Cupcakes!

And brownies and wine and more! Basically, cook book launch parties are awesome and you should never pass up the opportunity to go to one (and snag all the free baked goods you can, obvi).

Last night was the BAKED launch party at the Ace Hotel in the Flatiron area (or I think they're trying to brand the neighborhood NoMad, as in "north of Madison Square Park" but I don't think that's caught on yet). The Ace Hotel is this really awesome botique hotel/hipster hangout that has gotten really popular recently since also attached to it are the Breslin restaurant, Opening Ceremony gift shop, and Stumpton coffee. All of which are basically the epitomy of cool hip-ness right now (and by calling it that, I'm surely outing myself as very much uncool and unhip). Anyway I love going there and sipping hot chocolate in their lounge area with all the other young people drinking their cocktails, eating their cheese boards, and working on their Macs. (http://www.acehotel.com/newyork if you're interested)

So of course an invitation combining this setting plus free baked goods from one of the best bakeries in the city (actually it's in Red Hook, so the only time I've gone was after an IKEA trip and even then it's a bit out of the way. http://bakednyc.com/) was pretty much the best thing that could happen on a Tuesday night. I met up with my friend who does marketing for the book's publisher and we just made our way around the room, sampling treats and stuffing more in our bags to take home for later. That combined with the Halloween candy my coworker had bought earlier in the day basically put me on sugar overload for the rest of the night. So I went home and did some yoga. The end!

P.S. Sam is coming this weekend and boy do I have festivities planned for us. It's going to be nonstop eating, shopping, and walking around from Saturday until she leaves Tuesday afternoon. Very excited!