Prospect Place / Back Home

Well! I finally moved out of my apartment! Since 2013 I had essentially moved every single year. This apartment was the very first place I’d lived in for more than a year (February 2020 to May 2021).

It housed me during the great pandemic of 2020 and for that I am extremely grateful. Moving here to Prospect Heights from my tiny “one bedroom” (more like a studio with a wall running down the middle) in East Village was a stroke of great timing.

I still remember answering that post on Facebook Marketplace, making my way to Prospect Heights from the office with DLO tagging along for emotional support, making small talk with the tenant about Mac Miller’s latest album (Circles) in the hopes of making a good impression and being selected as the new tenant, grabbing dinner at Geido (I’ve always wondered why there are so many sushi spots around my apartment. 5+ on my street in a 2 block radius…), and getting drinks/bitching about the boss I had at that time… it all worked out.

I truly loved this spot. From the wide sunlit windows through which I’d look out during the pandemic to remind myself that there was actually still a world out there.

To the small recording booth I’d set up in the corner to record all my vocals.

To the wonky shower that required turning the handle all the way to the left then gradually to the right to get any hot water at all. To the weird pentagon shaped tiny bedroom with a door that opened outwards. To the lantern I set up in the corner of my bedroom that I’d stare at while listening to a podcast (Mission to Zyxx or Hello From the Magic Tavern) until I felt sleepy enough to drift away… I loved it all!

Thank you apartment, for keeping me safe and alive through this wild year and a half.

I’ll miss the neighborhood (Prospect Heights/Park Slope) as well. Thoroughly enjoyed the corner of Vanderbilt and Prospect where there were not 1, not 2, but 3(!!!!) different spots to get coffee and sit down for some people watching. Of the three (Mille-Feuille Bakery Cafe, Milk Bar, and Olde Brooklyn Bagel Shoppe) Olde Brooklyn Bagel Shoppe was my favorite. Great benches, strong coffee, and the cashier recognized me after enough time to remember my go to order (1 small coffee 😂).

I also enjoyed biking through the Prospect Park loop and walking down Prospect Park West until I hit 15th street. Park Slope and Prospect Heights have some of the most beautiful buildings in New York by far. Brownstone after brownstone after brownstone. A feast for the eyes. Here is that walk recreated in photo form:

Peeking down one of the streets in Park Slope

Stumble on a street concert depending on the time of year

One pleasant surprise to this neighborhood was the prevalence of Jamaican food. Before living here I’d never tried Jamaican food. Cinnamon Girl and 3d's Delight Restaurant and Bakery were my spots for beef patties (the crust is great at Cinnamon Girl. The filling is great at 3D’s). I also had Peppa’s Jerk Chicken a number of times for jerk chicken and oxtail. Good stuff.

Strolling down 5th and 7th ave. Hanging out on Vanderbilt with friends (Chuko Ramen, Brooklyn Homeslice, Bierwax). Being delighted in discovering an Asian grocery just down the street (DNY Natural Land). Getting high and gorging myself on a chopped cheese from the bodega (Best & Quick Gourmet). MEMORIES!

Who knows when I’ll be back?

Moving out was a pain. In the history of mankind I wonder how many people have actually enjoyed the move out process. Ahh well at least it’s done.

Me in my apartment for the final time :’)

After the move I met up with Jess and we went to Brooklyn Homeslice so I could say goodbye to my neighborhood spot and enjoy a final two slices.

After moving out I took a flight back to LAX. I have a newish tradition where every time I land in LAX I go to Benny's Tacos & Chicken Rotisserie for a California burrito. This burrito was good but not as great as the last one. Benny’s Tacos, you slippin…

Settling back into the SoCal suburbs will take some adjusting. The main issue is that I don’t have a car which means the last few days I’ve been tumbling around home alone for the bulk of my day. Going from the busy-ness of the city to the dead silence of the suburban home has been a little disorienting.

I also need to get out of this techno slump. It seems almost every hour I’m not working I’m either

Watching youtube
Watching netflix
- Shoutout to Sherry who watched the final episode of Vincenzo with me using Scener. I’m sad that the series is finished :’(
Playing switch
Playing on my Oculus (recently bought one)

Before I had other things to do like walk around the city or meet up with some friends. But here there’s not much else.

On the other hand, a huge benefit of being back is spending time with the family. Not only am I with my parents, but Harry also decided to come back home as well! This is the first time in months all four of us are together.

This past weekend we headed out to Koreatown while waiting to pick up Harry at LAX. Went to Shin Beijing for some Korea/Chinese fusion. The highlight of the meal was Jajangmyeon—black bean noodle—which is a childhood favorite of mine.

Also went to the beach and got crab boil from Crab 'N Spice.

Yeah… Overall happy to be home and with family. Slightly worried about what life is going to look like here.

Some general things I want to try while I’m here

Hit up all the good food spots in SoCal (eggslut, howlin ray's are on the list so far)
Try living in Ktown (or any LA neighborhood) for a few weeks
Learn how to surf
Take singing lessons (so my family members stop trashing my singing)
See the few friends I have in the area

Not sure what else there is but I’ll update the list as I go along.

Here’s a lil treat for you BTS fans out there. TBH the coffee sucked tho