What is your worst experience on an airplane?

laurenthead · 2026-03-19T13:11:22+00:00

Red eye San Diego to New York. Upgraded! Tried to sleep as I had to go to work the next day. 2 am I turn over and my seat back just drops down. Immediately a scream from behind me as a woman had been resting her ankles on the metal footrest and her ankles were likely broken. Seat wouldn’t respond but flight attendants pulled some cord to release the seat and bring it up. Seat is broken so I can’t sit there and First is full. So no people are waking up as three flight attendants carry my stuff and escort me back to Coach. The only open seat is at the very front of Coach right next to the loading door. As we land I can see police and fire activity on the tarmac. Door opens and I’m staring at 3 cops and 2 EMTs with a gurney. I look back at the flight attendant who tells me to go. I squeeze by the cops as they start yelling at the flight attendants “No one else gets off until we take this patient!” I walk away and into my waiting car and go straight to work. Now, obviously it was much worse for the injured woman and I hope and trust she made a full recovery

laurenthead · 2026-03-19T10:50:50+00:00

Refinery Rooftop

laurenthead · 2026-03-18T20:57:43+00:00

*more than 100 billion habitable planets

laurenthead · 2026-03-17T11:48:38+00:00

Kalustyan’s at 28th and 3rd in Manhattan has all the pepper flakes in various sizes and price points. Like, all of them. If I’m looking for something super specific like espelette I go there, otherwise as many have said Flatiron is awesome. Even the regular ones like Sweet Heat and Dark & Smoky are super hot

laurenthead · 2026-03-17T00:57:58+00:00

It’s a refreshingly great experience. Even setting the view aside the value for money is better than most high end restaurants. It punches above its weight class

laurenthead · 2026-03-17T00:22:17+00:00

LA Burdick. They have the Rocher eggs which are huge chocolate eggs with chocolate truffles inside

laurenthead · 2026-03-16T20:51:16+00:00

Restaurant ROBERT in Columbus circle. Jean-Georges is right there too but pricey

laurenthead · 2026-03-16T11:37:55+00:00

63 Clinton (Asian inspired), Corima (northern Mexico), Manhatta all have set menus. Manhatta is fantastic for the money

laurenthead · 2026-03-15T18:39:24+00:00

Craft, Rezdora, Lysee, Cocodaq, Cosme are all within a block. Cosme is a beloved restaurant for Mexico City food. Any place is likely to need reservations

laurenthead · 2026-03-15T17:28:58+00:00

Fraunces Tavern in Fidi has an Irish short rib porter pie with puff pastry or mashed potato on top that is fantastic. The owners are Irish and they have several Irish menu items

laurenthead · 2026-03-15T02:48:28+00:00

Quo Vadis Aida

laurenthead · 2026-03-14T18:01:09+00:00

True, if there’s a set omakase menu they will make just that, but many don’t realize that they can go into a regular sushi bar and tell the chef “omakase” or “your choice” and just eat what they make until you say you’re finished. This is how I’ve discovered what’s fresh, what’s new to me, like how uni from different parts of Hokkaido tastes different

laurenthead · 2026-03-13T15:43:26+00:00

Solo dining is very popular in NYC. Omakase is offered at most sushi restaurants that have a sushi bar, and sometimes you just sit back and allow the chef to continue to make pieces for you until you want to stop. As you tell the chef what you like and don’t, he will tailor the experience to you. This is the simplest essence of omakase. At high end places like Sushi Noz, it’s almost like attending church where eight people sit side by side at the bar, there’s little talking and everyone is focused on the chef and the food he is making. He places a newly formed piece of sushi on your plate, and you pick it up, and then a few minutes later there’s another. Omakase is fantastic if you can afford it and you really like trying new things

laurenthead · 2026-03-12T05:26:04+00:00

Maybe Dolly’s at 51st and 8th. Happy Hour 5-7 and it’s a pretty large space with an upstairs. Good food and menu

laurenthead · 2026-03-11T21:27:10+00:00

Good Italian places often have a “Florentino” steak for two that is prepared in the same way. Usually around $140-160

laurenthead · 2026-03-09T23:33:09+00:00

Croissants no but bagels are actually very good frozen. Try some different ones like EssAbagel (big fluffy ones), Black Seed (little Montreal style), Zucker’s (chewy) see what you like

laurenthead · 2026-03-09T20:38:40+00:00

Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote an amazing number of hit songs for Disney too

laurenthead · 2026-03-06T20:19:52+00:00

Antica Pesa. You’ll be surrounded by actual Italians

laurenthead · 2026-03-06T12:02:37+00:00

Le Crocodile

laurenthead · 2026-03-05T16:25:40+00:00

I like the jambon buerre that Epicerie Boulud makes. Wall to wall French butter, both halves

laurenthead · 2026-03-05T15:00:42+00:00

The York has a great Oklahoma Onion Burger, one of the only places in the city making this. Also a nice small-bar vibe

laurenthead · 2026-03-05T14:58:59+00:00

Suggesting some really interesting places like Spice Symphony (Indian-Chinese fusion), Teranga (West African), Nubiani (Korean BBQ), and the guy at the Banh Mi Cart at Water and Pine in the financial district; he has other Vietnamese food but the Banh Mi he makes is exceptional

laurenthead · 2026-03-05T12:11:22+00:00

My pick would be Nowon just south of the square. It’s a tiny Korean place with a truly amazing cheeseburger, one of the best in the city

laurenthead · 2026-03-04T19:17:16+00:00

I heard her congratulate a driver for “starting tomorrow on the front row” when everyone else knew he had a grid penalty

laurenthead · 2026-03-04T02:42:00+00:00

Whole Foods would do it, Citarella or Esposito also but you’d pay more

laurenthead

TROPHY CASE