JAN. 9th - 2025
I HAVE BOUGHT A NOTEBOOK AND PEN FROM A NEARLY VACANT WALGREENS IN WHITE CENTER AND AS I WAS LEAVING THE STORE I WAS FACED WITH A WOMAN CAUGHT STEALING. THE EMPLOYEES AND A LOCAL HAD BEGUN TO CONFRONT THE WOMAN IN A VERY CALM AND RATIONAL MANNER. THE WOMAN EXPLAINED THAT SHE HAD NOTHING AS I WALKED PAST A PERSON WHO I COULD ONLY ASSUME WAS HER PARTNER STANDING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AUTOMATIC DOORS. IM UNSURE WHERE THINGS WERE HEADING BUT THE AIR FELT SLOW AND BOUYANT AND I HOPE THE COUPLE WERE HELPED.

IM SITTING FOR THE FIRST TIME INSIDE YOUNG’S RESTAURANT IN WHITE CENTER - AN OBSCURE DINER/CHINESE RESTAURANT IVE BEEN CURIOUS ABOUT - TELLING MYSELF THAT WHAT IM CURRENTLY WRITING IN THIS NOTEBOOK IS NOT JOURNALING, BUT CATALOGUING. IM FEELING GUIDED. AT THIS STAGE IN LIFE ONE SHOULD BE QUIET AND OBSERVE. TAKE STOCK.  

A COUPLE JUST LEFT IN FRUSTRATION “THIS IS TAKING A MIGHTY LONG TIME!” THE MAN SAID. “LETS GET OUT OF HERE, ITS BEEN LIKE 30 MINUTES”.
IM HOPING THIS YEAR WILL BE A WAVE THAT WASHES AWAY OLD INSECURITIES AND CREATIVE MISFIRES WHILE ALSO TYING THE LOOSE ENDS OF IDEAS THAT HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED. I WILL WRITE IN THIS AT THE NEXT MEAL I FIND MYSELF ALONE. I CAN FEEL THE BLOAT COMING.

YOUNG’S RESTAURANT REVIEW: 3/5
MY FOOD CAME SUPER QUICK. FAR FROM NOTABLE, BUT INCREDIBLY COMFORTING SWEET & SOUR CHICKEN WITH BBQ FRIED RICE, PORK WONTON SOUP, AND 2 SPRING ROLLS + THAI ICED TEA. LOVE A PLACE WITH A LUNCH COMBO. WOULD LIKE TO TRY THE BREAKFAST SOME TIME. HALF OF THE RESTAURANT WAS EMPTY WITH BARELY ANY TABLES AND IN THE DARK. A LIMINAL SPACE. ALMOST FELT LIKE A SET. 






FEB. 6th - 2025
TODAY IM IN THE MEATPACKING DISTRICT OF MANHATTAN WRITING FROM A BOOTH AT THE STAR ON 18 DINER WITH A BURNT UPPER MOUTH AND CLEAR MIND. THIS IS MY FIRST TRIP TO THIS CITY ALONE AND IT FEELS ODDLY QUIET. MAYBE ITS THE COLD WEATHER. 


I AM HERE TO EDIT A NIKE SOCIAL MEDIA PIECE STARRING SNL’S EGO NWODIN. IVE BEEN PUT UP IN A HOTEL LOCATED ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE CHELSEA MARKET, NESTLED BETWEEN 3 DIFFERENT NIGHT CLUBS AND I HEARD MUFFLED BASS THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT. REGARDLESS, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT TO SLEEP. IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT I AM HERE FOR THIS PURPOSE AND THAT ISNT LOST ON ME.

A FAMILY OF 3 ARE ARGUING OUTSIDE BY A LINE OF CHARTER BUSSES. “I GUESS WE’LL SPLIT UP THEN” THE MOTHER SAYS TO HER DAUGHTER, WHO APPEARS TO BE MAKING AN EXACERBATED ESCAPE ON FOOT. I DOUBT SHE’LL GET FAR.
SOMEONE ORDERS THE CHICKEN SALAD FROM THE BACK CORNER OF THE RESTAURANT AND THE WAITER ASKS IF THEY WANT “THE HOUSE”. “THE HOUSE CHICKEN?” THE PERSON ASKS. “NO, THE HOUSE DRESSING” WHICH HAS ME WONDERING WHAT “HOUSE CHICKEN” WOULD BE. A MAN DRAWS IN A SKETCH BOOK A FEW TABLES AWAY AND I CAN HEAR HIS MARKER ON THE PAPER. 

STAR ON 18 REVIEW: 3.5/5
I ORDER THE EGGS BENEDICT. MY FOOD COMES FAST. THE EGGS ARE PERFECT AND SO IS THE HOLLANDAISE SAUCE, WHICH HAS THE COLOR OF FRESH SQUEEZED ORANGE JUICE. NYC DINERS SEEM TO HAVE A UNANIMOUS PREFERENCE TO HOME STYLE POTATOES VS HASHBROWNS, WHICH I DONT TOTALLY UNDERSTAND, BUT I FINISH MY PLATE AND THE RESTAURANT BECOMES EMPTY. AS I LEAVE, THE KITCHEN CONTINUES TO SIZZLE BEHIND A SET OF WOODEN SWINGING DOORS.