Reason For Not Eating Out #63: Because It’s Cold Outside
5 Jan 2018

Reason For Not Eating Out #63: Because It’s Cold Outside

by | posted in: Reason of the Month | 6

The lyrics to the classic wintry song, “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” did not age too well. Sung as a male-female duet, the woman repeatedly insists “I really must go,” to which the male singer retorts, “Baby, it’s cold outside.” But you can tell from the smugness in his voice that he’s really not that concerned about the cold. He wants to get her into his bed. And maybe she sorta wants to be there, which would make this scenario more … Read More

Reason For Not Eating Out #59: For Creativity’s Sake
26 Apr 2016

Reason For Not Eating Out #59: For Creativity’s Sake

by | posted in: Reason of the Month | 2

I have a friend who takes classes on just about everything and anything that’s interesting in the world. Bollywood funk dancing? Sign her up. Grown-up pottery workshops? Let’s make a date of it! she says. She’s a typical New Yorker, Type-A personality, where every learning opportunity is seized, and funneled into bonding sessions with good friends, new date persons, or chances to connect with strangers. In short, she is totally awesome and this is the way we should all be. But we don’t always … Read More

Reason For Not Eating Out #57: Because the Imperfection Is Yours
23 Jul 2015

Reason For Not Eating Out #57: Because the Imperfection Is Yours

by | posted in: Reason of the Month, Regrets | 5

It takes guts to own imperfection in the digital age. When Instagram and Tumblr accounts are being reviewed in job applications and by ex-partners alike, not to mention potential partners, it’s easy to throw in the towel and hide under sight, lest your imperfections be deemed boring at best. But I think that apps and tools, and other ways of expressing oneself to friends, are getting wise to the imperfect theory of presenting oneself perfectly as we progress. Be it over … Read More

Reason For Not Eating Out #44: Because Cooking Will Help Heat Your Home
14 Jan 2011

Reason For Not Eating Out #44: Because Cooking Will Help Heat Your Home

by | posted in: Reason of the Month | 9

Brrr! Two blizzards, about two feet of snow on the ground, and two straight nights of temperatures in the teens. Have you been staying indoors a lot this new year? I don’t blame you, and I’m not moving much either. Maybe ordering in some take-out sounds tempting, but after a couple nights of this, you might realize how much more often you’ll have to walk outside to get rid of the copious container-trash. Not fun! No, I find it much … Read More

Reason For Not Eating Out #41: Because I Don’t Need to be Doted On
9 Apr 2010

Reason For Not Eating Out #41: Because I Don’t Need to be Doted On

by | posted in: Reason of the Month | 8

I am not the type of person to get my nails done, or have my eyebrows plucked and pruned. If I could figure out how to cut my own hair, I would. Though I enjoy the convenience of it, I have never felt truly comfortable riding in the back of a cab, and get a slight jolt of awkwardness when a hired hand opens a door for me, or takes my bags. Don’t even tempt me with a foot massage … Read More

Reason For Not Eating Out #38: Having the Wildcard Every Time
16 Dec 2009

Reason For Not Eating Out #38: Having the Wildcard Every Time

by | posted in: Reason of the Month | 5

I was out with a small handful of NYC-based food writers the other night. We were on our way to Edible Brooklyn‘s food trivia night, so I was feeling quite smug about my smartness in all things food-related right then, especially being among such illustrious company. As we made our way from the West Coast-oriented bar (with, according to my mentors, not enough beer cred for that claim) Pacific Standard to the Australian meat-pie joint, Sheep Station (kitschy, but the … Read More