Issue #19 July: Surviving My First Half-Marathon 👟
Plus a last minute trip to see Beyoncé in Atlanta, the joys of owning an air fryer, and a vegan sushi spot even tuna lovers will enjoy
I’m writing this as I recover from my first half-marathon on Sunday. More details below on how it absolutely destroyed me. The night before, I attended a beautiful wedding at Beltane Ranch in Sonoma. Unfortunately, I had to leave early to prepare for my race, but would definitely return for another visit. Another highlight was a last minute trip to see Beyoncé in Atlanta with my coworkers. The show was, of course, extraordinary and I do feel like my coworkers understand me a bit more now. 🤠 Here’s everything else I was up to.
Eat 😋
Shizen (Mission, SF)
When I first heard about this vegan sushi spot, I was skeptical. As a lover of all sea creatures, I didn’t understand how sushi was possible with just plants. I’m happy to report that I was mistaken. Shizen’s creative dishes highlight the versatility of produce and soy and the beautiful presentation is enough to stand up to any traditional sushi restaurant. Standouts include the bean curd katsu, “boddy & soul” roll (spicy tofu and green onion), “missing piece” roll (shitake mushroom and asparagus), mango nigiri, and the fried mochi with strawberry ice cream for dessert. 🍓
Khob Khun (Richmond, SF)
As part of my continued mission to try all the Thai restaurants on Geary St, I recently went to Khob Khun for breakfast. It’s a no-frills neighborhood spot known for their Thai breakfast specials. I tried the Joke Hed (mushroom congee) served with a side of fried donut. It was comforting and flavorful–perfect for a gloomy summer morning. For dessert, we got the pandan waffle sprinkled with fresh coconut. 🥥
Shop 🛍️
We recently replaced our toaster oven with an air fryer. We considered this years ago when air fryers first entered the appliance scene, but we couldn’t find one small enough to fit in the exact counter spot that our toaster oven sat in. This Philips one is the perfect size for our needs and we use it everyday to make toast and sandwiches, roast veggies, heat up leftovers like pizza and fries, and even bake bread! Everything comes out hot and crispy with little to no oil required in way less time than a traditional oven or stove. The clean-up is also super easy. The only minor inconvenience is that we can’t seem to change the default time and temperature, so we have to press several buttons to get what we want, but overall, it’s been a great addition to our kitchen. 🍞
Run 🏃
The SF Marathon happens during the last weekend of July every summer. The run is ranked #8 globally and #3 in the US due in part to the scenic routes and challenging hills. After running the 10K a couple years ago, I decided to sign up for the SF Bridge Half for the opportunity to run across the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. What a fool I was! Nothing in my training prepared me for the sheer agony of this run. Between the steep hills, arctic winds, and cold sea water, there were so many moments when I was ready to bow down and offer myself to the bridge. By mile 11, many of my fellow racers had given up running out of exhaustion or injury. I was wet from head to toe with numb fingers and screaming legs. All I could think was “I need to get the f– off this bridge before I catch pneumonia." Once I finally made it to the other side, greeted by the cheering squads, my eyes welled up from disbelief that I had made it out alive. They say your bones remember trauma and these 13.1 miles will live in my body forever. 🌁
Watch 📺
Materialists (A24)
After loving writer and director Celine Song’s previous work, Past Lives, I was excited to watch her newest movie about a love triangle, starring Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal, and Chris Evans. Johnson plays a matchmaker living in NYC who meets Pascal’s character at her client’s wedding. Pascal’s character is what the matchmaking industry calls a “unicorn,” the perfect man on paper though even unicorns have secrets. At the wedding, she also runs into her ex, played by Evans. Though the trailer and much of the movie’s marketing make it seem like a light summer rom-com, it actually felt more like a drama and commentary on modern dating and relationships. It also tackles some heavier topics about dating risks. Like with Past Lives, the cinematography is stunning and makes NYC look like the most romantic city to find a “grave buddy.” 🗽
Read 📖
Great, Big Beautiful Life (Emily Henry)
I took a break from a murder series I’m in the middle of to read something more lighthearted and fun. I’ve read most of Emily Henry’s novels and generally know what to expect: attractive characters, witty banter, a breakup caused by miscommunication, and then a sweet, feel-good reconciliation. This story is about two writers who are competing against one another for the chance to write the memoir of a famous heiress who has disappeared from the spotlight, following a tragic incident. As both writers interview the heiress, they start noticing inconsistencies and begin to question her true motives for inviting them to compete for the project. As the writers get to know each other, they also start falling in love, which gets complicated once the heiress’ secrets are revealed. Parts of the book do remind me of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, a favorite of mine, but Great, Big Beautiful Life remains very much an Emily Henry novel. (Connect with me on StoryGraph to see everything I’m reading!)
Visit ✈️
Atlanta, GA 🔥
Atlanta or Hotalanta (its nickname given how hot and humid the city is) is a fun mix of southern charm and laid-back coolness with friendly people, an impressive art scene, and interesting shops. I was also pleasantly surprised to find just how much the city loves Beyoncé. Everywhere we went, her music was blasting through the speakers, people were dressed up in concert merch, stores were decorated in Cowboy Carter theme, strangers would casually chat us up about the concert, including TSA agents at the airport! It was like stepping into an alternate universe literally and spiritually ruled by Queen Bey. I was only there for a quick 48 hours, but it was enough to leave an impression.
Eat 😋/ Shop 🛍️/ See 🖼️
- Lyla Lila 🍝 (Midtown): Southern European cuisine in a beautiful and sleek setting. I had the broccoli and fennel salad and their popular crispy duck lasagne.
- Zaddy’s 🥪 (Downtown): Locals say this is the city’s best sandwich spot and the grilled veggie sandwich I had made me believe it.
- Crescent City Kitchen 🍗🧇 (Midtown): New Orleans-inspired brunch spot known for their “croffle” (croissant waffle). I’ve tried a few croffles before, but this is the best I’ve ever had. The texture is soft and crispy like a waffle, but has the buttery chew of a croissant.
- King of Pop’s 🍧 (various): An Atlanta classic, my coworker insisted on taking me here. Delicious, handmade popsicles in fun flavors like banana pudding and Thai iced tea, this is exactly what I needed to cool down.
- Ponce City Market (Old Fourth Ward): A vibrant food and shopping destination converted from the historic Sears building. It features over 50 locally owned restaurants and boutiques as well as name-brand stores, event spaces, a rooftop, and even a hotel.
- High Museum of Art (Downtown): This stunning museum was a setting for the Black Panther movie. Highlight was the American debut of Ryoji Ikeda's exhibit.
- Antidote (Berkeley Park): Where I imagine Cardi B shops for her more casual attire when not performing.
- MARTA: This train system doesn’t get a lot of love from locals since it only runs within the downtown area, but it’s awesome for visitors and concert goers. Avoid the dreadful Atlanta traffic and get downtown from the airport within 30 mins for only $2.50. Nowhere in the world can you get from the airport to the city center for that price!
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