What does a Peruvian restaurant popup in a Japanese Manhattan restaurant, a Tsingtao sponsored fashion show, and a cruiseship partnership with Eataly have to do with each other? Nothing, but that’s what I’ve done this week.

On Tuesday night, I had the chance to try Coya’s popup menu at Zuma in midtown. Wanting an expert’s opinion, I asked my Peruvian friend Jenny to join me and give her honest opinion of the dishes we sampled. the guacamole con crocantes (with shrimp), tacos de shiitake, empanada de res (with smoked beef brisket), and chicharrones de pollo were all a hit, but it was the two ceviches: sea bass and spicy yellowfin tuna that we most enjoyed. Toasting with our second (but far too sweet) pisco sours, Jenny beaming, and said “It feels like home”. Unfortunately, it looks like we might be waiting an eternity for Coya to open in NYC. When I asked the manager if New York might be their next location he shrugged and said “it’s probably going to be Vegas.”

Early Wednesday evening, I arrived at the Dawang fall/winter 2024 fashion show. “Fashion to the left, bar to right,” motioned the friendly person at the door. The bar was decked out in green and served up only Tsingtao beer. I grabbed a cold bottle and somehow snagged a position in the front row just before the first model walked.

The collection (partially pictured above) incorporated some of the sponsor’s signature green color into the men’s pieces, but the women’s collection had ethereal, ballerina-inspired looks with an urban, modern edge. Not pictured was the brand’s popular cutout tops and my favorite pieces of this season and their 2024 spring/summer collection as well.

Lastly, today, the day of our Lord (national pasta day) I attended the MSC Cruises launch party for the “only at Eataly at sea” on their newest ship, MSC World America. We had the chance to try the dishes, desserts, and wines that will be served on board when the ship launches in April 2025. We also got to try our hand at making cavatelli pasta and tiramisu and soaked up the sun rays at the rooftop restaurant, Serra. The short ribs, truffle pasta, and wagyu tartar were among the standout dishes.

Hello. It has been a minute, friends. I haven’t blogged since I shutdown my Wordpress website (RIP, Wanderlaughs) and launched this portfolio site in 2017. So much has changed in the world, in my personal life, and in myself since that time. The biggest change? I moved back to New York City. And, with that shift in zip code, I’ve been attending lots of events. I’ve been documenting them privately, for posterity, but earlier this week I was inspired to share a little taste of what my life looks like right now. Just as the great writers before more, I did what we are wont to do and frankly, the best at, I procrastinated. Speaking directly to an audience feels a little foreign to me right now, but, a new friend I met this afternoon advised me that “it’s just like riding a bike”. So, with that clunky intro, we push on, bound to stumble and endure some scrapes along the way, stopping as often as we can to enjoy the journey’s view.

About Last Night