The Lo Down: 5/22/25

I swore I'd never be this person...

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Food

Apparently I’ve lived long enough to become the villain - the person I loathe - a person on a diet. My first ever one, and it’s a toughie: gluten free, sugar free (among other restrictions). It won’t completely deter me from eating out, and it is temporary, but I’m not going to be choosing the gluttonous options that I default to (looking longingly at you, pasta). I think it’s hard to give a restaurant a real review while having restrictions in diet, but I’m going to make the most of it.

I’m depressed to admit that my final pasta meal for the time being, unknowingly, was at Daddies. I have nothing redeeming to say about this meal, aside from the people I was dining with. There are many other low-key Italian restaurants in the WV that I’d suggest before this one (Fiaschetteria Pistoia, Malatesta, Malaparte, Bar Pitti…I’d also suggest cooking at home before suggesting Daddies, tbh). I’m not even linking it because it doesn’t deserve a single click of traffic.

BG Restaurant at Bergdorf’s gets all the attention, while Café Ginori is positively slept on. Sure, it’s tucked away in the basement and doesn’t boast that iconic Central Park view, but I do think the food was superior to BG (also worth noting, there was an hour long wait for a table at BG on Saturday afternoon for lunch, while Ginori had immediate walk-in availability). The order: split the lobster salad & spaghetti pomodoro.

I used to hate on Kazu Nori for being boring (I’ve always found Nami Nori more exciting) but it’s unbeatable in both convenience & quality. They do use a bit too much rice for my liking, though.

Arts & Culture

The Studio is one of my favorite new shows I’ve watched recently (it should go without saying that I’m also loving Hacks right now, but I am a day 1 fan). It’s sharp, visually stunning (I’m a sucker for cinematography), and hits that sweet spot of being both quick and engrossing. As an old Hollywood fan, I love the BTS angle - even if it’s wildly dramatized. Each episode feels like its own little story, but the last couple have started to connect the dots, which I’m very into. I like that kind of storytelling every now and then - episodic with a slow-burn threat pulling it all together.

I popped by that design block party in Soho I mentioned last week. Think Chelsea gallery nights, but way better. Apparently it was their third annual, and I already wish they’d do it monthly. I’ve been on a mission to redecorate, and endlessly scrolling the internet for inspiration just hasn’t been cutting it. I discovered several interior brands I’d never heard of before - Roll & Hill, Lemieux Et Cie, among others. Incredible furniture, great cocktails, DJs, free ice cream…honestly, what more could you want?

Also: to everyone who’s heard me say “I want a new dining table” every day for the past 3-5+ years - it’s finally happening. I’ve found some pieces I’m truly excited about. And while online shopping is easy, nothing beats stumbling into a beautiful store you didn’t know existed. I love NYC.

Fashion

I recently caught up with a friend who’s working on Doji - a new AI-powered virtual try-on app that just raised $14m. Doji creates a personal avatar and lets you test out different outfit formulas digitally. I played around with it a bit, and while there are definitely some kinks to work out, it’s an interesting glimpse into where fashion tech is heading.

As someone who’s worked in buying and curation for over a decade, I see the potential here - but also the very real challenges. The biggest hurdle is accurately representing how a piece will actually fit and move on your body, especially across different brands and materials. Sizing, proportion, drape - those things are hard to simulate, even with smart tech. That said, it’s definitely a space worth watching. If they can get it right, it could revolutionize the way we shop online.

For more of what’s in my closet, what I’m currently obsessing over, shopping guides & more, check out my ShopMy. Looking for some personal style advice? Whether it’s for curating a flawless vacation wardrobe, hunting down the perfect shoes, or finding the best basics for your closet, I’m here to help—just reach out!

Current Obsession

Feed Me is my personal favorite Substack read, and this week’s Q&A with Keith McNally was, unsurprisingly, full of some amazing gems (“There’s a chance of succeeding at anything as long as you don’t listen to the experts”; “Only deeply unsexual people are able to define sex appeal in hospitality. The truly sexual people do it instead of defining it”; and, on his beauty routine, “never look into the mirror before sunset.”)

Keith McNally on the West Village discourse.

On My Radar

Le Chêne, a new ‘fine dining, a la carte’ French restaurant opening in the WV this weekend

Cariñito Tacos, a Michelin-recognized taqueria from CDMX that recently opened on University Place (a ‘gochujang-slathered Crunchwrap’ will be my first item of business when I’m done with this diet)

Willem de Kooning: Endless Painting exhibition at Gagosian (Chelsea location; on view through June 14)

Until next week -

xo

Lo