It’s a sunny day in New York City and I’m just about ready to set out for another day of exploring. Tuesday was great. I have a cute new haircut that looked kind of like a chin-length cap when styled but will probably be shorter and curly when I let it dry naturally. My room at the Duane Street Hotel is really nice. I have a few complaints — not enough outlets, tricky shower switch, too-early maid service — but these are pretty minor things. It’s very comfortable and the staff is friendly.

Yesterday Brendan and I went on a cake-tasting tour, but one slice of cheesecake at Two Little Red Hens in the Upper East Side filled us up. So we kind of failed. But I still made it out to Brooklyn to order a chocolate cake from The Chocolate Room (such an amazing chocolatey place!) and then back up to pick out a spicy pumpkin cake from Sugar Sweet Sunshine. I was going to get a lemon cake from them, but switched to pumpkin at the last minute because it looked so good. Brendan and I also dropped by the Willard suitcase exhibit, which I’ve been wanted to see for a while. I picked up a sheet listing a dozen books that I should have cited in my thesis. I’d like to read them. We had dinner with Liz and Brian at a thai restaurant and then walked around until we found a comfy wine bar, so that was a fun evening.

Today is my birthday, I suppose. Mom suggested we go to Norma’s e Parker Meridien for breakfast, although it’s now noon. I’ve always enjoyed breakfast for lunch.