Friday's five things.

This week has been exhausting. The semester and work are both just catching up to me, and I think this is maybe the more tired I've been while working full-time and going to school. Only four more weeks, though! Here's what's getting me through to summer:

1. I just ordered these adorable bobby pins from Kate Spade for $31. I saw them on someone else's blog, and I feel terrible, but I can't find the original post! (Maybe Cupcakes and Cashmere? Maybe The Budget Babe? IDK.) Anyway. I'm super stoked to get these cuties in 4-6 business days.

2. I'm finally trying Peels on Sunday with the girls. I love brunch. I can't wait for their highly-recommended buttermilk biscuits.

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3. I'm still reading Jane Eyre... and it's finally starting to get good. Although I totally missed the Goodreads Jane Eyre Challenge... Seriously, though, I hope to finish it this weekend.

4. While it's not quite warm enough, IMHO, it's already Sperry's season. I got these pink ones last spring at Macy's for like $45. It was fantastic. They should be going on sale again just about any minute now.

5. The warm weather has also brought out the Mr. Softee trucks in NYC. I haven't had my first cone of the summer yet, but oh, I have my plans.

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TGIF, friends. Stay tuned for the next Single in the City story: the Most Boring Man in the World. Seriously.

Friday's... one thing.

I'm not dead. I'm just exhausted and sick of winter.

Remember how I thought things would calm down once school started and I got back in a routine? Nope, no chance of that! Because with the start of school again came 3 snow/icestorms back to back to back! So my entire life has been thrown up in the air for the last couple weeks. Yuck.

I'm so sick of salt ruining my boots and shoes and pants-hems.

I'm so sleepy from all the cloudy, dark days.

I'm so done with winter.

So what do I love today?

Just Stella. That is all I want tonight.

I have a pretty decent weekend ahead and will hopefully be able to recharge a little and actually get around to cleaning my closet (as I've been trying to do for the last 3 weeks...): grad program happy hour tonight on the LES, brunch tomorrow @ Northern Spy Food Co on Ave. B which I've heard is absolutely amazing, and I'm hosting a little Super Bowl evening on Sunday, complete with turkey chili, pigs-in-a-blanket, classic nachos, and some more Stella Artois, of course.

Have a good weekend everybody! Thanks for sticking with me in this, the winter of my discontent... haha.. get it?

(Why doesn't everybody make literary puns? It makes life so much better!)

Brunch @ Poco.

A few weeks ago I went to brunch with the ladies at this little place called Poco at Ave B and 3rd street. It was the absolutely best brunch I think I've ever experienced in the city so far. Poco is normally a Spanish-inspired tapas restaurant, but Saturday and Sunday morning, it serves a pretty American Nouveau brunch menu complete with lobster benedict, lobster mac&cheese, and different varieties of pancakes and French toast.

From the 6 different brunch entrées enjoyed by my friends and me, I can say that at least 6 of entrées on the brunch menu are absolutely amazing. I personally enjoyed the lobster mac&cheese. It was light, creamy, and filling, without being completely overwhelming like the rich awesomeness at S'Mac. And it boasted finger-sized pieces of fresh lobster, at least 2 large claws plus some more lump meat. My friends all thoroughly enjoyed their choices as well, but the traditional eggs Benedict and the lobster Benedict seemed to be the two other winners of the day.

The atmosphere was super friendly, with an upstairs bar-type area filled with hightop tables and stools, and a separate, almost gothic-feeling basement that was more lounge-y, full of heavy red drapes and low couches, complete with throw pillows.

Best of all, with any $22 brunch entrée, you get all-you-can-drink mimosas, bloody Marys, or Sangria - and you can switch between the three! All the drinks are pre-made in pitchers, and the waitresses just come around and top everyone off. The bloodys were a bit too spicy for me, and contained something that tasted almost like pickle relish. It was interesting, but it didn't mix well with my first couple mimosas. Also, the waitstaff was really cool and didn't rush us out after we finished eating. They kept refilling our drinks for as long as we felt like sitting there.

I feel a little nervous sharing my favorite new brunch place with the world - I sort of want to keep this secret between me and my girls. But, alas, Poco is too good to not share with the world.

I like Bar Boulud.

Becca and I went to brunch at Bar Boulud for Valentine's Day, and it was fantastic! It's on the UWS on Broadway between 63rd & 64th. Daniel Boulud is one of the best chefs in NY with several different French-style restaurants. Bar Boulud is a little more casual than his others, more café-like, and with the same funky decor mixed with classic French cuisine. The highlights are the charcuterie and the wine menu featuring the Rhone Valley (where I studied abroad).

The Saturday and Sunday brunch is a $26 prix fixe with 4 fabulous little courses. It was a lot of food, and I recommend you show up hungry! I had a chocolate croissant, creamy cauliflower soup, a croque monsieur with salad, and an apple tart. It was incredible. Becca had a croissant, spinach and goat cheese quiche, a fresh herb omelet with home fries and homemade sorbet.

Everything was sooo good and I really want to go back here and to all of Daniel Boulud's other (more expensive *sigh*) restaurants.