march 2025 - Wanderlogue

03.2025

As the clocks spring forward and suddenly the sun is setting after 6pm, things start looking a bit brighter. It’s a month that starts in darkness and ended, in this case, in a rather sunny London. The promise of spring.

March brought cyclical chaos as we catapulted forward. March was supposed to be go time, but we veered off quickly and tumultuously. Four office days meant more of a sense of routine. Only to be disrupted by unknown variables, doors closing, new wrenches thrown in and more questions than answers. Packing desk lunches in restaurant pints as the only order in life and popping magnesium in vain hope of lowering the baseline anxiety.

Escapism came in the form of easy comforts. Rewatching Gossip Girl, Pretty Little Liars. Leaning out of work and into the final semester. Trying to make sense of the headlines. Running away, seeking art and parks. Vitamin D.

across the pond

London was a delightful surprise. A stolen vacation of sorts. Just a few days but enough to alter my brain chemistry and plant some seeds of ideas.

Brisk winter gave way to sunny spring days as the trees started to bloom. The chilling winds of day one quickly gave way to the warm hug of sun and the inherent joy of sitting in a sunny park. Frolicking around the city from the west end to the east side. The tube was a refreshing change after the MTA.

Like New York City, but cleaner, and more charming. So much to do. And yet some of the best moments are the ones on pause. Sitting in the courtyard of the Barbican in full sunlight. Wandering into Holland Park, matcha and pastry in hand. Gathering with friends into a cathedral after dark for drinks. Catching up with coworkers comparing sunday scaries on either side of the Atlantic.

Delirious joy landing at the crack of dawn in Heathrow. A quick train (applauding my own choice for staying in Paddington), a hot coffee and empanada for breakfast, picking up a friend and walking over through Hyde Park and Kensington all the way to the palace on the other end for a morning dose of history and culture. A great start.

current obsession:

SHOPPING IN LONDON

Still on the kick of shopping while traveling. And London was an overwhelming city of opportunity when it came to shopping. So many thrift stores, so little time. Stationery stores with the most beautiful things. Bookstores and newsstands that could convince you we weren’t in a digital-first age.

Children’s clothes shopping at Harrods, thrifting on Brick Lane. Popping into well-curated boutiques and flagship shop fronts in the city center. And appreciating the different vibes of each neighborhood.

culture fix

London was a great culture fix. Museums, galleries, exhibitions. An obligatory visit to the Tate. A failed attempt for a quick pop into the British Museum. An immersive morning at Saatchi for the Flowers exhibition. A couple hours at Somerset House.

easy plane watch

love a british murder mystery

of award campaign fame

& on repeat: a lot of french rap

nekfeu

moji x sboy

izaid

NEW FIND

Fragrance shopping in London led me to legacy brands like Penhaligons and Floris, as well as new niche perfomeries like the exquisite collection at Perfumer H and the beautiful seasonal drops at Ffern.

good bites

March led to a reemergence into dining in the city. Well, in two cities. But it did start in New York. An indulgent weeknight dinner at Cka ka Qellue, a rainy weekday lunch at Olea. Apollo Bagels before class, a detour to visit the new Tashkent Market location in the village. A muggy morning Chinatown crawl. A spontaneous Nami Nori dinner and final sfogliatella before a cold night out at Mono+Mono in a raucous Saturday night where you couldn’t escape the fact that it is St Patrick’s Day.

And then London. Large group dinners brought us to Dishoom, Delamina and Mayfair Kitchen. Many pastries were consumed. One might say it was an extended cafe and bakery crawl. Shout out to Buns from Home, which made several cameos.