Strolling in a storybook
ROBIN EPSTEIN, writer
CULTURE & LEISURE • Friday Routine
ROBIN EPSTEIN • writer, assistant arts professor • NYU
Neighborhood you live in: East Village
It’s Friday afternoon, how are you rolling into the weekend?
I'll be taping an episode of the podcast I do with my sister, Amy E. Feldman, called The Bar Exam, where we talk about everyday legal issues. (Thankfully, Amy's a real lawyer, whereas I just pretend to know things.) Then I'll head to the Tisch building to run a panel for our Dramatic Writing students at NYU with some lit and talent agents from UTA.
Where are you dining this weekend?
I'm taking my former roommate, Silu, out for a birthday dinner to Crown Shy. I've never been, but I've heard great things. Last year I took her to Hav & Mar, which was fantastic, and I'm trying to keep up the streak, since she's a dear friend.
How about a little leisure or culture?
Last Friday night I went to a show called STALKER in Midtown. I thought it was incredibly cool — it’s 90 minutes of magic by the Swedish duo Peter Brynolf and Jonas Ljung. They do a combination of close-up magic and mentalism, and the tricks are mind-boggling. As someone who has a hard time recalling the names of people I know, that they seemingly intuit information about total strangers is wildly impressive.
Any weekend getaways?
I'll be visiting my mom in Philadelphia on Sunday. She's a great hang, but if she's busy, I'd recommend visiting Chanticleer instead. It's a 35-acre “pleasure garden” that combines art, nature, and smells we're not often accustomed to in New York City (i.e., good ones). On the grounds of the old Rosengarten estate (read: Merck pharma heirs), it really is a botanical wonderland, especially this time of year. Even Garden Design magazine calls it "America's most inspiring garden."
What was your last great vacation?
Last great trip was to Finland and Estonia. They say if you visit Finland, "you must sauna," so in Helsinki I went to the LÖYLY Sauna. Gotta say, it reminded me a lot of being in an unairconditioned NYC subway car in August. But everyone else seemed blissful as they sweated out their toxins while sitting far too close to one another. From Helsinki, I took the ferry to Tallinn, Estonia (above), and loved walking around the Old Town. Felt like strolling around in a storybook.
What store or service do you always recommend?
My favorite massage place in the city is Keisy Oriental Nature Center in the East Village. It's not the place for eucalyptus scented towels or thermal baths, but if you want someone to knock the knots out of you, I highly recommend this well-priced massage mecca.