Routines, 2025
JACQUELINE LOBEL, ALDO SOHM, GINA BRUNO, JULIAN GELDMACHER & JACOB SEREBNICK, LAUREN SCHOFIELD, MORE
ABOUT FOUND • Routines
FOUND Routines chronicle how notable New York City area residents — across industries, neighborhoods, and interests — spend their days and nights, from the first meeting to the final nightcap or weekend getaway.
The best routines are vibrant snapshots, full of personality, useful intel, and actionable recommendations. Collectively, they paint a picture of lives well spent in and around the city. Know someone who would make a great FOUND Routine? Hit reply or drop us a line at found@foundny.com.
And now, after a word from our sponsor, some of our finest Routines of 2025.
→ FARM TO PEOPLE DELIVERS ALL YOUR FARMERS MARKET FAVORITES. Say goodbye to sad veggies and factory-farmed meat. Say hello to peak-season local produce, pasture-raised eggs and meat, plus Union Square favorites like Ronnybrook Farm and She Wolf Bakery — delivered straight to your door. All the quality. None of the weekend hustle. If better food is on your 2026 list, this is the easiest place to start. [spon]
WORK • Friday Routine
Shticking landings
JACQUELINE LOBEL • founder • Shtick NYC
Neighborhood you work in: Lower East Side
Neighborhood you live in: Carroll Gardens
It’s Friday afternoon. How are you rolling into the weekend?
Fridays are for hosting dinners for 60 new and old friends at Shtick, my weekly supper club celebrating NYC’s Jewish culture that’s open to all. After two years bouncing around underground spaces, we (soft) opened a permanent home in the heart of the LES, so I basically live there now. By Friday afternoon, I’m usually receiving wine deliveries, arranging florals, or trading brisket for who-knows-what with a neighbor.
Where are you drinking or dining this weekend?
We’ll often pop over to Le Dive or Time Again for a nightcap after service. Since moving into Shtick’s new space at the corner of Hester and Orchard, I’ve been re-exploring this special little pocket of the LES, aka Dimes Square/Two Bridges. Cervos, Bridges, Wu’s Wonton King — all 10/10 for dinner. I haven’t made it to Sunn’s yet, but it’s high on the list. Elbow Bread is my nourishment every Friday morning. Their whitefish bialy is a savory hug. For lunch, Regina’s is a consistent comfort. I don’t eat pork, so I usually go for the Grandma Lucy or Cousin Anthony.
If I’m staying local in Carroll Gardens, mornings are spent stocking up: croissants and fresh bread from Bycelette, meats from Paisanos, fishy things from Fish Tales, and produce from Union Market, K&Y Grocery, or the Carroll Park Farmers Market on Sundays. Saturday or Sunday is usually the only time I get to slow down and cook or host a nice, lingering midday meal. For dinner, lately it’s been a quick bike ride to Red Hook for a seat at the bar at Pitt’s (shoutout to Ben, the best bartender in the city) or a stroll to Petite Crevette, a stubbornly charming BYO neighborhood gem from a bygone Brooklyn era that remains deeply unfussy.
How about a little leisure or culture?
I love an afternoon of small luxuries on the Upper East Side. A few hours at The Met. A snack at Sant Ambroeus on Madison Avenue. Martinis at Bemelmans (tip the manager to skip the line and get seated).
Another perfect day would start with a slow morning in Brighton Beach with snacks from Tashkent or NetCost. From there, I’ll walk the boardwalk to Coney Island for a Nathan’s hot dog and a ride on the Ferris wheel (maybe not in that order). Then back to Brighton to wrap the day with a big, family-style dinner at Skovorodka.
Any weekend getaways?
I grew up escaping city summers in the Catskills, so for me it’s always mountains > beach. Scribner’s is my forever favorite. It’s a perfect all-in-one getaway with mountain views, a pool, and everything you need right on property — especially if you’re lucky to snag one of their new rooms at The Rounds. That being said, I’ve been doing more staycationing at the Rockaway Hotel lately. Sneaking off on a quiet weeknight when the beach is calm, and (unlike in summer) Tacoway doesn’t have a line. The hotel itself is owned by art lovers, and their collection is sprinkled throughout the rooms and hallways. It’s a luxury hotel and spa, but with a staff and clientele that feel deeply local and Rockaway-rooted, which, as a bridge-and-tunneler myself, I truly love.
What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
My biggest splurge lately has been on floor tiles for the new space! I was on the hunt for jade and white stone in a checkered pattern, and my friends at Manes Design helped source the perfect option at a fraction of what other vendors were quoting. I also recently scored a beautiful antique mezuzah via LiveAuctioneers, which felt like a very lucky find.
What store or service do you always recommend?
Yesterday’s News and Humble House for antiquing in Brooklyn. Cute, curated retail I’m loving lately: Oroboro and La Garçonne. –10/24/25
WORK • Tuesday Routine
Wine maven
ALDO SOHM • wine director, Le Bernardin & Aldo Sohm Wine Bar • author, Wine Simple: Perfect Pairings
Neighborhood you work in: Midtown
Neighborhood you live in: Prospect Heights
It’s Tuesday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
My days typically begin by checking orders, inventory, and emails, making sure my cellars and team are prepared going into lunch service at Le Bernardin and Aldo Sohm Wine Bar. The scene is always chaotic, but in a good way. We take pride in focusing on our clients: from predicting the needs and preferences of the ones returning, to making sure we’re setting the stage for the first-timers, we always like to be two steps ahead. Mornings are my time to prepare and anticipate; afternoons and evenings are showtime.
What’s on the agenda for today?
I just finished an hour at the gym to have a peaceful mindset and be focused. Now, I’m running back and forth between both locations to make sure our teams are in place and nailing all steps of service. In case any problems arise, I try to be at two locations at the same time. With all of this, I hope to find a few minutes to test out a few new dishes with wines that I just brought in to see if they work for the wine pairings. Plus, I also just brought in two new wines we’re hoping to add to the wines-by-the-glass list at the wine bar.
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
On days I’m working, I rarely have time for a meal. Tomorrow, on my bike ride in, depending on my mood, I may stop at Frenchette Bakery for a morning pastry; they have the best kouign-amann in the city. Sunday night, I may take my wife to Maison Passerelle, my friend chef Gregory Gourdet’s restaurant inside Printemps.
I have so many go-tos. Red Hook Tavern is such a homey place. I love the PEI mussels with spicy tomato broth and the dry-aged burger. For pizza: Lucali. I have the artichoke pizza and/or the calzone, then I’m in pizza heaven. Or I might head over to Nubeluz for a glass of Cava with some jamon Iberico before settling in for a Manhattan cocktail while taking in the beautiful views. And for weekend lunch, I look no further than Nougatine for the view of Central Park, a bottle of Champagne, and tuna tartare.
What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
I just bought a brand new beautiful Dario Pegoretti bicycle. Wow, do I love that thing.
What NYC store or service do you love to recommend?
Leon & Son in Clinton Hill, one of the best wine stores in New York. It’s small but cutting-edge. Brooklyn Wine Exchange is another Brooklyn favorite of mine, and Crush is always a benchmark. Flatiron Wines has a wide selection and often has some rare, hard-to-find producers on the shelf, so that’s another favorite for me. And of course, Astor Wines & Spirits: one of the most prominent in NYC with a great liquor selection as well; just look at their agave section!
Where are you donating your time or money?
City Harvest. They’re constantly making a huge impact on New Yorkers in need. –12/02/25
WORK • Friday Routine
North or east
GINA BRUNO • chef/host/culinary creative • Frank’s House/Campers
Neighborhood you work & live in: Clinton Hill
It’s Friday afternoon, how are you rolling into the weekend?
Happy Friday! Fridays are my “tie up the loose ends and do all the things” kind of days. Think: emails, spreadsheets, editing, sometimes a shoot or interview if the calendar says so. Today kicked off with a podcast interview — where I was the interviewee, for once — coffee in one hand, mic in the other.
Owning Frank’s House, my event space in Clinton Hill, means I wear every hat you can imagine. Some days, I’m the event curator; some days, I’m the inbox wrangler; and plenty of other days, I’m behind the stove cooking for guests. On top of that, I’m a private chef, doing everything from brand dinners to intimate tables for two. Honestly, it never feels like work! It’s the part of my job that fills me up the most.
And then there’s Campers, my own food-forward podcast where I sit down with folks across the food world to hear their stories: what they’re cooking, what they’re eating, what they’re building, and of course, what drives them crazy about the industry. In and around and between all of this, I am my favorite (and most difficult) job, Mom, to my one-and-a-half-year-old, Mars.
Where are you drinking or dining this weekend?
Tonight, hosting an intimate dinner at my apartment, just eight of us around the table. Fresh off my trip to Spain, the menu leans seafood-heavy, with a little nduja heat and plenty of charred vegetables. And yes, the white wine will be ice cold and endless.
A few recs while we’re here: This weekend I’m finally heading to Chrissy’s Pizza and couldn’t be more excited. My pizza obsession runs deep, and for me, Una still holds the crown as the best in New York. Recently I ate at JR & Son, and every bite felt like my Italian-American Long Island childhood, but with a swagger my hometown definitely didn’t have. And the restaurant I’m counting the days to try? I Cavallini!
Any weekend getaways?
Pull me north or east for a weekend, and I’m content. Give me a mountain view upstate or a quiet Hamptons corner in the off-season. My sweet spot is a 2.5-3-hour drive — anything longer, and I’d rather hop on a plane.
Upstate, I orbit Rhinebeck, Hudson, and Kingston. I haven’t been yet, but I’m dying to staycation at The Six Bells. I’ve only heard the most amazing things; definitely on my fall bucket list. Some of my favorite breakfasts exist in Hudson: Circles Bagels and Mel the Bakery. For lunch, Quinnie’s Sandwiches always hit the spot. For dinner, Wm. Farmer & Sons has the best cabin-y vibes.
If we’re going out east, it’s Sag Harbor, Amagansett, or The Springs that have my heart. Truthfully, I don’t really go out to eat all that much when I’m out there. I’d rather spend the money on amazing farm-fresh produce and make a fantastic dinner at home. However, if I’m really getting an itch to socialize, a constant for me is Léon 1909 on Shelter Island, a very special spot with amazing… everything (and The Tuck Shop is right across the street, which is excellent ice cream to end the night with).
What was your last great vacation?
I have to start with my most recent trip because I only got back two days ago. Two weeks in Europe with a toddler, which felt like Olympic-level logistics. We kicked things off with a wedding in Mallorca, I stole away for a quick escape to Paris, my forever favorite city, and wrapped it up in Saint-Tropez where the days were modest with just the right hint of bougie. My full list of recommendations can be found on my Substack, but I will shout out Les Enfants du Marché in Paris. The menu changes every day, the head chef is… spirited… but his love language is food. It’s perhaps the best food I’ve ever had in my entire life.
Where are you donating your time or money?
Donkey Rescue! I have a strange obsession with these little guys. Best animal ever. I give as much as I can to help. –11/21/25
WORK • Friday Routine
‘Za boys
JULIAN GELDMACHER & JACOB SEREBNICK • owners/operators • Ceres
Neighborhood you work in: Little Italy
Neighborhood you live in: Downtown Brooklyn (JG), Jersey City (JS)
It’s Friday afternoon, how are you rolling into the weekend?
Every day our opening starts the same way: we get the dough going, then take a short walk to La Cabra coffee on Lafayette St. for iced hand brews and a pastry before the madness begins.
Any restaurant plans?
Friday nights for us are spent at the restaurant — working service, developing new ideas, and continuing to build our brand. We occasionally go out to eat on Saturday or Sunday. When we do, you’ll likely find us at Le Chêne, Penny, or Jōji.
Any weekend getaways?
Julian: My wife took me on a surprise less-than-24-hour trip to New Orleans for my 30th birthday and our first stop was Molly’s Rise and Shine, which was awesome. We stayed at The Celestine. I loved all the NOLA cliches: beignets, poboys, Crystal hot sauce, antiques, jazz, the accents.
Jacob: We plan to close for a week or two in December, and I’ll be spending that time in Lyon with my girlfriend skiing in the French Alps and gorging ourselves on Lièvre à la royale.
What was your last great vacation?
Julian: My wife and I were in Sicily for 24 hours a few months ago for a good friend’s wedding and had way too much fun dancing in a cave with all our friends until the wee hours of the morning. My tuxedo shoes might never recover.
Jacob: I’ve only taken one vacation in my adult life: Copenhagen. My favorite meal there was at Kadeau.
What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
Julian: My wife and I recently bought an antique duck press (shoutout to Mark at Moss Antiques in New Orleans!). I haven’t had the chance to use it yet, but can’t wait for our next dinner party.
What product or service do you always recommend?
Julian: Anything and everything Antonio Ciongoli designs. He’s the founder of clothing line 18 East. Check them out around the corner from Ceres on Elizabeth Street.
Jacob: Shoutout to the parking garage down the street. Maybe if they read this, they’ll have my car ready for me when I actually need it. –11/07/25
CULTURE & LEISURE • Friday Routine
Cakewalk
LAUREN SCHOFIELD • pastry chef • self-employed
Neighborhood you work in: Carroll Gardens
Neighborhood you live in: Crown Heights
It’s Friday afternoon, how are you rolling into the weekend?
Fridays are usually my busiest workdays. I’m working on three cakes for events this weekend, so I’m rushing today to get everything ready for delivery tomorrow. I’ve been making a lot of cakes using tiny baked meringues as decor, so this afternoon, I’m doing a lot of adhering, basically — attaching these little meringues to cake exteriors with Swiss buttercream. One of the huge luxuries of working for myself (and not in restaurants) is being able to take little breaks throughout the day. I work in such a beautiful neighborhood, so I’ll walk to Sahadi’s, Damascus Bakery, or Court Street Grocers to get some fresh air, something to eat, and a coffee. When I’m really in the zone for a project, I’ll eat the same sandwich from Court Street every day of the week — the broccoli Reuben, a genius sandwich.
Where are you drinking or dining this weekend?
I’m crazy about Ha’s Snack Bar on the Lower East Side. The atmosphere is fantastic; it’s like walking into a warm and lively dinner party where everyone’s just happy to be there. I love this riff on a French onion soup that they’ve been doing that uses pho broth as the base. I’ll go to Saravanaa Bhavan for lunch with a friend on Sunday — this is probably my most frequented restaurant in New York, and I almost always go alone. I get the mini tiffin or just a dosa if I’m not that hungry. Or a thali if I’m sharing. I’m planning on going to Sunn’s next week in Chinatown. I love Sunny Lee and her cooking!
How about a little leisure or culture?
I went to see the New York Philharmonic earlier this week, which was a delight. They played “Also Sprach Zarathustra,” which I’d never heard outside of watching 2001: A Space Odyssey, and I’m so glad I went. I also saw The Brutalist this week at the Village East theater. I liked the movie a lot, but it would’ve been worth going just to be in that theater. I’m trying to see more movies in 2025.
Any weekend getaways?
My partner and I spend a lot of time in Litchfield County. I love being up there because you have access to all this great stuff in Connecticut, and also in upstate New York. Sometimes we’ll even drive up to the Berkshires for a day. We go out to Stissing House a fair amount for a drink and a little meal at the bar, and when they have rabbit pie for two, that’s our order. Or we’ll drive between little Connecticut towns like Washington, Roxbury, and Kent and pop into shops. Plain Goods is the most amazing store in New Preston.
What was your last great vacation?
I was really lucky to be able to go to Morocco with my partner’s family for New Year’s. I’d never been to that part of the world before, and I loved it so much. I came home feeling so inspired. I didn’t travel much last year, and sometimes you forget what a perspective shift it can provide. We were in Fes, then drove south through the mountains to the desert by the Algerian border, and then over to Marrakech for a few days. I did a little bit of shopping, but mostly just wanted to try food and walk around and look at things. My favorite thing I ate was stewed chicken with a ton of cooked down cilantro — like, so much cilantro that at first I thought it was spinach. I’ve been thinking about that a lot.
What store or service do you always recommend?
My friend Leah recently opened a store in Park Slope called Shahmiri that sells clothing, homewares, and the most amazing jewelry. I did the bulk of my holiday shopping there, and somehow can’t resist picking up something for myself when I stop in. –02/14/25
Photo credit: Lucia Bell-Epstein
Other notables!
DANIEL BOULUD, The Dinex Group, 12/09/25
MEGAN GRAHAM, Ries, 11/14/25
CHRISTINA TOBIA MANGIERI, Una Pizza Napoletana, 10/28/25
DREW NIEPORENT, Myriad Restaurant Group, 09/23/25
CLARE de BOER, Stissing House, 07/18/25
ALEXIS deBOSCHNEK, Side Dish, 05/30/25
MOLLY FORD, Flowers by Ford, 01/17/25