#003 Places in Pause
Spaces, textures, and quiet moments that shaped the week.
The light has been shifting — warmer, slower, stretching longer into the evenings. This week lived somewhere between movement and stillness. These are the places and moments that lingered.
Function Health — curiosity in the data
I started the week with a second blood draw at Quest Diagnostics — part of the onboarding process for Function Health. They run over 100 lab tests, with results usually available within 48 hours. There are additional add-on tests that get even more specific, and it all fascinates me. I'd definitely be interested in exploring more if I had unlimited funds.
What I’m most curious about is the deeper analysis — the part that turns raw data into something more insightful. That’s still on its way. In the meantime, I did receive my biological age, and I’m quite pleased — and honestly feel a little blessed — considering I try to take care of my health, but not obsessively. It’s reassuring to see that small, mindful efforts over time can still leave a meaningful mark.
The one-year membership was kindly gifted to me. It's priced at around $500 if you're someone who enjoys exploring your health more intentionally. Just a note: in states like New York and New Jersey, there’s a separate lab processing fee of up to $350. For context, I paid around $165 for my first test in Manhattan and $125 for my second test in Brooklyn.
If you're curious about Function Health, here’s a referral link to learn more.
50 Norman — a home for Japanese craft
I stopped by the grand opening of 50 Norman’s latest expansion — a beautifully curated Japanese cultural space in Greenpoint that brings together design, food, fashion, and craft under one roof. The space felt so much more alive compared to my last visit — the curation was always thoughtful, but now it's truly impeccable.
Some new launches included: Balmuda's Teppan Yaki grill, Cibone O’te’s expanded homeware and furnishings, and Dashi Okume’s custom dashi blends. HOUSE Brooklyn, an elegant Japanese-French omakase by Chef Yuji Tani, is now open, while KAMA-ASA showcases their full Amane knife collection alongside original kitchen tools. Opening in June: Café O’te by HOUSE Brooklyn, a café-resto-bar blending French techniques with Japanese sensibility. Definitely worth stopping in for this summer.
Blue Bottle x Marimekko — a dose of Nordic charm
I stopped by an exclusive preview at Blue Bottle Coffee’s café at the Walker Hotel to see their limited-time Marimekko collaboration. The collection is charming — vibrant, fresh, and full of Nordic spirit. As a fan of their Instant Craft Coffee, I love how this design brings a softer joy to a simple morning ritual.
DubuHaus — a restaurant dedicated to tofu
We had dinner with friends at DubuHaus, a new tofu-focused restaurant from Urimat Hospitality. After loving my experience at HOWOO, their Korean barbecue spot, I was curious to see how this new concept would unfold.
The space feels quietly elegant — warm wood, soft lighting, minimal lines. We shared several tofu dishes, dumplings, and meat plates, all vibrant and deeply comforting. Near the entrance, they’re setting up for doshirak (traditional Korean lunch boxes), which I imagine will become a favorite for easy meals.
Cherry Blossoms at BBG — a soft return to the garden
We live just up the street from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, but somehow don't visit often enough. The last two times we went were for a dear friend’s wedding and once on a snowy winter day when the whole garden felt blanketed and hushed.
We had planned to visit for the cherry blossoms this year, and after receiving an email about peak bloom on Friday, we decided to walk over after lunch. There were many visitors, but it never felt overwhelming — just a soft hum of life all around. The weather was heavenly, and it felt like the garden had been especially well-tended this season.
As we walked through, I kept thinking about the seasons of life, and how timing — in nature, and in us — is everything. More on that soon.
ON-SESSION Nails — a small ritual in detail
Lately, my monthly treat has been getting a fresh set of modern Japanese nail art by Misaki at ON-SESSION Nails. During the pandemic, I shifted from polish to nail stickers (still love Ohora), but after a trip to Seoul last year, I fell in love with Korean and Japanese nail artistry — and honestly, I can’t go back.
I usually bring a few inspirational images and let the artist take it from there. My nails grow fast, so even though the designs could technically last much longer, I usually return around the four-week mark. There’s something about starting a new month with a fresh set — the design always seems to quietly set the tone, a small luxury that brings a surprising amount of joy into the everyday.
Porter House Bar and Grill — a classic with a view
I traveled up to Columbus Circle for an early Sunday dinner with friends — a classic kind of evening that felt easy and celebratory. We had dinner at Porter House, a timeless steakhouse perched above the city in the Time Warner Center. I’m glad we went early — the sweeping views of Central Park just before sunset gave the space a soft kind of grandeur.
The atmosphere was polished but not overly formal, anchored by attentive, genuine hospitality. The menu stays true to American steakhouse tradition, but with a seasonal, ingredient-forward approach: prime steaks, seafood, roasted chicken, and bold, straightforward flavors. We especially enjoyed the Cowboy Ribeye — rich, perfectly cooked — paired with a side of Buttery mashed Yukon Golds that felt like a quiet luxury in themselves.
Joomak — memory, layered with technique
(From last weekend, but it felt worth including.)
Founded by Chef Jiho Kim, whose previous restaurant, Joomak Banjum, earned a Michelin star, this newest iteration, Joomak, feels like a more intimate evolution. Now tucked within Maison Hudson, the 27-seat space offers an eight-course tasting that blends memory with technique, nostalgia with modernity.
Dishes riff on New York street food, French technique, and Korean flavor traditions, each layered with playful but deeply intentional storytelling. At $280 per person, it’s a splurge, but for a special occasion, it's truly quite special.
Soft Focus is a resting space for inner seasons, slow rituals, and quiet reflections. Thank you for being here.