Snowstorms, Soft Landings & a Well-Timed Happy Hour
Last Sunday marked the official arrival of the snowstorm, and instead of fighting it, I made a decision: I was going to fully hibernate. No guilt, no forcing productivity, no pretending winter doesn’t affect my mood. If the city was slowing down, so was I.
From Sunday through Tuesday, I stayed inside and leaned all the way into winter cocooning. I made a big pot of crab chowder, rearranged flowers from a beautiful bouquet that was dropped off at my door, and rotated between relaxing, eating, and snacking like it was my full-time job. I also put some real energy into my Depop store — listing, organizing, clearing things out. Cozy, quiet, and very “don’t ask me where I’m going because I’m not.”
By Wednesday, though, I snapped.
Four days in the house will do that to you. I felt trapped, restless, and deeply over winter, so I did what any city girl in recovery does — I went to happy hour. I took myself to Double Knot, one of my favorite spots in the city, where they run happy hour every single day from 4–7. I usually go about once a month, often solo, and it never misses. The food is always amazing, but the edamame dumplings? Elite. Non-negotiable. Restorative, even.
From there, the night unfolded naturally. I stopped by the Ritz-Carlton for what can only be described as the filthiest martini known to mankind, slid over to Kitchen + Kocktails for the first time, then did a little location-tracking (as one does) and met my friends at Fia. We wrapped the night at MilkBoy, and somewhere between the last drink and the walk home, I realized I felt like myself again. The winter blues had officially loosened their grip.
Thursday rolled around and my New York client was back in town. My car was still buried in snow, and honestly, I had no interest in digging it out yet. I Ubered to our showings since we were hopping between condo buildings — starting in South Philly and ending in Old City, where I spent the rest of the afternoon. I grabbed food, worked from a cozy coffee shop, randomly ran into an office buddy, and briefly stopped back at the office before retreating once again into my cave.
Friday was dig-out day. A very kind stranger saw me struggling and jumped in to help — a true winter miracle. After coffee and packaging Depop orders, I took my car in for an oil change. That evening, I checked out Savu, a new upscale, Black-owned lounge in the neighborhood that I’ve been excited about. Chic, intimate, and beautifully done — exactly the kind of space I love supporting. My friend Raina and I stopped by for their grand opening, and it absolutely delivered.
Saturday began with a late-night-turned-early-morning vibe, but I still got up and handled business. I showed properties to a repeat investor client whose cousin is now looking to enter the Philly market. We recently sold a flip on 17th Street (now featured in the Investment section of the site), so it felt good to see that momentum continuing. Afterward, I grabbed lunch at Dolce — because these $20 Restaurant Week lunches are simply too good to pass up.
I ended my Saturday exactly how I like to: at home, under the covers, opting out of the world.
Winter may not be over, but I’m back in my rhythm. And sometimes, all it takes is a snowstorm, a little hibernation, and a really solid happy hour.
Until next Sunday,
Morgan
