happy one year Substack birthday to my baby, the sunday series 💌
recapping 40 ideas for how to spend your sunday from New York to Paris and beyond!
bonjour, mes amis!
I'm writing to you from the couch here in Paris, cozied up with my dear friend who’s visiting from Miami. we’re watching Call My Agent!, a French show that features all-star actors like Philippine Leroy-Beaulie (Sylvie from Emily in Paris) and Liliane Rovère (Sylvie’s mom in Emily in Paris). in addition to being a fun watch, it’s fabulous for bolstering language comprehension. so, if you, too, are working on your French, this is a great one to put on with French subtitles.
the Sunday laziness feels warranted after walking 38,692 steps yesterday. yes, you read that right! post me finishing my 18-mile training run (ONE MONTH TILL THE NEW YORK CITY MARATHON!!!!) and bringing home goodies from my fave neighborhood boulangerie, we frolicked all over the Left Bank, beginning with lunch at La Palette and dinner at one of my favorites, Le Petit Lutetia. I’ll be sharing a deep dive Paris Guide with my paid subscribers soon, and can’t wait to recap not just my favorite places, but whether or not you need a res, what to order, and more! they’ll be some fun shopping recs too.
Paris aside, this week marked a fun milestone for the sunday series. it’s been a year since launching this newsletter on Substack, so I couldn't help but celebrate with a little cake, pictured below. and while I wish I could celebrate this milestone with all 1k+ of you who read this newsletter from around the world (!!!!), instead, I wanted to give back with a thank you for your loyal readership.
as a small token of appreciation, I’m going to be giving one reader a complimentary paid subscription to the sunday series for the following year! all you need to do to enter is to like this post on Substack and comment with who you’d most like to see me interview in my Q&A series next! I’ll randomly select a winner from the comments on Friday, October 11th.
Sundays are my most cherished day of the week, and it’s been so fun to get a peek into how my inspiring guests would opt to spend their dream sunday in their home cities! I’m absolutely in awe of the authors, creatives, and influential voices in the literary world with whom I’ve been able to connect through this weekly love letter to you. so, I thought at our year mark of sharing these interviews, I’d round up my guests’ responses. hopefully, these responses will serve as mini guides for New York, the Hudson Valley, Connecticut, Charleston, Chicago, LA, Toronto, Paris, and London! let’s get into it, shall we?
The Sunday Series was conceptualized as a love letter to my favorite day of the week. If we were with you in [insert city] on Sunday, where would you take us to spend the afternoon?
New York
Upper West Side
: There is no better place than the Upper West Side on a Sunday. And we are going to pick a Sunday where I don't have to work on writing, so I can spend the day with you! We are absolutely starting the day with a group fitness class at either SoulCycle, one of my favorite hot yoga studios, or a tennis class on the courts at 119th St. Then we'll pick up an iced pistachio latte with oat milk while we decide where to eat breakfast. It doesn't matter if it's after noon at this point; breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. If it's nice out and we're not in a rush, maybe we'll brave the line at Absolute Bagel, but it's more likely we tuck ourselves into a booth at Metro Diner. Then we're popping into a bookstore—I do this almost every weekend whether I'm buying something or not! We're probably browsing at either Book Culture or Westsider Books.Finally, we are 100% spending some time outside. I am so lucky to live by both Central Park and Riverside Park. Riverside Park is near and dear to my heart, so I'll probably take you there and giddily point out the spot where my husband proposed. We'll wander down towards the 70s, where we'll stop for a class of orange wine and maybe crack into the books we didn't need but bought anyway earlier. 💌 [see our full Q&A here]
Upper East Side
Sarah Lyon: We’d meet at Ralph’s Coffee on 72nd (basic, I know, but a must) and do a little loop through Central Park with our drinks before picking up snacks at Butterfield Market, a family-owned business with two locations on the UES. We’d walk down Madison until we got to The Corner Bookstore, which is right out of You’ve Got Mail, and then grab cocktails at Atelier, a new-ish spot that’s a coffee shop by day and a speakeasy/wine bar by night (love!). Last but not least, we’d then pop into Housing Works in search of clothes or home decor, because to me, no NYC day is complete without a bit of thrifting! 💌 [see our full Q&A here]
: Sundays are my “get my life together” days, so all plans occur in the morning—I usually start out with a themed (usually Taylor Swift) SoulCycle class, and then we’d get a bagel (for me, everything with plain cream cheese, NOT toasted) and eat it in Central Park while we talk about all the drama and gossip from the week, whether our own or in pop culture. If we didn’t get bagels, my other go-to is EJ’s Luncheonette for the french toast sticks. 💌 [see our full Q&A here]
Taylor Choi: Sundays are my rest and reset days, so I'd probably want to stay within the Upper East Side (the neighborhood where I live!) We'll start with coffee and brunch at Frame NYC (the smoked salmon toast is one of my favorites and their vanilla oat milk latte is the best). We'll swing by Shakespeare & Co for some book browsing (and buying) and then head to my favorite park — Carl Schurz Park (in my ideal world, it's the first warm spring day). It's no Central Park but it's my little local park that always has a bench or a warm patch of grass for an afternoon of reading. 💌 [see our full Q&A here]
: Most Sunday afternoons I’m at home with my kids and my husband, football on, some music blaring, a bolognese simmering on the stove, art projects on the dining room table, laptop on my knees, and someone is reading — maybe even most of us. 💌 [see our full Q&A here]Emma Rosenblum: My husband and I live on the Upper East Side with our boys, who are 8 and 6. Our weeks are insanely packed, so we like to keep Sundays relatively free. After a lazy morning, we’ll head across the street to Carl Schurz Park to kick around a ball or just walk along the waterfront. We’ll grab lunch at Mansion Diner on York Avenue (the best Matzo ball soup in New York City, trust me), and then possibly make our way over to Central Park, via my favorite bus in Manhattan, the M86. An afternoon sundae at Glace on Madison is a lovely way to end the day. 💌 [see our full Q&A here]
Lower East Side
: I lived on the LES for three years, so I feel particularly equipped to answer this question! First, we’ll start our day off by going for a run across the Williamsburg Bridge, which has amazing views of both the Empire State and the Freedom Tower. On our way back, we’ll pick up overpriced bagels from Black Seed, which we’ll then eat in Elizabeth Street Garden while reading and people-watching. In the afternoon, we’ll wander over to Orchard Street and check out the new exhibit at Perrotin Gallery. Feeling inspired, we’ll then make our way down to the Happy Medium art cafe, stopping to window shop along the way to create something of our own. Then we’ll put our name down at Kiki’s, get to-go cocktails, and a snack from Forgetmenot, which we’ll drink by the east river as the sun sets while we wait. After dinner, we’ll stop by Cafe Skye on Clinton St., which my friends Cam and Caitlin opened during the pandemic, for a nightcap. Don’t forget to bring your favorite paperback. 💌 [see our full Q&A here]Chinatown / East Village / West Village / Soho
: First of all, we're kicking off the day with what I call "Sleep-in Sunday'' in which we obviously sleep in on Sunday. Around noon, we'll get brunch at my favorite East Village spot, La Palapa. Then we'd slowly walk through Soho to the bookstore McNally Jackson before window shopping on West Broadway. 💌 [see our full Q&A here]Maddie McGee: I live in the East Village, so we’d have to start the day with a late brunch at Mud – their Mudman sandwich is to die for. We’ll grab our laptops and head to either Book Club Bar or P&T Knitwear on the Lower East Side for a coffee and a book browsing/writing combo, because I have big writing goals for 2024! Bibi Wine Bar has one of my favorite happy hours in the city, so we’ll wrap up the day with a glass of rosé, a cheese board, and their patatas bravas. I’m a firm believer that every good day must end with a sweet treat – I’m obsessed with the cookies and cream pudding from Baonanas, which I usually buy from 7th Street Burger! 💌 [see our full Q&A here]
: I'd probably take you to hot yoga with me and the farmers market after! I also love going on walks on the West Side Highway and stopping in St. Jardim for a hot chai (Aperol spritz or natural wine will do too). Happy Sunday!! 💌 [see our full Q&A here]: We're putting our names in for Dim Sum at House of Joy, since the wait is likely an hour we'll get Bubble Tea and gossip outside while we wait! Or, if we're rushing for time, we'll get sandwiches from Banh Mi Saigon. Next, we're getting a giant dessert from Sweet Moment, preferably the matcha strawberry flavor – but I'll let you pick since it's your first time. If we're having so much fun that we don't want to stop hanging out, I'll convince you that we should go shopping at Sézane and play "what would you buy if we were rich" at The Real Real in Soho. 💌 [see our full Q&A here]
Frannie Accidardo: I am also a big Sunday girlie! A new bookstore, Bibliotheque, opened in my neighborhood that is not only a great place to read but also has a coffee and wine bar! I’m so excited to check it out. Book Club Bar on the East side offers a similar vibe and it’s fun to see more spots like this popping up. 💌 [see our full Q&A here]
TriBeCa
Hilary Sheinbaum: I've lived in nearly every neighborhood in NYC—Upper East Side, Williamsburg, East Village, Chelsea, and four other zip codes in Manhattan. Now, I live in TriBeCa. Until November 5th, I was training for The New York City Marathon, so Sundays used to be my rest days (literally on the couch), following long runs on Saturdays. Now, on Sundays, I typically take a Core Power Yoga or Barry's class (both conveniently in TriBeCa), followed by a stop at Laughing Man on Duane Street. I’m really into Matcha these days, so it’s going to be a Matcha latte with oatmilk for me. My friend Darla recently launched MAKE Matcha, so on weekdays, that’s my go-to. But, on weekends, I opt for a treat made outside my own kitchen. But I digress! After a much-needed shower from my sweaty workout, I'll get my nails done at Glosslab in TriBeCa. I'll end the afternoon thinking it's midnight because the sun sets before five pm. Around this time, I'll be thinking about making an easy dinner with my partner, but probably ordering food instead and popping open a Curious Elixirs nonalcoholic cocktail. I'm really into their "No. 8" at the moment. I'll usually FaceTime my grandparents after my early bird dinner. And yes, I'm going to be checking my email. Gotta wrap up any work I need to get done before Monday morning! 💌 [see our full Q&A here]
Brooklyn Heights
Jenny Jackson: First stop on our Sunday is L’Apartment 4F on Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights. We’ll have to wait in line, but it’s worth it for the Nutella croissants. Then we’ll go browse around at Books Are Magic, where I will somehow spend a hundred dollars on books even though my nightstand is teeming. Next, we will walk down into Dumbo for a few rides on Jane’s Carousel, then we’ll meet some friends in Brooklyn Bridge Park where our children will run wild throwing rocks in the river. We’ll end up on the roof at Fornino for beer and pizza. Because croissants, beer, and pizza is a balanced diet when you have small children. 💌 [see our full Q&A here]
gratitude szn: I'm gifting one lucky sunday series reader a stack of *stellar* books
Williamsburg
: First, we’d get bagels—because this is NYC. I’d probably take you to Black Seed, which is a little nicer than my usual hole-in-the-wall deli (yes, I’m trying to impress you). We’d head over to Domino Park to eat them with a great view of the city. From there, we’d shop our way up Bedford, popping into whatever cute stores catch our eye! Off the main strip, we’d definitely make a stop in McNally Jackson, one of my favorite local indie bookstores, and BonBon, the cutest Swedish candy store. Maybe we’d get a mini facial at Glowbar or a mani/pedi at Primp & Polish. For an early dinner, we’d go to Bernie’s, which is basically the cooler cousin to the checkered tablecloth Italian restaurant you grew up eating at with mozzarella sticks, huge portions of chicken parm, and incredible martinis! Pure Sunday comfort food! 💌 [see our full Q&A here]Georgia Clark: I live in South Williamsburg, Brooklyn, so we’d meet for a coffee and pastry at Devoción, check out an afternoon movie at Nighthawk cinema (I always get the queso and the Fire Walk With Me cocktail), then stroll along the waterfront to Domino Park for the borough’s best views and a pizza and glass of wine at Robertas. 💌 [see our full Q&A here]
: Let's do a loop around my neighborhood, Williamsburg: We'll get iced lattes at Dunkin' — or Bakeri, if you insist on something chic — then pick up a book at McNally Jackson and read on the little beach at Marsha P. Johnson State Park. The skyline views there are amazing. For dinner, we'll go to Sweetwater for delicious French food and the nicest staff in town. 💌 [see our full Q&A here]four weddings and a romcom
Hudson Valley
: The Hudson Valley is such a big place, but if you were around my neck of the woods and it was warm out, we'd first stop by Morningbird in Kinderhook for a gigantic latte (they have the biggest mugs I've ever seen, and I love them). Ideally, it would be farmer's market season so we'd peruse the various vendors, then head over to Kinderhook Books to pick up something fun. Finally, we could grab a beer and a cheese board from Saisonnier. And if we were really ambitious, we could round out the day by heading into Hudson to browse overpriced antiques. 💌 [see our full Q&A here]
Jersey City
Eli Rallo: We would hop on the train and head down the shore to my parent’s house. We’d spend the entire day on the porch and in the kitchen—with lots of good wine, better food, and the best company. Also, don’t forget your book because I always catch up on reading on Sundays! 💌 [see our full Q&A here]
Nantucket
Tim Ehrenberg: YAY! Sunday Fundays on Nantucket are the best. I would take you on the Sconset Bluff Walk in the morning (this is a public path on the east shore bluff in the little village of Sconset behind private houses) all the way to Sankaty Lighthouse. Then, to a lunch at my favorite restaurant on the harbor, CRU Nantucket, where we would enjoy CRUcombers (cucumber martinis) and oysters. Then we’d get over to Cisco Brewery and have a drink, hear the live band, and perhaps see Elin since she loves the Brewery on a summer Sunday. Grab a snack at the food carts and head to one of our favorite beaches for the sunset. Change for dinner at Nautilus Nantucket or Galley Beach Restaurant. End the night back where we began in Sconset at The Summer House for piano and a nightcap. 💌 [see our full Q&A here]
Connecticut
Avery Carptenter Forrey: We’d start at the bookstore, of course. My local indie, Athena Books, is so dreamy—their excellent taste and comfy couches make it the perfect place to pick up a new title and ease into the day. Then we’d grab coffee and pão de queijo (delicious Brazilian cheese buns) from Sweet Pea’s Baking Company next door and head to the beach. I love Tod’s Point in winter, especially with my dog, Betty, in tow. We’d walk along the shore, from which you can see the NYC skyline, and let Betty do polar plunges. To top it off, we’d grab a bite at Siren, a new Mediterranean spot with the best tapas and cocktails. 💌 [see our full Q&A here]
Carola Lovering: I’m such a homebody on Sundays—I feel like I usually don’t leave my house! But for visitors, we’d grab a delicious lunch at Rosie in New Canaan (I live in Darien, but New Canaan is close), then pop next door to Elm Street Books. Next, we’d drive over to Weed Beach and play some paddle tennis—the courts have a gorgeous view of Long Island Sound. Last stop, a late afternoon cocktail at Rowayton Seafood. 💌 [see our full Q&A here]
march madness (highly-anticipated book releases version)
Charleston
: If we were with you in Charleston on Sunday, where would you take us to spend the afternoon? Is it bad that I would take you to my home? I honestly love reading at home. And right now, in the Spring, nothing is better than sitting out on the porch with a good book. In an ideal world, we go for a long walk, get a bagel from Ruby's, and spend the afternoon reading. 💌 [see our full Q&A here]
Chicago
Katie Shober: A lovely Sunday afternoon in Chicago would include the double cheeseburger at Small Cheval — sister restaurant to impossible to get into Au Cheval and IMO, just as delicious of a burger! We’d get the fries and dip them in garlic aioli before browsing the shelves at Chicago's newest romance bookstore, The Last Chapter. Then, we’d grab a sweet treat at the most incredible bakery called Sweet Mandy B's — you can't go wrong with anything but I recommend the cupcakes and the peanut butter chocolate rice krispie treat! Finally, we’d finish the day with a stroll along the lakefront and grab a bite at the best steakhouse in Chicago, Bavette's, or if you're in the mood for Italian, Etta! 💌 [see our full Q&A here]
Tess Callero: I moved back to Chicago during the pandemic and live in Lakeview, which is similar to an East Village vibe. We’d take a stroll down Sheffield with my foster dog-of-the-week and if the weather was nice enough (so, NOT February), we’d sit outside at Fish Bar for oysters and ceviche. But, given the time of year, we can settle for beers and pub food at Wilde, our favorite neighborhood spot that pays homage to Oscar himself! 💌 [see our full Q&A here]
Kate Kennedy: If you’re a book lover, there’s a place called Kibbitznest in Lincoln Park that is a used bookstore, wine bar, and coffee shop, with ample space to work and play board games and meet up with a friend. But here’s the catch: they are a non-profit with the mission of bringing back personal connection, and they don’t allow most technology, like laptops. Actually, I came up with the book title “One in a Millennial” while sitting alone at Kibbitznest on a Sunday. I had been a bit stumped for what to call it, and I’m convinced that because I had to brainstorm in a Moleskine notebook (something I rarely do anymore), that’s why I finally had a breakthrough. Something about keeping things simple helps me be more creative. I love playing games there or meeting a friend for a glass of wine in a chill environment that’s not as chaotic as a bar. 💌 [see our full Q&A here]
Los Angeles
Amanda Montell: A pick-me-up coffee at my house because my partner Casey happens to make the best iced oat cortados in LA! Then we might schlep over to the Huntington Gardens 20 minutes east in Pasadena, because that expanse of roses and koi ponds is the only place in town that makes me feel truly calm. Bring a book, read under a tree for a while. After that, we’d prob head back to my neck of the woods for a cheese plate and glass of wine at La Pharmacie du Vin, an al fresco wine shop and bar that feels like a back alley in the south of France. 💌 [see our full Q&A here]
Rebecca Serle: The farmers market at Melrose Place for the late am, obviously, and then weather dependent we'd go for a hike! I love being able to get outside here. 💌 [see our full Q&A here]
: We’d go for a walk around the Silverlake Reservoir and stop at the fruit vendor by the dog park. You pick what you want from his cart — my favorite combination is mango, cucumber, and cantaloupe. He slices it in front of you, dresses it with Tajin and/or Chamoy, if you’re keen (I like Tajin) and packs it into a container that’s easy to graze from while you’re walking. It’s delightfully refreshing. 💌 [see our full Q&A here]Toronto
Lianna Cohen: I LOVE THIS! There are so many places we could go. I'd love to grab a coffee and walk around Yorkville. There are so many great stores to shop at — but also, my favourite Indigo book store location is there! It's massive and so well organized, and I swear I could spend hour shopping in that bookstore and I often do! Then we could grab dinner somewhere in the area. There are so many cool and yummy restaurants in Toronto. 💌 [see our full Q&A here]
London
Genevieve Wheeler: Oh, I love this question! I think we’d spend the first half of the afternoon braving the crowds at Columbia Road Flower Market in East London, iced coffees and fresh orchids in hand, followed by a delectable Sunday roast – either at a swanky spot, like The Grill at The Dorchester or at a cozy pub, like The Hemingway. 💌 [see our full Q&A here]
Paris
Robinne Lee: I never tire of walking in Paris, so assuming the weather cooperates, we would walk and walk and walk. The best walks start in one part of the city and end up in another. We could start in the 6th at a café in Saint Germain des Près for coffee and croissants, and then wind north through the Ile de la Cité and over to Ile Saint Louis, stopping for ice cream before heading over to the Place des Voges to sit on a bench and people watch for a bit, before winding back into the Marais. If there are no lines, we’ll stop for Middle Eastern food at L’As du Fallafel (there’s always a line, but this is a fantasy, right?), and then continue exploring the Marais, popping in the little shops along Rue Vieille du Temple, perhaps stopping for a glass of Pouilly-Fumé and a cheese plate at Les Philosophes, before strolling back down to the Rue du Rivoli and following that all the way to the Louvre. We’d make our way through the courtyard, past the Pyramids and into the Jardins de Tuileries, and then we’d cross the Seine and head back into the 7th, near the Musée d’Orsay, where I would take you to one of my fave neighborhood restaurants where the potato Dauphinoise is to die for. And we would down that with a Pinot Noir and a filet de boeuf, and afterward we’d share a mousse au chocolat drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt, and talk and laugh late into the night. 💌 [see our full Q&A here]
: We could start with coffee at Mardi in Belleville, brunch at Gramme 11, a wander around the Canal St Martin and the bookstore Artazart, and perhaps an early apéro and dancing at Le Comptoir Général. 💌 [see our full Q&A here]: The truth is I like to spend Sundays by myself :) I love alone time in a Paris parc. I get asked frequently for my Paris recommendations, and I always say go sit in the parcs here. They encourage rest and enjoyment in a way I haven’t encountered in other cities. 💌 [see our full Q&A here]
Carina Otero: I love to say that Paris is the only city where there are a million things to do, but you could also have the best time doing nothing at all. My favorite thing to do is not at all original, but I love to walk along the Seine and picnic or lay around in the Jardin du Carrousel (the dog-friendly park between the Louvre and the Jardin des Tuileries). It’s usually the first thing anyone who visits Paris for the first time does, but for me, it’s a simple and lovely plan that has never lost its magic, and I hope never will. If we have time (and only if we have time— because I hate to rush), I love to stop by the 7th floor at Printemps Femme to peruse their second-hand and vintage designer collections or Le (Re)Store at Galeries Lafayette for even more quality vintage finds. I’ve found some great gems at these spots. After that, we’d cross check any our dozens of lists for “Best places to eat in Paris”, and likely settle on whatever recommendation we have in common. There is no shortage of great food in Paris, whether it’s a brand-new hotspot or an institutional classic. That said— I’m so looking forward to Delhi Bazaar with you tonight! 💌 [see our full Q&A here]
Happy 1 year on Substack! :)
Author wise Taylor Jenkins Reid would be amazing 🤩
Oh wow, how am I just discovering you?? Absolutely love this Sunday Series and the incredible back catalogue I get to enjoy. As a true American in Paris, I feel remiss not to suggest you interview...wait for it...Emily herself Lily Collins (?!)
(Shameless plug that if you ever want to interview a Northern Virginian/DC-er corporate mom with a toddler, I'm your girl - ha!)
Great work, thank you for all you do!