Hello Mr. Hoffman: Currently Coveting

For this blustery early spring week I bring you another edition of Currently Coveting…

Long Lunch at Joseph Leonard

While Joseph Leonard is an impossibly adorable spot for a meal any time of the year, as a recent visit for oysters and pate post-blizzard will attest to, there is something particularly magical about dining there in the warmer months. Situated on a charming West Village corner just shy of Seventh Avenue south and a mere half block west from my Christopher Street digs, Joseph Leonard is the neighborhood standby of your dreams. From the perfect avocado toast and poached eggs breakfast to a fried chicken sandwich dripping with honey to the aforementioned oysters and house made pate, the JL kitchen has got you covered no matter what hour you choose to dine. For the perfect leisurely lunch go on the early side and try to snag the two top right next to the lovely picture window that, weather permitting, will be flung open to provide the perfect breeze and some top notch West Village people watching – all the ingredients for a lazy, lovely spring lunch.

Issey Miyake Windcoat

Ahh the Miyake Windcoat, elusive vintage find of my dreams. I first encountered this voluminous utilitarian take on the trench at a Lower East Side boutique. As soon as you put the jacket on you become enveloped in the featherweight parachute material. Yet even with its one-size-fits-most tag, all of the fabric seems to hang perfectly never leaving the wearer looking sloppy or disheveled. I chalk that up to the exacting level of detail the Japanese are known to put into their clothes – which also accounts for the exorbitant price tag that usually comes attached to these rare jackets. While I’ve spent hours on Etsy hunting for the best deal it still remains juuust out of reach. But hey, I guess it’s no fun to get everything you want all the time (ya right, it totally is).

LCD Soundsystem At Webster Hall

Ok so this doesn’t technically fall under the category of coveting because I was lucky enough to win an actual lottery to attend the second sold out reunion shows at the very intimate Webster Hall. The two night engagement was billed as ‘LCD Soundsystem Back from the Dead’ – which, while cleverly alluding to the Easter holiday, wasn’t too far off from the truth, as the pioneering electronic band had ‘called it quits’ after a run of shows at Madison Square Garden several years ago. Taking the stage just after ten and playing a wild and jam-packed two-hour set, the intensely excited audience in the pit (myself included) screamed along to every lyric we knew, danced, jumped, and even moshed a bit. Standouts from the set included the satirical spoken-word ‘Losing My Edge’ from their first self-titled record Home, You Wanted a Hit, Home, Tribulations, and the revelatory Dance Yrself Clean - an encore that literally almost brought the house down. As the trees bloom and early spring starts to take root I can think of no better way to usher in the season of new beginnings by welcoming back one of the most important and influential bands of the past decade. If it’s been awhile since you’ve listened or you’re an LCD Soundsystem virgin I can think of no better early spring soundtrack.