The Weekly Bev - 25th Edition

🍎 NYC Recap

What a week! As I’m writing this, I’m still in NYC and enjoying my trip, but I had an incredible birthday weekend here and need to share it with you guys! First up: a Minted NY experience.

On Saturday, I started my 27th birthday in a legendary way—a run with the Minted boys. My friend Sam and I met up with Marcus and Shawn and the rest of their regular run club, and we knocked out a 5-mile run in Central Park. They’re such great dudes and it was a nice distraction to talk about their content efforts while we logged the miles. After the run, Sam and I jumped on some city bikes and rode down to Thompson Square Bagels for a well-deserved birthday bagel.

Later, we hit the pickleball courts for a bit before heading back to the hotel to prep for our big event of the weekend: the US Open!

This was my first time at a tennis tournament. Mallory and I went with a group of our friends from Auburn. We all took the train from Manhattan to Flushing, and from the moment we arrived at the grounds, I was pretty blown away. The atmosphere was electric, and I found myself wishing we had bought a day pass so we could have spent even more time there. We had tickets for the main event at Arthur Ashe Stadium that night, featuring none other than the world’s #1 women’s singles player, Iga Swiatek. Watching her dominate on the court was very cool.

This will come as no surprise to you guys, but the food (and drinks) at the tournament was definitely a highlight for me. I indulged in three Honey Deuces throughout the night—yes, they’re that good. I also grabbed a chicken sandwich from Fuku, which hit the spot. After Swiatek’s match, we stayed to watch the legend Medvedev take on Fabio in a singles match. One of the rallies went for 37 hits—the second-longest in the tournament up until that point. The intensity was palpable, and what struck me most was how the crowd went completely silent during each rally, a stark contrast to the noise I’m used to at football games and F1 races. As the rally went on, the anticipation built, and when it finally ended, the crowd erupted.

Mallory and our friend Corbit also got featured on the jumbotron which was hilarious. Being in NYC during the tournament was also underrated—it felt like the entire city was involved, and it was fun to be part of that energy.

All in all, it was an amazing weekend in NYC. Between the US Open, celebrating my birthday, I couldn’t have asked for a better way to start this next chapter.

Now that I’m 27, I’ve been reflecting on my goals for the coming 12 months. This past year has been all about the vlog, but moving forward, I really want to focus on Hydrant. It’s a project that allows me to be both a creator and a supporter of other creators, and I’m excited to dive into making more videos and content around building it up. It feels like the right way to leverage the momentum I’ve built and create something meaningful.

🏙️ Enjoy a Weekend in NYC

I’ve compiled a few NYC recommendations for you guys, but instead of a boring list I figured I would present them in the form of a hypothetical weekend designed by your’s truly…

Friday: You wrap up work at 5pm (dedicated legend). You’re sitting in your hotel room at Nine Orchard, a beautifully restored hotel that used to be a bank (Moxy NYC LES is also a great option, little less expensive). A quick shower, maybe a Leisure down the hatch, and you’re ready to hit the town. Swan Room is directly attached to the hotel, and it’s a great place for a drink with nice high ceilings - the perfect spot to kick off your night. It’s time for dinner at Cervos, a cozy spot located conveniently right across that serves up some of the best seafood and small bites around. You meet up friends, fuel up with some great food, and then the world famous LES bar scene…

Saturday: You wake up early without a hangover (thank you Leisure) and kick off your Saturday with a classic New York experience: a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich from your nearest bodega. In my personal opinion there’s no need to point to a specific one because they’re all pretty incredible in their own way and that’s kind of the point (but if you need a rec, try Thompkins Square Bagel or C&B). Afterwards, you hit CHCM, a great men’s boutique shop, and Orchard Street—which is filled with great vintage stops. While you’re in the area, you obviously grab a slice at Scarr’s Pizza or L’Industrie and enjoy the city. Filled to the brim with pizza, you avoid the post-lunch slump by making the trip over to Brooklyn. An E-bike is a spectacular way to traverse the bridge. After some exploring, you’re finally ready for dinner. You hit up Ilis, a pasta spot, or Cafe Mogador if you are feeling Mediterranean.

Sunday: After the previous night’s carboload, you start your Sunday with a run along the West Side Highway. It’s a very scenic route that offers killer views of the Hudson River. It’s also great for people watching - New Yorkers take their WSH runs very seriously. After your run, you head over to the courts at Brooklyn Pier for a game of pickleball to round out the morning and your weekend.