new york snaps

Non-food-related New York highlights:

• First subway ride and walk through Manhattan to visit the Met
• Strolling though soggy, gloomy, beautiful Central Park
• Attending a taping of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
• Exploring Strand Book Store (and buying way too many books)
• Running into Patricia Clarkson and her dog while walking to Chelsea Market
• Meeting Mindy Kaling at Magnolia Bakery later that day
• Seeing the original Batman masks on display at the Tim Burton exhibit at MoMA
• Visiting 30 Rock, where my television alter ego, Liz Lemon, works

New York food post to follow!

top 5

Jon Hamm had to do last-minute reshoots for Mad Men on Sunday and couldn't make it to the Tootsie screening. What. A. Bummer. I went to Disneyland and watched Kick-Ass with my friend instead. I thoroughly enjoyed Kick-Ass. It was very violent and very entertaining.

Anyway, I haven't done one of these lists in a long, long time. Here are five people/places/things that I've been enjoying lately:

1. Beach House's latest album, Teen Dream. I love love love this band.

2. Donald Glover. He used to write for 30 Rock, and now stars in Community, a show that's only in its first season, but is already one of the funniest and most creative comedies on television. My friend and I saw him do stand-up at the Laugh Factory in Hollywood last month, and he had us laughing non-stop. Donald also blogs about cool stuff and writes and performs intricately worded rap songs with indie/geek leanings under the pseudonym Childish Gambino. He's a modern-day Renaissance man. I have a huge crush on him.

3. Party Down is another one of my favorite shows at the moment. It's about a bunch of failed actors and writers working at a catering company. The spot-on cast includes Adam Scott, Lizzie Caplan, and Martin Starr (of my all-time favorite Freaks and Geeks). The show just entered into its second season on the Starz network. The incomparable Jane Lynch was part of the cast in season 1, but left to be on Glee. Megan Mullally is taking her place this season. Her character is funny, but I still miss Jane. All episodes are available for instant viewing on Netflix, and you can also watch a few episodes on the official website.

4. Marias USA, a cool little independent shoe line that pairs simple shapes with interesting details. Their designs are fun, classic, and effortlessly stylish. Affordable, too! The Low Top and the Two-toned Flat are my current favorites.

5. Cute boys with cats on tumblr. What a genius idea for a blog. This cat totally looks like Tiger from An American Tail.

hamm & banksy

This handsome, handsome man will be hosting a screening of Tootsie at the Silent Movie Theatre in Los Angeles tonight. To say that I'm "looking forward to it" would be a huge understatement. I get to see Jon Hamm and the (almost as good-looking) young Dustin Hoffman in the same evening. It's win-win!

Yesterday I went to a screening of the Banksy film Exit Through the Gift Shop. It was really great - unexpectedly funny and thought-provoking. It was interesting to see the story and process behind all the street art that's so prevalent throughout LA. There's so much amazing footage in the film. If it's playing anywhere near you, go see it!