Megan D'Souza

At a time when fad foods seem to be reinventing themselves and popping up on every corner of New York City (cough cough – frozen yogurt), Sandwell has managed to carve out a niche of its own in the sandwich scene. With locations in Gramercy and on the Upper West Side, the self-described “healthyish” sandwich shop focuses on high-quality ingredients, unique recipes, and flavors that feel both comforting and novel.

Perched along the Brooklyn Bridge Park waterfront, Kiwami offers the kind of omakase experience that feels elevated and intimate, but still casual enough to feel welcoming. The restaurant’s minimalist sushi counter puts you face-to-face with the chef, creating an atmosphere where every detail, from the knife work to the presentation, becomes part of the meal itself. The warm wood interiors and simplistic aesthetic make Kiwami feel worlds away from the bustling streets outside.

I’ve never heard anyone talk about the Arizona Cactus Garden, but when I look up “must visit places at Stanford,” it’s one of the first that comes up. That must mean something, right? An assortment of cacti, big and small, arranged in a scenic route may not be the most interesting thing in the world, but this column is about discovering places that I wouldn’t otherwise visit. And the cactus garden definitely fits in this category.