This exercise has been a really fun one- what’s better than talking about the people you love and admire? This brings me to Alyssa Shelasky. A role model and superstar in her own right. Having known, looked up and shared waffle sweaters in the early days at Camp Ramah, it’s been fun to follow Alyssa’s career and read her daily quips. For those unaware, Alyssa is the author of Apron Anxiety: My Messy Affairs In and Out of the Kitchen (on pre-sale now and released to the universe on May 22), writes the fantastic blog, Apron Anxiety and is an editor at Grub Street/New York Magazine. She lives locally in Dumbo, is a self-professed Nutella-girl, a happy soul and a strong believer in life’s delicious ambiguity. Here are her picks!

What Shelasky Would Love to Give: I’d like to give someone a bike from Rolling Orange, the Dutch company that’s trying to convince the world to ride bikes as part of your daily routine. I’d gift the bike because then I could borrow it obviously, but also because I’ve always believed in the mental and physical healing powers of a good, long bike ride;  Plus, the environment! And obviously, the bikes remind me of Andy Botwin’s boyish quest to bring those Copenhagen wheels to the States (Weeds).

What Shelasky Would Love to Get: I’d really LOVE to get this handsome-femme coat from the APC store in Paris. But the ideal gift would be this gorgeous thing, which looks so much better in real life, PLUS the tailor I’d have to take it to. That would be pure luxury. I saw the coat there last weekend, and it didn’t fit quite right, so I decided to skip it. Then I went back the next day and thought after a few pain au chocolate, it would maybe fit better, but still no. And now I just can’t stop thinking about it, and I’m back in New York. By the way, imaginary-boyfriend, it’s on sale!!