Booking a Shotgun Ride with Ben Brantley and Eating a Funfetti Rainbow Bagel

Breaking news: I’m going to accompany Ben Brantley when he reviews a show for The New York Times on Wednesday! I won't tell you which show, as I'm not sure about the secrecy of these things, but my grad-school, M.A.-in-English self is very excited by it.

(If you weren't aware, Brantley is The New York Times's chief theater critic, and I only, you know, read every word he writes.)

*Dies*

This also means I won’t be touring The New York Times print plant in Queens, as I had to choose between two one-time-only opportunities on the same day (which took all of 1/1000 of a second).

OK, back to your previously scheduled programming (but not your previous level of calm):

I headed to Williamsburg this morning to grab another rainbow bagel with Funfetti cream cheese. LOOK AT THIS AMAZINGNESS. It was just as good as I remembered.

And today in fun editing at work: An escaped emu story! I’d just wrapped up and scheduled a super-dense health care policy story that required every ounce of my mental concentration, so this was a welcome relief.

Finally, today in food: I sought out ramen “so good it will make your eyes explode” from the Ivan Ramen Slurp Shop inside Gotham Market in Manhattan. While my peepers did not explode, they came close.

I ordered the triple garlic mazemen, which is thick, whole-wheat noodles with tonkotsu broth. It's extra-garlicky and coats the noodles like Italian pasta (it’s a creamy pasta, not a soupy ramen). Also pictured: Garlic and pork belly two ways, as well as a chilled-green garnish. It all works perfectly together, and is amazing. There’s even a seafood-like hint to the creamy pork fat sauce.

Since I’m working every day next week and then Saturday and Sunday, I have Monday off (hello, three-day weekend)!