...people, places and things (food, of course) that have been making me smile lately:

• Isharya jewelry

• Sea lions. They are the most curious, lazy, vocal, smelly and loveable creatures on the entire planet.

• Being able to completely forget about work, deadlines, returning phone calls, etc. while on vacation. The ability to fully immerse yourself in holiday/relaxation-mode is truly priceless.

• Bea Arthur as Dorothy Zbornak on The Golden Girls

• My gorgeous & adorable god-daughter, Miss Blair

• Finalizing plans to spend Memorial Day with some of my best friends in Austin, Texas

• Cesare Casella

• Saucisson sec (dry French sausage)

• Shrimp n' Grits on L'Ecole's current brunch menu

• Gazala Place's boureka

• Morandi's Frittelle di Ricotta (ricotta fritters)

• Brooklyn Larder

• Salted butter

• The Corner Cafe's everything-flagel with a thick schmear of pimento cream cheese

• Grandaisy Bakery's potato pizza

• Watching the leaves change color against the backdrop of brownstones in Brooklyn and the West Village

• Via Dei Mille's pappardelle alla bolognese

• Closing my eyes and dreaming of a bigger space

• Buttercup Bakeshop's PB&J cupcake

• Chandeliers

• Reruns of The Office

• The candy bins, not the frozen yogurt, at Tasti D' Lite

• Butterfield Market is selling select treats from Cheryl Kleinman and Payard

• Thai iced tea-flavored bubble tea from Crazy Bananas

…

Until we eat again,

Lindsay, The Lunch Belle

P.S. For menus and addresses: http://www.menupages.com/

P.S.S. Mass transit directions: http://www.hopstop.com/?city=newyork