I’m not one for pickles. I slide them off my hamburger and pass them to friends when they arrive, speared, on my plate at a deli. I think they’re a bit brackish and almost too playful for their own good, and cartoonish when sliced, staring up at me from a bun. What is this, the Krabby Patty? Um, no.
I am, however, a fan of weird foods. Strange combinations that shouldn’t work and might work but definitely don’t—but wait a minute, was that actually kind of, secretly, maybe delicious?
So when my editor asked me to go try the pickle-flavored ice cream at Lucky Pickle Dumping Co., a restaurant on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, I jumped at the chance. I threw my aversion to pickles out the window and hopped on a speeding express train (the very slow 1, actually, which runs devastatingly local, but where’s the drama in that?) toward the only place in New York City with a soft serve machine that spews a creamy, briny pickle dessert.
Since the joint opened in May, people have been going berserk over the salty-disguised-as-sweet-disguised-as-salty treat. But because I’m Texan, there are two things I don’t do until the weather inches generously above 90° F: Jump in the pool with other human beings, and eat ice cream. So when temperatures finally climbed into the 90s this week, I myself climbed up to the Upper West Side and found myself face to face with a soft serve machine labeled pickle.
“I’d like to taste your pickle soft serve!” I shouted at the staff behind the counter. They were cooperative albeit a bit annoyed at my enthusiasm. They gave me a taste that I took a picture of and practically scarfed in one bite (the sample was small).
My eyes lit up! The staff smiled! It liked it! I told them! They nodded because they knew. “Yeah, it’s like really good, most people like it,” an employee told me.
It tasted, at first, like tzatziki sauce, the Greek yogurt dip that’s got its fair share of cucumbers—which makes sense—but without the garlic. There were hints of dill which gave it nuance and heft. It was sweet, yes, but not overwhelmingly so and the tiniest bit tangy, from the pickle brine. It was creamy—it is soft serve after all.
For someone who usually eschews pickles, I found that I wanted to try more. This dessert wasn’t acerbic and green and bumpy like its namesake but rather pale green and smooth and quite pleasant. Pickle soft serve is very, very refreshing.
I asked the manager what was in it, and he told me. It’s on the tip of my tongue… But, alas, a coworker reminded him that their boss specifically told them not to reveal the recipe to anyone. So, unfortunately, I won’t be sharing it here. I liked them enough (as people, you know?) and I would hate for any of the employees at Lucky Pickle Dumpling Co. to be reprimanded for my actions.
My report card: Would I have it again? Absolutely. Was it refreshing? Cool as a cucumber. Did it taste like chomping on a salty, vinegary pickle? Not at all. If anything, I would say it was pickle-inspired. Which really made all the difference.
Miami Swim Week is around the corner, so while you’re mapping out your fashion shows and after parties, we’ve compiled a list of buzzy eateries in the 305 so you can make your reservations ASAP. Click through for newly opened restaurants with coveted tables and all the absolute must-visits while you’re in town for the shows.
The hottest new restaurant in Miami by Michael Schwartz, located in the new Paraiso Bay complex in Edgewater with the best view in town. The menu is dynamic with bold Latin American flavors, and popular large plates for 2 like the meat parrillada. Make sure to get a table outside, so you can head over to the beachy lounge area for an after dinner cocktail.
A Japanese-Peruvian fusion, open-air hot spot on Lincoln boasting a menu spanning sushi to robata-grilled lamb and multi-course tasting menus. Pop in for their special Swim Week menu!
This Dutch-inspired eatery is serving tall stacked sandwiches and all-day “late night” favorites in the heart of Wynwood. Order a Royale with cheese or a fried chicken sandwich while you enjoy live entertainment at night.
One of the hottest new restaurants to hit town by Chef Carlos Garcia, presenting a Venezuelan-style menu focusing on upscale comfort food using seasonal and local ingredients.
The closest you’ll get to feeling like you’re dining al fresco in the Mediterranean, but in Miami’s Design District. Inspired by the tavernas of Aegean coastal towns, Mandolin’s menu features tasty Greek “mezes” like flavored hummus plates or grilled catch of the day to fill you up before browsing the nearby boutiques.
A colorful taquiera by day, speakeasy joint by night. Just enter through what looks like a port-o-potty stall on the righthand side. So, order your pork belly tacos and tortas from the Airstream trailer (right under the greatest marquee sign, ever) and the head to the “baño.”
The best way to beat the heat this summer? Ice cream you can Instagram! Feast your eyes on these iconic (and Insta-worthy) shops churning up bold flavors and big crowds all across the concrete jungle. From fish-shaped cones to seriously unique swirls, these are the hottest spots for cool desserts.
Where cookie dough meets ice cream. This season, you won’t have to swap summers in the city for summers in the Catskills. DŌ, Cookie Dough Confections, the sensational shop serving edible cookie dough is hosting a Camp Cookie DŌ ice cream pop-up at Chefs Club Counter all summer long. It’s bound to transport you back to the days of your favorite camp.
Adorned with swings, canoes and promising plenty of photo ops (of course, for the gram), it’s serving up a menu with nostalgic desserts like a Campfire Sundae, with marshmallow fluff, graham cracker crumble, and a chocolate fudge filled cone topped with a fudge Popsicle soft serve and cookie dough bits. You can also design your own ice cream with “camp contraband.” How’s that for scandalous summer camp memories?
Open through Labor Day weekend. Sunday–Thursday 12 PM-10 PM, Friday–Saturday 12 PM-11 PM.
Sugar, spice and everything vice. Ice and Vice pushes the limit – and your taste buds – when it comes to what ice cream can be. Experimenting with different flavor combinations and unusual ingredients from all over the world, this experiential ice cream shop boasts creative, West-coast style ice cream, and is nothing short of inventive and playful. Treat yourself to a ‘Frosé’ from the menu: a 21+ version of let’s say, strawberry popsicles, which is made using raspberry, rhubarb, rose and last but certainly not least, White Girl Rosé. Edgy, extra, and ultra-chic, this ice cream is the best way to indulge – and get a few likes while you’re at it.
This trendy ice cream company, with stores in Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan, serves up soft-serve and sorbet with an endless array of ever-changing rotations of flavors. And that’s not all. In addition to this, OddFellows’ new Coffee and Cream parlor boasts caffeine creations topped with flavorful scoops.
Don’t let the English translation of this shop’s name fool you (ahem, “baked sea bream”). All the incredible, edible eats at this spot are sweet as can be – despite being shaped like fish. Photogenic waffle cones filled with swirls of quality ice cream – what more can you (or your followers) ask for?!
Most likely to inundate your Instagram feed, this ice cream shop is scooping up sensational delights that taste just as good as they look. Dipped, drizzled, and sprinkled to confectionery perfection, mix and match cones with Asian inspired ice cream flavors like black sesame, purple ube, and matcha!
Nestled in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, Morgenstern’s specializes in “all ice cream everything.” Stop in for classic scoops, old school floats, or some seriously out-there concoctions. We recommend The New God Flow, a Yeezy-inspired must-try consisting of Japanese white bread smothered with decadent honey goodness (uh-huh honey), which is then caramelized (brûlée style), and is finally topped with two scoops of raw milk ice cream.
Though fight it we might, the seasons come and go in a New York minute. But whether you’re in shorts and sandals or a puffer and boots, there’s one classic, versatile wardrobe staple that never stops working. Tagging along with four of our favorite girls-about-town, we’ve the inside scoop on how they work their cashmere from morning to night.
But not all cashmere is created equal, of course. The highest quality around, Naadam is the softest, most durable cashmere on the market (not to mention totally eco-friendly and completely fair trade).
Click through for all the sartorial inspiration you need for moving from the gym to work to a night out!
[Photos by Yumi Matsuo]
From Home Office…
Stephanie Nass – AKA Chefanie – is hands down one of the busiest girls we know. “I wake up early (usually 5:30am) to exercise and do emails before the craziness of business hours – and then catering hours – begins.” At the helm of an ever expanding entertaining empire, the millennial Martha caters some of the chicest events in the city, runs her own members-only dinner club, and has her own line of customizable cake sheets. Clearly, she’s a no-detail-too-small type of girl. And most annoyingly of all, she makes it all look impeccably easy.
Whether she’s baking up a storm, sending out cakes or painting menus for an upcoming soiree at her gilded birdcage of an Upper West Side apartment – decorated, of course, to perfection – comfort and style are key. “Day-to-day I go from the kitchen to client meetings to formal events, so I choose outfits that minimize the number of costume changes and maximize my confidence.”
Opting on the day of our visit for a soft, feminine ruffled dress, her look is a just-right, Goldie Locks recipe of equal parts charm and comfort.
When the workday is done, and all the cake boxes have been sent out, and all emails have been read and responded to, what more glamorous way to spend an evening than all done up at Lincoln Center?
“I choose to live near Lincoln Center because I love classical music. I’d have to say my ideal night is going to the philharmonic followed by dinner at Fiorello’s.”
Add in an après-performance stop at a gelato cart for a sweet fix, and you’re living the dream.
To elevate even an already formal look, a luxe silk-cashmere wrap slung elegantly around the arms will always do the trick. Even on a warm summer night! After all, one should never underestimate the air conditioning indoors, especially at a theatre. Trust, bare armed, goose bumped girls will be jealously eyeing you up and down wishing they had something as perfect to wrap up in.
Not to mention it’s the classiest way to add a chic pop of color to any ensemble.
If you follow Dria Murphyon Instagram (which you obviously totally should!), you know full well that not a day goes by she’s not kickstarting her morning with an impressively healthy (in-your-non-lazy-dreams) regimen.
“I always begin my day by taking some organic supplements from Well Told Health and getting in a good workout. The Bari Studio in Tribeca has sculpt and bounce classes that are my favorites – the perfect combination of cardio and toning.”
Rolling out of bed and into the nearest cafe for a matcha latte before working up a sweat need not be a style-less endeavor. Throwing on an easy, wardrobe essential such as an open v-neck sweater over your sporty spice attire will make you feel worlds better about yourself, and far more photo ready for any #fitspo snaps.
In true New York style, Dria Murphy’s work days make even her most supercharged workout look like a walk in the park. Since founding her PR and branding company Alise Collectiveback in July of 2015, she’s been the go-to girl behind some of the coolest projects and experiences in New York, the Hamptons and beyond.
Working for yourself, while admittedly the dream, is quite the hustle. But all work and no play? Not the storyline here. Don’t let her high wellness score fool you!
“For happy hour, I’m normally super casual. Since I’m pretty much always coming from work meetings, I’ll just throw on a pair of heels and statement earrings and I’m ready to go!”
An easily dressed up style staple that goes from an early morning workout, to mid-afternoon meetings, to a fun round of cocktails with friends at The Happiest Hour. Can’t ask for better mileage, no?
As far as sister-duos go, you’ll be hard pressed to find as stylish and cool a pair as Sophie and Charlotte Bickley. The brunette/blonde team is all about celebrating their individuality, sharing their unique and original styles with their gaggle of followers on their popular blog, Yin 2My Yang.
Street style experts forever documenting their adventures in fashion, these two know more than just a thing or two about pulling together an outfit and striking a pose. Some stop and smell the roses, others stop to snap a selfie. Between meetings and emails, they always find time to fit in one or two impromptu photoshoots highlighting their enviable looks du jour.
A silk cashmere camisole and short set proves every bit the summer win for Charlotte when accessorized with a pair of trendy cat eye sunglasses, and a cheeky clear handbag. And for Sophie, it’s all about a soft hoodie styled with an edge.
After a busy evening of pinballing between fashion events – never doubt that somehow all the best parties always happen on the same night – it’s hard to settle home so easy. Old Rose at the ever-hip Jane Hotel is a late night favorite that never disappoints.
When the sun sets but your schedule doesn’t stop, a quick, strategic outfit change is in order. Swapping her boyfriend jeans and gold top for funky statement pants, and a particularly fun sequin strappy situation, Sophie’s cool girl off-duty standard – a black, uber soft cashmere hoodie – still fits the fashionable bill.
For Charlotte, it’s a denim skirt and mules that completely change the look of her chic lightweight cami.
There’s much to be said for being the most fashionable woman in a room. But if you’re also not the most comfortable, what’s the point?
Leather jackets can run the gamut from expensive to thrify, from shiny and shiny to matte and oversized. No matter what, though, there are options, and hopefully whichever one you choose will last for years.
The right leather jacket for you will be dependable, reliable, and tailored perfectly. Ideally, you can throw it over jeans and a t-shirt and look effortlessly cool and relaxed. But if you’re going to drop some cash and decide on a jacket you’ll wear often, where do you even begin to look?
These eight jackets are each different styles and different price ranges, so there’s something for everyone. No matter which one you choose, though, you’ll end up looking like a total badass.
An oversized leather jacket is perfect for layering, so if you’re the kind of guy who piles on the clothes, this is ideal. This particular jacket from Topman is edgy, chic, and versatile, so it’ll always work, no matter what you’re layering underneath it.
If you prefer a bomber, you have options. This particular leather bomber jacket is extra warm for chillier days and maintains an old time-inspired look for anyone who appreciates a good throwback.
Need something super soft and comfy? This is it. Exposed zippers keep the look from going a little too soft, maintaining the edge and chicness that are synonymous with leather.
Listen, you’ve got to be prepared. We get it. Need a hood just in case? Check. This Mackage jacket can and will take you anywhere, no matter rain or shine. You might never want to take it off.
This matte jacket is a bit more understated than the usual shiny black leather. If you prefer to keep your style a bit more muted and basic, this does exactly that in the very best way possible.
Like to stand out? Brown leather is still neutral enough to wear often, but it’s not as typical as black. It’s also still modern and cool, despite the unexpected color change.
And if you really want to shake things up, this lamb leather jacket is not only atypical in color, it’s also a little bit different in the cut. It’s asymmetrical, bright brown, and matte. Above all, though, it’s still really, really cool.
Drinking any amount of coffee, be it regular or decaf, may help you live longer, according to a new study
The widespread study used data from half a million people
Add this to coffee’s many health benefits, including boosting your athletic performance
By now, you’ve probably seen a lot of studies about coffee — so many that it can be hard to know what’s true about the caffeinated beverage and your health.
But a new study published in JAMA is certainly worth paying attention to, given its sheer sample size. Researchers pulled data on half a million people, and found that drinking basically any amount of coffee was linked to a longer lifespan.
According to the study, drinking a daily cup of coffee — be it regular or decaffeinated — may lower your risk of early death by 8 percent. Drinking six to seven cups a day may lower your risk by 16 percent. Even at eight cups or more, you may still lower your risk of early death by 14 percent.
“Our study provides further evidence that coffee drinking can be part of a healthy diet and offers reassurance to coffee drinkers,” Dr. Erikka Loftfield, a research fellow at the National Cancer Institute and the study’s lead investigator, told Time.
As Time explained, the team of researchers analyzed data on roughly 500,000 people from the UK Biobank cohort. Participants answered questions about their coffee consumption, as well as their smoking and drinking habits and health history, beginning in 2006 and ending in 2016.
Of those 500,000 people, 14,600 died during the study’s 10-year follow up period. From there, the researchers were able to determine the link between coffee and longevity.
They concluded their findings provide “further reassurance that coffee drinking can be a part of a healthy diet” — but as always, more studies are still on the horizon. As Loftfield told Time, “Our current understanding of coffee and health is primarily based on findings from observational studies… To better understand the potential biological mechanisms underlying the observed associations of coffee with various health outcomes, additional studies are needed.”
This is hardly the only study to show the positive health effects of coffee. In 2017, researchers also found that sipping the good stuff can may protect against age-related inflammation; another found that it can even help improve your athletic performance. The year before, a study showed it could reduce your risk of diabetes — and that’s just a small sampling of the research on the topic.
A perfectly tailored suit is appropriate year-round—it’s the fabric that’s seasonal. While heavy wools and tweed jackets look fantastic in the winter, they’re nothing short of suffocating in the warmer months. For spring and summer, opt for lightweight layers that you can wear inside and out, during the day and at night. The key to not sweating is all in the material (and the color; think lighter and brighter). Here’s what to look for.
If you can’t make it to Havana, you can at least dress like it. The light brown check is interesting without overwhelming the easygoing fit and fabric.
Although that famous blue-and-white stripe is often considered synonymous with the word “seersucker,” it actually refers to the puckered fabric, not the print. Hugo Boss’s blue-gray pick is a sleeker alternative.
Cotton twill is another cool fabric to look for. The unstructured construction is super casual—feel free to wear it with a white T-shirt and minimalist sneakers.
This one is too long, that one is too short. The collar on this one is too loose and on that one the cuffs are too tight.
Unless you’re perfectly proportioned in every way, finding a button-down dress shirt off the rack can be an unending exercise in give and take-in at a tailor. Life could be so much easier if your clothes were made just for you.
“Anything that is custom made for you will be built specific to your measurements—something rack options just can’t compete with. Especially for muscular men, with bigger necks, chests, and biceps, going the custom route is best,” celebrity stylist Alexander Allen says. Allen has worked on several major film projects, including the upcoming Al Pacino film Paterno.
“When opting for custom shirting, which can be pricey, look for a brand that has a solid reputation, has rave reviews, and/or a vendor that fully stands behind their brand with a satisfaction guarantee or one that offers to replace or redo your order at no additional cost,” Allen advises.
Tailoring is no longer just for the rich and famous. As time goes on, more and more companies are offering custom-made shirting, often times at a price similar to what you’d pay for a button-down shirt at your favorite department store. And you can customize more than just the fit, including options for everything from button details to monogramming. Here’s where to go to find your perfect fit.
Have a professional tailor take your measurements or send the company your best-fitting shirt and they’ll pull your sizes for you. From there, you can use the site create your dream button-down using cotton or polyester fabrics in a wide array of colors and prints.
Answer some online questions about your size and style and the site generates your ideal fit. Shirts are custom made, delivered in two weeks, and come with a “perfect fit” guarantee (meaning, if you don’t like it, they’ll remake it for free). You can also design every detail of your dream shirt — including choosing your own buttons and adding a monogram.
The site gives you a video tutorial on how to take your measurements, and the Concierge Team will double check with you via email if anything seems off. They will also cover the cost of alterations if you’re not 100 percent in love with your look. If you’d prefer to shop in person, there’s a New York City showroom where you can make an appointment with one of the company’s expert stylists.
Register online and one of the company’s personal stylists will come to you to help create your custom fit, answer any of your style questions, and let you browse Italian fabric samples in person. Your stylist will also hand deliver your order and each piece comes with a 100 percent fit guarantee.
Your favorite destination for off-the-rack suiting also has a made-to-measure service. Visit a brick-and-mortar shop and head to the on-site tailor, who will then walk you through different fit options — including the Executive, designed for larger, more muscular upper-bodies — and help you customize your collar, cuffs, and embroidery. You can even find tuxedo shirt options.
The long-standing menswear company offers a made-to-measure service for both suits and shirting. Stop in at one of their Wardrobe Events and tailors will guide you through more than 1,000 fabric options and help you customize your fit as well as the details like pocket styles, cuffs, buttons, and more. Then your shirt will be made in one of the company’s factories.
The luxury suit maker also offers Su Misura, a made-to-measure service for all your wardrobe needs. Book an appointment at your local boutique and choose from a global array of luxury fabrics, and decide your fit. Finished pieces are done by hand, and each shirt features the buyer’s name embroidered on the label.
“Never say ‘never,'” Ronda Rousey wrote in a celebratory Instagram post.
The former bantamweight champion made history on Thursday as the first woman inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.
“I am not the first person who had the ability to do this, but I am here because I am the first person you took the time to watch,” Rousey said during her induction speech, according to ESPN. “That you put the energy into supporting. Because of you, I am the first woman standing up here accepting this incredible honor. May I be the first of many.”
Rousey’s career is a collection of firsts, really. In 2008, she became the first American woman to win an Olympic medal in judo, taking home the bronze at the Beijing Games. In 2012, she became the first female fighter to sign with the UFC, and shortly after became the company’s first female champion. She went on to hold the bantamweight belt from 2012 to 2015. In January, Rousey signed a full-time contract with WWE.
While introducing Rousey, UFC President Dana White, who once said women would never fight in the UFC, explained how Rousey helped evolve his way of thinking.
“In my almost 18 years as UFC president, I’ve learned many valuable lessons,” White said, according to ESPN. “And the one that comes to mind tonight is never say never, especially when you’re talking to UFC. In my defense, when I famously said women would never fight in the UFC, I had never met Ronda Rousey. I had never met the woman who would change everything. She started by changing my mind and she ended up changing the world.”
In a follow-up Instagram post, Rousey thanked her many supporters.
“I had so many more to thank than I could have used the time I had the stage for,” she wrote. “Everyone I know personally, I can thank in person … last night was for YOU. Thank YOU for watching and letting the adventures of this Venetian judoka with a bad reputation change the world.”
Bugs aren’t just annoying — they also spread disease. Protect yourself with these products.
Now that summer has finally rolled around, it’s officially the season of BBQs, outdoor volleyball tournaments, and flag football games. Unfortunately, it’s also the season for bug bites.
That’s why it’s of paramount importance to pick a good bug spray, says Sonia Batra, MD, a dermatologist and co-host of the show The Doctors. In addition to the telltale red bumps, discomfort, and itching caused by bug bites, “in certain areas, bug bites can also transmit infections” such as West Nile virus or Zika, says Batra. So you’ll want to protect yourself by reapplying bug spray throughout the day.
But which bug spray is most effective? Here’s what to know when choosing a quality product.
What to Look For
The most effective ingredient is DEET (chemical name N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide), Batra says. “Depending on its concentration, DEET can offer 1-6 hours of protection,” she says. While some people have reservations about whether it’s safe to use DEET, most research shows that the risks are minimal.
You’ll want to look for a bug spray that has a high percentage of DEET or Picaridin, another chemical compound that serves as a bug repellent, says Darria Long Gillespie,MD, an ER doctor who has seen her fair share of nasty mosquito and bug bites. “When it comes to DEET, 20-30% is good for adults,” she says.
That doesn’t mean, however, that you only need to apply bug spray once and you’re set. “The percentage doesn’t mean strength, it simply means how long it will last. So, 20% lasts about half a day, while 10% lasts 1-2 hours,” Long Gillespie says.
Other ingredients to look out for on labels: Picaridin (or icaridin) and IR3535, which have both been approved by the FDA for use in insect repellents. “Unlike DEET, both are odorless,” Long Gillespie says.
In terms of natural bug sprays, look for products that contain oil of citronella, lemon eucalyptus oil, and catmint oil, says Batra. Of these ingredients, “oil of lemon eucalyptus is the most effective naturally-derived repellent and is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC),” she says. But if you decide to go the natural route, take note: “These oils often need to be reapplied more frequently,” she says.
“Apply bug sprays to exposed skin and clothes, being careful not to spray directly onto face. Spray in a well-ventilated area and avoid getting in eyes,” says Batra.
And, the order does matter. “You are going to be out in the sun. Apply sun protection first, followed by bug spray,” she says. Avoid using products that purport to protect you from both the sun and bugs, as they are less effective.
So which products are the best on the market? Here are our 5 picks.
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