In my thirties, when a lot of my friends did a lot of traveling, I generally stayed put. The reasons were mostly practical; I had a prolonged period of grad school, which put limitations on budget and time. Sometimes it’s easier to tell ourselves that we don’t want something we can’t have. I’ve always had this tendency, and it has led me to tell myself a lot of stories that aren’t true, or which don’t stay true for long. I spent those years…

As a small space dweller, I don’t often undertake big home reorganization projects. Clutter builds up fast in a studio apartment. I try to clean and discard unnecessary things day-to-day, rather in than in bursts. Nevertheless, I decided to go through my books this past week, as my limited shelving space was starting to look a crowded. The type of book that I own most of is, of course, cookbooks. When I moved two years ago, I gave away about 80% of the…

Yesterday, I learned that chef James Kent had died unexpectedly. Kent’s restaurants are much loved in New York City, where I live. He, the creative force behind them, was also greatly adored in the hospitality industry. Many of his colleagues have been posting heartbroken tributes on social media today. I never met chef Kent, but I did brush paths with him once, literally. We passed by each other right after I’d finished a meal at one of his restaurants. He must have had…

Earlier this year, my oldest friend mentioned that her family needed to be in Denver for a few days in June. They’d rented a place, and since there was room for one more, she asked whether I’d like to join. I’ll be traveling with her family again later this month, and as a result, I wasn’t sure I could take the time away this past week. As the dates of her stay in Denver approached, however, I realized how much I wanted to…

Happy June! One of my favorite things about the arrival of summertime is a sense of being suddenly unencumbered. It seems like such a small thing, but it’s so freeing to walk outside in flip flops, to navigate crowded subway cars without a bulky coat on, to leave the house without having to calculate which winter accessories will be necessary. Each year, when I experience the sense of physical freedom that comes with shedding layers, I’m reminded of how efficiently human beings can…