like, “For this reason, we allocate 20% of your bill towards efforts to address this problem.” Instead she walked away, and I was left with two small bites of this precious rabbit. It was delicious.

There’s a scene in Always Be My Maybe where Keanu Reeves takes everyone to a high-end restaurant. He listens to “the sound of the exact animal” he’s eating, and cries while chewing on his venison. It seems to be inspired by Alchemist. On my seventh attempt to explain the night to curious friends, I found the metaphor: Alchemist is the culinary equivalent to a well-intentioned but self-important arthouse film. You could view it as avant-garde artistry, its punk attitude veiled by impeccable craft. Or you could see it as the very thing it seeks to satirize, overly long, and unbearably pretentious. In short, it is a meal directed by Ruben Östlund.

Other would-be posts:

• Copenhagen Trip Diary

  • Do people actually want to read these? I put a list of recommendations together.

• Spain Trip Diary

  • I will publish Barcelona recs sometime this year. It will be the only list you need.

• Kernels columns, July - December 2025.

• Highest 2 Lowest, Lurker 2 Influencer

  • The Fictional Pop Star at the Center of Lurker is Kinda Mid but that’s kind of the point.

    • Compressed vocals, easy listening R&B with emo inflections that was all over Tumblr and Spotify in 2018 (when Lurker takes place). Oliver doesn’t appear to have any artistic point of view. Only distinguishing feature is his British accent.

    • I really loved Lurker, it’s one of the best movies of the year, and never wrote about it. Oops.

  • Parallels: Denzel’s music mogul in Highest 2 Lowest is washed. At the end he’s treated to a performance of a technically good but otherwise bland song that could be a H.E.R. B-side. He’s loving it, presumably Spike Lee does too. Accidentally revealing both character and filmmaker to be out of touch. Especially compared to the bracing immediacy of the A$AP Rocky tracks.

• The music they play in the mall attached to the Fulton St subway station

• Newfest Film Festival Coverage

  • Coming right off the heels of NYFF was tough. I saw The Chronology of Water, Christy, and some food-related short films.

  • I also saw Josie and the Pussycats for the first time (part of their revival screenings) and it was so awesome.

• Veggie Tales: a season with local Asian produce

  • If you want to cook with seasonal Asian veggies, I highly recommend joining the Asian Vegetable Club from Choy Commons, but as with any CSA, know what you’re getting into. Apparently some members quit early on because they couldn’t handle bugs hiding in their a choy. What do you think organic means…

---

Random Milestones

• Finally participated in a PowerPoint night. My presentation was a guided tour of my Notes app. People were fascinated and horrified, which is the exact reaction that this Scorpio was looking for.

• Stepped into the inner sanctum of a Brooklyn courthouse to witness two dear friends get (civilly) married! The real celebration is later this year.

  • Afterwards we went into the subway for a photoshoot. It’s the only time where people in New York will be overtly nice to you. Lots of “congratulations” everywhere. The vibes were great.

---

The Best Thing I Ate During Each of My Trips Out of Town

• May

  • Copenhagen

    • Omar. A worthy return to this small plates restaurant.

• May/June

  • Madrid

    • El Cisne Azul (Taberna). A temple to mushrooms. Everything was unbelievably good, but the biggest surprise was a plate of shiitake mushrooms and baby eels. Incredibly simple; I re-created this at home when I got back. There are two restaurants called “El Cisne Azul” on the same block. I believe they are basically the same.

  • Barcelona

    • Disfrutar. Got off the waitlist a day ahead of time. Fine dining may be gauche these days, but this restaurant truly deserves its three stars. The modernist technique distills the flavor rather than dilutes it.

    • Other recs will be in a forthcoming Barcelona travel guide.

• August

  • Bay Area

    • Duc Huong. San Jose bánh mi chain.

• September

  • Bay Area again

    • Year of the Snake. A weekly bakery pop-up in Berkeley. Just go.

• December

  • Tokyo

    • Sushi Dokoro Isseki Sanchou. Excellent omakase. Ill-advised sake pairing because I was too drunk to remember having fugu nigiri.

  • Fukuoka

    • Hakata Issou Fukuokashihakataku Hakataekihigashi Ten. Excessively popular ramen counter but easy to see why.

  • Osaka

    • Tofu dishes Sorano Minamisenba. A tofu-centric restaurant that came recommended by David Lebovitz. Got a lunchtime set menu and it was perfect. This was one of the best meals I had the entire trip.

  • Kyoto

    • Kyoto Niku Kappou Miyata. Wagyu omakase.

  • Tokyo Round Two

    • Gatekeeping this one for now. Italian-Japanese fusion (itameshi) but a big part of my enjoyment was that it was the first time in two weeks that I had bread and butter.

  • Boston

    • Christmas linner (lunch-dinner) at my cousin’s house 🙂

I’ll put together a larger Japan trip recap later this month. Some recs will be gatekept behind the paywall.

---

Dining Out

By the end of the year that I basically stopped going to restaurants (unless I was on vacation). Rising expenses are a big factor, but really I’ve shifted to having friends over for dinner. The amount I spend to feed 6-8 people is about the same as I’d spend on a night out and no one has to worry about snagging reservations.

Below is a list of every time I went out to eat in New York—that is to say, I made advance plans to go to a restaurant that were not incidental to an existing event. (So a pre-concert dinner of convenience doesn’t count.) For the most part, each of these occasions truly were deserving of that term, whether it be the quality of the restaurant, the birthday being celebrated, or a combination of both. Up til a few years ago, this list would be ten times as long.

• January

  • Dhamaka w/ Vickie, Daniel

  • L’artusi w/ Aeron, Erika, Olivia, Jaidan

  • Be Bep Pop-up at Rhodora Wine Bar w/ Eric, Diana

  • Falansai (Brian’s birthday dinner)

  • Steak Night at Orion Bar (Eric’s pop-up)

• February

  • Gertrude’s w/ Olivia, Jaidan, Erika

  • Mắm w/ Mom, Olivia, Eric, Diana

  • Al Badawi w/ Mom, Alex, Jordan, David

  • Potluck Club w/ Mom, Brian, Amanda

• March

  • Place des Fêtes w/ Aeron, Erika, Olivia, Jaidan

  • Medieval Times (Tabatha’s birthday)

  • St Jardim w/ Aeron, Erika, Olivia, Jaidan

  • Cafe Tibet (Matt’s birthday dinner)

• April

  • Rosella w/ Aeron, Julia

  • La Dong (Jon’s birthday dinner)

  • Fandi Mata w/ Pearl and friends

  • Eyval w/ Shruti, Byron

  • Kitchen Cô Út w/ Alex, Diana, Doug, Eric, Kristy, Peyton, Vincent (Fall of Saigon commemoration)

• May

  • None

• June

  • Semma w/ Byron, Giselle (Byron’s birthday dinner)

  • Olea w/ Jessica, Vince

• July

  • Sunn’s w/ Frankie

  • Bánh Anh Em w/ Diana, Jaidan, Peyton

  • Hear and There w/ Aeron, Robin, Olivia, Jaidan

• August

  • Nowon East Village w/ family

  • The Lineup Slice Shop at Talea Williamsburg (Pop Up) w/ Jaidan

  • Little Grenjai w/ Doug, Jaidan, Robin, Sam, Glaiza

  • Idashi Omakase (Michelle’s birthday dinner)

• September

  • Nowon East Village w/ Shruti, Byron

  • Ayat Bay Ridge w/ David, Sam, James, Elle

• October

  • L’industrie w/ Karina and friends

  • Brass w/ James, David, Eric (James’s bachelor dinner)

• November

  • Four Horsemen w/ Eric, Byron, Jaidan (my birthday dinner)

  • Atoboy w/ Brian, Eric, Glaiza, Wilbur, Austin (Brian’s bachelor dinner)

  • Mozzlab & Brooklyn Farmacy w/ David, Sam, James, Elle

• December

  • Eel Bar w/ Pearl, Lai

  • I was out of town almost all of December.

Scallop & leek custard | Kabocha, chanterelles, peperonata

Favorite new to me restaurant: Four Horsemen

Favorite returning restaurant: Eyval

Most deceptive: There are no eels on the menu at Eel Bar

Most disappointing: Place des Fêtes

---

Dining In

I’m almost always looking at a screen—phone, laptop, TV, cinema—so cooking has become my last refuge. I hosted friends and family for dinner on a near weekly basis so there are too many to list out but I’m starting to keep a log for 2026 just so I can have an accounting.

Food Events

Separate from having friends for dinner. For these, money is exchanged for goods and services.

• Oscars Dinner - Saturday Service

• Oscars Dinner - Sunday Service

• The American in Me, Spring Edition

• Dru & Ric’s Present Tiến Lên Night feat. Ch-Yeah! (Public event)

• 2sweet2savory: a dinner & dessert party

• Ăn Nhậu by Eric Trương at Việt Vui Night Market (Public event)

---

Music

These days most of my music discovery comes from Spotify’s New Music Friday, NTS Radio, and The Sovereign Audite.

Throughout the year I shared my fave songs of winter and spring and summer. And I got personal with my relationship to Carly Rae Jepsen’s Emotion. They were all really fun to write about!

Here’s a playlist of 25 new songs that I listened to a lot at the tail end of the year, from a braggadocious A$AP Rocky/Yung Felon joint to a tenderly violent Rosalía track.

Based on my Spotify listening habits, my most played song of the year was a tie between “Golden” and “How Bad Do U Want Me,” with 15 plays each.

Every Concert I Went To

• The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis, Zwei Null Zwei at TV Eye

• Lucy Dacus at Radio City Music Hall

• C2C Festival NYC at Knockdown Center

  • Nick León

  • Two Shell

  • Nala Sinephro

  • Oneohtrix Point Never

    • OPN and Nala Sinephro both composed excellent scores for movies directed by a Safdie brother. I wonder if they compared notes in the greenroom at this show.

• Primavera Sound at Parc del Fòrum, Barcelona (top ten sets are bolded)

  • Wednesday

    • Beach House (a ciutat)

  • Thursday

    • Beabadoobee

    • Momma

    • FKA twigs

    • Barker

    • Charli XCX & Troye Sivan present Sweat

  • Friday

    • Cat Power sings Dylan (a ciutat)

    • Yoasobi

    • Haim

    • Cinna Peyghamy

    • Sabrina Carpenter

    • High Vis

    • Salem

    • Danny L Harle

  • Saturday

    • Destroyer (a ciutat)

    • Kokoshca

    • Christian Lee Hutson

    • Black Country, New Road

    • Fontaines D.C.

    • Chappell Roan

    • Diamin

    • LCD Soundsystem

    • Frost Children

    • Danny L Harle DJ Set

• Chappell Roan at Forest Hills Stadium

  • Quite the contrast between the crowds here and at Primavera.

There a was third time I heard Chappell Roan being performed. It was a Thursday morning and I waiting at the 23rd Street F station after a dentist appointment. On the platform, a kindly middle-aged man was singing and playing piano; his high tenor sounded eerily like that of Nate Ruess. He started to play a lovely version of “The Subway.”

Usually I’m not a fan of train station buskers—though I respect the hustle, and that includes the alleged Times Square lip syncer; she’s camp—but this guy had such a joyous attitude. My teeth cleaning wasn’t the only reason to smile that morning.

The train pulled in just in time to drown out the song’s iconic lyric: “Well, fuck this city, I’m moving to Saskatchewan.” This city would not be fucked, at least in that moment.

---

Books

Contributing to the epidemic of men not reading, I completed exactly one (1) book, my cousin Kevin’s novel Mỹ Documents. Though I did make significant progress with Crime and Punishment, I was otherwise trying and failing to keep up with all my New Yorkers. At least no one can call me performative.

---

Theater

39 shows, 16 of them were musicals, 10 were on Broadway, and 16 of them I went solo. This was also the last year I was eligible for “30 and under” ticket discounts at a handful of the non-profits, so I expect my theatregoing to be much reduced in the new year.

My top ten of the year are bolded.

• Monday January 27 Inside Voices (Reading) w/ Jen, Shannon

• Sunday February 9 English w/ Robin, Sam L, Snow, David, Sam W

• Sunday February 9 Urinetown w/ Brian, Amanda

• Weds February 19 On the Evolutionary Function of Shame

• Wednesday March 5 Grangeville

• Tuesday March 11 Purpose

• Wednesday March 19 A Streetcar Named Desire w/ Robin, James H

• Sunday March 30 Love Life w/ Brian, Amanda

• Sunday March 30 Oh, Mary w/ Robin, Kat, Kyle

• Saturday April 5 Liberation

• Tuesday April 8 Vanya w/ Liane

• Wednesday April 16 Smash w/ Kenji

• Saturday April 19 Old Friends

• Tuesday April 22 All Nighter w/ Snow, Sam, Robin

• Sunday April 27 Pirates of Penzance with Brian

• Tuesday April 29 I’m Assuming You Know David Greenspan

• Sunday, May 11 Wonderful Town w/ Brian, Amanda

• Sunday May 11 Grief Camp w/ Brian

• Thursday May 22 Titanique w/ Grace

• Friday June 15 Floyd Collins w/ Brian, Amanda, Luisa, Chris

• Tuesday June 17 Lunar Eclipse

• Wednesday June 18 Eurydice (by Sarah Ruhl)

• Saturday June 21 Dead Outlaw

• Sunday June 22 A Freeky Introduction w/ Brian

• Sunday June 29 Ghost Quartet (Green-Wood Cemetery)

• Sunday July 6 Lowcountry

• Tuesday July 29 The Bartender w/ Aeron (at an actual bar)

• Saturday August 16 John Proctor Is the Villain

• Sunday September 7 Twelfth Night (Shakespeare in the Park) w/ Jen, Cyd, Erica

• Tues September 16 The Wild Duck

• Friday September 26 Waiting for Godot w/ Kenji

• Tuesday October 14 Mexodus w/ David Sam Josh Mia Glaiza

• Wednesday October 22 Oratorio For Living Things

• Thursday October 23 Lacrima w/ David Sam Ben

• Sunday November 2 Bat Boy w/ Brian, Amanda, Wilbur

• Monday November 3 War Songs (by Diane Severin Nguyen) w/ Kenji

• Thursday November 6 Meet the Cartozians

• Sunday November 16 Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) w/ Kenji

• Sunday November 30 This World of Tomorrow w/ Kenji

Got me the most teary eyed: Eurydice

This should have been entirely my shit but I found it insufferable: War Songs

Biggest feat of endurance: Andrew Scott’s one-man Vanya.

Second biggest feat of endurance: The audience watching the 3 hour long, intermission-less, subtitled Lacrima. It was decent! Afterwards we went to a cocktail bar nearby and two of the actors were sitting next to us so we couldn’t discuss it too loudly.

Most last minute (latest minute?): While I was at the Met my friend texted me to say she snagged Shakespeare in the Park tickets for that very evening.

I’m tired of this: Grangeville. Written by the same guy who did The Whale.

---

Grog Logs

The first and last photos I took in 2025.

Every month or so I was publishing a list of the first alcoholic drink I consumed each day, and where. I stopped after June so for the sake of completion, here’s the rest of the year.

July Grog Log

1. Cremant de Loire at home

2. Vermouth at Eric’s

3. Domaine Ogereau, Anjou Rouge ‘Les Tailles’ 2021 at Sunn’s

4. Aperol spritz jello shot at Gantry State Park

5. Carboniste PTG 2023 at Shannon’s

6. Nothing

7. Sangria (made from 2022 Bodegas Campo Viejo Garnacha) at home

8. Nothing

9. Nothing

10. Shot of whiskey at 56709

11. Field Recordings, Fiction Red 2023 at Sravya and Ben’s (RIP)

12. Sixpoint The Pursuit IPA at Eric’s

13. Terra beer at Orion Bar

14. Nothing

15. Eminence Road, “No, really it’s dry”, Gewürztraminer 2023 at home

16. Nothing

17. Nothing

18. Iron Lady at Wandering Barman

19. Nothing

20. Channing Daughters Pet Nat Moscato 2021 at Hear and There

21. SOTO Junmai at home

22. Nothing

23. Morgan Double L Vineyard Pinot Noir 2022 at Larry and Hai’s (Monterey)

24. Nothing

25. Momo Kawa Junmai Ginjo at Dorothy’s (SF)

26. Gaspard Chenin Blanc 2022 at Club Turtle (SF)

27. Clarified Lassi Punch and Ground Up Copra (SF)

28. Spanish Buzz at Stoa (SF)

29. IPA at Rodeo

30. “La Danza del Fauno”, Rosso Toscano, Podere Gualandi 2021 at home

31. Nothing

August Grog Log

1. Mar de Frades Albariño 2023 at home

2. Watermelon soju at Nowon

3. Nothing

4. Nothing

5. Lemongrass Daiquiri at Sugar Monk

6. Nothing

7. Nothing

8. Nothing

9. Talea Upbeat at TALEA Williamsburg

10. Regal Martini (with oysters!) at Bad Luck Bar

11. Nothing

12. Iruai Shasta Cascade 2023 at home

13. Insight Brewing Sensei 2020 at David and Sam’s

14. Brooklyn Kura Yuzy Crazy sake at home

15. Scuttlehole Chardonnay at Keith’s

16. Nothing

17. Nothing

18. Reef Shark at Rockwell (The Depths pop-up)

19. Spaghetti 2.0 at Rockwell

20. Weninger Franz Ponzichter at home

21. Narragansett at The West

22. Far East Side at Bar Goto Niban

23. Great Jones Bourbon tasting at Great Jones

24. Nothing

25. Nothing

26. Weninger Franz Ponzichter at home

27. Saero soju at Dorothy and Lester’s (SF)

28. Laurent Lebled Je T’Ai Dans La Peau 2022 at Bayfront Park (SF)

29. Shatter light Ghost Town Brewing at Daniel and Jess (SF)

30. Strawberry Basil Gin Fizz at Jessica and Vince’s wedding (Moraga)

31. Coronita at David L’s (Hayward)

September Grog Log

1. Bell’s Oberon Wheat Ale at Shruti and Yash’s (Oakland)

2. Nothing

3. Nothing

4. Nothing

5. Kumpf et Meyer Restons Dark at Julia’s

6. Jen Pfeiffer Rock it Like a Redhead 2022 at Open Art Studios (Yang birthday party)

7. Nothing

8. Nothing

9. Nothing

10. “Where Ya PJs At?”, Ross & Bee Maloof 2023 at home

11. Nothing

12. Crémant de Limoux, Racine NV at Karen’s (dinner party)

13. Brooklyn Kura Lake Effect Nigori at Olo’s

14. Brooklyn Kura Pretty, Dry at home

15. Yemanueva Airén de Pie Franco, Bodega La Tercia 2024 at home

16. Nothing

17. Alves Vieira, Alentejo - 2023 at home

18. Nothing

19. Sake at Dan’s

20. “Where Ya PJs At?”, Ross & Bee Maloof 2023

21. Nothing

22. Ommegang Hennepin Saison at Nowon

23. Nothing

24. Nothing

25. Nothing

26. Nothing

27. Honey Deuce at Nick

28. Happiness is Submission to Godzilla at Brooklyn Kura

29. Low Down Negroni at Roxy hotel

30. Weninger Ponzichter at home.

October Grog Log

1. Blackberry bourbon smash at Empire Hotel Rooftop

2. Nothing

3. Planet of the Apes at Tiki Chick

4. White wine at Hauser Lounge

5. Talea Dreamboat at TALEA West Village

6. Nothing

7. Echeverría No Es Pituko Carignan 2024 at home

8. Sparkling wine at Vin Sur Vingt Riverside

9. Cactus Negroni at The Cactus Shop

10. Muxagat, Branco - 2020 at Shannon’s (wine time)

11. Brooklyn Kura Pretty, Dry at James and Elle’s

12. Nothing

13. Nothing

14. Tommy’s Margarita at Mixteca

15. Pineapple rum punch at Metrograph

16. Nothing

17. Red Stripe at The Delancey

18. Nothing

19. Smoked Port Old Fashioned at Empire Rooftop

20. Funny Valentine at Brass

21. Nothing

22. Nothing

23. Chocolate milk punch at Rockwell

24. Negroni at James and Elle’s

25. Nothing

26. Wedding champagne at James’s

27. Brooklyn Kura Part B at home

28. Nothing

29. Merry Widow at home

30. Nothing

31. Mojito at David and Sam’s

November Grog Log

1. Yuh Ayuh at Singlish

2. Krombacher Altbier at Reichenbach Hall

3. Nothing

4. Coquito at Orion Bar

5. Ebbs Pilsner 2 at Eric and Diana’s

6. Torch and Crown IPA at Signature Theatre

7. Lagunitas and whiskey at Heavy Woods

8. Somaek at Let’s Meat

9. Vinas Mora Kaamen 2021 at Four Horsemen

10. Corona at Paramount Screening Room

11. Nothing

12. Henny 75 at The Fly (Be Bep popup)

13. Weininger Ponzichter at home

14. Used illusion 2.0 at Rockwell

15. Heineken at Welcome to Chinatown

16. Nothing

17. Podere Giardino Suoli Cataldi Reggiano Lambrusco Rosso 2023

18. Gobelsburg Schloss Sparkling Brut Reserve Niederösterreich at Atoboy

19. Finca La Niña Cabernet Sauvignon 2024 at home

20. Nothing

21. Mulled wine at Cal and Jen’s

22. Finca La Niña Cabernet Sauvignon 2024 at home

23. Nothing

24. Nothing

25. Ravines Dry Riesling 2022 at Terence’s

26. Nothing

27. Brooklyn Kura BK X E Keiko Doi at home

28. Rogue Vine “Grand Itata” Blanco 2022 at home

29. Florez 2024 Cave Dew Pinot Noir at home

30. Nothing

December Grog Log

1. Nothing

2. Heartland beer at Usagi (Tokyo)

3. Kirin original at 7/11 (Tokyo)

4. Neg”oolong”ni at SG Low (Tokyo)

5. Rain and Moss Gin Fuzz at SG Club (Tokyo)

6. Buronfosse Sous le Monceau Côtes du Jura Poulsard 2023 at Kasiki (Tokyo)

7. Sapporo at Nikuichi (Fukuoka)

8. Blue Moon at Grand Hyatt Fukuoka hotel bar (Fukuoka)

9. Asahi at Okonomiyaki Sakura (Osaka)

10. Sake tasting at Shimada Shoten (Osaka)

11. Kirin Ichiban at Kyoto Teramachi Taimeshi Maki (Kyoto)

12. Welcome Drink at Nokishita711 (Kyoto)

13. Champagne at Torisho Sai (Kyoto)

14. Kirin Ichiban at Tempura Makino Shinjuku Mitsui Biru (Tokyo)

15. Shibuya Honey Sour at Flying Bumblebee (Tokyo)

16. Hojicha Paper Plane at Tub (Tokyo)

17. Hidakami sake at Yakiuo Ishikawa (Tokyo)

18. Hakushu 18 at Suntory Whisky Library (Tokyo)

19. Domaine Philippe Pernot-Belicard Bourgogne Côte d’Or Chardonnay 2023 White at home

20. Joan d’Anguera Les Maiols at Eel Bar

21. Spiked cider at Catina’s

22. Nothing

23. Henry Varnay Elisa Cremant De Loire at Puritan and Co (Cambridge)

24. Zero Gravity Cone Head Haze at Urban Wild (Boston)

25. Bourbon + calvados eggnog at Jon and Pilar’s (Newton)

26. Nothing

27. Chenin Blanc, Monte Xanic 2022 at El Fish Marisqueria

28. Nothing

29. Nothing

30. Mas Onésime Jour Fruit 2023 at home

31. Anita Nittnaus Hans Blauer Zweigelt 2020 at home

Thanks for reaching the end of this notebook dump.