CULTURE & LEISURE • Friday Routine
ANNA SALE • founder • Sunday Gelato
Neighborhood you work & live in: Fort Greene
It’s Friday afternoon, how are you rolling into the weekend?
I run a small business specializing in illustration, handmade paper products, and event stationery. My brand draws influence from my Italian-American upbringing and deep love for food and family gatherings. I wanted to create a brand steeped in the joy of a slow weekend morning: walking around a farmers market, grabbing a sweet treat, and making an elaborate, homemade meal. Thus, Sunday Gelato was born!
I also have a 9-to-5 day job, and on Fridays, I work from home. When I finish my work, it’s time for Sunday Gelato projects. These could include block-printing GRAZIE stationery sets, designing custom menus for a brand event in the city, planning an upcoming dinner party, or prepping for a lino-printing class. (To learn more about my upcoming events, subscribe to my newsletter, The Scoop.)
When I wrap up for the day, I love to take my dog, Lentil, on a walk through Fort Greene Park. My favorite podcast to listen to during this jaunt is Radio Cherry Bombe, where the host regularly interviews female entrepreneurs on how they built their businesses. I’m fascinated with female leadership, financial literacy, and understanding the levels of delulu that make someone successful.
Where are you drinking or dining this weekend?
I have family visiting this weekend, so I’m taking them to some of my favorite local spots.
For Friday night dinner, we’ll dine at Palo Santo, a tucked-away Latin American restaurant in a Park Slope brownstone.
On Saturday, we’ll start the day with a casual breakfast of coffee and pastries at Prima in Clinton Hill.
On Saturday evening, we’re planning on Leo in Williamsburg for a slice, then drinks afterwards at Maracuja, a dive bar with an excellent back patio. We snagged a 10:30p reservation at The Four Horsemen, which is perfect for a nightcap and desserts. (I’m eyeing the sticky toffee pudding.) Finally, we’re hitting Montague Diner for an easy breakfast before they jet. I’m a sucker for diner coffee, and this place feels cozy yet elevated.
Any weekend getaways?
I used to live in Philadelphia, a great getaway — only two hours by car or Amtrak and packed with nostalgia and cheap beer. To me, a perfect day in Philly consists of coffee at Herman’s in South Philly, followed by Machine Shop pastries, then a day at the museum. At night, I love to see a show or hit up one of my favorite dive bars.
What was your last great vacation?
My partner and I spent two weeks in Portugal between Lisbon and Lagos and had such a soul-recharging, creatively inspiring time. We’re both design nerds and constantly stumbled upon so much good design all over Lisbon. Our favorite restaurants were Da Noi, Comadre, and Frangasqueira Nacional, and our favorite bars were Imprensa and Holy Wine. We loved having coffee at Hello, Kristof and enjoyed a leisurely meander down Rua de Pocos Negros afterwards. Finally, if you visit Lisbon, you must take a day trip to Sintra, which was an absolutely unforgettable experience.
What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
When I was in Italy last fall, I splurged on a pair of Gucci sunglasses that I absolutely adore.
Where are you donating your time or money?
As a small business owner, I’m trying to do my part and donate back to my community as often as I can. Over the holidays, I donated 100% of my lino-printing class’s proceeds to local mutual aid funds and community kitchens across Brooklyn. For my past class in February, we donated half the proceeds to Hurricane Helene relief efforts in my home state of North Carolina.