Ingrid Michaelson : Lights Out

Nothing like some good ol' pop-y but sad songs to brighten up a day! Ingrid Michaelson ("The Way I Am" "You and I") came out with her album LIGHTS OUT the other week, and it's not the best thing in the world, but it's pretty nice nonetheless. It's catchy and light like the rest of Ingrid's famous songs, but there's a note of despair that rings throughout the album that differentiates this one from her last few. Albeit, it's mixed in with the usual pop-y production that seems as if she specifically made half of these songs with the radio in mind, but I guess I'm not too bothered by that since I just listened to this album all the way through three four times. 

So listen and take it in for yourself. And if you don't feel like putting in the hour+ of time, listen to "Home" because it's the nice and catchy, "Open Hands" and "Ready to Lose" next because they're wonderfully sad, "Over You" because it's nice and SUPER sad, and then "Afterlife" to bounce back from the melancholy. 

Waste Your Time w/ Flight of the Conchords

There's many different kinds of weird: crazy weird, unsettling weird, and "what the heck just happened" weird. Then there's good weird. The kind of weird that brings forth thunderous, guttural, and insane laughter that makes everyone around you concern for your general state of sanity. Flight of the Conchords is that kind of weird. The best kind.

Just looking at these photos may give you some idea of how quirky the HBO show is. Although the show only lasted for two seasons, it is arguably one of the best shows that HBO has produced. Ok, maybe that's just me arguing, but judging from their enormous fan base, I think I'm not completely alone. 

Bret and Jermaine are two ordinary guys from New Zealand that are best buds in a band together. Sounds normal enough, huh? And it is. Except they manage to make their mediocre lives incredibly enjoyable and entertaining. While breaking into song every so often, naturally (watch the video at the bottom and just take in the musical stylings of Bret and Jermaine). A couple noteworthy lines from their songs: 

"You're so beautiful...like a tree" 

"It's 12:02, just me and you. And seven other dudes around you on the dance floor"

The Ultimate Snack

When there are snacks, people shall come. It's one of those cardinal rules of hospitality. Snacks have the power to bring people together and make everyone temporarily satisfied. They just do.

Snacking is great because it's like the noncommittal way of eating without having to create a full meal. Amidst the chips and salsa, peanut butter filled pretzels, goldfish, cheez-its, and such, there is one snack that will always be a win.

That snack is animal crackers.

So maybe it's not the most obvious choice, but animal crackers have a lot going for them. For one, as soon as people see animal crackers, they get nostalgic about childhood and are instantly reminded of good and happy times. Animal crackers are also fun to eat. There's always the debate of whether it's humane to eat the head first and then all the extremities. There's also the joy of trying to figure out what animal you actually got because the mountain goat oftentimes looks like a llama. And on top of all of that, they're straight up delicious.

Now there's good old-fashioned plain animal cookies which are delectable by their lonesome. But when their frosted and sprinkled counterparts come out, it really becomes a party.

For future reference too, you can buy a large bag of animal cookies from any Duane Reade for $2, and the frosted kind for under $5. Happy snacking!

Photos all from Google

The Best Vietnamese Food Route If You Have 30 Minutes in Chinatown

For the longest time, I didn't think that anything in New York could come close to authentic Vietnamese food back in California. Back in Orange County, you can buy a Vietnamese sandwich (bánh mì) for under $3, and boba (don't call it bubble tea unless you want to be shamed) for exactly $1.25. And it's delicious and hits the spot every time.

But alas! New York did not fail me. Without further ado, here is my favorite quick Vietnamese food route to take people on whenever they come to visit. Start off with a BBQ pork sandwich at Banh Mi Saigon, and then top it off with some boba at Ten Ren Tea Time.

Freshman year of college, I used sit in my room sullenly and think about all the great Vietnamese food I was missing out on back at home. One night my sister barged into my room, proclaiming that she had a new Vietnamese sandwich shop for us to try. The next day we trekked over to Chinatown, tasted a BBQ Pork Sandwich at Banh Mi Saigon, and took our friends back with us three days later to make them try the best bánh mì in New York. And all for $4.50.



For the next two years, my bánh mì cravings were satiated, but the boba was never as successful. In moments of weakness I went into any shop that proclaimed they sold "bubble tea," ordered the milk tea, and always left feeling disappointed that it was either too watery or sweet. I'm still on the hunt for my all time favorite boba place, but Ten Ren Tea Time on Mott St. in Chinatown is close to the most authentic I've tried. If you're up for something a bit different, order the taro milk tea with boba ($3).

Photos all from Google