I went to the edge of Brooklyn and all I got was a sweater that looks like a pizza box
jk I got tacos too!
I hope you were able to enjoy the false spring weather we had on Sunday! NY Metro Weather rated it a 7/10, but I think we were at least at an 8. I spent the weekend cat sitting in Greenpoint and can I just tell you, that neighborhood is the fuckin shoppy shop capital of NYC. I bopped in and out of with the cutest packaged food items, clothing that the aspirational Eden would wear, and of course tchotchkes galore. I did end up buying one sweater that is very pizzeria-core and I simply took pictures of everything else that I saw and liked but didn’t want to commit to purchasing.
And just like that, it’s March! Since it’s Women’s History Month, I’ve been planning some celebratory programming for my coworkers. We’ll be sourcing our coffee and treats this month from women-owned businesses - first up is Think Coffee’s Kellensoo Blend, recommended by my girl Aliyah! Portions of this coffee’s sales provide reusable menstrual products to young women in Kellensoo, Ethiopia. I’m also running a donation drive to I Support The Girls; I’ve donated to them at past companies before and they’re a really lovely org to support! Anyways, do some good stuff for the ladies/lady-identifying folks in your life this month and try to learn something new.
1. Noshing 😋
The area of Greenpoint I stayed in over the weekend was truly around the corner from so many restaurants I already loved and so many I’ve had on my to-try list. First up was Taqueria Ramirez. I’ve heard nothing but rave reviews of this taco spot for years and I wondered “how good can it be?” I’ve had Los Tacos no. 1, their tacos are amazing, can a better taco exist? Friends, it can exist and it exists at Taqueria Ramirez.
Taqueria Ramirez’s website explains that they’re dine-in only and they fuckin mean it. After placing your order, I recommend grabbing one of their only 10ish seats because you’ll want to eat these tacos sitting down. Your tacos will be ready fairly quickly and they’re served to you on a plate that they stress you need to return. Could you bring your own tupperware and transfer the tacos to go? Probably, but you’ll also want to dig in the second you smell them so maybe this system was less a limitation and more a necessity.
I am an al pastor girl for life, so I went with 2 al pastor tacos and one campechano (a combo of the suadero and longaniza). The tacos are single tortilla bebes; I usually enjoy a double tortilla but these lil guys held up well despite the absolute heap of juicy meat on top. The tacos come filling-only and you can add your own toppings: onions, cilantro, green salsa red salsa, and lime. Reviews said that the red salsa is very hot and I didn’t try it to test this because 1) I love salsa verde and 2) I wanted to make sure I could taste the meat so I didn’t want to deal with intense spice.
Yo these tacos were GOOD. Of course I was lucky that I went during an off time so there was no wait, but I feel like I would wait for these tacos. What first stood out to me about both the campechano and the al pastor was the amazing texture. The al pastor was shaved really thin so it has a nice crust on each piece, no little gooey fatty pieces. The campechano had a nice contract between the little firm sausage bits and the slightly larger beef bits. Both tacos were so goddam flavorful, no doubt from all of the juices that kept dripping down my hand as I ate. I told you, you’ll want to eat these sitting down, or at least hunched over a plate to catch any bits that escape the tortilla.
So, is it better than Los Tacos No. 1? It’s goddam close. There are less options (and less seats) here, but the tacos are all a standard $5 and the ordering process was less stressful. I always get nervous when I have to yell at the Los Tacos chefs to tell them my tortilla and topping preferences, I’m no good under pressure. If you haven’t had Taqueria Ramirez, this is your sign to make the trip to Greenpoint because I promise you it’s worth a ride on the G train.
2. Watching🍿
I finally watched The Banshees of Inisherin. This film’s marketing did absolutely nothing to pique my interest but I kept hearing nothing but rave reviews so I finally gave in and watched it. And I….simply did not get it. Am I not Irish enough? Probably, I’m not Irish at all.
All of the commercials I saw for this movie promised a movie where Brendan Gleeson (Colm) suddenly no longer wants to be friends with Colin Farrell (Padraic). Why anyone wouldn’t want to be friends with Colin Farrell is beyond me, but Colm explains that he simply finds him dull and life is short and he wants to spend more time following his artistic pursuits. Irish YOLO I guess. I don’t disagree with Colm’s ethos here, that’s why I write this newsletter. Life is short and I want to spend it doing the things I want to do. And I’ve certainly let friendships drift as I prioritize other things in my life. But this film takes that concept to Shakespearean extremes.
Colm tells Padraic that every time he tries to talk to him, he’ll cut off a finger. I understand the need for extreme measures at times, but Colm is a fuckin fiddle player. Cutting off fingers is directly counterintuitive to the whole reason he’s asking Padraic to leave him alone. My man can’t play the fiddle anymore if he loses all his fingers, so he’s only hurting himself! Men really will do anything but go to therapy.
Anyways, the only thing that did somewhat interest me about this movie were the Shakespearean-esque themes. And I’m not even a fuckin Shakespeare girl! It was simply the only thing that piqued my brain’s interest. There was a creepy lady who predicted death, Shakespeare plays always have one of those. This was structured like your classic Tragedy; from the beginning you knew it wasn’t going to work out. And the absolutely lush AF setting of an Irish island really nailed home the point that what looks beautiful on the surface is rotten underneath. I feel like weird bargains are classic Shakespeare, a la Colm cutting off fingers for every time Padraic talks to him. There was even a sad twist that pushes our mild-mannered Padraic over the edge as his beloved donkey dies after choking on Colm’s fingers. I felt like I was simply watching a classic Shakeapeare tragedy unfold but instead of everyone speaking silly Olde English, they spoke silly Irish English instead.
Did you watch this movie? Did you like it? Did you connect with it? I would really love to hear more about your experience because I am simply at a loss here. In other news, I have begun rewatching all of the 90s X-Men animated cartoon in anticipation of X-Men 97 - is anyone else excited for that?!
3. What’s Good 😎
Woodbine in Ridgewood is hosting a seed exchange on Sunday. They have some seeds to share, but folks are also encouraged to bring their own to swap. Any leftover seeds will live in their seed library which is open to anyone who wants access. The Stavros Niarchos brand of the NYPL also offers a seed library!
I’m officially a ceramic girly now and I’ve begun following so many studios! Clayspace in Greenpoint is offering a handbuilding sampler event on March 16, which will allow you to play with some clay and get a feel for what creating some pieces might feel like. At $85 it’s on the pricier side, but I can assure you that after taking a long form ceramic class this is, in fact, a good deal.
I love a nice calming art session and Heart of Dinner is hosting a bag decorating session on March 20 at The Standard Hotel. They’ll be providing snacks and art supplies, you just have to supply the creativity (but honestly no pressure, you can draw whatever). Brooklyn babes can get their coloring on at Color Club at McCarren Parkhouse on March 13 (this one costs $25 to attend).
I would love to be better at sewing and have been meaning to take one of UR Fancy Shop’s classes. They have a pretty full schedule for March and most of their classes are between $45-60, so not too pricey!
Calling all dessert lovers (it me)! Farm To People is having a dessert takeover from March 14-17. Reservations are open now and they promise that the menu is dropping any day now 👀
If you’re in the mood to get your jazz on, head to Bed-Stuy coffee shop Rita und Maria on March 13. A $10 cover will get you access to wine, snacks, and jazzy vibes.
4. Exploring 🛼
I realize I’m writing about a lot of stuff on the fringes of Brooklyn today; first Greenpoint and now Red Hook. I’ve written about exploring Red Hook before (it’s one of my most viewed posts!) and I’m always eager to have another reason to go to the part of Brooklyn. Recently, I ventured to the edge of Brooklyn to visit Shipwrecked. I love me some mini golf (I’ve written about that too) and have been wanting to check this place out for a while. Not only did Lorenzo and I play a sprightly game of mini-g, but my mom and 2 year old cousin joined too. Was Shipwrecked fun for the whole family or did I simply want to die and go to Davey Jones’ Locker?
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Big City, Little Friend to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.