In High Places

Depending on who you ask, San Francisco has anywhere between seven (ROME) to forty-eight named hills. The original seven: SNob Hill, Russian Hill, Telegraph Hill, Rincon Hill, Twin Peaks, Mount Sutro, and Mount Davidson were named at the time of the city's founding. But as the city grew, so did the roster of summits. I…

Rodeo Real Estate

I’m not a coward. However, during my visit to Los Angeles, one part of the city I had assiduously avoided for as long as I could, was the Beverly Hills/Hollywood stretch. I had convinced myself that it wasn't for me. I wasn’t very 'LA' as a person anyway. What would I do in that neighborhood…

No City for Earphones

I have very specific playlists to get me through my day. These are curated for different moods, different chores, maybe even different parts of the city. I elevate the quotidian with this make believe soundtrack for my life. And sometimes I just use music to prevent unwanted social interaction. But one city where I will…

Dining Solo

The luxury of travelling solo is profound and one that I am extremely privileged to enjoy. In fact the pleasure begins with the first google search (wearing carefully aged pajamas). I love sitting and planning a detailed itinerary designed to fit my likes with the great comfort of knowing that I could toss the plan…

Heartbreak Lake

I got my first eyeful of Lake Michigan for the first time after completing an arduous twenty-nine hour journey. I dragged myself up to my new apartment, too tired to appreciate anything. I was crumpled in both appearance and mind. But having collapsed onto my roommate's super comfortable armchair, looking out of the living room…

Rueful Reminiscence: This Time Last Sunday

The Week That Was When your roommate leaves you an inordinate amount of gin for the weekend, you will make good decisions. You will slice up some lemons and limes (not pictured) using those amazing knife skills you picked up watching Masterchef Australia [quick aside: Masterchef Australia is better than any other cooking show on…

Testing Times

It's finals week and my existential crisis is such that I don't want to make a Facebook post (because unless I can express myself in a meme my crisis wouldn't​ be adequately cool) and I can't tweet because I'm not a populist politician with flare for expressing myself in 140 characters. I decided to deal…

Ladybug

Life Lesson: Never complain about sand at a beach.  Your hair might be full of it. Your eyes might feel like Sandman just got back from Spring Break and dumped his year's reserve of dreams onto your lids. Your water bottle might be inexplicably full of sand. Your skin might be subject to an exfoliation…

Woof.

 Mujhe suddenly Mira Rajput pe gussa kyun aata hai? Now how funny is it that my Dad beat Mira Rajput to the child/dog comparison TEN YEARS AGO? Only difference, he did it appreciatively! Important Context: Since I don't have the time or the inclination to draw an elaborate picture of the household that I grew…

Cleavage

I have avoided writing about Chicago. I told myself I did not want to objectify the city. At the same time I wanted to document every single thing that charmed, baffled, or irked me about the city in frightening detail. I feel had I been here as a traveler, or wanderer, or explorer (whichever term…