WORK • Friday Routine
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.