The particular delight of thoughtfulness
maybe more headline worthy: I tried my first orange wine here!
Author’s Note: It's been a minute, hasn't it... Even though I haven't posted in a while, I'm still *cue Title Drop* In Search of Secret Sauce. (Yes, you are allowed to feel secondhand embarrassment at my cheesiness.)
Here's a recent reflection from my trip to NYC earlier this month, about how much thoughtfulness impacts an experience. Over the next few weeks, I'll also be sharing a couple of other musings marinating in my Evernote this past half-year. Expect the same smattering of scattered thoughts + food recommendations... and as always, thanks for reading. I appreciate y'all.
I landed in a sunny New York City two Thursdays ago, barely after the subways and airports had stopped flooding from Hurricane Ida the night before. An iron grip on control gave me a façade of functioning, but I knew I was tired; I had slept only a few hours the night before and spent a plane ride hunched over my laptop while the person in front of me kept reclining and the two children behind me kept kicking my seat. (Woof.)
My brain was effectively mush and I hadn't put any thought into what I’d be doing on my vacation aside from a couple of placeholders strewn throughout my calendar. My first hastily created event was titled “James Murphy wine bar (??)” for the next day, based on a reservation my best friend Kristine had made for us. I didn’t even remember what the bar was called, to be honest. All I knew was that:
It was created by the guy from LCD Soundsystem
Kristine had wanted to go there for a long time, and
She thought I would love it, and had been waiting to try it with me ever since she heard I was planning on visiting.
We arrived for our late afternoon reservation at the restaurant, where customers were still sitting and sipping at every table. I marveled at the beautiful millwork, the unique retro speakers, the awesome playlist, the artwork on the walls... of course, the food and wine were great too, selected from an ever-rotating daily menu of wines and tapas. It was even evident that all the waiters were good friends of each other, but there was no one disparate feature that made the restaurant special. Rather, the overall experience was imbued with so many touches of thoughtfulness—it was the particular melange of the individual elements that made the restaurant feel like a place where you wanted to just sit and hang out.
I wonder if that's what James Murphy had in mind when deciding to open up a restaurant in Brooklyn—while he was known for his music, maybe he was on the road so much that he wanted to create a home or watering hole for his friends to drop by. Maybe all the thoughtful touches in the restaurant were his idea of what made a space feel inviting, what he would personally enjoy as a fun place and what he'd want others to appreciate too.
Kristine has a similar thoughtfulness, whether in the itinerary (or lack thereof) she'd plan for us during my visits or in her uncanny ability to anticipate exactly what others need in a given moment. I recalled last year when I came to New York promptly after quitting my job of almost four years. I had little capacity for anything but rest at the time yet found comfort in my little routine of enjoying the decor of Kristine's apartment, listening to records, sipping on wine, tasting new foods, and being with good company—all activities that she intentionally planned and invited me to. I felt so taken care of and at ease. It was exactly what I needed.
We finished our meal and started our walk back, both excitedly talking about the little details we noticed in the restaurant, inspired to add similar touches to our backyard dinner party later in the week. Perhaps that's what made the restaurant special—it was filled with understated yet delightful touches that told you to come as you are and trust that good things were planned in store for you to enjoy—and perhaps, that's what Williamsburg and Kristine's friendship represented to me as well. Encouraged and enlivened, I felt my grip loosen and my steps spring just a tiny bit more. This was the start of a great trip.
featured
The Four Horsemen ($$$)
295 Grand St Brooklyn, New York 11211, US
+1 718-599-4900 | info@fourhorsemenbk.com
covid considerations
Both indoor and outdoor dining options are available, but you must present proof of vaccination and ID to dine indoors (per NY state law). I recommend indoors because you get to enjoy more of the beautiful woodwork and music.
food and environs
The menu rotates; each day serves something different for both lunch and dinner. Your menu has a date stamp as proof.
While their food is interesting and tasty, I recommend their desserts—we had an olive oil polenta cake topped with citrus icing, mascarpone cheese, and roasted chopped pistachios that we still talk about to this day.
Dishes are served tapas style and are moderately expensive; I wouldn't come here on an empty stomach (for multiple reasons since ahem this is still a bar)
They also have a sister cafe and underground club, but I was told both are temporarily closed due to COVID :’(
shares
listen
Songs I shamelessly Shazamed while at The Four Horsemen:
Reminiscing / Little River Band
Regret / New Order
Sometimes Always / The Jesus And Mary Chain
Our Lips Are Sealed / Fun Boy Three
Albums I/we listened to ad nauseum in NYC:
Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, Phoenix - Kristine had just ordered a record player and the special edition of this album (which, btw, is pressed onto PINK vinyl) came in the mail on my last day in NYC. Needless to say, we knew all the words and listened to this record on repeat until I left for the airport.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings Soundtrack, prod. by 88rising - this goes without explaining. I like most Marvel but this one was especially fun! ... and the entire time I was watching it, I wanted to Shazam each song that played.
bonus
Is it really a newsletter from me if there’s not a single derpy pic in it? Here’s a rare picture of Buko and a not-so-rare picture of me being horizontal. Also, can we take a moment to appreciate Kristine’s beautiful Brooklyn backyard oasis?
